Tag «Leading Ideas»

8 Key Questions to Shift Pastoral Counseling Encounters from Reflection Toward Action 

8 Key Questions to Shift Pastoral Counseling Encounters from Reflection Toward Action 

Alan T. Baker identifies eight questions that help shift pastoral counseling encounters from reflection toward action. While written for use by chaplains, these questions can be used and adapted by pastors to help gain clarity and identify expectations while simultaneously building trust and confidence in pastoral counseling.    1. Why are you telling me this? Why […]

The post 8 Key Questions to Shift Pastoral Counseling Encounters from Reflection Toward Action  first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post 8 Key Questions to Shift Pastoral Counseling Encounters from Reflection Toward Action  appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

What to do When a New Church Comes to Town

What to do When a New Church Comes to Town

Pastor Eric Daniel describes how he overcame feelings of jealousy and competitiveness when committed members of his congregation started drifting to a new, better-resourced church. He built a relationship with the new pastor, concentrated on the strengths of his own church, and kept inviting new people to the worship table.   About eight years into […]

The post What to do When a New Church Comes to Town first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post What to do When a New Church Comes to Town appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The Changing Contours of Youth Ministry: An In-Depth Interview with Deech Kirk

The Changing Contours of Youth Ministry: An In-Depth Interview with Deech Kirk

What new approaches to youth ministry are emerging in our post-Covid era? Ann Michel interviews Deech Kirk of the Center for Youth Ministry Training. He describes some of the common challenges confronting youth ministry today and some of the characteristics of the newer, innovative ministry models that are taking shape. Listen to this interview, watch the […]

The post The Changing Contours of Youth Ministry: An In-Depth Interview with Deech Kirk first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post The Changing Contours of Youth Ministry: An In-Depth Interview with Deech Kirk appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

4 Steps for Developing a Digital Community Strategy

4 Steps for Developing a Digital Community Strategy

Deanna Bartalini and Claudia McIvor say gathering people virtually is not that different than gathering in person. Both require intentionality, as well as a plan, a place or platform to help execute the plan, advertising, and engaging with the people who gather. They outline four key steps in developing a digital community strategy. Technology is […]

The post 4 Steps for Developing a Digital Community Strategy first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post 4 Steps for Developing a Digital Community Strategy appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

4 Ways Preaching Can Boost Worship Attendance

4 Ways Preaching Can Boost Worship Attendance

Popular preacher and author Charley Reeb shares four preaching strategies to grow your church, all based on the notion that we have to connect with people’s interests and meet them where they are. To celebrate the Lewis Center’s anniversary, we are highlighting Leading Articles — some of our most popular posts of the past 20 […]

The post 4 Ways Preaching Can Boost Worship Attendance first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post 4 Ways Preaching Can Boost Worship Attendance appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

4 Tips for Experimenting with Change This Summer

4 Tips for Experimenting with Change This Summer

Lewis Center Director F. Douglas Powe says that the summer is the perfect time for a congregation to test possible changes through short-term experiments. He offers four considerations to guide an experimental approach to implementing new ideas. This article by F. Douglas Powe Jr. was originally published on July 18, 2018. We are pleased to […]

The post 4 Tips for Experimenting with Change This Summer first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post 4 Tips for Experimenting with Change This Summer appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

7 Ideas for Making Vacation Bible School an Evangelism Opportunity

7 Ideas for Making Vacation Bible School an Evangelism Opportunity

How can you deepen your relationship with the children and families participating in a Vacation Bible School and stay connected with them throughout the year? Lewis Center Director Doug Powe outlines strategies to make your Vacation Bible School a meaningful and effective evangelism opportunity. This article by F. Douglas Powe Jr. was originally published on […]

The post 7 Ideas for Making Vacation Bible School an Evangelism Opportunity first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post 7 Ideas for Making Vacation Bible School an Evangelism Opportunity appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

3 Key Skills for Leading in Today’s Argumentative Climate

3 Key Skills for Leading in Today’s Argumentative Climate

Joel Snider says church leaders need new skills to move people toward common goals in a time when conflict surrounds so many church decisions. Rather than leading by force, he suggests building consensus one person at a time, probing ideas through questions rather than criticism, and responding respectfully to the ideas of others. Leadership comes […]

The post 3 Key Skills for Leading in Today’s Argumentative Climate appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

7 Tips for Sharing Your Congregation’s Story on Social Media 

7 Tips for Sharing Your Congregation’s Story on Social Media 

How do you effectively share your congregation’s story via social media to reach new people? Tim Welch offers seven tips for sharing your congregation’s story on various social media platforms.  One of the best forms of communicating with church members is through digital platforms. Most of your congregation has immediate access to web-based content or […]

The post 7 Tips for Sharing Your Congregation’s Story on Social Media  appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The Hidden Impact of Rural Churches: An In-Depth Interview with Bob Jaeger and Rachel Hildebrand

The Hidden Impact of Rural Churches: An In-Depth Interview with Bob Jaeger and Rachel Hildebrand

What is the economic impact of small congregations on their communities? Jessica Anschutz of the Lewis Center staff speaks with Bob Jaeger and Rachel Hildebrandt of Partners for Sacred Places about their report on the “Economic Halo Effect of Rural United Methodist Churches in North Carolina.”  Listen to this interview, watch the interview video on YouTube, […]

The post The Hidden Impact of Rural Churches: An In-Depth Interview with Bob Jaeger and Rachel Hildebrand appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.