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Lovett H. Weems Jr. writes about the long and rich history of bivocational ministry in the Bible, throughout the generations of American history and around the world today. He says bivocational ministry is one lane in the pathway to the future that needs careful and sustained attention as more churches face declining memberships and other […]
The post When the Pastor Is Your Plumber appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
The natural world is our first way of knowing God, says Beth Norcross, an expert in spirituality and nature. Finding God in nature can reconnect people with faith and the biblical tradition, especially the growing percentage of younger people who are less attracted by the trappings of the institutional church. To celebrate the Lewis Center’s […]
The post Helping People Connect with God through Nature appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
Lewis Center Director Doug Powe says special efforts to welcome visitors at Easter shouldn’t be set aside once the holiday is over. He outlines four ways the hospitality of the Easter season can be the launching pad for more intentional visitor welcome throughout the year. This article was originally published on April 4, 2023. In […]
The post 4 Ways to Make Easter Hospitality the Pattern for the Year first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
The post 4 Ways to Make Easter Hospitality the Pattern for the Year appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
Lewis Center Director Doug Powe says special efforts to welcome visitors at Easter shouldn’t be set aside once the holiday is over. He outlines four ways the hospitality of the Easter season can be the launching pad for more intentional visitor welcome throughout the year. In many churches, Christmas, Easter, and Mother’s Day are the […]
The post 4 Ways to Make Easter Hospitality the Pattern for the Year appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
David Manner says that many churches attract new attendees with the lure of Easter but then quickly leave the subject. He asks, if Easter really is the foundation of our faith, why do we limit its celebration to just one Sunday? This article was originally published March 29, 2022. We’ve all seen social media hyperlinks […]
The post Why Limit the Celebration of Easter to Just One Sunday? appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
Ruth Everhart, a pastor, author, and sexual assault survivor, outlines steps that any church can take to respond to the sexual victimization of women. Scripture, doctrine, honest conversation, and a commitment to creating safe spaces are important resources churches can employ in ministering to survivors and preventing future abuse. One of the challenges facing today’s […]
The post 7 Ways Your Church Can Respond to the Reality of Sexual Assault appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
How can pastors maximize their effectiveness when it comes to time management? Eric Daniel shares three practices to help pastors work more productively and address time management challenges. “Pastor, I know you are busy….” The statement is well intended but should never describe our life and ministry. What happened to the unhurried pastor? Can the […]
The post 3 Practices to Help Pastors Increase Productivity appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
Many churches today lament worship attendance numbers that have not returned to pre-pandemic levels. Lovett H. Weems Jr. says this is an unhelpful comparison. He recommends that churches turn their attention away from the past and focus on a bold and future-oriented goal to reach new people in your community. Churches continue to celebrate […]
The post Pre-Pandemic Worship Attendance: Not a Helpful Measure appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
In the rush to offer online worship, many churches have focused primarily on technical and programmatic concerns. Heidi Campbell says it’s more important to consider what people need from church now and how digital technology can meet those needs. To celebrate the Lewis Center’s anniversary, we are highlighting Leading Articles — some of our most […]
The post 6 Traits People Value in Online Faith Communities appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
How do church leaders make ministry harder than it needs to be? Carey Nieuwhof identifies five ways that many pressures faced in ministry are more solvable than we think. Being a church leader is a tough assignment (very worth it but still tough). The real question is, do you make it harder than it needs […]
The post 5 Ways Pastors Make Ministry Harder than It Needs to Be appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.