Reggie Joiner's Blog, page 32
March 4, 2020
Navigating 5 Challenges of Small Group Leadership
Small groups are great. And then the people show up. It might not become apparent on that first, exciting night. But at some point, you will hit a wall of tensions and challenges that no amount of prayer, training, or biblical study can prepare you for.
When you navigate the challenges well, you create a safe place for community and growth.
A safe place for struggling marriages. For questioning millennials. For exhausted parents. For the successful business person who is facing his or her...
March 2, 2020
Developing Leadership in Your Volunteers
Do you remember the first time you volunteered? Maybe it was to coach a baseball team, to lead a small group, to help out at a thrift store, or even to help rescue abandoned pets. Do you remember the training you received or the support you got from the person who enlisted you? If you were trained and coached well, you probably have fond memories. If you were just left to sink or swim on your own—well, we all have horror stories we could tell.
In churches, volunteers are the lifeblood of any...
February 26, 2020
What Church Leaders Can Learn from Diversity Statistics
Two words What’s the most anticipated part of 2020? Is it a new year and a new decade? Or is it . . . get ready . . . the 2020 United States Census and all the statistics. One may even geek out and say: “Oh, the change we’ve seen in the last ten years!”
Alright, yes, that was a bit of sarcasm—especially for me because I used to shudder at hearing the word statistics and trying to make sense of it all.
Then there’s another word that may make one cringe: diversity. A topic that naturally comes...
February 24, 2020
Two Habits To Help The Next Generation Win Friends And Grow Their Faith
If we lead the next generation to love and serve others, their faith will move in a positive direction. If we don’t, their faith will become shallow and superficial.
Not only does loving God affect how we love others, but loving others affects how we love God. That’s the genius of what Jesus was implying in the Great Commandment. Your relationship with God and your relationship with others is intricately connected.
Here’s the practical point. We often miss the link between loving others and...
February 21, 2020
How to Make the Most of Breakouts at Orange Conference
Conferences are amazing opportunities for church leaders. Not only are they great experiences for you to learn new insights and be reminded of why you do what you do, but you get to connect with a variety of different people and be inspired by the stories of what can be for your ministry.
While main group sessions at the Orange Conference are fun, worshipful, and encouraging, a hidden gem each year are the breakout sessions.
Every year at the Orange Conference there are a variety of different...
February 19, 2020
5 Ways To Communicate With A Diverse Audience In Mind
As the country continues to evolve and advance, our nation seems to be “browning” more and more every day. This means that churches everywhere are beginning to evolve, too. This evolution includes programming, branding, messaging, marketing, staff culture and even target audiences.
Statistics show that churches that choose not to diversify within the next 10-20 years will be struggling churches very soon. Some 43% of Millennial adults are non-white, the highest share of any generation.
So...
February 17, 2020
Who is Generation Z and How Can The Church Reach Them?
There is a new generation on the horizon of leadership in our congregations. While their permanent name will be assigned sometime in the future, researchers are calling them Generation Z, iGen, the Centennials, or the Founders. For the sake of this article, let’s go with Gen Z.
Who is Gen Z?Most researchers have settled on Gen Z being born between 1995–2015 (although that year range depends on who you ask). They’re characterized by being individuals who are too young to remember what life...
February 14, 2020
Breakouts for Orange Conference 2020 Are Now Open
If you’ve been to an Orange Conference before, you no doubt know all about breakouts. If 2020 is going to be your first year joining us, then you might just discover that breakouts are your favorite part of the conference experience.
After all, breakouts are where the real magic of OC happens. This is the space for you to dive deeper into the content and connect relationally with other church leaders just like you.
OC20 breakouts are now openEither way, it’s important to know that...
February 12, 2020
Creating A Mission Statement For Your Marriage Ministry
At the end of 2016, our pastors invited us to take the lead on a new initiative. We were confident that by implementing this initiative, we could move the vision of the church forward in our region.
The initiative was to strengthen and build marriages within our church. We hoped to use the influence ofChrist Fellowshipto impact the marriage culture of our surrounding communities. After stepping into the opportunity, we quickly realized we needed to bring cohesion around all that was happening...
Why Valentine’s Day is a Big Deal in Marriage Ministry
The Super Bowl is a big deal. From half-time performances by music royalty to the most expensive advertising space on television, this football game has turned into a worldwide spectacle, and often the only sporting event some people watch all year.
The economic power of just one event is life changing for the city lucky enough to host it. The 2018 Super Bowlbrought in over $370 millionto the Twin Cities in Minnesota. Not to mention that it’s an unofficial national holiday in the US as...
