Thom S. Rainer's Blog, page 148

Why I Am Retiring from LifeWay

Tonight, during the regularly scheduled meeting of the LifeWay board, I announced my retirement as president and CEO. I will step down when the new CEO is named, or in one year, whichever comes first.

I made this decision with the firm conviction that it was time for my departure. But I also made the decision with a plethora of mixed emotions. In fact, when I told my executive leadership team about my decision, I cried. A wave of emotions hit me unexpectedly, and I surprised myself with my tears.

You see, I really love LifeWay and the people who serve here. They are absolutely incredible men and women who serve the Lord with joy and hard work. My thirteen years at LifeWay have been blessed for many reasons, not the least of which are the 5,000+ employees who work here.

But I want to share with candor and honesty why I made this decision. I value transparency. I have tried to live and lead with transparency myself.

LifeWay is poised for a great future with a new leader. The past thirteen years have been some of the most blessed years of my life. I am tempted to share many of the great works God and the employees have done in that time, but it would be an act of hubris on my part. To be certain, LifeWay will have its challenges. LifeWay is a ministry funded by a business model. It does not receive any outside funds. It has to compete with the behemoths like Amazon and Walmart. The next president will lead an organization poised for a great future, but it will be a future with challenges. Such is the nature of how this organization lives and works.

I have been tempted to hang on. I must avoid that temptation. I am 63 years old. That’s not young; nor is it that old by retirement standards. Frankly, I found myself rationalizing how I could stay for many more years. In fact, others have told me I am leading better than ever, that I should consider staying. I, however, can feel the temptations of hanging on for my own sake, for my own pleasure. LifeWay cannot and must not be my identity. I have always advocated for leaders to know when it’s time to depart, and to act upon it. I must practice what I preach. It is time to pass the baton of leadership to a new generation.

I want to maximize my time with family in this next phase of life. I love my family. I really love my family. I want to have more flexibility to spend time with my wife, my sons and their wives and, of course, my grandchildren. I have ten grandchildren who are ages eight and younger. I want to enjoy fully my years with them. God willing, I want to be a more involved mentor in their lives.

God willing, I strongly desire to dedicate this next phase of life to making a contribution to the revitalization of churches across the world. I love the local church, with all of its imperfections and idiosyncratic ways. I want to give every minute God allows me to make a difference to see churches revitalized. I will begin a nonprofit organization called Revitalize Network for this purpose. I have a vision to see tens of thousands of churches working together joyfully to grow in greater health and numbers. It is my passion. It is my dream. Above all, it is my prayer.

I was 49 years old when I began interviewing for the role of president and CEO of LifeWay. In the blink of an eye, I turned 63. I am so blessed to have led such a great organization. I am so blessed to have served alongside the incredible employees at this place.

But the time has passed so incredibly fast. Life is indeed a vapor. I pray for my remaining years to be used wisely and to be lived passionately.

I am a blessed man.

I deserve none of the blessings. I accept them all with gratitude and humility.

Thank you, LifeWay. Thank you for allowing me to serve you these past thirteen years. You have encouraged me. You have honored me. You have blessed me. My words to you are the same the Apostle Paul gave to a church he loved deeply:

I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:3-6, Christian Standard Bible (of course)).

15 Common Sacred Cows in Churches

They are usually called sacred cows.

Sometimes they are called idols. Though the sacred cow terminology has its origins in Hinduism, it is commonly used in churches to describe those facets of church life that are given undue (and sometimes unbiblical) respect to the point they cannot be changed.

To the delight of some and to the chagrin of others, I conducted an informal social media poll to find out what the audience deemed the most common sacred cows in their churches. The answers were voluminous. Some of the conversations were hilarious. Some people just got mad. Imagine that.

Here are the top 15 responses by frequency. Again, keep in mind this survey was an informal poll on social media.

The parlor. Thou shalt not enter, touch, or change. Only the parlor elect may enter. Parlors typically have an occupancy rate of less than one percent. Parlorolatry is one of the signs of a church that will soon die (see my book Autopsy of a Deceased Church , chapter 11).

The organ. I’m a bit surprised this issue is still around. But it is. And there are some pretty strong feelings about this instrument.

Politics. A number of respondents said many of their church members equate a certain brand of politics (all along the political spectrum) with biblical truth, a truth that must be declared in the pulpit and elsewhere.

Order of worship. Thou shalt not move the offertory to another part of the service. The Apostle Paul instructed us exactly where it should be.

The building. Yes, this response is a general observation. But many respondents simply said “the building” was the church’s sacred cow. Perhaps I can dig deeper in the future.

Flowers in the worship center. Both fake and real. Both clean and dusty. Often allergenic.

Music/worship style. The worship wars have diminished, but they are far from over.

Sunday evening services. An oldie that has been around awhile. Obviously, it’s still a point of contention in many churches.

Pews. Single chairs are the instruments of darkness.

Attire. I’ve opened this can of worms in the past. I might take another shot at it in the future. Bias alert: I despise ties.

Committees. For God so loved the world he did not send a committee. Many of those who responded particularly focused on the number of committees and their failure to have a clear purpose.

Cemeteries. Typically an issue with older churches. Most church building programs today don’t include land for cemeteries.

Choir robes. Probably need them to cover up some of the problems in number 10.

Previous pastor. The pastor of 25 years ago walked this earth as a near perfect person. The church members have no memory of anything this pastor did wrong. They hold to the inerrancy of the former pastor.

White tablecloths over the elements for the Lord’s Supper/Communion. Didn’t see this one coming

Does your church have any sacred cows? Feel free to contribute to the conversation!

Pray for Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church

Location: Dayton, Ohio

Pastor: Pastor Gerard Seldon

Weekly Worship: 11:00 AM, Eastern

Fast Facts: Eleven years ago when Pastor Seldon was called as pastor, the church was more than $200,000 in debt and had fewer than 15 members. Two years ago the debt was completely paid off without any loan by God’s grace and through a loving committed, determined membership. Ministries at the church include Loving Our Unborn Neighbor which hosts baby showers for young women who have courageously decided not to abort their children. Also, the church is located across the street from an apartment complex. Four times a year, the church serves its neighbors a lunch, passes out free CSB Bibles from its local LifeWay, and prays for the people of the apartment complex. The church’s school ministry sends members into elementary schools to assist children daily with reading comprehension as well.

Please pray for this Sunday, August 26th, as they hold their inaugural Invite Your One event. The mayor of Dayton Ohio has committed to attending along with a host of others. For months they have been preparing for this day through our prayer ministry, hospitality ministry, sermons, and meetings. Please keep this day and also the follow up in deep prayer that souls may be won to the Lord.

“Pray for . . .” is the Sunday blog series at ThomRainer.com. We encourage you to pray for these churches noted every Sunday. Please feel free to comment that you are praying as well.

If you would like to have your church featured in the “Pray for…” series, fill out this information form..

Notable Voices and the Week in Review: August 25, 2018

From Around the Web:

5 Bible Verses That Will Encourage You to Save for Retirement — Art Rainer

The Bible reveals the importance of saving, taking advantage during seasons of abundance in preparation for seasons of scarcity. For many reading this, you are in your season of abundance. You are able to earn income. During the last quarter of your life, your ability to earn income may be reduced. And you enter a season of scarcity. Consider the following verses and how they may apply to saving for retirement:

10 Things I Wish Church Leaders Knew About Divorce — Facts & Trends

Divorce is a difficult subject for the church. I’m not called to be a theologian, but I’m certain we don’t want to ignore God’s commands or give the impression that marriage is temporary. Divorce also has severe, long-term consequences. No one comprehends that better than I do. Here are 10 aspects of divorce I’d like to share with church leaders to help them love the brokenhearted while not condoning divorce.

Is Anyone Godly Enough To Be a Pastor? — Dave Harvey

If you’re like most guys, this list of qualities can seem far out of reach. Upon first glance, this passage, along with the passage in Titus 1, seem to blow the average guy out of the water! Who can possibly live up to these requirements?

9 Reasons Introverts Can Do Well in Ministry — Chuck Lawless

I write this post with some reticence since I’m an introvert—and I don’t want to imply that I’ve done well in ministry. I know so many things I could still do better that I feel no right to claim success. At the same time, though, I have students who are surprised to learn that many ministers are introverted. Extroverts can be great ministry leaders, of course, but so can introverts. Based on my experience with other introverts and my own study, here’s why I affirm introverts in ministry:

This Week at ThomRainer.com:





















Five Ways Your Church Can Have a Major Impact as the New School Year Begins

These are five of the most effective back-to-school ideas I have heard from churches all across North America and beyond…READ MORE

10 Guidelines for Paying and Hosting Guest Speakers and Musicians

Over the years, I have worked with many churches and speakers (and a few musicians) to establish some guidelines for hosting and paying guest speakers…READ MORE

Five Major Ways to Improve Your Worship Services

by Thom Rainer and Jonathan Howe | Rainer on Leadership

http://media.blubrry.com/thomrainer/s3.amazonaws.com/TheExchange/Episode460.mp3









Why Some Interim Pastorates Are Successful When Others Are Not

by Thom Rainer and Jonathan Howe | Rainer on Leadership

http://media.blubrry.com/thomrainer/s3.amazonaws.com/TheExchange/Episode461.mp3









How Run-down Facilities Can Exacerbate the Decline in a Church

by Thom Rainer and Jonathan Howe | Revitalize & Replant

http://media.blubrry.com/revitalizereplant/s3.amazonaws.com/TheExchange/RevitalizeReplant/RR-Episode055.mp3

Why Some Interim Pastorates Are Successful When Others Are Not – Rainer on Leadership #461

Podcast Episode #461

SUBSCRIBE: iTunes • RSS • Stitcher • TuneIn Radio • Google Play • iHeart Radio

Pastoral transition happens all the time. Today we discuss what makes for a successful interim pastorate and how InterimPastor.University can help.

Some highlights from today’s episode include:

Interim pastors need to help give a church hope.
No one person is indispensable to a church or organization.
Not providing clear updates to the church about a pastor search can be demoralizing to the congregation.
Grace, love, and hope are the three primary ingredients of a successful interim pastorate.
Effective interim pastors set the next pastor up for success.

The seven keys to a successful interim that we discuss today are:

Scope has been clearly defined.
The interim pastor is truly trained and equipped.
The interim pastor is a continuous learner.
Communication is clear and open with the congregation.
The interim pastor shepherds and loves the congregation.
The interim pastor makes tough calls before the pastor arrives.
The interim pastor leaves when it’s time to leave.


Episode Sponsors

The ministry landscape is changing, and the need for biblical training is more necessary than ever. It’s time to get your Master of Divinity degree. The M.Div —Midwestern Seminary’s flagship degree program — is the primary track for ministry preparation. At just 81 hours, the Midwestern M.Div offers a complete foundation for full-time ministry leaders, offering everything you need, and nothing you don’t. Join other students in vibrant Kansas City as you train in a unique collaborative environment focused on the local church or study online in your current ministry context. Midwestern Seminary is developing a discipleship culture devoted to the local church and committed to God’s unchanging Word. Why not start your training today?

Find out more at mbts.edu/mdiv.

Vanderbloemen Search Group is the premier pastor search firm dedicated to helping churches and ministries build great teams. They’ve helped thousands of churches just like yours find their church staff and are uniquely geared to help you discern who God is calling to lead your church.

For more information, visit WeStaffTheChurch.com.

Feedback

If you have a question you would like answered on the show, fill out the form on the podcast page here at ThomRainer.com. If we use your question, you’ll receive a free copy of Becoming a Welcoming Church.

Resources Mentioned in Today’s Podcast

InterimPastor.University

How Run-down Facilities Can Exacerbate the Decline in a Church – Revitalize & Replant #055

SUBSCRIBE TODAY: iTunes • RSS • Stitcher • TuneIn Radio • Google Play

Facility issues can stall or hinder church growth. Today, we discuss five reasons church facilities can cause decline in your church.

Today’s Listener Question:

FROM MATT

I’m a bivocational pastor at a normative size church. The church has grown a little and we’re to the point where we have to decide if we bring on more bivocational staff (music and kids ministries are volunteer led) or use funds to start upgrading facilities. My gut reaction is that we upgrade the facilities, keep growing, and then hire the staff, but some of my deacons say the opposite. Staff first, then facilities. Help!

Episode Highlights:

A run-down church facility tells the community that “we don’t care.”
Families will be turned off by run-down or dirty church facilities because they will be worried about the safety of their kids.
Churches should be a place of hope in their communities.
Do what it takes to get rid of the distractions in your church facility so that people can focus on worship and discipleship.

The five reasons we discuss are:

It communicates to the community “we don’t care”
Parents are fearful of bringing their children
It creates ill will in the neighborhood
It demoralizes the congregation
It is a distraction to the congregation

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

Cool Solutions Group
Church Health Report
ChurchReplanters.com
ChurchAnswers.com
Replanter Assessment
Find more resources at the Revitalize & Replant page at ThomRainer.com


Revitalize & Replant is sponsored by the North American Mission Board and ChurchReplanters.com. More than 10% of churches in North America are at risk of closing and the North American Mission Board is committed to reversing this trend by decreasing the death rate of existing churches while simultaneously increasing the birth rate of new churches. To learn more about what it means to become a replanting pastor or to explore resources for replanting and revitalization in your own church, visit ChurchReplanters.com.
Submit Your Question:

Do you have a question about church revitalization or replanting for us to use on the podcast? Visit the podcast page to submit your question. If we use it on the show, you’ll get a copy of Autopsy of a Deceased Church and Reclaiming Glory.

10 Guidelines for Paying and Hosting Guest Speakers and Musicians

Money can be an awkward issue for churches and guest speakers.

It’s the issue both parties consider; but it’s often the issue around which both parties tiptoe.

It should not be that way. It’s really a matter of biblical stewardship and hospitality. Over the years, I have worked with many churches and speakers (and a few musicians) to establish some guidelines for hosting and paying guest speakers. Keep in mind, these are guidelines, not rigid rules. There will always be reasons for exceptions.

Pay with a generous spirit. As your church is able, try to abound in generosity to the guest speakers and musicians. Art Rainer actually developed a formula for paying guest preachers specifically. I think his approach is a good starting point for guest preachers. There will be differences for conference leaders, musicians, and others.

Ask the guest speaker for expectations for pay. Don’t be shy to ask guest speakers if they have specific fees or payment guidelines. There is no need to tiptoe around this matter.

Pay promptly. Your church should have the check waiting when the speaker arrives. Get the W-9 form and travel expense reimbursement form completed ahead of time as often as possible. You should never tell a speaker you will get a check to him later after he has completed his engagement with you.

Cover all travel expenses. Those expenses would include airfare or mileage reimbursement, rental car, meals, and lodging. There is nothing wrong with being clear about what level of expenses you will reimburse, such as coach fare instead of first-class.

Provide reasonable accommodations. Most speakers do not like to stay in homes. They are often on the road a good bit and prefer the freedom of being in a hotel and not making up their own beds or engaging the hosts in long conversations.

Inform the speaker ahead of time. Tell them clearly what the honorarium or fee and travel reimbursement will be on the front end of conversations with them. Outlining these details in writing is also helpful for both parties. Don’t leave the speaker wondering about it after he or she has accepted the invitation.

Consider the implications of the engagement from the perspective of the speaker. From the church’s perspective, the engagement could be as brief as a 45-minute speaking assignment. But from the speaker’s perspective, he may have to be gone two days from his family due to travel time. Be generous from that perspective.

Avoid scope creep and add-ons. Scope creep means you ask the speaker for additional speaking spots after your initial invitation. The church or host often says, “Since you are going to be here anyway . . .” Add-ons refer to other groups trying to get the speaker to do engagements for them since the original host is paying the travel costs. The host church or host should ask for the specific commitment on the front-end and not add to it.

Provide a specific point person as their contact and host. The speaker needs one person as the contact person for all aspects of the engagement, from travel arrangements to payments to sound checks to meeting them at the site of the engagement.

Protect your church’s reputation. It does not take long for a church to get a bad reputation for how it treats speakers. Travel can be a wearying experience. The speaker needs to know the host has his or her best interests at heart.

Granted, these guidelines are written largely from the perspective of looking after the speaker. In a future post, I will address specific guidelines speakers and musicians should consider. In the meantime, let me hear your thoughts.

Five Major Ways to Improve Your Worship Services – Rainer on Leadership #460

Podcast Episode #460

SUBSCRIBE: iTunes • RSS • Stitcher • TuneIn Radio • Google Play • iHeart Radio

There are several things you can do in worship services to improve the experience for guests and members. Today we discuss five such things—four of which cost nothing.

Some highlights from today’s episode include:

Poorly done announcements can really derail a worship service. Video announcements can help eliminate that risk.
The most strategic place to have a greeter is in the worship center talking to people who are already seated waiting on the service to start.
Churches should avoid insider language because it confuses guests and makes them feel unwelcome.
Keep these two principles in mind in your church: use what communicates best and what communicates to guests.

The five improvements we discuss are:

Use video announcements (Pro-Nounce)
Allow for text questions after the sermon
Make the offertory time meaningful
Make certain no guests sit alone
Avoid insider language


Episode Sponsors

Vanderbloemen Search Group is the premier pastor search firm dedicated to helping churches and ministries build great teams. They’ve helped thousands of churches just like yours find their church staff and are uniquely geared to help you discern who God is calling to lead your church.

For more information, visit WeStaffTheChurch.com.

The ministry landscape is changing, and the need for biblical training is more necessary than ever. It’s time to get your Master of Divinity degree. The M.Div —Midwestern Seminary’s flagship degree program — is the primary track for ministry preparation. At just 81 hours, the Midwestern M.Div offers a complete foundation for full-time ministry leaders, offering everything you need, and nothing you don’t. Join other students in vibrant Kansas City as you train in a unique collaborative environment focused on the local church or study online in your current ministry context. Midwestern Seminary is developing a discipleship culture devoted to the local church and committed to God’s unchanging Word. Why not start your training today?

Find out more at mbts.edu/mdiv.

Feedback

If you have a question you would like answered on the show, fill out the form on the podcast page here at ThomRainer.com. If we use your question, you’ll receive a free copy of Becoming a Welcoming Church.

Resources Mentioned in Today’s Podcast

Pro-Nounce
ChurchAnswers.com

Five Ways Your Church Can Have a Major Impact as the New School Year Begins

I have always been weird.

While most of my childhood peers lamented the beginning of a new school year, I looked forward to it with enthusiasm. I loved the opportunity to learn and discover new vistas.

As a pastor, I saw the beginning of a school year as an opportunity to try new approaches and to make a statement about the priorities of our congregation. Over the past three decades, I have been blessed to hear from other church leaders on a multitude of topics. Let me share with you what I have heard about great success stories of churches as a new school year approached. They are basic but profound.

Recommit to becoming a welcoming church. September could be the month where you see a greater regular flow of guests. Families often move in the summer, so their children can start in a new school at the beginning of the school year. Take a look at two of my books to help guide you in this recommitment. Becoming a Welcoming Church is pretty much a complete guide for your church leaders and members. We Want You Here is a unique book meant specifically for the guest as a gift. Both books are only $5 when purchased in a case of 20 books. Commercial over.

Dedicate a part of a worship service to praying for students and teachers. We recently did that at our church. And we followed the service by writing brief thank you letters to the teachers at one of the schools near us. It had a huge impact on both the teachers and on our members.

Adopt a school. Request a meeting with a local school principal. Ask him or her what your church could do to best help the school. If it is within the scope of what the church can do, organize a ministry to meet that very need. Some churches paint classrooms. Some churches clean school grounds. Other churches provide back-to-school resources for students and/or teachers.

Revitalize the groups in your church. Regardless of what you call them, community groups, life groups, Sunday school classes, or many other names, these groups are the lifeblood of assimilation, ministry, and stewardship in your church. Do whatever is necessary with a new school year beginning to re-energize and grow your groups.

Re-cast the vision of the church. Many church leaders re-cast the vision of the church at the beginning of the calendar year. Consider casting the vision at the beginning of the school year. You will likely have more new members and guests in September than in January. You have a great opportunity to ride the wave of freshness that a new school year brings.

These are five of the most effective back-to-school ideas I have heard from churches all across North America and beyond. But this blog has several million faithful audience members. I know many of you have some great ideas. Please share them with our community.

Pray for Pleasant Grove Baptist Church

Location: Creedmoor, North Carolina

Weekly Worship: Sundays at 11:00 AM, Eastern

Fast Facts: Pleasant Grove lost their pastor late last week when he and his wife were involved in a serious automobile accident in Creedmoor. Pastor Marc Tilley was in the passenger’s seat when a large truck rear-ended their car killing him and severely injuring his wife. Services for Tilley were held on Wednesday. Please pray for this church and the Tilley family as they take the next steps in grieving the loss of their pastor, friend, father, and husband.

Website: Facebook.com/PGBCCreedmoor/

“Pray for . . .” is the Sunday blog series at ThomRainer.com. We encourage you to pray for these churches noted every Sunday. Please feel free to comment that you are praying as well.

If you would like to have your church featured in the “Pray for…” series, fill out this information form..