Thom S. Rainer's Blog, page 149
August 18, 2018
Notable Voices: August 18, 2018
How to Prepare for a Major Financial Emergency — Art Rainer
Major emergencies, like losing a job, are rare. They occur on a much less regular basis than minor emergencies. But when they do hit, their punch can be devastating. Losing a job can take a significant emotional and financial toll. For some, losing a job means selling a house, finding a new school for the kids and, of course, finding a new job. Losing a job is stressful and exhausting. And if you aren’t prepared, you can quickly find yourself with an empty bank account.
Church Mystery Guests Share What Keeps Them From Coming Back — Facts & Trends
As churches drift into ministry routines, it can be easy to overlook blind spots—aspects of the church service or culture that keep guests from returning. For this reason, the company Faith Perceptions sends mystery guests to churches to help them see their service through the eyes of a visitor and understand what can be improved so guests will be more likely to return.
9 Things a Messy Church Building Says — Chuck Lawless
You’ve probably seen one—that is, a church that is generally messy, cluttered with “stuff” and often marked by disarray. Sometimes, the building also carries a unique odor that can only be described as “church basement stench.” I admit my bias here (that I’m a very clean person), but my years of church consulting have shown us that a messy church building often says:
Pastoring Amid Depression — John Starke
I was a pastor and depressed. Of course, depression doesn’t just hit pastors and not all pastors will experience depression. But there were some unique challenges to being a spiritual leader and guide, while also feeling weakened by my emotional life that I didn’t have many categories for. How could I help others if I felt helpless? How could I preach the fruit of Christian joy when it had literally been months since I had experienced it myself? Shame, guilt, and fear were emotions that seemed to be taking their turns swinging at me.
Earlier This Week at ThomRainer.com:
Five Ways the #MeToo Movement Will Likely Impact Churches
Problems Churches Face When They Don’t Have a Pastor
Seven of the Greatest Stressors on Pastors
Leading a Revitalization or Replant When You Are Bivocational
Why People Don’t Invite Others to Church
August 17, 2018
Why People Don’t Invite Others to Church – Rainer on Leadership #459
SUBSCRIBE: iTunes • RSS • Stitcher • TuneIn Radio • Google Play • iHeart Radio
A recent LifeWay Research study reported on the invite habits of American churchgoers. Today, we examine the results and discuss how to correct the problems.
Some highlights from today’s episode include:
Nearly two-thirds of Protestant churchgoers have invited someone to church in the last six months.
Regular church attenders are more likely to invite others to join them than sporadic attenders.
Pastors need to create an awareness and an atmosphere of inviting in their church.
People will likely accept your invitation to church if you already have a relationship with them and offer to walk in/arrive with them.
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.
[image error]Applications are now open for Vanderbloemen’s fall pastor coaching network at their Houston headquarters in September and November. There are two networks – one for Lead Pastors and one for Executive Pastors. Each group is limited to 16 people. It’s a roundtable, close-knit network where you will grow as a leader so that you can grow your team and ultimately grow your church.
If you’re interested in joining, visit vanderbloemen.com/coaching for more information.
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
Invite Your One
Invite Your One featuring Jeremy Roberts – Rainer on Leadership #284
Invite Cards
August 16, 2018
Leading a Revitalization or Replant When You Are Bivocational – Revitalize & Replant #054
Bivocational pastors often face unique issues related to church revitalization—especially when it comes to time. Today, we discuss how to prioritize the small amount of time bivocational pastors have.
Today’s Listener Question:
FROM DOUG
I am a bivocational pastor replanting a church that has about 50 people. I work full time outside of my responsibilities there and am only able to give about 15 hours to the church ministry. With that in mind what is the best way to spend those 15 hours? What’s the priority in my time management? Thanks and keep up the good podcast!
Episode Highlights:
Bivocational pastors need to know what kind of bandwidth they have to devote to the church.
There are great sermon helps out there. Use them—but don’t plagiarize them.
Tactical patience means knowing what to do when and waiting until the time is right to make changes.
One of the marks of success in ministry is a pattern of making disciples who make disciples.
The six priorities that we discuss are:
Focus on equipping others
Focus on sermon preparation
Have tactical patience
Communicate clearly your time limitations
Use groups to do ministry
Stay connected with other pastors
Resources mentioned in this episode include:
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.
August 15, 2018
Seven of the Greatest Stressors on Pastors
Giving their families deserved time.
An unhappy spouse.
The glass house.
Lacking competencies in key areas.
Personal financial needs.
Responding to criticisms.
Lack of a confidant.
Some highlights from today’s Rainer Report:
If a pastors has any of these seven stressors, church members and leaders can help to relieve them.
A pastor’s first line of ministry is their family.
Undue stress on a pastor’s spouse can directly impact the health of a church.
Most pastors are grossly underpaid, and too many church members do nothing to help that.
August 14, 2018
Problems Churches Face When They Don’t Have a Pastor – Rainer on Leadership #458
SUBSCRIBE: iTunes • RSS • Stitcher • TuneIn Radio • Google Play • iHeart Radio
William Vanderbloemen joins us to discuss the problems churches often face when they are pastorless.
Some highlights from today’s episode include:
When a church loses a pastor, it can expect a 5-15% drop in giving.
The larger a church, the bigger attendance drop when a pastor leaves.
The Word preached is the centerpiece of what we do in corporate worship.
Parents attend churches where their children want to be.
The seven problems we discuss are:
Drop in giving
Drop in attendance
Drop in overall member involvement
Leadership vacuum
Loss of missional momentum
Inward focus takes over
Loss of other staff members
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
Interim Pastor University
BadHireCalculator.church
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August 13, 2018
Five Ways the #MeToo Movement Will Likely Impact Churches
The #MeToo Movement will be one of the historic markers of 2018. Its impact is felt in the entertainment industry, in politics, in businesses and, undoubtedly, in churches. While we have yet to understand fully the impact in local churches, we can anticipate changes that will come. Here are five ways the #MeToo movement will likely impact churches.
More churches will adopt the Billy Graham rule. The Billy Graham rule, at its essence, says a person should not be alone with a person of the opposite gender if that person is not your spouse. This practice, disparaged and ridiculed by many as archaic, legalistic, and unfair, could have saved a lot of heartache if it had been embraced earlier. It will bring changes in counseling, travel, and meetings.
More churches will add me-too questions for background checks. There are already a number of background checks done on prospective pastors and church staff. Background checks for credit, legal, and social media are now common. It will likely be common for churches to ask prospective pastors and staff if there is anything in their history that could bring shame to the person and the church.
Smaller churches will make changes to make sure two people are not alone in the church office. It is not uncommon in many smaller churches to have only two people in the office, commonly the pastor and an assistant. Likewise, it is common for those two people to be of the opposite gender. Anticipate an acceleration of the trend toward virtual assistants, even (or perhaps especially) in smaller churches.
Travel habits will change for church staff and church members. The Billy Graham rule precludes a male and female traveling alone, even for short distances. Many churches will adopt such a policy. It will likely mean some churches will have to change their travel practices significantly.
There will be a heightened sensitivity to the problems that precipitated the #MeToo Movement. The world has changed as a result of the #MeToo Movement. Churches are part of that change. Not only will practices change in the church, but language and attitudes will change as well. Hopefully, the changes will move toward that of honoring the women who work and minister in churches and demonstrating a more Christ-like attitude in all that we do.
I have practiced the Billy Graham rule in my life. It has been a policy of the organization I lead for years. The #MeToo Movement is a reminder that the late evangelist got it right. When it is all said and done, anything we can do to show greater respect and honor to girls and women can only be good.
August 12, 2018
Pray for Bond Baptist Church
Location: Annville, Kentucky
Pastor: Cody Powell
Weekly Worship: 11:00 AM, Eastern
Fast Facts: Bond Baptist Church is a 96-year-old church that is growing younger in the foothills of southeastern Kentucky. The church has just transitioned from being a traditional baptist church to a more contemporary service. Bond is filled with young people with a flourishing children and student ministries. The church is working towards having an outward focus in order to reach their community for the gospel. Bond Baptist Church is currently participating in evangelism training to prepare for an outreach effort that will occur in September. Please pray for boldness and the Lord would help the church be effective for the Kingdom.
Website: BondBaptist.com
“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..
August 11, 2018
Notable Voices and the Week in Review: August 11, 2018
6 Signs Your Spouse is Guilty of Financial Infidelity — Art Rainer
Financial infidelity—lying about financial matters to your spouse. It is not as rare as we would all like to hope. According to recent reports, 20% of respondents admitted they had made purchases of $500 or more without their spouse knowing. Six percent confessed to having secret accounts. God designed marriage as an all-in deal. Husband and wife are to pursue oneness in all areas of their marriage. Including their finances.
What Do Pastors Enjoy Most About Their Job? — Facts & Trends
Above all the other aspects of their jobs, most pastors say what they love most is preaching. Not surprisingly, that’s also what they say they’re best at. In addition to pastors’ favorite part of their job, Barna also found how satisfied pastors were with their vocation, their specific church, and what was most frustrating for them. Overall, 72 percent of senior pastors say they are very satisfied with being a pastor. Only 28 percent say they are less satisfied.
4 Ways Elders Should Seek Accountability — Dave Harvey
Guys, let’s face it. If a pastor’s accountability isn’t in the local church, it’s probably not real accountability. It might give the illusion of accountability so he can traffic in the vocabulary without the entanglements of the substance. Here’s the problem: Not everyone is clear on what they mean when they use the word “accountability.” Let me suggest four values we should seek to experience in accountability within a plurality of elders in a local church: intentionality, self-disclosure, approachability, and appeal.
8 Indicators Worship Music is Not Good — Chuck Lawless
I’m not a singer or a musician, so I hesitate to write this post. On the other hand, the topic of worship and worship music is a critical one for believers. So, I write simply as a person who has worshiped in multiple settings on several continents, and who is concerned when worship music simply isn’t well done. Here are some of my indicators of when the worship music is not good:
This Week at ThomRainer.com:
Eight Areas Where Pastors Wish They Were Better Equipped
I asked seasoned pastors to share with me the areas they wish they could be better prepared and better equipped. The results were voluminous, and the needs are great. Here are the top eight…READ MORE
Seven Traits of Healthy Churches Today
Obviously, my list is not exhaustive. But these are the seven main buckets of traits I saw as I surveyed the landscape of healthy churches…READ MORE
Nine Key Statistical Insights from Churches in 2018
by Thom Rainer and Jonathan Howe | Rainer on Leadership
http://media.blubrry.com/thomrainer/s3.amazonaws.com/TheExchange/Episode456.mp3
Why Digital Giving Options Are Vital for the Financial Health of Your Church
by Thom Rainer and Jonathan Howe | Rainer on Leadership
http://media.blubrry.com/thomrainer/s3.amazonaws.com/TheExchange/Episode457.mp3
Why Some Dying Churches Don’t Know They Are Dying
by Thom Rainer and Jonathan Howe | Revitalize & Replant
http://media.blubrry.com/revitalizereplant/s3.amazonaws.com/TheExchange/RevitalizeReplant/RR-Episode053.mp3
August 10, 2018
Why Digital Giving Options Are Vital for the Financial Health of Your Church – Rainer on Leadership #457
SUBSCRIBE: iTunes • RSS • Stitcher • TuneIn Radio • Google Play • iHeart Radio
If churches want the next generation of members to give to their full potential, digital giving options are a must. Today, we explain why.
Some highlights from today’s episode include:
Regardless of the size of your church, you should have digital giving options available to members.
Online givers are more consistent with their giving because it it almost always automated.
I don’t know of a single church who has made digital giving available and has seen a drop in giving as a result.
We are living in a digital world. Churches need to recognize and capitalize on the opportunities the digital age provides.
The six reasons we discuss are:
A review of the most common digital options: online giving; text giving, etc., and their affordability
Digital giving provides a discipline of giving
Digital giving takes place even when the member does not attend.
Millennials and Gen Z don’t have checks or cash.
Digital giving as a means of giving is growing rapidly.
Many members and guests feel like churches are not relevant without digital giving options.
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.
Applications are now open for Vanderbloemen’s fall pastor coaching network at their Houston headquarters in September and November. There are two networks – one for Lead Pastors and one for Executive Pastors. Each group is limited to 16 people. It’s a roundtable, close-knit network where you will grow as a leader so that you can grow your team and ultimately grow your church.
If you’re interested in joining, visit vanderbloemen.com/coaching for more information.
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
ChurchAnswers.com
tithe.ly
August 9, 2018
Why Some Dying Churches Don’t Know They Are Dying – Revitalize & Replant #053
Dying churches often don’t realize their problem until it’s too late. Today we look at the reasons why.
Today’s Listener Question:
FROM BRANDON
Why do dying churches not realize they are dying?
Episode Highlights:
Dying churches die because they refuse to confront reality.
Church members in dying churches often don’t realize the church is dying because their relational patterns have not been upset yet.
Church assessments give you perceptions of the members so that leaders can have a better view of the church.
“We aren’t as bad as that church” is not really a reason to be proud of your church.
The six reasons we discuss are:
They are in denial
They still have most of their friends in the church
They have not done a church assessment
They don’t see the decline day by day
They think smaller is better
They compare themselves to a church in worse condition
Resources mentioned in this episode include:
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.
