Thom S. Rainer's Blog, page 237
March 29, 2016
12 Keys to Making Time When You Have None – Rainer on Leadership #211
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On today’s podcast we discuss a topic we get questions on quite often: time management. The biggest key to time management is having a calendar and sticking with it, but in ministry, that can be difficult. So we highlight that and how to handle your time when ministry gets off schedule.
Some highlights from today’s episode include:
It’s easy to get busy in ministry and not do the right things.
In most parts of the country, there is a college nearby where you can find someone who would intern at your church.
You need to plan hospital visits to maximize effectiveness and minimize time spent.
Instead of doing tasks you like first, do those that are critical first.
Put everything on your calendar, and add time to it if possible to account for contingencies.
Life happens, so sometimes a calendar gets blown up.
Counseling is the one area that can eat up time more than any other aspect of ministry.
The 12 keys to making time when you have none are:
Don’t be a perfectionist
Learn what equipping really means
Identify potential interns
Plan ministry visits strategically
Stay within your ministry guardrails
Prioritize your work (“gotta do’s” go first)
Understand the difference in “want to do” and “have to do”
Learn the secret of batching
Calendar project preparation and contingencies
Stick to your schedule
Be cautious of scope creep (counseling)
Do not compromise personal devotion and family time
Episode Sponsors
Midwestern Seminary, located in the heart of the Midwest, is one of the fastest growing seminaries in North America and offers a fantastic array of academic programs, including multiple online and residential options at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. Midwestern’s new 81-hour Mdiv program, online program, and doctoral program have all been recognized as some of the most innovative and affordable in the country. There has never been a better time to begin your seminary education. Midwestern Seminary trains leaders ‘For The Church.’
Visit them online at MBTS.edu and start your ministry training today.
Vanderbloemen Search Group is the premier pastor search firm dedicated to helping churches and ministries build great teams. They’ve helped hundreds 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.
Find out more about Vanderbloemen Search Group by visiting 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 I Will.
Resources Mentioned in Today’s Podcast
Midwestern Seminary’s 5-year Bachelor of Arts & Master of Divinity
The post 12 Keys to Making Time When You Have None – Rainer on Leadership #211 appeared first on ThomRainer.com.
March 28, 2016
Six Reasons Why Your Church’s Offerings May Be Struggling
“I don’t understand why our offerings are down. Attendance is not down.”
“It’s a bit scary. If we lose our two highest giving families, our offerings will be down almost 20 percent. None of the younger families will replace that.”
Those are two representative comments from pastors who have expressed specific concerns to me about their church’s finances. Moreover, they are often perplexed why offerings are down when other factors point that offerings should be higher.
These are not random comments. A recent study by LifeWay Research showed that over half (51%) of Protestant pastors said their church’s offerings were still affected negatively by the economy. Only 13% said the offerings were improving.
So what’s behind this somewhat gloomy perspective? Why might your church’s offerings be struggling? Here are six clear reasons.
Giving to churches lags economic growth. The church member who just got a job after several months of unemployment often does not resume church giving immediately, especially at the pace he or she gave during his or her previous employment.
The Millennials are skeptical givers. Those born between 1980 and 2000 are often reticent givers. They want to be certain the church is a good steward of the contributed funds.
Charitable giving overall is struggling in many sectors. It’s not just the churches that are feeling this challenge.
Giving to the institution is the motive of most of the Builder generation (those born before 1946). Subsequent generations are more likely to give to a cause or a vision. As the Builder generation fades, so does institutionally motivated giving.
Tax laws are hurting wealthy charitable givers. New tax laws for wealthy individuals do not give full tax credit for charitable giving.
Declining frequency of attendance. I have noted at this blog and at the Rainer on Leadership podcast that the number one reason for decline in church attendance is members attending less frequently. This trend also affects offerings since some members only give when they are in worship services.
The challenge is real, but the situation is not hopeless. Leaders of churches who can communicate a clear and compelling vision are more likely to see increases in church offerings. Also, churches with high expectation membership classes typically see higher offerings as well.
How are the offerings in your church? Which of the six factors are affecting your church? Let me hear from you.
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March 27, 2016
Pray for Palm Baptist Church
Location: Riverside, California
Pastor: Albert Shade
Weekly Worship: 9:30 & 10:45 AM, Pacific
Fast Facts: Palm Baptist Church has a 75-year history and is one of the longest standing churches in the Inland Empire. This Easter Sunday, they are hosting “Risen! An Easter Celebration” and inviting neighbors for the service and food and festivities afterwards. Please pray for the Easter event and that they not only plant seeds of the gospel but follow up with guests well. Also pray for a revival of faithfulness to and acceptance of the gospel of Jesus Christ and that the leadership not get discouraged with resistance to changes.
Website: PalmBaptistChurch.org
“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..
The post Pray for Palm Baptist Church appeared first on ThomRainer.com.
March 26, 2016
Notable Voices: March 26, 2016
How to Preach a Terrible Easter Sermon — Colin Adams
You still have time for a few edits before tomorrow if you find yourself in these categories.
Six Things You Inherit as a New Pastor at an Established Church — Sam Rainer
There are a number of things to remember as a new pastor in an established church. These six things you inherit are but a few of them.
Three Reasons Pastors and Their Wives Should Have Close Friends in the Church — Megan Hill
Not having friends or not wanting to develop friends in the church is a common lament for pastors and their wives. Megan shares three reasons why that shouldn’t be the case.
Three Types of Friends Every Leader Needs — Eric Geiger
Having these three types of friends as a leader will give you access to a wealth of wisdom as you lead. Leaders who fly solo often crash and burn, that’s why these three types of friends are so important for leading well.
Seven Thoughts on Creating Unity in a Church for a New Pastor — Ron Edmondson
These not only create unity, but they allow you to make changes as needed while facing less resistance.
Seven Lies You’ve Been Telling Yourself about Church — Kristen Wetherell
Kristen covers the excuses people often give for not attending church and corrects them well.
The post Notable Voices: March 26, 2016 appeared first on ThomRainer.com.
March 25, 2016
Why Churches Struggle with Follow-Up – Rainer on Leadership #210
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On today’s episode, we discuss a recent post on guest follow-up and offer some tips on how to improve it in your church.
Some highlights from today’s episode include:
One of the questions I get all the time is “How do we get guests to return to our church?”
Door-to-door visitation still works in some churches and communities, but not many.
Most churches put a lot more effort into events at the church facility than they do for being in the community.
In most churches a 20% return rate for guests should be the benchmark.
Most church members don’t know what a church does for follow-up because the staff do it all.
Some type of follow-up with church guests should happen within 24 hours of a visit.
Let the context of your community dictate how you do followup after an initial contact.
Every church should have a plan for how to follow-up with guests.
The six reasons churches struggle with follow-up are:
The church has no plan in place for follow-up.
Follow-up takes place outside the walls, a place of discomfort for many church members.
Follow-up ministry is not as splashy as other ministries.
Follow-up ministry can become discouraging.
Follow-up ministry is not emphasized or recognized by leadership.
Follow-up ministry is not even considered a ministry in many churches.
Episode Sponsors
Vanderbloemen Search Group is the premier pastor search firm dedicated to helping churches and ministries build great teams. They’ve helped hundreds 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.
Find out more about Vanderbloemen Search Group by visiting WeStaffTheChurch.com.
Midwestern Seminary, located in the heart of the Midwest, is one of the fastest growing seminaries in North America and offers a fantastic array of academic programs, including multiple online and residential options at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. Midwestern’s new 81-hour Mdiv program, online program, and doctoral program have all been recognized as some of the most innovative and affordable in the country. There has never been a better time to begin your seminary education. Midwestern Seminary trains leaders ‘For The Church.’
Visit them online at MBTS.edu and start your ministry training today.
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 I Will.
Resources
Camel Falls into the Crowd at Family Church
The post Why Churches Struggle with Follow-Up – Rainer on Leadership #210 appeared first on ThomRainer.com.
March 24, 2016
Four Reasons You Need a Communications Plan for Your Church
By Jonathan Howe
Most, if not all, churches have a plan for their worship services. Hopefully your church has a plan for discipleship. And many churches have a long-range plan.
But what about how you communicate to members and guests? Do you have a plan for that? Here are four reasons you should have a communications plan in your church.
Everyone knows their role and responsibility. Unless one person is handling all of the communications of a church, everyone on the team needs to know who is responsible for each channel. With Facebook, Twitter, email newsletters, Instagram, bulletins, phone calls, and more available to churches, it’s easy to see how communication could get confusing. A plan where everyone knows what they need to distribute and when it needs to go out helps align all of your communication channels.
Fewer items fall through the cracks. Even when one person is in charge of all church communications, things get missed when there is no plan. Add in three or four other people, and that creates even more opportunities for things to fall through the cracks. Having a plan—and possibly a weekly checklist—allows you to be consistent with what, when, and where information goes out.
Your communication is more strategic. If you lack a communications plan, you cannot be strategic with how you communicate. When you lack strategy, members and guests are less informed and less engaged. And with attendance waning in many churches, we should be doing everything possible to increase engagement from members.
Members and guests benefit from consistency. Related to the previous point, having a communications plan that is consistent in distributing information about your church allows members and guests to become more engaged with your church. Engaged and informed members are more likely to attend and, as a result, grow in their faith. As for guests, moving them to membership is much more likely when their questions are routinely being answered before they have to ask them.
Next month, I’ll discuss the components of a strategic church communications plan. But for now, what other benefits do you see of having a strategic plan for your church communications?
Jonathan Howe serves as Director of Strategic Initiatives at LifeWay Christian Resources, the host and producer of Rainer on Leadership and SBC This Week, and the managing editor of LifeWayPastors.com. Jonathan writes weekly at ThomRainer.com on topics ranging from social media to websites and church communications. Connect with Jonathan on Twitter at @Jonathan_Howe.
The post Four Reasons You Need a Communications Plan for Your Church appeared first on ThomRainer.com.
March 23, 2016
Nine Considerations for Church Members This Easter
It will be one of the highest attended days of the year for your church. It may be the highest.
There will be some people you don’t know. Some of them are guests. Others are members who attend infrequently.
You have an opportunity to make a gospel impression on these people with a few simple acts. Indeed, you have an opportunity to make an eternal difference. Here are nine servant actions for you to consider.
Pray as you enter the property. Pray for the guests. Pray for the services. Pray for the pastor and the sermon.
Park at the most distant spot available. Save the closer parking places for guests.
Greet people. They may be guests. They may be members. It’s okay to introduce yourself to either.
Look for people to help. You know the place well. Many others will not. Be a guide. Help someone who looks like he or she needs help.
Sit as close as possible to the front of the worship center. Save the back rows for guests and late entrants, so they don’t have to walk past so many people.
Sit in the middle. Don’t claim that aisle seat where people have to walk over you or past you.
Sit closely. Your worship center may be packed. If so, be willing to sit cheek to cheek.
Volunteer to serve. As the number of attendees increase, so does the need for volunteers. The parking team, kids ministry, and church greeter ministry are a few of the areas that will need more volunteers to help serve and minister to members and guests.
Pray as you leave. The Holy Spirit is likely working in many persons who attended. Pray for His continual work of conviction and comfort.
These are simple acts. They are acts of service. And if you survive doing these acts of kindness and service on Easter, you just might be able to do them on other days of worship as well.
The post Nine Considerations for Church Members This Easter appeared first on ThomRainer.com.
March 22, 2016
High Attendance Days and How Best to Use Them – Rainer on Leadership #209
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On today’s podcast we discuss a recent post on the four highest worship attendance days of the year. We also discuss the best ways to use these to your advantage as a church with intentional follow-up and strategic planning.
Some highlights from today’s episode include:
A Christmas Eve service is the number one time to reach those who are unchurched.
Those who are unchurched and lost don’t really consider Easter as a day for church.
Easter is a great time to promote groups because those who usually attend are nominal attenders.
You will have more non-churched guests for a Christmas Ever service than any other time of the year.
You have got to be strategic and intentional when following up with guests.
Churches should be strategic about high attendance days and not let these come and go without a plan.
The four high attendance days we cover are:
Easter
Christmas Eve
Mother’s Day
Contextual Day
Episode Sponsors
Midwestern Seminary, located in the heart of the Midwest, is one of the fastest growing seminaries in North America and offers a fantastic array of academic programs, including multiple online and residential options at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. Midwestern’s new 81-hour Mdiv program, online program, and doctoral program have all been recognized as some of the most innovative and affordable in the country. There has never been a better time to begin your seminary education. Midwestern Seminary trains leaders ‘For The Church.’
Visit them online at MBTS.edu and start your ministry training today.
Vanderbloemen Search Group is the premier pastor search firm dedicated to helping churches and ministries build great teams. They’ve helped hundreds 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.
Find out more about Vanderbloemen Search Group by visiting 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 I Will.
Resources Mentioned in Today’s Podcast
RevitalizedChurches.com
The post High Attendance Days and How Best to Use Them – Rainer on Leadership #209 appeared first on ThomRainer.com.
March 21, 2016
Ten Commandments for Pastors, Politics, and Social Media
There are few topics that evoke as much emotion as politics. The intensity of emotions is particularly evident during presidential elections.
Pastors and church staff are not oblivious to political emotions. Indeed, some of them can be among the most intensely emotional.
The purpose of this post is not to imply that pastors and staff should abandon their convictions. Nor is it to suggest that silence is always the best option. Instead, I hope it is a gentle reminder of ten issues pastors may want to consider before posting political views and opinions on social media.
You shall remember you are an ambassador for Christ. All of your written and spoken words should be a reflection of Him.
You shall remember you are your church to many people. Your words, for better or worse, are a direct reflection on your congregation.
You shall not be a stumbling block to unbelievers. Many are watching you. Many are reading your words.
You shall refrain from posting when your emotions are high. Take a break for a day. If you don’t, you will likely regret it later.
You shall remember that others are often posting in the throes of their own anger and emotions. It is usually best not to engage them then.
You shall remember your words are permanent. The moment you post, someone has likely captured your article or post, even if you delete it later.
You shall understand some members of your congregation likely have a different view than you. Is your post worth the disunity that may follow?
You shall not be a distraction to the gospel. Politics are often an easy detour from that which really matters.
You shall be aware of the long political memory many people have. Some people are talking today about the comments Christians made in the presidential election four years ago!
You shall be aware that your political opinions may cause disunity with other churches in the community. Make certain the words are worth the price that is paid.
The writer of Ecclesiastes reminds us in chapter 3, verse 7 there is “a time to be silent and a time to speak.” For the sake of the gospel, please make certain you have sought God’s wisdom to discern what time it is for you.
Let me hear from you.
The post Ten Commandments for Pastors, Politics, and Social Media appeared first on ThomRainer.com.
March 20, 2016
Pray for Bethany Baptist Church
Location: Crane Hill, Alabama
Pastor: Joshua Pendergrass
Weekly Worship: 8:00 & 10:45 AM, Central
Fast Facts: Bethany Baptist Church was founded in 1893 and over its nearly 125 years has experienced tremendous highs and lows. The church is located in a rural community that has also experienced similar peaks and valleys. Being near Lewis Smith Lake in North Alabama, the church has a history of successful outreach programs to lake residents including a weekly service which is held lakeside.
In recent years, the church has experienced significant growth with young families and children and is quickly becoming a multi-generational church. Over the past 18 months Pastor Josh and selected church leaders have engaged in a vision and planning process that is meant to lead Bethany into and beyond its 125 year anniversary in 2018.
Last Sunday, the church voted to adopt the Vision 125 team’s report and recommendations. Pastor Josh and other lay leaders are systematically reviewing the church’s programs and their place in the vision. This review includes a consideration of current and future building space needs. Please pray for the evaluations of the church programs and decisions to follow. Also pray for Pastor Josh and his wife, Leslie, as they are in the process adopting three children from the Republic of Congo.
Website: BethanyBySmithLake.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..
The post Pray for Bethany Baptist Church appeared first on ThomRainer.com.
