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Notable Voices: April 25, 2015

10 Pointers for Evangelistic Preaching — Peter Mead

Continuing his “10 Pointers” series, this week Peter turns his attention to evangelistic preaching.

 

Four Common Lies We Believe About Looking for a New Job — Sarah Newsome

Whatever your vocation, whether it is a secular job or in ministry, there are a handful of misnomers when it comes to looking for a new position. Sarah explains four of these lies and how to not be fooled by them.

 

No, Hanging Out With Your Friends Is Not the Church — Aaron Earls

In what appears to be a fad among Millennial Christians, some are choosing spiritual hangouts with friends over corporate gatherings of believers. Aaron explains why this is both concerning and unbiblical.

 

8 Reasons Church Change Is so Difficult — Charles Stone

Change is inevitable in churches. Charles explains how our brains process change and how best to communicate it to your people.

 

7 Basics for Better Staff Meetings — Eric Geiger

Staff meetings, when led well, can be incredibly productive and helpful. When they are led poorly, they can be a miserable waste of time. If you leda staff meetings at your church or office, these tips will help you lead a more effective meeting.

 

In Praise of Hymns — CBS Sunday

Keith and Kristyn Getty were recently featured in a report about hymns and modern hymn writing on CBS Sunday.

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What to Do With Church Bullies – Rainer on Leadership #118

Podcast Episode #118

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Church bullies are a real problem in many—if not all—churches. While you can attempt to safeguard your church through membership classes and high expectations, you will likely have to deal with a church bully at some point in your ministry. In today’s episode, we discuss what to do with church bullies and even how to prevent them from doing damage in a church.

Some highlights from today’s episode include:

Most church bullies would never think that they are bullies.
Church bullies rarely work alone. They make alliances to attempt to control the church.
High expectation churches are less likely to have problems with church bullies.
Low expectation churches lead to bullying because you don’t have strong members to stand up to them.
Church membership classes often weed out church bullies at the beginning.
Bullies are always active in shaping a church to their preferences.

Here are the nine traits of church bullies we discussed on the podcast:

They do not recognize themselves as bullies.
They have personal and self-serving agendas.
They seek to form power alliances with weak members in the church.
They tend to have intense and emotional personalities.
They are famous for saying “people are saying.”
They find their greatest opportunities in low expectation churches.
They are allowed to bully because church members will not stand up to them.
They create chaos and wreak havoc. A church bully always has his next mission.
They often move to other churches after they have done their damage.

Episode Sponsor

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 Autopsy of a Deceased Church.

Resources

Nine Traits of Church Bullies
Nine Ways to Deal with Church Bullies
I Am a Church Member
I Will
One Sentence That Pastors and Church Staff Hate to Hear

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11 Places to Use Church Greeters

By Chuck Lawless

The church where my wife and I attend, Restoration Church in Wake Forest, NC, does a great job greeting us as we arrive at our worship location (currently, a middle school). Our leaders have done their homework and have recognized the importance of making positive first impressions.

Many people who write about church growth recognize the importance of having trained greeters at the doors when guests arrive. I agree (as you’ll see below), but I also think there are many other places to use greeters:

In the parking lot near each entrance. Station greeters as near to each parking lot entrance as possible. They may also direct traffic, but more importantly, they welcome worshippers as they arrive. The first face a guest (or member, for that matter) sees at your location should be a happy, excited one.
Throughout the parking lot. Well-identified greeters can answer questions, assist those who need help, provide umbrellas when needed, and simply be another friendly face for those who are arriving.
At each entrance door. Most churches have a main entrance, but greeters should be at any door folks may enter. Unless directed otherwise by signage or parking lot greeters, anyone might enter at a less-frequented door – and everyone deserves a greeting.
At the welcome center. This one surely seems like a no-brainer, but I’ve visited churches with no human beings at the welcome center. Sometimes that’s because the welcome center attendant is escorting a guest somewhere, but that simply means the welcome center needs more workers. At least one greeter should always be at the Welcome Center.
At the entrance to the worship center. Again, churches often have ushers or others at the doors to distribute worship guides or bulletins. That’s a great start, but sometimes the number of people entering is more than the ushers alone can greet. I still encourage churches to have others there simply to welcome folks as they enter to worship.
Throughout the worship center. More often than not, the “secret shoppers” we send on church consultations report that no one speaks to them prior to the service.       One way to address this issue is to have assigned greeters in each section of the worship center. They probably sit in the same area every Sunday anyway, so why not give them a greeting assignment?
At each major intersection in the church facility. The larger the facility is, the more important these greeters can be. At any point where someone may get turned around, confused, or lost, greeters can be both a welcoming face and a necessary guide. At the entrance of children’s ministry sections, they can also double as a security force to help protect the children as needed.
In each small group gathering. We hope that all small group members will greet everyone else – but experience tells us otherwise. Whether the group is an on-campus group like Sunday school or an off-campus group like a life group, intentional greeters are still important. No one is missed if someone is prepared to greet everyone.
At every churchwide fellowship. Sure, the church family knows each other (we think) – but that possibility doesn’t mean everyone feels welcomed at the fellowship event. A simple “hello” and a genuine “we’re glad you’re here” can mean a lot to that lonely, hurting church member.
At the doors and in the parking lot at the end of the worship service. I’ve attended churches with greeters prior to the service, but not many with greeters in place after the service. Why not have folks ready to encourage and challenge others as they leave to apply what they’ve learned?
On the church website. Enlist some energetic greeters to post an invitation to church-searchers who check out your website. That way, you greet your guests before they come, when they come, and as they go out to serve.

Greeters should still be screened and trained, but the greeter role provides opportunities for many members to be involved. Involve more people intentionally, and your church will be a friendlier place.

In what other ways might you utilize greeters?  

Chuck Lawless currently serves as Professor of Evangelism and Missions and Dean of Graduate Studies at Southeastern Seminary. You can connect with Dr. Lawless on both Twitter and Facebook.

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Eight Reasons People Are Leaving Denominational Churches for Non-denominational Churches

While working on an unrelated research project, I recently came across some data published by the Hartford Institute of Religion Research. Though the information was five years old, it still seemed highly relevant today. In essence, the data showed that non-denominational churches are now the second largest Protestant group in America. Only the Southern Baptist Convention is larger.

Here are some of the fascinating nuggets from that study:

There are more than 12 million people who affiliate with non-denominational churches.
The research found at least 35,000 non-denominational churches in America.
Non-denominational churches are in 88% of the counties in the United States.
Non-denominational churches are one of the top five largest religious groups in 48 of the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

In light of the growth of these churches, I conducted an informal Twitter poll and asked why people are moving to non-denominational congregations from churches affiliated with denominations. Here are the top eight responses in order. There is obvious overlap in some of the responses.

Denominational churches have a negative reputation. Some respondents used the phrase “negative brand” to communicate this reason.
Denominations are known more for what they are against than what they are for.
There is too much infighting and politics in denominations.
The denominational churches are too liberal. From what I can tell from these respondents, they are current and former members of mainline churches.
There is a general waning of institutional loyalty in institutions such as denominations.
Denominations have inefficient systems and organizations. They are too bureaucratic.
Some of the respondents could see no perceived benefit to belonging to denominations.
Denominations are not good stewards of their financial resources.

I plan on doing a second poll in the near future to see how respondents view denominations positively. In the meantime, let me hear from you.

The post Eight Reasons People Are Leaving Denominational Churches for Non-denominational Churches appeared first on ThomRainer.com.

Why Pastors Often Leave Their Church in the Third Year – Rainer on Leadership #117

Podcast Episode #117

SUBSCRIBE: iTunes • RSS • Stitcher • TuneIn Radio

In may seem confusing, but most pastors leave their church in the third year and the average length of a pastorate is 3.6 years. In today’s podcast, we explain the math behind that and the reasons for it. I also answer the question “should the expectation of church growth be placed on a new pastor?”

Some highlights from today’s episode include:

Pastors most often leave a church while in their third year.
When seeking a pastor, most churches say they want to change—but often really don’t want to.
Sometimes, the most vocal supporters of a pastor in the beginning turn out to be the most challenging members later.
It usually takes around five years for a church to see a new pastor as “our pastor.”
When you are in the throes of a crisis, it feels as if the crisis will last forever.
New pastors should not be expected to grow the church but instead be expected to fulfill the Great Commission.

The seven topics we cover in this podcast are:

The average pastor lasts at each church for 3.6 years
From honeymoon to warts – The first five years
Dreams are not fulfilled – Both for the church and the pastor
Green grass syndrome  
When the true friends (or not) show themselves
The “golden” years: 5+
A need for clear expectations

Episode Sponsor

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 Autopsy of a Deceased Church.

Resources

The Grass Isn’t Always Greener Podcast

The post Why Pastors Often Leave Their Church in the Third Year – Rainer on Leadership #117 appeared first on ThomRainer.com.

When Church Staff Turn Against Each Other

Those who serve vocationally on church staffs are, for the most part, wonderful men and women who desire only to serve our Lord through a local congregation. But these pastors, executive pastors, children’s ministers, worship leaders, student ministers, and others are humans. And when sinful humans work together in any setting, there will be friction and challenging relationships.

While we can never eliminate all difficult issues between co-workers, we can seek to manage the relationships in the most healthy and godly manner. Unfortunately, in some churches, one or more staff members will turn against another in an unhealthy, unbiblical, and ungodly manner. Allow me to share eight thoughts about these bad situations.

The unity of the church is compromised when staff turn against each other. Unity in a congregation is a beautiful but delicate reality. When a church is unified, the congregation has “favor with all the people” (Acts 2:47). When the staff break that unity, the church is not healthy.
Church staff should pray for each other and with each other. The power of prayer can turn that which is broken into a miraculously healed relationship.
Staff should not conspire in darkness. I have heard too many stories of one or more staff working behind the backs of another staff person with whom they have an issue. Such an approach is deplorable and ungodly. That leads to my next thought.
Have open and honest conversations. Church staff should have the courage and the fortitude to share their disagreements with each other. Sometimes the problems are more misunderstandings than real differences.
Avoid the infamous “people are saying.” If you, as a church staff member, have a problem with another staff member, never use this phrase. Speak for yourself and give the names of the parties of whom you are speaking. Anything else is cowardice.
Hear both sides of a conflict. I recently heard of a church personnel committee that came to the conclusion to fire the pastor largely based on the complaints of two other staff. The committee never asked to hear from other staff, or even the pastor who was forced out.
Consider if you should leave before you tear apart the church. If you have a major conflict with another staff person, be willing to pray about your own departure. Our natural first and carnal instinct is to force the other person out. Maybe we need to ask seriously if we should leave before the conflict tears the church apart.
Help staff to exit graciously. I am grieved when I hear of a pastor or church staff person who is asked to leave immediately when conflict is taking place. Consider instead the path of giving him or a short period of time to find another position so he or she may exit gracefully.

I recently asked several pastors and church staff about the greatest challenges they face. Near the top of the list was staff conflict. While conflict is inevitable in any relationship, unresolved or improperly handled conflict among church staff can destroy the unity and the witness of the church.

There must be a better way.

Let me hear from you.

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Pray for Wellswood Baptist Church

Location: Tampa, Florida

Pastor: Jay Kimbro

Weekly Worship: 10:45 AM, Eastern.

Fast Facts: Wellswood Baptist is a 60-year-old church in the midst of a revitalization process. Since Pastor Kimbro came last year, the attendance has increased by 50% and baptisms have doubled. Wellswood has planned four big events for 2015. Friend Day in February and Easter Sunday both saw record numbers as people were challenged to invite at least seven unchurched friends, family, work associates and school mates. Please pray for the remaining big events, the development of their community ministries, and for God to send laborers into the field to come along side the current leadership. Finally, pray for God to provide for church’s financial needs as they continue to reach their community for Christ.

Website: WBCLife.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..

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Notable Voices: April 18, 2015

Eight Warning Signs Your Church is Drifting from God’s Mission — Sam Rainer

Like an unanchored boat, churches without a mission will drift. If your church is not anchored to God’s mission, drift is inevitable. Sam shares eights signs that your church might be drifting.

 

Top 5 Mistakes Pastors Make with Church Finances — Ron Edmondson

We’ve discussed finances quite a bit on the podcast recently, and this post by Ron is another example of the importance of finances in ministry. Pastors need to know how church finances work. If they don’t these mistakes listed by Ron are sure to follow.

 

Two Real Reasons People Don’t Go to Church — Aaron Earls

Through my years in ministry, I’ve heard too many excuses to count for people not being at church. And while the excuses were often random, most—if not all—fall into the two areas Aaron explores in this article: the pain of past events or the pleasure of present sin.

 

The Pastor’s Personal Holiness — Jason Helopoulos

The most important aspect of ministry is personal holiness. If you are failing at pursuing personal holiness, you will be failing in ministry.

 

Evangelical Movement Targets Poverty — Al Jazeera America

This is a great example of what it looks like for a church to reflect its community.

 

How Churches Are REALLY Communicating Online — Church Mag

The post Notable Voices: April 18, 2015 appeared first on ThomRainer.com.

Setting a Fair Pastoral Salary – Rainer on Leadership #116

Podcast Episode #116

SUBSCRIBE: iTunes • RSS • Stitcher • TuneIn Radio

Salary is always a hot topic here on the blog and the podcast. And today we tackle a question we often receive: how to set a fair pastoral salary. Most churches handle this well, but many often struggle when deciding on what to pay new staff or even how much more existing staff should make. Most importantly, minister salaries should be handled with grace and fairness.

Some highlights from today’s episode include:

Demographics of the church and the surrounding community play important roles in setting a pastor’s salary.
Education has come down slightly as a driving factor for setting a pastoral salary.
A spouse’s compensation should never be taken into consideration when setting a minister’s salary.
Men and women in similar ministerial roles with equal education and experience should be paid comparably.
Most pastors struggle financially. The extravagant pastor is the exception, not the norm.
Churches should use compensation studies and other tools to help determine the range of pay for ministers.

Here are six simple guidelines for setting a fair pastoral salary which we discussed on the podcast:

Usually starts with previous salaries: former pastor and incoming pastor.
Demographics of church and community.
The education factor
The problem with “packages”
The problem with counting spouse’s pay
Overriding principle: Be gracious

Episode Sponsor

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 Autopsy of a Deceased Church.

Resources

Five Most Common Ways Churches Determine Pastors’ Salaries
Seven Reasons the Pastor’s Salary Can Be a Source of Tension
Ministers Can Continue Using the Housing Allowance Per Court Ruling
Minister Compensation Database
The Minister’s Salary

The post Setting a Fair Pastoral Salary – Rainer on Leadership #116 appeared first on ThomRainer.com.

10 Reasons Everybody at Church Should Wear a Nametag

By Chuck Lawless

At many conferences and meetings I attend, I am expected to wear a nametag. The business world thinks about nametags, but the church world gives them too little thought. Here are ten reasons EVERYONE in church ought to wear a nametag.

Few people know everybody in the church. Even in the smallest churches, it’s sometimes difficult to remember everybody’s name. If/as the church grows, that task becomes even more difficult. Nametags allow us to admit that struggle while providing a way to overcome it.
Leaders need help with names. I want to know everybody’s name in my church, but I’m not gifted with that kind of memory. I admit I need help if I want to be the best church leader I can be. I would much prefer calling people by name as I minister to them – and nametags allow me to do so.
Nametags invite conversation. Knowing another person’s name breaks down one barrier to conversations that church folks ought to feel comfortable having. It’s simply easier to talk with others when you are on a first-name basis.
Knowing names makes fellowship more personal. While calling each other “brother” or “sister” sounds good (and is theologically on target), that nomenclature is often a cover up for “I’m sorry I don’t know your name, and I’m embarrassed to ask.” As long as conversations remain at the anonymous “brother” and “sister” level, fellowship will remain surface level.
Nametags save embarrassment. We’ve probably all called someone by the wrong name, only to realize it later (or perhaps even within the same conversation). If “brother” or “sister” is a gentle way of saying, “I don’t know your name,” using the wrong name is an undeniable way of doing so. That’s embarrassing for both parties.
Nametags are an inexpensive way to promote outward focus. The church that says, “We don’t need nametags since we already know everyone anyway” is probably saying more than they care to admit. My guess is they see few guests at their church, and they probably aren’t expecting any. On the other hand, using nametags is one way to say, “We expect God to send us guests, and we want to be ready for them.”
Guests feel less conspicuous. I understand why we might give guests a nametag, but doing so for them alone actually makes them even more noticeable – and puts them at a disadvantage in conversations. I know their name, but they don’t know mine if I’m not also wearing a nametag. Guests should never be the ones who must do the asking.
Saying to someone, “Please let us know your name” also says, “We want to know you.” Much has been written about guests’ desire for anonymity in churches, but I take a different slant on that issue. People who come to a church are looking for something. They often welcome care and concern. What they don’t want is to be smothered and made uncomfortable. That’s a different issue, though, than simply wanting to know them by name.
A “nametag” ministry provides opportunities for service. Somebody must purchase the nametags. Somebody must distribute them. Greeters must remind folks to get their nametags. And, likely, somebody must clean up the “peel and press” nametags that wind up on the floor after the service. The opportunities for members to get involved in a simple but significant ministry are numerous.
Leaders risk little by trying this approach. We’re not omitting a ministry from the budget, re-writing the church constitution, or killing a sacred cow with this approach. We’re simply asking people to wear a nametag to promote fellowship and welcome guests. If this ministry fails – and I don’t think it will if leaders promote it properly and patiently wait for it to enter the DNA of a congregation – the church has lost little.

What are your thoughts about nametags?

Chuck Lawless currently serves as Professor of Evangelism and Missions and Dean of Graduate Studies at Southeastern Seminary. You can connect with Dr. Lawless on both Twitter and Facebook.

photo credit: Hello, my name is anonymous via photopin

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