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Some strange and wonderful things are happening at Rivertree Christian Church.
After praying for 12 years about purchasing a local 85-acre farm and finally coming to a point in the congregation's history where leaders thought they could pull it off, the church took a different direction.
Greg Nettle, senior pastor for the Massillon, OH church, explains: "When we announced that we're not going to put up a $40 million campus . . . that we're going to be committed to being generous as a church and give money away. . . people cheered in every service," Greg says.
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The announcement and the congregation's response were unusual because such a turn of events is counterintuitive to most pastors' dreams of growing a church, buying land, attracting even more attenders and seeing new Christians invite friends to help the church grow even larger. |
Instead, some churches today are pursuing a different course that takes them out of the four walls of their church buildings and into surrounding communities. This adventuresome spirit is sometimes even taking them to other continents.
This shift toward first motivating church members to serve in their communities, rather than initially inviting community members into the church buildings is what some ministry leaders around the country are calling a missional impulse. And because this is not a new desire, but the revival of an old one, this ongoing transition is being called a missional renaissance.
The motivations leading today's missional churches to adopt a more incarnational approach vary. And the leaders of these churches are motivated by a variety of influences--both internal and external--including Scripture, books, the example of other Christian leaders, or the success of a particular ministry within their own church.
Tim Senff, director of ReachOut, a ministry of Crossroads Community Church (Cincinnati, OH), identifies 2004 as the year his church began a serious movement toward more missional involvement with its local and extended communities.
The catalyst for the change was a building campaign in which church leaders decided to dedicate a percentage of the money raised toward practical assistance for others. Most of these designated funds . . .
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One Prayer Update
In June 2008, Craig Groeschel of LifeChurch.tv (Edmond OK) invited churches around the world to join forces through shared teaching, fasting, prayer, and service to others. The invitation gave pastors the opportunity to create and share sermons on the One Prayer website.
Church-based Bookstores Looking to Expand
In an April 2008 survey of churches with in-house bookstores, more than half of those indicated plans to expand in the next two years. The survey group was heavily tilted toward larger churches: almost 60% of survey respondents have weekly worship attendance of more than 2,000, and an additional 18% are in the 1,000 to 2,000 range.
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Fastest-Growing Groups Include Older Adults and Hispanics
By 2050, minorities will be the majority in America, and the number of residents older than 65 will more than double, according to projections released by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Minorities, classified as those of any race other than non-Hispanic, single-race whites, currently constitute about a third of the U.S. population, according to Census figures. But by 2042, they
are projected to become the majority, making up more than half the population. By 2050, 54 percent of the population will be minorities.
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| Externally focused churches measure their impact by the transformational effect they have on their communities. In this installment of Audio Advance, Eric Swanson, Director of Externally Focused Churches Leadership |
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Community, talks about churches that are engaged in the needs, dreams, and rhythms of the communities surrounding them, and some exciting things God is doing through these churches around the world.
Salary Survey and Economic Outlook Report Available Soon
The 2008 version of Leadership Network's Salary Survey and Economic Outlook Report will release on September 23, 2008. This popular download focuses on large churches, covering everything from specific salaries . . .
Buford Appointed to Drucker Institute Board
Bob Buford, chairman of the board for The Buford Foundation/Leadership Network, has been appointed chairman of the Board of Advisors of the Drucker Institute--named for his long-time friend and business . . .
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Loneliness is a painful and familiar emotion that many pastors experience.
Dr. Sam Chand's unique position as a consultant to pastors has allowed him to have authentic conversations about lonely times leaders have endured, and how they have dealt with those feelings.
In this podcast, he explains where different types of loneliness come from, what leaders should expect, and healthy coping mechanisms that can alleviate some of the loneliness they feel.
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