December 2016

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There were some great things about the 1970s. Sideburns and shag haircuts included. That was cool back then, but does anyone go out in public like that today? Not many people do, and it’s hard to believe there are some churches out there that are still trying to dress and function like we’re still living in the 70s. The way they keep up with records, the way they handle giving, the way they budget, and the way they handle staffing are all straight from that decade.
There were some great things about the 1970s. Sideburns and shag haircuts included. That was cool back then, but does anyone go out in public like that today? Not many people do, and it’s hard to believe there are some churches out there that are still trying to dress and function like we’re still living in the 70s. The way they keep up with records, the way they handle giving, the way they budget, and the way they handle staffing are all straight from that decade.
28 Dec 2016

The 70s Called, and They Want Their Strategy Back

There were some great things about the 1970s. Sideburns and shag haircuts included. That was cool back then, but does…
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Growing Strategies
What are some potential indicators that your church may have back door issues? Declining weekend worship attendance numbers; lots of new families registering in kids ministry but overall attendance staying flat; and number of giving units and/or per capita giving decreasing -- just to name a few. But what’s the root cause of the issue? Here are a few I’ve seen throughout the years, along with some suggestions for addressing them.
What are some potential indicators that your church may have back door issues? Declining weekend worship attendance numbers; lots of new families registering in kids ministry but overall attendance staying flat; and number of giving units and/or per capita giving decreasing -- just to name a few. But what’s the root cause of the issue? Here are a few I’ve seen throughout the years, along with some suggestions for addressing them.
27 Dec 2016

2 Strategies for Closing the Back Door

What are some potential indicators that your church may have back door issues? Declining weekend worship attendance numbers; lots of…
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Growing Strategies
They were ready for us. They created an experience that drew us in, and all of our lives were changed forever in the days and years going forward. Their front door, the weekend experience, was welcoming, warm and just what this tired, spiritually disconnected family needed. However, if I take a step back, what they really did right is what I believe is the biggest barrier to the front doors of our churches.
They were ready for us. They created an experience that drew us in, and all of our lives were changed forever in the days and years going forward. Their front door, the weekend experience, was welcoming, warm and just what this tired, spiritually disconnected family needed. However, if I take a step back, what they really did right is what I believe is the biggest barrier to the front doors of our churches.
26 Dec 2016

The #1 Reason Your Front Door Is Closed

They were ready for us. They created an experience that drew us in, and all of our lives were changed…
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Growing Strategies
Is it possible that in our attempts to connect with guests, we actually push people away by feeling corporate and transactional? Don't get me wrong. I'm all for following up personally with as many people as possible. But the way we go about it sets the tone for our relationships with them. Simply asking for contact info and sending some one-way scripted messages (even on a phone call) is far from making a connection.
Is it possible that in our attempts to connect with guests, we actually push people away by feeling corporate and transactional? Don't get me wrong. I'm all for following up personally with as many people as possible. But the way we go about it sets the tone for our relationships with them. Simply asking for contact info and sending some one-way scripted messages (even on a phone call) is far from making a connection.
20 Dec 2016

Beyond the Mug: Connecting with Guests Coming In Your Front Door

Is it possible that in our attempts to connect with guests, we actually push people away by feeling corporate and…
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Growing Strategies
"A big reason why we have small groups is to close the back door of the church." Most church leaders would probably agree with this statement. After all, we know that if people are not connected in the church, they will eventually drift out of the church. So, we design our groups strategy to catch them as soon as possible. It is important that people in our church get connected in community, but we're missing a critical evangelism opportunity if that's our only plan for small groups.
"A big reason why we have small groups is to close the back door of the church." Most church leaders would probably agree with this statement. After all, we know that if people are not connected in the church, they will eventually drift out of the church. So, we design our groups strategy to catch them as soon as possible. It is important that people in our church get connected in community, but we're missing a critical evangelism opportunity if that's our only plan for small groups.
20 Dec 2016

Small Groups Can Be The Front Door Of The Church

“A big reason why we have small groups is to close the back door of the church.” Most church leaders…
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Leadership & Management
While most pastors are preparing for Christmas Eve services, wise pastors know there’s another big day right around the corner: January 1, 2017. The start of a new year in which to make new changes, build new ministries, and ultimately reach new people. I’d venture to bet there’s a list of changes you’ve wanted to make at your church for a while. This challenge is not for the complacent or comfortable. It's a 15-day journey to kickstart the ministry year you've been dreaming about, and it’s completely free.
While most pastors are preparing for Christmas Eve services, wise pastors know there’s another big day right around the corner: January 1, 2017. The start of a new year in which to make new changes, build new ministries, and ultimately reach new people. I’d venture to bet there’s a list of changes you’ve wanted to make at your church for a while. This challenge is not for the complacent or comfortable. It's a 15-day journey to kickstart the ministry year you've been dreaming about, and it’s completely free.
13 Dec 2016

Inviting You to Take The Unstuck Change Challenge

While most pastors are preparing for Christmas Eve services, wise pastors know there’s another big day right around the corner:…
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Growing Strategies
Back in October, I was a guest on Carey Nieuwhof’s Leadership Podcast. During our conversation, we talked how to diagnose an attendance plateau or decline as a “front door” or a “back door” challenge. In this new series, we’ll dig a little deeper into different “front door” and “back door” challenges churches may be facing, and discuss how to move forward in healthy ways.
Back in October, I was a guest on Carey Nieuwhof’s Leadership Podcast. During our conversation, we talked how to diagnose an attendance plateau or decline as a “front door” or a “back door” challenge. In this new series, we’ll dig a little deeper into different “front door” and “back door” challenges churches may be facing, and discuss how to move forward in healthy ways.
12 Dec 2016

Continuing the Conversation: Front Door and Back Door Challenges

Back in October, I was a guest on Carey Nieuwhof’s Leadership Podcast. During our conversation, we talked how to diagnose…
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Leadership & Management
That’s usually how blind spots work. They show up at work, at home, in our casual friendships, and in our most meaningful relationships. Everyone sees them but us. That’s why they’re called blind spots. But just because you have them, doesn’t mean you can’t bring those blind spots into focus. Here’s a couple tips to try out this week.
That’s usually how blind spots work. They show up at work, at home, in our casual friendships, and in our most meaningful relationships. Everyone sees them but us. That’s why they’re called blind spots. But just because you have them, doesn’t mean you can’t bring those blind spots into focus. Here’s a couple tips to try out this week.
08 Dec 2016

Bringing Your Blind Spots Into Focus

That’s usually how blind spots work. They show up at work, at home, in our casual friendships, and in our…
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Growing Strategies
In this episode of The Leadership Unstuck Podcast, I talk to Joe Dobbins, Lead Pastor of Twin Rivers Worship Center in St. Louis, Missouri about reducing complexity within churches. Churches often get stuck because they are trying to do too much. That's why it's crucial to identify and stop programs that are not working. You'll hear Joe's story, and Ryan and I talk through a framework for reducing complexity in your own church.
In this episode of The Leadership Unstuck Podcast, I talk to Joe Dobbins, Lead Pastor of Twin Rivers Worship Center in St. Louis, Missouri about reducing complexity within churches. Churches often get stuck because they are trying to do too much. That's why it's crucial to identify and stop programs that are not working. You'll hear Joe's story, and Ryan and I talk through a framework for reducing complexity in your own church.
07 Dec 2016

The Leadership Unstuck Podcast: Is Your Church Too Complex?

In this episode of The Leadership Unstuck Podcast, I talk to Joe Dobbins, Lead Pastor of Twin Rivers Worship Center…
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Leadership & Management
Your vision is not your to-do list. It’s not the event calendar. It’s not your preaching schedule. It’s not your building repairs. It’s not your most pressing need. It’s easy to reduce vision to the next thing to be done. But the action items on your list are supporting players, and though they are very important ones, they too often grow to a gargantuan size, blocking out all light from the true aim -- the very reason why you have a list at all.
Your vision is not your to-do list. It’s not the event calendar. It’s not your preaching schedule. It’s not your building repairs. It’s not your most pressing need. It’s easy to reduce vision to the next thing to be done. But the action items on your list are supporting players, and though they are very important ones, they too often grow to a gargantuan size, blocking out all light from the true aim -- the very reason why you have a list at all.
01 Dec 2016

Is Your Vision a Mural or a To-Do List?

Your vision is not your to-do list. It’s not the event calendar. It’s not your preaching schedule. It’s not your…
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