Our adult Sunday school was losing people through the cracks. We already had two kinds of classes: electives and age-graded classes. But some people -singles, international students, DINKS (double income, no kids), and folks like my husband and me who enjoy a diverse crowd - didn't feel at home in any of them. The DINKS didn't want so much talk about diapers and schools, and the singles felt uncomfortable ...

Topics:	Assessment, Change, Congregational care, Creativity, Growth, Innovation, Leadership, New ministries, Transitions, Unity, Vision
Filters:	Church staff, Elder, Pastor, Pastoral care, Preaching, Service, Volunteer coordinator, Worship
Purpose:	Discipleship
References:	Acts 5:20
Date Added:	July 11, 2007

When you propose a new program or shut down an outdated ministry, you're asking people to change on four different levels: mind, heart, lifestyle, and culture. Each level of change requires a different kind of response:

1. The key to a change of mind is information. Facts that support the reasons for change need to be gathered and shared. They are more persuasive than opinions. Facts alone, though, don't bring about change. In fact, they can precipitate conflict because everyone will not agree on what needs to be done or be ready to do it.

Topics:	Change, Changes in worship, Creativity, Innovation, New ministries, Planning, Resistance, Transitions, Vision
Filters:	Church board, Church staff, Elder, Emergent ministry, Pastor, Preaching, Worship, Youth ministry
Purpose:	Discipleship
References:	Lamentations 3:22-23
Date Added:	July 11, 2007