The Case Oakwood Covenant hadn't grown for more than ten years. The church didn't have any specific crises or money problems, but a few leaders realized the church was adrift; people who seemed eager to do something often left the church for another. There had been no new ministry initiatives in years. Oakwood Covenant had also a congregational form of government, so new ministry emphases required ...

Topics:	Change, Core values, Direction, Discouragement, Mistakes, Planning, Transitions, Vision
Filters:	Church board, Discipleship, Elder, Management, Pastor, Pastoral care, Shepherd, Stewardship
Purpose:	Discipleship
References:	John 15:1-8
Date Added:	July 31, 2007

Oakwood Covenant hadn't grown for more than ten years. The church didn't have any specific crises or money problems, but a few leaders realized the church was adrift; people who seemed eager to do something often left the church for another. There had been no new ministry initiatives in years. Oakwood Covenant had also a congregational form of government, so new ministry emphases required ...

Topics:	Goals, Master plan, Mission statement, Objectives, Planning, Strategy, Vision
Filters:	Church board, Church staff, Elder, Pastor, Pastoral care
Purpose:	Discipleship
References:	John 15:1-8
Date Added:	July 31, 2007

Answers to the needs of the small, struggling congregation are not simple, but I've found the following principles effective in enabling rural churches to grow:

1. Forget the short term. In a congregation of forty, four deaths in one year constitutes a 10 percent decline. Such statistics can be discouraging. I recommend keeping such statistics but comparing them after five years, not after five months. ...

Topics:	Community impact, Culture, Evangelism, Outreach, Planning, Seekers, Service, Spiritual friendship, Strategy, Unchurched
Filters:	Church staff, Discipleship, Elder, Evangelism, Outreach, Pastor, Shepherd, Worship
Purpose:	Evangelism
References:	John 15:7-8, Philippians 3:13
Date Added:	August 01, 2007

These seven questions will help you determine whether you've thought through what it will take to launch a successful small group ministry. If you answer these questions clearly, your small group ministry will have a solid start or restart.

1. What is the vision for small groups at our church? This question is fundamental. Answering it requires asking two more questions. First, what is our overall ...

Topics:	Accountability, Attitudes, Community, Growth, Home groups, Leadership, Small group leader, Small groups
Filters:	Management, Pastor, Small group leader, Small groups
Purpose:	Fellowship
References:	John 15:1-17, Acts 2:42
Date Added:	September 27, 2007

Sometimes problems in ministry can stem from emotional burnout. To determine if you need a break for some emotional renewal, assess yourself according to the following statements below:

When you take an accurate, honest reading of your emotional gauge and find that it's reading low, you need to take time to recharge. Some people recharge by running, others by taking a bath, others by reading, and others ...

Topics:	Discipleship, Discipline, Prayer, Reflection, Solitude, Soul, Spiritual disciplines
Filters:	Bible study, Discipleship, Pastoral care, Prayer, Shepherd, Spiritual director, Woman leader
Purpose:	Discipleship
References:	Luke 10:38-42, John 15:1-17, Philippians 4:8-9
Date Added:	May 05, 2009

It's important that you understand the level of comfort and experience that each group member has in both personal and group prayer in order to help your group grow in this area. Do you have some seasoned "prayer warriors" who have prayed in many group settings before? Do you have some people who have never prayed in a group before? If your group is at different places in their ...

Topics:	Authenticity, Leadership, Prayer, Small groups, Stress, Unity, Vulnerability
Filters:	Bible study, Church board, Pastor, Prayer, Small group leader, Small groups
Purpose:	Discipleship
References:	Psalm 64:10, Matthew 6:9, John 15:7
Date Added:	July 08, 2009