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Save Our Schools Now Boycott goes NATIONAL!

The Truth Does Hurt…Pt. 4

by | Sep 30, 2008 | Christian, Christianity, Church Issues, Empowerment, Leadership

Spinning-wheel-illusion
 

LEADERSHIP REQUIRES HONESTY!
 

As
I shared last week, at Mars Hill, we have been trying to get our minds
and hearts around some of the data that points to unmet expectations.
 What do you do when not as many people are inviting their
friends…not as many are growing in Christ…not as many are
tithing…not as many are reading their Bible…not as many are
attending…and not as many are being baptized?

These
questions are very real for us right now, and over the next few days I
will share some of the stages of unmet expectations I have recently
experienced…

WHEN WE EXPERIENCE UNMET EXPECTATIONS, WE TEND TO REDEFINE SUCCESS

We say things like: "Well, it's not attendance that really matters anyway.  We'd rather have 100 mature believers than 1,000 in a crowd.  It doesn't matter how many are coming in our doors–what really matters is how many we are sending out our doors."

MY RESPONSE:  Instead of figuring out why we keep missing the target, we just move the target to the location where our arrows are landing.  Rather than adopting a "both/and" mentality — we say that it is "either/or."  We are tempted to say, "Either we are growing in numbers or we are growing in our faith. It can't be both.  Either we are having an impact on the community or we are helping believers mature. It can't be both.  Either we are attractional or we are missional.  It can't be both."  Really?  Why not?  I think it is dangerous to redefine success just because we are missing the mark.

What do you think?

Save Our Schools Now Boycott goes NATIONAL!

This week's Leadership Gems

by | Sep 22, 2008 | Empowerment, Leadership, Money and Finance

Gems
 

Often I run across information that I believe to be vital for church leaders.  Since I believe in the "learn & return" principle, I plan to share information that I believe would help church leaders lead their respective churches, ministries, & organizations.

THIS WEEK'S GEMS:

FinancialSueeze

Churches
need to establish a three month emergency fund of cash reserves to be
used during a financial crisis. The church’s emergency fund will allow
the church treasurer/financial secretary or finance committee time to
develop a course of action when a financial crisis occurs. <Read More>

ChurchGrowth
More important than theological orientation is the religious character
of the congregation and clarity of mission and purpose, the survey
highlighted. Growing churches are clear about why they exist and about
what they are to be doing.  <Read More>


WHY PEOPLE DON'T ATTEND CHURCH

PerfectAttendance
Compared
to regular churchgoers, the Unattached are: more likely to feel
stressed out; less likely to be concerned about the moral condition of
the nation; much less likely to believe that they are making a positive
difference in the world; less optimistic about the future; far less
likely to believe that the Bible is totally accurate in its principles;
substantially more likely to believe that Satan and the Holy Spirit are
symbolic figures, but are not real. <Read More>