Churches these days represent a lot more than just providing a brick-and-mortar venue where people come together to worship. Today, churches are communities. Yes, today parishioners don’t just arrive at church, attend service and go home. They visit the social hall...
Leadership
Factors Affecting the Cost of Your Worship Facility’s Insurance: Social Inflation
If you have noticed your worship facility’s insurance premiums rising recently, you’re not alone—across the insurance industry, premiums and deductibles have increased considerably. This article, the third in a three-part series on factors impacting insurance, focuses...
5 Leadership Communication Challenges (How to Overcome Them)
Effective communication is the foundation of successful church leadership. However, many pastors face challenges in this area that can hinder their ability to lead and connect with their congregation (and community). Here are some common communication challenges with...
Opening a Digital Doorway to Faith – Does Your Church Website Empower or Hinder Your Ministry?
Today, over 80% of church leaders say their website is their primary method of attracting new members. With 33% of church attendees discovering their church online, it’s increasingly essential for churches to maintain an up-to-date website that clearly communicates...
Why Don’t Leaders Preach Church Safety and Security from the Pulpit?
As a father and a Christian, I’ve often thought it would be invaluable for senior leaders at my church to preach about social media safety to teenagers or situational awareness to kids heading off to college. However, like many of you, I’ve never heard these important...
Factors Affecting the Cost of Your Worship Facility’s Insurance: Insurance Costs and Inflation
In periods of high inflation, we all feel the financial pinch. The climbing cost of goods and services affects everything from food and fuel to airfare and insurance premiums. In this second part of our series on the factors impacting your worship facility’s...
5 Communication Skills Every Church Leader Must Practice
Effective communication is essential for church leaders and pastors to inspire, guide, and connect with their congregation. Mastering these skills not only strengthens relationships but also enhances the church's brand, mission, and outreach. Here are five...
Navigating the Pathways to Peace: Thoughts for the Faith Leader
Reflecting on my three-decade journey encompassing threat and crisis management alongside my vocation as an Episcopal priest, I am struck by the profound lessons gleaned from the intersection of these roles. This amalgamation has imparted to me a deep understanding of...
Overcoming the Summer Slump: Flexibility is Key for Year-Round Church Financial Health
Each summer, churches encounter the well-known "Summer Slump," a seasonal downturn in attendance that, coupled with a broader decline in church attendance—especially among individuals under 30—adds to the financial uncertainty faced by many congregations. This trend...
Worship Facility Podcast: Setting Up Your Volunteers for Success Part 2
In the conclusion of this two-part episode, David Leuschner of Digital Great Commissions Ministries talks to Matt Larson and Ryan Shelton of DiGiCo about how to help your tech team volunteers succeed, leading to the success of your worship service. Takeaways include:...
Worship Facility Podcast: Setting Up Your Volunteers for Success Part 1
In the first part of this two-part episode, David Leuschner of Digital Great Commissions Ministries talks to Matt Larson and Ryan Shelton of DiGiCo about how to help your tech team volunteers succeed, leading to the success of your worship service. Takeaways include:...
Navigating Change in Your Church (Communication Strategies That Work)
Change is an inevitable part of life (our one constant), and this is especially true within the dynamic environment of the church. Whether it's a shift in leadership, a new ministry initiative, or adjustments in worship style, effectively communicating these changes...
Factors Affecting the Cost of your Worship Facility’s Insurance: Severe Weather
The insurance industry has experienced many challenges over the past few years that may be impacting the cost of insurance or even the ability to maintain insurance coverage for houses of worship. With this three-part series, we’ll explore those factors, including...
The Role of Emotional First Aid in Comprehensive Church Safety Plans
Many of us are familiar with the basics of physical first aid. We may have even attended a CPR class to learn how to save a person’s life if they go into cardiac arrest. Well, there's another type of first aid that deserves our attention: Mental Health First Aid....
Worship Facility Podcast: How to Process Ideas from Your Production Team
David Leuschner, Executive Director of Great Commission Ministries and Ben Stapley, Executive Pastor of The Life Christian Church in Bridgewater, N.J., discuss how to incorporate ideas from your Production Team into your Worship service and your ministry. Topics...
How to Stretch Your Church Communication Budget (4 Tips)
Unless you have unlimited church resources, you’ll need to stretch your church communication budget to get as much done for a small amount of expenditure. Certainly, at times during the year, you’ll have to stretch every communication dollar. There’s so much to do,...
How is Your Church Addressing the Risk of Sexual Abuse?
By Eric Spacek Few situations can cause more upheaval for a worship community than when a child comes forward with allegations of sexual abuse against a staff member, volunteer, or another child in the congregation. After all, while people are attending your services...
How to Work With An Executive Pastor
The term Executive Pastor is not to be found in the Bible...at least from what I can find. So, what are they, who are they, what do they do? I talked to Dr. John C. Mrazek who is an XP, but also a consultant to churches who may need some assistance in this area. ...
3 Things You Didn’t Know a Church Website Could Do
There are many beneficial ways to use your church website if it’s built properly: event calendar, staff information, church and ministry information, and collecting offerings. But here are 3 things you didn’t know a church website could do for your ministry: Collect...
Generational Issues Within Your Lighting Tech Team
Breaking down generational issues within your house of worship lighting tech team can be a complex task, but it's definitely achievable with the right approach. Addressing generational issues within a lighting tech team involves understanding and respecting the...
The Secret Family Recipe for Better Safety and Security at Your Church
You know how we all have that one friend who's always ready for anything? The one with an umbrella when the rain begins to fall, or a spare charger when your phone is ready to die? Well, being prepared for all kinds of potential trouble at church is kind of like being...