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Map showing two churches several miles apart in different towns

It is increasingly common for a congregation to share a pastor with another congregation and for pastors to be serving more than one church. Lew Parks, author of Small on Purpose, considers this trend and some of the skills and perspectives needed in multi-church settings.

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Episode 15
Photo showing three different small churches

Are you a pastor serving more than one church? Or a leader in a congregation that's part of a multi-church ministry? Lewis Center Director F. Douglas Powe speaks with Dr. Lew Parks, a small church vitality expert. They explore perspectives and practices that can help ministry flourish even in a church that doesn't have its own pastor -- or a pastor who doesn't serve just one church.

Close up of a group of people_s hands clasped together
 
Amy Valdez Barker says that the church should be a training center in the development of trust. She names practices that leaders can employ when groups come together to create environments that foster and facilitate a high-trust culture.

The Right Question
Leaders do not need answers. Leaders must have the right questions. 

Chip Heath and Dan Heath say the single most effective question they have found for helping to break a decision logjam is:

What would I tell my best friend to do in this situation?

Reaching Others through Worship Video Tool Kit
 
Worship attendance is vital to the mission of the church. The Reaching Others through Worship Video Tool Kit provides resources and strategies to help you improve hospitality and worship attendance. Topics include: The Sermon Series as Outreach Tool; How Do People See Your Church?; Putting out the Welcome Mat; The Ministry of Greeting; and Ways to Improve Summer Attendance.

Evening light on a small church. Credit_ David Clapp_Arcaid Picture Library_Universal Images Group
ICYMI: In Case You Missed It

What practices help smaller congregation be more of what God is calling them to be? Pastor and author David Ray identifies common denominators found in smaller churches known for the quality of their faithfulness and life together.

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Leading Ideas is made possible by contributions to the Lewis Center for Church Leadership from readers like you. Thank you.

50 Ways to Strengthen Adult Education
50 Ways to Strengthen Adult Education

Vital churches provide ways for people of all ages to grow in faith through learning. These 50 ways can help your congregation build a strong program of Christian education for adults.

Quotable Leadership

Distrust every claim for truth where you do not see truth united with love.

Paul Tillich
Statue of Jesus at the front of a chapel
 
"The Right Question" is one of the most popular features in Leading Ideas. In response to requests for a compilation of questions used over the years, Lovett H. Weems, Jr., has organized selected ones by topic and offers them in Right Questions for Church Leaders: Volumes 1-4 . The ebook is available for Kindle and PDF. Volumes are also available separately.


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