Michael White and Tom Corcoran say people in your community are influenced less by the liturgical season and more by cultural seasons that define the rhythms of their lives. Church leaders need to understand how the school calendar, recreational activities, major sporting events, and secular holidays shape church attendance and where people are emotionally and intellectually.

Read more now.

Tags: Back-to-School | Intergenerational Ministry | Lessons for Leaders | Reach New Disciples | Worship | Worship Attendance

How can your church reorient its posture toward its neighbors and neighborhood? Ann Michel of the Lewis Center Staff interviews Minnesota Pastor Travis Norvell on his decision to conduct his ministry by bike, on foot, and on public transportation, and how it revealed new people, new partners, and new possibilities for ministry.

Tags: Community Outreach | Evangelism | Facilities | Reach New Disciples | Small Membership Church | Stewardship | Taking Church to the Community

Is your church imperfect? Youth ministry expert Deech Kirk says “welcome to the club.” Successful church leaders need to accept that every church is a work in progress and that building healthy, sustainable, thriving ministries takes time, hard work, and patience.

Tags: Change | Congregational Revitalization | Leadership | Lessons for Leaders | Youth

For leaders to make a difference, they must have a passion for the cause they are leading. Rosabeth Moss Kanter suggests questions to see if you pass the “passion test” for the effort you seek to lead.

Does the idea fit my long-held beliefs, values, and convictions?

Do I think that this is vital for the future of people I care about?

Do I get excited when I think about it and convey excitement when I talk about it?

Am I convinced this can be accomplished?

Want more Right Questions? Read Right Questions for Church Leaders.

Vital congregations are increasingly committed to serving others through mission — but churches want to know whether their good intentions always yield good results. Through engaging videos and presentations, the Doing Good Well Video Tool Kit explores the fruitfulness of mission efforts and provides practical strategies to help ensure your mission hits the mark.

Worship attendance is vital to the mission of the church. Our free “50 Ways” tip sheet provides practical strategies to help you invite new people to attend worship; improve the attendance of current members; make your church visible and attractive; welcome worship guests warmly; and make worship accessible to newcomers.

Worship attendance matters. In Overflow, authors Lovett Weems and Tom Berlin share research-based insights, tactical ideas, and practices that lead to increased attendance. They instruct church leaders on the importance of paying attention to factors critical to worship growth and demonstrate new approaches to worship planning.

“The leadership task is first one of drawing people together for mutual listening, discerning and experimenting — not fixing. If ever there was a time to experiment your way into a fresh contextual expression of the church, this is it.” — Paul Sparks, Tim Soerens, and Dwight J. Friesen

From the earliest days of the church, women have spoken and written of their faith. This eight-session study introduces us to the voices of six women who struggled with issues of identity, character, and calling, and who were able to attest to God's living presence amidst their struggles. Women Speak of God is ideal for women and men in your congregation's in-person and online small groups, adult Bible studies, and Sunday School classes who want to grow in faith and see how God works in difficult times and places.