Most pastors I know don't need another reminder that things have changed. They can see it on Sunday morning.
There are fewer people in the pews than there used to be. The congregation is getting older. …
I have spent a lot of years around churches that want to grow, and I understand why they want to grow. When people come to faith, families become connected, lives begin to change and a …
I turned 60 this year.
I graduated from high school in 1984, which means I grew up in a world that seems almost impossible to explain to someone under 30.
I remember penny candy, 8-track tapes, 45 …
Every church says it wants to make disciples, but wanting to make disciples and building a culture where disciples are actually formed are not the same thing. Many churches believe in the Great Commission, preach …
From Attractional to Missional: Reclaiming the Church’s Sending Identity
Mike Puddicombe
Many churches today still operate under an attractional assumption: if we create the right events, programs, or experiences, people will come. The strategy is familiar. Offer something engaging, enjoyable, and well-produced, and the community will …
Whenever we are faced with something difficult or outside our comfort zone, our instinct is often to explain why we cannot do it. Excuses come quickly and, if we are honest, they often sound reasonable. …
One of the people that has shaped my thinking on church revitalization is my mentor Dr. Tom Cheyney. He outlines what he calls the Seven Pillars of Church Revitalization. These pillars provide a helpful framework …
Before I begin working with a church in revitalization, I sit down with the pastor and ask a question that usually changes the tone of the whole conversation:
Can this church be saved?
Before we talk about …
Managing Expectations: A Hidden Key to Healthy Ministry
Mike Puddicombe
If you spend any time in church leadership, you quickly discover that many conflicts are not actually about theology, strategy, or even preferences. They are about expectations.
More specifically, they are about unmet expectations.
Here is something …
Seven Things You Must Refuse When Leading Revitalization
Mike Puddicombe
Church revitalization is often portrayed as a matter of finding the right strategy, implementing the latest ministry model, or introducing a new vision statement. While these tools have their place, they rarely determine whether a …
Every Church Revitalization Needs a Leadership Pipeline
Mike Puddicombe
One of the greatest mistakes churches make in revitalization is assuming that renewal will come through a better strategy, a new pastor, or a fresh vision statement. While each of those has its place, lasting …
Walk into the office of almost any church leader and you will find shelves lined with books on leadership, discipleship, church growth, organizational change, Biblical studies and theology. I know mine are. I enjoy reading …
