Church &amp; Ministry

Campus Ministry Church & Ministry

College Age Meets Middle Age

By Chris DeWelt Josh Quade, college age minister at College Heights Christian Church in Joplin, Missouri, has led us in choosing a church-based model of outreach and ministry. This allows us to pursue students on four major college campuses while simultaneously connecting them to a healthy, multidimensional church community. We see the church-based, intergenerational approach as an important discipling strategy where we walk with young adults as they prepare for their future career with a strong spiritual foundation. Personally, as an elder in a church with the word college in its very title, I find that the most important thing

June 16, 2015

Mark A. Taylor

Three Reasons Evangelical Churches Are Growing When Others Are Not

By Mark A. Taylor Why are Evangelicals the only growing Christian group in America? The fact of dramatic decline among mainline Protestants and Catholic churches in the U.S. is certain, documented by a Pew research report released last month. But answers have varied among those seeking to explain why Evangelicals are holding their own. I asked about that when I spoke with three ministers of growing churches in last month”s episode of our monthly online interview program, Beyond the Standard. These fellows””Brian Kruckenberg, lead pastor with New City Church in Phoenix, Arizona; Bo Chancey, senior pastor with Manchester (NH) Christian

June 13, 2015

Church & Ministry Community Outreach

The Summer Ministry Cycle

By Michael C. Mack Do you have bicyclists at your church? Invite them to be involved in ministry together. Here are a few ideas: “¢ Many cyclists are already riding for various good causes: diabetes and cancer research, to support the Arthritis Foundation, and many others. Support them financially and with prayer as they train and ride in these events. Sponsor a cycling team that wears jerseys with the church logo. Promote the events to get more people to ride for these causes. Show up and cheer along the course. “¢ Members of Northeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky, started

June 1, 2015

Church & Ministry Community Outreach

Ministry Resource of the Month: Ice Cream

By Michael C. Mack July is National Ice Cream Month. How can you use ice cream in your ministry? Momentum Christian Church in Stockbridge, Georgia, owns an ice cream truck that it uses for all types of ministry. David Powers, who oversees “Out There” ministries and community partnerships, said the truck is a way to build trust and serve in the community, but it also provides the people of Momentum a low-commitment, easy way to serve together. When Momentum launched, lead minister Bart Stone bought the 1988 postal truck off eBay, and the church converted it to serve ice cream.

May 30, 2015

Church & Ministry Church Leadership Ministry Training & Education

Acting My Age

By Jennifer Johnson A new thing for me is being one of the older people in situations where I used to be young and cool. Most recently I experienced this in my preaching class at Emmanuel Christian Seminary; when Dr. Aaron Wymer discussed the various generations currently alive in the church and surveyed our class, I sheepishly raised my hand as a Gen Xer. The millennials who made up most of the class peered at me with curiosity. (“Look, she can use a computer!”) I realize that at not-yet-40 (you didn”t think I”d give you my real age, did you?),

May 29, 2015

Church & Ministry

Cruciform Ministry (Romans 5:8)

By Neal Windham Garrison Keiller tells the story of how Clarence Bunson (at least, I think it was Clarence), a mainstay in Keillor”s fictional town of Lake Wobegon, lay cruciform, frozen to the roof of his Minnesota home in the thick of winter. Bunson had gone out to clean the snow off his roof and, tired from his work, had fallen asleep. Meanwhile, his wet clothing bonded to the frozen roof, rendering him immobile. Neighbors asked whether anything was wrong, and with characteristic Norwegian restraint he responded again and again, “No, I”m fine.” We know his character well, don”t we?

May 29, 2015

Campus Ministry Church & Ministry

Students Stoked about Pepperdine”s “˜Surf Chapel”

By Jennifer Johnson Three years ago, Grant Waggoner, an alumnus and employee of Pepperdine University (Malibu, CA), began mentoring a few students at the school. This “small group” shared a love of surfing, and one of the guys eventually invited his professor, Dr. Robert Shearer. “Grant and I began sharing leadership of the group,” Shearer, assistant professor of decision science, says. “Last year he got married and moved, but I”m at Zuma Beach, about 15 minutes north of the Pepperdine campus, every Wednesday morning at 7:30. This year we”ve been averaging 100 students each week.” There are no classes on

May 24, 2015

Church & Ministry Community Outreach

Serving People Every Single Day

By Jennifer Johnson A century ago, churches were known for building hospitals, schools, universities, and community centers instead of constructing buildings only for their own use, say leaders at Crosspointe Church of Cary, NC. This month, the church is breaking ground on a new 130,000-square-foot facility that will increase its space for Sunday programming””and provide a new YMCA for the community. As the church leadership team considered the need for new facilities, they wanted to create something that would serve people in the area every day of the week. While discussing potential options, they noticed a lack of activities for

May 23, 2015

Church & Ministry Small Groups

Get More People Involved in Your Group(s)

By Michael C. Mack A huddle of small group and discipleship ministers in the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana region discussed how to get more people involved in disciple-making groups. Here are 12 of their ideas. Many of these work well in combination with others. 1. Build a culture of authentic community in smaller groups in the church. Of course, the preaching minister/lead minister is in the best position to build this culture. Consistently mentioning in his messages how his group has helped him or made an impact on others sends the clear message that groups are important. 2. Redefine “normal.” In everything you

May 21, 2015

Church & Ministry Church Leadership

Let”s Fight!

By Shan Caldwell It is time for the church to begin taking part in MORE conflict””to the glory of God. Growing up, I used to listen to a song by Kenny Rogers called “The Coward of the County.” In it, a young man”s courage is called into question because of a promise he”d made as a 10-year-old to his dying father that he would always “walk away from trouble.” However, when the girl he loves is attacked, the “coward” doesn”t walk away””he stands his ground for her sake. Now, I don”t generally live my life according to the ethical codes

May 16, 2015

Church & Ministry Church Leadership

We Need to Change . . . But What?

By Michael C. Mack Elders and other church leaders often sense the need to change, to move out of entrenchment and inaction, but are unsure of what needs to change first. Where can one turn for new ideas and direction? Dr. James Estep, dean of the School of Undergraduate Studies at Lincoln (IL) Christian University, listed nine ideas on e2elders.org: 1. Visit other churches to see what they are doing. Ask their leaders to spend some time with you answering your questions. 2. Subscribe to Christian leadership magazines, such as the Christian Standard, to glean a broader perspective on church

May 15, 2015

Annual Megachurch Lists

In 1997 CHRISTIAN STANDARD began publishing an annual listing of churches in our fellowship that averaged 1,000 or more in weekly worship attendance during the previous year. Beginning with the 2005 list (published April 9, 2006),Â the magazine took a nod fromÂ national church growth writers and changed our definition ofÂ megachurch.Â Since that time, a church that averages 2,000Â or more in weekly worship attendance is considered a megachurch, while a church averaging 1,000 to 1,999 weekly is considered an emerging megachurch. We make a concerted effortÂ each year to contact churches that average 1,000 or more in attendance, although some choose not to participate.

May 12, 2015

Mark A. Taylor

Weighing the Numbers

By Mark A. Taylor Don”t tell a numbers guy you”re not interested in numbers! You may risk seeing the seething side of a fellow you thought was a mild-mannered researcher! Maybe I”m exaggerating, but it was quite clear to me from correspondence with Kent Fillinger, compiler of our annual “numbers” report, that he wasn”t happy. At issue was the decision by more than one Christian church or church of Christ not to participate in this year”s survey. Their stated reasons sound lofty. “We don”t want to compare ourselves with others.” “Our ministry is about so much more than numbers.” But

May 11, 2015

Church & Ministry Leadership Development

Measure Up

By Dave Ferguson Church leaders are being more creative than ever before in measuring ministry and stats that are significant for accomplishing the mission. Here is a long list of just some of the stats that are now being incorporated into churches” scoreboards. These came from dozens of churches just like yours who are trying to figure out how to make sure they are winning: “¢ The number of people who attend a worship service “¢ The number of people who are in a small group “¢ The number of people who are serving both within the church and outside

May 10, 2015

Explode Those Old Scoreboards

By Dave Ferguson Growing up in Chicago, I remember a couple famous scoreboards. There was a scoreboard at the old Comiskey Park where my White Sox played when I was a kid””I loved it! Every time someone hit a home run, the scoreboard would explode with fireworks. And then there is the scoreboard at Wrigley Field, home of the Cubs. It”s one of two remaining scoreboards that are still hand-turned. It was installed in 1937 and is still waiting for its first World Series win! Another scoreboard I remember is the one on the sanctuary wall of the little rural

May 4, 2015

Megachurches and More: The 2014 Lists

Our annual megachurch listingÂ is one of CHRISTIAN STANDARD”s most popular features. This year 347 churches participated, including 64 megachurches (those with 2,000 or more in weekly attendance) and 70 emerging megachurches (1,000 to 1,999). This chart also includes listings for scores of large churches (with average attendance of 500 to 999) and medium churches (250-499) Click here to view and download the 2014 Charts, or click on them individually: “¢Â 2014 Megachurches “¢Â 2014 Emerging Megachurches “¢Â 2014 Large Churches “¢Â 2014 Medium Churches As a bonus, we have searched through the lists to determine the average size of megachurches and emerging megachurches in

May 3, 2015

We Got Booted from the List!

By Mont Mitchell I turned my numbers in to CHRISTIAN STANDARD for the attendance list today. For the last bunch of years we have been on the emerging megachurch list . . . you know, churches with an average attendance more than 1,000 (but less than 2,000). However, for the last several years, our church has been going through some challenges and changes and transitions. (I”ll get to that in a bit.) The result: We”re bumped from the list. Westbrook Christian Church, Bolingbrook, Illinois, used to be an emerging megachurch. Today, we are just a large church. Now, don”t get

May 2, 2015

Church & Ministry

More than the Numbers

By Kent E. Fillinger Numbers evoke an array of emotions. How many readers, for example, regularly step on their bathroom scales with more than a bit of trepidation? But the Bible is full of numbers, and almost every healthy church is counting something. We believe the special report of church statistics published here each year is a great time to recognize the uniqueness of our tribe of churches and to capture and celebrate the historic work God is doing. A record 347 churches responded to the survey this year, and I hope we double or triple that number next year!

May 1, 2015

Church & Ministry Small Groups

A High-Tech Small Group Solution for Busy Lives

You are leading a small group or you want to start one to reach out to people who are struggling””in their marriages, in their jobs, with the lives and choices of their children, and sometimes with life itself. You are passionate about building a community that makes a difference. But what do you do when people tell you, over and over again, that they simply don”t have enough time for another commitment in their already stressed-out lives? This was the question Hasandra Heyward was dealing with. In response, she helped start a Women”s Online Growth Group and set up a

May 1, 2015