Ideas and Ideals for Leaders on the High Dive

By Jon Weece Risk. Freedom to fail. Dream big. Think outside the box. Try again. These words are frequently spoken by leaders at Southland Christian Church, Lexington, Kentucky. We like these words and others””like creative, innovative, daring, and even crazy””because they make us take deep breaths, cause our hearts to race, and make us swallow hard. These types of words keep us up at night and drive us to our knees. Leaders at Southland are not afraid of climbing the high dive. We like to take risks; we”ve come to realize that fear is a great faith-builder for our team.

third place

Meeting Strangers

As churches seek stronger ties with their neighborhoods, “third places” like coffee shops and community centers can create everyday connection points beyond Sunday. Practical examples show how presence and service can open relational doors.

architectural evangelism

‘Third Place’

After years as a Disney “imagineer,” Mel McGowan now helps churches think differently about campus design. Visioneering Studios calls it “architectural evangelism,” pairing story, stewardship, and practical flow so facilities better serve leaders and welcome communities.

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