Category Archives: Leadership

Church Growth: Why are the Unchurched Unchurched?

George Barna concludes from several surveys, [N]early four out of every ten non-churchgoing Americans (37%) said they avoid churches because of negative past experiences in churches or with church people. Ponder that one! We’re supposed to be the light of … Continue reading

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A Different Way to Do Teen Ministry Campus Ministry Church, Wrapping Up

Imagine that you’re a minister founding a congregation’s first youth ministry. Quite naturally, you’re going to ask what all church leaders should ask: What is the purpose of this ministry? How will I know whether the ministry is successful? What … Continue reading

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A Different Way to Do Teen Ministry Campus Ministry Church, What This is Not

Family-centered ministry. Some congregations have seen the problem with overly segregating teens from adults and so have responded by having families do events and projects together. It’s a good idea. But it’s not the best idea. I mean it has … Continue reading

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A Different Way to Do Teen Ministry Campus Ministry Church, Putting Theory into Practice

Practice I’m a big fan of youth ministry and youth ministers. I’m just not such a big fan of turning youth ministry into a sub-congregation that practices a Christianity unlike that practiced by the rest of the church. It’s unhealthy … Continue reading

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The Shepherding Model, 21st Century Version

At last, rather than talking about sheep in pens and leading sheep through the wilderness and protecting sheep from wolves, we have a catchy modern metaphor. Announcing a new seminar for elders: Teaching the Sheep to Surf!* * Involves no … Continue reading

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Bad Elders: Leadership Hubris

Thom S. Rainer is a well-known author, consultant, and speaker on church growth and leadership. He recently posted an article in his blog about hubris among church leaders. “Hubris,” of course, means pride. It’s the Greek word for the kind … Continue reading

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A Different Way to Do Teen Ministry Campus Ministry Church, Short-term missions?

Theory, Part 3 — Or how teen mission trip reports can be about someone other than the teens Two short-term mission trips. Trip 1. The adults bought plane tickets and hired a bus so the kids can go to Central … Continue reading

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A Different Way to Do Teen Ministry Campus Ministry Church, Mentors?

Theory Part 2 — Or why teens shouldn’t have to tell us what they did last summer Let’s push this line of thought just a little further. And by “a little” I really mean “a lot” — because this isn’t … Continue reading

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A Different Way to Do Teen Ministry Campus Ministry Church, Relationships?

Theory, Part 1 — Or why I cringe everytime I hear that our kids are building great relationships. I have this theory. It goes like this. Sometimes we run youth ministry like a babysitting service with devos thrown in. And … Continue reading

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A Different Way to Do Teen Ministry Campus Ministry Church, Prologue and Introduction

Prologue I’m not a youth minister. I never have been. I do have four sons who’ve been part of youth ministries under several different ministers. But many readers have been or are youth ministers. Therefore, I write this knowing that … Continue reading

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