‘We’ll do anything to lead someone to Christ but sin!’ is the sentiment behind Sr. Pastor Don Denyes South Church in Lansing, Michigan. Under his leadership, that’s meant changing the church’s name (dropping the ‘Baptist’ from South Baptist Church), and doing some extensive renovation to accomodate the growth this megachurch has seen in an otherwise [...]

At too many churches, trying to get that one Sunday Morning takeaway is like trying to get a drink from a fire hose.  We’re bombarded with so many dissonant messages Dave Ferguson had to develop a way for his flock to focus on one central idea. Ferguson, pastor and founder of the Community Christian mega [...]

What started with a Bible study with another couple quickly snowballed into a megachurch that draws thousands of people to Gateway Church every weekend. What did it? Pastor John Burke says: a deep concentration on meeting people at their place of need. John admits he never planned, nor expected, this faith community go grow as [...]

The Armenian Orthodox Church is one of the oldest in Christendom (est. 301), and Fr. Garabed Kochakian says a key to its health is its close acquaintance with suffering. Garabed, pastor of the 3,000 member St. John Armenian Orthodox Church near Detroit, says his tradition bespeaks God’s faithfulness and gift of strength through adversity that [...]

When a pastor’s devastating moral lapse nearly closed Hill Country Bible Church, the congregation’s elders kept the church afloat – and now, nearly 30 years later, thousands of people are glad they did. Rebuilding trust was the first job the 20-something year old pastor Tim Hawks did – and the congregation responded, growing from 180 [...]

More than once, when pastor Bill Bohline has told the congregation at Hosanna Lutheran Church, ‘We believe the Lord has led you here,’ someone has cried. It’s the general feeling of God’s presence that Pastor Bohline believes brings people to his congregation, and keeps them there. Bill started this church 30 years ago, which now [...]

Megachurch pastor Doug Schmidt of Woodside Bible Church in Metro Detroit pioneered a novel way to advance the Gospel: by merging with struggling congregations and investing in them with the intention of turning them loose. It’s not a takeover plan aimed at building a new denomination, rather a way to help declining congregations re-tool and [...]

21st Century Strategies church consultant Bill Easum says it’s the most common challenge he runs into when consulting stalled churches: 2-3 entrenched bullies are at work, who shoot down new ideas and impede growth. Bill, a legendary mentor who has consulted for more than 700 congregations, says leaders need to remember that the message is [...]

No longer should the church shape the mission – but the mission must shape the church. So says author, instructor, and missional guru Alan Hirsch, who’s on a mission to invite all churches to embrace mission. Alan is well known in evangelical and mega-church circles and has something to teach everyone: that (as Barth said) [...]

A big reason Steve Stroope’s Lake Pointe Church near Dallas, Texas has gone from 12 families to 11,000 members (in 33 years) is because this congregation pays a lot of attention to families. Steve, who’s been at the helm of this conservative, evangelical church all 33 years says now, more than ever, families need vibrant [...]

Wonder how Mike Slaughter’s 2-room country church grew to a 5,000+ member congregation? Mike says the success at Ginghamsburg Church it’s a combination of vision, outreach, and a commitment to stay in the same position for more than 30 years. It’s an unlikely story, that a 27-year-old Methodist pastor could take a tiny country church, [...]

How do you help millions of TV viewers find local churches? Of the 20 million Americans who tune in to Lakewood Church‘s pastor Joel Osteen, Lakewood’s Wendell Burton estimates 10 million of these people do not have a church home. And it’s his job to help them find one. Like him or not, Joel Osteen [...]

How does a church with only two clergy host 5,000 people each Sunday, run a 1,300 student youth ministry, and keep 8 choirs in check? Fr. Paul Williams of St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in Dalton, Georgia says it’s all about letting the people lead. Catholic parishes, which are often this large and often this [...]

50% of the resources at Cornerstone United Methodist Church are spent on people who are not there says pastor Brad Kalajainen. He started the Grand Rapids, Michigan church with 25 people in his basement, and today hosts 2,000 worshipers each Sunday. Brad’s heart is for those who are not Christians as he takes quite seriously Jesus’ words [...]

It’s become common for many churches – to offer the same church experience in many sites – even partnering with declining congregations of the same tradition to instill new life through new ministry. That’s the creative idea lead pastor Jorge Acevedo is putting into action with Grace Church in South Florida, a United Methodist congregation. [...]

Sure, it may sound ironic that the pastor of a church that meets in a $20m, former golf club in the Hawaiian Islands would point to humility as a key to success.  But Pastor Dan Chun’s accessibility, modesty and authenticity have served him well, and seen a congregation of 175 people on Sunday reach over [...]

“If you’re over 40,” mega-church pastor Steve Andrews tells his congregation, “your job is to train the next generation of Christians.”  It’s leadership advice like this that’s seen Kensington Church in Troy, MI grow from 40 people to 12,000 in that last two decades. Steve’s heart for the Gospel and for keeping the message relevant [...]