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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

It wasn’t strategic planning or suburban demographics that led Pastor David McNitzky’s Alamo Heights United Methodist Church to open a satellite campus – it was the prayer team. David’s large congregation had hit a plateau and expansion north of town was where the Spirit seemed to be leading. In this interview, David explains how his [...]

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. [...]

Are you ‘up a Willow Creek without a Hybels?’ Trying to carbon copy the modus operandi of another church is just one of the stupid things veteran pastor and author Geoff Surratt warns those of us interested in building healthy congregations. Sure, it was the catchy book title that caught me, but Geoff’s deep passion [...]