Dr. Chanon Ross says they’ll stay if we just tell them why they should. Dr. Ross, who’s a youth ministry expert at Princeton Seminary, says most churches do a poor job articulating why the church matters to young people and, as a result, we see very few college age – 20′somethings in church. In this [...]

Theologian and author Bob Whitesel says ‘the missing middle’ of healthy congregational growth is transformation – which he sees as key for today’s church to accomplish God’s mission. Bob, founding professor of Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University and the author of several books on congregational growth, anchors his conviction on his idea of ‘missional’ [...]

Discipleship, discipleship, discipleship – that’s Dr. Robbie Castleman’s litany – for clergy and lay folk. Dr. Castleman, a professor at John Brown University, believes biblical illiteracy is the number one challenge for Christians today. She’s dedicated her life to helping folk grow in the faith – and has some great suggestions for Christian leaders who [...]

Do you know churchgoers who feel judged, disconnected, and more like projects than people? These are sure signs that a congregation that does not care. But Dr. Virginia Todd Holeman of Asbury Seminary says there are things churches can do to help them be the caring places they desire to be. In this interview Dr. [...]

Sure, it’s a cheeky way of putting it – but Wycliffe College Evangelism Professor John Bowen has some very serious things to say about how Christians witness to their faith. His helpful definition for evangelism is: ‘Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, helping people take steps toward discipleship.’ In this interview, this seasoned academic [...]

Probably not – but he would’ve used Facebook! So says Vanderbilt University Scripture scholar Amy-Jill Levine. Her insights into the Jewishness of Jesus and the Scriptures, have helped many Christian leaders come to a more authentic understanding of Jesus and his ministry. Dr. Levine, author of The Misunderstood Jew and The Meaning of the Bible [...]

Engaging in regular interaction with at least one economically challenged person can have quite an impact on both Christians and their churches. Renowned author, teacher, and evangelical voice Ron Sider, founder of The Sider Center, is encouraged to see American Christians embracing a more holistic framework, of right belief as well as right action. However, there’s [...]

Inspiring people about the wonders of the Bible has been Bishop NT ‘Tom’ Wright’s sustaining passion – which he believes is at the heart of congregational health and vitality. The former bishop, New Testament Scholar, and author (the new one is How God Became King) says Christian leadership has always been about the same four [...]

While famed Jesus Seminar co-founder John Dominic Crossan is well known for his weighty analysis of the historical Jesus, he warns the Church not to spend so much time on the Messenger that we miss the Message. Crossan, a former Catholic priest and prolific writer, (out with a brand new book called The Power of [...]

Sure, they’ve been going on for centuries, but Dr. Paul Westermeyer of Luther Seminary says today’s church arguments over music have rarely been this mean-spirited – or this simple to solve (note the difference between simple and easy…). Yes, liberating our congregations from the manipulative and emotion-based musical proclivities of the surrounding culture is our [...]

Quit the copying and start dreaming! United Methodist minister, seminary professor, and leadership honcho Dr. Mark Fowler says the Church is past the days of program plug-ins and into uncharted waters where not only we can experiment, but thankfully, we can pray. Mark heads up the Institute for Transformative Leaders and Communities at Garrett Evangelical [...]

It’s been said that a church can’t grow unless the people inside the church are growing. Fuller Seminary’s Professor of Evangelism and Spiritual Formation Richard Peace has known that for some time – hence his unique title. Richard’s new book, Noticing God, invites people into a deeper relationship with Jesus, which is at the core [...]

Too many church leaders get caught up in the ‘administrivia’ of their congregations, says Dr. David Gortner from Virginia Theological Seminary, and it keeps them from getting out and involved in their neighborhoods, which harms both their faith community and the community at large. David, who is the professor of evangelism and congregational leadership at [...]

“Where do you sense God’s presence in the church?” “Where do you sense God calling us to go in the future?” These are the two vital questions renowned author and consultant Anthony B. Robinson asks church members to ask themselves as he helps them turn things around.  They key is listening far and wide for [...]

Nearly every church sees it: 20% of the people doing 80% of the work. How do we get more people involved?  Scott Thumma says he knows how, so I invited him to share his story with the rest of us. Scott, and co-author Warren Bird recently wrote a book addressing this dilemma that caught my [...]

If you’re like me you’re passionate about seeing the church grow. However, Princeton Seminary’s Darrell Guder says our best and only hope is to forget about the growth, and concentrate on the mission. I was first drawn to Prof. Guder when I read his book, The Continuing Conversion of the Churchand just had to have [...]

Perhaps the only thing more challenging than growing a young adult ministry may be growing a young adult ministry in secular England…  Yet college chaplain, author and theologian Maggi Dawn has done just that. A musician by background, liturgist at heart, and writer of growing renown, Maggi tells us how she found and engineered growth [...]