After all, Joy is one of the fruits of the Spirit – why not make it a fruit of Sunday morning worship?

So says pastor Russell Clark of First United Methodist Church in Reddick FL.  Russell, just a few years out of seminary, has seen Sunday attendance more than triple in his 3 years of ministry there.

Russell says it’s not just because he stresses the joy of knowing Jesus, but because he takes pains to visit and care for the older folks in the congregation.  Be inspired by an enthusiastic young voice that’s not afraid to try new things.

Watch the Full Program.

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Synopsis
Russell Clark puts on skits, dresses up as a super hero, and isn’t ashamed of having his formal pastor’s photo hanging on the church wall depicting him as a disco dancer. Here are the notes from my interview:

Show Them You Care
Creative liturgy can come across as gimmicky if it’s all sizzle and no steak. That’s why Russell makes sure pastoral care visits and easy accessibility are hallmarks of his ministry. People are more willing to be patient with change when they trust the change-agent.

Look for Cross-Generational Opportunities
How about having the youth in the church lead a forum to help the older folk learn how to text, get on Facebook, and use technology? It affirms the gifts of the young while lending a hand to those who are older.

Make Them Smile During the Creed
Russell was so determined to have his congregation experience the joy of congregational life that he preached on, then urged the congregation to smile during the Apostles’ Creed. The congregation responded positively – some even purchased smiley face masks to playfully joke with their pastor.

About Russell Clark
Russell Clark received his bachelor’s degree in Christian Education and a minor in Theatre Arts from Texas Wesleyan University in 2005.  He graduated with a Masters of Divinity from Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University in 2009.  He has been the Senior Pastor at First United Methodist Church in Reddick, Florida since July 2010. First UMC, Reddick is his 1st pastoral appointment.  Before moving to Florida, he served at different churches throughout the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex in Texas as either youth pastor or associate pastor since 2001.  He has been the guest preacher and skit talent for a number of youth mission trips, youth revivals, and youth conferences.  He is pursuing ordination with the United Methodist Church. Russell and his wife, Shannon, currently reside in Ocala, Florida with their two dogs and are expecting their first child.

Books Russell Recommends
Almost Christian: What the Faith of Our Teenagers is Telling the American Church
The Next Christians: Seven Ways You Can Live the Gospel and Restore the World
Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith
Russell also recommends this recent article on church growth.

Ministry in smaller congregations takes expertise and enthusiasm for people not programs, says United Methodist minister and small church consultant Ron Crandall.

A retired seminary dean, Ron has a contagious excitement for the small church, and says that building a core team of leaders within the congregation is key.

In this interview, Ron unpacks this and tells us how building energy around helping people identify the active work of God in their lives builds health into a congregation.

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Synopsis
Ron Crandall is all about working with smaller congregations to identify and invigorate leadership teams that together with the pastor envision, design, and implement the work of ministry in their context. Here are my notes from the interview:

Don’t Put It All on the Pastor
In many small churches clergy stay for short periods of time. The result is often personal and missional turmoil during pastoral transitions. The solution Ron suggests requires that continuity in vision and purpose be owned by the core leadership team of the congregation and that pastors coming and going work alongside these teams, nurturing and equipping, so that the ministry stays fruitful.

Glory Sightings
This is Ron’s term for the important work done by church members who are able to step back and see God at work in their lives. This can become a touch-point for congregational unity and wholeness.

Be Open to Transformation
Ron says a common challenge small churches face is when a handful of people get excited about a new direction or an experience of personal renewal that they want to share with others – many in the majority can feel alienated. Remaining close to others through the process of transformation becomes key.

About Ron Crandall
Ron Crandall is an ordained United Methodist elder in the Kentucky Conference and retired as Dean of the E. Stanley Jones School of World Mission and Evangelism at Asbury Theological Seminary. Ron’s ministry focus has been on smaller membership churches and effective Christian witness. This dual passion led to the development of ABIDE as a specialized ministry of SLI.  His newest book Turnaround and Beyond—A Hopeful Future for Smaller Membership Churches captures the special challenges faced by smaller congregations and the leadership steps necessary to forge new futures.  Ron and Bonnie have two sons, Matthew and Joshua, and two grandchildren.

Books Ron Recommends
Turnaround and Beyond: A Hopeful Future for the Small Membership Church
The Externally Focused Church
Power Surge: Six Marks of Discipleship for a Changing Church
The Great Omission: Reclaiming Jesus’s Essential Teachings on Discipleship

The Well is a United Methodist church plant that, by most indicators, is a home run.

It’s hip, it’s relevant, and on its first Sunday, 7 months ago, welcomed more than 800 people. However, pastor Arthur Jones says the challenge of discipleship-making remains: how do we help young people deepen their knowledge of Scripture, increase their commitment to the community, and unlock stewardship realities that are life-giving?

In this interview, Arthur speaks candidly about the joys and challenges of nurturing a new generation in Christ.

Watch the Full Program.

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Synopsis
Arthur Jones is an incredibly talented pastor who helped create, launch and lead a vibrant congregation of young adults. Here are my notes from the interview:

Going First Class
When the founding church of The Well, St. Andrew, decided it was time to grow younger, it decided to build a whole new congregation and outfitted a building to house the latest in music and technology, without this commitment to excellence, Arthur says things would not have been nearly as successful.

Why a New Congregation?
Arthur says the generation gap is just too big – that many of the folk who attend The Well are de-churched and divorced from the last generation of church-goers, and thus need music, video, and technology that speaks to what it’s been like for them to grow up.

Small Groups? Bible Studies?
Arthur has had some success with a weekly Bible Study, and short 7 week courses. Next is small groups, though finding seasoned leaders is a challenge. He says being unafraid to fail is an important attribute to cultivate.

About Arthur Jones
Rev. Arthur Jones is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church, having received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas and his Master of Divinity degree from Duke Divinity School.  Arthur is a fifth generation Methodist preacher, and has spent most of his life active in the ministries and structure of the UMC.  He helped launch a United Methodist campus ministry at the University of Kansas, served as a delegate at both the 2004 and 2008 General Conferences of the UMC, and has recently launched a new contemporary worshiping community at St. Andrew United Methodist Church called The Well.  Check it out at www.thewellplano.com.

Books Arthur Recommends:
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption
Out of the Silent Planet / Perelandra / That Hideous Strength (The Space Trilogy)
The Great Divorce

Author, journalist, and pastor Jason Byassee says it was the natural move at his rather large, well-established Boone United Methodist Church in North Carolina: that his first hire would be someone charged to coordinate care of those who were not already members.

Jason, an author who writes for the Christian Century and is a popular conference speaker, says churches do well to tap into the natural urge people have to give.

Hear the words of this energetic, and hopeful voice for established churches.

Watch the Full Program.

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Synopsis
Jason Byassee brings deep enthusiasm and a seasoned intellect to the job of keeping vibrancy in established churches. Here are my notes from the interview:

Be Attentive to Your Neighborhood
It’s a recurring theme for Jason, as he speaks and reports on other congregations, to see that the vibrant congregations are ones who are getting out, meeting their neighbors, and trying to discern what God’s ongoing work in the community looks like.

Real Mission
‘What are we asking of people that will change their lives?’ It’s an important question to put forward as we design mission work that goes beyond feel-good activities, and into deeply sacrificial work that changes everybody’s world.

Without the Church, Who Do You Praise?
Yep, worshipping something is ingrained in us all. Are we offering the kind of worship that really helps people connect with their deep longing to worship?

About Jason Byassee
Jason Byassee became senior pastor of Boone United Methodist Church in Boone, North Carolina in July, 2011. There he directs four other pastoral staff members and pastors a congregation of nearly 1400. He also serves on the Board of Ordained Ministry of the Western North Carolina Conference of the UMC. He studied at Davidson College and Duke University, where he earned a PhD in systematic theology in 2005. He is also a contributing editor to Christian Century magazine, where he served as an assistant editor from 2004-2008, a Fellow in Theology and Leadership at Leadership Education at Duke Divinity School, and a Research Fellow in the New Media Project at Union Theological Seminary in New York.

He is the author of four books: Reading Augustine: A Guide to Confessions (Cascade, 2006), An Introduction to the Sayings of the Desert Fathers (Cascade, 2007), Praise Seeking Understanding: Reading the Psalms with Augustine (Eerdmans, 2007), and The Gifts of the Small Church (Abingdon). He is presently working on a volume with Westminster’s new Interpretation series on the history of biblical exegesis. His work has also appeared in Christianity Today, Theology Today, Books & Culture, Sojourners, United Methodist Reporter, and First Things. He serves on boards for The Journal of Scriptural Reasoning, the School for Conversion, and The Other Journal. His work has been recognized with several awards from the Associated Church Press and in 2007 with the American Academy of Religion’s first place award for newswriting for outlets with circulations under 100,000. He is married to Jaylynn Warren Byassee, pastor of Bethelview and Valle Crucis UMC’s, and together they have three boys, ages 8, 7, and 4.

Books Jason Recommends

New Seeds of Contemplation
The Attentive Life: Discerning God’s Presence in All Things
When God Talks Back: Understanding the American Evangelical Relationship with God (Vintage)

Gifted retreat leader and speaker Suzanne Stabile says the Church, living in liminality, is best served by engaging in intentional spiritual practices.

Her expertise in the enneagram and other spiritual disciplines as arranged through the Life in the Trinity Ministry office has her visiting many congregations, which she says, are hungry for intentional spiritual practices.

Hear words of wisdom from this gifted spiritual director.

Watch the Full Program.

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Synopsis
Suzanne Stabile is encouraged by the growing numer of people who are asking the question: can we go deeper with Jesus? Here are my notes from the interview:

Mainline Rebound?
Suzanne says she’s seeing greater hope in the mainline as younger people are discovering the depth of spirituality older denominations bring to the table.

Living in the Liminality
Sure, it’s a place of transition, but Suzanne sees this age of the church as a great opportunity to learn – this is a teachable space.

We’re Looking for Belonging
Suzanne says this is the biggest yearning for those who are joining churches today: are we attentive enough to that need for connection that is so strong in the world?

About Suzanne Stabile
Suzanne Stabile, an internationally renowned teacher and director of retreats, offers a unique and creative approach to the practice of Spiritual Formation.  A master teacher of the Enneagram, Suzanne draws upon her educational background at Southern Methodist University, as well as her life skills learned as a mother of four, a social worker and a minister’s spouse. Her refreshing teaching style is an unforgettable blend of humor, honesty and authenticity.  She and her husband, Joseph, are the founders of Life in the Trinity Ministry and the Micah Center in Dallas, Texas.

Books Suzanne Recommends
Emergence Christianity: What It Is, Where It Is Going, and Why It Matters
Why Did Jesus, Moses, the Buddha, and Mohammed Cross the Road?: Christian Identity in a Multi-Faith World
Still: Notes on a Mid-Faith Crisis

How does a church of 19 (mostly grandparents) get to nearly 150 in just a few years? Intentional Christian practice found at the heart of the Methodist tradition.

Matt Smith, co-founder of The Table at Central United Methodist Church says the growing congregation, that already has one ‘plant’ at a local coffee house, is all about helping people make sense of what God’s doing in their lives.

In this interview, this prayerful pastor shares how God has worked to revitalize a community that was set to close its doors.

Watch the Full Program.

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Synopsis
Matthew Smith found the answer to building a new church, in some very old traditions. Here are my notes from the interview.

An Amazing Blend
While the Central Methodist congregation dwindled to just a handful, Matt’s growing group around ‘the table’ (a hip metaphor for Wesleyan spiritual practices) was growing. Could the two merge? Yep, call it retraditioning at its best.

Burned and Bored
That’s the demographic for Matt’s church: those people who have an interest in a community centered around God, but are not nourished by traditions like their parents (or grandparents) may have been.

Spiritual Practices

A majority of attenders are involved in small groups based on the traditional Methodist ‘class meeting’ – which Matthew calls a table meeting. Participants answer: How is it with your soul? How have you done good? How have you done harm? What spiritual disciplines are getting you closer to God?

About Matthew Smith

Matt Smith is co-pastor of The Table at Central United Methodist Church in Sacramento, California.  Matt was ordained as an Elder in The United Methodist Church in 2011.  He was the first recipient of the Robert McAfee Brown Scholarship at Union Theological Seminary in New York City.  He was awarded a Traveling Fellowship by the faculty of Union upon completing his MDiv in 2004. He is 1999 graduate of Drake University.

Central United Methodist Church began in 1850 as just the fourth church to form in Sacramento. The historic congregation had declined and was on the brink of closure in 2009 when a few young families began to imagine how God might be calling them to be church differently.  The Table at Central UMC was born as a few folks returned to the roots of their Wesleyan tradition by gathering in small groups, called Kitchen Tables, to watch over one another in love.  The Kitchen Tables provided a framework for people who’d been burned and bored by church to begin growing once more in faith.    The Table began worshipping at Central UMC in October of 2010.  Worship has grown to average over 130, with over half of the people gathering in weekly Kitchen Tables as well.  The Table began partnering in December with a local coffee house called Old Soul to offer Sunday evening gatherings, which combine the historical structure of Wesleyan class meetings with jazz.

Books Matthew Recommends
A Blueprint for Discipleship: Wesley’s General Rules as a Guide for Christian Living
On the Mystery: Discerning Divinity in Process
Yes to the Mess: Surprising Leadership Lessons from Jazz

Taking what’s best of the old and freshening it up with the new is the challenging work facing nearly every congregation today says Duke University theologian, author, and UMC minister L. Gregory Jones – so how do we do this?

Dr. Jones says one strategy is that church leaders need to keep up on the latest, via TED talks and reading creatively and widely to move away from the traditional ‘chaplain’ role of yesteryear and into that of an innovator and change agent.

May the words of this gifted theologian stir our imaginations!

Watch the Full Program.

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Synopsis
L. Gregory Jones is out to help people more deeply imagine God’s possibilities. Here are my notes from the inverview:

Traditioned Innovation
It’s the delicate balance of valuing and curating the gold of our heritage and melding it with the life-giving newness that’s breaking in that will be the key to survival and even growth in the Church in this new age.

God’s Love Makes Us Inventors
Dr. Jones says when we deepen the appreciation of God’s love for us and others we find inspiration for ways to meet them in their lives. How is God making us inventors today?

Cultivate Courage and Resilience
While charisma and dynamic preaching seem like the best tools Christian leaders can have, Dr. Jones says having the courage to take a stand and the resilience to keep on keeping on are far more helpful. How are you cultivating these in your ministry?

About L. Gregory Jones
L. Gregory Jones is the Senior Strategist for Leadership Education at Duke Divinity, Professor of Theology at Duke Divinity School, as an Affiliated Faculty member of Duke Corporate Education, and as Special Assistant to the President of Wake Forest University. He is also writing a book, tentatively entitled Traditioned Innovation: Cultivating Leadership for which We Year.  He is a leader and strategist whose creative engagement has helped institutions across the world to create transformational resource models. Greg has used these gifts in many different roles, most recently as Duke University’s Vice President and Vice Provost for Global Strategy and Programs, and prior to that as Dean of Duke’s Divinity School (1997-2010) where he led the institution to a significant expansion of resources, networks and impact. Greg is a gifted speaker, a noted writer, and a trusted advisor who helps leaders imagine new possibilities and shape cultures for organizational success and productivity.

Greg is the author or editor of 16 books, including the co-authored Forgiving As We’ve Been Forgiven: Community Practices for Making Peace (with Celestin Musekura, in 2010), the co-authored Resurrecting Excellence: Shaping Faithful Christian Ministry (with Kevin R. Armstrong, in 2006), Everyday Matters: Intersections of Life and Faith (2003), and the widely acclaimed Embodying Forgiveness (1995). Jones, an ordained United Methodist pastor, has published more than 200 articles in a variety of publications. He is an editor-at-large for Christian Century magazine, and writes a regular column for Faith & Leadership, the web magazine published by Leadership Education at Duke Divinity.

Books Dr. Jones Recommends
Living into Community: Cultivating Practices That Sustain Us – Christine Pohl
Social Entrepreneurship: What Everyone Needs to Know – David Bowerstein and Susan Davis
Thin Blue Smoke – Doug Worgul

Ordained Methodist, PhD candidate, and USA Messy Church coordinator Andrew Holmes ponders the role of ‘fun’ when it comes to Christian worship – and at the end of the day he’s in favor of it.

Holmes, who cites numerous Scripture texts suggesting the playfulness of God, is also writing his doctoral dissertation (St. John’s, Durham UK) on technology in Protestant worship. Hear the words of this seasoned clergyman who thinks churches miss out when they avoid lightheartedness.

Watch the Full Program. Rather Listen?

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Synopsis
Andrew Holmes thinks ‘joy’ is underrated as a fruit of the Spirit – and is looking to inspire it in Christian worship. Here are my notes from the interview:

God Created Us to Have Fun
Citing the numerous festivals among the ancient Israelites and Jesus’ first miracle, at a wedding reception, Andrew believes the church does well to examine the God-given calling we all have to play.

Introducing Messy Church
Though maligned by some as a Vacation Bible School on steroids, with little resembling traditional worship, Andrew is quick to point out the incredible success it has had at bringing formerly unchurched people into the church.

Do You Use Visual Media Technology?
You should, says Andrew, but only if it fits your context. In fact, the best uses of VMT occur when local, highly contextual messages, are communicated.

About Andrew Holmes
Before entering full time ministry Andrew worked in a technical capacity for professional theatre, broadcast television and law enforcement agencies. Now he is an ordained Methodist minister in the UK Conference and living in Indianapolis.

Before moving to the United States Andrew served four Methodist churches in the North East of England. As part of his ministry he established a very successful Messy Church and assisted other churches to set up their own Messy Church. Andrew is acting as the Messy Church Regional Coordinator for the United States and is completing his doctoral degree from Durham University (UK) where he is researching the impact of Visual Media Technology in Protestant Worship.  Prior to leaving the UK Andrew devised and planned the ‘ARK project’ in Crawcrook, a church building that is designed to draw people of all ages together in worship and ministry around the theme of play. With the funding now in place the building work is starting and it is hoped that the church will open early in 2013. Andrew lives in Indianapolis with his wife Carolyn Scanlan-Holmes, who is Senior Pastor at Avon Christian Church and he has three grown children David, Alison and Fiona.

Books Andrew Recommends
Liturgical for a Media Culture for a  - Eileen Crowley
Transformational Church - Thom Rainer
Good to Great – Jim Collines

Valley and Mountain is not your typical church – in fact now, in its infancy, it is best described as a movement – which may be where the next generation of vibrant congregations is going.

John, a gifted United Methodist Church minister, is a few years into this Seattle, WA plant, which meets in different locations and centers around intentional practices, social justice and something kind of cool called deep listening.

Enjoy the wisdom of this young minister who’s navigating uncharted waters to reach a relatively unchurched/dechurched population.

Watch the Full Program.

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Synopsis
John Helmiere has a dynamic vision for how the Church is supposed to affect society. Here are my notes from the interview:

Three Metaphors
Scuba School, Compost Bucket, and Open Space Software Program is how John describes Valley and Mountain’s vision to help people go deep, fertilize, and be always accepting of the Spirit’s move among all people.

What? You Don’t Have Service Every Sunday?
That’s just not flying (yet?) at Valley and Mountain where people come together around a Sunday liturgy (of sorts), a midweek ‘Theology on Tap’ in a bar, and irregular short course experiments, ie Radical Hospitality and Simple Living.

Deep Listening
John’s title, if he has one, is not ‘pastor’ but Minister of Listening – exemplifying the congregation’s commitment to practice a Quaker-influenced style of being present in all interactions.

About John Helmiere
The Rev. John Helmiere is the founder of Valley & Mountain Fellowship (UMC) in Seattle and currently serves as its Minister of Listening and Convener.  A Tampa native, he studied religion and philosophy at Dartmouth College and Yale Divinity School and is a provisional elder in The United Methodist Church.  John studied and participated in congregation-based social action at Glide UMC in San Francisco and founded Voice of Hope Ministries, the social action ministry of Community of Faith UMC in Clermont, Florida. Currently, he serves on the executive board of JusticeWorks (a grassroots movement to undo racism in the criminal justice system) and is active in Washington-based campaigns for economic justice.

He is a 2012-2013 Fellow of the Beatitudes Society, the 2010 recipient of the Tweedy Prize (Yale Divinity School’s highest award), the winner of the Saint Francis Creation Care Sermon Contest, and a former Ministry Fellow with the Fund for Theological Education.  John is married to Frederica Helmiere, a pioneer in exploring the intersection of spirituality, ecology, and international development.  He enjoys hiking, traveling (having visited 36 countries on 6 continents), making puns, and eating any possible combination of cheese and bread.

Books John Recommends
Community and Growth – Jean Vanier
Sadhana – Anthony DeMello
The Emerging Church – Bruce Sanguin

It’s not that they’ve never been churched, it’s that they’ve been de-churched – says Foundry United Methodist pastor Dean Snyder – which calls for ministering in a whole new way.

Pastor Snyder’s helped design a whole new worship service, with different time and liturgy, in hopes of capturing the attentions of Washington, D.C.’s young urbanites.

In this interview Dean talks about what’s bringing renewal to Bill and Hillary Clinton’s former church: reaching the de-churched – and emphasizing help to the homeless.

Watch the Full Program.

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Click here to visit www.livingcompass.org.

Synopsis
Downtown D.C. is a great place to visit – but fewer people are living there, which presents a challenge Pastor Snyder is addressing. Here are my notes from the interview:

Two Questions
When Dean Snyder took over as pastor of this historic congregation he asked the large membership (650 on a Sunday morning) 1) What do you like about your church, and 2) what would you change? Paying attention to children and letting people know what Foundry does were the answers – and his emphasis on answering these has paid off.

Touch People Where They Are
One thing that’s led to Foundry’s growth has been an emphasis on transformation – altar calls and laying on of hands in the main service are not uncommon occurrences.

Reaching the De-Churched
Founding a worship service for those on the fringes, gays and lesbians and others who are leery about joining a faith community, has paid off – though the challenge of stewardship (getting attendees to pay for it) remains a challenge.

About Dean Snyder
Dean Snyder is the Senior Pastor of Foundry United Methodist Church in Washington, D.C. He is a preacher, writer, and activist who coordinates a talented ministerial and lay staff. Prior to being appointed to Foundry, Snyder served the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference as a communications director, editor, and specialist in congregational development and new church starts. He also served congregations in Philadelphia, as a campus minister and as a college instructor. A graduate of Boston University School of Theology and Albright College, Snyder’s articles have appeared in dozens of publications.

Books Dean Recommends
When Moses Meets Aaron – Gil Rendel and Susan Beaumont
Inside the Large Congregation – Susan Beaumont
Leadership without Easy Answers – Ron Heifetz
The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team – Patrick Lencioni

Sponsors I Mentioned
Living Compass points individuals, families and organizations in a whole new direction for healthy living by providing them with resources, coaching and education. The Living Compass program is based on the belief that each individual knows what she or she needs to do to become more whole. It is also based on the belief that we cannot be whole by ourselves: this journey will require the support and care of others as well.

The ethical shortcomings we hear about in the news every day are, unfortunately, not absent from the Church. Whether it be financial, sexual, or some other scandal, not only are they common, but there are ways to handle them that can minimize the pain.

Susan Nienaber is a Senior Consultant with the Alban Institute and has helped dozens of congregations work through the trauma of church scandals. She’s particularly interested in helping congregations prepare before a scandal comes about, and has some great advice to share.

In this class you will learn:

• What is a scandal (vs. a conflict or trauma)
• How to address scandal at the onset
• How to walk through scandals
• Hiring outside professionals
• Which information gets shared when: What scandals mean to the life of the congregation
• Handling the media
• Taking Precautions: Practical Preventative Measures
• How congregations recover
• Resources to help congregations through scandals

This course is perfect for a congregation’s leadership team, clergy, and laity interested in preparing for and walking through scandals.  It includes a downloadable video teaching, Mp3 of the course, downloadable e-Book, as well as a worksheet with discussion questions to accompany the video. This is a great way to alert your leadership and congregation about the all too common occurrence of church scandal.

Susan Nienaber is a licensed marriage and family therapist, with expertise in helping her clients recover from trauma and abuse. For nearly two decades, Susan has served as a consultant and mediator in congregations and denominations. She is an ordained Elder of the United Methodist Church and has been a hospital chaplain and a parish pastor. She writes, lectures, and leads training workshops and retreats for clergy and laity on subjects such as managing conflict and change, professional ethics and boundaries, the use of dialogue, developing staff, and strengthening leadership.

$25 buys the course for you or your church, and, as always, all courses come with a money back guarantee.

“Certainly not MY sermon!” – Yep, Princeton Seminary PhD candidate Stephen Cady says he was just as shocked to discover this – and other things – about the spirituality of young people.

When Stephen embarked on his research – to discover where high school aged young adults find God in worship – he never expected nearly all the responses to say, ‘Actually, I don’t.’

In this interview, Stephen unpacks the motives and messages behind this eye-opening research that will really help us better minister to and with younger people.

Watch the Full Program.

Rather Listen? Click here to download the Mp3 to your mobile device.

Click here to visit Turnaround 20/20

Synopsis
What are young people looking for in church? Stephen Cady says – weight. It’s relevance, it’s challenge, and it’s unpacked in this interview. Here are my notes:

What Young People Really Want
Stephen says it’s the same thing their parents want: help understanding what it means to be human – and a Christian – in the world. Churches that do this well, do their youth, and congregation, well.

Intergenerational Worship is KEY
Stephen says the most helpful move any church can make is to get all ages into one service, every Sunday. Ministering to youth means caring for youth – and it’s harder to do when they’re not there.

Dreading the Sermon
100% of the young people Stephen polled said they dreaded the sermon because it so rarely had anything important to say to them. Stephen says preachers need to 1) be conscious that young people are listening, 2) give ‘weight’, and 3) be authentic and passionate.

About Stephen Cady
Stephen Cady is a doctoral candidate at Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, NJ where he is finishing a PhD in Christian Education and Formation. Stephen’s research focus is in the role of congregational worship practices in the faith formation of youth and young adults. Stephen has been named a Timothy Scholar by the United Methodist Foundation for Evangelism, was twice the recipient of a Dempster Fellowship through the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, and is a John Wesley Fellow.

Stephen is an ordained Elder of the United Methodist Church currently serving on the pastoral staff of Asbury First United Methodist Church in Rochester, NY.  Stephen has also served churches in New Jersey and Illinois.  He holds degrees from Ohio Wesleyan University and Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. Stephen grew up in Olathe, KS , he and his wife, Emily, have two small children. He enjoys running, collecting Superman memorabilia, and teaching people how to yo-yo.

Books Stephen Recommends
Book, Bath, Table and Time – Fred Edie
Choosing Church – Carol Lytch
Almost Christian – Kenda Creasy Dean

Sponsors I Mentioned
Turnaround 20/20 – Learn from experts who have conquered obstacles to growth and watched God turn things around. Turnaround 20/20 is a unique congregational development conference that brings together 20 experts who speak for 20 minutes each. People like Nelson Searcy, Charles Arn, George Hunter, and Elmer Towns will focus on a specific area of congregational development and are out to spark new ideas and innovations for you and your church. Turnaround 20./20 is Tuesday, October 23 in Nashville, TN.

It’s a lament often heard in churches: where are all the kids?

And Princeton Seminary‘s Kenda Creasy Dean says we often not need look further than parents.

An abundance of research points to the direct link between religiously active adults and religiously active children – so the best place to start – is with parents.

In this interview, Professor Dean tells us why young people look for less play time and more passion in church, and how we might begin to provide it.

Watch the Full Program.

Rather Listen? Click here to download the Mp3 to your mobile device.

Click here to visit Turnaround 20/20.

Synopsis
The altruism and optimism of youth is something today’s church really needs, however the inability of our congregations to truly understand and welcome young people often robs us of this gift. Here are my notes from the interview.

It’s Not Like Soccer
Sure, we drop them off at soccer, violin, or dance practice and sit there and watch, and when it comes to church parents often do the same thing. However, church is different, our kids need to see us play – participate – and show them our faith is important to us, otherwise how can we expect it to be important to them?

Moralistic Therapeutic Deism
This is today’s default belief system for teens, and arguably for adults. If you’ve not heard of it, it may be worth the whole interview to hear it unpacked.

Show Them Passion
Passion is one of the most compelling ways to evangelize. It’s one thing to say we love, but another to suffer for it.

About Kenda Creasy Dean
Kenda Dean is an ordained United Methodist pastor and Professor of Youth, Church and Culture at Princeton Theological Seminary, where she works closely with the Institute for Youth Ministry. A graduate of Miami University (Ohio) and Wesley Theological Seminary, Kenda served as a pastor in suburban Washington, DC and campus minister at the University of Maryland-College Park before earning her doctorate in practical theology/Christian education from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1997. She is the author of several books including, Almost Christian: What the Faith of Our Teenagers is Telling the American Church. She and her husband Kevin are parents of Brendan, a senior in college, and Shannon, a senior in High School. Her current guilty pleasures include the TV show “Glee” and digging her toes into the sand in Ocean Grove, New Jersey.

Resources Prof. Dean Recommends
Sticky Faith – Kara Powell
Sustainable Youth Ministry – Mark DeVries
Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations - Roert Schnase

Sponsors I Mentioned
Turnaround 20/20 – Learn from experts who have conquered obstacles to growth and watched God turn things around. Turnaround 20/20 is a unique congregational development conference that brings together 20 experts who speak for 20 minutes each. People like Nelson Searcy, Charles Arn, George Hunter, and Elmer Towns will focus on a specific area of congregational development and are out to spark new ideas and innovations for you and your church. Turnaround 20./20 is Tuesday, October 23 in Nashville, TN.

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 more important than any one person – and by letting bullies win, the church’s, and Christ’s mission, are compromised.

Hear the wisdom of a United Methodist pastor who spent 24 years serving a congregation that grew from 39 people into the thousands – and whose heart for Our Lord’s mission is infectious.

Watch the Full Program.

Rather Listen? Click here to download the Mp3 to your mobile device.

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Synopsis
Church leaders who are unwilling to confront ill health – it’s one of the biggest impediments to a more robust church in North America. In this interview, Bill Easum tells us how these situations might be handled – and imparts other valuable, practical advice. Here are my notes:

Harsh Words for Small Churches
While they make up the vast majority of congregations in North America – that most people attend – Bill believes churches were created to grow, and need to seriously contemplate their mission, get out of their comfort zones, and be challenged by the Great Commission.

Hand Off Ministry
The percentage of pastors who are able to effectively hand off ministry is way too low, according to Easum, and developing the skill to raise up qualified leaders and give work to them, is something most churches need to take seriously.

Pastors as Scouts
Since hiring great staff is so important Bill says church leaders must constantly be on the lookout for great talent – not hiring to fill a need, but hiring when one comes across great people.

About Bill Easum
Bill Easum has a thirty-year track record of growing churches and has worked in over 700 congregations, some of which are the largest in the nation. He served, for 24 years as a pastor of, what grew to be, the largest United Methodist Church in South Texas. He has been honored by the Industrial Areas Foundation in New York and has won the prestigious Donald McGavran award for outstanding church leadership.  In 1986 he founded 21st Century Strategies, which in 2000 became Easum, Bandy & Associates (EBA) when he merged with Tom Bandy. Then, in 2008, Bill Easum and Bill Tenny-Brittian reformed 21st Century Strategies Inc. which serves the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ghana, and South Africa.  Bill is the author of numerous best-selling books such as Church Growth Handbook, How to Reach Baby Boomers, and Sacred Cows Make Gourmet Burgers. He holds degrees from Baylor University, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Southern Methodist University.

Books Bill Recommends
Missional Renaissance – Reggie McNeal
The Permanent Revolution – Alan Hirsch
Missional Communities – Reggie McNeal

Sponsors I Mentioned
Virginia Theological Seminary is the largest Episcopal Seminary in the U.S., forming men and women for leadership in the church. In addition to the MDiv, Anglican Studies and DMin degrees are their Masters of Arts degrees with a fous on Theological Studies, Christian Formation, Religion & Culture, and Biblical Interpretation. Check them out at vts.edu.

Dr. Elaine Heath prepares her seminary students for ministry not with the latest, but with the oldest.

Dr. Heath, a proponent of the New Monasticism, says a tripos of prayer, deep hospitality, and justice may be the only stool upon which effective ministry will take place in this new millennium.

Elaine, who heads up the Center for Missional Wisdom, is also bringing these concepts to the local church within her beloved United Methodist tradition. Be inspired by this dedicated academic’s work in calling the Church to give its all to following Christ.

Watch the Full Program

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Click here to visit vts.edu

Synopsis
When so many churches are talking about leadership techniques and technology advances, Dr. Heath says today’s Christian leaders are far better off learning to pray (contemplative!), being hospitable (deep hospitality!), and doing justice. Hear her take on bringing the North American Church into its finest hour.

Hello New Monasticism!
Dr. Heath is a big fan of the New Monasticism, which is drawing young and old into intentional communities centered around ancient principles that allow giving one’s self fully to God. Her New Day initiative seeks to bring this into local congregations.

Making Disciples Is the Only Way to Grow
The local church of tomorrow will be one that helps people become disciples – period. Dr. Heath says concentrate on being a place where people can grow in Christ.

Downsizing and Bi-Vocational Clergy
Dr. Heath says it’s the way congregational life is going: many churches will re-think how much they spend on keeping expensive buildings and how effective full-time ministers really are. Her forecast calls for a leaner, but more robust church.

About Elaine Heath
Elaine A. Heath is the McCreless Associate Professor of Evangelism at Perkins School of Theology and is an ordained Elder in the United Methodist  Church.  She is the initiator of New Day and the Epworth Project, a growing network of missional, new monastic faith communities in the United Methodist tradition. Among her research interests are the new monasticism, the emerging church, spirituality and evangelism, and gender and evangelism. Elaine holds degrees from Oakland University, Ashland Theological Seminary, and Duquesne University. Her books include Longing for Spring: A New Vision for Wesleyan Community, and The Mystic Way of Evangelism: A Contemplative Vision for Christian Outreach. Elaine and her husband Randall live in Garland, Texas and are the parents of two adult daughters.

Books Dr. Heath Recommends
The New Monasticism – Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove
God’s Economy – Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove
Introducing the Missional Church – Alan Roxburgh and Scott Boren

Sponsors I Mentioned
Virginia Theological Seminary is the largest Episcopal Seminary in the U.S., forming men and women for leadership in the church. In addition to the MDiv, Anglican Studies and DMin degrees are their Masters of Arts degrees with a fous on Theological Studies, Christian Formation, Religion & Culture, and Biblical Interpretation. Check them out at vts.edu.

Few Christian ministers can lead and preach like the venerable Will Willimon.

A United Methodist bishop, prolific author, scholar, and pastor – Bishop Willimon says leading is important because too many congregations have been trained to expect too little. And preaching is important because God has a lot to say to today’s churches.

I was in awe interviewing such a luminary – seriously – where do you start? So we limited our 60 minutes to two of Will’s strengths: leadership and preaching. Enjoy these sage words from one of America’s best-known Christian leaders.

Watch the Full Program

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Click here to go to vts.edu

Synopsis
In the decades Will Willimon has been ministering he has noticed a change in the minister’s role: they’re no longer called just to care, but to lead. And much of that leadership finds expression in the pulpit, a place in which Bishop Willimon is very comfortable. Here are my notes from the interview:

Leadership
Recalling Heifetz, will says we only need leadership if we want to go somewhere. Of course, Christians do, so Will defines it as, a servant willingness to be used by God to help the Church do the work it’s called to do.’

Rooted in Call
Will thinks it’s absolutely crucial for Christian leaders to recapture their sense of call – that leading a congregation was not their idea, but God’s. Helping leaders articulate this sense that God really does have work to do for people, through people, is an important work for us all.

How I Prepare
Will begins in the summer, sketching out the program year – selecting Bible passages and themes, praying for direction. As the Fall unfolds, he puts clippings and ideas in files – and lets things marinate before taking on the task of sermons construction. All the while, rooting himself in the conviction that, ‘I speak because Ive been spoken to.”

About Will Willimon
The Reverend Dr. William H. Willimon has been a Bishop of The United Methodist Church since 2004. He leads the 157,000 Methodists and 792 pastors in North Alabama. For twenty years he was Dean of the Chapel and Professor of Christian Ministry at Duke University, Durham, North Carolina. Dr. Willimon hold degrees from Wofford College, Yale Divinity School, and Emory University. He has served as pastor of churches in Georgia and South Carolina. He is the author of sixty books. Over a million copies of his books have been sold. In 1996, an international survey conducted by Baylor University named him one of the Twelve Most Effective Preachers in the English-speaking world.

His articles have appeared in many publications including The Christian Ministry, Quarterly Review, Liturgy, Worship and Christianity Today. He is Editor-at-Large for The Christian Century. A 2005 study by the Pulpit and Pew Research Center found that Bishop Willimon is the second most widely read author by mainline Protestant pastors. He serves on the editorial boards of The Christian Century, The Christian Ministry, Preaching, The Wittenburg Door, and Leadership.

Books Bishop Willimon Recommends
Back to Zero - Gil Rendle
Theology Against Religion - Thomas Greggs
Preaching and Theology – James F. Kay

Sponsors I Mentioned
Virginia Theological Seminary is the largest Episcopal Seminary in the U.S., forming men and women for leadership in the church. In addition to the MDiv, Anglican Studies and DMin degrees are their Masters of Arts degrees with a fous on Theological Studies, Christian Formation, Religion & Culture, and Biblical Interpretation. Check them out at vts.edu.

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 Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois where he trains mainline pastors-to-be by taking chances and treating his students like teachers. You’ll be energized by Mark’s optimism and passion.

Watch the Full Program
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Synopsis
Yep, over the last generation the ground has dramatically shifted under the Church’s feet and our wobbly recovery is being helped by new ideas and fresh endeavors. In this wide-ranging interview, Mark Fowler tells us about the bright spots he’s seeing as he helps train a new generation of church leaders. Here are my notes:

Seminarians Are Younger: Listen to Them!
20 years ago the average age of a GETS student was in the mid 40′s, today it’s around 27. The Lord is raising up a passionate, energetic new generation to carry on the work and Mark cultivates a ‘mutuality of learning’ that has him listening in the classroom almost as much as he’s speaking.

The Coffee Lab
The locals call it the Sneaky Jesus Coffee Shop – and this creative attempt at serving up coffee and taking the conversation to ‘higher grounds’ (sorry) serves as an important learning ground for div students to sort out their theology in the real world. What new ideas is your church investing in?

Take a Sabbath
Mark is adamant about the importance christians need to place on taking one day out of seven to “waste time with God.” Your members want you refreshed and plugged in to God – what’s keeping you?

About Mark Fowler
Mark A. Fowler is the Executive Director of the Institute for Transformative Leaders and Communities at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. He also holds the Murray H. Leiffer Associate Professorship in Congregational Leadership. The focus of Dr. Fowler’s work is to bring together the resources of a formative seminary with living communities of faith to develop and empower visionary, vibrant and missional leaders for the church’s future. An active parish pastor for over twenty years and a dozen years of teaching and leading at Garrett-Evangelical have informed the teaching and learning partnerships he has helped forge with congregations, Annual Conferences and church institutions world- wide.

Fowler has led workshops and lectured in South Africa, South Korea, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and the United Kingdom. He has been part of the original development team for the Plus program in partnership with the Kellogg School of Management as well as the foundational Vocational Formation and Church Leadership program for Master’s students at G-ETS. Dr. Fowler serves as a resource to the church, a widely travelled preacher and speaker and the author of the newly revised Mentoring Into Vocation.

Books Mark Recommends
The Missional Leader - Alan Roxburgh
Foundations of Church Administration – Bruce Petersen
Change the World – Mike Slaughter

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 congregation’s willingness to listen to the Spirit and take chances with new ministry expressions keeps the church energized.

Watch the Full Interview
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Synopsis
Alamo Heights has ‘change’ in its DNA – not simply because it’s changed in the past, but because the attitude is continually nurtured by a veteran pastor who prays hard to keep things fresh. Learn how David is channeling that energy to open new venues for ministry and train up leaders to make it happen. Here are my notes:

Listening to the Spirit
Alamo Heights founded a campus 20 miles north based on a strong leading from the Lord. David cultivates a leadership style that is intent on listening to the Spirit – and tries to model that to other leaders.

House Churches
Instead of sending every one of his bright leaders off to seminary, David has started a regular leadership training for the ‘chosen’ that equips them to lead ‘house churches.’ So far they’ve spun off 3 and with 40 people in the class, more growth in this kind of small group worship experience may be down the pike.

Study!
David spends nearly 1 whole day per week in the local library. Leadership is dependent upon learning, he says, and keeping the mind stimulated breeds fresh ideas. How much time are you spending in the study?

About David McNitzky
David has been the senior pastor at Alamo Heights United Methodist Church in San Antonio for the past 16 years. Previously he was senior pastor at First United Methodist Church in Boerne (1988-1995), pastor, Helotes Hills United Methodist Church (1983-1988), and pastor, Los Fresnos United Methodist Church (1980-1983). Reverend McNitzky and his spouse Pamela, have three sons, Mark, Ryan, and Reed.

Books David Recommends
The Tangible Kingdom – Hugh Halter
To Change the World – James Hunter
The Jesus Way – Eugene Peterson

It all boils down to who we are and what we’re doing here.

So says well-known consultant and author Gil Rendle who sees many congregations suffer because they put relationships over purpose.

As we all know, the main reason for the church’s existence is God’s mission – a conviction many congregations need to recover. In this interview Gil says the work is hard, but there’s hope.

Watch the Full Program
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Synopsis
State churches never have to worry about identity and purpose. And while the U.S. has never had a formal established church, Mainline Protestantism was the de facto. So what happens when the established church is no longer the established church? A lot of catch up, and a lot of inovation. In fact, Gil Rendle says he’s never seen more energy in the Church than he does today. Here are my notes:

Talk About Purpose
We’re much more apt to talk about our resources – mowing the lawn, caring for the stained glass – than we are about our purpose: what are we doing here? Maybe we assume everyone knows, but they don’t.

Courage Needed
Gil says leaders today need to take the brave steps of asking and sitting with the hard questions. Admitting that there are no easy answers, and perhaps no answers at all, is truly difficult. We will make mistakes, but even when we’re stumbling we’re still moving forward.

Appropriate and Collaborative
These are the two general themes of leadership today – figuring out what is appropriate in one’s context and how the work is shared. Study your context and share the load.

About Gil Rendle
Gil Rendle serves as Senior Consultant with The Institute for Clergy and Congregational Excellence of The Texas Methodist Foundation in Austin, Texas and as an independent consultant working with issues of change and leadership in denominations and large churches. Prior to this position he served the Alban Institute as an author, seminar leader and senior consultant for twelve years. An ordained United Methodist minister, Gil served as senior pastor of two urban congregations in Pennsylvania for sixteen years and as a denominational consultant for The United Methodist Church for nine years. Gil graduated from Franklin and Marshall College in Pennsylvania, did his seminary training at Boston University School of Theology and earned a Ph.D. in Psychoeducational Processes from Temple University in Philadelphia. Gil has led numerous large and small groups in practical learning that directly impact participants’ decisions and practice in their leadership roles. He is the author of five books, a contributor to four books, and the author of numerous articles and monographs. He is a resident of Pennsylvania where he lives with his wife, Lynne.

Books Gil Recommends
Leadership Without Easy Answers – Ron Heifetz
Failure of Nerve – Edwin Friedman
That Used to Be Us - Thomas Friedman

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, turn it into a Methodist mega church, and transform countless lives. But as you’ll see in this interview, Mike is a down to earth guy with a deep faith that believes God can do anything.

Watch the Full Program
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Synopsis
Mike Slaughter says when others saw a 2-room country church, he saw a vibrant, committed, self-sacrificing congregation of thousands of people actively doing the work of God. His story of vision and courage has much to teach us. Here are my notes from the interview:

Get a Clear Vision
Mike is convinced that vision-casting: naming God’s preferred future to the people – is the most important role of the pastor. He recommends clergy go to whatever means necessary to  articulate a clear vision.

Long Term Pastorates Are the Ticket
Mike says a big reason he’s been able to do everything at Ginghamsburg is because he’s committed to the people and the area. His work in community development and civic partnerships are rooted in his commitment to staying put, which, he says, more clergy need to do.

Pay Attention to Your Home Life
This is Mike’s biggest regret, and a lesson that nearly lost him his marriage. It’s no secret that many clergy are workaholics – and Mike says finding that balance can only help congregational and home life.

About Mike Slaughter
Mike Slaughter titles himself as the Chief Dreamer at Ginghamsburg Church in Tipp City, Ohio, where he has been for more than 30 years.  Under Mike’s leadership, Ginghamsburg Church has become known as an early innovator of small group ministry, the Church “media reformation” and cyberministry, with the Ginghamsburg website averaging 50,000 visits monthly from around the world.  Since initiating The Sudan Project in January 2005, Ginghamsburg has invested over $5 million into humanitarian relief in Darfur.  The resultant agricultural project, child development program and safe water initiative are expanding to reach a quarter of a million Sudanese refugees and villagers.  As a mentor, Mike travels globally to speak and use his “gift of irritation” to equip ministry leaders to minimize brick and maximize mission so that they may fully deploy the mission of Jesus into the world. Mike is an ordained Elder within the United Methodist Church and holds a Doctorate of Ministry. He was named the Foundation for Evangelism’s “Distinguished Evangelist” in 2003. In 2007, Olivet Nazarene University granted Mike the Reed Institute Lifetime Achievement Award, given in recognition of outstanding leadership. Mike is also the author of multiple books for church leaders including, Unlearning Church, Change the World, and Christmas is Not Your Birthday.

Books Mike Recommends
Exiles – Michael Frost
The Forgotten Ways – Alan Hirsch

Author, minister, and Gallup Organization consultant Al Winseman points to the hard data that says people who are engaged (involved, committed, and enthusiastic) with their faith communities are more apt to support the mission of Christ in the local church.

While the sad truth is that most church members are not engaged Al has written extensively on how to encourage engagement, which has to do with helping people clarifying expectations, identify gifts, and put those gifts to use. Al’s books, Growing an Engaged Church and Living Your Strengths are two of the best around and served as a foundation for our inspiring conversation.

Watch the Full Interview

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Synopsis
Do your members have an emotional connection with your church? Al Winesman says that lies at the heart of getting members engaged in their faith communities. In this incredibly practical interview Al lays out the rules of engagement for engagement. Here are my notes:

Clarify Expectations
Al says 50% of church members cannot give a good answer when asked, “As a member, do I know what’s expected of me?” Al suggests members sign a covenant and choose one day of the year to renew these mutual expectations.

Four Dimensions of Engagement
Al says clarity is the key to answering the four questions of Engagement: 1) What do I get?, 2) What do I give?, 3) Am I different because I belong?, and 4) How can I grow?

StrengthsFinder
Since one of the greatest gifts a church can give a member is the ability to figure out their gifts and to utilize them, Al helped develop the StrengthsFinder assessment tool, which is taken by 5,000 people every day to help them unleash their gifts.

About Al Winesman
Albert L. Winseman, D.Min., is a Senior Learning and Development Consultant with The Gallup Organization. Winseman came to Gallup in 2000 to create Gallup’s Faith Practice, applying Gallup’s management sciences of strengths, engagement, and executive leadership to faith-based organizations. He is the author of Growing an Engaged Church, which was published by Gallup Press in 2007. He also coauthored Living Your Strengths, which was published by Gallup Press and is now in its third edition. From 2000 to 2005, Winseman contributed more than 250 articles as a featured writer and content editor of the Religion and Social Trends section of the Gallup Tuesday Briefing, Gallup’s online subscription news source. Prior to joining Gallup, Winseman served for 15 years as a full-time pastor in the United Methodist Church. He received a bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He received a Master of Divinity degree from the Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Colorado, and his Doctor of Ministry degree from Drew University in Madison, New Jersey. Winseman and his wife, Jane, are the parents of two adult daughters and live in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Books Al Recommends
Switch – Chip and Dan Heath
Hard Facts, Dangerous Half-Truths, and Total Nonsense – Jeffrey Pfeffer and Robert Sutton
Leading Change – James O’Toole

Sponsors I Mentioned
Church Post - If you are looking to improve your church’s communications you’ve got to check out this great email platform.  I’ve found it easy-to-use, reliable, and John, Debra and Kim are great to work with

Wistia – If you’re still hosting your videos at YouTube or another ‘free’ video sharing site you know the drawbacks.  Wistia helps me put out great looking videos and see who’s watching for how long.  The Wistia staff is easy to work with and very professional.

The Grow My Church Store - Everything from mugs to pens to fridge magnets, this is a promotional products store aimed at helping churches become closer communities, more hospitable, and welcoming. I started this store and shop there often because I couldn’t find anywhere else to go for these products.

Keeping 180 year old Calvary United Methodist Church vibrant takes more than one person – pastor Todd Outcalt says it takes a caring community that will uphold an atmosphere of hospitality and welcoming.  This Brownsburg, Indiana congregation has moved 5 times in its history, and under Todd’s leadership, has seen Sunday attendance double.

I first read about Todd when the Foundation for Evangelism did a profile on his work at Calvary and knew I had to interview him. Todd says a big reason for their growth is the hiring of a Director of Outreach who pays close attention to caring for every visitor. You may be inspired to do the same, I am.

Watch the Full Program
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Synopsis
Playing to a congregation’s strengths is a key to growth, says Todd Outcalt, who observed the caring atmosphere at Calvary. So he encouraged it and turned it loose through inspiring worship and a serious commitment to hospitality. Here are my notes from the interview:

Hire an Outreach Director
Even if it’s just for a few hours a week, Todd says this was the best staff addition he made. His Outreach Director organizes greeters as well as guests, making sure they are met in the parking lot and cared for with the best they’ve got.

Staff Ministry Tables After Each Service
Todd says getting people involved is easier when there are well-prepared outreach volunteers waiting in the lobby after each service, eager to recruit and explain the many ministries Calvary offers.

Take Prayer Seriously
Todd says the church’s prayer ministry is so comprehensive each member is prayed for, by name, regularly. In addition to taking prayer requests over the Internet, the prayer team provides a backbone of spiritual vitality that is essential in building a healthy community.

About Todd Outcalt
Todd Outcalt has been a United Methodist pastor for 30 years and enjoys helping people find faith and discover a path of God-connected service.  He is the author of twenty-two books, including The Best Things in Life Are Free, The Healing Touch, Before You Say “I Do”, and The $5 Youth Ministry.  He has also written essays, stories, and poems for many national magazines of such variety as The Christian Century, American Fitness, CURE, Together, Rev!, Group, and Newsweek.  He and his wife Becky live in Brownsburg, Indiana and have two children.  Todd also enjoys hiking, kayaking, weight lifting, and reading.

Books Todd Recommends
Failing Forward - John Maxwell
Beth Moore Bible Studies
What Got You Here Won’t Get You There - Marshall Goldsmith

Sponsors I Mentioned

Church Post – If you are looking to improve your church’s communications you’ve got to check out this great email platform.  I’ve found it easy-to-use, reliable, and John, Debra and Kim are great to work with.

Wistia - If you’re still hosting your videos at YouTube or another ‘free’ video sharing site you know the drawbacks.  Wistia helps me put out great looking videos and see who’s watching for how long.  The Wistia staff is easy to work with and very professional.

The Grow My Church Store – Everything from mugs to pens to fridge magnets, this is a promotional products store aimed at helping churches become closer communities, more hospitable, and welcoming.  I started this store and shop there often because I couldn’t find anywhere else to go for these products.

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 in Luke 14 to ‘compel them to come in.’ Keeping the flame of invitational evangelism alive, however, is not easy, as Brad shares in this insightful interview that helped me think more deeply about the importance of each individual reaching out as a way of building up.

Watch the Full Program:
Rather Listen? Click here for the Mp3.

Synopsis
Brad’s drive and focus is only surpassed by his deep love for growing Christ’s church. From the beginning, as this United Methodist intentional church start, leaders began gathering people via a targeted telemarketing campaign, which has kept the congregation continually asking, ‘Who am I going to invite next?’ It’s a question we all should be asking more frequently.  Here are my notes from the interview:

The 87% Rule
Brad says a person has an 87% chance of joining the church if accompanied by a friend who invited them to Cornerstone. However, a person has an 87% chance of not sticking around if they don’t know anyone when they attend. The power of invitation not only brings people in but keeps them there.

Invest in Marketing
Cornerstone has, since the start, understood the value of letting the world know its there. Through targeted direct mail campaigns preceding big events it has seen many people come to church and come to Christ.

Never Preach for Nothing
Brad is passionate about preaching to compel people to do something. He explains the 4 parts of a person a good sermon should touch: head, heart, hands, and belly.

About Brad Kalajainen
Dr. Bradley Kalajainen is the founding pastor and lead pastor of Cornerstone UMC in Grand Rapids, MI that has become a teaching church recognized throughout the Midwest. Brad served as Director of New Church Development for United Methodists in West Michigan between 2009-2010.  He coaches new church pastors and pastors in redevelopment or multi-sites in several conferences.  Brad is married to Colleen who teaches vocal music at Caledonia Community schools.  They have two children: Kaylee, age 22  is a grad student at the University of Michigan, and Ben, age 19, is a sophomore at North Park University. Their dog Gracie remains faithfully at home.

Books Brad Recommends:
Communicating for a Change – Andy Stanley
The Big Idea – Dave Ferguson
The Forgotten Ways - Alan Hirsch

Sponsors I Mentioned
Church Post - If you are looking to improve your church’s communications you’ve got to check out this great email platform.  I’ve found it easy-to-use, reliable, and John, Debra and Kim are great to work with.

Wistia – If you’re still hosting your videos at YouTube or another ‘free’ video sharing site you know the drawbacks.  Wistia helps me put out great looking videos and see who’s watching for how long.  The Wistia staff is easy to work with and very professional.

The Grow My Church Store – Everything from mugs to pens to fridge magnets, this is a promotional products store aimed at helping churches become closer communities, more hospitable, and welcoming.  I started this store and shop there often because I couldn’t find anywhere else to go for these products.

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.

Jorge has won many accolades for his 15 year turn around of a declining church of 350 that now welcomes more than 2,500 people into its 4 campus fellowships each weekend. Jorge says it’s been a team effort that recognizes the gifts of lay people just as much as the clergy.  You’ll be inspired by Jorge’s straight talk and deep passion for the Gospel.

Watch the Full Program
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DURATION 0:55:45

Synopsis
Developing healthy, holy systems is what Jorge Acevedo credits with the rapid expansion of his South Florida church. His congregation’s DNA expects and plans for expansion. Jorge says his biggest challenge is turning converts into disciples, but he’s got plans there as well. Here are my notes from the interview:

Get a Clear Look at Your Decline
Jorge says that most North American churches are like drug addicts; they live in denial and are literally unable to see how grave their situations are.  He suggests an outside voice, a truth-teller, as a starting point, who will avoid blame and give a clear picture.

Shared Preaching at Different Sites
Unlike many multi-site ventures, Grace Church has 4 campuses with 4 pastors, all of whom work from the same sermon outline each week (Jorge puts this together) but develop different sermons using the same texts. Before they preach, the 4 share their notes which, Jorge says, is a unique but incredibly inspiring.

Preachers Must Be Mature
Jorge quotes a study that says 72% of North American ministers only read the Bible for sermon preparation and 26% admit they don’t have the spiritual life they need to convey the truth. Maturity starts at the top, and Jorge says, this is sorely missing in too many churches.



About Jorge Acevedo
Jorge Acevedo is the Lead Pastor at Grace Church, a multi-site, United Methodist congregation in Southwest Florida (Cape Coral, Fort Myers Shores and North Fort Myers). This church has grown in its weekend attendance from 400 to over 2600 in the past thirteen years. Grace Church is recognized as having one of the largest and most effective recovery ministries in America with over 800 people involved in weekly recovery ministries.

Jorge is a graduate of Asbury Theological Seminary. He was ordained as a Deacon in the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church in May, 1986, and an Elder in May 1990. He was the 2001 recipient of the Denman Evangelism Award from the Florida Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church given to a pastor for excellence in evangelism. Jorge co-authored The Heart of Youth Ministry with Hule Goddard, which was published by Bristol Books in January of 1989. Jorge was married in November, 1981, to Cheryl.



Books Jorge Recommends
A Work of Heart – Reggie McNeal
The Ragamuffin Gospel – Brennan Manning
The Pastor – Eugene Peterson

Sponsors I Mentioned
Church Post – If you are looking to improve your church’s communications you’ve got to check out this great email platform.  I’ve found it easy-to-use, reliable, and John, Debra and Kim are great to work with.

Wistia- If you’re still hosting your videos at YouTube or another ‘free’ video sharing site you know the drawbacks.  Wistia helps me put out great looking videos and see who’s watching for how long.  The Wistia staff is easy to work with and very professional.

The Grow My Church Store – Everything from mugs to pens to fridge magnets, this is a promotional products store aimed at helping churches become closer communities, more hospitable, and welcoming.  I started this store and shop there often because I couldn’t find anywhere else to go for these products.

Less than a year after opening his doors, Ronnie Collins’ Out of the Box Worship Center is nearly bigger than the United Methodist congregation that planted it. One big reason is Ronnie’s use of social media, especiallyhis blog and Facebook, to keep in touch and mold community.

Ronnie’s demographic research showed him 78% of his county did not go to church, so he rolled up his sleeves, got out of the church, and went to where the people were.  You’ll be inspired by this story of prayer, determination, and especially his clever use of social media to build a new kind of congregation. Your church might benefit from his experiences.

Watch the Full Program:
Rather listen? Click here for the Mp3

Synopsis
Ronnie Collins’ passion for turning people on to Jesus Christ is infectious, and comes out in his story of the Out of the Box Worship Center, which started as a youth group, and has grown, in 9 months, to a congregation of several hundred.  Here are my notes from the interview:

It Starts with Service
Out of the Box Worship Center began when young people were united by working together on a service project. Service remains a strong part of the community’s fabric and serves to bond people from a variety of backgrounds.

Get on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube
Nearly every one of Ronnie’s congregants is on Facebook, which Ronnie uses religiously (pun intended) for things like asking for advice during sermon preparation. Ronnie also encourages his folk to use Twitter during the church service, and even has a YouTube channel where his ’3 Minute Thursday’ episodes answer ANY question a church member asks.

Get Out of the ‘Church’
Ronnie sees the established church around him dying, and if more ministries like his aren’t planted, a dire situation for the Christian enterprise.  He is convinced that the church hasn’t and must, go where the people are.

About Ronnie Collins
Ronnie is the Planting Pastor of Out of the Box Worship Center in Hillsville, VA, a Multi Site Church, one church in multiple locations. He has a passion to see hurting people come to know Jesus Christ. He is married and has 3 sons, 2 very special nephews that are like sons, 2 grandchildren, 3 great nephews, and one great niece that are like grandchildren. Ronnie attended Wytheville Community College, Liberty University, and Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary.

Books Ronnie Recommends:
Multi-Site Churches – Scott McConnell
Exponential – Dave and Jon Ferguson
Who Stole My Church? – Gordon MacDonald

Sponsors I Mentioned:
Church Post – If you are looking to improve your church’s communications you’ve got to check out this great email platform.  I’ve found it easy-to-use, reliable, and John, Debra and Kim are great to work with.

Wistia – If you’re still hosting your videos at YouTube or another ‘free’ video sharing site you know the drawbacks.  Wistia helps me put out great looking videos and see who’s watching for how long.  The Wistia staff is easy to work with and very professional.

The Grow My Church Store – Everything from mugs to pens to fridge magnets, this is a promotional products store aimed at helping churches become closer communities, more hospitable, and welcoming.  I started this store and shop there often because I couldn’t find anywhere else to go for these products.

Invite them to serve and they will come.

The United Methodists are growing their congregations (40,000+) though an innovative campaign aimed at 18-35 year olds that highlights service.  Larry Hollon is the exec in charge and he says young people are hungry to give back so many of them are turning to well-equipped United Methodist congregations to do it.  Could my church become more appealing by highlighting service?  Larry says, you bet – and he tells us the hows and whys behind Rethink Church.

Watch the Full Program Here:
Prefer to Listen?  No problem – Click here for the Mp3.

Synopsis
The United Methodist Church’s 2-year old ‘Rethink Church’ campaign has been such a hit that HQ is readying to launch Version 3.0.  It’s a comprehensive program that aims to 1) provide local churches with ways to invite seekers and, 2) revitalize congregations through outreach initiatives.  When I heard about the success of this program I had to call and talk with Larry.  Here are my notes:

Doing Comes First
Research done by the ‘Rethink Church’ folks shows that many of America’s unchurched young adults are looking for ways to give back.  Larry says these folk are looking first to do – to make a difference in the world – before they look to any other aspect of a church.

The First 30 Seconds
United Methodist congregations are being taught to pay attention to the first 30 seconds and the first 15 feet of a newcomer’s experience.  Inside these boundaries impressions so deep are formed they can be impossible to change.

UM 101
The Methodists have an online course for seekers – the first class had 4,000 members.  It’s taught by experts  - what a great way for denominations to use technology to reach inquirers.

About Larry Hollon
The Rev. Larry Hollon is the chief executive of United Methodist Communications, the global communications agency of The United Methodist Church.  In May 2009, he led the launch of Rethink Church, a new advertising and welcoming campaign targeting 18- to 34-year-olds that seeks to redefine church as an out-of-church 365-days-a-year experience where people are actively involved in the world beyond.

  Since being named general secretary in 2000, Hollon has overseen the creation of more than $40 million in ADDY® Award-winning advertising that has significantly raised public awareness of The United Methodist Church.

Books Larry Recommends:
Real Time Connections - Bob Roberts
Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations – Robert Schnase
Change the World - Mike Slaughter 

Sponsors I Mentioned:
Church Post - If you are looking to improve your church’s communications you’ve got to check out this great email platform.  I’ve found it easy-to-use, reliable, and John, Debra and Kim are great to work with.

Wistia- If you’re still hosting your videos at YouTube or another ‘free’ video sharing site you know the drawbacks.  Wistia helps me put out great looking videos and see who’s watching for how long.  The Wistia staff is easy to work with and very professional.