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 [...]

It’s the literal meaning of the Greek New Testament word for hospitality: loving the stranger – and its implications for building healthy congregations are huge. Dr. Christine Pohl, an Asbury Theological Seminary professor, author, and student of hospitality says most congregations aren’t persuaded about the importance of this ancient practice. In this interview, Dr. Pohl [...]

The pastor of the fastest growing urban congregation in the Lutheran Church (ELCA) says what draws people to join St. Paul’s is the energy and vibrancy that hits them the first minute they come through the door. Peter Marty says things were not that way 16 years ago when he arrived to pastor a church [...]