Information on Church Health, Disciple Making, Ministry Leadership and Spiritual Growth
In an effort to receive new members, many struggling churches in America have neglected the Biblical and historical model of what it means to be a member of a local body of believers. Entrance into church membership ought to be covenantal, restrictive, and worthy of careful discernment. If a church becomes desperate to receive new... Continue Reading →
I have always been humbled by the story of Baptist missionary William “Bill” Wallace. The son of a physician in rural Tennessee, Bill was more interested in auto mechanics than going to the foreign mission field. On a hot summer July afternoon as he was in the garage trying to get an old car... Continue Reading →
When I was a little boy there was a kid that lived in my neighborhood who stopped by the house one day to show me the new kittens that his cat recently delivered. With excitement he took each of the kittens out of the basket he carried proudly showing them to me. In the weeks... Continue Reading →
About once a year I will notice that my vehicle has a tendency to pull in a certain direction while I am driving. While it is my intent to go straight, it seems that I struggle to keep the wheels from veering to the left or right. When this occurs I know it is time... Continue Reading →
Bottom line is this: The overwhelming majority of declining churches in North America are ineffective simply because they have lost their sense of desperation for Kingdom impact. Oh sure, every evangelical church (I would hope) will say that they want to see people saved, baptized and discipled. You will not find a minister or lay... Continue Reading →
In 1997 pastor Ken Smith of University Reformed Presbyterian Church sat down and wrote a letter to the most unlikely recipient. Dr. Rosaria Champaign was a tenured English professor at Syracuse University and widely renowned as a scholar in feminist theory. Dr. Champaign was a lesbian, a LBGTQ activist and outspoken critic of the “religious... Continue Reading →
This was a question posed to me in a phone conversation with an associational leader. I didn't call him to speak about church planting, but I guess he just needed to vent. "I have many established churches that are struggling to keep their doors open. We need to focus more on revitalizing these churches and... Continue Reading →
Is your church "guest ready"? Most church members never consider this question because they assume the answer is YES! However, after visiting a number of churches over the past few years it is my observation that most churches are not very "guest ready". The best advice I have seen pertaining to this subject is... Continue Reading →
I wish I could say that I thought of that title but I didn't. Recently I was speaking at a pastor's conference and one of the pastors in the room spoke of the frustration of church members moving to the church down the street in search of a "greater experience." He referred to them... Continue Reading →
It has been the tradition of many churches to give out awards or special gifts on Mother's Day to the youngest mother, oldest mother,etc. Often times special recognition is given to new moms or baby dedications take place on Mother's Day. In no way am I recommending that churches should stop these recognitions. They... Continue Reading →
Dr. Kevin Blackwell 