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 →