I recently attended a continuing education course on church revitalization taught, mostly, by Kevin Ford. Kevin is a relative of Billy Graham, but more importantly he has consulted with churches on revitalization for many years. I learned a lot during the course, however one comment Kevin made was particularly striking to me. He said that … Read More
Churches in need of revitalization usually want to grow. If your church has been maintaining or declining in attendance, you probably want it to grow. If so, the first question that most people then ask is, “How can we get our church to grow?” However, I believe that’s the wrong question. The right question is, … Read More
“And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.” Daniel 6:23 Many years ago, I was an attorney. One of the most compelling closing arguments that I ever heard in court was delivered by a senior Deputy District Attorney (DA) working homicide. I was encouraged … Read More
“The LORD is my shepherd…He leads me beside quiet waters…He guides me in paths of righteousness”. (Psalm 23: 1-3) I don’t have any sheep at home—but I do have dogs. Two of man’s best friends, Reggie and Ellie. Home now from sabbatical, I have rediscovered the joy of long walks through our neighborhood with my … Read More
So often when a church realizes that it is in need of revitalization, the initial response is to look for quick fixes or what’s often referred to as, “the silver bullet.” It’s natural to think and hope that if we can just find the right program then all will be well again. Good programs are … Read More
