Identifying and Determining Values
Values are a key component to any church’s revitalization process. A church’s existing values may stymie attempts to redirect a congregation in the future. But fresh, carefully discerned values can be the pistons that drive a revitalized ministry. Church Health Director Scott Foshie talked with Rob Peters of ReFocus, a ministry group that guides churches […]
A More Reliable Pathway
the pandemic tested our navigation skills The elder who asked the question is godly, smart, and totally committed to our church. But Covid-19 stopped everything cold in March 2020 when Illinois was closed, including churches. I still remember the white board conversation our elders had as we wrestled through the best approach to serving our […]
What Do Learners Need?
“Jack, I want to do something else,” a new kindergarten teacher told me. “I’m ready to quit.” “But you’ve only been teaching three weeks,” I replied, “and you were so gung-ho. What happened?” “I don’t know, but the kids are off doing their own thing most of the time,” she said. “It’s just not working.” […]
Healthy Church Essentials
an invitational culture flows from the heart Despite an abundance of evangelism training and gospel-sharing strategies, professions of faith and baptisms continue their decline in Illinois Baptist life. Could it be that our evangelism crisis is a symptom of a heart change needed to impact the culture of our churches? Throughout scripture, we see God’s […]
Reimagining Prayer
iT CAN BE SCRIPTURE-FED, sPIRIT-LED, AND WIDER-SPREAD. “The Bible was written to change our lives; not increase our knowledge.” When I first heard this exhortation from professor and author Howard Hendricks, it became foundational to my understanding of how to read the Bible. I immediately understood that whenever I read or heard Holy Scripture, I […]
Wake-Up Call
Perhaps the greatest need of our day is revival. I’m not talking about a series of revival meetings, though that might be needed as well. I’m talking about a genuine revival in the lives of Christians that brings spiritual renewal, vibrancy, and power. What a difference it would make in our day if revival was […]