Leadership

Church mergers are occurring in an unprecedented way today across North America. These mergers are more mission-driven and future-focused as opposed to the failed mergers of the past that were more survival-driven and focused on preserving the past. Mergers that have a multisite outcome report a higher success rate and satisfaction factor than mergers that unite into one location. Every merger involves a lead church and a joining church. The merging of churches is a delicate dance where one leads and the other follows. Should two churches consider merging?

Many churches offer midweek ministry options. They are a great way to keep people in connection with God and with other believers in addition to Sunday services. While some people opt not to participate in midweek classes, studies, or youth groups due to distance from church or their schedules, many do find it wonderful to have options for connecting with others and the Word of God during the week. From babies to grandparents, there are many ways to get together.

There’s a word that crops up and plagues churches in the media far too often, a word nobody ever wants to hear associated with theirs: scandal. Whether it’s a staff member embezzling funds, a pastor acting inappropriately toward a child, a bad accident, or even just a leadership transition gone awry, these stories come out — and the churches they come out of almost never saw them coming.

Have you ever met or worked with a truly great leader? Someone who had to ability to call out the best in those around them and accomplish exceptional things as a team.

Like most church leaders, you probably spend a lot of time thinking about your ministries, your people, your budget and operations, next Sunday’s service, and a million other things. Keeping all of those things on track is more than a full-time job — so how much time do you have to focus on your church’s culture? In working with thousands of churches over the years, I’ve found that you can be ‘doing the right stuff’, but without a healthy church culture your ministry will never reach its full potential for the Kingdom.

The United States has a long history with Christian universities. Let’s take a closer look at the history behind and the current state of private, Christian colleges in the U.S.

Some advice lasts the ages, while other advice can seem outdated very quickly. There was a time when it was good advice to get out there and go door-to-door when looking for a job. We used phrases like ‘pound the pavement’ and ‘open doors’. Now? If someone came to our office unannounced looking to meet with me about a job, well, let’s just say that wouldn’t go well for them.

On the other hand, some advice stands the test of time. In fact, one of my favorite adages predates Plato and Socrates: ‘know thyself’.

Church mergers may be called by many names, but the core idea is that two or more churches becoming one through the combining, integrating and unifying of people, structures, systems, and resources to achieve a common purpose: To do life and ministry together as a vibrant, healthy expression of Christ’s body, the Church.