Top 3 Reasons Ministries Avoid Evaluation
by Thom Schultz Whenever I’ve asked church leaders why they don’t encourage more feedback on their ministry work, I’ve heard familiar recurring reasons they don’t: If you ask for feedback,…
Tag: Lifetree Cafe
The Stickiness of Experience
“So he [Jesus] got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the…
“No Worries”
By Joani Schultz “No worries.” I love it when someone says that to me. Like when I spill my iced tea at a restaurant. A friendly server wipes up the…
Power of Going First
I wish you could have seen it. Every year, we field test our new vacation Bible school program. Our team from Group leads the activities, leaders from around the country…
To the Polished, Predictable Church: Surprise Me
by Thom Schultz Surprise! It’s one of the missing ingredients in today’s church. Most church worship services and programs have become so predictable, so varnished, so rehearsed, and so scripted…
Adoring Crowds and Ministry Success
by Thom Schultz “Our worship attendance has grown from 100 to 500 in just the last year.” “We have over 75 kids in the youth group.” Numbers. They’re the currency…
Are We Circling the Wagons?
by Craig Cable I once took a call from a church elder who was inquiring about a documentary that Group produced called When God Left the Building. It’s wasn’t uncommon…
How Christian Is Your Community?
by Rick Edwards Longtime Christians are leaving the church and not planning to return. Sociologist Josh Packard dubbed such people the “Dones.” As Packard reports in the book Church Refugees…
This is your wake-up call
beep…Beep…BEEP! Your alarm clock goes off. Do you… __groan and go back to sleep? __press the snooze button? __get up ready for action? How does your answer mirror your reaction…
To the Polished, Predictable Church: Surprise Me
Surprise! It’s one of the missing ingredients in today’s church. Most church worship services and programs have become so predictable, so varnished, so rehearsed, and so scripted that any awe…
