Tags: Georgia, Large, Music, Teaching, Youth
My District Superintendent invited me to a meeting recently. Although she explained why she wanted me present, I was still not clear, after I arrived at the meeting and heard what was being said, why I was invited to the meeting. Finally, one of the staff members of Connectional Ministries said “Derrick, your church has grown in worship attendance in a geographical area where the population is decreasing—and we want to know why.”
Since that time, The Foundation for Evangelism has asked me that same question. Enough of the questions already. Here is how we are doing it:
One of the reasons Kelley Chapel United Methodist church worship service is growing is that we have created an uplifting worship service. We cheer, have fun, and do the wave at the football game and the basketball games; why can’t we have this same energy in the church? Why does the church have to have a sad funeral service atmosphere? Christ is alive not dead. We serve a risen Savior. A Savior who was beaten and battered and spit on and crucified but rose on the third day and cried out “where Oh death is your sting….” With a Savior like this, parts of our worship service ought to resemble a football or basketball game: shouts and cheers of joy!
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Tags: Alabama, Bible Study, Laity, Large, Mentoring
Pastor Robin Scott shares keys to growing the Kingdom.
God has blessed me to be in three growing churches over the past twenty years. In 1990 I was appointed to Palmerdale UMC. At that time the church was averaging 125 in worship. When I left in 2002 we were averaging over 450 for the first six months of that year. In 2002 I was appointed to First UMC in Guntersville. The church was averaging 460 in attendance. When I left in 2008 we were averaging over 850. I have been at Clear Branch for two years where our attendance has grown from 1565 to 1675 this conference year.
In all of these situations I have found the following things to be important as far as growing the Kingdom:
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Guy Chmieleski is the university minister at Belmont University and has 14 years experience in the field of Campus Ministry at 4 different institutions. Guy is also the webmaster for Faith on Campus, a Campus Ministries website dealing with the impact of the transforming love of Jesus Christ on young adults heading to or in college. The site is also host to regular blog-a-thons from various members in the United Methodist community like Ashlee Alley, Josh Hale and more.
Raymond Hayes talked with Guy through email and asked about his website, his goals for the site and where he sees it headed…
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A God-Sized Vision to Impact the Leadership of the Church
Imagine 1,500 United Methodist local church pastors, who experience a level of personal and spiritual transformation rivaling all others, leading local churches to become faithful and fruitful. This is the God-sized vision of Grace Spiritual Leadership Academy.
The Time is Now
Jorge Acevedo, Senior Pastor Grace Church, Florida — Around my 10th year at Grace Church, I was looking for an out. By the grace of God, I was introduced to and began working with the team at Spiritual Leadership, Inc.
Leaders need more than information, they need contextual translation andthey need transformation into a new type of spiritual leader. Shifting the leadership paradigm requires a shift in behaviors and an accountability that continues to point toward fruitfulness over time. In our United Methodist denomination a void exists in leadership development beyond the seminary setting. With each conference independent of others, unique challenges are faced, and some church leaders are simply operating in maintenance mode. The system needs an awakening and a new understanding of spiritual leadership and community that extends beyond the walls of the church building.
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Tags: Indiana, Leadership, Outreach, Prayer, Traditional Worship
Surprised By Growth
Many years ago C.S. Lewis penned a book entitled, Surprised by Joy. And in many respects, that has been my experience and sentiment in the seven years I have served Calvary United Methodist Church in Brownsburg, Indiana (a town of 24,000 outside of Indianapolis). Every week has been filled with surprising twists—not all of them easily navigated—but the most surprising experience has been the growth of the church in membership and worship attendance over the past five years.
Looking back on recent history, however, I can see the evidences of God’s grace in our growth and the congregation has adapted and adopted a myriad of changes that has led to this growth. Change is inevitable in life, but when a church adopts change, that’s when we experience the potential for growth.
There are many impactful elements to this upswing in professions of faith, baptisms, new members, and worship attendees.
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For more than 30 years The Foundation for Evangelism has been privileged to work with Annual Conferences in celebrating outstanding personal evangelism and commitment to Offer Them Christ by sponsoring the prestigious Harry Denman Evangelism Award.
Eleven Annual Conferences have presented this evangelism award each year for the past 20 or more years. The total number of awards presented by these eleven conferences is 519. Think of the multiplying impact as these folks with a passion for evangelism have helped others experience God’s transforming love through Jesus Christ.
With grateful appreciation we recognize the following Annual Conferences for consistently honoring persons who carry on the evangelistic spirit of Dr. Harry Denman.
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