Tags: Excellence, Large, Music, Outreach, Tennessee, Traditional Worship, Youth
The key word by which we measure everything we do here at Franklin First United Methodist Church is “excellence.” We use this standard not to call attention to ourselves, but we see that what we do is a spiritual offering to God. That being the case, only our best will do.
In worship we offer four weekly worship services. In what we call “Sanctuary East”, our former gymnasium, we offer two blended worship services. We call these services blended because it is not the traditional contemporary service. Some contemporary hymns will be sung, but also traditional hymns to non-traditional arrangements. We have a band composed of exceptional musicians who see themselves as worship leaders and not performers. They are behind the altar and not out front to be seen by the congregation. They are active participants in every aspect of the worship services. The hymns, responses, prayers, etc. in Sanctuary East are projected on two large screens. These two services are typically our largest attended of the four services offered.
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Tags: Contemporary Worship, Illinois, South Carolina, Traditional Worship, Vibrant Church, Virginia, Youth
This is part of a series of interviews with pastors of churches whose attendance has grown 20% or more in 5 years. We hope this series will be a resource of ideas to help increase worship attendance at your church.
The true mission of every church is expressed in these words of Jesus to the disciples: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”. (Matthew 28:19 RSV)
Pastors and congregations seek to fulfill this mission in many ways, yet key ministries are found in the responses that pastors share through the Vibrant Church series on The Foundation for Evangelism website. Among these are vision, community outreach and worship services.
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Bishop Bruce Ough, Ohio West Episcopal Area, and Rev. Allen Black, Senior Pastor of Hermitage United Methodist Church in Hermitage, Tennessee, were named as the first clergy trustees of The Foundation for Evangelism during its mid-year meeting held April 28-30 in Durham, North Carolina. Bishop Ough and Rev. Black have previously served the Foundation as [...]
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Tags: Alabama, Children, Leadership, Prayer, Traditional Worship, Youth
What are the top three key factors that have led to rapid (approximately 76% – one estimate) growth in worship attendance over the last five years and an annual 10% to 15% growth rate in membership?
1. Visionary Pastors -strong, evangelical Pastors who have worked hard to develop their leadership gifts and their communication/preaching skills.
2. Scriptural Authority – a common denominator among growing churches is their emphasis on scriptural authority. There has been a long and sustained effort to preach the authority of scripture with boldness from the pulpit as we seek to give the people relevant and pertinent ways to live out those scriptures in their daily lives. Along with sound preaching, we have sought to teach the scriptures and educate our people through small group Bible Studies, Sunday School Classes and other study/equipping opportunities. Also our people have been encouraged and trained to read and study the scriptures as a part of their daily activities.
3. Extended Pastorates – (The Alabama West Florida Episcopal and Cabinet leadership have encouraged and allowed longer pastorates.) For example, I have just started my 18th year at Saint James UMC. Most of the growth in the United Methodist Church across the country has come in the evangelical churches that have pastors who have served longer pastorates (8 to 20+ years). This, I believe, is another key factor in the sustained growth of Saint James UMC. It takes many years to build trust, to put together great staff teams and to grow complex ministries that reach out to unreached seekers, empower Christians (who are serious about spiritual growth) and develop and train visionary leaders (who play key role in the growth of the church.)
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Tags: Leadership, Vibrant Church
In the Fall of 2004, The Foundation for Evangelism highlighted a special piece on a new church plant. Rev. John Kenney, a member of the Fitzgerald Program for New Church Pastors kept a diary of his experience of planting the new church, The Quest Church.We followed up with Pastor Kenney to see what a difference transforming lives through Jesus Christ for 6 years makes and where the church plant is at today.
Here is what he wrote.
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Tags: Advertising, Medium, Music, Texas, Youth
Rev. Holly Gotelli, Associate Pastor, lists factors that helped Suncreek UMC grow in worship attendance over the last few years.
Creation and systematic updating of our church website, which provides detailed help for visitors, a church calendar, and lists of all classes and other small group opportunities for children, youth, and adults. Sermons are posted weekly.
Systematic follow-up with visitors, including letters, phone calls and emails.
Creation and staffing of a Guest Welcome Center in our narthex.
Use of signs and banners outside of our location, which is on a main thoroughfare.
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