by Pastor Tim Sitterley You’ve probably had occasions when you answered a knock on your front door to find standing there a couple of well-dressed people holding religious literature in their hands. Through experiences like those you’ve probably learned that cold-call evangelism doesn’t work too well. Perhaps you’ve had similar bad experiences with cold-call fundraisers. … Continue reading "Fundraising through networking" Read the article
by Pastor Sam Butler Fundraising—it was the last thing I wanted to do! Asking people for money was, for me, like pulling teeth—painful and unpleasant. That was how I felt until 12 years ago when the congregation I pastored in Michigan started a food pantry. We moved our meeting location with the intent of engaging a particular … Continue reading "Lessons learned about fundraising" Read the article
Dear pastors and ministry leaders: I have significant experience as a church pastor and the director of a non-profit ministry. In those roles, I’ve talked with many people about money and I’ve raised a lot of funds. Yet, perhaps like you, I’ve not thought of myself as a fundraiser. As a principal leader in your … Continue reading "From Greg: Our calling to be fundraisers" Read the article
This article is from Paul David (PD) Kurts, regional pastor of GCI’s Mid-Atlantic Region. PD also serves in the North Carolina Air National Guard. Some years ago I was watching a television program on the National Geographic channel, which depicted a pygmy tribesman trying to catch a monkey (you know, the other white meat) to … Continue reading "The life-giving power of generosity" Read the article
Dear pastors and ministry leaders: My father was an apple grower. One of his personal pleasures was loading up the pickup truck at the end of the harvest season to take apples to the widows and elderly around the area. He gained great joy from distributing free apples and was reluctant to stop. It’s a … Continue reading "From Greg: Live and preach generosity" Read the article
This month’s Equipper (see the five articles linked below) focuses on our calling to follow the Spirit in cultivating generosity in our personal lives and within our congregations. Enjoy! -Ted Johnston, editor From Greg: Live and preach generosity Greg Williams discusses our calling as church leaders to practice and teach the spiritual discipline of generosity. … Continue reading "Cultivating generosity" Read the article
This sermon summary is from Ted Johnston, Equipper editor. It addresses the theme of this issue of Equipper—cultivating generosity. Introduction One of my favorite songs in the late 80s was Don’t Worry Be Happy in which Bobby McFerrin sings, “In every life we have some trouble… but when you worry you make it double. Don’t worry, be … Continue reading "Sermon Summary: Generous God, generous life" Read the article
by Susi Albrecht and Nancy Akers It’s an ongoing, often passionate debate: What do kids need from a church? Some say parents should seek out mega-churches so their kids can attend large, well-funded programs. Some say it’s better for children to be folded into smaller churches, benefiting from friendships that span generations by necessity. Good … Continue reading "Kid’s Korner: What do kids need from a church?" Read the article
This article is from CAD team member Randy Bloom. Randy serves as the Regional Pastor of the Eastern Region of GCI-USA. This we know: Our God is generous! We know this because we see all that, by grace, the Father has generously done for us and shares with us in Christ, by the Spirit (Ephesians 3:1-8; … Continue reading "Nurturing a culture of generosity" Read the article
Here are reports from GCI churches in Texas, Ohio and Florida that are rebuilding. All three have participated in GCI’s Outside the Walls (OTW) training with Church Multiplication Ministries (CMM). The training included a major community outreach event, which by God’s grace has led to new members in all three. Pathway of Grace Church – Mesquite, … Continue reading "Rebuilding larger congregations" Read the article
