“If your church closed its doors tomorrow, would anyone in the community notice?” By Tim & Linda Sitterley, Regional Director and Pastor. Tim: As a regional director, I’ve asked many of the pastors in my region the question listed above. It’s an unpopular question, known to pastors throughout the Christian world. It’s a relevant question … Continue reading "Building Relationships vs Building Exposure" Read the article
Every member of the body of Christ has the same primary calling. But God gives us different gifts (Romans 12:4-8) and invites us into a diversity of second callings. We can think of second callings as personal response to the primary calling of Christ. Then, our God-given gifts, our passions, our experiences, our contexts, become … Continue reading "Church Hack: Discerning Gifting and Calling" Read the article
He Is Risen By Rick Shallenberger, Editor The format is “Reader’s Theater.” You are all telling different views of the same story. In this particular Reader’s Theater format, you aren’t really in conversation with each other, but you will be feeding off each other’s comments – as if the words they said just triggered your … Continue reading "Reader’s Theater for Good Friday or Easter Sunday" Read the article
By Rick Shallenberger, Editor Sometimes you can make a point through a dramatic reading. Dramatic readings present possible emotions and intensity of stories or characters we find in the Bible. They are not direct quotes from the Bible. As John tells us, if everything Jesus said or did was written, there would not be enough … Continue reading "Dramatic Readings – Voices of Easter" Read the article
A well-crafted job description helps a person see where he or she is in the big picture and in what ways he or she can support the vision and mission toward Healthy Church. By Eugene Guzon, Superintendent Asia There is a story you may have heard about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody. … Continue reading "The Value of Ministry Job Descriptions" Read the article
Small shifts can lead to revolutionary results. By Michelle Fleming, Communications Director A New Year is often an opportunity to develop new habits and make changes to improve quality of life. By the end of January, 64% of people who have made resolutions are successful in maintaining their intended changes. For a variety of reasons, … Continue reading "Strategies Aiding Congregational Growth" Read the article
The beauty of place-sharing is that it helps you understand that you’re not alone. By Elizabeth Mullins, GCI Publications Coordinator (Note from author: This story mentions the sensitive topic of suicide.) I have wonderful friends and family invested in place-sharing. Most of the place-sharing I’ve experienced takes place in established relationships. However, one of the … Continue reading "Place-sharers are Hopeful!" Read the article
Worship is our response inside of Christ’s perfect response. During our Sunday services we intentionally prepare for an inspirational worship gathering. In our Hope Avenue Toolkit we recommend planning the themes of your worship gatherings around the seasons of the worship calendar – by doing this we are formed as remember and participate in the meaning … Continue reading "GCI Easter Preparation Playlist" Read the article
Jesus’ invitation to us is to join him in making disciples. Through the mentoring process we help others discern their gifting within the body. Check out this month’s Church Hack for a guide to Christ-like mentoring. #gcichurchhacks https://resources.gci.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/2023-CH1-Mentoring.pdf Read the article
A personal example of place sharing. By Glen A Weber Several years ago, I was helping facilitate a gathering of about 50 pastors and Christian leaders. We were spending three days in prayer and worship together. We had a chair in the center of the circle so leaders could sit and ask for specific prayer. … Continue reading "Place-sharing with George" Read the article
