Exporting America’s Religious Duds

It’s a major American export. Church ministry methodology. Much of it is accomplishing great things for the sake of the Gospel. And some exported ministry practices are just, well, embarrassing. I’ve been traveling in South America, and visiting some churches and ministries. It’s really interesting to see how Protestant churches here often closely resemble North […]

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What Children’s Ministry Can Teach Grown-up Church

As they filed out of church, several adults slapped the children’s minister on the back and said the same thing: “I got more out of that children’s message than I did out of the rest of the service.” Note to staff: They meant it. The more I’m around children at church the more I believe […]

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Fear Not: Double Your Teaching Results

Here’s a guaranteed way to dramatically power-up your teaching and preaching. It works. But many teachers and preachers will reject it–before ever trying it. I’ve used this approach–with great effectiveness–for 40 years. It’s simple. It costs nothing. It’s described in our new book, Why Nobody Wants to Go to Church Anymore. Here it is: Dialog. […]

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4 Ways Not to Be a Ministry Goon on Social Media

It’s sometimes amusing–and sometimes just painful–to see how ministers use technology. With the proliferation of social media such as Twitter and Facebook, many people in ministry devote loads of time spraying cyberspace with their words and pictures. Used well, social media involvement can enhance ministry and help to connect with people. Used poorly, these attempts […]

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Church Abusing Kids with Root Beer

She’s one mad mom. “With soda, you’ve crossed a line. That was my son’s first drop of soda. And it was given to him AT CHURCH, of all places!” The furor hit social media, blogs and a television talk show site over the past week. It all started when a California “mommy blogger” sent her […]

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When Youth Ministry Stopped Innovating

Youth ministry has been known to pioneer new and effective forms of ministry that also influence the rest of the church. But that trend, in some churches, has largely reversed. Some youth ministries (and children’s ministries) try to mimic the form, methodologies and styles found in adult church, aka “Big Church.” That’s a switch from […]

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