Thriving Churches

Thriving Churches

Author: Loraine MacKenzie Shepherd

Publisher: The United Church of Canada

Published: 2021-01-01

Total Pages: 120

ISBN-13: 1551342596

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THRIVING CHURCHES tells the story of two United Church ministers who travelled across Canada visiting flourishing United Churches to uncover the reasons for their success. Loraine MacKenzie Shepherd, minister at Westworth United Church in Winnipeg, visited urban churches, and Tammy Allan, minister at Olds-Sundre Pastoral Charge, Alberta, visited rural churches. They found these churches shared a number of features that helped them not only survive but also thrive through challenging times. Filled with concrete examples from congregations of all sizes, this book will inspire. Also included is an eight-session study guide on spiritual attributes of thriving churches.


The Thriving Church

The Thriving Church

Author: Dean Taylor

Publisher: Journeyforth

Published: 2019

Total Pages: 184

ISBN-13: 9781628568608

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"The true measure of church growth is individual members of a local church maturing in Christ and in their service for Him"--


Thriving Youth Ministry in Smaller Churches

Thriving Youth Ministry in Smaller Churches

Author: Rick Chromey

Publisher: Simply Youth Ministry

Published: 2009

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9780764440519

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A small youth ministry has the flexibility and qualities to be nimble and relational, two qualities that will serve teenagers better than a big budget. This resource demonstrates how to create a ministry teens will love to be a part of. (Ministry & Pastoral Resources)


Teams That Thrive

Teams That Thrive

Author: Ryan T. Hartwig

Publisher: InterVarsity Press

Published: 2015-03-10

Total Pages: 276

ISBN-13: 0830897577

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What do the top church teams do to thrive together? Researchers and practitioners Ryan Hartwig and Warren Bird have discovered churches who have learned to thrive under healthy team leadership. Using actual church examples, this coaching tool presents their discoveries, culminating in five disciplines that will enable your team to thrive.


Thriving Churches in the Twenty-First Century

Thriving Churches in the Twenty-First Century

Author: Gary McIntosh

Publisher: Kregel Academic & Professional

Published: 2006

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9780825431708

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Using the analogy of the human body, Thriving Churches in the Twenty-First Century explores the ten interacting systems that make up a healthy church body such as spiritual energy, corporate intercession, spiritual disciplines, mentoring, and team ministry.


It's Personal

It's Personal

Author: Brian Bloye

Publisher: Zondervan

Published: 2012-04-23

Total Pages: 254

ISBN-13: 0310494559

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A challenging and encouraging manual for day-to-day life in ministry written specifically for couples who want to do more than survive the process of church planting and leadership—who want to actually thrive and grow in faith together as a family. Though we may feel like we can't show it, every aspect of planting a church is personal. Church planters and those in ministry leadership roles give so much to starting and growing healthy, thriving churches that when some people inevitably criticize the church, or leave altogether, it's hard not to take it personally. Brian and Amy Bloye know firsthand the emotional and relational toll that planting churches can take. In It's Personal—part of the Exponential series, inspiring and equipping next-generation church planters—the Bloye's get personal about finding the right balance of family and ministry. Planting a church is more than a ministry—it's a calling that touches every aspect of your life in very personal ways. With intimacy and wisdom, Brian and Amy discuss topics like: How to protect your marriage while planting a church. How to respond to growth and change. How to lead well while still maintaining space and time for family. How to know when it’s becoming too personal. With a forward by Andy Stanley, It's Personal will challenge and encourage you to avoid some of the pitfalls of planting a church and be equipped to build both strong and prevailing ministries, and healthy marriages and families. Each chapter includes interviews with church-planting couples who share their personal joys and struggles, giving you authentic insight into the issues families face when planting a church.


Healthy Churches, Faithful Pastors

Healthy Churches, Faithful Pastors

Author: David A. Keck

Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

Published: 2014-06-18

Total Pages: 207

ISBN-13: 1566994500

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Congregations want to support their pastors, but don’t know how. Pastors love their congregations, but they don’t know what to ask of their congregations to garner needed support. Everyone wants to thrive together, but so often we get stuck. This clear and engaging guide helps pastors and congregations bridge communication gaps and set mutual goals and expectations. Reverend Keck grounds his framework of expectations on both scholarly research and on interviews he’s conducted with pastors and lay people. He finds many common difficulties in churches arise from failing to discuss priorities and expectations, and from not effectively working through the problems that arise when expectations aren’t met. For pastors and congregants to arrive at common expectations, they need to understand each other—their respective needs, hopes, and distinctive callings. This book provides concrete steps to aid congregants and pastors communicate their mutual expectations. Keck presents fifty “expectation statements”—examples of what pastors and congregations can expect of one another; a vital resource to anyone who seeks to initiate a discussion of expectations in their own church. Elucidating goals and expectations allows congregations and pastors to support one another and flourish, and fosters church health and harmony.


Reclaiming Rural

Reclaiming Rural

Author: Allen T. Stanton

Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

Published: 2021-05-15

Total Pages: 137

ISBN-13: 1538135256

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As rural America continues to undergo massive economic and demographic shifts, rural churches are uniquely positioned to provide community leadership. Leading a rural congregation requires a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing these communities, as well as a strong theological and community-focused identity. Allen T. Stanton describes how in establishing this identity, rural leaders build a meaningful and vital ministry. Reclaiming Rural explores the myths and realities of rural places, and how those common narratives impact the leadership of rural churches. Ultimately, rural congregations must practice a contextual understanding of vitality, which understands both the strengths and challenges of leading in a rural setting. Arguing for a practice of evangelism imbued with this mission of vitality, Reclaiming Rural promotes the church as a leader in economic and community development, modeled upon a Wesleyan theology of grace. Acknowledging the many challenges facing rural churches, this book is an energetic and encouraging guide to overcoming social and economic obstacles to build a thriving congregation.


Leading Small Groups That Thrive

Leading Small Groups That Thrive

Author: Ryan T. Hartwig

Publisher: Zondervan

Published: 2020-08-11

Total Pages: 272

ISBN-13: 0310106710

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Nearly every church is trying to help their congregants build relationships with others, grow as disciples, and/or engage in meaningful service through small groups. Many have argued that these small groups are the preferred vehicle for relationship building, disciple making, and membership assimilation in the local church, especially in large, multisite churches. Leading Small Groups That Thrive shows small group leaders, step by step, how to plan for, launch, build, sustain, and multiply highly effective, transformational, healthy small group experiences where people grow spiritually together. Based on a large-scale research study of small group pastors, leaders, and members, Leading Small Groups That Thrive gives church leaders both what they want--practical, straightforward, actual small group member voices and experiences, and compelling guidance on how to build transformational groups complemented with real-life examples and data of successful small groups--and what they need--substantial, challenging insights and a data-driven model grounded in the latest research on church small groups.


The Big Four

The Big Four

Author: S. Joseph Kidder

Publisher: Review and Herald Pub Assoc

Published: 2011

Total Pages: 162

ISBN-13: 0828025215

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How did the early Christians leave such a profound impact on their world? And how can we, 2,000 years later, follow in their footsteps? The Big Four thoroughly explores four key secrets that not only made the early church a success but also produced thriving Seventh-day Adventist churches that are rapidly growing the kingdom of heaven. No matter who you are, The Big Four's inspiring stories and practical, proven methods will equip you to experience personal and collective revival, ultimately leading to powerful ministry and evangelism.