Turnaround Churches

Turnaround Churches has moved from this site. Please visit www.TurnaroundChurches.com for more up-to-date advice on helping your congregation be more effective at reaching your community and remaining vital to the Kingdom.

Carl Holmes has a post where he quotes Richard Baxter:

“It is not improper to illustrate a little the manner in which we have describe this duty of mediation, or the considering and contemplating of spiritual things. It is confessed to be a duty by all, but practically denied by most. Many, that make conscience of other duties, easily neglect this. They are troubles if the omit a sermon, a fast, or a prayer, in public or private; yet were never troubled that they have omitted meditation perhaps all their lifetime to this very day; though it be that duty by which all other duties are improved, and by which the soul digests truth for its nourishment and comfort. It was God’s common to Joshua, “this book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on therein day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written therein.”

What really struck me was Richard's summation statement:

"Meditation turns the truths received and remembered into warm affection, firm resolution, and holy conversation."

This helps me understand that for scripture to be most effective, it needs to seep into the crevasses of my soul, to wash out the secret sin and water the dormant dreams. As Psalm 1 says "the righteous man's delight is the law of the LORD, and on that law he meditates day and night."

The struggling church that turns first to management books and church growth models should reconsider their methods. Yes, buy my book (if I ever get it published), but don't wait to preach the authentic Word of God, to spend time in prayer and meditation, and lead your congregation to make these things a habit. No method will energize a church more than God showing up.

I have learned to be content in all things...

I followed one link, and then linked from there, and then again, and stumbled across this video. It warns us to be generous in small things, and to be on the lookout for unintended consequences. Enjoy!

Being Aware

Small churches tend to be better at welcoming people. Most church folk really are generous people living busy lives, and it takes time to really know someone. Small churches can get "cliquey" too, but it's hard to not be noticed in a congregation of 50.

My membership in in a church of 2500, and it's easy to get lost. I left a couple of years ago and it was several months before my "friends" knew I was gone. I'm back now, and they've taken steps to at least greet people who walk in the door, and the new pastor stands by the door in the 'mall' area and makes himself available to talk.

In the Messianic fellowship I'm helping start, we know one another and watch out for each other, but it's not yet "church", meaning we only see each other every other Friday unless it's in some other association. (hmmm - maybe I need to suggest more interaction!)

I talk to people all the time about getting lost in large churches. Walk in, walk out, leave no footprints. That's why my connections are loose, and why I'm spending Sunday evenings helping revitalize a struggling small church.

I find that in doing, my being comes clearer. James 2:18 is my motivation and the smile of my heavenly daddy is my reward. I don't get that when I just sit.

People want to serve

I was walking the neighborhood this afternoon. The GracePlace restart has its first service tomorrow, and I needed to be among the future congregation.

Traditionally, I'd be stuffing a flyer in every door. I'd be posting notices on every bulletin board I can find. But today, God said to walk the neighborhood and pass out flyers to people. Most people will take a flyer and look at it. A couple talked with me. One lady had moved here from N Carolina, and had been having trouble finding a church. The big church was too big and full of cliques. Lots of very small, dying churches. Not many mid-sized, active congregations. She said it would be exciting helping create the right kind of churches.

What I have found is that most people want at least to be listened to. The church I was in when I began this research was systematically excluding anyone who wasn't in the inner circle. The deacons are the ruling body. They choose who gets to join their body. They choose all the committee members, including the committee that chooses teachers. And despite all the tricks and gimmicks they've tried, attendance is flat. In fact, it takes constant effort to STAY flat.

Research shows that most people would volunteer more if asked, and given meaningful jobs that matter. Our job as leaders is to listen, and to find places to use them.

Lessons from Hatii on Effective Worship

In a post titled "Church Marketing Lessons From Haiti," Gary Abare explains that in effective churches, it's not so much about the physical needs, but about "preaching the Word passionately and boldly." He says:

"The earth is just a temporary landing pad--they know eternity is what matters. And they want to make sure Heaven is crowded! I struggle with how easy it is for me to slip into the mode that says the Bible is all about me and solving my problems when it's really a lot less about me and a whole lot more about God. "

In the final analysis, he says that it's not about show. He says that an effective message is better than slick production.

"If their services become more pre-packaged, pre-scripted, or pre-planned, the pastors will lose their enthusiasm, joy and anticipation for what God might do. The Haitian people want environments that make room for God's agenda, not theirs."

Brad also mentions the importance of meaningful worship. "In environments where outsiders and newcomers abound, need to understand what's being said in the music, or it loses its purpose for being."

Say no to Volunteers

In this week's choir notes, Worship Pastor David Oliver reminded us that we were more than volunteers at an activity of our choosing. Instead, we were reminded that we were the called, gifted for leading worship and placed by God in the worship choir.

The wisdom there is that we should not simply cast wide for "whosoever" to take our open jobs, but instead define the jobs in spiritual terms, and then look for those members of the congregation that God has already gifted to do those kinds of jobs.

We know that we are most successful when we operate in accordance with our own giftedness . Why would we do any different with others in our congregation, with our parishoners? We know that when they are properly placed, and when they see even the most menial job as operating according to their own giftedness and in accordance to God's will for them (and not just for our convenience), they are energized. And energized people are natural evangelists.

Asking for Volunteers

Amy Simpson over at BuildingChurchLeaders.com opened a discussion on how to encourage volunteers. This is a favorite topic of mine (the original topic for the first book was on recruiting volunteers, before I got redirected into helping strugging churches.) She asked "Should You Stop Asking for Volunteers?"

Her contention was that church leaders should take better care of their congregants, and not continue to push them to volunteer when the volunteering does not serve the church's mission purpose, or when the volunteer if frankly doing too much.

In my reply, I started with a rhetorical/satiric question:

"If you mean "stop broadcasting a generic appeal for 'someone' to help out in an undefined future ministry opportunity" or even "come volunteer to do a job none of the staff wants to do", then yes, we need to stop that kind of activity. "

I am convinced that the church should treat volunteer opportunties as regular jobs, with specific duties and measurable goals, and then "hire" people into the positions.

The IRS treats non-profit labor as having a specific value (with benefits, the IRS's national estimated average is $18.77 per hour); we should treat each volunteer job as if we were paying a salary. We should give them honor and encouragement and thanks for the gift of labor.

And we should allow them to vacation - or even resign from their responsibilites if the work is not appropriate - without making them feel guilty that the kingdom of God will fail unless they continue.

There is a great (free) training resource on handing volunteers over at the FEMA website. But most important, if you make people feel valued, they are more likely to ask to volunteer, than you have to cajole their efforts.

How much light?

I was checking facts for my almost-finished book From the Brink - Hope for Failing Churches. My concern was what the appropriate level of lighting. I found a good discussion at PraiseBuildings.com. Especially appropriate for today's discussion was

"At least 20 footcandles of light throughout the seating area. This is the minimum light level for reading, but also the minimum level as a sign of life. Some churches have been amazed at the improved spirit in the services when the light level was made adequate."

That's for the congregational seating. PraiseBuildings goes on to say "The light level over the entire platform should be at least 35 footcandles without hot spots and dark spots."

I can't confirm, but I remember hearing a builder say that many old buildings have barely half the lighting recommended. This is even more disconcerting with an older congregation. As we age, our eyes harden and it takes even more light to see clearly. This is why older people develop "night blindness"

It may take an engineer to do an accurate measurement, but it's probably worth it. Just be ready to spend a few thousand dollars to upgrade your lighting.

It will be money well spent.