What would happen to your church if the pastor changed?

From Chaplain to the Members ..... to Enabler of the Family
Answer the Key Question - Stop “Theologizing”
Prioritize the Stranger - Stop Visiting Everybody
Enliven Worship - Stop Worrying about “Good Worship”

From Enabler of the Family ..... to CEO of the Church
Immerse in the Mission Field - Stop Administrative Meetings
Multiple Small Groups - Stop Doing It Yourself
Build and Model Trust - Stop Worrying About Losing People

From CEO of the Church ..... to Empowerer of Disciples
Get a Spiritual Life - Stop Micro-Managing
Redeploy Staff - Stop Questing for Quality
Decentralize - Stop Worrying about Gaps

Today's Quote

"Most clergy were raised in churches, and trained in seminary, to lead churches that will inevitably die."

Exercising Authority

Although you might want to ...

1) You can’t fire anybody if there is no culture of trust.
2) You can’t fire anybody if you have not previously identified anticipated measurable results.
3) You can’t fire those whom you have not trained and consistently evaluated.
4) You can’t fire individuals unless there is a universal expectation of accountability.
5) You can’t fire anybody without giving them a reasonable chance to change.
6) You can’t fire anybody without defining reasonable deadlines.
7) You can’t fire someone without concrete, visible awareness that you, too, can be fired.

What prevents your church from growing?

When I get called in as a consultant to work with stuck, plateaued, or declining churches I have a couple of things I look for right off the bat. In the vast majority of the cases I discover that their inability to grow, let alone sustain, their membership is caused by one of six issues.

There is one issue that stands out above the rest. If you don’t take care of this one issue, nothing else works.

The most heinous church growth killer is the same as the killer of most marriages ... unresolved conflict. READ MORE

The other five are:

Number 5: Ineffective Attendance Tracking

Number 4: Lack of Guest Follow-up

Number 3: Lack of Hospitality

Number 2: Ineffective Assimilation/’Discipleship

Number 1: Worship Services that aren’t Worth Shouting About

[from Consulting, Coaching & Chatter by Bill T-B]

Lee University Paul Conn Award

Amevi Bocco, a Translator at the International Offices of the Church of God of Prophecy in Cleveland, Tennessee has been honored by Lee University, receiving the Paul Conn Award. He will be graduating in May from the University. The award is presented to the graduating senior who demonstrates the greatest promise of achievement in graduate/professional studies after graduating from Lee University.

Amevi has been accepted into the Ph.D program in Modern Languages at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and has been awarded full tuition and a teaching assistantship.

Amevi is an active member of the Wildwood Avenue Church of God of Prophecy in Cleveland, Tennessee.

READ MORE

Day 7, 21-Day Fast

Feed On The Word

“I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than necessary food.” (Job 23:12 NKJV)

On your seventh day of fasting, remember:
- Water needs to be with you at all times
- Rest and relax as much as possible
- Remember your prayer time and prayer place
- Write your thoughts in your prayer journal
- Continue to meditate and listen
- Sugar free mints

Physical Effects:
- Senses begin to heighten
- Cravings can occur, especially with pictures and smells
- Weight loss continues
- Bad breath

Today’s Quote: “It is my prayer that you are drawing strength from each other and that you are truly experiencing the power that is found in fellowship with the Body of Christ.” - Jentezen Franklin

Thoughts for your Journal:
- How do you keep from resisting the temptation of hunger?
- How can resisting hunger relate to avoiding other temptations in your life?

Today's Prayer

Dear Father in Heaven, There are so many couples who long to have children of their own, but they just have not been able to do so. I pray for these families, that you will anoint them and bless the desire of their hearts.

On the other hand, there are many children who long to have parents and a stable family to love and care for them. I pray that you will give them hope and bless the desire of their hearts. Please join together those parents and children into loving families. Meet their needs and show your hand in their lives.

Thank you for hearing and for working in these special situations. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen.