https://vimeo.com/247517692 Kempton Turner met Jesus in the most unexpected way in the most unexpected place. , …
Resources for Cultural Context
On Sunday mornings, the streets of Montreal are quiet and deserted. Some people dream of a …
When Rich Perez was growing up in his New York City neighborhood, he always heard that …
The practice of hospitality: Your home on mission
To develop healthy disciple-making practices, we must recapture the art of hospitality. Our castle or His …
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If you’ve heard me speak or if you’ve read any of my books, what I’m about …
“When I see someone baptized, I see myself,” says Martin Haghani. Martin planted Iranian Baptist Church …
The difference between church relationships and friendships
My husband and I have been in full-time vocational ministry since the day we were married. …
The difference between church relationships and friendships Read More »
More than a song: Fostering a culture of worship in your church
The past few months, I have been reading through the Old Testament minor prophets. As a …
More than a song: Fostering a culture of worship in your church Read More »
How to get a church to engage in a community
“Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” This quote, most often attributed to Peter Drucker, has been used …
Most popular of 2016: #1 Five ways to engage: The City
The North American Mission Board is blessed by a wide array of voices that speak to …
Most popular of 2016: #1 Five ways to engage: The City Read More »
Most popular of 2016: #7 Five ways to engage: The campus
The North American Mission Board is blessed by a wide array of voices that speak to …
Most popular of 2016: #7 Five ways to engage: The campus Read More »
Nine reasons we must connect our churches with cities
Even if you have no interest in urban settings and ministries, I plead with you to …
Nine reasons we must connect our churches with cities Read More »
How to get visitors to return to your church
There are so many elements that determine if guests will return to your church after a …
What are the internal barriers to growth in a church?
There is rarely a simple explanation for the decline of a church. It is often a …
What are the internal barriers to growth in a church? Read More »
Six ways you can pray for your country
This has been one of the most tumultuous years in recent decades. America is riven by …
Three reasons why every Christian should vote
We are in the midst of a presidential election that, even to this political junkie, becomes …
Why Christians should care about politics
During the course of a presidential campaign, it is common to hear evangelicals, especially younger ones, …
The fallacy of our spiritual gifts: Part 2
(Continued from The fallacy of our spiritual gifts: Part 1.) What is the Kingdom’s O.S.? Weakness. Just weakness. …
The fallacy of our spiritual gifts: Part 1
Brett and Noelle are busy penciling in 200 dots in the new member’s class at church. …
How to share the message of Christ with our neighbors
How in the world do we, as believers, carry out the Great Commission? Jesus wasn’t joking …
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How to understand your neighbor
I was born and raised in the southern part of the United States. South Carolina to …
When I was growing up, I loved watching “Mr. Rogers Neighborhood.” I loved the trolley that …
Methodology to aid a planter in understanding their context
Gaining an accurate understanding of context is critical to successfully plant a new church. Barry Whitworth …
Methodology to aid a planter in understanding their context Read More »
Five ways to engage: the campus
1. Reach students with depth. As we engaged the campus a generation or two ago, we …
Five ways to engage: the suburbs
In recent years, increased attention has been given to the city centers of our world. This …
1. Learn the city.Find the best sources for learning about your city. There are likely newspapers, …
Redefining Success: City Transformation
Insignificance. Most of our nightmares revolve around this. We all want to know we are making …
Redefining Success: Family Culture
What makes a church successful? Is it the number of those who attend the weekly gathering, …
Why gender diversity is mission critical for your plant
One of the best moves I ever made as a young church planter was seeing the …
Why gender diversity is mission critical for your plant Read More »
Missional Community Connections: Part 2
Environments Conducive to Missional Communities Connections at The Austin Stone is not simply giving information that …
What are Missional Community Connections
Connections at The Austin Stone is not simply giving information that propels individuals towards involvement but …
Todd Engstrom Interview: Missional Communities
Send Network: Tell us a little about the culture of your church. Todd Engstrom: At Austin …
Most of us are safe and we like to stay that way within the confines of …
Engaging culture: Understanding poverty
Poverty: A Confusing Conversation Leading to Misguided Good Intentions How does a minister help a homeless …
The last year has seen a steady dose of media stories that focus on the issue …
Engaging culture: Introduction
The New Testament Early Church was certain of the missional reality that they were living in …
What are the frontlines of mission?
Church planter Patrice Viakinnou shares his vision for ministry to New York City’s West-African population. Send …
Understanding context when planting a new church
Gaining an accurate understanding of context is critical to successfully plant a new church. Barry Whitworth, …
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Staying is the New Going – The Need
There are prominent bluffs in the middle of my city where I have gone at times …
Why neighborhood integration improves ministry opportunities
God has taken our family on a surprising, exciting and somewhat overdue journey the last two …
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Out of the World and Into Our Neighborhood
God has taken our family on a surprising, exciting, and somewhat overdue journey the last two …
Missional vs. Attractional: Which is Right?
Since Riverbend started in 2009, I have heard many who support a missional over attractional philosophy …
How to make connections in churches and communities
Practicing hospitality in our homes is essential to our work in church planting (see The Why of …
How to make connections in churches and communities Read More »
In 2008, my husband and I planted a church in a cultural context where it’s fairly …
Six Ways to Evaluate Your Church’s Strategy to Assimilate New Believers
Maybe you’ve seen it happen. A new believer joins a local church, and is thrilled by …
Six Ways to Evaluate Your Church’s Strategy to Assimilate New Believers Read More »
Church Planting Essentials pt. 2
Essential #2 In the “4 Essentials for every church planter” series, the second essential is this: …
Knowing and Engaging Your Community
“To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called …
It was 12 years ago that a neighbor invited my family to a church plant called Sojourn. …
Do Christians have a role in addressing slavery?
Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy …
Do Christians have a role in addressing slavery? Read More »
Church foundation: Eating from gardens we didn’t plant
Alan Briggs It’s easy to criticize that which we don’t understand. As a young church …
Church foundation: Eating from gardens we didn’t plant Read More »
Colossians 1:18-20 – Is peace really possible?
He is also the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning, the firstborn …