If I were trying to find a church in which to invest myself I would be a very careful shopper. Sure, I would pay some attention to the name on the sign (Methodist, Baptist, Episcopal, etc.), but not too much….
‘Faith is relationship’ — truer now than it was almost five decades ago
A short sentence has echoed through my adult life, and it rings truer now than it did 46 years ago. “Faith is relationship,” Clint Dunagan told a room full of Hardin-Simmons University freshmen in the spring of 1976. We learned…
Who moved the front door to the church?
A funny thing happened while we were socially distanced, worshiping online. When we returned to the church building, the front door was not where we left it, nor was it the same size. Instead, we found multiple doors resembling the…
Preaching tops in choosing new church, survey finds
It doesn’t take an academic or congregational consultant to see that a lot has changed in the church since the end of World War II. Fewer people attend and fewer people give than ever before. Worship styles have proliferated and…
Compete or collaborate
The Dilemma for Christian Ministries I have encountered several situations recently where it appeared Christian ministries prefer to compete rather than collaborate. They wanted the success of their own ministry or congregation or denomination rather than the significance of kingdom…
Studies, experts suggest why some Christians like church shopping
By Vicki Brown You’ve been a member of the same church for a few years. While you may not know everyone in the congregation well, you are acquainted with most folks in your Sunday school class. One Sunday morning you…
‘It meets my needs’ and other bad reasons for choosing a church
Like many in my generation, I’ve done some moving around and with each new move I’ve had to begin the difficult process of searching for a new church home. If you’re like most, a day is coming when you too…
Church shopping haters
As I greeted people after a recent Sunday service, a couple gave some refreshing honesty: “We enjoyed worship here today. We are looking for a church and shopping around.” I replied, “Thank you for worshiping with us today. I pray…
A pastor’s take on church shopping
I readily confess: “Church shopping” is a term that I loathe. I think the phraseology just sounds too commercial to apply to a community of faith. I also think that searching for a church home is a crucial life decision…