The Pew Research Center says that while religious affiliation continues to decline, dedication remains strong among those who are affiliated with religious groups. But those who coach and lead congregations say declining attendance remains a troubling trend. While the number…
Freeing people stuck in your church
By George Bullard How do you help people who are stuck in your congregation become unstuck? How do you free them to continue their life journey with joy? In a previous post entitled, “When sticky church becomes stuck church,” I…
Congregational vision is not about successful growing programs
By George Bullard Their name is Legend because there are many congregations who believe the best way to make progress is to have excellent programs, ministries and activities. They measure the success of their congregation by the quantitative and qualitative…
When sticky church becomes stuck church
By George Bullard A ministry acquaintance of mine, Larry Osborne of North Coast Church, an Evangelical Free Church in Vista, Calif., wrote a book several years ago called Sticky Church. The book makes the case that closing the back door…
Increasingly, churches are unwilling to adapt, new survey indicates
By Jeff Brumley A new study reports that American churches are increasingly less willing to make changes to worship, programs and ministries needed to best reflect and meet the needs of the communities around them. Oak Grove United Methodist Church…
Congregational vision is about expanding and deepening disciplemaking
By George Bullard Vision is not about promoting programs and using an attractional approach to engage in a spiritual and strategic journey. It is not about a focus on operational planning, and a primary focus on the management of the…
When it comes to congregational vision, good enough is never good enough
By George Bullard Surely you have heard the expression throughout your life that something is “good enough for government work.” Or, you have heard its cousin, “close enough for government work.” When the typical person hears these phrases they think…
What are excellent vs. mediocre congregational visions?
By George Bullard Vision is not business as usual. It is not about average thinking. It does not involve doing a little better next year than you did last year. It is not about mediocrity. Vision is about excellence in…
Should congregations stay away from professionals when writing a vision statement?
By George Bullard Yes, and for very good reasons. There is nothing wrong with professionals. There’s no reason to criticize them. It is all about the dependency congregations develop with outside third-parties who help them craft their future vision. Because…
Just like the New Testament, congregational vision is experienced then written
By George Bullard Who knows for sure exactly how the Gospel according to Luke came to be written? I mean exactly. No one knows with absolute surety. But we can imagine. For me to imagine this, I read the first…
Is congregational vision written then experienced or experienced then written?
By George Bullard Is a vision best when written or best when experienced? Yes, and it depends. But, let’s go deeper. Think about your dreams during your sleep last night. Yes, you dreamed, but you may or may not remember…
Business leaders should leave their ideas about congregational vision at the office
By George Bullard The vast majority of congregations have within their membership successful and insightful business leaders. They daily make a significant impact in the marketplace. Some are entrepreneurs who started their own businesses or assumed leadership of a family…