Browsing by Rob Blezard
Congregational Earthkeeping Manual
Earth is in trouble—from global climate change, the pollution of air, land, and water, and much more. As people of faith, we believe that the degraded ecological condition is in part a spiritual problem. And as people of faith, we can work to educate about, advocate for and model a new ways of looking at God’s creation. This manual will explain how. (Photo Photo by Aussiegall, used by Creative Commons license.)
Church is Good for Your Health
A Stanford University anthropologist proved scientifically what Christians have known for generations — being a disciple of Christ and going to church is good for your health in body, mind and spirit. Her study of Christians in a variety of settings led her to some startling conclusions. (Photo © Warren Goldswain, Fotolia.)
Become an ‘Energy Star’ Congregation
Don’t just preach about creation care, lead by example! Get your congregation involved in energy efficiency in the federal ‘Energy Star’ program. It’s a win-win-win, helping to conserve energ, save the church money (that can be used for mission) and reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. Moreover, you’ll be teaching God’s people a lesson. (Photo © Mopic – […]
GPS: God’s Positioning System
Where are you in your journey of faith, and how did you get here? Where are you going, and where do you think you will end up? Many of God’s faithful disciples don’t exactly know because they are are guided by the the Holy Spirit. How does God’s Positioning System work in your life? (Photo by the International Center for Tropical Agriculture, used by creative Commons License)
10 ways to use QR codes in your church
Those funky square symbols are called “QR” (Quick Response) codes that can help your church develop a better presence in the digital age, especially with younger, tech-savvy Christians. This article from ChurchLeaders.com outlines some of the uses.
41 Thoughts on Stewardship
Looking for a nice stewardship quote for your newsletter, sermon or bulletin? Here’s the resource for you! The Barnabas Foundation has compiled this list that will provide something for every occasion. (Photo © trotzolga – Fotolia.com)
8 Reasons Why Believers Give to Your Church
If you want your church to grow, you must learn how to motivate believers to invest their resources into the kingdom for ministry and for facilities, says “Purpose-Driven Pastor” Rick Warren. It is a key responsibility of leadership. See whether Warren’s eight reasons ring true for your church. (Photo by Lisafx, via Bigstock.com)
Rethinking the Pledge
Around this time of year, churches all over the nation will hold stewardship drives by sending out letters and cards and inviting responses. But the results are predictably disappointing. At St. George’s, Valley Lee, MD, we’re ditching this conventional system and have been making innovations to connect the stewardship campaign to other areas of the Christian life. (Photo by Daniel Lobo, used by Creative Commons license. Thanks!)
Weight Loss is Ministry’s Gain
A pastor who once weighed over 400 pounds and preached while attached to an oxygen tank lost his weight and energized his congregation’s ministry by asking members to pledge a dollar or two for every pound he lost. That kind of playful innovation is sorely needed because clergy face higher rates of obesity than people in […]
Yes, Sometimes You Can Serve God & Mammon
When a church in suburban Minneapolis wanted to use pat of a $2 million windfall for mission, its leaders decided NOT to do the usual thing — cut a fat check to a worthwhile ministry. Instead they used a market-oriented approach that energized the entrepreneurial spirit of community leaders. (Photo by OpenSourceWay, used by Creative Commons license. Thanks!)
