When it comes to planting and revitalizing churches, rural America is “forgotten field.” It faces a variety of demographic and economic challenges, and the rural pastorate often means bivocational ministry in small congregations. In consequence, rural ministry is not an … Continue reading The Forgotten Field | Book Review
Two years after Covid arrived in the United States, the pandemic seems to be winding down and normalcy seems to be returning. Even so, the pandemic and the governmental responses to it were incredibly disruptive. So, what does the new … Continue reading Where Is the Assemblies of God Heading? | Influence Podcast
Early in his ministry, Jeff Leake faced a problem common to growing churches: He needed a new larger building but didn’t have enough money. So he prayed, “God, we have a problem, and it seems that You are not offering … Continue reading How Churches Can Multiply Themselves | Influence Podcast
“God calls people to pioneer,” says Jeffery Portmann, “and simultaneously He calls others to become settlers.” Portmann isn’t talking about the settlement of new frontiers, however. He’s talking about ministry through the local church. In this episode of the Influence … Continue reading Pioneers, Settlers, and the Local Church | Influence Podcast
This past Sunday–September 17–was Church Planting Sunday. In honor of that, I recorded an episode of the Influence Podcast with my friends and colleagues, Chris Railey and John Davidson, who make a good case for why every Christian should care about church planting. Continue reading Why You Should Care About Church Planting | Influence Podcast
Today, over at InfluenceMagazine.com: “Between 2001 and 2008,” Jerry Ireland writes, “missions budgets for evangelism and discipleship declined by almost 11 percent, while funds for relief and development work increased by nearly 9 percent.” My guess is that this trend … Continue reading Monday’s Influence Online Articles
Today, over at InfluenceMagazine.com: Christina Quick profiles Leila Ojala, who shares the challenges and opportunities of planting a church in Summit County, Colorado. Quick writes: “It’s an especially harsh environment for church planting. The population is overwhelmingly millennial, unchurched, and transient, … Continue reading Monday’s Influence Online Articles
Today, over at InfluenceMagazine.com: In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I talk with the nation’s foremost historian of Azusa Street about the history and significance of this revival. Prof. Cecil M. Robeck Jr. — “Mel to his friends” —is senior … Continue reading Monday’s Influence online Articles
Today, over at InfluenceMagazine.com: Chris Colvin suggests five habits for getting out of the ministry bubble. Mike McCrary offers four suggestions about how to finance your church plant. Mike is a friend and new colleague at the Assemblies of God … Continue reading Thursday’s Influence Online Articles
Today, over at InfluenceMagazine.com: In Thursday’s #InfluencePodcast, John Davidson interviews Walter Harvey about how churches can respond when their communities experience crisis My friend Steve Pike is interviewed about his work helping churches get planted in urban environments. We note … Continue reading Thursday’s Influence Online Articles
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