The Community Outreach Innovation Team I am leading at church is going to do something this week that is outside of our church’s normal operating practices. We are going to BRAINSTORM. Innovation experts have a lot to say about Brainstorming. There are a few points I am focused on in preparation for the session. First, …
Category Archives: Leadership
Community Outreach: Patience
Summer can be a challenging time in the work of a ministry. It is the time when things slow down as many people take time away from their day to day responsibilities, but it is also a time to gear up for the next ministry season. Sometimes we are waiting for other people, and sometimes …
Community Outreach: Learn
Once you have identified the stakeholders, it is time to learn from them. Who do you need to observe and consult? This next phase sends your team out into the community to interview, observe, pretend and experience how people interact and engage. Often, I think a blind spot of many churches and ministries is an …
Community Outreach: Current State
When starting with a new community intervention, it is important to take into account the current state of interactions. I think this is especially important if we are wanting to adjust some way we currently interact with our community. We can get stuck in a rut. But when we take a moment to think about …
Community Outreach: Assets
One of the quotes that I often use is attributed to Albert Einstein, and it states “insanity is doing the same thing expecting different results.” Over the last year, I have often felt the North American Church has been stuck in trying to do the same thing and get different results. Is your church doing …
Missions March
Part of my responsibility in my role at my local church is to lead partnership with local, national, and global mission partners. In March of every year, we spend a portion of each week’s church service to highlight and update the congregation on these mission partners. We conclude the month by making a faith promise …
Insight + Action Words: Love
First Corinthians 13 is commonly referred to as the love chapter, and it is often read at weddings. However, if we limit the instructions to only romantic love, we miss out on instruction for how we are to interact with everyone we come in contact with, in church or out of church. Paul starts the …
Insight + Action Words: Learn
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29 Are you weary? Are you burdened? Do you need rest? Jesus’ answer …
Insight + Action Words: Seek
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33 An attitude of seeking His Kingdom and His righteous can become a frame through which to view the world if we let it. This verse is found in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, one …
Insight + Action Words: Pray
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts …
KATHY PIERBURG 