In one church in McCaysville, Georgia, USA, children’s ministry director Sally Morris decided to work on producing a kids’ curriculum to go alongside Love Your Church by Tony Merida. It meant that the children and young people in her church could follow the same teaching plan as the adults, so that the whole church learned together. After completing the curriculum in her own context, Sally sent us what she’d written, asking if it could be offered to other churches.... continue reading
We realise that Christmas can be an extremely busy time of year for church staff. To make things simpler for you, we've put together a plan that will help you coordinate your church's celebration of Christmas.... continue reading
This is a responsive prayer that has been written to help guide a group in prayer. This prayer is an excerpt from In His Hands: Prayers for Your Baby or Child in a Medical Crisis. The parts printed in bold type are designed to be said by the whole group. The parts printed in regular type are designed to be said by the leader only.... continue reading
Here’s a question to ponder: What do you think would happen if you presented yourself to your congregation as a person before doing that as their pastor? What if you took the risk of learning how to share more of yourself with your congregation—not in a way that makes every sermon about you but in a way that allows them to feel a greater kinship with how you experience and respond to God’s word? How would people react if you offered them your true self: an ultra-fragile, incredibly limited, profoundly average, and disappointingly human human being? What do you think would happen?... continue reading
It’s unfortunately common to hear that church is one of the hardest places to be in the midst of hardship. Maybe you have limped into church, weighed down by things like sadness, fear, or disappointment. Yet the place you hoped to find healing and refuge left you feeling hurt and alone. As the body of Christ joined together in praise, you felt dislocated in your pain.... continue reading
We commonly see the word “body” being used to mean a corporate gathering, a collective of people coming together for a cause or purpose, such as a “voting body.” But when we call the church the “body of Christ” we mean much more than this.... continue reading
When it comes to knowing what gift or service we can bring to our churches, we might feel stumped. But the blend of skills, interests, traits and experiences that make up who you are is utterly unique. And just being you, bringing your whole self and offering what you can is enough. In fact, the Bible says it’s more than enough—it’s vital.... continue reading
We realise that Christmas can be an extremely busy time of year for church leadership and staff. To try to make things simpler for you, we've put together a plan that might help you coordinate your church's celebration of Christmas.... continue reading
There is such a thing as unfaithful service. What does that look like? We’re given an example in the parable of the talents in Luke 19:11-27.... continue reading
Wherever you are, however your church does Christmas, we’ve got a whole host of resources to help your ministry this year. And if you're organised and order your resources before Nov 1, we’ll give you a free gift!... continue reading