Summer “To Do” List

Ah the joys of summer!  Vacations.  Cookouts.  The beach.  The lake.  The River.  The Pool.  Family time.  Good times.  Summer (I know it’s winter for many of you in the Southern Hemisphere…but work with me here!). What have you got going wherever you are?  Hopefully some good downtime.  Also, hopefully you’re working smarter, getting ahead…

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How To Develop A Timeline For Your Church-Wide Campaign

How are you shaped (or wired…depending on your philosophy of ministry!)?  Are you a planner?  A detail oriented, think ahead kind of person?  Or are you more of a last minute, play-it-by-ear, scrambler?  It’s okay either way.  There’s not a right shape.  It’s just that pulling off a church-wide campaign is the kind of activity…

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Top 10 Ways To Get To Know Your Neighbors This Summer

[quote]Do your members even know their neighbors?  Do you know your neighbors?  Why not take the first step this summer and begin or deepen relationships with the folks on your street?  It’s not hard, they rarely bite, it honors God, and exponential outreach depends on connections beyond the circle. Here are our 10 best ideas. …

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Life’s Healing Choices

Have you heard about Life’s Healing Choices, Saddleback’s newest campaign?  Looks like a great new resource on a topic that’s been a home run for many churches and is clearly on the easy end of the easy/hard continuum. An 8 week church-wide study based on The Beatitudes, Life’s Healing Choices features DVD-driven small group curriculum…

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Take a Small Group Vacation!

You heard me right. Encourage your small groups to take a small group vacation! What’s it mean? Probably not what you think! I’m asked all the time what I think about the idea of apprenticing. And honestly, I don’t think about it very much anymore. Why? Because the truth is, there are easier ways to…

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New from Simply Youth Ministry: Live Online

What do you do for student small group curriculum?  Anyone?  Anyone? If you’re like a lot of us, you don’t have a comprehensive plan.  In fact, most of us are a little stumped when it comes to how to pull off group ministry for students!  That makes what’s coming out of Simply Youth Ministry pretty…

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Community, Cause and Corporation

Ever tried to figure out why it’s so hard to keep everyone focused on the mission, get along, and stay within the budget…all at the same time?  One of the most helpful talks I ever heard at Willow was one that Jim Dethmer did on the concept of Community, Cause and Corporation…his way of describing…

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Customer Friendly Web Design

Have you ever looked at your website from the vantage point of a customer?  I know that may sound strange, but it is very important that you see it this way.  Until you begin to look at your website from the customer vantage point you’ll miss out on some critical connecting opportunities.  Before we get…

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Mirror Image

If you’re looking for a DVD-driven study that is provocative, easy to use, and generates great discussion, you’ll love Mirror Image.  From the Liquid series, this is a study of five of Jesus’ best known parables (including The Prodigal Son and The Good Samaritan) and it is a must-have in our suggested curriculum list. What…

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