The Columbia Partnership

 

332 Valley Springs Road, Columbia, SC 29223-6934            Voice: 803.622.0923 E-mail: Client.Care@TheColumbiaPartnership.org

 

 

Who is TCP?  Download Brief History of The Columbia Partnership The Columbia Partnership is a Christian ministry organization that seeks to transform the capacity of the North American Church to pursue and sustain vital Christ-centered ministry. The ministry of TCP, a non-profit religious organization, focuses around five emphases: Coaching Leaders, Funding Ministry, Sharing Knowledge, Transforming Congregations, and Transforming Denominations.

Let's Begin a Conversation! The Columbia Partnership invites you to complete a two to five question survey to request a free 22-minute conversation with one of our Ministry Colleagues: Take Survey

Subscribe to the TCP eNews: Text "TCP" to 22828.

Peer Learning Experiences for Coaching Leaders During 2012

Strategic Leadership Coaching for People Engaged in Christian Ministry

Two Events Sponsored by the Coaching Leaders Team

Download Coaching Leaders Peer Learning Experiences 2012

Creating Christian Education for Our 21^st Century World

Thursday and Friday, March 8-9, 2012

Focus: A coach approach and peer learning experience designed to provide educators with practical tools and frameworks for a more effective local church ministry.

Coaches/Facilitators: Suzanne Goebel, Eddie Hammett, and Ken Kessler

Location: Hilton Garden Inn, Raleigh/Durham

Cost: $500 Learning Experience Fee includes the learning experience, on-site coaching session, plus two additional follow-up coaching sessions by telephone. [Travel, meals, and lodging are participant expenses. Group rate at hotel.]

Registration Link: http://creatingchristianeducation.eventbrite.com/ [Registration closes on March 1^st]

Making the Most of the First Two Years of Ministry in a New Setting

Thursday and Friday, August 9-10, 2012

Focus: A coach approach and peer learning experience designed to empower pastors to face steep learning curves, build new relationships and think strategically about their first two years of ministry in a new setting.

Coaches/Facilitators: Suzanne Goebel, Eddie Hammett and Ken Kessler

Location: Atlanta, GA

Cost: $500 Learning Experience Fee includes the learning experience, on-site coaching session, plus two additional follow-up coaching sessions by telephone. [Travel, meals, and lodging are participant expenses. Group rate at hotel.]

Registration Link: http://makingthemostinnewsetting.eventbrite.com/ [Registration closes on August 2^nd]

Convictions

For Growing Generosity in Your Congregation

A Travel Free Learning Article

By Ruben Swint, Ministry Colleague with The Columbia Partnership

Voice: 404.314.7273, E-mail: RSwint@TheColumbiaPartnership.org, Web Site: www.TheColumbiaPartnership.org

Download Swint, Convictions for Growing Generosity, 12.13.11 Edition

Listen to and/or download Travel Free Learning Dialogue on this Article:

TFL Dialogue, Ruben Swint on Convictions

Conviction is a fixed or firm belief. Success in growing generosity in your congregation is limited by or empowered by your fixed or firm beliefs; by your convictions. Convictions have great influence on whether a congregation will reduce ministry, struggle to maintain ministry, or expand ministry in times when the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of people are soaring.

A congregation’s ministers and lay leaders are the stewards of congregational convictions. How leaders teach, write, listen, preach, plan and act portrays the convictions that they hold. And it is their acted upon, convictions that result in reducing, maintaining or expanding ministry.

Hope White

A Story of Mission and Possibility

A Travel Free Learning Article

by Ken Kessler, Ministry Colleague with The Columbia Partnership

Voice: 804.338.5058, E-mail: KKessler@TheColumbiaPartnership.org, Web Site: www.TheColumbiaPartnership.org

Download Kessler, Hope White, 11.29.11 Edition

Listen or download the Travel Free Learning Dialogue on this article:

TFL Dialogue, Ken Kessler on Hope White

Do you remember the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs? The movie that Walt Disney made was a favorite of my boys when they were small children. Do you remember the characters?

· Snow White: the innocent, beautiful princess who is banished to the woods by her evil stepmother, the Queen.

• The Wicked Queen: the jealous and envious stepmother who is always concerned about her beauty.
• The Dwarfs: Happy, Bashful, Grumpy, Dopey, Sleepy, Doc, and Sneezy are Snow White’s companions in the woods as she survives the evil shenanigans of the Wicked Queen.
• Prince Charming: the young prince who plants the kiss that awakens Snow White for her deathly stupor, and with whom she lives happily after.

It’s a cute story that warms our hearts and makes us feel good all over. It has been adapted and changed from the original story by Brothers Grimm by the Disney culture.

FaithSoaring Churches

A Synergy of Vision, Relationships, Programs, and Management 

A Travel Free Learning Article

By George Bullard, Ministry Colleague with The Columbia Partnership

Voice: 803.622.0923, E-mail: GBullard@TheColumbiaPartnership.org, Web Site: www.TheColumbiaPartnership.org

Download Bullard, FaithSoaring Churches, Overview 11.15.11 Edition

Listen or download the Travel Free Learning Dialogue on this article:

TFL Dialogue, George Bullard on FaithSoaring Churches

Summit Heights is a FaithSoaring Church. Christ the King is not. Nesmith, a smaller membership congregation, is a FaithSoaring Church. Lake Avenue is trying to be. We do not know yet if Midtown will be a FaithSoaring Church. Trinity once was a FaithSoaring Church, but not anymore. First is struggling to understand what FaithSoaring is all about.

FaithSoaring Churches are congregations who choose to soar with faith beyond ordinary ministry toward extraordinary ministry in a quest to achieve exceptional ministry. They respond to the pulling of God and journey to places of inspiration, imagination, and innovation. They lead their congregations through processes of missional formation and engagement that continually transforms the capacity of congregations to reach their full kingdom potential.

Write Before Christmas

A Year-End Invitation for Connecting Church Guests

A Travel Free Learning Article

By Gary Straub, Ministry Colleague with The Columbia Partnership

Voice: 502.320.4336 Email: GStraub@TheColumbiaPartnership.org, Web Site: www.TheColumbiaPartnership.org

Download Straub, Write Before Christmas, 11.14.11 Edition

Download Straub, Guest Holiday Letter, 11.14.11 Edition

Download Straub, Infrequent Member Letter, 11.14.11 Edition

As Thanksgiving approaches, your congregation may have a lot for which thanksgiving is due. It doesn’t take long to assess all the good reasons that imaginative ministries were launched on a shoestring, hurting families quietly helped, and audacious mission project finished in the black because generous volunteers gave even more than time and talent. Most all of the ministry numbers that measure affectivity are showing up on the hallelujah side of the ledger, except one: additions.

While there is a steady flow of first time guests and an astonishing percentage of returning guests, year-end approaches with no appropriate tools or strategy for gathering up these potential commitments in a simple, personal, and meaningful way. Many congregations have an identifiable group of folks who continue to attend worship, participate in activities, and to all appearances seem quite interested in the congregation but haven’t yet joined. Here is a simple, straight-forward approach to the matter: ask!