The Columbia Partnership

332 Valley Springs Road, Columbia, SC 29223-6934, Voice: 803.622.0923, E-mail: client.care@thecolumbiapartneship.org

Follow the Sign to Open Church

 
A Travel Free Learning Article

By Norman Jameson at NJameson@TheColumbiaPartnership.org

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Is your church a forbidding fortress? Does it dare a visitor to find his or her way into the building?

Or does good signage direct a visitor into and through your facility to make him feel comfortable and familiar from his first visit?

You’ve been to your building enough so you know three ways to everywhere. You know when you pull into the lot which entrance to park near that gives you easiest access to the room you want.

But what of the visitor?

How Do You Connect People to Christ?

A Travel Free Learning Article

By Ken Kessler at KKessler@TheColumbiaPartnership.org.  

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Do you ever get hit with any of these memories?

“I remember when we could pack our church on revival nights?” “I remember when a Friend Day would bring us more people than we knew what to do with on Sunday mornings.” “I remember when Vacation Bible School was the big event of the summer for our community. We would have children and adults running out of our ears during the two week time period we set aside.”

“I remember when we could knock on doors on Sunday afternoon and see at least a couple of people saved just from our visits.” “I remember when we would do a door-to-door survey in our community and find lots of prospects for our church. Why don’t we do another one?”

We long for the days of a community that revolves its life around the church and its activities. Just a few decades ago, you could put a sign up in your yard designating a special day at the church and people from all over the community would come. There was a general receptivity to the church and the gospel message wherever you went. Probably in some places this might still happen. Most of us recognize we live in a different day.

The Five Critical Steps of Communicating Vision: Step Two

A Travel Free Learning Article

By Bill Howard at BHoward@TheColumbiaPartnership.org. [Contact Bill for information on all five steps.]  

Download Howard, Five Critical Steps of Communicating Vision, Step Two

Have you wondered how successful pastors get their people to follow a vision? Have you ever wanted to share a vision, but feared it would get voted down by your congregation?

Successful vision casting is a skill every leader needs to learn. Read on to learn step two of the five critical steps of communicating a vision that will get a YES! from your congregation or ministry organization.

Democracy Versus Discernment in the Church

By Dick Hamm at DHamm@TheColumbiaPartnership.org.

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Like the churches of most every nation, American churches tend to reflect the culture in which they developed. An example of this is the American churches’ penchant for democracy. We love democracy! It is in our very DNA as institutions. We believe that certain “truths are self-evident” and that such truths will inevitably arise through the democratic process and win the day. We also resist attempts by anyone to make decisions for us without our input.

The Builder and Silent generations (born between 1915-1945) love democracy for an additional reason: democratic processes enable them to be a functioning, integral part of the institution by participating in decision making. Because these two generations experience God through the life of the institution, participating directly in the decision-making makes them feel closer to God. Likewise, participating in functional committees and boards makes them feel closer to God (at least when such experiences aren’t so negative that they cause them to “lose their religion!).

Overview of Contents of Reaching Keeping People Guidebook

Coaching and Resource Guidebook for Reaching People Under 40 While Keeping People Over 60

Table of Contents

1. Eight Practical Principles That Work – Listening Sheet

2. When Culture Impacts Church - Coaching Questions

3. Discovering the Influence of Generational Distinctives – Coaching Worksheet

4. Contrasting the Generations Overview Chart with coaching questions

5. Shifts Emerging in Traditional Forms of Christian Education Chart from Reframing Spiritual Formation by Edward Hammett

6. Bonus Article – Spiritual Rituals Fuel Spiritual Formation (How Some Postmoderns Mature in Faith) by Randy Pierce and Eddie Hammett

7. Moving Forward in Effective Ministry - Coaching Questions

8. Bible Study for 21^st Century Adults - Seminar Overview

9. Endorsements from various ministry leaders

10. Resources for Transitioning Churches Bibliography

11. Seminar Follow-Up Options to Sustain Momentum

12. Compilation of Suggestions for Next Steps Beyond Reading of the Book and Attending a Study Group

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Three Digital Editions of this Coaching And Resource Guidebook are Available

Personal Edition: 20+ page Coaching and Resource Guidebook for Reaching/Keeping book – Cost $10 for personal use when reading book, or for preview of material for seminars. This edition may not be copied. Click to purchase: Personal Edition.

Presentation Edition: Guidebook plus 40 slide PowerPoint presentation for the Reaching People Under 40 While Keeping People Over 60 seminars available for $100. Includes permission to duplicate for seminars and use in your personal ministry. Click to purchase: Presentation Edition.

Premier Edition: $250.00 includes all of the above resources and privileges plus two one-hour coaching sessions with the authors to help you maximize and customize these tools for your congregation. Click to purchase: Premium Edition.