articles

A church’s average weekly attendance doesn’t tell the whole story of its size and reach. When you factor in total membership, attendance frequency, and ministry demands from less frequent attendees, the scope of a pastor’s congregation is much larger. Though worship services may appear smaller, this reality of decreased attendance…

Uplifting and affirming your worship team members is key to building strong relationships and unity. Look for opportunities to celebrate their gifts and character through verbal encouragement tailored to their personality, meaningful gifts that align with their interests, and standing up for them in public and in prayer. Investing in…

With the wealth of affordable online training options now available, worship leaders have an array of courses and academies to choose from to develop their skills. From YouTube tutorials to structured programs, there are tailored offerings to match every leader’s needs and budget. This article explores the diverse world of…

Looking to strengthen your music ministry’s impact? Mark Cole imparts time-tested wisdom to take your team’s offering to the next level. He shares insider tips on curating powerful song sets that connect, rehearsals that gel, and sound that soars. Most importantly, Cole reminds leaders to keep cultivating personal worship as…

Is your church ready for Christmas? If you think it’s too early to ask that question – think again! Your church members and people in your community are already starting to think about their Christmas plans. Gifts, family gatherings, parties – and when and where to attend church services. And…

After 30 years consulting churches, Thom Rainer observes an unprecedented number of congregations on the brink of death post-COVID. Rainer outlines five commonalities of dying churches: abandoned evangelism, majoring on minutiae, gossip/conflict, lack of urgency, and blaming pastors. He notes dying churches fail to reach people for Christ or engage…

Chuck Lawless offers guidance for churches dealing with a pastor facing depression. Warning not to be shocked or assume lack of faith, he outlines eight practical steps congregations can take. Lawless advises praying for patient understanding and pastoral healing, offering counseling assistance, finding one’s own ministry role, and encouraging the…

Mark Cole provides a step-by-step guide to learning harmonies for worship teams. He recommends active listening, starting simple, using sheet music, online tutorials, recording yourself, and consistent practice. Cole emphasizes that learning harmonies takes patience and persistence, but will enhance your team’s worship over time. Continue Reading.

Kenny Lamm, worship ministry strategist for the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, has written a new book that tackles a surprising issue facing churches worldwide – a lack of congregational participation in worship. Lamm believes well-intentioned worship leaders may inadvertently contribute to this problem. In “The Worship Ministry Guidebook,”…

Looking to take your worship services to the next level? The team at Worshipflow shares an in-depth guide for recruiting and training a stellar worship team. Their comprehensive 6-step process covers defining team needs, creating job descriptions, spreading the word, hosting auditions, providing training, and building community. With some strategic…

In a recent study, over 400 church leaders identified the Sundays when attendance reliably drops each year. Thom Rainer shares the top 10 lowest attended Sundays. Factors like age, weather, sports schedules, and travel patterns influence declines. Most churches see a consistent annual pattern for their lowest turnout, and understanding…