The Unexpected Benefits of Background Checks
As I sit down to write this blog post, it’s July of 2017. Even as I type, my four-year old is watching a Youtube Kids video on how to make homemade popsicles while she uses me as her personal ottoman, couch, blanket, and jungle gym. That’s #DadLife, right? Just yesterday, my wife told me to…
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5 Tips To Moving People From First-Time Guests to Regular Attendees
What’s the primary goal for most churches? If your answer is to make disciples of Jesus, then we’re with you! Leading people into a relationship with Jesus is a vision we can all get behind, right? But from a more practical approach, what exactly does this mean for your church? What does it look like…
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3 Tithing Motivators For Your Congregation
When I began speaking in front of people, I was terrible. Simply awful. I was nervous and self-conscious. I was sweaty and confusing (now that’s a bad combo—sweaty and confusing). If you had heard me speak, you probably would’ve thought I was drunk. I wasn’t . . . I just didn’t know what to say.…
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Why Most Churches Have More Vision Than Funding
Startling statistic … Only 14% of churches exceed their annual budgets each year. That means that 86% of the churches out there are at break-even or BROKE. This is a problem for multiple reasons. PROBLEM #1 – Most churches have more vision than funding. This is only normal, natural, and generally a good thing.…
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3 Reasons Your Small Group Needs Professional Help
There’s a good chance you’re in small group ministry because you care about people. And when you care about people, you want to connect with them. Small group discussions are great—after all, these conversations are foundational in the faith of those you lead. But if you really want to go deeper, you have to create…
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Three Keys To Effective Volunteer Training
I don’t know about you, but I HATE playing games when there’s no clear scoreboard. I’ll take it one step further: I hate playing games when there’s not a prize for the winner! (Yes, even “bragging rights” are prize enough for me!). The other day, I took 6 kids to a nearby soccer field with…
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Five Tips For Recruiting & Keeping Volunteers At Your Church
Let me start by asking you a simple question: Is there anything you can do at your church without the help and support of volunteers? I’d venture to say that if you really sat down and thought about it, your answer would probably be a resounding, “No!” That’s because volunteers are essential to the success…
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3 Reasons Systems are Important for Your Church
3 Reasons Systems are Important for Your Church Ben Crawshaw Have you evaluated your systems lately? Even churches (should) have systems. It’s how to remove the stress of ministry while growing a church. In fact, there is great benefit to systems that you will experience right away: 1. You don’t have to start with a blank…
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How to Keep the Easter Momentum Going
How to Keep the Easter Momentum Going for Your Church … By Having a Sufficient System for Follow Up Ben Crawshaw Because follow-up should be a slam dunk in your church! Follow up is one of the most important systems in your church, but it’s something we too often leave unchecked. We hope people get…
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The Rock Star Pastor
The Rock Star Pastor Let’s talk about obscure 90’s bands, shall we? When I was a freshman in high school, the band Blind Melon (some call them a one-hit wonder, but I think that undermines their talent) came out with the song “No Rain.” I couldn’t get enough of it. That’s the song I currently…
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