Thom S. Rainer

Latest

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  Oct 6, 2021

  Numbers do matter: 10 signs of a disturbing trend in churches

  We are in a historical cycle in the evangelical world where the mood is to disparage counting, attendance, and other numerical metrics. Consequently, we are in danger of losing accountability that is inherent with the following numbers.

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  Sep 21, 2021

  12 traits of churches doing well during the pandemic

  So, what are these churches doing? As I examined the data and traits of healthy churches, I saw twelve recurring themes. To be clear, many churches are doing some of these items, but the churches I examined are doing all twelve items.

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  Sep 14, 2021

  7 Questions we did not hear from pastors 5 years ago

  I looked over our community known as Church Answers Central and picked seven recent questions we likely did not hear five years ago. They are true indicators that the times are truly changing.

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  Sep 7, 2021

  The 7 most common challenges for churches in the second wave of COVID

  Hopelessness pervasive. The first major wave of COVID did not have the sense of hopelessness that is endemic with the second wave. You felt in the first round that it would be over and done, even if it took a year or so. The second wave has been a real challenge.

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  Aug 24, 2021

  6 ways social media toxicity is hurting pastors

  What often bothers pastors even more is the unwillingness of church members to defend pastors who are unfairly attacked. Perhaps the best place to offer support and a defense of the pastor is not on social media but in person.

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  Aug 17, 2021

  1 of the stupidest things I did in 44 years of marriage

  What is that stupid thing I did in marriage? To be clear, I have not done this act of stupidity one time, but many times. Too many times.

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  Aug 11, 2021

  5 reasons why the post-quarantine drop in worship attendance is good

  Not all losses in attendance are bad. We have heard from church leaders several ways the decline can be healthy for the church. Here are the five most common reasons.

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  Jul 5, 2021

  Should your church be revitalized or replanted? A post-COVID reality

  In the post-COVID world we are entering, I see the need for many churches to replant instead of revitalizing. Let’s look at the difference between the two.

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  Jun 15, 2021

  5 Ways designated giving can get your church in trouble

  Designated giving can be an incredible blessing for your church. It allows, for example, church members to give to such areas of passion as missions or facilities. But far too many churches are handling designated giving in ways that can get them in trouble.

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  May 27, 2021

  The once-a-month church goers are becoming more common

  Our information at this point is both early and anecdotal, but we are hearing from numerous pastors that many church members who were frequent in their church attendance are now once-a-monthers. This observation lends itself to many questions. Is this trend temporary, one that will improve as COVID concerns wane?