Church & Leader Development

We all have seen the reports. The American Evangelical Church is in decline. Aubrey Malphurs reports that 80-85% of churches are plateaued or declining. Tom Rainer suggests the number is 84%. Here in Indiana, we did an informal survey of about half of our Associations and they have indicated that 75% of their churches were […]

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If we thought that after the November Elections we would return to normal – we were wrong. If we thought the arrival of a new year was going to miraculously alter our circumstances and return us to normal – we were wrong.

I think it is time we begin to consider that waiting for normal is like waiting for a ship that has already sailed. Perhaps we need to accept, we are living in the “normal” right now.

So if the “Normal” looks like what we have then what do we have?

The church I serve as an Interim Pastor has about 50% of the people attending than they did PC (Pre Covid-19). Giving has remained strong. Does that sound familiar? Most reports I have received from pastors say the same.

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Now that the Covid-19 restrictions have been decreased, most of our SCBI churches have begun to meet in person once again. I heard it put this way, “We’re getting back to normal!” Sure, we can get back to normal – but should we?

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When I became a Christ-follower, at 36 years old, I knew it was because my wife and her church had prayed extensively for my lost soul. Because I was convinced of that fact, I embarked on the rest of my life journey to become a person of prayer. I want to be the guy that […]

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When I first heard that we were to ‘hunker down” due to COVID-19, I welcomed it. I thought it would be like a snow day, unplanned time to spend with my family. It comes unexpectedly and leaves quickly. Boy, was I wrong.

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By Bob Weeks As a pastor, I always provide a State of the Church message in January. I would like to do the same regarding the state of our SCBI churches. Our 2019 year-end Cooperative Program Report revealed something alarming: 34% of our churches gave nothing to Southern Baptist efforts through the Cooperative Program. (You […]

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Revitalization is a buzzword that has been around for some time. To keep it simple let us look at revitalization as a means to increase the vital nature of a local congregation in relation to God and the community where He has planted them. One indicator for determining church health is focus. Is the church […]

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We are dying and do not know it. It has been a little over three years since God called me out of the pastorate and into denominational work. During those three years, I have traveled around the state of Indiana worshipping with a different congregation almost every week. While my information is anecdotal, my informed […]

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Today I have some great news for you. If you are a cooperating State Convention of Baptists in Indiana Church you can secure access to MinistrySafe’s online resources and training for only $50! A Cooperating Church is one that submits an “Annual Church Profile” (ACP) and gives through the Cooperative Program to support the work […]

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When I was a little boy my grandfather Weeks, who I called Poppy, taught me how to shoot a 22 rifle. He began by showing me how to be safe and to have the proper shooting technique. Then came the moment of truth. He handed me a single bullet. “You get one shot,” he told […]

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