Archdiocese of St. Louis’ Post

This article is from The Center for Faith and Children and highlights ways to welcome children in our worship gatherings. Take a look!

In a church where all generations find belonging, the nurturing of our youngest members is paramount. As a pastor with a heart for multi-generational ministry, Derek Vreeland has witnessed the importance of passing on the faith to children. What can senior church leaders do to actively support and enrich children's ministry within their congregations? Here are 4 things you can start doing today: https://bit.ly/3QnpYh5

Have you ever stopped to think about the kind of foundation your family was or is built upon? What are the important values that bind parents, siblings and children together to strengthen relationships for years to come? Take a look at my recently published blog at the link below and feel free to like, comment, share and subscribe if you haven’t done so already. https://lnkd.in/eJqK-5m3

A recent report found that 72% of evangelical Christians came to their faith in Christ before their 18th birthday (https://lnkd.in/e4mKaigx). Children ministry is so important, and what better place to reach the next generation with the hope of Christ than America's public schools? But is that even legal? The answer is yes, so long as: 1. Instruction takes place off school grounds; 2. Students' attendance is voluntary and with parental permission; and 3. No state or federal resources (taxpayer funds) are used. Released Time is privately funded - by churches, community organizations, and/or individuals. Our Ministry is to YOU. We assist Christians across the country to start, sustain, and grow Released Time Bible Education (RTBE) programs. We come alongside members to Equip, Educate, and Encourage. Whether you're new to Released Time, or a veteran leader, teacher, volunteer, or administrator, we'd love to connect. Visit our website for more information on how you can be a part of our ministry: https://lnkd.in/eYcWNj_h

'In a season of newness, transition and change, God is ever present, ever sovereign, and ever Good...' It's a season of exciting new change for UCAN and our Executive Director Andy Bagwell! Read our latest article here: #newsletter #article #UCAN #ukchurchadministratorsnetwork #churchadmin #churchadministrators #operationsmanager #churchmanager #churchoperations #church

There is still time to pre-order my book, Just Worship: worshipping God by living just lives. The book argues that Christians should be seeking to bring glory to God in all parts of our lives. Focusing in particular on the Law and the Prophets, Just Worship shows that justice is a core part of God's character and that Christians should work for justice as part of how we worship God. We also need to understand what God defines as justice, which I argue He defines as promoting the welfare of the poor even at a cost to the rich. https://lnkd.in/eNpavQPY

We must be convinced that what happens at home is more important than what happens at church. As a result, we champion the role of the parents and equip them with opportunities to leverage ministry principles in their daily lives. Gain valuable insights and resources to strengthen the connection between church teachings and home life. Take the free assessment today—link below: https://hubs.li/Q02rKfzZ0 ____ #irresistiblechurchnetwork #ICNassessment #irresistiblechurch #everycommunity #irresistibelchurch #churchtrends #churchleaders #churchgrowth #churchcomms #churchstaff #churchfamily #churchlife #churchonline #churchesofinstagram #churchleaders #churchcommunity

Studies continue to confirm that the most effective way to get someone to attend a local church is a personal invitation. Here are some five ways you can mobilize your church to invite this Easter. https://iamgoi.ng/4h8

Struggling to define your church's mission? St. John Lutheran Church in Seward, Neb., faced similar challenges until they engaged with LCEF’s Ministry Clarity process. The result? A revitalized ministry plan that's engaging their community like never before. Discover how clarity can redefine your mission.

It is good that American churches are trying to understand why they are losing their congregations. Self analysis is vital in any organization but perhaps none more so than a faith community. In my opinion though, it is too late. Perhaps by centuries. Organized religion is dogmatic by definition. The values and traditions of a church helped fulfil one of the two original reasons for the advent of religion: building a sense of community. However, the irony in this strident, conservative outlook is being historically susceptible to political and economic corruption and manipulation. This has occurred, yet again, in American churches since the mid-60s leading to Gen-Xers (my generation) and later generations to feel disconnected and disaffected often from the very churches they were raised in. For me, as churches became increasingly judgmental particularly in a conservative, political nature, they became increasingly unwelcoming and intolerant. This hard right tack also turned younger generations away for another, related reason. A welcoming church understands and accepts science (the other reason why faith originated: to explain the inexplicable) and adapts modern society into its canons and sermons. American churches have by and large turned their backs on science yearning to return to a simpler, ignorant time. Again, that is a political decision whether derived from a political party, the clergy, or the typically older remnants of a congregation (in most cases, likely a combo of all 3). One may argue this is an ecclesiatical decision vice political but this belies the repeated use of religion in the U.S. as a political weapon in our culture wars--largely regarding science and its impact on modernity--for the past 3-4 decades. Again, this trend is a turn off for younger generations that tend to view progress as a virtue. Is "workism" an issue for potential churchgoers as this article highlights? Perhaps. Is it the primary reason? I do not think so.