In a 2024 research report, ministry leaders said “soft skills for leadership” is one of the top five areas they wish they were more trained in. These include skills like leading change, thinking creatively, and entrepreneurship – all of which ...
The Center for Youth Ministry Training has received a $4,903,808 grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to help establish the Young People’s Theological Service Initiative. The program is being funded through Lilly Endowment’s National Youth and Young Adult Initiative on Faith ...
When a natural disaster hits, it can upend an entire community and change people’s lives in a matter of hours. Faith communities aren’t immune to the change and devastation. That’s a lesson Rev. Patrick Neitzey of Central United Methodist Church ...
In any ministry with young people, consistent communication with parents and caregivers is key to building strong relationships. Whether you're announcing upcoming events, sharing about changes to a program, or seeking their involvement, thoughtful communication can make all the difference ...
In many contexts, faith communities are learning that people of all ages are burdened with stress, anxiety, overwhelm, over-scheduling, overcommitment, and exhaustion. As faith communities progress through our Ministry Transformation Lab, we guide them to explore the root causes of ...
As a senior leader at your church or organization, you understand the importance of retaining those valuable team members who faithfully carry out the mission. Turnover isn’t just disruptive — it drains resources, slows momentum, and lowers morale. Add to ...
As a ministry leader, you’re likely familiar with the holy habits of prayer, worship, reading the Bible, giving, and the sacraments. These habits are each deeply significant in their own way, yet it’s all too easy to begin doing them ...
At the Innovation Lab, we often say that listening is a powerful, sacred act of ministry in and of itself. But amidst a culture where “listening” has become trendy, the Lab means something different. We mean nothing less than to ...
As faith communities prepare for the Advent season, nostalgia for the past becomes commonplace. Many faith communities hang the greens, practice the traditional hymns, host traditional events, and read the season’s scripture stories. But the potentially negative impacts of nostalgia ...
The Center for Youth Ministry Training has received a $1,249,965 grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to help establish the Benediction Project. The program is funded through Lilly Endowment’s Nurturing Children Through Worship and Prayer Initiative, a national initiative designed to ...
Here at the Innovation Lab, our Innovation Culture Index (ICI) assesses a faith community’s culture by revealing its strengths and areas that need to improve so innovation can take root effectively. The ICI measures what we call the Nine Indicators ...
Does God fit into a water balloon war? What about a trust fall? Although some leaders choose to focus on Bible study with their students, games have an important place in next gen ministry and the church. Ann Saylor and Susan ...
Whenever people of varying backgrounds come together, politics naturally emerge – and the church is no exception. Each member of the church sees faith and the mission of the church through their own unique lens, which all too often leads ...
Volunteers who care passionately about students, disciple them, and help plan events are the common thread among effective ministries for young people. If you struggle to find these amazing people, take comfort knowing that many other ministry leaders struggle in ...
You've planned an amazing white water rafting trip for your students. You've written every devotional, laid out every game, ice breaker, and small group activity. You found a rafting company that will take care of all the logistics. You put ...
The season of Advent needs a refresh. That’s because, somehow, one of the greatest stories ever told has grown stale in many churches around the country. Many faith communities mark the season with the same traditions they’ve observed for decades, ...
The importance of time management in ministry can't be overstated. The most effective leaders will tell you that being intentional with your time will allow you to maintain a healthy balance between work and home life, not to mention – ...
Artificial intelligence, or AI, is all over the news lately. From healthcare to finance to education, industries around the globe are investing billions of dollars to develop apps and programs run by AI that will solve problems, answer questions, and ...
The first step in product thinking, as Nikkel Blaase writes in an article for the Interaction Design Foundation, is to “determine the problem that your users are looking to solve.” When done well, determining a user’s problem begins with researching ...
In the last 15 years, First Church experienced a steady decline in worship attendance, ministry participation, and volunteer recruitment. The congregation is aging and many of the church’s programs aren’t as effective as they once were. Average Sunday attendance hovers ...
