It is official: I am now serving as Interim Senior Minister of United Church on Marco Island (FL). The congregation was established in 1966, and now consists of 300+ followers of the way of Jesus. United Church is committed to Christian unity, and is affiliated with the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches and the United Church of Christ. So What? While most of my previous ministry positions were firsts for the congregations I served (the first time they Read More …
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1,000 Days of Daily Blogging (#1150)
This post marks 1,000 days of blogging on a daily basis. I launched sowhatfaith.com just over 4 years ago. Almost three years ago, I started blogging on a daily basis. At several points along that journey I paused to reflect and share my experience: 100 Days, 1 Year, and 2 Years. So What? I hope my daily posts have been substantive, relevant, and actionable. I believe even more strongly now than I did when I launched this blog that it is important for people who Read More …
Church Signage Tips (#1147)
Really awful church signage regularly appears on my social feeds. While there are far too many examples of church signage, there are relatively few helpful resources for church leaders who want to think strategically about signage. Church Marketing Sucks, however, recently featured multiple posts on the topic: Tips for Your Primary Exterior Sign by Erin Williams, Tips for Secondary Exterior Signs by Erin Williams, and 8 Steps to Making Interior Signs Work for Your Church Read More …
No Verbal Announcement for ____ (#1133)
At some point during the worship service most congregations include a time for verbal announcements. This content is often reinforced by printed material in the bulletin/worship guide and/or data projected on a screen. While those responsible for the success of just about any and everything that happens on the church campus often desire a verbal announcement, most opportunities simply do not deserve to be highlighted in that manner. Phil Bowdle, Communications Director at West Read More …
CreationSwap (#1130)
If you blog, add content to your church/ministry website, or produce newsletters then you know there is always a need for quality free graphics. While many are familiar with and turn to Creative Commons, there are also a number of Christian based sites. For quite some time, LifeChurch.TV has been a leader in this area through their Open site. More recently I was introduced to CreationSwap, which offers a considerable amount of free content alongside items that are for sale at Read More …
High Achievers (#1119)
Penelope Trunk is the co-founder of Brazen Careerist, a career management tool for next-generation professionals. Recently she shared three rules high achievers never break: love your process, independent of outcome; the difference between crazy and innovative is how far from the box an out-of-the box thinker resides. So stay as close as possible; and everyone needs a vacation. So What? The odds are good that either you are a high achiever, live with one (or more), or Read More …
The Role of Youth Ministry (#1104)
Doug Franklin, president of LeaderTreks and seasoned youth minister, recently blogged about a common problem in youth ministries in our consumer culture: expectations. Franklin suggests that parents rather than youth ministers or those volunteering in youth ministries should serve as the primary faith influencers of their teenaged children. So what? What is the point of youth ministry? Put differently, why does your congregation engage in ministry in an age specific manner Read More …
Every Kid Needs a Champion (#1086)
In recent years Rita Pierson has drawn on over four decades of educational experiences to conduct professional development workshops and seminars for thousands of educators. A former teacher (elementary, junior high, and special education), testing coordinator and assistant principal, Pierson believes that every kid needs a champion. Watch her recent 8 minute long TED talk on the topic now. So What? In this talk, Pierson challenges her listeners to rethink their roles in the Read More …
Top Time-Saving Tech Tips (#1075)
David Pogue, personal technology columnist for the New York Times and a tech correspondent for CBS News, recently gave a 6 minute TED Talk titled "10 Top Time-Saving Tech Tips." While you may know most of the tips in this short video, learning one new time saver or being reminded to use one you had forgotten makes watching a good investment of your time. So What? On an almost daily basis I watch people waste time completing basic tech tasks. When appropriate, I offer Read More …
An Easter Correction (#1051)
On Easter Sunday I expect a great deal of news focused on the Pope. Given the way Pope Francis has sought to be a different kind of Pope than any in my lifetime, I wanted to learn what he had to say on Easter. In addition to satisfying that quest for knowledge, I also learned of an incredible error in Elisabetta Povoledo's New York Times article: "Pope Francis Calls for 'Peace in All the World' in Easter Message." A correction to the article's final paragraph was posted Read More …