In our consumer minded culture, here's an article to help us think about integration into the life of the church. We'd be really interested to hear your thoughts!
https://relevantmagazine.com/article/how-to-not-be-just-a-consumer-at-church/
Churches Involvement in Justice Issues
Perhaps if we, as churches, got involved in Justice Issues on a local level it would be an opportunity to practically share the boundless love and amazing grace to all our neighbors. What are the needs in your specific community? Should the Church even care? Or maybe a better first question is something like: "If tomorrow your church simply did not exist anymore, would it be missed in your community?"
Below is a link to an article that mentions some practical ways that we might engage in the justice issues represented in our communities.
http://archives.relevantmagazine.com/god/should-your-church-care-more-about-justice
Rethinking Age-Specific Ministry
“Parents are so crucial that if you just split them up from their kids and the parents think that some ministry professional is taking care of it, that’s not going to be very effective,”
While this article is from 2011 and there isn't a one-sized fits all mold for healthy ministries, this article does ask some important questions for ministry leaders. I wonder how churches might structure ministries to best encourage singles, marrieds, children, adults.... all people who are in our communities of faith.
Some Good Reminders in the New Year
"Here is the Church, here is the steeple, open the door and see all the people." These are the lines of a little poem I learned as a child about the Church. While it's fairly simple and has hand motions, it's a great reminder that the Church is only as quality as the relationships within.
It's easy in a new year to get caught up in church fads and quick growth promises. Here's an article that could be a good reminder as you vision ahead for the next year.
http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god/4-ideas-changing-church-better
Safe Spaces for Getting Real About Discipleship
"The sad irony is that our culture has to have so many safe spaces right now because the Church has largely ceased to be one. More and more young people have come to view church as a hostile environment, one which demands their assimilation and interprets questions as insubordination."
Read more at http://www.relevantmagazine.com/life/what-church-gets-wrong-about-safe-spaces
