by David Manner

In informal golf, a Mulligan is an extra shot or do-over after a wayward or errant shot. It is a second chance at a better outcome that then doesn’t count against your final score.

As ministry novices or aging veterans, we’ve all looked back at certain decisions, sermons, services, events, relationships, or maybe even entire seasons of ministry with a deep longing for a second chance to do things differently.

The reality is that it’s impossible for us to go back and make corrections to most of those situations. But considering how we might handle things differently if we did have a do-over might not only help us get it right next time, but also encourage other ministry friends who haven’t yet but probably will face similar decisions in their future. Here is my list:

If I had a Ministry Mulligan…

• I’d make more mistakes because I’d take more risks.

• I’d take a complete Sabbath day of rest every week.

• I’d drink more coffee with senior adults.

• I’d make more deposits in younger leaders.

• I’d pray more for church members even when they are mean.

• I’d leave more things at the office when I go home in the evening.

• I’d ask a lot more questions before making decisions.

• I’d get way more buy-in before initiating change.

• I’d spend more time thanking church members for loving my family.

• I’d have more patience with needy church members.

• I’d develop more hobbies outside of the church.

• I’d welcome more interruptions in my planned schedule.

• I’d surround myself with more people to protect me from my own stupidity.

• I’d celebrate Communion more frequently.

• I’d work harder at getting grandparents and grandchildren to worship together.

• I’d have more “can you imagine” than “do you remember” conversations.

• I’d have more ministry friends outside my denomination.

• I’d focus more on people than projects.

Thom S. Rainer writes that a decade after his original research on churches that have closed their doors, Church Answers has continued to investigate this pressing issue. While the findings published in his bestselling book, “Autopsy of a Deceased Church,” remain relevant, new insights have emerged in recent years.

Five Updated Lessons from Closed Churches

Rainer shares five key lessons from churches that have shut down:

1. The churches lacked ongoing efforts to reach and integrate the unchurched into their congregations.
2. The pandemic accelerated the pace of decline and death for these churches.
3. Church leaders and members were in denial, refusing to confront their reality until it was too late.
4. The churches failed to set expectations for new members through dedicated classes.
5. The churches relied on “silver bullets,” such as hiring new pastors or youth ministers, to turn things around instead of taking responsibility for their own ministry.

New Resource Coming in January 2023

Church Answers plans to release a major new resource in January 2023, which will provide more in-depth information on the issues related to church closures. This resource will help church leaders and members better understand the challenges they face and equip them with strategies to prevent their own churches from suffering the same fate.

The Importance of Confronting Reality

Rainer emphasizes the need for churches to confront their reality and take proactive steps to address the issues that lead to decline and closure. By setting clear expectations for members, actively reaching out to the unchurched, and taking responsibility for their own ministry, churches can increase their chances of survival and growth.

As the Church Answers team prepares to release their new resource, Rainer invites readers to share their thoughts and experiences related to church closures, fostering an open dialogue on this critical topic.

Read the full article.

Have you ever wondered why music is so inherent in our culture and in cultures around the world? Have you ever wondered why music is so important and can stir up all sorts of emotions and memories? Check out these points on the power and wonder of music.

Read the full article.

Are you ready to challenge your perceptions about the size of churches? It’s time to reconsider what “big” really means in the realm of congregations. In this eye-opening article, we’ll delve into the surprising statistics that redefine the landscape of church sizes, providing fresh insights that might just change the way you view these religious communities.

Thanks to groundbreaking research from Lifeway, we’re gaining a deeper understanding of church size, defined here as average weekly worship attendance, encompassing all age groups. Brace yourself for some startling revelations—I certainly was taken aback.

So, what constitutes a “large” church? Let’s break it down:

– Under 50 attendees: 31% of all churches
– 51 – 99 attendees: 37%
– 100 – 249 attendees: 24%
– 250 and above attendees: a mere 8%

Yes, you read that right. Only 8% of churches boast an attendance of 250 or more, marking them as the new vanguards of “very large churches.” But hold on, there’s a twist: traditional megachurches with 2,000+ attendees are now outliers, overshadowed by these larger-than-life congregations with 250 members.

Prepare to embrace a paradigm shift in terminology as we introduce a new lexicon for church categories:

– Under 50 attendees: smaller churches
– 51 – 99 attendees: mid-size churches
– 100 – 249 attendees: large churches
– 250 and above attendees: larger churches

But what do these seismic shifts mean for the future of American congregations? The implications are profound and far-reaching:

– Pastors and staff may increasingly adopt co-vocational or bi-vocational roles.
– Empowering church members for ministry becomes paramount.
– The landscape of ministry and theological training must adapt to this evolving reality.
– Search committees will seek a different breed of pastor.
– Church budgets are likely to shrink.
– Denominations must realign their focus and support accordingly.
– Adoption or extinction awaits many struggling churches.

In this new reality, where over two-thirds of American churches host fewer than 100 attendees and “very large” now starts at 250, it’s clear that we’re witnessing a transformative moment in the history of congregational dynamics.

Are you ready to join the conversation and share your insights on this paradigm shift? The future of the church awaits your perspective.

Read the original article.