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BestPractices
 July 15, 2009
Loren in capThe dog days of summer are here, and my news pipeline from the field is slowing down. Just keep in mind, though, some of the great events out there for the autumn: i5 (Innovation Conference), Innovative Impact, and AU's Conference on Marriage, Homosexuality and the Church, all in October,

Thurbers appear overrepresented in this issue, but it's by accident that Marty Thurber's tips on evaluating a call and Mic Thurber's church membership software ended up in the same issue! (They tell me they're not related, except as brothers in Christ.)

Note, too, a coaching segment, in this issue by Marcel Schwantes. Hope we can expand that to a regular feature.

Blessings
Loren Seibold, Editor, Best Practices for Adventist Ministry
IN THIS ISSUE
Reading: Higher education and religious conviction
A moving saga from Marty Thurber
Resource: Mic Thurber's Church Management Director
Coach: Using your strengths
Quotes: "People who like this sort of thing will find this the sort of thing they like."
News & ideas: "Lord, Save Us From Your Followers"
Events: i5: Innovation Conference
Reading For Pastors

Two stories on Christian family and sexuality:
A self-appointed prophet named Ernie Knoll won strong support in some segments of the Adventist church - until he was exposed. Some say he was a fraud, others that he was misled by evil spirits. (This web site has been having some problems. If you don't get it at first, try this site.)

Ever wondered about what higher education does to religious conviction? A new study explores the connection. Quote: "The odds of going to college increase for high school students who attend religious services more frequently or who view religion as more important in their lives." But at the same time, "Being a humanities or a social science major has a statistically significant negative effect on religiosity."

Demographics: Muslims are growing the European population. What will that mean for Christianity there?

Monte Sahlin is one of the very best commentators on religion, inside and outside of our denomination. Three interesting pieces on his blog this month:
Practicing Pastor

Marty Thurber, Fargo NDmartyTo Move, or Not To Move: That Will Be the Question
by Marty Thurber

Sooner or later, you'll get a phone call from someone asking you to uproot your family, move somewhere else, and become the pastor of another church.

These days, it's hard to know precisely when a call turns into The Call; sometimes a feeler comes first, with an interview or two thrown in for excitement. The Call stimulates many thoughts, not the least of which is, "Should I accept it?"

Here are my divining rods from knowing if a phone call from a conference officer is The Call from God.
  • Do they know what they are asking for? Do they know you and why you would do well in the church they are calling you to? Interviews are helpful, but knowing that I can do what they want done is a major factor in whether I accept a call.
  • Are they interested in your spirit? With God as your pastor, you will be a good pastor. If they ask about this, they know and care about your source of ministry and the success of your pastorate.
  • Is your family cared for in this move - housing, job markets, lifestyle, schools? If the church hasn't an interest in your family, is their interest in you healthy? Don't pursue a call if your family is deeply divided or against it. Take the time to work through your family issues or get the help needed before you start fresh elsewhere.
  • What does the church's website - assuming they have one - look like? You can tell quite a bit about a church by its website.
  • I look closely at the history of the church and the types of pastors they have had, including the ability of the church members to change and process difficult situations.
If God wants you there, it will be clear over time. It might take a while, but He already knows where you will be!

Marty is speaking from current experience: at this moment, he and his family are preparing to move from Fargo, ND to Lincoln, NE.  You can also read Marty's blog here.
Featured Media
 
As you celebrate the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin you may wish to take a look at a Vervent production entitlled In the Beginning. Two college students gather information about the origins of the universe by traveling to relevant locations around the United States and meet both experts and bystanders along the way. Watch Matt and Tiff as they wrestle with topics including Darwinian evolution, the geological column, catastrophism, faith, dinosaurs, the big bang, and the nature of mankind.This thirteen-part series is perfect for small groups. The group can watch the video and then use the downloadable study guides for each episode.  
 

Resource Review
MicChurch Software
Church Membership Directory Software

church membership directory softwareChurch Membership Directory is a software package similar to the popular Servant Keeper, at less than half the price, and there are many touches that Adventist churches will appreciate because it was authored and developed by Adventist pastor Mic Thurber.

We find it extremely user-friendly, allowing individual categorization in a wide variety of areas. Adding and updating information is easy, and information can be accessed very quickly. Tutorials are provided that are thorough and easily understood. Being able to generate lists based on various demographic information of our members and attenders has been a tremendous asset to all of our ministries, and we are looking forward to producing our next pictorial church directory with the CMD. Questions and concerns have always been addressed with efficient and professional customer service which speaks well for how this company stands behind its product.

 - Tami Cinquemani, Secretary, Florida Hospital Church

Mic is offering an excellent discount to Best Practices readers only, at this web page. You can download a free demo to try out before buying.
Clergy Coaching
Marcel SchwantescoachTip of the Week: Make use of your strengths

by Marcel Schwantes

Pastors all have individual strengths and weaknesses in ministry. When inspecting your strengths, consider how to capitalize on what you do well. And find ways to use your strengths to bolster your weak areas.

For example, you may have a great ability in mobilizing your church members' giftedness to do ministry, but your "blind spot" may be a real inability to relate and reach out to the unchurched. Solution? Use your strength to strategically mobilize others to reach out to the unchurched! (See Eph 4:16).

While you consider the areas of ministry that may be weaknesses, listen carefully to God inviting you to explore and grow in that area.

Marcel is a certified Life, Career & Leadership Coach. Check out his website and get on his newsletter list.
To the Point
People who like this sort of thing will find this the sort of thing they like.
 - Abraham Lincoln (in a book review)

Never offend people with style when you can offend them with substance.
 - Sam Brown

Charm is the quality in others that makes us more satisfied with ourselves.
 - Henri-Frédéric Amiel

Every improvement in communication makes the bore more terrible.
 - Frank Moore Colby

It is only an auctioneer who can equally and impartially admire all schools of art.
 - Oscar Wilde

Happiness is not achieved by the conscious pursuit of happiness; it is generally the by-product of other activities.
 - Aldous Huxley

It is an item of faith that we are children of God; there is plenty of evidence in us against it. The faith that surmounts this evidence and that is able to warm itself at the fire of God's love, instead of having to steal love and self-acceptance from other sources, is actually the root of holiness. . . . We are not saved by the love we exercise, but by the love we trust.
  - Richard Lovelace, Dynamics of Spiritual Life
News, Ideas & Reminders

  • From Dave Gemmell: "Nominations are being accepted for the 2009 NAD Innovative Church of the Year. The North American Division (NAD) Church Resource Center is looking for a church that has successfully taken advantage of opportunities in a changing society with new ways of doing ministry. A cash prize of $2,000 and an all expense paid trip for three individuals to the National Conference on Innovation will be awarded to the winning congregation. Conference administrators, pastors, and lay leaders are invited to fill out an application that can be obtained by contacting Dave Gemmell at dave@vervent.org. The deadline for nominations is August 17."
  • More from Dave Gemmell: "The special edition of The Pastor's DVD volume 16 entitled Living With Hope will soon be delivered to pastors of the North American Division. Included on the DVD are: Sermon Manuscripts, Graphic Slides, Evangelistic Handbooks for Leaders, Small Group Leaders, and Worship Teams, Participant Handouts, Marketing Plan, and contact information for cost effective suppliers. During the first week of July The Pastor's DVD 16 was shipped in bulk to local conference Ministerial Departments. For more information about the Living With Hope curriculum go to www.livingwithhopeseminar.com."
Got a tool, resource, site, article, idea or seminar that you like a lot? Share it with us at BestPractices@ameritech.net.
Upcoming NAD Events

Do you have an event you'd like to invite pastors to? Send details to BestPractices@Ameritech.net.
Best Practices is a Vervent publication of NAD CHURCH RESOURCE CENTER. Editor: Loren Seibold, Senior Pastor, Worthington Ohio Seventh-day Adventist Church. E-mail: Best Practices. You are free to republish pieces from Best Practices in your own newsletter or blog, with attribution to the Best Practices newsletter and the author of the piece.