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Best Practices
October 27, 2010
One Brick at a Time

Dorothy Day"The sense of futility is one of the greatest evils of the day... People say, "What can one person do? What is the sense of our small effort?" They cannot see that we can only lay one brick at a time, take one step at a time; we can be responsible only for the one action of the present moment.

 - Dorothy Day


IN THIS ISSUE
Doing Church for Whom?
Media: It may not be PowerPoint anymore
Vervent news: Pastor's DVD 18 on its way
Reading for Pastors: Can Christians practice yoga?
Quotes: "Never trust an accountant who wears mittens."
News & ideas: Dave Ramsey award
Events: NAD week of prayer
Editorial
Loren SeiboldDoing Church for Whom?
by Loren Seibold, editor, Best Practices for Adventist Ministry

I believe the big hindrance to church growth isn't too little evangelism. It's how we do church. Sometimes we program like our congregation is a private club - one that others aren't quite welcome into without a lot of initiation. Here are five indications a church is doing its Sabbath morning programming for insiders - and possibly leaving out those who aren't.
  1. Canceling church services. You may be doing something good instead, like camp meeting or outdoor church. But assuming that everyone who would ever want to come to your church is in the circle that will know where to find you - or feel comfortable following you there just because you put a sign on the church door - is insider thinking. Some of my dearest friends came to church for the first time on a day when church was supposed to be officially canceled. Had an elder not decided to conduct an informal worship in case there were visitors, we'd never have known them.
  2. No serious preaching. My friend took her new husband (a Christian of another denomination) to several of our churches, hoping to interest him. After a few visits, he asked "Don't Seventh-day Adventists ever just have sermons from the Bible?" They'd been treated to a church school program, a choir recital, a promotional talk by a college president, an explanation of the new church budget, a slide program on archaeology - but hadn't heard a serious Biblical sermon! Your church school is important, but a whole program by the kids, while delightful for their parents, doesn't do as much for someone who's walked in the first time to get spiritually fed.
  3. Events or programs whose names mean nothing to the uninitiated. We assume a church bulletin is an asset for visitors, but if it lists undefined events by names only insiders know, it may make people feel even more left out. What does "Pathfinders" mean? Or "Ingathering"? Up-front announcements too: I once heard an elder say, "When your monthly visitor comes to your house, you will also have your review at the same time." It sounded like an official from church came to your house monthly and conducted an audit of some private aspect of your life. Someone who didn't know could have concluded we were the most intrusive kind of cult - but in fact he was only trying to explain that our union paper, the Visitor, came to the same mailing list as our official church magazine, the Review!
  4. Unintuitive worship. I once preached in a small church that had accumulated so many worship bits and pieces that the service was nearly too complicated to follow. I found myself singing when others had stopped, then surprised by a tardy prayer response song when I'd already risen from my knees, and later I was still seated when others had stood. "But everyone knows we always stand for this song." The regulars, maybe, but I got confused - and I'm more or less an insider.
  5. Embarrassing or incomprehensible sermons. You've heard them, too, those sermons on topics that make you cringe. I've promised all my churches that I'll never say anything from up front that they couldn't invite anyone to hear, without fear of puzzling their visitors or being embarrassed themselves.
Of course, if nothing is happening anyway - if no one ever visits, and you don't care if they do - then you might as well go on doing church for the regulars.

But if you want your church to be attractive to those who aren't already part of it, you may have to start thinking differently.

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Featured Media
Fred Kinsey What's new in church communication? It may not be PowerPoint anymore. How do you communicate in this rapidly changing social networking blogging short attention span world?  Listen to Fred Kinsey's presentation at the iLead Conference '09 co-sponsored by the NAD Church Resource Center to find the back story on what's going on in communication world and how you can turn these apparent obstacles into opportunities. 

My Place With Jesus
Looking for ways to suppliment your baptismal class for children? The My Place With Jesus Bible studies from It Is Written might just fit the bill! These special studies--just for kids between the ages of 7 and 12--function entirely online, and are fully interactive.Each of the studies consists of a lesson portion and a quiz. This video portion has been placed within an animated world that is fully interactive. The participant can click to read and hear Bible verses and numerous other exciting things. Roscoe J. Howard III


Watch this brief tutorial to discover how to use the NAD Church Resource Center's online Learning Center. This video player will help you access the hundreds of hours of teaching presentations that have been done at conferences and conventions. You will discover where to find the Online Learning Center, How to navigate through its features, and how you can place the Online Learning Center on your website.
Vervent News from CRC
Pastor's DVD 18 Now Shipping
Pastor's DVD volume 18 IFollow Discipleship Series will soon be delivered to pastors of the North American Division. Here's what Dave Gemmell has to say about it:
 
"The iFollow Discipleship Pastor's Edition, PDVD 18,  is designed to be used in congregations to assist people in their pursuit of God. The curriculum contains over 100 milestones from which an individual, small group, or even an entire church can choose. The lessons are designed to be used in small groups, pastor's Bible classes, prayer meetings, seminars, retreats, training sessions, and discussion groups-and some lessons may be appropriate sermon outlines. 
 
The iFollow discipleship lessons are divided into three general categories: Meeting with Jesus (does not assume a commitment to Jesus Christ); Walking with Jesus (assumes an acceptance of Jesus Christ); and Working with Jesus (assumes a desire to serve Jesus Christ)."

Each lesson has a presenter's manuscript, graphic slides, group activities, discussion questions and printable student handouts. The DVD includes a roadmap for discipleship that enables an individual to custom design a relevant curriculum. The DVD is programmed to find the most meaningful lessons based on a simple 38 question inventory.
 
The Pastor's DVD is produced by the North American Division Church Resource Center and is distributed to every pastor in the NAD through the local conference ministerial department. For more information feel free to contact Dave Gemmell, [email protected], 301-680-6699.
Reading for Pastors

Seth Godin on change - you've got to read this, because it's important.

This could lead to some interesting Sabbath questions: could electric cars make it necessary for churches to put in charging stations?

Seth Godin was hot this week. Ever thought about organizing your church for joy? Quote: "These are the companies that give their people the freedom (and yes, the expectation) that they will create, connect and surprise. These are the organizations that embrace someone who makes a difference, as opposed to searching for a clause in the employee handbook that was violated."

Why is it always the pastor's fault? And not the fault of the congregation as a whole?
Quote: "The pastor is an easy target for the disgruntled and unsatisfied.... It's hard to blame an impersonal building, a statistical budget or a systematic program. It's even difficult to blame a group, i.e. deacons, elders, etc. It's much easier to blame a person, one person."

Seventh-day From the NPUC newsletter for pastors:
Handing criticism with candor and comfort.

Video: Why did the Crystal Cathedral fall?
One suspects greed and power had something to do with it. Quote: "When you mix faith, family and fame, it's a toxic combination."

Two provocative church advertising campaigns - for better or worse: Which leads to another provocative question: are churches a bunch of liars?

Can Christians practice yoga?

To the Point

Seven whole days, not one in seven, I will praise thee.

 - George Herbert


To express oneself

in seventeen syllables

is very diffic

 - John Cooper Clark on writing haiku


For all that has been, Thanks. To all that shall be, Yes.

 - Dag Hammarskjold


Sacred cows make the best hamburger.
 - Mark Twain


I'm neither an optimist nor a pessimist. Jesus Christ is risen from the dead.

 - Leslie Newbigin


The end then of learning is to repair the ruins of our first parents by regaining to know God aright, and out of that knowledge to love him, to imitate him, to be like him, as we may the nearest by possessing our souls of true virtue, which being united to the heavenly grace of faith makes up the highest perfection.

 - John Milton


Remember: When you talk you only repeat what you already know, but if you listen you may learn something.

 - Amish proverb


When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist.

- Dom H. Camara


Lord, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they find rest in you.

 - St Augustine


No pain, no palm; no thorns, no throne; no gall, no glory; no cross, no crown.

 - William Penn

 

Never trust an accountant who wears mittens.

 - Ken Dodd

 
News, Ideas & Reminders

  • GYC "No Turning BackDecember 29, 2010 to January 2, 2011 at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, MD. Thousands of young people from around the world will gather in Baltimore for the 9th annual GYC conference-four days packed with spirit-filled messages, inspiring Bible study, fervent prayer, solemn worship and awesome fellowship. The theme is taken from Luke 9:61-62, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God." Speakers include General Conference President Ted Wilson, Bill Knott, Magda Rodriguez, Mark Finley, and others. Visit www.gycweb.org for more information and to register.
  • Another award to be determined by online votes. This from Jason Belyeu: "Nationally syndicated radio personality Dave Ramsey is holding a contest where listeners submit a 3 minute video telling how they would give $1,000 away for 5 days. There will be three winners to this contest, all of them receiving $5,000 and they are to video tape people's reactions when they put their plan to work. To my knowledge there is only one Seventh-day Adventist church that has entered into this contest - ours in Hilton Head. Here's the link. I'd like to encourage your readers to let their churches know to vote for this video.  There are two Sabbaths before the contest concludes on November the 8th. People can vote for this video one time each day."
Got a tool, resource, site, article, idea or seminar that you like a lot? Share it with us at [email protected].
Upcoming NAD Events

Do you have an event you'd like to invite NAD pastors to? Send details to [email protected].
 

Native Heritage Month. Nov 6, 2010 - Nov 27, 2010, Division Wide. `


Stewardship Sabbath. Nov 6, 2010, Division Wide. `


Week of Prayer. Nov 7, 2010 - Nov 13, 2010, North American Division. Readings will be available in September 23 edition of the Adventist Review.


Go Fish: Putting Families First. Nov 11, 2010 - Nov 14, 2010, Leoni Meadows Christian Retreat Center, 5100 Leoni Road, Grizzly Flats, CA 95636. Training for Family and Children's Ministries local church leaders. Featured Speakers: Randy Fishell, Manny & Melanie Cruz, David Hall, Phyllis Washington, Debra Brill, Betsy Jabola, Wilma Kirk-Lee. Phone: 951-509-2260 or 925-603-5082. For more information, email: [email protected] or [email protected].


16th Adventist Attorney's Conference. Nov 11, 2010 - Nov 14, 2010, The Meritage Resort & Spa, 875 Bordeaux Way, Napa, CA 94558. Sponsored by the Pacific Union Conference Adventist Attorney's Association. The weekend combines a Continuing Legal Education program with social, recreational and spiritual activities. Register by October 20 to $ave! Registrations close November 4, 2010. Phone: 805-413-7396. For more information, email: [email protected]


Human Relations Sabbath. Nov 20, 2010, Division Wide. `


Welcome Home Sabbath. Nov 27, 2010, Division Wide. Let's get serious from the start. Programs don't win people back to church, people do! That's why a contact from someone in your local church is vital to getting inactive members engaged in church life again. Welcome Home is a user-friendly guide for personalizing invitations to Homecoming Sabbaths to reach and reconnect with former and missing church members. Phone: 800-328-0525. For more information, email: [email protected]

GYC 2010. Dec 29, 2010 - Jan 2, 2011, Baltimore Convention Center, 1 W Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21201. "No Turning Back" is the theme for the 9th annual GYC conference - four days packed with spirit-filled messages, inspiring Bible study, fervent prayer, solemn worship and awesome fellowship. The theme is taken from Luke 9:61-62, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God." Phone: 734-418-2857. For more information, email: [email protected]


Spiritual Renaissance Retreat. Dec 30, 2010 - Jan 2, 2011, Monterey Hyatt Regency, . Begin the new year refreshed, challenged and inspired. Designed for singles, couples and families. Speakers include: Norman and Heather Knight, Lonnie Melashenko, Robert Melashenko, Roy Ice, Terry Newmyer, David Newman, Helen Pearson and Michael Pearson. Programming for children at the same time as seminars. Phone: 707-965-7106. For more information, email: [email protected]


NAD Adventist Ministries Convention. Jan 9, 2011 - Jan 12, 2011, This event has been postponed until 2012. For more information, email: [email protected]
Best Practices is a Vervent publication of NAD CHURCH RESOURCE CENTER. Editor: Loren Seibold, Ohio Conference. 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.