In generations past, people valued membership. Membership in scouting programs, sports teams, health clubs, community service organizations, parent-teacher associations, and churches.
Not anymore! Especially church membership.
Why? Because many people work hard all week long and would rather sleep in Sabbath morning. Because they value time with family in the mountains or at the beach. Because they'd rather stay home and watch Joel Osteen or Doug Batchelor preach on TV. Because they've had bad experiences with the people at church. Because they don't trust church leadership. Because they "love Jesus, but not the church."
So what do you say to people who seldom, if ever, come to church? What is the value of belonging to a local church family? Read More
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Small Groups Boost Church Membership
What's the Science Behind Their Success?
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 Some call them growth groups. Others dub them lead groups, life groups or home churches. Names and evangelism approaches vary, but the end goals are the same-small groups, as they are most commonly known, multiply church membership. José Esposito should know. His Hispanic Ministries Department at the Potomac Conference started developing a plan for small groups in 1997. Now there are 350 groups within his conference that meet each week. He credits these gatherings with boosting membership and notes that, through the years, "We have baptized more than 12,000 people and organized a total of 49 churches, 13 companies and nine mission groups." He says local church tithes and offerings also blossomed, despite the 2008 financial crisis. Read More
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Adventist Risk Management
The 4 P's of Child Abuse Prevention
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The Seventh-day Adventist Church has the privilege of ministering to thousands of children every day. With this privilege comes the legal duty to protect these children from the potential harm caused by child abuse. All churches and schools are vulnerable to situations where allegations of abuse to a child or teenager could arise. Abuse can occur due to the inappropriate act of a parent or family member, denominational employee or volunteer, a stranger or even caused by another child. Ministry leaders must be constantly on guard for situations where abuse may occur. Let's focus on four critical areas: Read More
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Almost 200 Seminars Offered at Convention
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 The good news is that we will have almost 200 powerful 90 minute breakout seminars at the June 28-July 1 CALLED convention for pastors and their families. The bad news is that attendees can't go to all of them-there are only four time slots for seminars. Yet attendees have a good chance of getting a seat for their first choice of seminars. We have a variety of room sizes and we'll assign rooms according to interest. Here's where we need your help. Begin thinking about what four seminars you wish to attend. In a few days registrants will be getting a survey where they can tell us which seminars they plan on attending. In the meantime, start getting acquainted with the robust selection of presentations. Although not finalized, our current list of presenters is here. If the site asks for a password, type in the name ' pastor'. See you in Austin! P.S. If you haven't registered yet you're in luck. There are still limited spaces available. Register now.
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Best Practices for Adventist Ministry is looking for pastor friendly, ministry practical, local church driven articles from writers across the North American Division. There are three types of articles we are particularly looking for:
Ministry Focus Articles - One to two page, single spaced topical articles featuring practical ideas and encouragement for pastors and church leaders.
Ministry Hacks - One to three paragraph descriptions of creative tips for ministry, concrete and workable ideas for pastoral life, proven ministry hacks you have figured out through the years.
Sermon Illustrations - One to three paragraph stories that NAD preachers can use to help make their sermons come alive.
If you've got the Write Stuff, or would like to pitch us an idea, send it to us at Best Practices for Adventist Ministry.
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Ideas, Events, Resources, Announcements
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 Adventist Christian Fellowship -
The Seventh-day Adventist Church has been involved in ministry on non-Adventist college and university campuses for many years, 40 - 50 years in some places, but ministry has been sporadic and needing direction. Campus Catalyst Weekend Training provided by the North American Division youth department through Adventist Christian Fellowship is taking Adventist public campus ministry to a whole new level by helping launch new campus ministry groups, grow existing ACF chapters and by providing an Adventist campus ministry philosophy that will sustain campus ministry over time. Here student leaders, pastors and local church members learn how to plant a long term ministry outreach as part of the local church mission.
Why ISIS Should Make Christians Rethink the Doctrine of Hell - Benjamin Corey is challenging Christians to reconsider their classic views of eternal burning hell, because there is something wrong with one's picture of God when they say it is sick and twisted for ISIS to burn people alive, but good and wonderful when God does it.
Why Pastors/Teachers Should Be Shaken Up By Brian Williams- In the aftermath of Brian Williams' fall from NBC News, Nancy Beach challenges preachers and teachers to not embellish their stories.
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