Thom S. Rainer

Op-ed Contributor

Latest

Feb 1, 2017
5 Reasons Churches Should Set Goals for Evangelism
I argue that churches that set lead metric goals for evangelism will actually see greater evangelistic fruit. Here are five reasons why:
Jan 28, 2017
6 Church Land Purchase Trends
I have noted on numerous occasions the incredible pace of change impacting churches. Another change is increasingly become more evident: how and when churches make land purchases. Here are six major shifts
Jan 25, 2017
7 Steps to Take If 'The Cartel' and Bullies Run You Out of Church
A bully-led personnel committee ran Frank out of the church. They never told the pastor why they wanted him to resign. Jan was a very active layperson in the student ministry. A cartel of jealous church members pushed her out of the church.
Jan 23, 2017
Should a Staff Person Fill the Pulpit When There Is No Pastor?
Should a staff person become the interim preacher until the new pastor arrives?
Jan 21, 2017
7 Questions Pastor Hires Should Ask If They Barely Receive a Positive Vote
You receive a vote of 72 percent. Should you go to that church?
Jan 19, 2017
5 Questions Your Church Should Ask About Communications
Annual evaluation is commonplace in work, in school, and in life. A new year presents the opportunity for us to take a moment to evaluate where we are at the beginning of the year, where we want to be at the end of the year, and how we can get from A to B during the year.
Jan 15, 2017
15 Top Responses to the Word 'Baptist'
What comes to your mind when you hear the word "Baptist"? That is the question I asked in the Twitterverse. And many responded ... quickly and frequently.
Jan 13, 2017
6 Statements That Can Kill a Church
Words can kill churches because they often have deadly actions behind them. As we begin this new year, please allow me to share six statements that I have heard from church members whose churches have died.
Jan 8, 2017
5 Common Greeter Mistakes to Correct
Greeter ministries, like any other ministries, can get in a rut. And since we are about to greet a new year, let's have an honest conversation about how to begin a new year with some improvements in your greeter ministry.
Jan 3, 2017
10 Major Trends for Churches in 2017
For those who read my blog regularly, you know I do a "trends post" every year early in January. This next statement sounds totally immodest, but I'm pretty good at predictive trends.