Thom S. Rainer

Op-ed Contributor

Latest

Oct 20, 2021
5 things church leaders wish they'd done differently during COVID
As the church regathered, they were better prepared to reach and minister to the community where God has placed them.
Oct 14, 2021
9 realities your church will face in 2022
Presuming we get on the other side of COVID by the end of this year, the picture for churches in America is mostly clear. Of course, none of us can know the future with certainty, and another COVID spike could change the conversation dramatically.
Oct 6, 2021
Numbers do matter: 10 signs of a disturbing trend in churches
We are in a historical cycle in the evangelical world where the mood is to disparage counting, attendance, and other numerical metrics. Consequently, we are in danger of losing accountability that is inherent with the following numbers.
Sep 21, 2021
12 traits of churches doing well during the pandemic
So, what are these churches doing? As I examined the data and traits of healthy churches, I saw twelve recurring themes. To be clear, many churches are doing some of these items, but the churches I examined are doing all twelve items.
Sep 14, 2021
7 Questions we did not hear from pastors 5 years ago
I looked over our community known as Church Answers Central and picked seven recent questions we likely did not hear five years ago. They are true indicators that the times are truly changing.
Sep 7, 2021
The 7 most common challenges for churches in the second wave of COVID
Hopelessness pervasive. The first major wave of COVID did not have the sense of hopelessness that is endemic with the second wave. You felt in the first round that it would be over and done, even if it took a year or so. The second wave has been a real challenge.
Aug 24, 2021
6 ways social media toxicity is hurting pastors
What often bothers pastors even more is the unwillingness of church members to defend pastors who are unfairly attacked. Perhaps the best place to offer support and a defense of the pastor is not on social media but in person.
Aug 17, 2021
1 of the stupidest things I did in 44 years of marriage
What is that stupid thing I did in marriage? To be clear, I have not done this act of stupidity one time, but many times. Too many times.
Aug 11, 2021
5 reasons why the post-quarantine drop in worship attendance is good
Not all losses in attendance are bad. We have heard from church leaders several ways the decline can be healthy for the church. Here are the five most common reasons.
Jul 5, 2021
Should your church be revitalized or replanted? A post-COVID reality
In the post-COVID world we are entering, I see the need for many churches to replant instead of revitalizing. Let’s look at the difference between the two.