Thom S. Rainer

Latest

• 
  Apr 15, 2013

  Six Critical Issues to Prevent Church Members from Dropping Out

  The first "test" consists of three questions. Though the church member may not ask these questions specifically, he or she is evaluating three critical issues to determine if it's time to move or stay. These are the issues around the six-month point.

• 
  Apr 13, 2013

  Six Critical Issues to Prevent Church Members From Dropping Out

  Of all the members who drop out of church, 82 percent leave in the first year of their membership. Retention efforts are thus critical in the first twelve months after a member joins a church.

• 
  Apr 12, 2013

  Seven Distinguishing Characteristics of Unified Churches

  The exercise was simple. I made a list of over 30 of the most unified churches I know. Some of them have been my clients in the past. I then made a list of over 40 fragmented churches (they were easier to find). From that point I began to answer my own questions: What makes this church look like it's unified? What makes this other church look like it's fragmented?

• 
  Apr 6, 2013

  Seven Things Pastors' Wives Wish They Had Been Told Before They Became Pastors' Wives

  I am especially grateful to have the opportunity to hear from pastors' wives since much of my focus is on pastors. Our recent, informal survey simply asked the open-ended question: "What do you wish you had been told before you became a minister's wife?"

• 
  Mar 30, 2013

  Ten Commandments for Guest-Friendly Church Members

  I travel a lot and spend a lot of time in different churches. I have had a church consulting firm that did "guest" visits as part of our services. Sadly, many times I do not feel welcome as a guest when I visit churches.

• 
  Mar 27, 2013

  The 15 Largest Protestant Denominations in the United States

  The Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches assembles various data on churches and denominations across North America. I recently gleaned the top 15 denominations by membership in the United States from their reports:

• 
  Mar 25, 2013

  Five Steps to Get Beyond Sacred Cows in the Church

  Many years ago I was serving as pastor of a church where I was an avid supporter of door-to-door outreach. But I struggled with leading people to be involved in the ministry. We kept decent records, so I got the old "outreach cards" for the previous year. My brief research shocked me.

• 
  Mar 20, 2013

  Top 10 Bible Translations in the United States

  The Christian Booksellers Association has published its list of bestselling Bible translations in 2012 for the United States.

• 
  Mar 19, 2013

  Eight Common Money Questions Asked by Pastors

  I have informally counseled hundreds of ministers about financial matters. My background lends itself to such interaction. I have a business degree with a double major in finance and economics. I served as a corporate banker before answering the call to vocational ministry. undreds of ministers have sought my advice. I am humbled and happy to share my knowledge with these servants of God.

• 
  Mar 11, 2013

  When We Lie about Praying for Others: Seven Thoughts

  Someone made a comment that, above all, he needed people praying for him. So I wrote in response, "I'm praying for you. I really mean it." Then I paused. Why did I write "I really mean it"? Wasn't my promise of prayer sufficient? Why did I have to add a child-like "cross my heart" promise?