Many of us were introduced to NCD as a “survey” that evaluated 8 key ministry areas: leadership, ministry, spirituality, structures, worship, small groups, evangelism, and relationships.  60,000 surveys worldwide have demonstrated the validity of NCD’s initial premise:  thriving churches have a similar approach.  In healthy churches leadership is empowering, ministry is aligned with spiritual giftings, [...]

We live today in a culture of ‘Big’.  Big box stores, Multiplex Cinemas, massive subdivisions, and across North America in the last two decades, something else big-the megachurch.  Because these churches are big they can offer the very best music, audio-visual presentations, great sound systems and specialized teaching skills.  They are among the fastest growing [...]

When you hear the term ‘fresh expressions’ being used as a bit of a joke, at least you know it’s arrived! You can hear people talking about proposals for new arrangements in a PCC [parish council] or Synod as fresh expressions of church admin; or music groups as a fresh expression of organs…
What is obvious [...]

“Do something outside of your comfort zone,” was her instruction, “and come to Thursday’s meeting prepared to talk about it.” At first I struggled with my small group leader’s assignment; not being the kind of person who really avoided uncomfortable things in life. But then a powerful real-life parable played out.

Once upon a time in a parish far away lived a charming and dedicated youth pastor-me! One Sunday morning an agitated church warden approached me at the end of the liturgy and asked my why it was that no young people had shown up at the annual parish cleanup day: “I even put special announcements [...]

Interest in Fresh Expressions seems to be everywhere. Bishops are talking about it. Students are talking about it. Every church doing something new-even a coffee hour after the main service-seems to be boasting that it is doing a “fresh expression.” And, of course, Canada now has its very own Team Leader for Fresh Expressions Canada-Nick [...]

If the hospitality of Jesus is appropriated into the very heartbeat of our congregations, the natural outpouring of this will then flow outside of ourselves into our lives in the world. It becomes natural and normal for us to be Kingdom hosts, inviting others to come and see, to come and share in the way of Jesus and the Kingdom. We are able to extend this hospitality to others because we are confident about what it is that we are inviting them into.

Brad has now been in a multi-point rural pastoral charge for four years. Melissa is currently serving as an associate priest in a larger urban congregation. They are classmates from their seminary days. Imagine them meeting again in the lunch line at an evangelism conference.
Community Change — A Universal Challenge.  At the table, they share [...]