The Pursuit of Excellence: It’s for Ministry, Not Just for Business

Aaron Blumer

“Excellence” might not be the business leadership buzzword it once was, but it’s far from dead. A quick search at Amazon shows plenty of business titles with “excellence” in them. Even if the term isn’t the word of the day anymore, the concept has never waned.

This is because the business world understands that making what they do, and how they do it, better is essential for their survival in a competitive marketplace. Maybe that marketplace mentality is partly why ministry leaders sometimes view excellence as a “a business thing.”

But they shouldn’t.

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The Episcopalian heads for extinction

Filings

“As of this year, the denomination has lost well over half of its historic membership in the 1960s, numbering some 1.5 million on the rolls today. But the problem is even worse when the aging of members and clergy is taken into consideration. In recent days, the church has announced plans to sell its Manhattan headquarters” - World

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Survey: Half of US Churches Will Celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary

Filings

“According to a Lifeway Research study, 50 percent of US Protestant pastors believe their church should do something special to commemorate the country’s special birthday this year, including 16 percent who strongly agree. Slightly fewer (47%) disagree, and 3 percent aren’t sure.” - CToday

Discussion

How Should a Pastor Dress? A Veteran Preacher’s Honest Take

Filings

“Walk into a lot of churches on a Sunday morning and the person who looks like he just rolled in off the highway turns out to be the preacher. Wrinkled jeans. A t-shirt that has clearly done a full day of work already. Sneakers with serious mileage on them….Some folks are proud of it.” - CLeaders

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New Research: Pastors Are Using AI More Than You Think

Filings

“Most pastors are already using AI in ministry—only 13 percent say they don’t use it at all…. Still, nearly three-quarters of pastors (71%) describe feeling cautious about AI, and 40 percent say they feel conflicted” - Barna Research

Discussion

Simple Church Planting

Forrest McPhail

There is nothing simple about making disciples, and yet, making disciples should be done simply. Forming local churches from new disciples does not need to be an overly complicated affair.

In unreached areas, or among unreached people groups, to make disciples is to plant local churches. This is what Jesus communicated to us in the Great Commission:

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