The trouble with churches when it comes to atheists is when you only have a hammer (sound arguments for having faith), everyone starts looking like a nail. Arguments to people without faith now are about the most non-sensical and least effective thing you can do in many cases. Learn 5 different approaches to respond to 5 different kinds of people who don’t believe.

There is nothing that can deflate a Sherpa leader (one who leads guest on the climb to connect with your church) quite like these 2 things:

1. An empty room.

2. A full room missing guests who attended last week.

That’s why when I am talking to leaders who want to see their guests go the distance and get connected to their church, I always share these 8 attrition busting practices I have learned over the years.

Recently, my daughter Carly and I climbed Castle Rock above Big Bear Lake California. As we hiked, bouldered and climbed, 5 discoveries came to me for those who connect people in local churches. Click here to look at our photo journal to see what I learned.

If you have three children like I do, you have had the concern for the emotional landscape of your child in the middle. My so-called “middle child” is Kendra. She is now 24 and she has taught me all about connecting Nines at your church.

Charles likes to challenge us. Questions like “Why are we…”, “Why did we…”, and “How will we…” are often asked by him in a polite but direct and courageous way. Why does Charles relentlessly ask the hard questions and make the tough statements? Because Charles is an Eight and you have to know how to connect Eights well to your church.

When she was done, she was surrounded by a group of guests connecting with her and our compassion opportunities in animated conversation. That’s because Ariel is a Seven. Discover a Seven’s superpower and how to connect them to your church.

There are some fun Do’s and some definite Don’ts when connecting Sixes to your church. Learn them here along with two outstanding superpowers they have as volunteers.

I actually thought all this was possible because she is MY daughter. I know now it was largely because Carly is a Five on the Enneagram.

Did you know that Van Gogh was…

• A pastor’s son

• He went to Bible College to become a pastor

• He served as a missionary

  He was also a Four and Fours are visiting your church right now. Here’s how to reach and connect them.

Several business owners were coming into my church and connecting at a descent level with me personally but not relationally with others in the church. I began asking myself why and came up with these 2 observations…

Want to know how to connect people like Nathan (a Type Two at my church)? Let’s look at what it takes, how he sees church, the dos and don’ts for reaching someone like Nathan, and of course, his Superpower as a volunteer

Want to know how to connect people like Matt (a Type One at my church)? Let’s look at what it takes, how he experiences church, the dos and don’ts for reaching someone like Matt, and of course, his Superpower as a volunteer.

The guests that God will lead to your church and mine this weekend are not all the same and one style of connecting does not fit all of them. Understanding people’s Enneagram number will make you more effective at helping people find their small group of friends at your church and their unique role in serving others on a ministry team.

Do you ever feel that you are not being heard by your senior leadership as you shout from the trenches? Here are 4 ways to lead up and get the ear of senior leaders, followed by 3 free resources that you may find valuable for such a time as this.

Last May, many of you know I experienced the trip of a lifetime-taking my wife to one of my favorite places on the planet: Italy. The trip ended in Venice, a location I had not been to yet. What I experienced there has left a mark on me. Literally, a Saint Mark on me. Brace yourself for some cool history. Here we go…

No, this is not me and “Cousin It”. This is my wife Michelle and I. I call this accidental California Spring Super Bloom photo “#marriage”. Let me explain…

What Alex Honnold did on El Capitan is too astounding to take in. Alex climbed El Capitan in less than 4 hours….without a rope or any other safety equipment. His documentary Free Solo is up for an Oscar this year and is in IMAX theaters right now. As I watched the movie, the lessons for those of us leading people on the climb to connect with God and our churches became obvious to me.

Ideas, tips and encouragement on this reality of multisite ministry is what this latest episode of our All About Multisite podcast is about. This one focuses on lack of growth and what can actually reverse it.

I love talking with Rich, Natalie and Ben about facing this challenge through the lens of programming, children's ministry, and assimilation. If you want to explore this issue with us by listening in.

We do. 

This isn't a "Neener, Neener", but I do have to say I think it is super cool to have a person like Julie Liem in this role in my church. I absolutely love working with her, and not just because we grew up in the youth group at Eastside together. At our church, the Director of Volunteers two vital things.