Category Archives: church growth

“Let them eat cake”

Posted on May 5, 2009 by Richard Heyduck

The last couple of issues of the United Methodist Reporter have featured articles on GracePoint UMC, a recent church plant in Wichita, Kansas, that grew quickly, but let the denomination this spring. It’s depressing to invest so much money, energy … Continue reading →

Posted in church growth, United Methodism | 4 Comments

Reading Tribal Church

Posted on April 30, 2009 by Richard Heyduck

I just finished reading Tribal Church: Ministering to the Missing Generation by Carol Howard Merritt, the book we’re supposed to be reading for our next monthly district clergy gathering. The book’s points can be summed up fairly briefly: Young people … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, church growth, Evangelism, Spirituality | 3 Comments

Cult of Accountability

Posted on April 3, 2009 by Richard Heyduck

In his essay on the epistemological problems underlying the current economic crisis, Jerry Z. Miller refers to the “cult of accountability:” The cult of “accountability” was linked to key innovations that turned out to have unanticipated undersides. One was the … Continue reading →

Posted in church growth, Economics, Epistemology, Texas Annual Conference | Leave a comment

Single Entry Churches?

Posted on December 16, 2008 by Richard Heyduck

Thom Rainer’s Simple Church is on our district pastor’s reading list. I understand and sympathize with the basic notion of the book. We’re pretty good at doing what we’ve always done. But Are lives being changed? Are people becoming followers … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, church growth, Ministry, Simple Church | 1 Comment

“That’s nice, preacher”

Posted on July 15, 2008 by Richard Heyduck

I’m a knowledge and information junkie. I read piles of books. If I had the time and money I’d go to a ministry conference every month. I used to go to more conferences and read more ministry books, but I’ve … Continue reading →

Posted in church growth, Evangelism, Leadership, Ministry | 5 Comments

Misery loves company?

Posted on April 24, 2008 by Richard Heyduck

The United Methodist Church has been in at least numerical decline for a generation. Here in the South we look at Baptist churches with envy, since they’re usually bigger, richer, and more powerful than ours. When we hear about denominational … Continue reading →

Posted in church growth, Evangelism | 5 Comments

Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations, 1

Posted on December 31, 2007 by Richard Heyduck

Robert Fritz says Creative Tension is produced by the gap between a strongly held vision and a willingness to tell the truth about the present. Like many pastors, I have a strong vision to reach people for Christ: to help … Continue reading →

Posted in church growth, Five Practices, Leadership, Ministry, United Methodism | 2 Comments

Slippery Jesus

Posted on October 19, 2007 by Richard Heyduck

We who delve into the bible and lead congregations… Yes, it appears possible to do the one and not the other: One can delve into the bible purely for personal benefit, or one can lead congregations and ignore the bible. … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, church growth, Jesus, Leadership, Ministry, United Methodism | 5 Comments

Beware Doctors in Church

Posted on August 31, 2007 by Richard Heyduck

There is a common assumption that those who have earned a doctoral degree are smarter than those who haven’t. This assumption is most unfortunate when it is held by those of us who have earned doctorates. As they exist today, … Continue reading →

Posted in church growth, Education, Higher Education, Leadership, Local church | Leave a comment

Lion Chaser Manifesto

Posted on August 22, 2007 by Richard Heyduck

I first heard of Mark Batterson from the Granger guys (Tim Stevens & Tony Morgan), and visited his church last year when I was in town for the AAR. It looks like a great thing is happening there – though … Continue reading →

Posted in church growth, Granger Community Church, Leadership, Mark Batterson, Ministry, Salvation, Spirituality | Leave a comment