Category Archives: church growth

34 People

Posted on January 24, 2007 by Richard Heyduck

Last night at our Administrative Council meeting I presented the challenge to win 34 people to Christ this year. They unanimously approved the goal. But I’m not sure what I ought to think. If they had said, “You are utterly … Continue reading →

Posted in church growth, Leadership, Local church, Prayer | 7 Comments

Good News from Indiana – a Challenge to Us

Posted on January 5, 2007 by Richard Heyduck

Tim Stevens reports that their congregation saw 942 people make professions of faith last year. He’s on staff at Granger Community Church, a United Methodist congregation in northern Indiana. In an earlier post he said their average attendance for the … Continue reading →

Posted in church growth, Evangelism, United Methodism | 4 Comments

Old Year, New Year

Posted on January 2, 2007 by Richard Heyduck

From a church perspective last year was somewhat stressful. The church had been thinking for years about acquiring the grocery store property across the street. We knew we couldn’t expand to the south (down town), the east (court house & … Continue reading →

Posted in church growth, Leadership, Local church, Spirituality | Leave a comment

Planning and “Working the Plan”

Posted on November 4, 2006 by Richard Heyduck

The Texas Conference going through a revolution. Inasmuch as the revolution is based on a widespread failure to accomplish our basic mission (to make disciples), I offer my hearty support. “What do you mean, ‘Failure to accomplish our basic mission?’ … Continue reading →

Posted in church growth, Current events, Leadership, United Methodism | Leave a comment

Entering Ministry

Posted on October 19, 2006 by Richard Heyduck

People have frequently asked me, “When did you enter the ministry?” I think they usually mean something like, “When did you start pastoring churches for a living?” In my mind these are two entirely different questions. When I read the … Continue reading →

Posted in church growth, Leadership, Local church, Spirituality | 3 Comments

Diversity = God?

Posted on September 8, 2006 by Richard Heyduck

I’ve long been pained that our United Methodist marketing campaign, “Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors,” has replaced our official doctrine (which, according to the Book of Discipline, is of determinate Christian substance). The apparent relativism of our marketing slogan … Continue reading →

Posted in church growth, Theology, United Methodism | 2 Comments

Evaluating Youth Ministry

Posted on September 5, 2006 by Richard Heyduck

Back in the days that “Youth Ministry” was a central part of my job description, I used to feel bad that I didn’t fit the mold of “youth ministry guy.” You know – the overgrown, hyper-energetic, guitar playing, extraverted, always … Continue reading →

Posted in church growth, Leadership, Youth Ministry | 2 Comments

The Problem of Method

Posted on July 31, 2006 by Richard Heyduck

I’m an academic introvert by nature. I love to learn and would be happy off by myself reading. At the same time, I have a call to ministry. My greatest gifts are in teaching and preaching. I’ve learned that teaching … Continue reading →

Posted in church growth, Current events, Leadership, Local church, Theology, United Methodism | 5 Comments

Preaching at the Old Home Church

Posted on July 13, 2006 by Richard Heyduck

When people ask me where I’m from I have two standard answers. The first is, “Around.” Since my dad was in the Navy (an itinerant profession) while I was growing up and I am in an itinerant profession, moving is … Continue reading →

Posted in church growth, Local church | Leave a comment

What’s the largest Turnip you’ve ever seen?

Posted on June 8, 2006 by Richard Heyduck

The 2006 session of the Central Texas Annual Conference is now over. We concluded on a hot Wednesday afternoon in Waco. Hot as it was outside, it remained fairly cool inside. the closest thing to dissension was a couple of … Continue reading →

Posted in church growth, Leadership, Local church, United Methodism | Leave a comment