If you are wondering, as a leader, how to answer the question, ‘Why go to Church?’ here are a few suggestions that may help as you deal with the dissenter.

How do we reach and retain more people this Christmas? This year could be the FIRST time people in your community attend an in-person Christmas event at a church in a long time or even a lifetime.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise, but the age demographics are shifting in Canada, which, in turn, is creating some waves around the nation in health care, labour and education. Stats Can reports that: Millennials, born between 1981 and 1996 and between 25 and 40 years old in 2021, are the fastest-growing generation and account for the largest share of the working population (33.2%).

As ministers, prayer must be the engine that drives everything we do. We cannot move ahead without guidance and direction from God in prayer. Prayer allows us to unload our burdens before God and to take on His direction in our lives. Prayer is never rote or mechanical; it is always vibrant and alive, a real-time conversation with the creator of the universe.

Is the church a club for Christians, or is it a force for Kingdom expansion? When Jesus said, “I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not stand against it” (Matthew 16:18), was He thinking of a Sunday AM service with 40 minutes of singing and 40 minutes of preaching? Was he thinking of an audience listening to one person talk at them?

Would you consider your church relentlessly outbound? Most Canadian churches are not relentlessly outbound. Most church budgets are focused on staff salaries and building costs. Most pastors and staff spend the majority of their time with Christians. We’ve turned into “Christian Training Centres” or “Clubs for Christians” rather than a Missional Movement; a force of Christ-followers on a mission to reach a lost world.

How can our church become an unignorable force of good in our community? The LoveArmy is mobilizing Christians to allow God to work through them, and we would love for other churches and Christians to join in with us.

How does vitalization benefit the ministry of a local church? The experience of vitalization in local churches is unique to each church, but the outcomes add fruitfulness to faithfulness in all; two congregations located on two sides of the country, two vitalization experiences, and two similar outcomes after following very different pathways. The pastors share their journeys leading established, traditional congregations into the outbound mission.

How can our congregation increase its influence for Jesus in the community? Imagine your church being promoted by your mayor and city councillors. Can you dream of when your leadership is asked and funded to facilitate events for your town or city? Those opportunities are not only possible, but they are also highly plausible.

What steps can a pastor take to lead a congregation into missional efforts? Cornerstone Community Church is a testimony that small churches in small communities with small budgets can have ‘big vision’ and big expectations in a big God with incredible results.

Why a summer holiday? If you are not scheduling time away for a complete break from ministry this summer, you are robbing yourself, your spouse, and your children of one of the greatest gifts you can give.

How can a pastor in a rural community with a small congregation make a meaningful difference? You believe a church community is a good thing, but many people in your small town think churches are a waste of real estate and a tax burden. Tony Warriner shows how to see opportunities to make your church a light for the community and a champion of the gospel.

What you give your time to shows what you value. Worship and preaching occupy most of the time most of Sundays that Christians gather. What if an occasional Sunday throughout the year was used to lift the value of sharing the gospel in your community? All it takes is a little inspiration to create momentum.

How can a pastor lead change in a traditional church? Evangel Church was one of the most traditional churches in its District. Inward focused. Isolated from the local community. Twenty years later it is one of the most outbound, community-engaged churches in the District.

I hope to see a movement of churches in Canada across denominations go from plateaued and declining to thriving by reaching lost people in their locale. I pray for an enormous increase in Salvations across Canada with reports of life transformation by the Gospel. I long for churches that make disciples who make disciples who make disciples.

The research found teens and young adults feel extremely depressed, anxious, stressed, and lonely. Here are three essentials for pastors in counteracting this trend through the ministry of the Church.

How can we equip volunteers for success? Sometimes we’re afraid to offer training to our volunteers. We tell ourselves people are smart and don’t need anyone to boss them around anyway.

When it comes to summer Sunday guests, think hospitality. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to determine if you’re welcome at someone’s home. The same is true at church.