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Archive for the ‘Navigate Cultural Change’ Category
2030 Pioneering while Living Up to Expectations
By: Jock Ficken
Last week we began to pursue how to make sense of getting from “here” to “there” in 2030. Here’s the Dilemma There are roughly 350,000 churches in the United States and the vast, vast majority are focused on serving the 25% (and rapidly shrinking!) of the population identified as practicing Christians. Two fundamental problems result: … Continue reading
Evidence for the Need for a Vibrant 2030 Church
By: Jock Ficken
A few months ago we sounded the alarm that there won’t be much left of the established church in the U.S. by 2030…a why we can’t stay “here.” We offered a snapshot of what an emerging, vibrant church might look like in 2030…a picture of “there.” We did our best to invite you as a … Continue reading
If not you, then who?
By: Gail & Jock Ficken
You’ve read our 2030 reality for the established church! (here and here). You’ve considered our snapshot of a vibrant 2030 church that has emerged! You’ve done well. It was not easy reading the last few months. We have some easier reflection and review today. A bit of a break. We’ll go back to where we … Continue reading
A Picture of a Vibrant Church in the U.S. in 2030, part 7 of 7: Indigenous Leaders
By: Gail & Jock Ficken
First, thank you for participating in Giving Tuesday. Joyfully, over $20,000 has already been given! If you haven’t made a gift, could I invite you to make one now? We are stretched to help the church of today become the church of tomorrow and the church of tomorrow be a vibrant church! …in 2030! The 7th … Continue reading
A Picture of a Vibrant Church in the U.S. in 2030, part 6 of 7: Theological Education
By: Gail & Jock Ficken
A vibrant church has emerged in the United States in 2030. The hinge that swung the door toward a vibrant future hung on everyday followers of Jesus learning to disciple others to follow Jesus. Contrary to popular imagination a decade earlier, theological education in 2030 has become more important and more widespread. The shift from … Continue reading
A Picture of a Vibrant Church in the U.S. in 2030, Part 5 of 7: Life-Giving Networks
By: Gail & Jock Ficken
No one gets there on their own! This was the common theme a decade ago when leaders and congregations started charting new, hope-filled courses toward 2030. They knew the stakes were high. They knew the sense of loss of the treasured, the familiar, would be overwhelming at times in congregations. They knew that they didn’t … Continue reading
A Picture of a Vibrant Church in the U.S. in 2030, Part 4 of 7: Leader Teams
By: Gail & Jock Ficken
A vibrant church has emerged in 2030 that’s lead by teams of disciple-making leaders. There are very few full-time salaried pastors now in 2030. There are plenty of wonderful exceptions. Large churches. Other models. But the vast majority of what has emerged is being led and gathered by teams of leader-disciples…oftentimes collaborating alongside pastors. Teams—not … Continue reading
A Picture of a Vibrant Church in the US in 2030 -Part 3 of 7: Communities of Missionaries
By: Gail & Jock Ficken
You already know the institutional church is a whisper of what it was in 2030. Mostly gone. But, over the last decade a vibrant church has begun to emerge… The church discovered that it could carry a “light backpack.” It invested in relational discipleship. Changed the congregational culture. It was the single greatest shift responsible … Continue reading
A Picture of a Vibrant Church in the U.S. in 2030, Part 2 of 7: Making Disciples for Life
By: Gail & Jock Ficken
No one single shift did more to change what emerged as a vibrant church in 2030 than the rapid development of relational discipleship/apprenticeship. A disciple investing their time, energy, skills, and life in others to make better followers of Jesus. It’s hard to imagine that a decade earlier it would have been unusual for most … Continue reading
A Picture of a Vibrant Christian Church in the U.S. in 2030 Part 1 of 7
By: Gail & Jock Ficken
Two weeks ago we shared that the institutional church, possibly Christianity in general, will be a whisper, mostly a shadow, in the U.S. by 2030. But, there’s good news in 2030 of a small, vibrant, emerging Christian church in the U.S. It’s certainly the work of the Spirit breathing breath into dry bones (Ezekiel 37). … Continue reading
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