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Archive for the ‘Navigate Cultural Change’ Category
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
U-Haul Truck
By: Gail & Jock Ficken
By 2030 much of the institutional church in the U.S. will have significantly collapsed. We’re not wishing it to go away. It just is. It’s exponentially accelerating toward that juncture now! You can tell that we’re not campaigning to win a popular vote right now! It’s incumbent upon us to help give birth to what … Continue reading
The Christian Church in 2030
By: Jock Ficken
For Gail and me, here’s our sobering reality: By 2030 the Christian landscape in the United States will be mostly cleared. Historic denominations will be a whisper of what they once were…by 2030. Congregations gone. Many more will be simply shadows of what they once were…by 2030. The Christian “footprint” of the people of God will … Continue reading
What if You Sent off a Couple R & D Pioneers?
By: Jock Ficken
Most churches are trying to preserve what they have. Trying to avoid losing ground too quickly. Even though they know that continuing to do what they’ve been doing is not going to get them to where they need to go! They keep trying to marshal the energies to maintain. (I did this in our multi-campus … Continue reading
Part-Time Pastor Pete and the Hand of God
By: Jock Ficken
Let me tell you about an incredible, self-effacing man of God nearing retirement. I’ll call him part-time Pastor Pete. He and his church will remain anonymous. Part-time pastor Pete joined PLI’s Discipleship to Missional Community and introduced himself: “I’m not quite sure why I’m here. I guess I thought I owed it to myself and … Continue reading
What’s the Expiration Date?
By: Jock Ficken
Ever reach to the back of the refrigerator and pull out the pickles or the yogurt? Past the expiration date? Too late. Done! Throw it away? Now…what do you think might be the expiration date on your congregation? If nothing changes? What about your denomination? Or your network of churches? Write down an expiration date … Continue reading
You’re a Leader
By: Jock Ficken
Remember the joke? It’s an old one. Ironically I heard it again when we were in Ethiopia in February and Columbus, Indiana, in March. Two guys are walking barefoot in the forest. They meet a bear that’s planning his lunch. The one guy starts to put his running shoes on. The other explains: “You’re never … Continue reading
You Can Keep Unlocking the Doors, or…
By: Jock Ficken
Ten or 15 years from now, there won’t be much left in most of today’s churches…or in most church bodies. Look at what’s unraveled in the last 5 years. The believers coming behind us don’t want to inherit much of what we want to give them. (Ask them!) Look at your own denomination…do you sense … Continue reading
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