Posts Tagged ‘New Places New Faces’

A Simple Solution for Reaching People

By: Jock Ficken

“So, did you grow up around here?” I was in North Dakota. Gail and I were driving home from vacation. (Beautiful drive!) It’s a question I often ask when meeting waiters, hotel staff, folks pausing long enough for a brief intersection of stories. It’s a chance for me to listen to a bit of their … Continue reading →

Adventures in Relationships

By: Jock Ficken

This is a tricky one: Navigating relationships as a congregational leader in today’s world. You’ve told your teenage kids (if you have them): Show me your 5 best friends and I can tell you where you’re headed. The Apostle Paul said it this way: bad company corrupts good character. (1 Corinthians 15:33) It’s the same … Continue reading →

3 Immigrants Who Made a Difference in my Life and a Book to Make Sense of It

By: Jock Ficken

I grew up on a farm in Nebraska. It was “the good life”…according to the state motto. While I learned that God was omnipresent in my years of confirmation instruction, I was quite sure God headquartered there, too. And, I was certain that for the most part, how I viewed the world was how God viewed … Continue reading →

4 Lepers Find New Places

By: Jock Ficken

Here are 3 different leadership postures: Our church is fine. We just need to get back to normal. We’ll be fine.  Culture has permanently changed. We need to get members to volunteer to be disciples sent into the mission field.  Culture has permanently changed. Recruiting volunteers to be disciples is a failed plan! I need … Continue reading →

BLESS People and Turn Unlived Aspirations into Action

By: Jock Ficken

Leaders cast visions of everyone being everyday missionaries. Truth be told? Most leaders struggle to do it. Most people don’t have a clue how to do it. Here’s a great model to turn unlived aspiration into action…for everyone.  Easy to remember. Easy to start practicing. Teach it. Practice it. Ask people to regularly tell stories … Continue reading →

Get In The Game

By: Jock Ficken

Get yourself in the mission game if you’re not there already! Don’t wait for all those folks to one day wake up and decide they should ask you about Jesus. You’ll be waiting a long time. (Review our Christendom and Post-Christendom PLI Entry Paths.) It was incredibly difficult when I started down this path. I … Continue reading →

Impact of PLI 2017 Infographic

By: Sarah Greiner

How to Successfully Invite People to Your Church

By: Jock Ficken

Over the last several decades, churches that experienced steady or rapid growth and people coming to faith in Jesus had congregational members who joyfully invited their friends, family, and neighbors to come to church. Several things were essential: People had relationships with people who didn’t attend a church. They were motivated by the love of … Continue reading →

They Call it the Silent Exodus

By: Jock Ficken

Some interesting facts: 70% of 1st generation Korean immigrants are churched. 95% of 2nd generation Koreans are unchurched by the time they enter college, making them one of the most unreached people groups in American cities. They call it the Silent Exodus. Gone. Immigrant churches are torn between tradition and language and practice from the … Continue reading →

What do you measure?

By: Jock Ficken

Most churches measure average worship attendance each year. Offerings, too. Easter Sunday…for most the largest Sunday attendance of the year…gives a decided boost to the average. And the Sunday after Easter? For most it’s one of the lowest. An average attendance blow and a discouragement to the leaders who count. Most of us, no matter … Continue reading →