“The Goal is No Longer to Plant a Large Church, But to Plant a Multiplying Church”

A Q&A with HGC's GreFrom the very start, multiplication must be part of a church’s DNA and practiced through intentional decisions.

As chief catalyst for Healthy Growing Churches, Greg Wiens works with church planters nationwide as he and the HGC team come alongside leaders to help create healthy churches that multiply. In the interview below, Greg talks about the need for planting Level 4 and 5 multiplying churches over planting large Level 3 churches as well as what he and HGC leaders are learning from the new book Becoming a Level 5 Multiplying Church by Todd Wilson and Dave Ferguson.

Becoming a Level 5 Multiplying Church describes five distinct levels of churches and offers a profile for each one. How do those levels and their respective profiles fit with what you’re seeing at Healthy Growing Churches?

Each of the five distinct levels or types of churches described in the book clearly articulate what I have experienced in working with churches for the last 30 years. This is especially true when I account for some overseas movements as Level 5 churches. It was helpful to understand that Level 2 (plateaued) and Level 4 (reproducing) were actually hybrids of Level 1 (subtracting), Level 3 (adding) and Level 5 (multiplying). This resonated clearly with what I have experienced in Level 2 and Level 4 churches. They are “caught in the middle” between opposing forces.

What would you say are three of the greatest affirmations, epiphanies or “aha’s” you had while reading the book?

1. Macro multiplication (planting multiplying churches) won’t happen well if we aren’t experiencing micro multiplication (one-on-one discipleship). A church-planting church must be built on the foundation of “disciple making disciple.”
2. Building cultural Christians is one of the biggest impediments to healthy multiplication at both the macro and micro level.
3. We need large churches to be multiplying, not just adding. By multiplying, they infuse their DNA into the new churches they start. Unfortunately, some of the practices that make some churches large preclude them from multiplying.

Todd and Dave offer several direct and indirect challenges to church planters and church planting leaders. What are some of the tensions of multiplication you’re seeing in leaders?

Attempting to grow church plants is difficult at best. Helping them multiply after they’re growing is even more difficult. When churches attempt to just grow, they build into their DNA the seeds that will eventually thwart multiplication. From the very start, multiplication must be part of a church’s DNA and practiced through intentional decisions.

It is actually easier to find planting pastors who can lead a multiplying church than to find planters who can start and build megachurches. However, up to this point, planting has attracted a disproportional number of pastors desiring to build large Level 3 churches. The goal is no longer to plant a large church, but to plant a multiplying church. We had set our sights too low (Level 3)!

What specific action steps has Healthy Growing Churches taken as a result of reading the book? 

We have specifically adopted a new vernacular in recruiting, assessing and training our potential pastors. We also have evaluated all of the ministries with churches of all sizes to look at potential changes we need to make, as well as ways to better communicate with leaders to help them grasp multiplication at the micro and macro level.

We have also evaluated what we need to do to integrate better disciple-producing practices in everything we do. I had assumed them before; I no longer make this assumption.

How are you challenging, inspiring and equipping leaders in your network differently because of what you read?

Every disciple can make disciples. Every discipled pastor can disciple individuals in the church to make disciples. Every pastor can be a multiplying pastor of a multiplying church. Every pastor cannot be a megachurch pastor. So we are challenging individuals to figure out their unique gifts and how they use them in the Kingdom to make disciples. A number of pastors have confessed they have no clue on how to make disciples…good to know.

How have your prayers changed as you think through what it means to be a Level 5 multiplying church and lead a ministry that works to multiply churches?  

We are praying for men and women specifically committed to making disciples, leaders who will eventually be part of leading a Level 4 or 5 church. We’ve discovered these prayers are much different from prayers for men and women who can lead large Level 3 churches.

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You can take the FREE Becoming Five Assessment Tool at becomingfive.org

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5 Legitimate Fears of a Church Planter

5 Legitimate Fears of a Church Planter

By Ron Edmondson

Having participated in two church plants as a planter, and now working with church planters on a regular basis in a coaching capacity, I know firsthand the fears associated with planting a church. It’s a leap of faith, and one God is calling many to these days.

My theory here is that recognizing the fears and realizing their legitimacy is part of guarding our hearts against them. The fact remains that for a church plant to be successful, at least in Kingdom terms, God must provide His grace.

Here are five legitimate fears of church planters:

1. No one will show up. If we do all this work and it doesn’t work, what will we do? You’ll be thankful you were obedient to what you believe God called you to do and wait patiently for Him to provide. We had to consistently remind our core team that God was in control of numbers. Our job was to be faithful. That doesn’t mean you stop inviting people or investing in the community around you, but you trust that God will stir hearts for His work.

2. We can’t afford it. You probably can’t. There will seldom be enough money, or so it may seem at times. God calls us to big tasks. Church planting is hard and not cheap. But the Lord will provide resources for His vision. Again, that doesn’t mean you don’t need to educate people on the needs or help them understand the command, value and blessing of giving, but it does mean you trust God even when the checkbook balance is low.

It also doesn’t mean you won’t have to wait to make major purchases or there won’t be times you have to wait until “Sunday’s offering” to get paid. Our paycheck was delayed several times the first couple of years so other bills and other staff could be paid, but we were never hungry.

3. I don’t know what I’m doing. Isn’t it wonderful? It means you’re insufficient without His sufficiency. What a great place to reside! The great news is that many have gone before you. Learn from others and stay on your knees before God.

4. People will leave. True. Most core teams are cut in half in the first few years. At first, I thought we were to be the exception. We weren’t. Other people will come and never return. But some will stick. And they will have hearts for the vision. And in them, we rejoice at what God has done. We build our teams around those whom God sends to us and who remain steadfast to the journey ahead. That team may change several times the first few years.

5. We don’t have a building. No, but you probably don’t have a mortgage either. And you’re raising up an army of volunteers for set up and tear down. You are building service and sacrifice into your DNA as a church. Isn’t it wonderful! Don’t lose that atmosphere and culture of dependency, even when you have a building someday.

Final thought. These fears are legitimate, real fears. Don’t be ashamed that you have them. The key is not to live in them, but to live and walk in the faith that God will complete His plans and enable those He calls.

What other fears have you experienced in church planting?

6 Reasons Why Sexual Predators Target Churches

By Tim Challies

“In the mind of a predator, a church offers a compelling target and, too often, an easy target.”

It is terrible but true—sexual predators target churches. In the mind of a predator, a church offers a compelling target and, too often, an easy target. I recently worked my way through On Guard by Deepak Reju and learned that there are at least six reasons why sexual predators specifically target churches.

1. Christians Are Naïve

Some sexual offenders state it outright—they go after churches because Christians tend to be naïve. Anna Salter says, “If children can be silenced and the average person is easy to fool, many offenders report that religious people are even easier to fool than most people.” Reju says, “Christian are, generally speaking, trusting folks.
Child abusers recognize this fact and want to take full advantage of it.” He quotes a former prosecutor who lays it out: “For a variety of reasons, we naively tend to automatically lower our guard when we are amongst professing Christians. This same naïveté is why offenders flock to the faith community; no other environment provides them such quick and easy access to children without fear of raising concerns.”

2. Christians Are Ignorant of the Problem

Christians are not only naïve, but also ignorant—ignorant of the problem of abuse and the extent of the problem within faith communities. Many Christians consider it unlikely or impossible that abuse could happen within their church, so they fail to take adequate measures, they ignore warnings and they disregard reports.
Reju says, “Many Christians don’t know how to distinguish likability and trustworthiness. They confuse the two categories, assuming that if someone is courteous and nice, they must also be trustworthy. Moreover, some Christians behave as though the problem doesn’t exist, and some look with suspicion on reports of abuse. They believe children are lying and are more prone to take an adult’s word. Sexual predators know that these dynamics operate in churches, and they know they can get away with a lot on account of it.”

3. Churches Offer Access to Children

Perhaps most simply of all, churches offer access—and often very easy access—to children. Reju says this well: “Because churches are always looking for help with children’s ministry and often are facing shortages of volunteers, sexual offenders know that churches are desperate. In children’s ministry, volunteers are often late. Some cancel at the last minute when they had promised to volunteer.
Others don’t even bother showing up for their service. So, when a courteous, kind, reliable man walks in and offers to help, who’s going to turn him down? No other organization provides such quick and easy access to children. Sexual predators know this, so they show up at churches, eager to make themselves known and ready to serve.”

4. (Many) Christians Abuse Authority

Sometimes authority is put in the hands of evil individuals who then abuse that authority by taking advantage of others. Christians are rightly taught to submit to authority, but not always warned that there are situations in which authority can and must be defied. “Child abusers will use positions of spiritual authority to gain access to children and abuse them.
Ask yourself: If a pastor or priest walks into a room, what’s your normal disposition? Most of us have a degree of caution around strangers until we’ve gotten to know them and built a trusting relationship. But pastors and priests are often afforded trust just because of their position as clergy.” This, of course, has been proven again and again by sickening news headlines.

5. Churches Can Be Manipulated

Church offers religious roles or language that abusers can manipulate to accomplish their ugly purposes. Child abusers often use church-based roles in order to provide rationale and cover for their abuse. An offender may take on a role like Sunday school teacher, nursery worker, youth minister, camp supervisor or pastor in order to gain the position he or she needs to access children. He may “also use religious language to confuse a child’s understanding of God, sin or faith. An offender might tell a child that he is loving the child when in fact he is abusing him.
The child might have a sense that he is sinning in some way, especially if he hears from his parents or the church that sex outside of marriage is sin. But when a Sunday school teacher or pastor or priest tells him something like, ‘God told me to do this, so you must obey me,’ or ‘This is not sin, but love,’ the child will not only be confused but will be inclined not to second-guess a religious authority figure.” Religious roles and language can provide all the cover an abuser needs.

6. Churches Offer Cheap Grace

Sometimes abusers are caught, but even then they may get away with their crimes. Abusers count on receiving cheap grace—grace that comes far too freely and with far too little cost. “Abusers are not dumb. They know that if they cry, offer words of contrition and promise never to do it again, they are very likely not to have to face significant consequences.
Pastors and churches are very forgiving. They are quick to apply the gospel—and very, very slow to apply the consequences that come from the law.” An offender will weep and admit that he was wrong and promise never to do anything like it again, and the church may respond by determining they will let it go this once. But when they do that, they simply allow the offender to go right back to his behavior, and allow the child to remain a victim.
In the face of all of this, it is no wonder that the Bible calls us to be “wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16). But while all of these dangers are true, and while abusers are deliberate in targeting churches, this does not mean that we are left defenseless. For that reason the bulk of Reju’s book is dedicated to creating and enforcing policies that will protect the innocent—innocent children who participate in church activities, and innocent adults who care for them. Please, will you have someone in your church read the book and see how you can better prevent abuse in your church?

Don’t Make These 7 Public Speaking Mistakes

Don’t Make These 7 Public Speaking Mistakes

By Chuck Lawless

As a teacher, consultant and preacher, I talk to groups for a living. In fact, I’ve been a student of public speaking for more than 30 years. I’ve learned by studying in the classroom and by simply listening to others. Too often, I’ve learned the hard way by making my own mistakes.

On a positive note, I have seen that it’s possible to exercise leadership from the public platform. A well-timed, well-delivered address can rally the troops, strengthen the team and compel them toward excellence. On the other hand, I’ve seen (and exhibited at times, I’m sure) some mistakes in public speaking. Here are a few of those.

1. Not knowing the audience—Speaking to teens is not the same as speaking to senior adults. Communicating with a gathering of relationship-oriented non-Westerners is different than speaking to a group of Western businessmen. Most speakers have some sense of the importance of audience analysis, but understanding analysis and acting on it are two different matters. I’m amazed by the number of speakers I invite to different venues who never ask about the intended audience.

2. Inviting indifference—Maybe you’ve heard speakers do it:

• “I’m sure this is not exciting, but it’s important.”
• “I really haven’t had much time to prepare, so please bear with me.”
• “This really isn’t my area of expertise. I’m sure there are others who are more qualified.”

I understand that humility may be the driving force behind these kinds of statements. Nevertheless, don’t be surprised if the audience is uninterested after you’ve told them you’re unexciting, unprepared and/or unqualified. Let your hearers make that assessment without your help. They might find you engaging and enlightening.

3. Boring the audience—Here’s the difficult part with this mistake: Only once have I ever met a boring speaker who knew he was boring (and he was forced to admit that after he fell asleep during one of his own lectures!). It would not hurt us to have friends who evaluate our speaking and critique us honestly. Good training and increased passion can help overcome a boring style, but not if we fail to recognize the problem in the first place.

4. Using irrelevant stories and illustrations—Much of the world learns best by stories and illustrations, so using stories is a significant communication strategy. Watch an audience when you begin to tell a story or use an illustration; often, they will lean forward, almost as if they are closing the space to hear better. The speaking strategy thus opens the door to effective communication. If, though, the story itself lacks relevance—like using automobile illustrations when speaking to urban poor who never owned a car—the technique loses its force. Again, knowing the audience matters.

5. Assuming audience application—Public speeches have different purposes. Some inform, and others convince. Some simply address a special occasion. Many public speeches, though, are intended to lead the hearer to do something. Support a candidate. Give to a cause. Adopt a belief. Accept a decision. Join the team. Celebrate a victory. Change a lifestyle. The problem is that speakers often fail to state clearly what they want the audience to do. Instead, they assume the hearers will listen intently, naturally connect the dots, and then respond appropriately. A lack of specific instruction from the speaker then results in a lack of intentional application among the hearers.

6. Ignoring time parameters—Seldom are speakers given open-ended time slots for speaking. Most often, we have an established time period that fits neatly into the organization’s overall plans and goals. To ignore those parameters is not only disruptive to the schedule; it is inconsiderate at best, arrogant at worst. Finishing within the allotted time shows respect, and it might even strengthen our speaking by demanding brevity.

7. Neglecting continued improvement—I suspect the more we speak, the less we see a need to improve. Perhaps we subconsciously convince ourselves that practice really does make perfect. There is little question that speaking regularly can make us more comfortable with the task, but actual improvement is not always the result. Growing as a public speaker requires an intentional strategy for improvement.

I realize I’ve included only a few mistakes on this list. What other mistakes have you seen in public speaking? On the flip side, what have you seen that characterizes strong public speaking? Help me to learn from your experiences.

The Best Sermon I Never Preached

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There always a good sermon…but sometimes I’m not the one preaching it.

One of the unexpected blessings of hanging around a church for a long time is you get to know people…I mean, really know them. You know their stories and who’s been important in their lives. You know their triumphs and their failures, and you’ve seen them come through it all.

And you’ve seen some people come through things you don’t know if you could come through. I’ve seen courage—real courage—and honestly, I’m not sure I have it. At least, not like some of my friends have it.

This past Sunday, I was looking across the congregation when I saw them in their familiar place. I couldn’t take my eyes off of them. Jim and Ann Burke were standing arm in arm as we sang the worship hymns.

Now, you’re thinking, “What’s so inspiring about that?” Let me give you a little of the back story. Jim has been diagnosed with a very aggressive form of cancer. He’s been fighting it with surgeries, chemo, and radiation therapies. All of them have worked…for a little while. And then the cancer would come back. Recently, Jim had to have the lower part of his right arm amputated which means he has to learn to do everything with his left hand that he used to do with his right. That also means the right sleeve of his coat hangs empty at his side.

During the worship, Jim and Ann were standing together, and she was holding onto his coat sleeve, her finger intertwined around the stump of his right arm in his coat sleeve. She had told me one time, “I may lose him, but I’m not going to give up without a fight.” So, there she was, hanging on to Jim with all of her might. If part of an arm was all she could grab, then she would hold onto that.

And there was Jim, wiping away tears as he sang, “The Glory of the Cross” with our choir. These aren’t just theological phrases for Jim. They’re words he’s had to hold onto when there was nothing left to hold onto at all. He’s been through the fire. Tested more in the last few years than I have been in my entire life. And Sunday he was here with his wife, praising the God who’s bringing them through it all.

Honestly, when I saw them, I could have gone home. Jesus had given me more to think about in that one moment than I would ever say in a hundred sermons. Jim and Ann gave me one of the best sermons I’ve ever seen.

So, that’s why you need to go to church. There’s always a good sermon being preached. It just may not be the preacher who’s preaching it.

“We’d Rather Spend Our Money on Ourselves Than Open Our Doors to THOSE People + 11 Other Shocking Church Phrases

“We’d Rather Spend Our Money on Ourselves Than Open Our Doors to THOSE People + 11 Other Shocking Church Phrases

By Chuck Lawless

When I was a 20-year old rookie pastor, an older pastor told me, “I couldn’t make up the stories I’ve experienced in ministry.” I didn’t know what he meant then, but I do now. Here are a few statements I never dreamed I’d hear in the ministry way back then:

1. “We’d rather spend all our church’s money on ourselves than open our doors to ‘those people.’” Their community was changing, and the church did what they said they’d rather do. Until they died.
2. “He belongs to my church, so I’d prefer you not visit him again while he’s here.”“He” was a hospitalized patient who happened to be a relative of my church member, I was “you,” and the speaker was another pastor who didn’t want me stepping into his territory. Seriously.
3. “Don’t you ever do that again, boy.” I was young and unwisely zealous at the time, but the church leader’s calling me “boy” crossed the line.
4. “I hope that never happens again.” “That” was a mother so overwhelmed when her wayward son repented that she hollered loudly with joy when he was baptized (and to be honest, she did holler so loudly I almost dropped him in the baptistery—but even a small shout would have been too much for my church).
5. “This is my church.” I’d heard stories like this one, but I didn’t think anyone actuallybelieved he owned the church.
6. “Close the door, and let me tell you the one about …” I still grieve this one as I write the words. I never imagined that Christian leaders would close the door and cross lines with their speech.
7. “I think I’m going to go kill her.” He was just talking, of course. In fact, this man with a failing marriage was so drunk that he could barely walk. A church member.
8. “Here—you drive the hearse back to the funeral home.” It was a county seat cemetery, and the funeral director had work to do there—so he handed me the keys to return the hearse. I did it, but not well. Have you ever tried to parallel park a hearse?
9. “If you’re going to be our pastor, you’re going to learn.” The speaker was a women’s missionary leader who essentially ordered me, her young pastor, to learn about missions. To this day, I’m grateful for her.
10. “Brother Chuck is going to join us in the trio today.” I loved my worship leader, but I don’t sing publicly—and he surprised me in the middle of the worship service. It never happened again …
11. “We need to move to a different place tomorrow.” Suffice it to say that I was teaching in a risky place in the world, and we had to change locations often. As a young pastor, I never dreamed I’d have such opportunities.
12. “We love you, Pastor.” I guess these words themselves didn’t catch me by surprise. What surprised me was how much they melted my heart in humility and gratitude. They still do.

A New Form of Church Committed to Multiplication

Recently, I had the privilege of meeting with a handful of some of the most innovative church leaders in the U.S. to discuss a new form of church. Prior to this meeting, I was convinced that multiple sites were more productive than church planting. After this meeting, I’ve changed my mind; church planting has more potential than multiple sites – if it is the DNA of a church and not just a part of it. Why? Because church plants have the potential to reach geographically far beyond the reach of multiple sites and because church plants done right always reproduce, whereas most multiple sites do not. This meeting was a huge eye-opener for me. It made me want to be a planter again.

Church plants done right always reproduce.

Consider the following: Hope Chapel in Hawaii has only planted seven churches but those seven churches have resulted in more than seven hundred church plants. No multi-site church can come even close to matching that number. What if there were hundreds of churches like Hope Chapel? Give that some thought.

So today I want to say more about this new form of church. Keep in mind that I’ve only seen two of these churches, but I can say that it is the most biblical form of church I’ve ever seen and I look forward to the emergence of more of these churches.

The key word to understanding this new form of church is multiplying as opposed to reproducing. There are a number of churches that are reproducing through multiple sites but there are only a handful of churches that are experiencing multiplication through planting hundreds of churches. Please note that there is nothing wrong with reproducing churches: thank God for them. And please note that size has nothing to do with this new form of church.

So, what are some of the characteristics of this new form of church?

These churches are committed to tithing the firstfruits of everything they do to church planting. This means that they commit the time, energy, and money first to church planting before anything else. They plant churches before they build, before they add a lot of staff, or before they add programs. They live and breathe planting churches. It’s who they are and what they were planted to be. Take away church planting and they would wither and die. Church planting isn’t optional; it’s their reason for being.

Church planting isn’t optional; it’s these churches’ reason for being.

The metric for success of these churches is how many people they give away. They understand that life was meant to be given away, so they give people away to plant churches. They also send people into the marketplace to share the gospel. They believe in that in losing they are gaining. Even though the Sunday morning experience is well done, it is not their main focus. These churches have a different scorecard for faithfulness – sending.

These churches are committed to balancing making disciples with planting churches. They understand that being able to plant churches requires focusing on developing biblical disciples rather than consumers and pew sitters.   They know they need to have a disciple pipeline so that there is always a fresh group of people to send out to plant and people to replace them.

These churches believe that every person in the church has the potential to be a church planter or a part of a church planting team or a backyard missionary. Every member understands that he or she has the potential to be a planter, and is trained to be one if God calls him or her to plant.

These churches ensure that church planting continues beyond the present leader by building church planting into the constitution/bylaws and the DNA of the church.

These churches expect their church plants to plant another church within three years of existence. These churches have no intention of merely planting a church; they intend to plant hundreds, maybe thousands of churches. So, they instill the need to plant in the DNA of the planter prior to planting.

These churches grow by multiplication rather than addition. Most thriving churches in the West grow by addition, accumulating larger and larger crowds on Sunday. Even if they go multi-site, the overall church still gets larger and larger. Nothing wrong with that other than the fact that the span of influence is usually geographically limited. Most of what these churches do is designed to feed their growing number of people. While growing is better than dying, this new form of church believes that multiplication is better than addition.

Now we’ve come to the heart of why reproducing churches find it hard to become multiplying churches. Their addiction to addition growth keeps them from fully committing to multiplication through church planting. Mortgages have to be paid, staff have to be hired, and buildings have to be maintained. Church planting gets whatever is left over. Multiplying churches fund the church planting efforts first and their own needs second

Their addiction to addition growth keeps them from fully committing to multiplication through church planting.

Bottom line: church planting is so embedded in these churches that they would have to bend over backwards not to plant. Only time will tell whether or not this form of church will go viral in the West. It already has in many parts of the world.

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Introverts in Your Midst? Here’s How to Lead Them

Introverts in Your Midst? Here’s How to Lead Them

By Ron Edmondson

I am asked frequently how to engage introverts on a team in meetings. I guess because I am an introvert, and have written extensively about the subject, people assume I know how. I try to remind them other people are different from me, even other introverts.

Although it is a common perception that all introverts are reserved, constantly quiet and unsocial, introverts are a diverse group, with varying degrees of introversion. For example, if you give me authority, I’ll lead the meeting. No problem. That would never be comfortable for some introverts.
So, my best advice for leaders about engaging people in meetings would not be to consider the introverts, but to consider everyone different. When it comes to meeting dynamics, everyone has something to add and does so in their own way. It takes me time to understand the team. Part of my job, if I’m leading a meeting, is to analyze the people in the room, as much as I can, before the meeting begins. If it’s “your” team this is done over time—getting to know the team. If the meeting involves people you don’t know or know well, it’s more difficult, but good leaders learn to study people—things such as the way they respond before the meeting, when they are introducing themselves or their posture during the meeting.
But, I do understand the introvert question. Many introverts don’t engage in meetings. They keep to themselves, especially in large group settings. They aren’t as easy to get to know. And, yes, I can even be that way, especially if I’m not in a leadership position where I have to force myself out of my introversion—or it’s a meeting full of extreme extroverts.
So, here’s my attempt to answer some of the questions about engaging introverts in meetings. Again, we aren’t all alike, even though we share the introvert characteristic, but try a few of these and see if they improve your meeting dynamics.
And, by the way, some of these can help extroverts make better in-meeting decisions too.

Here are seven suggestions to help introverts engage more:

Give them time to respond
This is huge. Introverts typically reflect inward, so they respond only after they have thought through their answer. This is a great characteristic if used well, because it usually means their answer has already been tested in their own mind. They are likely to share some of the most valid options on the table if you give the process time to work.
Ask specific questions—ahead of time
Give them a problem and time to solve it and most introverts, if left alone, will enjoy the challenge. If you want them to brainstorm effectively, tell them exactly what you are going to brainstorm about prior to beginning.
Let them respond in writing
When I know there are numerous introverts in a group, I will usually find a way to let them put something in writing. I have even allowed them to text or email me during the meeting. It’s amazing some of the suggestions I’ve received when an introvert doesn’t have to say it aloud.
Don’t put them on the spot
If you call on them for an immediate response you might get an answer if you do, but it won’t be their best answer and it will often keep them from ever sharing again. Introverts are often not huge fans of being singled out to answer a question. They may be better prepared if you ask a question, let people respond who have instant answers (usually the extroverts), then call on the introverts later in the process.
Separate them from the most extroverted
If there are too many extroverts in the group, introverts are even more likely to shut down communication. Try putting a group of introverts together, give them plenty of time and thought provokers to stimulate conversation, then allow the process to work on their time. Then, prepare to be amazed.
Give them an assignment they can control
Many introverts (this one included) can perform to task if we are put in the seat of responsibility. It could be speaking to a group or working the crowd at a banquet, but when it’s purposeful and I have an assigned responsibility, and can control how I do it, I’m more likely to perform like an extrovert. Before you have the meeting, if they are willing, give introverts an assignment where they are responsible for sharing.
Express genuine and specific interest in their ideas
Introverts, like all of us, love to be respected for our thoughts and ideas. If you want an introvert to share more, remind him or her how valuable they are to the team and how much their thoughts are needed. This is best done before the meeting starts.
Some of these suggestions might help with your church Sunday school or small group meetings also.
As already stated, this isn’t an exact science. We are all different. Knowing introversion, however, as I do, it’s a little easier for me to land on these points. Don’t overlook the introverts on your team as if they have nothing to add to the discussions. They do. They will simply share that information differently. They may not talk as much as some or seem to have as many opinions, but when they do, it will often be golden.

The Nine Types of Christians You Meet On Facebook

Stephen Altrogge

Note: This post is NOT written at anyone in particular. It’s all in good fun. To paraphrase the song, you’re so vain you probably think this post is about you. It’s not. Please refrain from sending me angry emails.
Awesome Andy:
Andy wants you to know just how awesome every part of his life is. God is totally into Andy. Andy frequently likes to use the hashtag #Blessed, as in, “Just got a $10,000 raise at work! Gonna buy that jet ski! LOL #Blessed”. If things are really awesome, Andy may employ #DoubleBlessed, or the rarely seen, most heavenly of all hashtags, #Blezzed. Andy is definitely living his best life now.
Venting Vanessa:
Vanessa uses Facebook as a way to “get things off her chest”, which is somehow different from complaining. If she has a bad day at work, she will definitely let you know, usually with multiple exclamation marks!!!! And perhaps a link to a music video which makes her feel better. Her friends will commiserate with her in the comments, even though they secretly wish she would just stop complaining about her First World problems.
Overly Spiritual Owen:
Owen exclusively posts Scripture verses and John Piper quotes. If you post a picture of you enjoying a steak, he will comment, “Think of how many orphans could be fed with that steak.” If you mention that you are enjoying the new Mumford and Sons album, he will passive-aggressively correct you by posting the Scripture about being in the world but not of the world. Owen gets “unfriended” quite frequently.
Overly Opinionated Olive:
Olive has very strong opinions about every possible subject, and she will share them with you. All. The Time. She is constantly sharing incendiary articles written by rather shaky sources about vaccines, common core, paleo eating, vegan eating, paleos eating vegans, flu shots, and juice cleansing. The world is her soapbox, and she never steps off it.
Maybe Saved Mike:
Mike goes to your church. Mike says he is a Christian. Mike posts things on Facebook that make you raise your eyebrows. Like photos of him doing keg stands.
Really Right Wing Rick:
Rick somehow manages to connect every problem to the Democratic party. Was it this cold when Bush was President? Thanks Obama! Rick writes posts on his Xanga blog about how the Democrats are ushering in the rule of the Anti-Christ. Rick also owns a lot of firearms. My transmission blew out today. Never had the problem when Reagan was in office!
Quiz Quentin:
Thanks to Facebook, Quentin has discovered that she looks just like Taylor Swift, is most like the Apostle Paul, would be Wonderwoman if she were a Marvel Superhero, and is best described by the word “compassion”. Quentin really needs some affirming friends in her life.
Homeschooled Harry:
Harry isn’t on Facebook. He’s homeschooled.
Guilt Trip Gina:
Gina regularly posts photos which say, “I love Jesus. REPOST IF YOU AGREE.” This puts you in a rather difficult spot. The photo is of a super cheesy, caucasian, long, flowing hair Jesus. You have no desire to post the photo. But if you don’t post it, does that mean you don’t love Jesus? SO MUCH GUILT!
This article originally appeared here.

Stephen Altrogge

Stephen Altrogge works as a pastor at Sovereign Grace Church of Indiana, PA, where his main duties include leading worship, working with college students, and shining his dad’s shoes. He also has written a number of worship songs that have been included on Sovereign Grace Music albums. Stephen is the author of the book Game Day For the Glory of God: A Guide For Athletes, Fans, and Wanabes, which was published by Crossway Books in September 2008, and The Greener Grass Conspiracy: Finding Contentment on Your Side of the Fence, which will be published by Crossway Books in April 2011. When not shining his dad’s shoes, you can find Stephen drinking coffee or playing video games. More from Stephen Altrogge or visit Stephen at http://www.theblazingcenter.com

How to Preach Via Social Media—a Practical Guide

By Rob OLynn

Provided by

All social media is relational.

Discussions about social media—and, specifically in our case, social media in preaching—are important for the contemporary church. Let’s face it, whether we like it or not, we live in a digital age.
To be effective, however, we need to understand some basics about social media. And to begin with, we need to determine how conversant we are with social media.
Anyone, if they are willing, can use social media effectively. The issue is whether we are willing to admit our “user level.” To figure this out, how do you respond to the following statement?
All social media is relational.
Debate over the purpose of social media continues to rage in face-to-face discussions, print journals and online blogs. Yet, the argument itself is why we are so confused about what social media is and how we can use it effectively.
Most media experts lump users into one of three categories:

• Digital natives are people who use technology fluidly. They embrace new applications and operate with a sense of responsibility and stewardship. Although their ability to work fluidly is often confused as being anti-social, they demonstrate how technology can be effectively integrated into our lives. Digital natives believe that the purpose of social media is relational (to connect people and ideas).
• Digital immigrants are people who use technology, although not fluidly. They have accepted that we live in a wired world, although the use of technology does not come easy for them. However, they are willing to learn and do make valuable contributions to the technology world. Digital immigrants believe that the purpose of social media is functional (to work smarter).
• Digital aliens are people who do not use technology unless it is absolutely necessary (i.e., email for work, text-messaging only with select people). Opinions range from isolationist (If we ignore Facebook, it will go away … just look at MySpace!) to apocalyptic (Didn’t we learn anything from Huxley and Orwell?). Digital aliens believe that the purpose of social media is divisive (to isolate and segregate).

Each of us falls into one of these categories. That’s the bad news, especially for those who believe that rotary phones are on the comeback. Yet, as I mentioned above, even the digital alien (if he or she is willing) can learn how to use social media and use it effectively.
There are three basic ideas about social media. First, social media is relational. All media is social because the function of social media is to connect people in relationships where life is shared through status updates, selfies and research documents.¹ The avenues through which we can connect with others are almost limitless. Yes, it can be overwhelming if you try to use all of them. That is not the point. The point is that there are many ways to engage this wonderful world in which we live.
Second, social media is influential. The purpose of social media is to expand our capacity for doing good. The idea is to expand our influence not our image. When this happens, when image trumps influence, social media has been hijacked. Consequently, when thinking about how to use social media responsibly, we must learn to build a platform for, in the words of Seth Godin, our “tribes.”² I decided to develop a platform that focuses on theological education. As a result, I find myself in conversations with preachers from Texas, college educators in England and social scientists in India. I am influencing people across the globe as they are influencing me.
Third, social media is generous. Michael Hyatt developed the concept of the “platform” a couple of years ago. He says that responsible use of social media occurs when we realize that we have something to offer the world and we freely and willingly offer it.³ When I attend conferences, I often live-tweet so that those not attending can share in what I am learning. As we begin sharing our thoughts and ideas, we will connect with more people who can spread our influence.
To sum up, anything that is technological is social media because we are making a connection when we use the application. This is good news for those of us charged with sharing the Good News. We are no longer limited to Sunday sermons. Whereas Paul had the Roman roadways and Wesley had riding circuits, we have the Internet. In a follow-up article, we will look at some tips for effectively using social media in preaching.
Although I am primarily using Twitter for my example social media outlet, most of these tips can be applied across the social media spectrum. Most of the ideas are mine, although some were given to me by others who responded to my offer to share their thoughts about preaching and social media.

• Do learn the parameters of the social media outlet. For example, Nathan Copeland (@nbcopeland), assistant professor of business at Harding University, reminds Twitter users to leave about 10 characters at the end of their tweets so that you can be retweeted. His reminder is important due to the 140-character limit. This is not a problem with other outlets such as Facebook or Instagram where the character amount is virtually limitless. On the other hand, Michael Hyatt recommends that bloggers keep their posts under 500 words if they actually want their posts read. Thus, it is important to know your outlet’s parameters.
• Don’t ask the congregation to text or tweet or message you questions during the sermon. This may sound strange, yet there is absolutely no filter for this. What if no one responds? I saw this happen once in a sermon where the preacher needed people to send in questions for his sermon to work. The outcome was embarrassing. However, do ask your people to make comments about the worship or sermon either using a predetermined hashtag or tagging you in the comment. I encourage people to tweet comments that I make in sermons, and I diligently try to respond to everyone who makes a comment about the sermon.
• Do accept that at least some in the audience will be reading from a digital Bible and probably taking notes through something like Evernote. I often teach a course on spiritual formation where I encourage the students to download the YouVersion Bible app to their phones or tablets. Then, when speaking in chapel, I encourage them to read from their digital Bibles as I am preaching. To be honest, we prepared our people for this when we began projecting Bible passages on screens.
• Don’t simply share Bible verses (and/or quotations). While your followers will benefit greatly from your personal devotional practices, your interactions will be more meaningful if they occur after the sun rises. Also, there are some good users who see this as part of their ministry (YouVersion and Logos are the most active).
• Do make use of multiple outlets or find ways to link your multiple outlets together. For example, when I took a picture of my daughter after she won a dance competition in March, I posted the picture on Instagram. Before the picture was posted, I was given the option of posting it to other sites. I chose Twitter because my Twitter and Facebook accounts are linked. One photo was automatically posted to three social media outlets.
• Don’t construct an online personality that is different from your real personality. After all, we must be genuine in all things. Not everything you post needs to be theologically deep or spiritually rich. It’s OK to mix up your posts between profound thoughts about your faith and quirky messages about what you’re watching on television. One of my former colleagues has a bad habit of posting spoilers from what he is watching. He also posts profound thoughts on theology and classic rock, and he and I often get into debates about both.

Finally, I would like to offer some advice from my friend Matt Hafer (@matthafertweets), a church planted in Portsmouth, Ohio. He recommends that we study how preachers that we follow on Facebook, or Twitter or whatever, communicate digitally. Facebook may be enough. Yet you may be in a highly urbanized area where maximizing your impact will require using a variety of social media outlets.
Also, you will want to consider what outlets will reach the greater number of people. I have a friend in Oregon who is planting congregations among artistic communities. Print-based outlets like Facebook and Twitter were helpful, yet people began to really take notice when his team began using more visual-based outlets like Pinterest, Vimeo and Instagram. In short, find what works best for you and your situation. Social media is here to stay, and it is up to us to use it for spreading the gospel.