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2 months ago | 
baptiststandard.com | Eric Black |Thom S. Rainer
Millennials are the second largest generation in America’s history. At 74 million persons, they are only surpassed in size by the Boomer generation. Born between 1980 and 1997, they are shaping our businesses, our government and our culture. And they are shaping our churches. As a Boomer, I remember well how pastors were viewed just a few decades ago. In the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, the “successful” pastors made it to large county seat churches.
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Jan 17, 2025 | 
churchleaders.com | Thom S. Rainer
In almost every church, there is someone who stirs up disunity. This person could be anyone—a man or a woman, a long-time member or a newcomer. Let’s call them the church disrupter. Unlike church bullies, disrupters rarely attack leaders directly. Instead, they quietly stir up dissension, often believing they’re acting under God’s guidance. Disrupters can be charismatic and pleasant, which sometimes allows them to gain a following—for a time.
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Jan 17, 2025 | 
biblicalleadership.com | Thom S. Rainer
Are any of you old enough to remember "perfect attendance awards"? It's been decades since I have been in a church that provides such recognition. It's quite the feat. It means a church member has shown up for 52 or 53 consecutive Sundays in a calendar or church year. Sam Rainer began writing about attendance frequency over 15 years ago. His research has become a staple fixture in our understanding of the behavioral patterns of church members.
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Jan 1, 2025 | 
christianpost.com | Thom S. Rainer
By , Op-ed Contributor Dad told me they were tornado clouds. I was a kid in the 1960s when he uttered those words. I was too young to realize that we might be facing a potential threat. The technology that could confirm his prediction did not exist. I have vague memories of the clouds having a different tint than typical clouds, but nothing else pointed toward the possibility that a tornado was on the way. Dad was right. The clouds produced more than one tornado.
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Dec 31, 2024 | 
outreachmagazine.com | Thom S. Rainer
Are any of you old enough to remember “perfect attendance awards”? It’s been decades since I have been in a church that provides such recognition. It’s quite the feat. It means a church member has shown up for 52 or 53 consecutive Sundays in a calendar or church year. Sam Rainer began writing about attendance frequency over 15 years ago. His research has become a staple fixture in our understanding of the behavioral patterns of church members.
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Dec 9, 2024 | 
biblicalleadership.com | Thom S. Rainer
The ad made me smile at first. Then, I realized my reaction was wrong. The church ad said it was seeking a full-time pastor and provided the following information. My response should have first been sadness. It was yet one of many churches that are unrealistically seeking a full-time pastor. This ad was modified to preserve anonymity. But the facts are common in many churches:Our church is looking for a full-time pastor. We have been without a pastor for over two years.
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Nov 30, 2024 | 
biblicalleadership.com | Thom S. Rainer
It's Chuck Lawless' fault. Okay, the previous sentence is tongue-in-cheek. My friend and co-laborer in ministry, Chuck Lawless, has cited 2 Corinthians 2:4 so many times that I often get it stuck in my mind. To be clear, getting it stuck in my mind is a good thing. Look at the verse:Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News.
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Nov 19, 2024 | 
biblicalleadership.com | Thom S. Rainer
The multisite strategy is ingrained in the American church culture. While the majority of churches will never use a multisite strategy, they are no longer perceived as aberrations and outliers. But something has been taking place steadily that engenders few, if any, conversations. Before we look at that "one thing," let me clarify my understanding of multisite churches. I include the classic definition of a church meeting in more than one physical location.
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Nov 11, 2024 | 
churchanswers.com | Thom S. Rainer
Please read these first few sentences before you look at the subheadings. I want to be clear about a few points. First, some pastors are fired for moral failure. This article does not address that category of firing. Second, my article makes some church members the bad guys. I want to be clear that they are the exception and not the rule. Third, I realize that each firing has its unique characteristics.
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Nov 3, 2024 | 
christianpost.com | Thom S. Rainer
By , Op-ed Contributor The ad made me smile at first. Then, I realized my reaction was wrong. The church ad said it was seeking a full-time pastor and provided the following information. My response should have first been sadness. It was yet one of many churches that are unrealistically seeking a full-time pastor. This ad was modified to preserve anonymity. But the facts are common in many churches: Our church is looking for a full-time pastor. We have been without a pastor for over two years.
