Every year we count down our most popular resources from the year before, and it’s always fun to look back. It’s so encouraging to see how many churches take all aspects of leader training seriously—the list is always reflective of a wide variety of tasks that are so important to healthy teams and healthy churches. Because leader training is an ongoing process, these are more than just the most popular topics of last year—they’re the resources we know you’ll want to pick up for a new year of ministry.
For the month of January, we are offering these resources at a discount so you can hit the ground running in 2015 as you prepare your leaders and volunteers to be more equipped, energized, and effective in serving the church over the year ahead.
It’s no surprise to me that this resource is making a repeat appearance of the top of the list. Evaluations are an essential part of building church leaders, and this download is as practical as they come. It includes a collection of customizable forms for evaluating pastoral staff, administrative staff, and worship leaders and musicians, as well as guidelines on how to run effective evaluations that help leaders grow.
This list makes it clear: welcoming visitors into your church is a high priority. As it should be! If we aren’t sharing the gospel with those around us, we have missed the point of ministry. This pack—which includes five of our best resources for reaching visitors and helping them connect in your church—is the perfect place to start training leaders in this important ministry.
What is the job of an usher? It’s not just a simple volunteer opportunity—it’s a ministry. This resource outlines the biblical background of the role, what is at work when the offering occurs, the importance of welcoming guests, and strategies for keeping your church safe.
4. Setting Goals and Measuring Results
Growth doesn’t just happen. It’s the result of careful plan that is revisited and evaluated regularly. When this is a part of the church culture, every ministry will grow and flourish, along with those serving on the team. The beginning of the year is a great time to look back at old goals and make some new ones, and this resource will help you do just that.
Your first impression is so important. It not only shapes how a visitor thinks about your church—it could also shape how they think about God. These brief and practical handouts equip your congregation to welcome visitors and make them feel at home. You'll explore what works and what does not work when welcoming visitors, and there are specific handouts for greeters and ushers, two important visitor ministries.
Healthy churches are always growing new leaders. How do you know when someone is ready to serve in a larger capacity? What do they need to know as they step into a new role? Identify potential leaders by creating a climate where people want to serve and train these new leaders to be effective through mentoring relationships with this resource.
Make your church a healthy place where believers thrive with the help of this resource. Ensure that no one is sitting in your pews unconnected and unchallenged week after week by looking at the practices of “sticky” churches, reviewing the principles of member retention, and consider different approaches to engaging new members.
8. Mentor
Every leader should be mentoring younger leaders, and should be mentored by older leaders. This Orientation Guide is a great way to help prepare them for this important relationship by setting expectations, sharing advice from seasoned mentors, and outlining the practical aspects of beginning, maintaining, and assessing a relationship that helps both leaders grow.
Our ultimate goal in ministry is to lead people closer to Christ. But when church leaders are faced with so many organizational and administrative tasks, what does it actually look like to foster spiritual transformation among those you lead? This resource offers wisdom and encouragement for leaders as they take up the task of discipleship.
10. Cultivating Active Church Members
There are many reasons people don’t get involved at church. Often, they haven’t found ways to plug in that connect with their gifts and passions. These brief, practical handouts are designed to give your congregation the tools to help new members discover their spiritual gifts and employ them for God's kingdom.
Bonus: Editor’s Picks
No matter the reason for it, a transition is always hard—on the person leaving, the person entering, and the church body as a whole. But if they are handled well, they can be a time of great growth for all involved. This resource helps you prepare for your own transition and also lead your church or ministry into the next phase of its life.
12. Leveraging the Strengths of Small Churches
This year we focused more on addressing the needs of small churches, and this resource is a great starting point for churches that want to be the best church they can be today. Growth is a great goal, but small churches have their own strengths they too often ignore in pursuit of higher attendance. This resource will help you identify and lean into those strengths as you embrace the church God has called you to be at this moment.
