by Tracee Swank | Aug 17, 2026 | church health, community, growth, Kingdom
For most of church history in this country, congregations could assume a baseline. People walking through the doors usually knew the basic Bible stories, recognized the major holidays, and shared some sense of Christian moral vocabulary. Discipleship could start in...
by Tracee Swank | Aug 10, 2026 | church health, community, Kingdom, outreach
Ask most church leaders how their church is doing, and they will tell you about Sunday: attendance, giving, the new sermon series, the building project. Almost no one answers the question by talking about the neighborhood outside the doors. That instinct reveals...
by Tracee Swank | Aug 3, 2026 | church health, community, decision-making, leadership
Across many communities, churches unknowingly compete for members, resources, visibility, and influence. While few leaders would admit to this openly, the effects are often visible. Congregations duplicate ministries, guard ideas, and measure success against...
by Tracee Swank | Jul 29, 2026 | change, church health, community, growth, renewal
Every leader keeps score. The only question that matters is whether your scoreboard is telling you the truth. For most of us, the scoreboard is attendance. Count the seats, measure against last year, let the number decide the mood. But if people now belong before they...
by Tracee Swank | Jul 22, 2026 | challenges, change, community, mission
Right now, somewhere within a mile of your church, someone is typing into a phone the things they cannot say to a human being. Asking for comfort. Asking if they matter. And something answers, fast and patient and tireless. It just cannot love them, and it never will....
by Tracee Swank | Jul 20, 2026 | community, Kingdom, mission, outreach
For many years churches believed their primary responsibility was to create excellent worship services and effective ministry programs, trusting that people would eventually walk through their doors. Today, however, many churches are discovering that the front door no...
