Archive

ChurchPulse Weekly Conversations: Mark Sayers on Faith During Crisis

With the number of U.S. COVID cases once again on the rise as colder weather sets in and political polarization still palpable across the nation following the recent presidential election, pastors and their people may feel just as uncertain now as they did at the start of the pandemic seven months ago. In recent ChurchPulse Weekly episodes, host Carey Nieuwhof and guest Mark Sayers—cultural commentator, writer, speaker and pastor—discuss faith, safety and opportunity during crisis.

Three Lenses to Keep in Mind When Converting Live Services to Digital

While many churches have re-opened since the nationwide shut down in March, the logistics—and perhaps necessity—of hybrid church (combination of in-person and digital) is something pastors remain curious about. What does it mean to offer both in-person and digital experiences? How can these experiences be just as impactful online as they are in person?

What Churches Might Miss When Measuring Digital Attendance

Can digital ministry become more than a sermon? Our data collected during the 2020 tumult—releasing in a new report, Six Questions About the Future of the Hybrid Church Experience—suggest that viewing and attending church are not seen as the same thing, and a more holistic strategy for digital or hybrid ministry is needed for the long term.

ChurchPulse Weekly Conversations: Aaron McRae and Brian Wurzell on Hybrid Christmas

Back in 2019, Aaron McRae and Brian Wurzell of Hillside Church were hoping they’d explore digital outreach more in 2020. When the pandemic hit, they realized those plans would have to accelerate. Now, months later, they’ve seen unexpected fruitfulness, with over a million views on their YouTube—and they’re gearing up for Christmas. On the most recent ChurchPulse Weekly episode, David Kinnaman summarizes Barna’s latest research, and podcast host Carey Nieuwhof sits down with McRae and Wurzell to discuss how the Church can minister during this year’s disrupted holiday season.

3 Things Church Leaders Must Know as They Navigate Election Season

As the U.S. presidential election looms, pastors might wonder how to lead well during this time of increased tension. If our data on the tug-of-war for their engagement is any indication, they likely feel there is no way to win with all of their congregants. Today’s article offers three research insights to help pastors understand the current climate and thoughtfully guide their church through this divided moment.

ChurchPulse Weekly Conversations: Alejandro Reyes and Haley Veturis on Digital Church

On the most recent ChurchPulse Weekly episode, podcast hosts Nieuwhof and Kinnaman sit down with Alejandro Reyes, CEO of Digital Napkin and executive pastor at New Vintage Church, and Haley Veturis, director of digital engagement at Bayside Church, to talk about digital outreach in the church.

ChurchPulse Weekly Conversations: Christopher Harris & Jim Sheppard on Financial Health in the Church

On ChurchPulseWeekly, Carey Nieuwhof and David Kinnaman sit down with Christopher Harris and Jim Sheppard to discuss how churches can make healthy financial choices in 2020.

Why 2020 Might Be Good News for the Church

In the final installment of the series Five Essential Conversations About Ministry to the Next Generation, David Kinnaman and Mark Matlock wrap up their discussion with a hopeful note: looking at the positive outcomes and opportunities presented to the Church, even in the chaos of of 2020.

How Mental Health Is the New Domain of Ministry to the Next Generation

Recent data show that the mental health strain teens and young adults were under pre-pandemic have only intensified during the crisis. How should church leaders respond in light of these findings?

ChurchPulse Weekly Conversations: Latasha Morrison on Bridge Building

Why You Might Be Aiming at the Wrong Target in Your Ministry to the Next Generation

With only 10 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds who grew up Christian or in the Church qualifying as what Barna defines as "resilient disciples," pastors may wonder, what can be done to engage young people and even raise this percentage in the years to come?

Will the 2020 Pandemic Accelerate Loss of Faith Among the Next Generation?

Reaching out to the next generation is of key importance, especially in a season of uncertainty and rapid changes. The first step Matlock recommends to welcome Prodigals back into the Church and encourage all young people to stay engaged is to forge deeper connections. These stronger ties will yield insights into how pastors can best support and disciple these young adults.

Why Millennials Aren't Watching Your Streamed Worship Services

Over the last few months, church leaders have expressed that they are struggling in their ministry to younger adult generations. In light of this, Barna president David Kinnaman and Director of Insights Mark Matlock sat down to review what research tells us about these age groups, seeking to offer actionable insights that church leaders can implement right now. We'll kick off this five-day video series, Five Essential Conversations About Ministry to the Next Generation, with an exploration of some of the reasons Millennials may have stopped streaming digital church during the pandemic.

Restoring Relationships: A Barna Digital Summit

On September 30, 2020, Barna and Pepperdine University’s Boone Center for the Family partnered together to host a live digital summit to share findings from the Restoring Relationships report. This free event paired past data with recent research and expert interviews to help pastors get a broader glimpse at relational health in light of the 2020 disruptions, including the COVID-19 crisis, renewed conversations on racial justice and increased political divides preceding the upcoming election.

ChurchPulse Weekly Conversations: Pete Scazzero on Rhythms for Lives in Crisis

On the most recent ChurchPulse Weekly episode, podcast hosts Carey Nieuwhof and David Kinnaman sat down with Pete Scazzero, founder of the Emotionally Healthy Discipleship ministry, to discuss how pastors and churches can respond to the widespread wounds of our traumatized world.

Christians Struggled with Relational Health Prior to the Crisis—So What Has Changed?

It’s no secret that relationships drastically impact our lives. Healthy relationships are supportive and life-giving, contributing to our resilience during challenging times (especially among young people), spurring us to grow in faith together and even allowing us to be better parents. Unhealthy relationships—or even a lack of relationships—have a tendency to leave us feeling drained, empty and dissatisfied. During the COVID-19 crisis, these negative impacts have been felt even more prominently. What can the Church do to help?

ChurchPulse Weekly Conversations: A Panel on Pandemic Church Planting

Church leaders are balancing between old and new normals. While leaders recognize that the pandemic isn’t going away any time soon, churches still have hope that the old normal will return. This week, podcast hosts Carey Nieuwhof and David Kinnaman talk to three pastors on church planting in crisis: Dave Ferguson, Roy Helu Jr., and Glenn Lawson.

ChurchPulse Weekly Conversations: Andy Crouch on Caring for Your Heart, Soul, Mind & Strength

Carey Nieuwhof and David Kinnaman invite Andy Crouch to join them for the most recent ChurchPulse Weekly episode. Crouch, author of The Tech-Wise Family, speaker and partner for theology and culture at Praxis Labs, shares his thoughts on the pandemic, and what pastors and their people can be doing to care for the heart, soul, mind and strength right now.