When Fifth Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Cleveland, Ohio called Rev. E. Regis Bunch to serve as Transitional Pastor, its community of faith stood at a crossroads. “The congregation knew they were experiencing a deep decline, but they didn’t have consensus...
When Rev. Dr. Richard Hamm, then-General Minister and President, and other church leaders dreamed up the 2020 Vision, none of them imagined the global pandemic that 2020 would bring. However, the 2020 Vision – with its prescription for new churches, revitalized...
When the new pastor of Memorial Christian Church walked by the “for sale” sign in the front yard in 2020, she expected a short, sad tenure with this small church in Peoria, Ill. Of course, that was before there were bouncy castles in the sanctuary. Although the...
In 2014, First Christian Church (FCC), Odessa, Texas, was literally in a bad place. Membership was down. The building had significant accessibility issues and was hidden from view behind another church. Without transformation, the congregation would perish. So, First...
Fort Collins, Colo., is by no means a metropolis, yet it struggles with issues many densely populated cities face: affordable housing and childcare. Heart of the Rockies Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) (HRCC), blessed with large acreage, recognized the need and...
New churches are often short on funds but long on vision, passion, and ingenuity. Having a strong ministry partner in those vulnerable early days can help a fledgling church survive and thrive. Such was the case for Samoan Congregational Christian Church (SCCC) in...