A BIG Congratulations to Dr. Gary McIntosh!

On Thursday night, Oct 1, 2015 at the annual gathering of the Great Commission Research Network at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminar, my friend and mentor Dr. Gary McIntosh received the Win Arn Award for Lifetime Achievement in Church Growth Award. No one is more deserving than Dr. Gary McIntosh! He is a great writer, researcher and professor of Church Growth. He is a true … Read More


Nelson SearcyLeadership

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Why Do a Christmas Offering – and Why NOW (Free Video)

I have an odd question for you… Are you ready to celebrate Christmas? I know, I know, it’s only October, but now is the time to prepare for the most important offering you’ll collect all year – your Christmas Offering! A Christmas Offering is a special offering given during a set period of time around Christmas that encourages people to give over and above their regular … Read More


Nelson SearcyChurch Growth, Leadership, Stewardship

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Q & A Spotlight: New Believer Follow-up packets

Each month I host a call for members of my Renegade Pastors Network where they have the opportunity to ask me questions directly and get answers to any issues they’re facing. Q: This question comes to us from a senior pastor in Clovis, CA who recently listened to The New Believer Seminar. He asks about the follow-up packets that are mentioned … Read More


Nelson SearcyChurch Systems, Leadership

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What Can Donald McGavran Teach Us?

Donald A. McGavran, the founder of the church growth movement, became fascinated by one predominant question: Why do some churches grow rapidly while others don’t grow at all? Related to that, he began asking how he and his fellow missionaries could strategically begin to cultivate the harvest where the soil was more pliable while giving consistent, yet less, energy where … Read More


Nelson SearcyBooks, Church Growth, Leadership

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Are You a Strategic Leader?

The following is an excerpt from Preparing For Change Reaction: How to Introduce Change in Your Church by my good friend Dr. Bob Whitesel. Bob serves as Professor of Christian Ministry and Missional Leadership for Wesley Seminary and holds two doctorates from Fuller Theological Seminary. He currently serves as president of the Great Commission Research Network as well as a board member … Read More


Nelson SearcyBooks, Leadership

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Does Donald McGavran Still Matter Today?

Donald McGavran is the single most important thinker on how we do ministry today. His life’s work is the foundation of what you and I know about growing healthy, impactful churches. Yet, if you are under the age of fifty, you may have never heard his name. Rest assured, Donald McGavran’s life impacts you. It impacts me. All of us who … Read More


Nelson SearcyBooks, Church Growth, Leadership

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My #1 Mistake in Ministry, Part 4 of a 4 part series

Today is the conclusion of this 4 part series where I’ve shared my biggest mistake in ministry and the 7 ways I plan to correct it. Yesterday I revealed the first three strategies I’ll use to get more intentional about calling out the called. Here are my remaining four: 4. Work the call to ministry into our discipleship classes and membership … Read More


Nelson SearcyLeadership, Ministry

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