Perspective and Support from a gen-z laity and millennial pastor

Cumberland had an active Facebook page. Their church admin was doing her best to keep content flowing, but the reality is that managing social media on top of everything else a small church staff handles becomes a lot. Most of their posts were promotional: upcoming events, service times, announcements. Good information, necessary information, but not the kind of content that builds engagement.

Most people are cautiously optimistic about artificial intelligence because they can see the benefits, the efficiencies that it can bring, but they also see these negatives of, how do you stay authentic using artificial intelligence if all that artificial intelligence is, is the median of everything?

There are many congregations in this country that look down the road to the future and wonder if they will be able to survive. While some leaders stay in denial or refuse to change, waiting for the last member to turn out the lights, many churches are finding creative solutions to sustain and build their ministry and mission.

Thaddeus had a chance to sit down with Rev. Cydney Van Dyke and Khaleigh Laicher, two of the people behind the growing regional youth ministry group in Lower Fairfield County, CT.

Zoom is an online video conferencing application. It allows groups of people to gather for meetings using a computer, a tablet, or a smartphone. It even allows people to call in with any kind of phone and participate in gatherings.

There are different options for streaming content, depending on what you are trying to do and what your audience will be comfortable with.

If you’ve ever asked, “How can we make our church more welcoming?”—you’re not alone. Churches everywhere are wrestling with how to offer a deeper sense of belonging, especially to new faces, those returning after time away, or people who’ve never set foot inside a sanctuary before.

It’s easy to get swept up in social media trends. The catchy audios, the trending challenges, the fast shifts in what gets seen. But in the middle of all that noise, it’s essential to stay grounded in your why—and more importantly, your who.

Keeping the lights on at your church can feel like a full-time job. What if you could free up your time and mental bandwidth with tools that actually make ministry easier? The three tools below—MailerLite, Notion, and Canva—have become core to how we run our own ministry work. We're not affiliates, just fans who believe they can help your church breathe easier.

As we come to the end of the Spring, many churches start to plan what the next church year will look like. Below are some guidelines to help in making this next year fruitful and difference-making.

It’s no secret—many church members aren’t opening that long PDF newsletter. And it’s not because they don’t care. Digital habits have simply changed. If your church is still relying on bulky attachments or printed formats, you may be missing a chance to truly connect.

For small churches, creating a successful and sustainable youth mission trip program can be an enriching endeavor, both for the youth participants and the community as a whole. However, starting and growing such a program comes with its unique challenges. With the right strategies, church leaders can establish a thriving program, while avoiding common pitfalls along the way.

You’ve probably noticed: hashtags aren’t as hyped as they used to be. So, what changed?

Mission Trips can be transformative, but they also come with a responsibility to ensure the safety of all. It’s crucial to be prepared

Isn’t it amazing how quickly Sunday follows Sunday, and by the time our church maintenance obligations are met, all our energy is devoured?

The saying "First impressions are everything" is true, especially in an era where many people "church shop" before committing to a community

In days gone by, the summer mission trip was the highlight of the year for many church youth programs, and for good reason!

Attention to these details will yield tax savings for the clergy without any increased expense to the congregations they serve.

Families are our foundation and youth are our future. How do we connect with these young people in ways that make them want to take part?

Keep this article handy for the next time your church is planning a youth-oriented event!