Church Technology Review

Posted by D. Goodmanson on Feb 4, 2006 in Church, Church Technology, Ekklesia, General Technology, Monk Dev | 0 comments

A new website is launched: Church Technology Review is a website for churches to read reviews of church-focused technology (both specifically designed for churches and general companies) so ministry leaders can research solutions prior to selection.

[Mega Churches] How the American Church changed Christianity (part 2)

Posted by D. Goodmanson on Feb 3, 2006 in Church | 1 comment

A number of churches I know started with a reaction against being a ‘mega church’. They wanted an authentic expression of the faith, a community of believers living out the gospel in their local context and a rejection of program-driven plans. Unfortunately, a number of these now are mega churches!

How can a church guard against dilluting the preaching, teaching and community as they grow from a small group of dozens to large churches of hundreds and thousands?

One church plant model [Harbor here in San Diego started by Dick Kaufman who helped Reedemer in NY think through this] has decided in a multi-site model that really limits each location to about 150. They believe 150 is a magic number that has a great impact on serving, community and outreach. A site pastor is set for each location, but whoever preaches would serve the same message at 3 different locations. Often these locations are only 5-10 minutes apart. Their expectation is a pastor should be able to plant 2 to 3 locations each. “The harvest is ready but the workers are few,” commented Dick to me over lunch.

How the American Church changed Christianity (part 1)

Posted by D. Goodmanson on Feb 2, 2006 in Church | 10 comments

Question: How has Modern American Christianity changed Christianity and the way we do church for the worse? Do you think any of these?

1. Practices: Programs and business practices in the place of a radical christianity.
2. Worship: Songs more focused on feelings than God.
3. Gospel: Focused on personal salvation, not the gospel of the Kingdom.
4. Mission: Get them to our building, not send our people out.
5. Mercy: Church buildings or ‘over there’ but little backyard mercy ministries.

A publisher I spoke with is interested in having a book about what the American church and what Jesus said should look like here if we hadn’t ‘Americanized Jesus’. I’d love your thoughts…