by Dennis Bickers | Jul 2, 2014 | Opinion
The most critical time in the life of a small church is the time they spend between pastors. This is a time that should be spent in reflection as they review their history and look toward the future. It is a time to discern a fresh vision from God regarding their...
by Dennis Bickers | Jun 26, 2014 | Opinion
Eighty percent of the churches in America are either plateaued or declining. Some put that number even higher. It is estimated that 4,000 to 5,000 churches close their doors each year. The number of churches per capita continues to shrink, meaning our churches are...
by Dennis Bickers | Jun 17, 2014 | Opinion
I have heard many tales of clergy being horribly treated by members of their congregations and have seen firsthand how poorly some of my clergy friends have been treated in my 20 years of bivocational ministry and 13 years of denominational leadership. I am well aware...
by Dennis Bickers | May 19, 2014 | Opinion
Many churches struggle with how they can have a more effective ministry to their communities. At pastor gatherings and workshops, I will be asked by more than one pastor how their churches can get out of their ruts and begin to engage their communities. In some cases,...
by Dennis Bickers | Apr 29, 2014 | Opinion
I was raised in a time when life seemed fairly stable. Marriages were expected to last forever. You went to work for a company, stayed there until you retired, and received a gold watch. You could attend virtually any church in a denomination and would find the...
