Church #8. Meet Holy Week. On Friday, I posted a free Holy Week resource for families. You can find it Here. Today I am writing about my experience with death of Jesus and children. As a director of children's ministries, kids ask me all sorts of questions. "Where does God live?" or "If there is a God, … Continue reading Death 101 for Kids

As a kid, I thought Holy Week consisted of one big party that started on Palm Sunday and ended on Easter. My parents did not take us to mid-week Lenten services, Maundy Thursday or Good Friday.  We were Sunday to Sunday worship attendees.  Life was busy for my parents with 4 kids. It hasn't slowed … Continue reading Busy lives & Holy Week? Use FAITH5!

Church #7. Meet Anna Anderson. She is a solo pastor at Advent Lutheran Church in Arlington, Virginia. With 90 people who make Advent their church home, Anderson says that more than half of this congregation can be described as denominational-ly unattached. Located near the Pentagon, Advent is a “melting pot” worshiping community. Being comprised of … Continue reading Moving Past Membership

Evangelism is a word not well-received these days. Translated from the Greek word, euangelion, which as I understand it means “good news” or “good tidings," evangelism has in not so far ancient times beaten people over the head with Bibles, forced-believing. It’s no wonder why evangelism though has gotten a bad rap. What do we … Continue reading Evangelism as Mindfulness

Church #6. Meet Michelle Basner-Ketepa. She is the Minister of Faith Formation at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. With an average worship attendance of 300, Basner-Ketepa is working hard to integrate children into the life of the worship service. She comments on how Beautiful Savior’s has been slowly integrating a cross + generational … Continue reading Worship in a Box

Wind back until 1985. Now I don’t know about you, but in my house my parents made the rules and the decisions. My life growing up was a good one, but my role was to do as they asked or not. The later usually got me into trouble. Nevertheless, at some point I would acquiesce. … Continue reading Kids vote. Parents listen.

Church #5. Meet Nicole VanderMeulen. She is the Director of Children, Youth and Family at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in Renton, Washington. With a worshipping attendance of around 300 people, VanderMeulen says, “St. Matthew’s is committed to loving all people.” This vibrant church has five core values, which are based on these title headings: Welcome, Story, … Continue reading A Third Space

I love my clerical collar. Even though it is a little itchy, it has opened many conversations about God and my life with the people I encounter around town. And what I have noticed thru these bump-into’s is that people are longing to know God. Churches on the other hand long for people to enter … Continue reading Stop Inviting, until…

Church #4. Meet Mary Corning Sanders. She is a solo pastor at United Lutheran Church in Tacoma, Washington. United has a membership of 100 people, with about 45-50 worshipping on a given Sunday. What this little church has done is amazing. Sanders says, “The realities are like many. United is an aging white congregation with … Continue reading 100 Members: 3000 Meals

In my effort to blog about my own experiences as well as other churches, here is my next story. I have always known that church relationships matter. For 20 years, I have been in ministry on 3 different continents speaking 3 to 4 languages. But it didn’t really hit me until I made my last … Continue reading A Tale of Two Churches