January 31, 2013 By Phil Maynard Discovering the Possibilities (MAPS – Ministry Action Potential Study) A study of missional opportunities for the local church The Discovering the Possibilities is a facilitated process designed to assist congregational leaders understanding the realities of their ministry context and current ministries, and to begin discerning possibilities for their future [...]
January 23, 2013 By Phil Maynard Doug Anderson, author and speaker from the Reuben Job Center, shared in a workshop the following: “The test of a congregation’s discipling process is whether their core leaders are preference driven or mission focused” The difference between these two ideas is huge… Preference Driven is about getting our way [...]
January 22, 2013 By Phil Maynard It is rare that I work with a church that says it has more than enough leaders to support its ministries and that its leaders are equipped to what is expected of them (and by rare I mean never!). When I talk with pastors and leaders from congregations [...]
December 14, 2012 By Phil Maynard It all started in a discussion during a SHIFTS network meeting with the pastors and key lay persons from five congregations talking about the difference between missional gestures and ministries of engagement related to serving others. One of the pastors was convicted that his congregation had focused on missional [...]
December 4, 2012 By Phil Maynard Reggie McNeal, currently serving as the Missional Leadership Specialist for the Leadership Network, identifies in this classic work three major shifts that must take place in the Church if it is to live into its God-given potential in the next century. This book is a must-read for all church [...]
November 29, 2012 By Phil Maynard Although I have been a life-long United Methodist, one of my most formative experiences in the faith journey was the introduction to accountable discipleship. Drawing on the rich heritage of the Wesleyan Class meetings, the accountable discipleship helped me understand that being a disciple of Jesus Christ was [...]
November 8, 2012 By Phil Maynard It would seem to be a ‘no-brainer’. If we’re going to connect with our community, engage our community, and make a difference in our community we have to ‘know’ our community. I am discovering however that ‘knowing’ the community is not always the case for congregations. A while back, [...]
August 27, 2012 By Phil Maynard I was sitting in my preferred seat (the nosebleed section) of the annual denominational meeting of my tribe with a lot of other bored people. Then it happened. The smell of fresh popcorn wafted across the aisle. The little girl enjoying her snack had no idea the impact she [...]
August 27, 2012 By Phil Maynard Chapter 1: A Biblical Mandate for Fruitfulness The authors remind us that the Bible begins and ends with images of fruitfulness and conclude that the church is also intended to be fruitful. They identify three types of fruitfulness that God hopes we will display: The Fruit of God’s expanding [...]
August 1, 2012 By Phil Maynard For some reason ministry leaders seem to think they have to figure it all out on their own. Maybe it’s the title that does it, maybe its our culture we were brought up in, or maybe its just about our egos. But its time that the church figured out [...]