We are spending a few weeks answering the question, "What should define a healthy church?" Last week we talked about the necessity the Word of God, and having God's Word be the plumbline by which we live and act. Today, I want to talk about the how a healthy church connects with God's family. It is impossible to be a healthy follower of God or a healthy church if you are ...

We are spending a few weeks answering the question, "What should define a healthy church?" Last week we talked about the idea of being centered on the gospel - that the gospel isn't just a get out of jail free card, but that it defines everything that we should say and do as churches and as followers of Christ. Summarized, as we grow in our walk with Jesus, we have a deep...

Following up with last week's column concerning "why do churches die," I wanted to take a few weeks to talk about some broad characteristics that should define a healthy church. These characteristics are by no means exhaustive, but they are broad enough to define some core concepts without micromanaging the details or methodologies. In other words, I can't imagine how any...

In a follow up to last week's column, someone asked me, "Why do churches die?" This is an excellent (and sensitive) question. Last time I checked, there were 250+ registered churches in Cape May County. Over 250!!! That was shocking to me until I realized that the vast majority of those churches are declining in health and growth. Then, my shock turned to sadness. Why doe...

The First United Methodist Church of Goshen sat vacant and for sale for years. It was falling apart, desperate for work, and had no prospective buyers on the horizon. That is until Will Keenan purchased the property to renovate it and turn it into a "church for all religions," a sort of Areopagus (Acts 17) for Cape May County where people can share everything from poetry t...