NOTE FROM LUMINEX: This is the third entry in an 8-week series on Priorities. Today’s focus is Discipleship. Enjoy! Frequently we notice growth after it happens—when we’re not watching. Mostly, I think it’s because we expect growth to only feel exciting. But growth, growing, involves changing and breaking. Growth involves growing pains. Are there areas in your life that the Lord may want to …
Priorities Series: Kingdom-Focused Prayer
NOTE FROM LUMINEX: Today is the first entry in an 8-week series on Priorities. We are delighted to have Jon Sherrill, Lead Pastor at Fifth Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, begin our series by writing about Kingdom-Focused Prayer. Enjoy! In the ancient world, when a disciple said to their rabbi, “Teach us to pray,” the disciple was asking for much …
Priorities …
Happy New Year! As we enter 2018, we thought it would be appropriate to begin the new year with a series on Priorities. The series will cover eight written blogs, and will begin on January 8 and conclude on February 26. In the Priorities series you will hear perspectives on key Luminex priorities from eight different writers, some of whom are part of …
Transition Ministry Series: A Story from Hope Reformed Church, Kalamazoo
Moments of transition are sometimes the best moments to take a step back and reevaluate. Here’s the story and process of how Hope Reformed Church did just that. Our speaker, Steve Hellenga, is with Hope Reformed Church in Kalamazoo. They recently went through the transitional process of calling a new pastor. During this process they sought the help of a …
Church Snopes: Debunking Common Myths about Starting New Churches
Myth: We don’t need any more churches in North America Reality: While we have made much progress over the last two decades by starting thousands of new churches across North America, three facts are sobering: 1) The number of church starts parallels the number of church closures. 2) The rate of population growth in North America exceeds the rate of …
Going Back to Middle School
There are many lessons to be learned in middle school. One such lesson is found in studying middle school literature. This week’s Whiteboard Wednesday is brought to you by Dan Ackerman, Executive Leader for Zeeland Classis of the RCA. Dan will tell you of his recent experience reading middle school literature and the lessons he gleaned from it. He starts …
Introduction to the 3DM Learning Circle
This week is an introduction to the 3DM Learning Circle, a tool to process life’s kairos moments – simply put, moments that make you sad, mad, or glad. Our speaker, Roger Bird, is from The Bridge in Allegan, a church that began 9 years ago. Their main goal was to be a missional church, but found that they were burning …
Discipleship
Mark 3:13-18: “Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), …
Luminex Podcast 11: Pastoring a Church in its Final Days
Last week on the podcast Randy Weener talked about small churches and how some of them are at the end of their life cycle. This week Doug interviews Jason Vermeulen about his experience pastoring Casnovia Reformed Church during its final days and the time leading up to the end. [00:00:20] Introduction to Casnovia Reformed Church Casnovia Reformed Church is located …
Four Ways to Encourage Staff
Everyone needs some encouragement. Here’s some simple ways to do it at your church! Make Gafa brings us this week’s Whiteboard Wednesday with four ways to encourage staff members: Be present. Give your time and attention to the staff members in your church. How? Listen closely, be attentive to their needs, and be focused on them. Be affirmative. Intentionally affirm …