Offer Interest- and Background-Based Small Groups

The Church on the Way in Van Nuys, Calif., tailors its opportunities for connection to ensure attendees return again and again. “To really get to know people, you need to find out the relational issues and what culture they grew up with, and then how you can serve them particularly,” says Lead Pastor of Pastoral Care Cecelia Freeman. The church offers groups for every ethnicity in the church, a homeless group, formational groups, topical or seasonal groups, home groups and recreational groups. Next on their to-do list is creating online groups to accommodate members’ busy lives.

James P. Long
James P. Longhttp://JamesPLong.com

James P. Long was formerly the editor of Outreach magazine and the author of a number of books, including Why Is God Silent When We Need Him the Most?

Nicole Martin: A Different Kind of Leadership

When I go to a great restaurant and it’s really good, no one ever has to tell me, “Could you let other people know?” I cannot wait to tell other people, first of all, that I've been, and second of all, how good the food is. I think we have lived our Christian lives on the periphery of God's grace and goodness and favor for so long that we don't know how good the food is for ourselves.

How Holy Trinity Brompton Is Revitalizing the Church of England

“We don’t want our denomination to close one more church without first offering it to us to send a team to revitalize it.” -Sarah Jackson

Venture Church: Community for First-Timers

“If people don’t make a single friend at your church, they’re not going to stay.” ~Pastor Di Beals