Church Growth and Impact - Mission Shaped Church

How to Use MissionInsite: Ethical Principles for Lifestyle Research

by LaurenChurch Growth and Impact, Mission Field, MissionInsite, Outreach and Mission March 15, 2024March 15, 2024Comments are Disabled

By Tom Bandy The internet has been valuable in so many ways. But the combination of digitalization and miniaturisation has raised ethical concerns especially for lifestyle research. Many churches and denominations also use lifestyle research (as we do), but there is always a risk that institutional priorities and hidden biases might unconsciously lead us to …

Still More Lessons in Hospitality

by BillDiversity and Inclusion, Evangelism, Mission Shaped Church, Outreach and Mission February 19, 2024February 19, 2024Comments are Disabled

This is my third post in a random series of articles dealing with hospitality. I’ve spent time on this topic because it is so critical to church renewal and vitality. How we welcome the “other” is a foundational lesson of both the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament. A few weeks ago my wife and …

Outcome Versus Impact

by LaurenChurch Growth and Impact, Discipleship, Mission Field, Mission Shaped Church February 9, 2024February 8, 2024Comments are Disabled

This week I received terrible news that a young man I mentored from the time he was 8 until he graduated from high school was killed in a senseless act of gun violence. I met Tyejuan in 2007 at my first job out of seminary. I was the program manager at The Southeast White House, …

MissionInsite: Going Deeper beyond Basic Categories

by LaurenChurch Growth and Impact, Church Planting, Evangelism, MissionInsite January 29, 2024January 29, 2024Comments are Disabled

By Tom Bandy Strategic thinkers often want to explore a specific demographic detail for which there is no one single category in the Build a Report process. Recently I was asked to research locations with a high population density for children aged 5-13 in families below poverty. MissionInsite only allows you to do separate OpportunityScans …

How to Use MissionInsite: Customizing Christmas

by LaurenChurch Growth and Impact, Church Planting, Mission Field, MissionInsite December 8, 2023December 8, 2023Comments are Disabled

By Tom Bandy You can use MissionInsite to make this Christmas especially meaningful for distinct lifestyle mosaics that live in your reach. This is particularly useful for urban churches experiencing growing lifestyle diversity that is transforming their surrounding neighborhoods. Centralization is what happens as urbanization moves along major transportation corridors, isolating rural areas, and forcing …

The Challenge to Reach Singles and Starters

by LaurenChurch Growth and Impact, Diversity and Inclusion, MissionInsite, Outreach and Mission November 10, 2023November 10, 2023Comments are Disabled

By Tom Bandy The single most difficult group for churches of any variety to reach is Group O Singles and Starters. There are six segments included in the group: O50 Full Steam Ahead Younger and middle-aged singles gravitating to second-tier cities O51 Digital Savvy Young Singles who live digital-driven smaller city lifestyles O52 …

The Importance of Hospitality Part 2

by BillChurch Growth and Impact, Church Planting, Diversity and Inclusion, Evangelism, Outreach and Mission October 20, 2023October 20, 2023Comments are Disabled

In an earlier post on hospitality (read it here), I discussed the importance of guest follow up, and I shared some tips and tools. I based my post on Hebrews 13:2 – “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.” This is a reference …

How to Use Opportunity Scan Part 2

by LaurenChurch Growth and Impact, Church Planting, Diversity and Inclusion, Mission Field, MissionInsite, Outreach and Mission October 9, 2023October 9, 2023Comments are Disabled

By Tom Bandy Congregational Planning Method Most congregational users prefer to skip the initial “What Do You Want to Do” screen to explore a smaller, designated area. You can find the Opportunity Scan tool by clicking the “Demographics” tab on the bottom toolbar of the screen. Then find the Opportunity Scan tool at the bottom …

How to Use Opportunity Scan Part 1

by LaurenChurch Growth and Impact, Church Planting, Mission Field, MissionInsite September 29, 2023September 29, 2023Comments are Disabled

By Tom Bandy Every congregation has free access to MissionInsite. The amount of data may seem overwhelming, and research tools may seem challenging, but with regular practice it soon becomes easy for any staff, board, or committee to gather information pertinent to their area of ministry. Opportunity Scan is a tool that helps you focus …

Technology for Creative Worship

by LaurenChurch Growth and Impact, Pandemic Church, Preaching and Teaching September 22, 2023September 22, 2023Comments are Disabled

In the last few months, many people online have been posting their videos of the Beyoncé concert. I’m not a Beyoncé superfan, so I haven’t seen her perform on tour, but I’ve been impressed by her show, specifically her use of technology to enhance concert goers’ experience. It’s amazing. Google it for yourself so you …