Last week LifeWay Research released a study of pastors and how they spend/allocate their time. The results were interesting and encouraging, mostly. There are also, of course, discouraging signs that ought to challenge pastors to be better stewards with their time.

Consider the following statistics from the survey of 1,000+ pastors:

• 65% work 50+ hrs/wk; almost 10% work 70+ hrs/wk
• over half spend between 5-14 hrs/wk on sermon preparation
• 70% spend about 5 hrs/wk in meetings
• over half spend 2-6 hrs/wk in email correspondence
• 48% spend 2-5 hrs/wk in visitation
• at least 45% spend 20+ hrs/wk with their families
• 52% spend 2-5 hrs/wk in personal devotions not related to teaching preparation

Sadly,

• 10% spend less than 9 hrs/wk with their families
• 14% spend an hour or less in personal devotions a week -- and worse, 5% spend no time in prayer at all

The reason why this survey interests me is because I am a pastor by calling. I can see myself in many of these statistics, and I know where scores of my fellow pastors would show up as well.

Without a doubt, a pastor's job is demanding, thankless, solitary and discouraging. It is easy to throw stones at guys who are stuggling in ministry and misuse their time. On the other hand, pastors ought to be challenged by such statistics to make sure they are fulfilling the high calling to which God has called them.

A survey like this drives me to pray for those whom God has called to lead and to serve his people. Join me in prayer for pastors -- and if you get the opportunity, let your pastor know how much you appreciate him and that you recognize his work for Christ. I'm confident that your words will be an encouragement to him, and they might even spur him on to greater ministry ahead.

Entry by Micah Carter

Last week LifeWay Research released an interesting study about the economy and its effects on churches, revealing some encouraging facts about church ministry in lean fiscal times.

In light of this study, we asked our friend Ben Stroup to offer some reflections about "money and ministry." Ben is the author of Church Giving Matters: More Money Really Does Mean More Ministry (CrossBooks, 2009).

While USA Today attempted to paint a very bleak picture about money and ministry in this economic climate, LifeWay Research demonstrated that 68% of those who responded to the survey said their 2009 offerings to be at or better than those in 2008; only 28% said their offerings were less than 2009. Further, 62% noted that their offerings were at or above what was budgeted.

 

I think all of this is positive news, and pastors should be reassured about the ability to fund the ministry of their churches, even in a difficult economy at large.

 

Giving to churches is typically the most consistent, even in a recession, among all charitable giving segments. Much of this is indicative of the the assistance that churches provide in times of need, a strong emotional connection with a specific church, and the fact that most churches teach on some level about the importance of giving back a portion of what God has given us support the work of the local church.

 

I'd argue that the greatest learning points over the last two years related to church funding and the economy are these:

 

• God’s economy is much different than our economy. Christians should be people of hope in every economy. If we can’t find hope through our faith, then who can?
• The days of 'easy money' are over. People in the pew will demand accountability for their giving, looking for impact and results moving forward.
• Funding always follows vision. Simply put: no vision, no funding.
• Pastors have to talk about money. Pastors and churches who remain silent about money and giving will, by default, fund someone else's budget!
• Assimilation impacts giving. People want to participate in the distribution of God’s resources, whether that be time, talent, or treasure. Those who volunteer and hold positions of leadership within a given church community typically operate with a greater sense of satisfaction, a deeper sense of ownership, and have a higher propensity to give generously.
• Church giving is a spiritual issue. Giving is an outward sign of an inward commitment.  A lack of giving reveals a lack of spiritual maturity (and a lack of commitment to the local church!).
• Generosity is systemic. It’s the job of the church leader to ensure the systems are in place and functioning to facilitate total spiritual transformation. This includes our belief in and practice of the Lordship of Christ. Is what we have ours to posses or God’s gift to be seen as assets to be invested in building the Kingdom?

God has given the church the perfect platform to demonstrate that we actually believe and practice what we preach and profess. What will we do with this opportunity? Will we sit in the corner and cry about it, or will we lay claim to the promises of Scripture that if we seek first the Kingdom of God and His rightoueness, all these things will be provided for us?

 

It’s our time, our moment. What will we do with it? The world is waiting.

Sunday afternoon over a mall food court lunch, my husband and I began talking about celebrities we'd like to meet. While I can't remember exactly what led to this oh-so-deep lunchtime conversation, I do remember that we were creating our lists based not upon their looks, or the movies they've starred in, or the magazine covers they'd graced, but on television interviews we'd seen them give. Basically, which celebrities (movie stars, athletes, musicians, etc.) seemed -- in their interviews -- to be the kind of people we'd want to meet, really get to know and maybe even develop lifelong friendships.

Sadly, our lists of celebrities were short (and no doubt a bit judgmental, so I won't name names), but a couple of characteristics kept standing out. My husband would name someone and say, "She seems genuine," and I would follow with another name and the comment, "He doesn't seem to take himself too seriously." Other comments included: "She seems down-to-earth," "He seems fun to be around," and the list goes on.

When I was thinking today about how to blog about our Q&A with Margaret Feinberg, it dawned on me that she absolutely makes my list. I have never actually spoken to Mrs. Feinberg, nor have I ever heard her speak. The five questions she answered for this piece were issued and replied to via e-mail, I didn't conduct the podcast interview -- thanks go to Michael Kelley and the Threads folks for hooking us up with that -- and prior to her book, Scouting the Divine, I'd never read her work. But I really want to meet her!

All of those things that go into making someone the type of person you want to meet, she convinced me she has all of them by answering our five simple questions. I hope you'll agree.

Click here to check out the Q&A, and don't forget to listen to the short podcast while you're there (at the top, under "multimedia").

Entry by Brooklyn Lowery
Editor, LifeWay communications department

Forgive the title – it is shamelessly stolen from The Wizard of Oz (“Lions & tigers & bears, oh my”).  I must admit, sometimes I feel a little like Dorothy when I start looking at all the social network options available. This whirlwind of online chatter is mind blowing.

Facts & Trends magazine – of which yours truly is the editor – began more than 50 years ago as a free 4-page newsletter sent out from LifeWay to a couple of hundred Southern Baptist pastors and ministers of education. It let them know what was going on at LifeWay and, as often as not, about one-fourth of it was devoted to a listing of new employees coming in and old employees leaving.

Today, Facts & Trends goes out to about 65,000 people – church staffs, seminaries, colleges/universities, denominational leaders and lots of lay leaders. We still mostly mail to Southern Baptists, but other denominations have seen the good in knowing what LifeWay is doing and what we have to offer as ministry ideas and resources. Best of all, it's still free. I like to think that some things are just too good to sell!

But I digress …

I am a print gal! Old school. I like a magazine that I can hold in my hands. I like big pictures. I like reading. I still read honest to goodness books. I’m the proud owner and frequent user of a Metro Davidson County Public Library card.

But again, I digress …

Things change and grow. That's good. We change and grow with them or we die. Facts & Trends is now so much more than just a print magazine. Facts & Trends Online has a growing following. We now have a Facebook page where you can be a “fan” just by typing Facts & Trends in Facebook’s search window. Having “fans” sounds great!

Now, Facts & Trends has a Twitter account (@FTOmagazine). I understand that Twitter is the fastest growing communication tool the history of the known universe … moving at something akin to light speed.

But, I confess. I had to be pulled into Twitter. For so long, Twitter seemed to me to be the playground of egocentric individuals who thought I would care what they were having for lunch or that they were waiting in the movie line. News flash – I didn’t!

It seems that Twitter is quickly becoming the playground for business movement. Tweeters, Twitter-ers, Twits (I still can't remember all the Twitter terminology) have gotten past the fluff and now use the online community for quick updates, information, etc.

As I was watching the early morning news recently, I heard a reporter in Haiti talking about how Twitter has been a real lifeline for people there getting information out. It's a legitimate tool.
So, I will tweet, even though I think that makes me sound like the red, red robin who went bob, bob, bobbin’ along.

Sign up to follow FTOmagazine on Twitter. I’ll give you updates on things that come to mind as I work on Facts & Trends. But, just to let you know … don’t expect to find out what I had for breakfast!

Posted by Polly House
Editor, Facts & Trends Magazine

What would you call a congregation that effectively shares the gospel and promotes spiritual maturity?

How about a “transformational church.”

You’ll be hearing these two words more in the days ahead, especially from LifeWay as we launch the Transformational Church initiative.

Transformational Church is a multi-year project that focuses on people, churches and communities, using groundbreaking research to produce resources that churches may use to spread the gospel and promote spiritual growth.

It all begins with LifeWay Research, which for months has been surveying hundreds of churches from multiple denominations that are leading examples of spiritual transformation. The results will be released this spring in a new book from B&H Publishing Group by Thom Rainer, president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources, and Ed Stetzer, director of LifeWay Research. The title, of course: “Transformational Church.”

Supplemental resources will follow, including training conferences and events. Ultimately, church leaders will be invited to involve their congregations in the TC Project by completing an internal survey and tailoring TC resources to their people.

Since the word “transformation” means “a change to something new,” TC resources equip local congregations to share the message of Christ; to promote spiritual maturity among church members; and to mobilize Christians to live out their faith in their communities.

TC was introduced in December (link to story). More information is available at TransformationalChurch.com.

Posted by Rob Phillips

Director, Communications Department

I was shooting photographs recently of a choir rehearsal made up of both children and adults, when three children on the front row -- well, actually their feet -- caught my attention. I'm always on the lookout for a photograph that causes people to pause, reflect, or otherwise take another look. So, the individuality of the children’s dress in regards to their choice of footwear, became the subject matter for my photograph.

"Stand, therefore ... [with] feet sandaled with readiness for the Gospel of peace" (Eph. 6:14-15, HCSB) came to mind as I watched the children singing for God’s glory.

God doesn’t mind the size or the style of sandal we wear. He isn’t concerned about what we paid for our sandals, or if our sandaled feet are stylish or old fashioned in appearance. All God desires is that whatever type of sandals adorn our feet, our feet are ready, willing and better able to share with others the love of Jesus Christ.

Photo and comments by Kent Harville

Corporate Visuals Coordinator

As a photographer, I’m always observing the light while out taking pictures. In fact, it is the way that the light strikes an object that often captures my attention in the first place, when searching out picture possibilities.

How light and shadows play across a subject will often determine whether a photo will be striking, or mediocre and boring -- the quality of the light is often much more important than it’s quantity. Photographers must often be patient and wait for the “right” light for their subject to be seen in it’s “best” light. 

In the photo above (taken on a large ranch in Colorado), the sweeping vista of valleys and hills, and the water and mountains were very drab and colorless on a grey, cloudy day. I took a couple of photographs of what should be a very beautiful scene, but was very unimpressed with the results. The light was very flat and uninteresting, and did nothing for the majestic view that was before me.

As I prepared to leave, I noticed that the sun began peeking through the clouds and began to strike and highlight different parts of the landscape. A grove of aspens in the foreground and a valley with small hills and plateaus in the background were struck with independent shafts of light, as well as shadows that added depth, interest and dimension to the landscape. The resulting photograph was much more vibrant and interesting than the first ones that I took.

I thought about Jesus’ words in John 8:12, and how the light that day on the mountain opened my eyes and heart to better understanding. He said, “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life” (HCSB).

The light of Jesus Christ not only gives life to the believer, but also adds depth, interest, vibrancy, dimension, clarity and beauty as well. Very much like the natural light as it plays across God’s creation.

Posted by Kent Harville

Corporate Visuals Coordinator