Estimated reading time: 6 minutes There are not many people who will tell you (honestly) that they like conducting performance evaluations. However, performance evaluations, done right, can be a positive experience for employees. Particularly if there is a reward benefit to performing well. The performance appraisal should be the final step in a process that climaxes with the employee evaluation and raise distribution. It should be a time of reflection, celebration, and forward-thinking. Employees Should Be Involved Employees who participate in the process of defining goals are typically ..read more

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes Churches would not exist without the faithful contribution of their most valuable labor force – its volunteers. Volunteers give their time freely because of a passion for the ministry they serve. Showing volunteer appreciation is an important aspect of effective volunteer management. However, keeping volunteers engaged and motivated is what showing them appreciation is all about. Volunteer Appreciation Week National Volunteer Appreciation Week is April 21 -27. Use this week to show your volunteers how much you appreciate them. A well-managed volunteer program ..read more

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes For Christians, the Bible is the guidebook for all that we do and the source of inspiration and truth. Every church has a mission and vision that fuels what they do. Within that mission is a core belief system that is (should be) grounded in scripture. Churches Should Articulate Their Beliefs I volunteered at the Welcome Center at my church. We had more than the occasional visitor stop and ask about our Statement of Faith or what we, as a church, believed. My church was proactive in taking the time to stop and think about the belief system that drove its missi ..read more

Estimated reading time: 10 minutes Churches are called to reach the lost and help those in need. Often, this is done through a community outreach program.  To create a community outreach program, your church will need to go through some initial planning. To have a successful church event – whether that is community outreach, vacation bible school, or a church business meeting, organization and planning is essential! Gather a team and begin the planning process. To do that, answer these 21 questions. Document your answers and begin creating a manual for your outreach. 24 Questions To Ask W ..read more

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes People go to church to have their spiritual and social needs met. However, identifying ways to recruit new church members can be a challenge. For some, finding the right church can be a challenging quest. People may not know how to find a church compatible with their culture and doctrinal beliefs. Some people will church shop until they find a church that is the right fit for them. But what about those people who might be open to joining a church but don’t know how? Most churches welcome new members but don’t do anything proactively to recruit them. If pe ..read more

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes Churches exist to help people by sharing the good news of the Bible. And churches hire people to facilitate the process of making church happen. However, there are times when an employment relationship doesn’t work out. Sometimes, the employee fails to meet ministry expectations; sometimes, an employee breaches defined policies and procedures; and sometimes, it is a financial issue that leads to termination. Regardless of the reason, no church ever hired an employee expecting to let them go. The difficult reality is that there are times when churches need to t ..read more

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes Churches hire employees to help facilitate how church gets done, and those called to full-time ministry use their gifts to ensure a great experience for members and church visitors. These devoted employees support volunteers, manage church facilities, and oversee the day-to-day operation of the ministry. Churches need these valuable employees! Employee Turnover is Difficult Employee turnover is often difficult, particularly for a church. Regardless of why an employee is leaving, several things need to be done. A tool that can help you is a termination checklis ..read more

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes This is a guest post by our friends at Parable. Parable is a team of financial storytellers who help you place every dollar on mission. Every church has an accounting system, whether it’s written down or not. It’s how you organize, manage, and make prayerful decisions with the financial resources God has given you. Sometimes, that system is to hope for the best and trust that your business manager will forgive you for losing your receipts, which we don’t recommend! From our years of experience helping churches large and small manage their money, we have found ..read more

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes If you are a church leader, there will probably come a time when a member asks you about a church member’s business directory. Salespeople are trained to make connections and look for sales opportunities everywhere they go. Often, members will target people they go to church with because of the easy access to prospective clients. This can create a challenge for church leaders because the question that inevitably comes up is whether the church is willing to provide a church member business directory. This can seem like a good idea for businesspeo ..read more

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes It’s difficult to believe that we are in a new year. A new year is a great time to reflect, plan for the year, and celebrate last year’s successes. The first quarter is also a time when churches hold their annual church business meeting. Annual church business meetings are important to help keep members informed and engaged with the mission of the organization. How To Plan A Church Business Meeting Planning a church business meeting is very similar to planning any other church event. Details matter. Take the time to think through those things that wo ..read more