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	European Snapshots: Models of Multisite Church in Europe By Joanne Appleton Cost: Free Download Across Europe, there is growing interest in multi-site church. This paper describes three very different churches in Europe who are developing multi-site, and explores the logic behind their going multi-site, the life of their sites and their leadership development.


	Supporting Church Planting in Migrant Communities By Joanne Appleton Cost: Free Download Migrants are often lonely, afraid and vulnerable. Many are also Christians, or open to finding out more about Christ. Churches across Europe are supporting church planting amongst migrant communities – this ECPN concept paper explores how, and some of the issues they face.


	Brave New Women: The Transformation of Women's Ministry in the 21st Century Culture By Meagan Taylor Cost: Free Download Women’s ministry is on the verge of massive cultural shift as younger generations of women reject traditional programming in favor of more purposeful spiritual interaction. Innovative church leaders are adapting to this rapid change by experimenting with new ways to equip women to exercise their gifts and passions through relationships, spiritual development and outreach.


	Developing Leaders in a Postmodern World: Current Principles and Practices in Selecting and Equipping Leaders By Pat Springle Cost: Free Download The postmodern culture certainly shapes the lives of young people, but it also has a profound impact on every person of every age in every church. To develop leaders in this culture, many next generation pastors have concluded that they have to lower the bar of entry into the process, select more carefully than ever, and connect deeply by mentoring to impart truth, skills, and character.


	Creating a Culture of Generosity During a Time of Economic Downturn: What Truly Generous Churches Are Learning By Rick Long Cost: Free Download More and more churches are working to build a culture of generosity that shines through even in dark economic times. These innovative leaders know that God is the same yesterday, today and forever. But they also know that difficult times create an entirely new environment for ministry-and extraordinary opportunities to demonstrate the power of generous living.


	Best of Both Worlds: Recovery Ministries Combining Attraction and Mission to Reach Home and Abroad By Andy Williams Cost: Free Download Churches that are leading the way in healing ministries are moving out with renewed leaders to minister recovery principles and practices in prisons, halfway houses, drug and family courts, homes for recovering prostitutes and some of the most devastated countries in the world. This paper will examine this growing trend and strategy of recovery ministries to attract new attenders to restorationrelated groups and activities, and the move toward mobilizing those groups to intentionally meet needs in the community.


	Rapid Growth Pressure Points: How Pastors and Church Staff Deal with the Pressures of Rapid Church Growth By Sherri Brown Cost: Free Download Pastors and church staff in rapidly growing churches experience a unique set of challenges. How they deal with those challenges will shape future growth and church health. Developing leaders, freeing up finances, finding space, creating community, keeping staff healthy and regaining momentum when growth slows down—they’re all issues facing these congregations.


	Taking Your Church Missional: What Does it Cost the Leader By Lois Swagerty Cost: Free Download Leading ones church in a missional direction may be easier said than done. Along with the rewards come risks—both personal and corporate. In an informal survey, church leaders identified 10 key areas of cost in taking their church missional. They answered the questions: What does missional leadership look like? What does it cost? Is it worth it?


	Teacher First: Leadership Network's 2009 Survey of Large-Church Senior Pastors By Warren Bird Cost: Free Download Megachurch pastors are a rare breed. They represent 0.3% of North America’s churches but they draw almost 10% of weekly Protestant worshippers. Most of these churches are growing, many by a respectable level of conversion growth. They are high-visibility congregations with widespread influence. In May 2009, Leadership Network conducted a survey of 232 megachurch pastors. This report reveals some interesting insights on their unique role. For more resources like this, visit www.leadnet.org/megachurch


	Leading Outside the Walls: How Externally Focused Churches Engage and Grow Ministry Leaders By Krista Petty Cost: Free Download Leadership Network recently surveyed 32 divisional leaders of influential externally focused ministries around the country and found that they have implemented leadership structures in a variety of ways. This report examines why churches specifically assign a leadership role to externally focused ministry, how they find those leaders, what these leaders face, how they build teams and sustain themselves.


	Not Who You Think They Are: The Real Story of People Who Attend America's Megachurches By Scott Thumma and Warren Bird Cost: Free Download The National Survey of Megachurch Attenders drew 24,900 responses from 12 carefully selected megachurches across the U.S. Conducted January to August 2008, it is the largest national representative study of megachurch attendees conducted by any researchers to date. This report summarizes the initial learnings from the study.


	Good to Great in Church Planting: Accelerating Growth and Effectiveness in Church Planting (ECPN) By Joanne Appleton Cost: Free Download This concept paper identifies principles that churches and networks across Northern, Western, Central and Eastern Europe are using as they transition from being good church planting churches to becoming great church planting movements.


	How the Economic Slump Is (or Isn't) Hitting Churches By Warren Bird Cost: Free Download Fresh research released from Leadership Network, April 2009 Since our 2008 Salary Report released in September, the U.S. economy has taken a downward turn. In an effort to get an accurate picture of the church's current economic outlook, Leadership Network asked identical questions about the economy's impact in a survey of executive pastors conducted in January, 2009. A comparison of the responses led to several surprises. In addition to Leadership Network's own statistical analysis, this report includes summaries and references to other recent research on church economics.


	Inside the World of Executive Pastors: Leadership Network's 2009 Survey By Colleen Pepper Cost: Free Download Executive pastors (also known as director, chief of staff, or church administrator) face unique struggles and challenges, often filling a role at the church's most strategic level. What does a "typical" week look like for an executive pastor? How does their role change with their church's size? What factors help them most in having a successful relationship with the senior pastor and with other staff? Where do they struggle most? These and other findings come from a survey conducted in January 2009, which drew responses from 555 executive pastors serving in congregations where weekly attendance ranges from 100 to 23,000.


	Selecting Locations for Additional Campuses...Whether it's Your Second or Fifteenth Site By Pat Springle Cost: Free Download In recent years, a number of visionary church leaders have joined the multi-site revolution to expand the gospel’s reach into different parts of their cities, their states, and even to other countries. These leaders have developed innovative multi-site strategies that fit their particular cultures, their resources, and the opportunities God has given them, and they have developed their own criteria for selecting sites for new campuses.


	Breaking Through Growth Barriers in New Churches By Sherri Brown Cost: Free Download One of the most critical areas in church planting is leadership. A church planter must grow, change and develop his or her leadership style in order to take a church to the next level.


	Missional Households: Externally Focused Churches Discover the Value of Families that Serve By Krista Petty Cost: Free Download From parent/child mission trips to preschoolers packing lunches for the homeless, externally focused churches are designing service projects that focus on family participation. Making a difference and influencing the next generation towards compassion are just two of the many reasons why. A recent study reveals that it's actually what families want from their church: more ways to serve!


	After the Wall Came Down: Church Planting in Post-Communist Countries (ECPN) By Joanne Appleton Cost: Free Download Christians living in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe have experienced massive change in the last two decades, and post-communist culture and the involvement of Western churches have had a significant impact on church planting. This paper explores the challenges that church planters are in these countries are facing, and how they are adapting in order to facilitate greater growth amongst the ‘stony soil’ of post-communist Europe.


	Multiple Everything: Insights from Churches with Four or More Campuses By Colleen Pepper Cost: Free Download Leadership Network invited leaders from other U.S. churches with four or more campuses to participate in a survey that specifically targeted churches with four or more satellite, branch, or regional campus locations. This report includes eight ways that churches with four or more campuses are distinct, and some of the most significant perspectives they’re discovering.


	Language Barrier: Recovery Ministries Search for the Words to Communicate Mission By Andy Williams Cost: Free Download As leading churches nationwide are developing multifaceted recovery ministries to address life-dominating issues, a language barrier may be developing that could hamper these vital ministries for people seeking healing and restoration. Through this concept paper, listen in on the conversation as innovative leaders in recovery ministry: • Wrestle with the questions regarding recovery language, • Search for an inclusive voice, and • Forge ahead in the midst of their journey to create places of grace and authenticity.


	Changing the Metrics: The Benefits of Measuring Devotion and Obedience, Not Just Numbers By Pat Springle Cost: Free Download “Today, people in our churches—and especially young people—want to devote their lives to a cause that’s bigger than themselves,” observes Ken Fong, pastor of Evergreen Baptist Church in Los Angeles. “In our church,” he reflects, “we’ve had to change what we measure. We no longer use size as our primary metric. Instead, we spend time and effort analyzing the compelling intangibles of the Spirit’s work: devotion, love, and obedience."


	Changes in American Megachurches: Tracing Eight Years of Growth and Innovation in the Nation's Largest-attendance Congregations By Scott Thumma and Warren Bird Cost: Free Download America's largest churches have experienced considerable change in recent years, according to a recent study co-sponsored by Leadership Network. Their attendances have grown larger but their sanctuaries have remained the same size. Instead they've added services and more have gone multi-site. Virtually all use electric guitar, drums, and visual projection in worship, and they're continually adjusting their style in worship. They're also now placing a greater emphasis on small groups. An amazing 69% run internship programs for training future staff. These churches describe themselves as having a clear mission and purpose (94%) and holding strong beliefs and values (98%).


	2008 Leadership Network Salary and Economic Outlook Report By Warren Bird and Dave Travis Cost: Free Download The 2008 update of our bi-annual salary survey. New this year: - Findings clustered by four sizes of megachurches - Special commentary on tough economic times - Expanded list of additional salary survey resources Also available: Paying Your Pastor and Coping with Today's Economic Downturn (Podcast) A slideshow presentation of the graphics included in this report (PowerPoint)


	2008 Salary Survey Slide Presentation By Warren Bird Cost: Free Download (PowerPoint) A slide presentation of the graphics presented in the 2008 Leadership Network Salary and Economic Outlook Report.


	Churches in the Missional Renaissance: Facilitating the Transition to a Missional Mindset By Stephen Shields Cost: Free download There is a new Spirit-breeze blowing through many churches - a missional renaissance. These churches no longer exist primarily to expand and improve their own organizations but to transform their communities. By combining practical service and a clear communication of the gospel, these churches seek to expand the kingdom beyond their four walls. There are many compelling stories of how this new emphasis began in each of these churches and also what they are doing today to expand their vision. Not ready to download it? Click here to read an excerpt


	Breaking Down the Age Barriers: How Churches are Becoming Intentionally Intergenerational By Amy Hanson Cost: Free Download Today’s society often segments people by age and young and old have few opportunities to interact. However, some churches are discovering that intergenerational ministry is a rewarding, God-honoring work, and they are finding ways to encourage meaningful connections across generational lines. Not ready to download it? Click here to read an excerpt


	Connecting with God: Developing an Authentic and Rich Devotional Life By Pat Springle Cost: Free Download The church has a long, rich history of men and women who pursued God with all their hearts. Pat Springle shares many of the difficulties and breakthroughs a few next generation pastors have experienced in their personal devotion times. Not ready to download it? Click here to read an excerpt


	Models of Missional Engagement in Europe (ECPN) By Joanne Appleton Cost: Free Download From ‘pancake church’ and power evangelism, Alpha and all-night mission events, Christians are using a variety of ways to bring the Good News of Christ to the diverse cultures of Europe. This paper gives examples of the creative attractional, engaged, incarnational and kingdom-transformational methods used in missional engagement by churches involved in the ECPN learning communities.


	A Healthy Staff Culture is a Key Driver for High Impact Churches By Al Lopus Cost: Free Download This report includes research of responses from 1,900 staff members in 14 large churches who participated in the Best Christian Workplaces survey. The data was collected between 2005 to 2007. Church staff members completed the 56 question survey from a web-enabled survey platform. The broad-based staff opinion survey is similar to those used with in large corporations with a section designed by the Best Christian Workplaces Institute to gauge the Christian dimension. Not ready to download it? Click here to read an excerpt


	Third Place Comes to Church By Lois Swagerty Cost: Free Download Today’s churches are strategizing in ways that are innovative, intentional and missional to reach a group of people who might not be churchgoers, but who are attracted to a nonreligious venue for coffee, lunch, play dates, workouts or concerts—where followers of Christ are also hanging out.


	Preparing to Plant: Calling, Equipping and Enabling Church Planters in Europe (ECPN) By Joanne Appleton Cost: Free Download *A European Church Planting Network (ECPN) Publication* Men and women across Europe are being called and equipped for the vital task of church planting. This paper explores how they are being trained, with methods ranging from accredited training to informal huddles the essential qualities they need and the challenges church leaders face in empowering them to plant.


	Avoiding the Money Conflict: How to Ask for Money in a Culture that Has Avoided Fundraising By Alexis Wilson Cost: Free Download Churches that have embraced a culture of generosity have avoided talking about giving money or other possessions to the church. Doing so conflicts with the purpose of the stewardship ministry. Learn what some churches have done to successfully navigated the waters of capital campaigns. Not ready to download it? Click here to read an excerpt


	Branding your Church: Issues Involved in Branding Existing Churches and Church Plants By Sherri Brown Cost: Free Download Every church has a brand, whether they’ve planned it or not. Effective branding of your church requires that you present your church—its purpose and mission—to the congregation and the community accurately and with excellence. This paper discusses the process of creating an excellent brand, maintaining the integrity of the brand and handling crises well so that your church may present itself well to a lost world. Not ready to download it? Click here to read and excerpt


	Multi-site Basics: a Graphic Depiction of Multi-site Models Cost: Free Download An at-a-glance graphic depiction of the basic elements that are present in a multi-site church model.


	The Genesis of Generosity: First Steps toward Creating Cultures of Generosity in Churches By Pat Springle Cost: Free Download A growing number of church leaders today are taking bold steps to help their people become truly generous. These leaders are gripped with a sense of accountability before God for the enormous wealth we enjoy in our culture. This paper presents a number of passionate and theologically consistent churches as case studies in generosity. Not ready to download it? Click here to read and excerpt


	The Whys Behind the Movement: The Significance of Recovery Ministry in Today's Church By Andy Williams Cost: Free Download An increasing number of American churches are diving headlong into a life-altering ministry-recovery ministry-that is meeting the deepest needs of the most deeply damaged in society and in our churches. Case studies in this paper explore four motivators for churches as they consider venturing into the choppy waters of recovery, relapse and restoration. Not ready to download it? Click here to read and excerpt


	Church Planting in Historical Churches in Europe (ECPN) By Joanne Appleton Cost: Free Downloads A European Church Planting Network (ECPN) publication Like grass growing through cracks in the paving slabs, new life is appearing across the historical reformed churches of Europe. This new life takes many different forms and may occur at parish, diocesan or parachurch level. While tension may occur, communication and lay leadership help to facilitate church planting, and sometimes the church structures themselves will change.


	Mid Sized Mission - The Use of Mid Size Groups As a Vital Strategic Component of Church Planting (ECPN) By Joanne Appleton Cost: Free Download A European Church Planting Network (ECPN) publication Mid-sized groups are small enough to have a common vision, but big enough to do something about it’. Groups may have varying focus and activities and be part of the church structure or the beginnings of a movement, but together they are a strategic component in church planting across Europe. Not ready to download it? Click here to download an excerpt


	Frequently Asked Questions about Multi-Site Churches By Greg Ligon Cost: Free Download A helpful 12-page overview, full of specific examples and Internet links, covering 21 oft-asked questions. Many of the insights are drawn from the book, The Multi-Site Church Revolution: Being One Church...In Many Locations, by Geoff Surratt, Greg Ligon and Warren Bird. Sample questions include: "What are the advantages of a multi-site church" and "Can you be a multi-site church and still do church planting?"


	High-Capacity Leaders for the Long Haul; How to Develop a Sustainable Ministry for Building and Releasing Marketplace Leaders By Andy Williams Cost: Free Download A group of American churches are innovating around the challenge of identifying, equipping and releasing marketplace leaders for significant ministry assignments—both inside and outside the church. In this paper you will explore essential elements for achieving a world-changing goal: Get marketplace leaders in the ministry game, and keep weaving values, people and systems together to ensure longterm viability. Not ready to download it? Click here to read and excerpt


	Church Planting Overview; State of Church Planting USA Cost: Free Download North American Christians are interested in church planting in a way not seen for many decades. In response, Leadership Network commissioned a research project that surveyed over 200 churchplanting churches, more than 100 denominational leaders from dozens of denominations, and over 45 church planting networks. Not ready to download it? Click here to read an excerpt


	Funding New Churches; State of Church Planting USA Cost: Free Download With the launch of approximately 4,000 new churches every year in the U.S., the question on many minds is “Who’s funding this?” Most of these new ventures need and acquire various levels of financial support. In this article discover who is funding these new churches. Not ready to download it? Click here to read an excerpt


	Improving the Health and Survivability of New Churches; State of Church Planting USA Cost: Free Download Many people have repeated the idea—which turns out to be a myth—that the vast majority of new churches fail within their first two years. In fact, the opposite is true. In a research project commissioned by Leadership Network over 100 different studies were analyzed to help assess the health and survivability of new churches in the U.S. Discover what improves the strength and effectiveness of church plants. Not ready to download it? Click here to read an excerpt


	Who Starts New Churches; State of Church Planting USA Cost: Free Download As part of the State of Church Planting USA reports Leadership Network researched the organizations that are starting new churches. In the late 1900s less than 1,500 new churches were started each year in America, far less than the number of churches closed annually. The findings suggest that now as many as 4,000 new churches start each year. Not ready to download it? Click here to read an excerpt


	Discipling the High-Capacity Giver; Some Churches are Taking New Attitudes and New Approaches to Caring for Wealthier Members of Their Congregations By Alexis Wilson Cost: Free Download Some cutting-edge churches have begun personal discipleship to the high-capacity givers in their congregations. These givers are people of wealth or who give away a high percentage of their income. Churches understand that giving is a spiritual gift and are designing ministries to encourage those whom God has gifted as givers.


	Conspire to Care: Principles for Recruiting, Retaining and Training Volunteers for Church-Based Healthcare Initiatives By Valerie Calderon Cost: Free Download Volunteers for church-based healthcare initiatives employ knowledge, skills and compassion to bring physical and spiritual healing to uninsured and under-insured patients. Discover how churches apply principles for recruiting, retaining and training professional and lay volunteers for their health-care initiatives. Not ready to download it? Click here to read an excerpt


	Creating New Opportunities for Older Adults to Serve; 50+ Age Adults Reaching Outside the Walls of the Church By Amy Hanson Cost: Free Download Across the nation, both secular organizations and faith-based communities are recognizing the invaluable resource resident in older adults. A number of leading churches in older adult ministry are finding creative ways of engaging seniors in ministry and encouraging them to use their time and resources for Kingdom expansion. Not ready to download it? Click here to read an excerpt


	2007 Staff Satisfaction Survey Compelling Vision and Rewarding Work Create a Stressed-but-Happy Staff By Pat Springle Cost: Free Download Seeking to discover what brings church staff the most satisfaction in their roles and relationships, Leadership Network measured satisfaction around two distinct issues in the 2007 Staff Satisfaction Survey. Staff from thirtyfour leading churches ranked several factors based on personal job satisfaction and the impact of the church on their job satisfaction.


	Going Glocal: Externally Focused Churches Engage in both Global and Local Missions By Krista Petty Cost: Free Download Have you heard the new buzz word in missions? Glocal: it's the combination of local and global missions into one. While the word glocalization has been around in business vernacular since the 1990s, churches are now adopting the term as well as the concept that what they do across the street and around can works together to grow the Kingdom of God.


	Creating Strategic Alliances and Partnerships for Planting New Churches; Issues Involved in Sharing Information and Resources Toward Greater Evangelism By Sherri Brown Cost: Free Download In Major cities across America, alliances and partnerships are being formed between churches to achieve the goal of evangelism. These partnerships can be as simple as two pastors working together in one community or a group of churches working together to transform a city. This paper addresses the reasons churches are forming, how they do it, and some of the advantages and challenges they have found. Not ready to download it? Click here to read an excerpt


	Online Social Networking Tools for the Church New Horizons for Kingdom Impact By Stephen Shields Cost: Free Download It’s a new frontier and, true to form, churches are beginning to extend their reach into these new worlds for God's kingdom. Churches are seizing opportunities for online social networking in a wide variety of ways from blogging to the use of popular websites, both religious and non-religious.


	Clearing the Hurdles: Overcoming the Obstacles in Recovery Ministry By Meagan Taylor Cost: Free Download Leading churches speak to three principal areas that affect the success of a recovery ministry: the sponsoring church, the recovery ministry itself and the larger community. Obstacles exist in each of these areas, such as stigma attached to the ministry, lack of volunteer leaders and difficulty attaining community backing. Churches successfully overcoming these barriers are finding strategies that help them thrive in each circumstance. Not ready to download it? Click here to read an excerpt


	Externally Focused Small Groups: How Churches are Re-engineering Their Small Groups for Community Service By Krista Petty Cost: Free Download How do churches effectively increase the level of community service without detracting from the internal strength of the church or competing with other programs? Re-engineering small groups to serve as well as study together is one of the more popular answers to this dilemma of staying internally strong while being externally focused. Not ready to download it? Click here to read and excerpt


	Moving From Sole Proprietorship to Unlimited Partnership: Creating a Church Culture that Releases Marketplace Leaders into Kingdom Work By Alexis Wilson Cost: Free Download In churches across North America, both pastors and people are increasingly interested in how to end the image of the church as “sole proprietorship” - one person, often the pastor, doing ministry while others watch. If everyone could be involved, then the church would more model an “unlimited partnership,” with many obvious benefits, both to the church and to the surrounding community.


	Strategies for Investing in Your Community: How Externally Focused Churches are Leveraging Their Impact By Krista Petty Cost: Free Download Externally focused churches take the resources they have and pour them out into the community. But they don’t pour out resources carelessly because church staff time, volunteers and dollar resources are limited. Churches are constantly weighing the risks and rewards of community ministry and must invest prayerfully, strategically, and compassionately—making wise plans that yield results. Not ready to download it yet? Click here to read an excerpt


	Innovation 2007 By Warren Bird Cost: Free Download This 64-page glossy book with 104 diagrams and charts, 10 in-depth profiles of compelling trends and literally hundreds of facts and examples, is the single biggest compilation of ideas and insights about North American churches ever undertaken by Leadership Network. The project presents a unique catalog and analysis of today’s most promising church innovations. Innovation 2007 is divided into four primary sections: Snapshots ("Why churches need innovation") reports on the huge societal needs and challenges to which the church must respond. Quick, at-a-glance statistics and summaries reveal, for example, startling facts on poverty, AIDS and literacy—as well as telling trends in church attendance, giving and pastors’ use of their time. Discoveries ("How churches use innovation") covers 10 crucial approaches to ministry that are extending the reach and changing the face of today’s church. Topics range from churches that are creatively addressing community healthcare to significant church-based recovery ministries. In each case, Innovation 2007 explores the hows, the whys and newly emerging models of ministry. Commentary ("In-depth perspectives on innovative trends") analyzes two particularly significant trends in even greater detail. "Inside the American Megachurch," by Warren Bird and Scott Thumma (of the Hartford Institute for Religion Research), shows how megachurches differ from the picture assumed by many stereotypes. "What to Do with Talented People," by Robert Lewis (pastor-at-large of Little Rock’s Fellowship Bible Church and founder of Men’s Fraternity) discusses how an innovative "catch-and-release" approach to ministry can boost a church’s impact in a local community. Resources ("Strategic readings about leading innovations") presents a host of materials readers can use to further their understanding of high priority topics. Coverage ranges from Leadership Network’s recent "Salary and Economic Outlook," to overviews of some 20 books and 39 helpful online resources.


	Generosity Requires More than a Sermon: Leading Churches Find Ongoing Training Is the Key to a Lifestyle of Generosity By Andy Williams Cost: Free Download Churches that are intentionally and strategically moving toward a culture of generosity are going far beyond capital campaigns, fundraising and the stewardship of money and are focusing on teaching and fostering a lifestyle of generosity in time, talents and treasure. The storehouse of tools to teach generous giving and biblical stewardship is rapidly expanding—with solid off-the-shelf resources that have been time-tested and that are being refined to meet the needs of modern-day church-goers. Not ready to download it? Click here to read an excerpt


	Churches Responding to the Age Wave: Top Innovations in Older Adult Ministry By Amy Hanson Cost: Free Download America is aging and older adult ministry of today is not the same as it was 30 years ago. A one size fits all approach to ministry has been replaced with a variety of fresh ideas that recognize the multiple needs, interests, and abilities of older adults. Not ready to download? Click here to read an excerpt


	Asian American Churches: An Introductory Survey By DJ Chuang Cost: Free Download An estimated 7,000 U.S. Protestant churches have a majority attendance of Asian Americans, with many that are reaching multiple generations using multiple languages. This introductory survey report provides an overview of the distinctive characteristics and top ministry issues among Asian American churches. Read this report by DJ Chuang to see how churches are ministering to this fast-growing minority group.


	Becoming a Church Planting Church: Issues Pastors Address When Leading a Church to Birth a Network of New Churches By Sherri Brown Cost: Free Download Speaking the heart language, meeting people in their culture, taking risks; some churches seem to be "baby making machines" when it comes to church planting. From Hip Hop to coffee shops, experienced church planters share their insights on the issues pastors address as they lead a church to birth a network of new churches. Not ready to download it? Click here to read an excerpt


	How Externally Focused Churches Minister to Children: The Power of Serving Kids in Your Community By Krista Petty Cost: Free Download Externally focused churches seek to be salt and light in their communities, showing the good news of Jesus Christ through good deeds and good will. Church leaders and volunteers serving children in their communities find it to be one of the most rewarding as well as challenging ways to extend God’s grace beyond the walls of their church. Not ready to download it? Click here to read an excerpt


	Communicating With the Postmodern Culture: Authenticity and Truth By Pat Springle Cost: Free Download “Wow is out; real is in.” Next Generation pastors have observed a significant shift in the culture. Pastor Toby Slough observes, “If we’ll invest the time and effort we used to spend in ‘Wow!” and put those resources into authenticity, people will come in droves, and they’ll respond to even the most demanding truths in the Scriptures.” Not ready to download it? Click here to read an excerpt


	Staffing for Stewardship: Innovative Churches are Exploring New Pathways for Incorporating Stewardship By Alexis Wilson Cost: Free Download Churches throughout the United States are not only taking the Bible’s teaching on stewardship and generosity—more seriously, they are also developing creative new staff roles to help integrate the value of generosity into all aspects of congregational life. All have one thing in common—a renewed focus on generosity is creating blessings for those who give and receive. Not ready to download it? Click here to read an excerpt


	2007 Survey of 1000 Multi-Site Churches; Latest Insights on a Growing Movement By Stephen Shields Cost: Free Download Did you know that the greatest reason churches go Multi-Site is for evangelistic outreach? One of the largest research projects ever undertaken by Leadership Network, the 2007 Survey of 1,000 Multi-Site Churches contains data and insights from some of the most influential Multi-Site Churches in the U.S. and Canada.


	Models For Raising Up Church Planters : How Churches Become More Effective Through Intentional Leadership Development By Glenn Smith Cost: Free Download Today a growing number of churches in our country desire to advance the kingdom of God through the multiplication of new churches. But the methods of training church planters are greatly varied. Some churches choose an intensive, boot camp approach, while others value a long term residency or internship program. The shared commonality of these models is an intentional approach to equipping and developing leaders.


	One Heart Many Models : Healthcare Initiatives in the Church By Pat Springle Cost: Free Download Church-based healthcare initiatives vary widely in their form and function, but one factor is consistent: according to Bruce Miller, these initiatives succeed only when a single person with a vision “nails his shoes to the clinic floor and says, ‘I’m going to make this happen even if I have to do it alone.’ Consider the mobile clinic started at Healing Place Church in Baton Rouge, or the free clinic operating through Mission East Dallas, each started with a single champion who rose to the challenge of meeting the needs of the community. Not ready to download it? Click here to read an excerpt


	Growing a Recovery Ministry: Context-Sensitive Innovations and Christ-Centeredness Define Successful Programs By Meagan Taylor Cost: Free Download Successful recovery ministries maintain reliance upon Christ and divine guidance as central to their continuation. Prayer – by the leadership, over the ministry and at every gathering – is the answer these churches give most often when asked how they developed. This paper shares the stories of several churches and ministries who have successfully gone through the process of growing a recovery ministry. Download this free resource to read these powerful stories. Not ready to download it? Click here to read and excerpt


	Church to Church Collaborations on the Rise By Krista Petty Cost: Free Download Community service activities are becoming increasingly important to many church congregations. According to the latest Hartford Institute for Religion Research national survey of U.S. faith communities, interfaith activity among faith communities has more than tripled since 2000. A survey by Leadership Network revealed that food programs and emergency assistance topped the list of opportunities for churches wanting to make a difference outside their own walls. These churches have partnered on everything from building projects, to health care ministries. Their stories and the principles that make collaboration effective are revealed in this paper.


	Avoiding Detours -- 2 Years Later: Insights from Multi-Site Veterans Widening the Path By Stephen Shields Cost: Free Download In 2004, Leadership Network asked several trendsetting multi-site churches what insights they wished to offer to those embarking on their own multi-site adventure. The results were published as Avoiding Detours: Insights from Multi-Site Pioneers Who are Leading the Way.


	2006 Leadership Network Salary and Economic Outlook Report Cost: Free Download Our most popular download, the 2006 Salary and Economic Outlook Report contains data from some of the most influential churches in the US. The 2006 report is the fourth survey Leadership Network has conducted since 2001, but the first to contain graphs and figures showing comparisons of the data.


	Four Models for Transforming Marketplace Leaders into Kingdom Leaders By Alexis Wilson Cost: Free Download Robert Lewis, pastor-at-large of Fellowship Bible Church in Little Rock, AR, describes the current need to create a “release pastor” to equip volunteers to become ministry leaders. This paper explores four models—culture/DNA, partnership, external opportunities and internal development—of how churches are tapping into unused volunteer resources, and equipping them to have significant kingdom impact.


	Making Good Ideas Happen: How to Help Your People Unleash Their Best Innovations By Krista Petty Cost: Free Download From ideas to action, often the best way to get something done is to empower the person who had the idea in the first place. Read stories from these churches who are flipping the paradigm of leadership and equipping lay leaders to launch new ministries. A blanket ministry, a ministry to pregnant women, and a trip to summer camp for inner city children are just a few of the many fledglings which developed into full blown ministries. Not ready to download it? Click here to read an excerpt


	Secrets of Generous Churches: Creating a Culture in which Serious Stewardship Is Normal By Liz Swanson Cost: Free Download This concept paper addresses the issue of generosity by looking at questions such as: What is a generous church? When a congregation is transformed by the biblical message that “it is more blessed to give than to receive,” what does it look like? They all have four characteristics in common: they preach, teach, model and apply the principles of generosity.


	Six Catalytic Service Approaches: Taking First Steps through Great Days of Service By Krista Petty Cost: Free Download Externally Focused churches want less talk and more action outside the walls. Planning large service events can serve as a catalyst for changing church culture from internal to external. Even a spontaneous street clean-up can lead to engaged servants. This paper illustrates six different approaches to service by churches reaching out to their communities in full force. Not ready to download it? Click here to read an excerpt


	Finding Church Planters: Discovering and Discerning Those God Has Called to Start the Next Generation of Churches By Josh Hunt Cost: Free Download The need has never been greater to discern who God is calling to plant churches, and God seems very eager that church leaders find and deploy those who have been called. In order to find the called, however, we need to be intentional we can’t resort to the search methods we’ve become accustomed to the development of online search engines. This concept paper explores more practical methods of discerning the called, and discusses several valuable tools and resources that are readily available to churches seeking church planters.


	Creating a Culture of Balance: A Mandate for Next Generation Pastors By Pat Springle Cost: Free Download This concept paper exposes many of the stresses and struggles that next generation pastors—senior pastors in their 20s and 30s who are growing in influence and impact—are dealing with, and opens conversations to creating a balance between the demands of a busy schedule, a growing congregation and maintaining spiritual vitality.


	Quick Facts: Staffing and Structure Cost: Free Download An Overview of Five Approaches to Staffing and Structure used by Multi-Site Churches A quick comparison of the basic staffing strategies of five multi-site churches. Who does the campus pastor report to? How are new staff found or recruited? These questions and more are illustrated through five specific examples.


	Quick Facts: Transferring the DNA Cost: Free Download An Overview of Five Different Approaches Taken by Multi-Site Congregations An at-a-glance comparison of five different churches' models of transferring their DNA - the values and culture of the church - to new sites. Profiles of each church include comparison of their approaches, examples of a major DNA quality, and how leaders learn the DNA.


	Moving Recovery Ministry Out Of The Shadows; Innovative Churches Learn How to Take Recovery Mainstream By Andy Williams Cost: free download o There is a new breed of leaders around the country who are bringing programs that address a myriad of internal wounds and addictions into the mainstream of church life. This emphasis is known in most circles as recovery or restoration ministry. Whereas churches in the past might have allowed an Alcoholics Anonymous group to occupy a secluded space on a night when none of the “nice church people” would come around, these recovery-savvy churches are carving out a prominent time and place for people who are serious about tackling their addictions and other life-dominating issues. What is the church’s role in offering hope and healing to growing scores of people who are crippled internally by deep hurts, habits and hang-ups? This and other questions are explored in this concept paper that examines the unique journeys of some of the nation’s recovery ministry leaders.


	Permission Granted: Churches Giving Marketplace Leaders the Green Light for Kingdom Impact By Andy Williams and Dennis Welch Cost: Free Download Five pioneering churches have discovered two factors that can help them move more marketplace leaders toward Kingdom impact 1) Marketplace leaders want to change the world—we must give them captivating opportunities to pursue. 2) Marketplace leaders are carrying God-sized visions in their hearts—unearth them. Dick Gygi never expected what would happen when he took a group of businessmen to Africa to carry out famine relief, but God had bigger plans, and the result was a completely transformed environment for 1600 inmates and their families.


	Survey of Churches That Worship In Movie Theaters By Warren Bird and John Gilmore Cost: Free Download PowerPoint Slide Show This report of findings from 2006 survey of churches that worship in movie theaters contains 25 illustrated slides, ready for presentation.


	Have Barna's Revolutionaries Come to Your Town? By Jim Wilson and Stephanie Plagens Cost: free download PowerPoint Slide Show Leadership Network asked Advance readers to participate in a poll based on George Barna's new book Revolution. Within six days of running the publication in Advance (Issue #22), 459 of some 10,000 subscribers responded. Although our readers may not statistically represent a broad cross section of the general public, their comments proved to be quite interesting. As a group, they expressed no distinguishable opinion as to whether there is an increase in the numbers of devout followers of Christ who believe that relating to a local church is optional, or to a shift in their thinking that "worship" is more of a lifestyle than a gathering. But readers did show clear disagreement with Barna's claim that there is an increase in those who view attendance at a worship service as detrimental to their Christian walk. And while they tended to agree that local churches have less influence on the culture, they were uncertain about whether churches will have less influence in the future than they have today. Many readers used the "comment" option to offer thoughtful responses. Roughly half showed sympathy to Barna's findings and about half voiced concerns about them. To see the questions and results for yourself, download this slideshow.


	Transforming Volunteers from Social Workers to Kingdom Laborers: Tapping into America's All-Time High Volunteerism By Krista Petty Cost: free download What does this interest in community service mean for church ministry leaders? Finding purpose in life through serving others is no longer reserved for the faithful churchgoer or the social activist of the neighborhood. As people are looking for outlets to serve, they may see church community-based projects as a viable option of engagement. This paper outlines six critical elements that every individual needs to become properly equipped as a volunteer, resulting in the attitude shift from being a mere worker to a laborer for the Kingdom.


	Megachurches Today 2005 By Warren Bird, Scott Thumma and Dave Travis Cost: free download The Megachurches Today 2005 survey is the most thoroughly researched study ever made of the Protestant megachurch movement in the United States. Since June 2005, more than 1,800 churches have been contacted by e-mail, phone and mail, with complete data for more than 400 qualifying congregations received, tabulated and analyzed.


	2005 Leadership Network Salary and Economic Outlook Update Cost: free download For over 20 years, Leadership Network’s ministry has served as a place where peers can share mutual strengths, concerns and solutions. In many of our events, we have conducted informal surveys on various topics. This report contains data from a survey involving over 100 leading churches.


	How Teaching Churches Add Influence to Information: From Exploration to Deep Drilling By Andy Williams Cost: free download Many of America’s leading-edge teaching churches—congregations that have developed best practices and want to pass them on through a myriad of channels—are fashioning a new trend. In the past, these give-it-away churches let come-one, come-all national conferences do their talking as they shared a wealth of information and practical how-tos on church growth and health. Now many are shifting their primary focus from packed auditoriums to smaller, more focused, hands-on learning labs. Teaching churches are drilling down with new depths of instruction and multiple levels of influence that include personal consulting, roundtable forums, long-term coaching and in-house residency and shadowing.


	Church Planting Typology Report Cost: free download A 2 page chart comparing various types of church planting models using the following fields: vision, leadership, coaching, resources, core group and location.


	The Leveraging Halftimers: How-To Manual By Lloyd Reeb Cost: free download Finding the high-capacity volunteer leaders who will maximize the potential of your church. They’re bright, outgoing, motivated and experienced. They’re natural born leaders, and every church has them. They are Halftimers – people who have reached midlife, achieved some level of success, and want their lives to really count for something. Something eternal. They may not be financially independent, but they have options about how they invest their second half.


	Quick Facts: Funding the Multi-Site Vision Cost: free download An Overview of Funding Strategies Used by Successful Multi-Site Churches. Learn how several successful multi-site churches have funded the start-up and expansion of their ministry. This Quick Facts summary offers an at-a-glance comparison of proven funding methods being used by pioneers in the multi-site movement.


	Quick Facts: Multi-Site Technology Cost: free download An Overview of Technology Strategies Used by Successful Multi-Site Churches. Learn about the important role that technology plays in the ministry of several successful multi-site churches. This Quick Facts summary offers an at-a-glance comparison of proven technology solutions being used by pioneers in the multi-site movement.


	99 Innovations: Creative Ideas and Resources to Engage 100 Percent of Your Church in Externally Focused Service By Alexandra McNabb Cost: free download In this concept paper, eighteen different churches offer insight into their extraordinary methods of serving. Alexandra McNabb compiled 99 successful ideas from churches within Leadership Network's Externally Focused Churches Leadership Community to help get your ministry off the ground, or add variety to an existing ministry


	The Urban Plunge: A First-Person Taste of Inner-City Renewal By Alexandra McNabb Cost: free download Gain first hand knowledge of the Urban Plunge experience, headed by Pastor Eli Morris’s team from Hope Presbyterian Church of Cordova, a suburb of Memphis TN. This concept paper includes a first-person narrative of the experience, sample itinerary, participant list of “Things to Know,” sample volunteer liability waiver, list of partnership ministries and websites, and recommended reading list.


	Church Multiplication Centers By Andy Williams Cost: free download New Hope International has helped start more than 86 churches around the world since 2000. New Hope, along with 9 other church planting churches, have planted over 1000 churches in a span of only 5 years. How did these mega-multipliers get there? What factors have proven necessary for a congregation to move from planting one or two churches to successfully multiplying itself four, eight or 15 times a year? This concept paper captures some of the key learnings, vital concepts and best practices in church multiplication that have been time-tested and sharpened over the past five years by this pilot group of local congregations with high-yield church multiplication centers


	Church Planting Resource Guide By Cindi Haworth Cost: free download This guide has been put together to help those of you who are involved or looking to be involved in church planting. There are numerous resources out there to help you. We hope we have done the work - scouring the internet, researching the publishers, and asking successful church planters what resources have been valuable to them - to put together a wide collection of resources.


	One Church In Many Locations: What Multi-Site Churches do in Addition to Worship By Warren Bird Cost: free download Teaching, music, staffing, children’s ministry – there are numerous components of various complexities to consider when designing a multi-site church. In this concept paper, you will learn insights from 35 churches throughout North America that have experienced these challenges as they have become multi-site churches.


	Widening the Funnel in Externally Focused Churches; Good Deeds Build Good Will, Becoming a Catalyst for Good News By Alexandra McNabb Cost: free download Many churches use a funnel model to describe their member-development process as an externally focused church. The top of the funnel represents events that serve as wonderful introductions to serving. These simple activities take little commitment or screening, and they expose the volunteer to a need in the community. As volunteers step through the funnel, they are pulled into tasks of creater commitment, personal growth and deeper relationships. Often a lot of effort is put into creating and executing a successful large event, like a community carnival, but if there is not an intentionality to reconnect those volunteers to other areas of service and passion, they could be lost. This paper continues with ideas of how to widen that funnel to move from good deeds to good news.


	Avoiding Detours: Insights from Multi-Site Pioneers Who Are Leading the Way By Warren Bird Cost: free download Readers of magazines for church leaders consistently report that they like it better when an article talks about a church’s ministry warts, not just its good looks. Read about insights from churches that have developed a healthy multiple-locations approach to ministry.


	Launch Factors: When to Start Your Next Venue or Site By Warren Bird Cost: free download Most North Americans are familiar with the idea of doing multiple services in the main sanctuary (or equivalent), such as Sunday morning at 9:30 and 11:00, and perhaps Saturday evening as well. But an on-premises additional venue, such as a live service with video sermon in church gym? Or an off-premises satellite or branch that meets in an alternative location, such as a school or converted warehouse across town? Multi-site is so much more than multiple services. This paper addresses the factors that have lead to new sites for churches with a proven track record of being “one church in multiple locations.”


	Should Your Church Go Multi-site?: A Self-Diagnostic Tool By Warren Bird Cost: free download How can your congregation know if a multi-site approach is right for you? Try this self-test diagnostic tool including 25 key evaluative questions to gain insight.


	2003 Survey of 1000 Multi-site Churches By Warren Bird Cost: free download 15 page report PLUS PowerPoint Slide Show During late 2003 Leadership Network (www.leadnet.org) identified almost 1,000 churches across North America who are doing church in more than one location. These included a wide variety of multi-site approaches such as: · An on-premises additional venue, such as a live service with video sermon in the church gym. · An off-premises satellite or branch or regional-campus location, such as a school or converted warehouse across town. · A sponsored church, whether in the same community or halfway around the world, where the staff, style, or content comes from the parent campus, and where the church in turn identifies itself as a site of the parent campus. The term multi-site covers any of these approaches, up to the point of starting a totally new church. Usable email addresses were obtained from 659 of the churches which were invited to participate in an online survey. Of the more than 150 responses, this report and PowerPoint presentation record the most significant findings.


	The Leader-Making Challenge: 10 Ideas for Leadership Development in a Multi-Site Church By Warren Bird Cost: free download Ten practical ideas for leadership development in a multi-site church. These ideas come from the discoveries of churches that are pacesetters in the emerging multi-site movement. Most belong to a Multi-Site Churches Leadership Community sponsored by Leadership Network.


	A Collaborative Day for High-Capacity Leaders By Lloyd Reeb Cost: free download This downloadable package will enable you to create a single day experience that includes senior pastor, executive pastor and Halftime ministry leader together with fifteen Halftimers. This day is designed to: Cast a compelling vision of leadership opportunities for Halftimers Facilitate collaborative work to craft models around the ideas Enable Halftimers to interact with other Halftimers about their journey Enable Halftimers to gain peer insights as to how they can put their skills into play in the areas they are passionate about


	Leadership Development Tracking Tool: An Assessment Tool for Selecting and Developing Point Persons in Multi-Site Churches By Warren Bird Cost: free download The need to develop leaders, both new and existing, rates high on the priority list of almost every church. In churches that have multiple sites or multiple venues, it usually moves from high priority to top priority. This tool will help your team work through some questions and ideas to help you select and develop point persons.


	Halftime in Churches By The Halftime Group Cost: free download How to Find, Equip, and Engage High-capacity Marketplace Leaders in Ministry within Your Church Every day 10’s of thousands of people in the world turn 50. Many arrive at this life stage having achieved some measure of success. But the accolades of success cannot silence souls yearning for significance. Bob Buford calls this stage of life Halftime, and those who search for significance he aptly christens Halftimers. This group is the healthiest,wealthiest, and best educated generation to ever reach midlife, and that's not surprising; this is the generation that boldly claimed it would change the world. And it has - in profound ways. But midlife has this success-driven generation perplexed.


	Ten Paradigm Shifts: How Churches Are Impacting Their Communities with the Good Deeds and Good News of the Gospel By Eric Swanson Cost: free download From building walls to building bridges . . . measuring attendance to measuring impact . . . from fellowship to functional unity, this concept paper outlines ten paradigm shifts that churches are experiencing as they engage their communities with the good news and good deeds of Jesus.


	Churches Moving Into the Community: Creating Capacity and Increasing Velocity through Leadership Communities By Eric Swanson Cost: free download An overview of twelve pioneering churches in the externally focused ministry movement


	2003 Church Salary Survey Report Cost: free download 2003 Survey - newer data available This report contains data from a survey involving over 100 leading churches.


	Multi-site Special Report By Dave Travis Cost: free download On September 11, 2001, Leadership Network held its first forum for multi-site churches. This special report contains some observations from the approaches shared there, as well as some staff research conducted in preparation for the forum.


	Extending Your Church to More Than One Place By Warren Bird Cost: free download The success of … multi-site ventures has changed the context for ministry…. A growing number of churches today … continue as one congregation with one staff, one treasury, one membership roster, one governing board and one name (it may be Bethany East and Bethany West, or Trinity North and Trinity South), but with three or four or five or six or seven or eight worship services every weekend. This report contains insights designed to help church leaders who are looking for fresh ways to reach more people and different people for Christ. If your church is exploring or experimenting with alternative venues such as digital church, extension sites, video-café congregations, multiple campuses, satellite ministries, or other variations that go beyond your main worship area or main campus, then keep reading. You will find much help in this material. The research behind this report draws on the experience of twelve pioneering churches selected to participate in a Multi-site Leadership Community. These leadership communities are sponsored by Leadership Network, a Dallas-based foundation whose mission is to accelerate the effectiveness of the Church by identifying, connecting, and resourcing strategic leaders.


	2001 Church Salary Survey Report Cost: free download 2001 Survey - newer data available This report contains data from a survey involving over 100 leading churches.