Tag Archives: Tony Brooks

For three weeks now, I have pondered what I can do beyond helping my pastors and churches through phone calls, email, and social media to keep them connected to ways we can serve each other and the community. I would love to be out sharing food with the Red Truck Ministry in Lynchburg four days a week or in Prospect one day a week. Due to health concerns during this pandemic for my wife and me, I cannot.

How are you all caring for members in nursing homes and assisted living with no visitors allowed? Here are some ideas.

About two weeks ago I was talking to a group of pastors about the coronavirus outbreak and what that might mean for churches. Rev. Jerry Stanfield from Childrey Baptist in Nathalie, VA, was in that meeting. We talked about live streaming options for worship, including Facebook Live. A pastor commented: “Most of my people don’t have computers or WiFi.” I then remembered another option. At a church I used to serve, they offered a live Nativity every year with persons sitting in their cars, listening through their car radios, and watching the scenes on the hill above. They used an AM radio transmitter that transmitted only in the church parking lot.

All of us are scrambling right now to keep our members and the community safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. By now the Congregational Field Staff and others of the BGAV have sent our churches several ideas for worship, giving, and more. How do we help Sunday School classes and small groups?

Rustburg Baptist has been doing their firewood ministry since 2004, according to our records. They were doing this as a church vision and wondered where all of the wood would come from. They worked hard to get wood to families who use wood as their only heat source. They met once a month from September to March on a Saturday to cut wood and send it out to families who needed it. John and his wife, Ruth, would spend days taking wood to families, and sometimes that was 150 miles a day. Jimmy Cole also would deliver wood during the week.

Missional is an overused word in our society. It is focused about being on mission specifically for God in our context, but not everyone uses it that way. Renaissance is perhaps not as familiar. It is about awakening. It is about discovering something new. Though what I am sharing is not new, it has been lost for some generations.

Teachers are at the forefront of discipleship. What they do has eternal implications. How are you showing them your appreciation?

So many of our churches are trying to figure out how to reach the Millennial generation (born between 1980-2000)—currently the second largest generation in the US. Many churches are more geared to reach the Baby Boomer generation (born 1946-1964), which is now the third largest generation. Your church might find it helpful to research the population in your area to see which generations are most represented.

I have been a part of the sandwich generation for the past 30 years. What is the sandwich generation?

As we begin the New Year, what is God doing in your Sunday School? What vision have you received? Though I know some have begun planning based on a fall schedule, most adults consider January 1 to be a time to set New Year’s resolutions. Why not take advantage of it?

Loving God with all your mind means being in an ongoing Bible study. Pastors, preach it from the pulpit that every follower of Christ who loves God with all their mind needs to be in an ongoing Bible study! You do a great job in helping them grow. A small group Bible study helps them ask questions about life application to scripture. You also should preach that they should reach someone else.

If Sunday School is about The Great Commandment of loving God and neighbor, and The Great Commission is about making disciples as you reach new people, then we need to provide classes for unchurched people. Here are some ideas.

Every guest should be treated as though you are showing hospitality to angels! Here are some suggestions to help guests feel a part of your church/community of faith.

It is sad to say, but Walmart does a better job of welcoming people than many churches! They have assigned parking for people with disabilities and for expectant mothers. They have a greeter at each door. They smile and say, “Welcome to Walmart,” and provide stickers for children. Any employee is ready to help you find what you need. They smile when you leave and provide a warm goodbye. Following up with first-time guests at church and creating a comfortable environment is critical in this culture!

Numbers do matter! Ask sports teams about sabermetrics and analytics. Since 2001, when Manager Billy Beane of the Oakland As started using them to have a competitive MLB team, sports teams in the colleges and pros use numbers to increase their chances of winning. Sunday School specialists have been using certain numbers to increase the overall health of churches since long before 2001!