Don’t settle for an impact smaller than you’re called to make. It's time to unlock your potential and lead confidently into a future filled with growth — for yourself, your church, and your mission. Get access to some of my best leadership content, only published in my newsletters.
On The Rise: A Word of Encouragement for Pastors This Easter + Church Attendance Data Errors and Web 1.0
Published 3 days ago • 4 min read
Welcome to the On The Rise newsletter, where I feature fascinating, helpful, and sometimes curious content that caught my attention this week.
Today, a note of encouragement for pastors as you enter Easter weekend. Plus, correcting faulty church attendance data, career guidance, and something to satisfy your nostalgia for the old internet.
Take Heart This Easter
A note of encouragement for pastors this weekend.
I know it's Easter weekend, and I hope it's a meaningful spiritual encounter for you personally this weekend as a church leader. I realize sometimes the pressure of so many big services can get to you. I lovethis articleby my friend Joe Jensen of Barna Group. He and I have done some great projects together (including one of my favorite podcast interviews of all time, in person with Tim Keller in NYC). Joe is a former pastor himself, and he has a few thoughts on Easter and resilience for you. I'm praying for you as you head into all your services and for the many people who will come to hear the Gospel.
How to Design Weekend Services in the Post-Attractional Church
Join April’s live coaching call!
Weekend services are changing—fast.
If you’ve noticed that fewer visitors are at your church, attention spans are shorter, and guests are arriving with different expectations, you’re not imagining it. The attractional playbook doesn’t work like it used to.
During April’s live coaching call in The Art of Leadership Academy, you’ll learn how to rethink your weekend experience for a post-attractional church so your services connect with everyone who shows up while still serving your church's mission.
Come ready with your biggest sticking point, and leave with a plan you can use on Sunday morning.
All-Access Membersget access to this call, all future live coaching, and the entire archive of past calls. Grab your membership today!
Church attendance report pulled after YouGov finds 'fraudulent' responses
Back to “Is there a revival or not?”
I’m looking for signs of hope as much as anyone, but the truth is your best friend as a leader.
You may have heard me quote a report from the UK Bible Society about a resurgence in church attendance on my podcast or in various articles.
Turns out the report, whose research was conducted by YouGov, was based on faulty research. Sigh.
So is the talk of revival false?
There is still data pointing to a spike in spiritual curiosity and renewal among Gen Z and younger Millennials, and college campuses filling up, but the research that seemed like a slam dunk out of the UK, well, isn’t.
No word on whether there will be ‘adjusted’ results released with the data errors removed, or whether this report is permanently cooked.
The good news? There’s a lot of mission left ahead of us.
Your Sermons Have Answers. Help Your People Find Them.
Haystack uses AI to help your congregation find the right sermon at the right time.
You pour hours into every sermon. By Monday, it's buried in a playlist. Here's the thing: you've already preached on anxiety. On marriage. On doubt. But when someone in your church needs those words on a Tuesday night, they have no way to find them.
Haystack puts AI-powered search right on your church's website and app, so your congregation can search your sermons by real questions, real struggles, real life. I've seen Haystack in action and I love what they're doing. Mention my name and they'll import your sermon archive for free so you can see it with your own content.
While he’s best known for his book (and movement) #FOR, Jeff Henderson wrote this great advice book a few years ago for people who, like him, have thought through various career pivots.
Jeff has worked in marketing with the Atlanta Braves, Chick-fil-A, Buckhead Church, Gwinnett Church, and now once again at Chick-fil-A. If you’re thinking about making a change, this is a great read.
Looking for an Escape? Explore the Web Design Museum
See what Google looked like in 1998.
If you’re looking for a little nostalgia that takes you back to a gentler era, look no further than the web design museum. This site will take you back to the start-up days of YouTube, early Apple webpages, and even McDonald's when it hit the internet.
Enjoy reliving your childhood or exploring the internet childhood you never really had.
Cheering for you,
Weekend Watching
Mark Lutz
A 100% Digital Church: What Mark Lutz Learned That Physical Churches Are Missing
Leadership Is Better Shared. Invite Your Friends!
Know someone who would benefit from The Art of Leadership Academy? Invite them to join by visiting your Invitation Hub.
Carey Nieuwhof Communications, PO Box 160, Oro Medonte, Ontario L0L 2X0
Carey Nieuwhof
Where 100,000+ leaders get top insights to thrive in life and leadership.
Don’t settle for an impact smaller than you’re called to make. It's time to unlock your potential and lead confidently into a future filled with growth — for yourself, your church, and your mission. Get access to some of my best leadership content, only published in my newsletters.
