
Guest services as frontline discipleship
When a guest pulls into the parking lot of your church this Sunday morning, what do they experience first – and what does that experience teach them about Jesus?

When a guest pulls into the parking lot of your church this Sunday morning, what do they experience first – and what does that experience teach them about Jesus?

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For many churches, the ABCs of success are attendance, buildings and cash. While these are the easiest things to measure, pastors know they aren’t the best. There has to be a better way to measure discipleship success.

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Churches do not usually burn people out because they care too little about ministry. More often, they burn people out because they care too little about process. The problem is not always the people. The problem is often the pathway. When churches exhaust people, they blame the situation rather than the process.

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While it is tempting to seek godly counsel before God’s counsel because of the immediate answers it offers, it is better for us to seek God’s counsel first because He knows His sheep best.
We’ve seen a steady decline in both Christian identity and church attendance with each passing generation in the U.S. A stat that should concern all church leaders is that among teenagers who were active in church for at least a year during high school, 2 out of 3 are not attending shortly after graduation.
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — Lifeway Christian Resources announced this week that Kirk Kirkland will step into the role of director of Lifeway Worship on Dec. 1.
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – Lifeway Christian Resources’ presidential search committee announced today it is accepting nominations for the next president and CEO of Lifeway.
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — Lifeway Christian Resources trustees named an interim CEO and began the initial steps to search for a successor to President and CEO Ben Mandrell during a special-called meeting July 15.
CORDOVA, Tennessee – El comité de búsqueda de pastor de la Iglesia Bautista Bellevue ha recomendado por unanimidad que Ben Mandrell, director ejecutivo de Lifeway Christian Resources, se convierta en el próximo pastor principal de la iglesia. Mandrell predicará en vista de una convocatoria el 13 de julio. La congregación votará sobre la elección del comité después del servicio de las 10 de la mañana.
CORDOVA, Tenn (July 8, 2025) – The pastor search committee at Bellevue Baptist Church has unanimously recommended that Ben Mandrell, CEO of Lifeway Christian Resources become the church’s next senior pastor. Mandrell will preach in view of a call on July 13. The congregation will vote on the committee’s choice after a 10 a.m. service.
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — One of the most effective ways Lifeway Christian Resources serves the local church is by empowering church leaders with relevant resources that catalyze health, growth and impact. That’s the message the organization hopes messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention in June will take away from their visit to The Lifeway Village in the exhibit hall.
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (BP) – After meeting with church music leaders, Lifeway Christian Resources announced its commitment to continue operating lifewayworship.com.
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (BP) – One of the most effective ways Lifeway Christian Resources serves the local church is by empowering church leaders with relevant resources that catalyze health, growth and impact. That’s the message the organization hopes messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention in June will take away from their visit to The Lifeway Village in the exhibit hall.
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (BP) – Lifeway President and CEO Ben Mandrell announced the appointment of Joe Walker as the entity’s new executive vice president and Scott Arvay as its new chief operating officer. Lifeway trustees approved Walker and Arvay in their new roles during a special-called board meeting, May 1.