Friends of Ministry

09/08/2026

What has happened to us since 9/11 may be worse than what happened on 9/11. The Religion News publisher reflects:

This month marks 25 years since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. This week, as RNS continues its coverage of faith and public life, we wanted to start with a letter to our community marking this anniversary. Your regular Morning Report will return tomorrow, as scheduled.

09/04/2026

A Brilliant Take on Church Marketing
Rev. Dr. Mark Sandlin has been around a long time, and I have subscribed to his Progressive Christianity newsletter for years, but I’ve only recently come to appreciate how insightful and inspiring he is.

If you are in any way responsible for church growth, you may want to read this progressive Presbyterian pastor’s take on church marketing. Take a few minutes to read his highly entertaining blog post, Jesus Would Be Terrible at Church Growth. And then consider: How does what we do in our church or spiritual community align with how Jesus lived? Should we be doing things differently?

Seriously. Somebody get this man a consultant.

08/27/2026

https://southernfriedheresy.com/p/jesus-would-be-terrible-at-church-growth

Seriously. Somebody get this man a consultant.

08/26/2026

https://religionnews.com/2026/08/20/11-faith-groups-accuse-trump-administration-of-violating-court-order-while-spying-on-churches/

(RNS) — Religious groups now argue that the government has committed ‘multiple egregious violations’ of a preliminary injunction handed down in their case back in February.

08/19/2026

Are you a boomer befuddled by emojis? Here's a little help:

As lexicographers can attest, the meaning of a word or an emoji only works if that is how people are using it. Here are some of the most commonly used emoji and what they mean — at least for now.

08/19/2026

https://churchleaders.com/ministry-tech-leaders/2207382-how-artificial-intelligence-is-changing-ministry.html

Explore how artificial intelligence is transforming church leadership, preaching, and pastoral care. What every pastor should know about using AI wisely.

08/18/2026

Eight Proven Factors of Church Growth

U.S. church attendance has significantly declined, dropping from over 40 percent of adults attending weekly in the early 2000s to roughly 30 percent today, according to the Pew Research Center.

Rev. Sheree Taylor-Jones looks at ways to jumpstart your ministry. Years of scientific research have identified eight factors that fuel church growth. If your church is struggling, read her analysis for ideas you can use to turn things around: https://friendsofministry.com/eight-proven-factors-of-church-growth/

08/18/2026

We're celebrating our 22nd anniversary! We extend a sincere THANK YOU to the churches, ministers and faith-based authors who have relied on us for website development and related marketing support since 2004. God is good!

Visit us at https://friendsofministry.com to discover why so many churches rely on us for their web presence and outreach.

08/11/2026

https://www.truthadvertising.org/post/back-to-school-a-strategic-opportunity-for-church-outreach

As summer fades and a new school year begins, families re-establish routines, and communities reconnect through schools, sports, and extracurricular activities. This seasonal shift creates a natural opening for churches to extend meaningful outreach. “Back to School” is more than just a retail m...

08/11/2026

https://ministrywatch.com/arizona-court-shields-clergy-confessions/

Arizona's Supreme Court ruled that church leaders can't be forced to report sexual abuse disclosed during confession. Critics are concerned the ruling could let predators use a "confessional loophole to escape justice." The case stems from a lawsuit against a man who confessed to LDS bishops that he...