Principles for Church Growth by Bob and Mary Hopkins, published by the Anglican Church Planting Initiatives, delves into the multifaceted nature of church growth, emphasizing that it encompasses more than mere numerical increase.

The article identifies four key dimensions of growth: upward growth in maturity and discipleship, inward growth in fellowship and community, outward growth in mission and societal engagement, and numerical growth. Bob and Mary emphasize that the recognition of the Holy Spirit as the sole source of growth, underscoring the necessity to remain connected to the divine in order to bear fruit.

Founder, Karl Vaters, created a resource hub dedicated to supporting small church leaders. Vaters is a pastor with over 40 years of experience in small-church ministry and his website offers a range of materials aimed at helping small churches thrive. 

ChMeetings is a church management software designed to streamline administrative tasks and enhance community engagement. It offers a suite of features to meet the diverse needs of churches.

Planning Center is a church management software designed to streamline operations and improve engagement across ministries. It offers a suite of integrated applications, allowing churches to manage people, worship services, small groups, giving, check-ins, event registrations, facilities scheduling, and communications efficiently. 

Faithward provides resources and inspiration to deepen faith and fellowship. The name “Faithward” reflects this mission—combining faith and forward movement. Rooted in the Reformed tradition through its connection to the Reformed Church in America, the platform offers a broadly Reformed theological perspective. However, its resources are designed to support Christians from various backgrounds, encouraging spiritual growth and re-imagining the role of the church in today’s world.

ChurchTrac is an all-in-one church management platform designed to streamline administrative tasks, including member management, attendance tracking, donation tracking, and worship planning. With built-in communication tools, a free church website, and online giving options, it helps churches stay organized and focused on ministry.

GrowChurch is a comprehensive platform dedicated to equipping church leaders with practical tools and strategies to foster both personal and congregational growth.

Gloo is a comprehensive platform designed to empower church leaders and organizations by enhancing community engagement and providing useful insights. One of its standout features is Gloo Messaging, which offers up to 10,000 free message credits monthly, enabling churches to communicate effectively with their congregations through broadcast text blasts, individual messages, and prayer request gathering.

Text In Church is a communication platform tailored to enhance engagement between churches and their congregations. It offers two-way communication enabling churches to send and receive text messages, facilitating meaningful conversations and relationship building. The platform supports multi-channel communication allowing outreach through text messaging, email, and phone calls to ensure messages reach members via their preferred channels.

The Center for Church Renewal helps in revitalizing churches and supporting leaders in their renewal journeys. They offer a free church health assessment to help you evaluate your congregation's current state and identify areas for growth.

Lifeway Research assists and equips church leaders with insight and advice that will lead to greater levels of church health and effectiveness. Frequent surveys on today’s church and culture demonstrate our knowledge of the dynamics of ministry today and our understanding of the realities of the culture we live in.

Stadia church planting guides individuals and organizations through the journey of establishing new churches.

Reliant Creative is a creative agency dedicated to helping churches and Christian nonprofits tell their stories effectively to mobilize the Church for action. They believe that storytelling is a powerful tool to inspire generosity, engagement, and discipleship. With a deep understanding of ministry challenges, Reliant Creative partners with organizations to create tailored solutions for branding, messaging, websites, and digital content. Their work is fueled by the belief that sharing stories of God’s work can grow ministries, build community, and expand the Kingdom.

Leading Ideas Talks brings to the table cutting-edge leaders on subjects you care about — navigating change, reaching younger people, financing your ministry, communicating effectively — to help you be the leader God is calling you to be.

Partnership for ReNEWal is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting churches as they navigate modern challenges in attendance, financial sustainability, community engagement, and ministry effectiveness. PfR offers a mission-first approach that helps congregations focus on serving others by discovering and embracing their divine purpose, creating actionable ministry plans, and establishing sustainable models for growth and vitality.

The Unstuck Group is a consulting organization that helps churches overcome growth barriers by providing strategic guidance and practical support to pastors and church leaders. Founded by Tony Morgan, the group offers a structured process known as the Unstuck Process, which includes assessment, strategic planning, and ongoing coaching. This approach is designed to help churches clarify vision, align teams, develop effective structures, and create actionable plans for sustainable impact. The Unstuck Group works with churches through both virtual and in-person consulting options, emphasizing alignment, accountability, and follow-through.

In his talk, "What's Next? Options for Struggling Churches," Rev. Dr. John-Peter Smit gives practical advice for churches facing shrinking attendance and financial hurdles. He points out that while the world has changed around them, many churches haven’t adapted, and that’s why they’re losing relevance and members.

Sticky Faith is a comprehensive strategy aimed at helping parents and ministry leaders actively nurture the spiritual growth of young people, ensuring that their faith endures into adulthood. Recognizing that nearly 50% of students abandon their faith after graduating high school, Sticky Faith highlights the critical role parents play as primary influences on their children's spiritual lives. Developed by the Fuller Youth Institute, Sticky Faith is grounded in extensive research involving over 500 young people, 100 churches, and 50 families, providing practical resources for fostering long-term faith.

Navigating the complexities of leadership can be daunting and overwhelming. With Jenni Catron and her guests as your trusted and experienced guides, your leadership journey can become less overwhelming and more fulfilling. Jenni and the 4Sight team want to help you become a healthy leader who leads a thriving organization. Listen to discover the tools and wisdom you need to gain the 4Sight for success!