STUCK: Why Clergy Are Alienated from Their Calling, Congregation, and Career
Stuck, by Todd W. Ferguson and Josh Packard, explores why modern pastors often feel disconnected from their calling, congregations, and ministry careers—not because of burnout or lack of faith, but due to structural problems in how ministry is understood and supported. It offers insights and practical responses for clergy, congregations, and seminary educators.
Finding God in Unexpected Places: Lenten Movie Series
This Lenten Movie Series offers a creative and reflective journey through Lent using well-known secular films to explore spiritual themes. Designed by Knox Presbyterian Church, the guide pairs each film with Scripture and quotes to help viewers reflect on moments of divine grace, human courage, and quiet transformation that emerge from unexpected stories.
Blessed Are the Undone
Blessed Are the Undone explores the personal and communal journey of deconstructing Christian faith within a Canadian context. Through testimonies, theological reflection, and sociological insights, authors Angela Reitsma Bick and Peter Schuurman present a nuanced, empathetic, yet critical view of what it means to re-evaluate faith today.
Ecclesia.ai
Ecclesia.ai offers churches and Christian organizations an easy-to-use platform to create custom AI chatbots trained on their own theological, educational, and community resources. Built by the CHURCHx team, Ecclesia helps ministries amplify teaching, foster discipleship, and support spiritual growth through AI tools that respect faith traditions and personal dignity.
The Lead Pastor
The Lead Pastor is a community for pastors, church planters and anyone with a passion for building better churches.
The Upper Room
The Upper Room is a daily devotional guide that has been encouraging individuals in their spiritual journeys for over 80 years. Published in more than 35 languages and distributed across 100 countries, it offers daily meditations written by readers who share their personal faith experiences. Each meditation includes a scripture reference, a personal story, and a prayer, aiming to help readers connect with God and the global community of believers.
Canadian Centre for Christian Charities
The Canadian Centre for Christian Charities (CCCC), established in 1972, is Canada's largest association of Christian charities. It supports over 3,400 ministries nationwide by providing resources and guidance to help them operate effectively and with integrity.
CCCC offers services such as legal and financial consultation, human resources support, and training programs. Additionally, it grants accreditation to member charities that meet established standards, assuring donors of their financial and organizational integrity.
Church Vitalization Canada
Church Vitalization Canada is dedicated to addressing the challenges faced by plateaued and declining churches across the nation. They offer a range of resources and events aimed at revitalizing congregations and fostering growth.
Relational Mentoring
Article “7 Steps for Making Disciples Through Relational Mentoring" by Ken Carter and Audrey Warren.
Alpha Canada: Reigniting Hope
Shaila Visser, National Director of Alpha Canada, along with Dr. Joel Thiessen discuss the report, Reigniting Hope: Sharing the Good News in Canada in 2024.
Church Bookkeeping
For churches in Canada, organizations like Church Bookkeeping offer specialized services tailored to the unique financial needs and regulatory requirements of Canadian churches. Their team of accountants, bookkeepers, and payroll specialists are experienced in Canadian church finance, assisting with tasks such as government reporting, charity receipting, and vision-based financial reporting.
Narratives of Hope and Possibility– PCC Toolkit
The Narrative of Hope and Possibility initiative by The Presbyterian Church in Canada is progressing with a working group of up to 20 members, representing diverse backgrounds and ministries. Their goal is to gather and share stories that highlight renewal and transformation within the church, especially in uncertain times. This initiative emphasizes the church’s core message of God’s love, forgiveness, and peace through Jesus Christ.
New Leaf Resources
The New Leaf Network Learning Centre offers a variety of resources tailored for Christian ministry leaders in Canada.
Proclamation Project from Disciples of Christ Church
The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) offers a variety of preaching resources through their Proclamation Project, designed to support and equip preachers within the denomination.
Ministry Brands
Ministry Brands provides end-to-end software tailored to the needs of faith-based and purpose-driven organizations.
Principles for Church Growth
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.
The Starfish and the Spider
The Starfish and the Spider: The Unstoppable Power of Leaderless Organizations by authors Ori Brafman and Rod Beckstrom explores the contrasting dynamics between centralized and decentralized organizations.
How to Be Both Multisite and Missional—at Any Church
In the article How to Be Both Multisite and Missional—at Any Church Cont’d, by Michael Beck, the author continues from part one of an article by the same name, by exploring the concept of the "blended ecology," emphasizing the symbiotic relationship between traditional or "inherited" church models and innovative or "fresh expressions" of church.
Church Partnerships: Hub and Spoke Model
In the Michigan District, LCMS podcast episode titled "Church Partnerships – Part 6: Hub-and-Spoke Model," Rev. Randy Johnson discusses the hub-and-spoke model as an innovative approach to church partnerships.
This model involves a central "hub" church collaborating with multiple "spoke" churches or ministries, enabling resource sharing, coordinated efforts, and mutual support.
Smart Church Management
Smart Church Management provides church leaders with resources, training, and tools to manage their ministry's people, time, and finances. Their offerings include online courses, downloadable forms and job descriptions, and a selection of books focused on church administration.