Bill Tenny-Brittian, author and church consultant, is one of the keynote speakers for the "Ministry in Hard Times" event July 28-29 at Geist Christian Church in Fishers, Ind.

By Rebecca Bowman Woods, DisciplesWorld news and website editor

INDIANAPOLIS (7/15/09) — These days, many people come to church seeking hope and help with personal and financial problems. But instead of a safe haven or a sympathetic ear, they may encounter a congregation caught up in troubles of its own — sometimes to the point of being unable to minister to its members or the wider community.

Kris and Bill Tenny-Brittian, both Disciples pastors, specialize in helping churches identify and break free of destructive habits. The couple hosts a weekly internet podcast, Church Talk, on BlogTalkRadio. Together with several consultant-author friends, they have organized a pre-General Assembly event called “Ministry in Hard Times.”

The July 28-29 event is sponsored by Net Results. Geist Christian Church is hosting the conference on its north campus in Fishers, Ind., just north of Indianapolis.

Ministry in Hard Times is for clergy, laypeople, and anyone interested in learning how to be a healthier, more effective church — especially when finances are tight. Those who attend will  receive practical advice and information they can use right away, said Kris Tenny-Brittian.

Being a healthy church is essential during tough economic times, said Tenny-Brittian, area minister for the Mid-America Region's Northeast Area and author of Top Ten Ways to Defuse Your Congregational Time Bomb.

Yet, when congregational giving is down, churches can find themselves shifting away from doing ministry and instead, focusing on how to pay the bills, she said.

Congregations, just like individuals, can exhibit the symptoms of clinical depression, Tenny-Brittian said. They lose hope, and need to be reminded they have options and choices about the future. Her keynote speech, “Preventing Congregational Suicide,” will address this problem.  

The pre-Assembly event also features keynoted workshops by Bill Easum, Clif Christopher, and Bill Tenny-Brittian. Easum, a prolific author on church-related topics, will speak on “Making Strategic Decisions in Hard Times.” Christopher, author of Not Your Parents’ Offering Plate, will share ideas on how to fund ministry. Tenny-Brittian’s keynote address is titled “Hitchhiker’s Guide to Hard Times.”

Another workshop, led by Disciples pastor Geoff Mitchell of First Christian Church in Keokuk, Iowa, is titled “Keo-what? Ministry in Hard Places.” Gary Straub, a popular workshop leader among Disciples, will lead a session on developing leaders in hard times.

Randy Updegraff Spleth, founding pastor of Geist Christian Church, will share his own church’s experience with becoming a multi-site church — an increasingly popular option for larger churches looking to reach more people effectively.

Since launching its second campus ten months ago, the congregation has grown by 24 percent, Updegraff Spleth told DisciplesWorld.

When Geist started researching the multi-site option 15 years ago, around 350 churches were doing it. Now, there are more than 4,000, he said.

Going multi-site “allows you to leverage your staff in ways that are cost effective,” he said.  

The “Ministry in Hard Times” event, sponsored by Net Results, runs from Tuesday morning, July 28 until noon on Wednesday, July 29.

Registration is $85 in advance, $95 on-site. Those who are arriving Tuesday for the Disciples' General Assembly and interested in attending on Wednesday morning only can email Kris Tenny-Brittian to register at a reduced rate.

 
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