BLOG — Trevor DeVage

FOUR BARRIERS WE MUST REMOVE TO EXPERIENCE CHURCH GROWTH

Summertime is the favorite time for visiting the amusement park you love. But you likely do NOT love one thing about the experience: the lines at the attractions.

You see the giant sign over the entrance to the coaster you want to ride. The thrill seems only a few feet away. And then you walk into the holding area and discover the winding maze of shuffling patrons sluggishly zig-zagging through a long path toward the fun you paid good money to enjoy. You know it’ll be awhile before you get there. The well-run parks post signs telling you how long it will be: “One hour from this point in the line.” They’ve become expert at rigging nylon barriers to keep the masses orderly for a lingering, lengthy wait.

Trevor DeVageJune 6, 2018Comment

FOUR WAYS YOUR CHURCH CAN EXPERIENCE DIVERSITY

I remember the first time a biracial couple visited the small church where I grew up. Everybody there that day noticed, in a “you don’t belong here” sort of way. I felt uneasy for those two then. And today, many years later, I’m still troubled by the lack of diversity in many local churches.

I realized very quickly that I was growing up in a church bubble. The people in my church looked like me, thought like me, dressed like me, shared the same values and preferences. We were comfortable inside our white, middle-class boundary.

But today I’m not comfortable.

Church, LeadershipTrevor DeVageMay 30, 2018church, leadership, diversity, unityComment

WHY "CRASH AND BURN" IS A GOOD THING

Not long ago the website for our online campus crashed. Our team worked for 25 minutes to get it back up and running. And for that whole time 250 people hung with us and didn’t log off.

We were frustrated about the crash and anxious to solve the problem.

We were grateful—amazed, actually—that all those people refused to give up on us.

The whole experience got me thinking about how common “crash and burn” happens in life and in the life of the local church. The church is made up of humans who fail. Sometimes things don’t go as planned. When “crash and burn” happens in a high capacity church, it’s OK. People like to know we’re about something more than a perfect, polished production.

Trevor DeVageMay 23, 2018Comment

5 P's FOR THE GUY WHO DECIDES TO DATE MY DAUGHTER

My daughter turned 14 last week, and no, she is not dating. She’s not even that interested in boys—yet.

But as her mother and I hosted her birthday overnighter—all girly and giggly with several of her middle school friends—I realized again that she will have a first date. And I remembered a list my friend Chris Roussin shared with me earlier this spring.

Trevor DeVageMay 16, 2018Comment

Pastors: 4 Reasons You Need a Friend

If you’re a pastor and you feel lonely, you’re not the only one. Loneliness can plague even the most productive pastor, especially after he got close to and got burned by the wrong confidant. When that happens, he may feel that alone is the only safe place to be.

I understand. In fact, I warned about that in last week’s post. But this week I want to share the other side. It is worth the risk of being hurt for the hope of being helped. Every pastor needs a friend who fits the following four descriptions.

Church, LeadershipTrevor DeVageMay 9, 2018pastors, leadership, friends, churchComment

Trevor DeVage

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