President, Church Answers. Lead Pastor, West Bradenton. Frequenter, Tropicana Field
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Articles by Sam Rainer
Pastor, here’s how to do a deep dive into your church’s history
“You really should read the book.” “What book?” I asked, assuming he meant something other than the Bible. “This one.” The search committee member handed me a copy. “If you’re going to be our pastor, then you must know our history.” He was right. First Baptist Church in Murray, Ky., certainly had quite the story. One pastor, Boyce Taylor, was arrested twice for holding services during the 1918 flu pandemic.
How to inject serious biblical wisdom into your life and leadership
Wouldn’t it be great to have a comfort level with the Bible that enabled you to call on its wisdom whenever you needed it? When I became a believer more than 30 years ago, I was obsessed with being able to answer people’s questions. I devoured books on apologetics and listened to many debates. It took me a while to realize that the best preparation for defending the Bible was simply reading the Bible. The more I read it, the more comfortable I was talking about it, teaching it, and writing about it.
How below-average pastors become good leaders
By , Op-ed Contributor When I started in ministry, I was a below-average pastor, probably far below average. I consulted mentors, read leadership books, and prayed for the Holy Spirit’s guidance. It still took me years to improve. Leadership literature is chock-full of ways an average leader can become great. Most of us assume we’re at least reasonably good. Greatness is just a book, a conference or a degree away. I believe run-of-the-mill leaders can improve with training.
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Why we never forget: Reflections 25 years after 9/11
I was walking to my Tuesday banking class on the University of South Carolina campus. As I entered the Darla Moore School of Business, I could tell a major event was occurring. People were crowded around televisions. The silence was eerie. I went to class. About halfway through the 9 a.m. class, someone walked briskly in and whispered a few words to our professor. Sam Rainer is senior pastor of West Bradenton Baptist Church in Bradenton, Fl., and the president of ChurchAnswers.com.
5 safeguards your church needs before scandal strikes
Church scandals are getting more attention. That much is obvious. The media reports them quickly. Documentary filmmakers spotlight fallen pastors. And while megachurches often receive the headlines, smaller congregations are not immune. The public perception is clear: something is wrong. Whether the issue is systemic across church life or isolated to specific ministries with poor practices, the challenge for local churches is the same. We need safeguards. We need them now.
5 safeguards your church needs before scandal strikes
By , Op-ed Contributor Church scandals are getting more attention. That much is obvious. The media reports them quickly. Documentary filmmakers spotlight fallen pastors. And while megachurches often receive the headlines, smaller congregations are not immune. The public perception is clear: something is wrong. Whether the issue is systemic across church life or isolated to specific ministries with poor practices, the challenge for local churches is the same. We need safeguards. We need them now.
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Your church is unhealthy for one simple reason
By , Op-ed Contributor Every church wants to be healthy. Pastors and congregants want better discipleship, stronger leadership pipelines, healthier finances, more volunteers, and greater unity. Those are all worthwhile goals, but none of them sit at the source. They are downstream realities. The source is evangelism. If people are not coming to Christ, then every other measure of health will eventually weaken. You cannot disciple the lost into maturity. You cannot assimilate people who never arrive.
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Your discipleship model is aging out: 5 new trends churches cannot ignore
By , Op-ed Contributor We’re hearing it more at Church Answers. Church leaders are communicating, “We are not doing discipleship well.” It’s not due to neglect so much as to an outdated strategy. Most discipleship systems in North American churches were built for an era when people attended weekly, married younger, had more stable family rhythms, and Baby Boomers formed the backbone of both volunteering and giving. That world is fading.
New Numbers on the Southern Baptist Convention: Remarkable Recovery or Dead Cat Bounce?
Denominations do not exist apart from their churches. They reflect the health of the congregations within them. When more churches are healthy than unhealthy, the denomination tends to have strategic capacity. When more churches are unhealthy than healthy, denominational leaders are pushed into triage mode rather than long-term leadership. That dynamic is increasingly evident in the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). The denomination’s challenges are not merely institutional. They are congregational.
Should Easter service feel special or reflect typical worship?
Planning for Easter Sunday raises a strategic question: should this service look and feel bigger and more energetic, or should it resemble the regular rhythm of worship? Both approaches have advantages and disadvantages. Because Easter is often the highest-attended Sunday of the year, how leaders answer this question shapes not only the experience of that day, but also what first-time and returning guests assume about the life of the church.
Easter services: Big special production or just like any other Sunday?
Planning for Easter Sunday raises a strategic question: should this service look and feel bigger and more energetic, or should it resemble the regular rhythm of worship? Both approaches have advantages and disadvantages. Because Easter is often the highest-attended Sunday of the year, how leaders answer this question shapes not only the experience of that day, but also what first-time and returning guests assume about the life of the church.
5 reasons why many pastors are inadequately paid
By , Op-ed Contributor Pastors enter ministry knowing it will be demanding, but few expect the financial pressure that follows them week after week. Still, it’s a reality in far too many churches. Most of the time, the issue isn’t intentional neglect. It’s a mix of assumptions, old habits, and blind spots. Many churches simply haven’t updated their thinking about what it costs for a pastor and family to live today.
5 reasons why many pastors are inadequately paid - Crossmap News
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12 questions to help you pick the right church
Let’s assume the best. Someone is deciding on a new church in the new year for all the right reasons. Maybe it’s you. Finding a new church can be both exciting and intimidating. Whether you’re moving to a new area or starting a new season of life, it’s wise to ask good questions before committing to a local congregation. kAm%96 8@2= :D?’E E@ “D9@A” 7@C 2 A6C764E 49FC49 W3642FD6 ?@?6 6I:DEDX[ 3FE E@ 5:D46C? H96C6 J@F 42?
The 12 best questions to ask before going to a new church
Let’s assume the best. Someone is deciding on a new church for all the right reasons. Maybe it’s you. Finding a new church can be both exciting and intimidating. Whether you’re moving to a new area or starting a new season of life, it’s wise to ask good questions before committing to a local congregation. The goal isn’t to “shop” for a perfect church (because none exists), but to discern where you can worship, grow, and serve faithfully. These questions aren’t about consumer preferences.
The 12 best questions to ask before going to a new church
By , Op-ed Contributor Let’s assume the best. Someone is deciding on a new church for all the right reasons. Maybe it’s you. Finding a new church can be both exciting and intimidating. Whether you’re moving to a new area or starting a new season of life, it’s wise to ask good questions before committing to a local congregation. The goal isn’t to “shop” for a perfect church (because none exists), but to discern where you can worship, grow, and serve faithfully.
The 12 best questions to ask before going to a new church - Crossmap News
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The Twelve Best Questions to Ask Before Going to a New Church
Let’s assume the best. Someone is deciding on a new church for all the right reasons. Maybe it’s you. Finding a new church can be both exciting and intimidating. Whether you’re moving to a new area or starting a new season of life, it’s wise to ask good questions before committing to a local congregation. The goal isn’t to “shop” for a perfect church (because none exists), but to discern where you can worship, grow, and serve faithfully. These questions aren’t about consumer preferences.
Revisiting the Most Influential Leadership Book I’ve Ever Read (And What I Learned)
Every leader has a handful of books that change how they see the world. For me, one of those books is Reframing Organizations by Lee Bolman and Terrence Deal. I first read it years ago as an academic text, but it has stayed with me far longer than most books from graduate school. The reason is simple: it taught me how to see my church differently. “Reframing” is the ability to look at the same situation from multiple perspectives.
The Coming Massive Wave of Retiring Pastors and Church Staff
A demographic and ministry shift is underway. Thousands of pastors are approaching retirement age, and few younger leaders are ready to take their place. The wave is coming, and every church will soon feel its impact. An Actuarial Reality: The Aging of the Pastorate It’s frustrating when someone says you’re too young, or too old. You can’t help your age. Frankly, you didn’t have any say as to the day or year of your birth. But here’s reality: pastors and church leaders are getting older.
10 practical ways to encourage a discouraged church
By , Op-ed Contributor When a church becomes discouraged, energy drains away and mission focus fades. Evangelism slows. Outreach dwindles. Over time, discouragement settles like fog over the entire congregation. Yet, God specializes in breathing new life into tired hearts and weary churches. Even the most downtrodden church can rediscover hope, strength, and purpose.
10 practical ways to encourage a discouraged church - Crossmap News
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Ten Practical Ways to Encourage a Discouraged Church
When a church becomes discouraged, energy drains away and mission focus fades. Evangelism slows. Outreach dwindles. Over time, discouragement settles like fog over the entire congregation. Yet, God specializes in breathing new life into tired hearts and weary churches. Even the most downtrodden church can rediscover hope, strength, and purpose.
Seven Expectations of Every Church Member that Should Never Change
Almost two decades ago, a church member asked me a straightforward question: “What things should we all do all the time?” This person understood individual calling and spiritual gifts, which can vary with each believer. He wanted to know the timeless expectations of every church member that never change. Simple question. But a challenge to answer. The question was more off-the-cuff, but it got me thinking.
The top reasons for church conflict (why fights start over trivial matters)
By , Op-ed Contributor Some churches have disagreements over matters of consequence — doctrine, governance, or leadership. This article is not about such cases. We’ve encountered some strange reasons for church conflict. There was the time a church fought over the appropriate length of the pastor’s beard. Or the case of a church fighting over whether to build a children’s playground or to use the land for a cemetery.
The top reasons for church conflict (why fights start over trivial matters) - Crossmap News
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10 essential questions for church leaders to build and maintain trust
In my 20s, I served at a church that gave me a key to my office but not any other lock on the campus. They trusted me to open God’s word every Sunday — but not the door to the flower closet. Trust is the foundation of every healthy church. Without it, unity crumbles, ministry slows and relationships fracture. With it, your church will pursue God’s mission together. How can we define trust in the context of ministry?
10 essential questions for church leaders to build and maintain trust
By , Op-ed Contributor In my 20s, I served at a church that gave me a key to my office but not any other lock on the campus. They trusted me to open God’s Word every Sunday but not the door to the flower closet. Trust is the foundation of every healthy church. Without it, unity crumbles, ministry slows, and relationships fracture. With it, your church will pursue God’s mission together. How can we define trust in the context of ministry?
10 essential questions for church leaders to build and maintain trust - Crossmap News
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10 Essential Questions for Church Leaders to Build and Maintain Trust
In my 20s, I served at a church that gave me a key to my office but not any other lock on the campus. They trusted me to open God’s Word every Sunday but not the door to the flower closet. Trust is the foundation of every healthy church. Without it, unity crumbles, ministry slows, and relationships fracture. With it, your church will pursue God’s mission together. How can we define trust in the context of ministry?
The Silent Crisis in Church Facilities: Understanding the Deferred Maintenance Reserve Ratio
A growing number of churches are facing a silent but critical problem—one that rarely appears in budget meetings or revitalization plans. It’s not theological drift or volunteer shortages. It’s deferred maintenance. The sticker shock is real. My church is finishing a $2.2 million air conditioning project. We still have several other projects to complete.
Does counting worship attendance still make sense for churches?
By , Op-ed Contributor Randy knows the strategic spots to get the best views of the sanctuary to count heads. He’s been doing it for years, and I rely on his numbers to know how many people attended our weekend worship services. Barb sends me the complete attendance report on Monday afternoons, which includes more details about children, students, and groups. Why do I care? Why does my church count everyone each week?
Does Counting Worship Attendance Still Make Sense for Churches?
Randy knows the strategic spots to get the best views of the sanctuary to count heads. He’s been doing it for years, and I rely on his numbers to know how many people attended our weekend worship services. Barb sends me the complete attendance report on Monday afternoons, which includes more details about children, students, and groups. Why do I care? Why does my church count everyone each week? For decades, worship attendance has been the default metric for measuring church success.
Bomb threats and active shooter
By , Op-ed Contributor The phone call started a frantic series of events. I was informed of a bomb threat at the local private school on the same road as our church. It was a Wednesday afternoon, and the threat occurred during dismissal time. Complicating matters, their preschool utilizes our church campus. Several questions raced through my mind. Was the preschool included in the threat? Do the police need to clear our campus? How should we help families who want to pick up their children?
Best practices for church safety: Bomb threats and active shooters - Crossmap News
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Bomb Threats & Active Shooters: A Simple Plan for Church Safety (Free Download Guide!)
The phone call started a frantic series of events. I was informed of a bomb threat at the local private school on the same road as our church. It was a Wednesday afternoon, and the threat occurred during dismissal time. Complicating matters, their preschool utilizes our church campus. Several questions raced through my mind. Was the preschool included in the threat? Do the police need to clear our campus? How should we help families who want to pick up their children?
Running on empty? How pastors overcome fatigue and reclaim energy
By , Op-ed Contributor For many pastors and church leaders, feeling tired has moved from an occasional issue to an ongoing one. Fatigue is no longer a seasonal challenge but a chronic issue. Unfortunately, too many pastors and ministry staff across the country are running on empty, struggling to find the energy they once had. But it doesn’t have to stay that way. There are proven strategies that can help you break the burnout cycle and reclaim the joy of ministry.
Running on empty? How pastors overcome fatigue, reclaim energy - Crossmap News
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What Happens in Churches with Long Histories of Short Pastor Tenures (7 Big Patterns to Watch)
Churches with a long history of short pastor tenures often face a host of systemic and cultural challenges. The point here is not to place blame on either pastors or churches. Instead, the goal is to describe what happens culturally, regardless of who is to blame. While each situation has unique factors, there are several common patterns that make long-term pastoral success difficult to achieve in these churches.
Running on Empty? How Pastors Overcome Fatigue and Reclaim Energy
For many pastors and church leaders, feeling tired has moved from an occasional issue to an ongoing one. Fatigue is no longer a seasonal challenge but a chronic issue. Unfortunately, too many pastors and ministry staff across the country are running on empty, struggling to find the energy they once had. But it doesn’t have to stay that way. There are proven strategies that can help you break the burnout cycle and reclaim the joy of ministry.
How the decline of denominations is reshaping American Christianity: Lessons from the Southern Baptist Convention
By , Op-ed Contributor For decades, denominations have experienced a slow-motion deterioration. The declines in any one year are subtle, but each year’s cumulative effects have become a serious problem. Why should we care? Some look at denominations like the folding divider walls in a large room — unnecessarily compartmentalizing believers into theological camps and keeping them from uniting for the mission of God. There is some truth to this perspective.
How the Decline of Denominations Is Reshaping American Christianity: Lessons from the Southern Baptist Convention
For decades, denominations have experienced a slow-motion deterioration. The declines in any one year are subtle, but each year’s cumulative effects have become a serious problem. Why should we care? Some look at denominations like the folding divider walls in a large room—unnecessarily compartmentalizing believers into theological camps and keeping them from uniting for the mission of God. There is some truth to this perspective. However, there are far more benefits to denominations than detriments.
An Open Letter to a Pastor Unjustly Fired
Please know you are loved. You are valued. And there is hope ahead. I know. I’ve been there. Many years ago. And now I’m exactly where God wants me to be. You will get there too. Dear Pastor, I wish I did not have to write this letter. I wish your story were an anomaly, a rare and isolated incident in the life of the church. Unfortunately, your experience is one of many, a tragic reminder of the pain that can arise from the very place meant to bring healing and hope.
An Open Letter to a Pastor Unjustly Fired
Dear Pastor, I wish I did not have to write this letter. I wish your story were an anomaly, a rare and isolated incident in the life of the church. Unfortunately, your experience is one of many, a tragic reminder of the pain that can arise from the very place meant to bring healing and hope. Over the years, I have walked alongside many pastors. I’ve listened as they recounted the betrayal, confusion, and heartache they endured.
Deacon Selection Process: Interview Questions to Ask Before Ordination [FREE Download]
Deacons play a vital role in the church, serving alongside pastors and helping maintain the congregation’s spiritual health. While much focus is placed on pastoral leadership, deacons are no less essential to the church’s mission. No single passage outlines the exact duties of a deacon, but several themes emerge from Scripture, particularly in Acts 6 and 1 Timothy 3. Acts 6 provides the foundational account of deacons in the early church.
Warning Signs of Abuse in the Church
There is a difference between a predator and a wolf. A predator may come from anywhere. But the Bible gives a special warning about wolves—namely, church leaders who look the part but are dangerous. Matthew records this warning from Jesus: “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act” (Matt. 7:15–16). Wolves are inclined to do as much damage to the church as possible.
What pastors should wear while preaching (proper church dress cod
By , Op-ed Contributor Between the 4th and 6th centuries, early Christian ministers adopted distinctive attire, setting them apart from the people they shepherded. As long robe-like garments of the Roman and Greek Empires became less popular in civil life, the church retained the attire for clergy, which evolved into what we know today as vestments. In many Christian traditions, clergy still wear liturgical garments.
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