America's Most Innovative Churches
As the world continues to change and innovate, is the local church keeping up with these changes, and if so, how? As we looked at today's churches and the diverse ways they're creatively reaching their communities, Outreach and author/Granger Community Church Pastor Tony Morgan put together a panel of 12 ministry leaders and experts who identified 25 congregations that are embracing a new vision for the Church. Altogether, the panel nominated 73 different churches for consideration.

The result? From a hip-hop church to an Internet campus, these congregations prove once-and-for-all that there’s no one single way to “do church.” You’ll see that for yourself as we take you inside four of these churches for an in-depth look at the distinctive ministry strategies they’re using to fulfill their individual mission. Each church we’ve profiled, LifeChurch.tv in Edmond, Okla. (No. 1), Mars Hill Bible Church in Grandville, Mich. (No. 11), Crossover Church in Tampa Bay, Fla. (No. 13), and Christ the King in Mount Vernon, Wash. (No. 22), has a unique story to tell, one you won't soon forget.

Get inside these innovative churches

But we know what you're really thinking. Want to know what churches made it to our first annual Top 25 Most Innovative Churches in America list?

Find out the Top 25 Churches.

Top 20 Web Sites for Church Communicators - WEB EXCLUSIVE!
Kevin D. Hendricks, chief blogger at ChurchMarketingSucks.com, brings you this insider's list. Here, you'll find 20 killer sites that can inspire you, save you time and help you do your job right. In short, they make your life easier. Isn't the Web a wonderful thing?

Check out the Top 20 Web Sites.

Tip: Don't get too plugged in and disconnect from the world around you. In addition to checking out these recommended sites, make it a habit to read your friends' blogs (yes, your non-church communicator friends). Staying in touch online can help your flesh-and-blood relationships. I also suggest checking out some local news, whether it's the local paper online or a local-interest blog. You can't communicate effectively if you're not tuned into what's happening in your own backyard.

Here's a sneak peek at three cool sites:


1. Seth Godin Site:
sethgodin.typepad.com

Why it Rocks: Seth Godin is a best-selling author and marketing guru who gets the YouTube-fueled market. While he doesn't claim to be a Christian, his valuable insight into marketing strategy is still applicable to your church.

2. Mark Batterson Site:
evotional.com

Why it Rocks: Mark Batterson is a blogging madman, consistently posting multiple times a day. He's always upbeat and inspiring, and shares very cool stories about his congregation, National Community Church in Washington, D.C., that will get your creative juices flowing.

3. Simply Strategic Guys
simplystrategicshow.com

Why it Rocks: Tony Morgan and Tim Stevens are the ultra-innovative Simply Strategic Guys (authors of the popular Simply Strategic series), supplying down-to-earth wisdom and laughs about ministry, leadership and life via blog or podcast.

More Top 20 Web Sites.

Outreach magazine Joins the Blogosphere!

Visit Outreachmagazine.com to be stretched and inspired by our weekly bloggers.

• The Visitor's Card
  Like our popular department, "Mystery Visitor"? Then you'll love this blog from writer Holly Dolezalek. Intrigued by the mystery of religion, the self-described non-Christian visits churches of all denominations, then blogs about her experiences.
  http://thevisitorscard.outreachmagazine.com


• Confessions of a Small-Church Pastor
  Winner of the Outreach Small-Church Blogging Contest, Pastor Chuck Warnock of 100-member Chatham Baptist Church in Chatham, Va., leads a church with its own set of daily joys and challenges. Warnock blogs about the journey of working to engage his community and making a difference for Christ.
  http://smallchurchpastor.outreachmagazine.com
  
• Church Forward
  If you're a fan of Thom Rainer's column, "Surprising Insights," tune into a blog from his son, Sam, president and CEO of Rainer Research. Now in a pastoral role himself, Sam offers an insider's commentary on developing an evangelistically healthy church.
  http://churchforward.outreachmagazine.com
  
• Musings of an Outreach Editor
  Wonder what really goes on behind the scenes of Outreach magazine? Here's your chance to find out. Associate Editor/Online Editor Andrea Bailey comments on what's on the editors' desks as well as new and newsworthy developments in the world of outreach.
  http://editorsmusings.outreachmagazine.com

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