THE POWER OF COHORTS

Over the past quarter century as I have worked with leaders and congregations in ministry strategies for effectiveness, there are three distinct chapters: (1) church consulting, (2) consulting-coaching and now (3) consulting-coaching-cohort.  

THE CONTINUING PROMISE OF NICHE MINISTRY

In the ever-diversifying culture of North America and Europe, the day of  "one-size-fits-all" church is over.  There never really was such a church that could serve everyone with equal effectiveness.  However, many of us remember communities with extremely homogenous population.  In the years of monocultural neighborhoods and three national television networks, a neighborhood church might find itself able to relate culturally to 80 percent of the residents in its neighborhood.  However, today, human diversity is increasing in most zip codes.  This diversity can be seen in terms of race, education, political tribes, lifestyle hobbies, income, etc.  Today, in the rare homogenous neighborhoods that remains in the South or Midwest, we might find a dominant congregation that relates to one out of five households (20 percent), but even this is rare. Involvement (or market share) of even 1 percent is notable now - and also increasingly rare.