Jump directly to the Content

IDEAS THAT WORK

How do you make a large church warm and personal? Donald Bubna has ten tips that work for him.

Wanted: That Personal Touch

Donald Bubna is a co-pastor of the Salem Alliance Church, Salem, Oregon. That's right, he's a copastor! He and Forrest Schwalm split the responsibilities of senior pastor right down the middle. They minister to a congregation of 700 families and are assisted by a stag of four.

We first met Don through his book Building People (Tyndale, 1978) which describes many of his experiences at Salem Alliance. Excerpts from his book will be appearing in subsequent issues of LEADERSHIP. Don has served at Salem for 15 of his 25 years of ministry.

I hate being treated as a non-person. Recently I corresponded with a computer for almost three months trying to correct an error with a magazine subscription. It was utter frustration. Today's electronic gadgetry makes us an ever-growing, impersonal society. Meanwhile, people are shouting for recognition, and "me-ism" flourishes. The larger church must face this issue or it too will be written off as just another impersonal institution. ...

March
Support Our Work

Subscribe to CT for less than $4.25/month

Homepage Subscription Panel

Read These Next

Related
Andy Stanley: On Your Mark
Andy Stanley: On Your Mark
"Living to make my mark is too small a thing for me to give my whole life to." Unfortunately many pastors are too focused on their own achievements rather than surrendering to God.
From the Magazine
Should the Bible Sound Like the Language in the Streets?
Should the Bible Sound Like the Language in the Streets?
Controversy over Bibles in Jamaica, the Philippines, and Germany reveal the divide between the sacred and the relatable.
Editor's Pick
What Christians Miss When They Dismiss Imagination
What Christians Miss When They Dismiss Imagination
Understanding God and our world needs more than bare reason and experience.
close