The cHURCH
“Churches that won’t make it in the 21st century are those who clutch at structures rather than values and at the glories of the past instead of new opportunities.” -Gordon Venturella, INflexibility
“What would you find if you could scratch beneath the surface of too many churches in America? I think what you would find is that too few really practice living by faith, and that too many really major on culture preferences.” -Gordon Venturella, INflexibility
“Dying churches, for the most part, die because their focus is so inward, so selfish, so short-sighted, that the self-absorption becomes lethal.” -Gordon Venturella, Betrayal
“Instead of operating within the bounds of biblically based core values, not the least of which involves integrity, dying and dysfunctional churches are actively pursuing what the rest of our culture is pursuing and that is a lifestyle characterized by a betrayal of core values. The result is a loss of integrity and a resulting loss of trust.” -Gordon Venturella, Betrayal
“Dysfunctional churches, dying churches, have members who, for the most part, say they are committed to the mission, but are in reality committed to their own hidden agendas.” -Gordon Venturella, Betrayal
“These days I can guarantee you that unchurched people with whom you may visit are consistently asking the church two legitimate questions. 1) Can you be trusted? 2) Do you know where you’re going?” -Gordon Venturella, Change
"For those who wonder whether or not the church should be in the business that touches people at the point of their physical and emotional need, the answer is without a doubt, yes. Some have mistakenly thought that all the church should do is dispense the Gospel." —Gordon Venturella, Compassion, Not Pity
"I’ve not heard doubt defended in many churches and that’s probably why most doubters don’t feel welcome in church."—Gordon Venturella, Not Without A Doubt
"In an effort to be convincing instead of compelling, the church too often comes off as people of arrogance, instead of people of faith."—Gordon Venturella, Life In A Box
"Maybe the watching world would have more respect for the Church if they cleaned their own house a little before they ventured outside the church to point out people's problems." -Gordon Venturella
"I still talk to people who think that those that attend church are perfect people. And part of the reason people that don't go to church think that, is that people that do go to church have led them to think that."
-Gordon D. Venturella
