Texas Church Offers Free Urgent Care to Those Without Insurance, IDs

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September 10, 2024

Highland Baptist Church — Photo by Paloma Gil (via Pexels)

A Texas church is serving its community by offering free medical urgent care services at no cost, regardless of whether patients have identification or health insurance. The clinic, which is open weekly, is one of several community outreach programs of Highland Baptist Church in Waco.

The church offers the clinic through its Wellness Center, which is “dedicated to serving [the] Waco community with compassion, inspired by the teachings of Jesus Christ,” according to its website.

The Wellness Center offers urgent care from 5 to 8 p.m. every Monday. A $10 contribution is encouraged for patients receiving care, but it is not required.

The clinic is equipped to treat a number of non-life-threatening conditions, “including minor injuries, illnesses, and routine medical services. This includes treatment for coughs, colds, flu, infections, earaches, rashes, lacerations, minor traumas, and injuries,” according to the Wellness Center’s website.

The clinic is staffed by nurses, doctors, and physician assistants. All of the medical professionals are volunteers, most of whom attend Highland Baptist Church. The vision for the clinic was birthed when Dr. Katy Vogelaar, now a volunteer healthcare provider for the clinic, came to church leadership with the idea.

“We saw how people don’t have access to [affordable healthcare],” Frank San Martin, the pastor who oversees the Wellness Center, told KWTX. “Or it’s a complicated process…And there’s just a long wait, because there’s a lot of people in our area [who] need medical attention.”

The vision of Highland Baptist Church is to “gather,” “grow,” and “go,” and San Martin is part of the leadership of the church’s “go” team, which seeks to help church members “to live on mission.”

“A lot of our nurses and doctors get excited [about] just giving back to our community,” San Martin said. “So it’s a way that they can get plugged in, they can serve, they can love, and just care for people that way as well.”

San Martin emphasized the Wellness Center’s goal to provide “a service that’s affordable, donation based.”

James Earl Jones, Dead at 93, Credited High School Teacher, Mentor for Helping Him Find His Voice and His Faith

By

Jessica Mouser

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September 10, 2024

James Earl Jones, an acclaimed actor known for his iconic voice, passed away Monday, Sept. 9 at age 93. Jones, who is known for voicing Darth Vader in “Star Wars” and Mufasa in “The Lion King,” said that perhaps the ”greatest honor” among his many accomplishments was recording the New Testament, which he did in memory of the man who helped him find his voice and Christian faith.

The Legacy of James Earl Jones

James Earl Jones was born in Arkabutla, Mississippi, in 1931. He struggled with a stutter early in his life due to trauma he experienced when his family moved to Michigan during The Great Migration. Because of his stutter, Jones would stay silent for long periods of time. “I became just a non-verbal person,” he said in an interview. “I became a writer. And I was resigned to that.”

It was a teacher in high school named Professor Donald Crouch who helped Jones to grow comfortable speaking in public through an appreciation for poetry and the sound of the English language. Jones later credited Crouch for helping him find his faith as well as voice.

“He never pushed anything at me again; he just wanted all his students to wake up,” Jones told Guideposts Magazine in 1993. “He never even pressed us with religion but figured if we did wake up we would find God, find our calling and, in so doing, find life.”

A love of words attracted Jones to acting. “It wasn’t acting. It was language. It was speech,” he said, according to CNN. “It was the thing that I’d…denied myself all those years (as a boy). I now had a great—an abnormal—appreciation for it.”

Jones’ father, Robert Earl Jones, was himself an actor who knew poet and playwright Langston Hughes. James Earl Jones’ interest in acting developed while he was a student at the University of Michigan, in part because of his father. After university, however, he served as an Army Ranger. He then left the Army and became a prominent Shakespearean and Broadway actor.

Jones’ first movie role was as a bombardier in Stanley Kubrick’s 1964 film, “Dr. Strangelove.” Jones won a Tony for portraying Jack Jefferson in “The Great White Hope” and became the second Black man (after Sidney Poitier) to be nominated for an Academy Award after he portrayed Jefferson in the film adaptation of the play.

When George Lucas used Jones’ voice in the first “Star Wars” movie in 1977, Jones was uncredited by his own request, his reason being, “I’m just special effects.” The actor famously voiced the character of Darth Vader, who was played in costume by David Prowse. However, Jones became so known for that role as time went on that he allowed himself to be credited starting with “Return of the Jedi.”

‘Very Sad Situation’—PA Pastor, Neighbors Recount Fatal Standoff

By

Stephanie Martin

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September 10, 2024

pennsylvania man — Raymond Wambsgans, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

After a lengthy standoff in Hughesville, Pennsylvania, on Saturday (Sept. 7), an armed man who had barricaded himself in his trailer home was shot and killed by police. Authorities identified the Pennsylvania man, who was pronounced dead at the scene, as 62-year-old Gary Lee McCartney.

According to a news release from Pennsylvania State Police, McCartney had threatened a worker at a nearby trailer, as well as neighbors who tried to de-escalate the situation.

A neighbor who knew McCartney said he was kind but had been struggling. A pastor whose church McCartney had occasionally attended called the incident a tragedy.

Standoff: Pennsylvania Man Posted ‘Kill Me’ Sign

McCartney, who lived alone, allegedly waved a handgun at Jason Poust, who was repairing the roof on his girlfriend’s trailer. Poust said he drove away after McCartney warned him, “If you come over here, you’re leaving in a body bag.”

Neighbor Donald Metzger then tried to calm down McCartney, he told police. But McCartney pulled the gun on Metzger and threatened him also. Troopers arrived mid-afternoon with a warrant, charging McCartney with reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct, aggravated assault, and more.

With McCartney barricaded inside his home, authorities tried for hours to negotiate and end the standoff peacefully. A neighbor described hearing officers say over a loudspeaker, “Come out. We don’t want to do harm to you or your home.” The neighbor also called the scene “intense,” with an armored truck, a police sniper, K-9 units, and drones.

Another resident said McCartney put a sign in his window that read “Kill me.” She heard officers tell him repeatedly, “We’re here to help you. We don’t want to see you hurt yourself. We don’t want to see you hurt.”

According to police, at one point McCartney appeared at his front window and fired one round at troopers. After more unsuccessful attempts to get McCartney to surrender, he later appeared at the window again and aimed his gun at authorities. That’s when a trooper fired one shot at McCartney, “causing fatal injuries.” The standoff ended about 9:30 p.m.

Local Pastor: ‘We Need To Help One Another’

Dan Cale, pastor of Friends Church in Hughesville, said McCartney had worshiped with the congregation in the past. “I last saw him a few weeks ago, and at that time, there was no indication that his life would end this way,” he told the Williamsport Sun-Gazette.

“Our church provided [McCartney] with some food and other assistance,” said Cale. “Like many others in our community, he struggled financially. He was no different than the many we help through our monthly food program. This tragedy is a reminder of just how much we need to help one another and look out for each other.”

Calling the situation “very sad,” the pastor added, “Our police have a very tough job. My heart goes out to them as well.”

National Catholic Reporter Names Wall St. Journal’s James Grimaldi as Executive Editor

By

Genevieve Charles

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September 10, 2024

James V. Grimaldi — James Grimaldi. (Photo courtesy NCR)

(RNS) — Ending a yearlong vacancy atop its editorial team, the National Catholic Reporter, the 60-year-old, left-leaning Catholic media outlet, announced that James V. Grimaldi, a senior writer at The Wall Street Journal, has been named executive editor.

Grimaldi, 62, is set to begin work Sept. 16, filling a position that has been vacant since August of 2023, when Heidi Schlumpf stepped down after four years in the role, becoming a senior correspondent. Grimaldi will report directly to Joe Ferullo, the newspaper’s CEO and publisher.

In an arrangement in step with the technology-aided dislocations of modern journalism, Grimaldi will oversee the editorial operation of NCR, which is headquartered in Kansas City, from Washington, where the newspaper has offices in the historic Methodist Building on Capitol Hill. Ferullo, a retired television executive, works from Los Angeles.

Ferullo said of Grimaldi’s appointment in a statement, “James is dedicated to NCR’s mission; he will elevate and expand NCR’s excellent journalism at a pivotal moment in the history of the Catholic Church. All of us at NCR — including our readers — look forward to his extraordinary editorial leadership in this exciting and decisive time,” Ferullo said.

In a long career that began at the San Diego Tribune, Grimaldi has become known for his accountability and investigative reporting. In more than two decades covering politics and governmental affairs at the Washington Post and the Journal, he reported on corruption by federal judges and government officials.

Grimaldi has received three Pulitzer Prizes for his investigative work. In 1996, he contributed to a Pulitzer win for the Orange County Register, reporting on unethical fertility practices by a research university. In 2006, he received a Pulitzer with two colleagues for an investigation of the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal. In 2023, while at the Journal, he won another for exposing conflicts of interest among several federal employees.

With a staff of 40, NCR draws a million readers to its website monthly and publishes 26 print issues each year. Catholics’ options for reading about their faith and its institutions have shrunk in recent years. Diocesan newspapers, once considered essential guides to the thinking of local bishops and the national church, have in many places disappeared. In late 2022, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops shuttered domestic operations of its Catholic News Service, which now maintains only its Vatican bureau.

NCR has been a supporter of Pope Francis, and under Schlumpf was known to criticize U.S. Catholic bishops for what the paper’s editors regarded as politically motivated decisions on topics such as denying Communion to pro-choice Democratic politicians.

From the 1980s onward, the paper was pivotal in leading the Catholic Church to confront the sexual abuse scandal, first reporting not only on abusive priests but on the U.S. bishops’ cover-up in June 1985. The news outlet has also covered mismanagement of diocesan funds and the impact of conservative donors on the U.S. church.

This article originally appeared here.

Remembering Persecuted Christians on 9/11

By

Fouad Masri

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September 10, 2024

persecution — misu - stock.adobe.com / Adobestock #294414429

The day of the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, is scarred in the minds of those who saw it unfold on the television screens in real time.

This year marks the 23 commemoration of these attacks and many who experienced it are not alive. Added to that, many feel that the war on terror has not ended terrorism. Instead, Jihadi groups continue to flourish and spread across the world.

The recent burnings of churches and the Oct. 7 Hamas attack are deemed a form of Jihad by many Muslims.

Currently, the U.S.A. is living a new reality where Islam is heralded as peaceful and evangelicals are oppressors. The Taliban is in power in Afghanistan, and Muslim women are oppressed in many Muslims majority countries.

The rise in Christian persecution is unprecedented. Its scope and frequency are alarming.

This year, how should churches commemorate this sad and violent event? What is the role of the church in this present darkness?

Silence is not an option.

They Do Not Know.

Many people today still have not heard a clear explanation on the life of Christ or his teachings. The term “Unreached People Groups” (UPG) has been coined by mission experts to highlight the current crisis. More than three billion people living on earth are designated as unreached. This means they have no Bible in their language. They have no Christian or Christian communities. They have no contact with a Christ follower.

Added to that, many hear negative statements about Christians or associate Christians with western culture or politics. These communities tend to be monocultural, without freedom of religion or choice.

Religious Warfare

As Christians, we are shocked to see killing justified as God’s will. The foundation of our faith is that God loves all people. God sent his Son to redeem all humanity and usher in the kingdom of God.

The attacks of Sept. 11 are stark proof that there are broken religious systems and evil moralities that manipulate its followers to commit evil. Jihad is wrong because God loves all people.

Some religious leaders try to justify terrorism because the west worships three gods. The Jihadi mindset is that they are defending God by defeating polytheism. Sadly, this is a fallacy since all Christians worship one God. Many Jihadi fighters are impacted by the knowledge that other faiths believe in one God. The words of the Lord Jesus have impacted many listeners, and some Jihadi fighters have become followers of Christ.

The 8 Qualities of a Group Leader

By

Stephen Blandino

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September 10, 2024

Leadership comes with a host of challenges, uphill struggles and negative voices that tell us why we can’t do what we want to do. But, despite the circumstances, leaders lead. They don’t let the struggles they face, the disappointments they encounter or the naysayers around them cloud their commitment to move forward. Instead, leaders have “Can-Do” attitudes. Can-Do Leadership is about more than having a strong work ethic; it’s also about your perspective, mindset, tenacity and posture toward being solution-focused. The qualities of a group leader include share eight things that keep them from getting stuck.

The 8 Qualities of a Group Leader

1. Positivity – I choose an optimistic outlook

In their book Spiritual Leadership, Richard and Henry Blackaby observe the importance of leaders maintaining a positive and optimistic outlook. They use George Marshall as an example. They observe:

“When George Marshall became the U.S. Secretary of State, he was informed that spirits were low in the State Department. Marshall advised his staff, ‘Gentlemen, enlisted men may be entitled to morale problems, but officers are not… I expect all officers in this department to take care of their own morale. No one is taking care of my morale.’ If leaders cannot manage their own attitudes, they cannot be entrusted with the morale of others. When leaders believe anything is possible, their followers will come to believe that too” (p. 168-169).

If you don’t believe it can happen, nobody you lead will believe it either. Our positivity—or negativity—is contagious. As John Maxwell observes, your attitude is “the librarian of our past. It is the speaker of our present. It is the prophet of our future.”

2. Initiative – I don’t wait to be asked

Initiative is critical in many areas of life, but three stand out in a work environment. When we lack initiative in these three areas, we diminish our performance and team dynamics.

Volunteering – The best team members notice needs and willingly volunteer without having to be asked. In other words, their initiative doesn’t end with their job description.
Learning – Leaders with initiative figure things out and continually look for ways to improve what they do. Their learning posture drives them to discover best practices, keep stretching and approach work with a “figure it out” mindset.
Execution – Can-Do Leaders don’t procrastinate. Instead, they proactively plan, act and over-deliver. They put feet to their goals, responsibilities and objectives.

3. Responsibility – I own it

Can-Do Leaders own their role, responsibilities, assignments and growth. They never cast blame or deflect responsibility. Instead of saying, “Why do we have to go through all this change?” Can-Do Leaders ask, “How can I adapt to the changing world?” Instead of saying, “Who dropped the ball?” they ask, “How can I contribute?” Instead of expecting somebody else to train them, they take responsibility for their own growth and development. Can-Do Leaders are owners.

4. Decisiveness – I make decisions without bogging down my supervisor

When team members step into a role, they have the responsibility to execute the responsibilities of that role without constantly bogging down their supervisor. Yes, there’s an initial training period, and yes, a leader should work hard to serve his or her team by giving them what they need to excel. At the same time, the best team members learn how to make decisions without relying on their boss for constant direction.

Recently I shared with my staff at 7 City Church eight things to consider when making a decision. The better you process these eight areas, the better you’ll be able to make decisions without bogging down your supervisor. I used the word “DECISION” as an acronym to communicate this decision-making framework:

DNA – Does the decision authentically reflect 7 City’s vision, values, DNA and style?
Excellence – How will the decision be executed to reflect 7 City’s level of quality?
Consequence – What will be the immediate and long-term outcome of this decision?
Impact – How will the decision impact other staff, ministries or our team’s culture?
Stewardship – Does the decision reflect wise stewardship of our time, talent and financial resources?
Investigation – Is the decision adequately researched and tested?
Ownership – Are you willing to own the decision, its execution and its consequences?
Noble – Is this a noble decision that reflects integrity and honor to God?

Use these eight marks to make quality decisions and exercise Can-Do Leadership. Reviewing each question prior to making a decision will increase your decision-making confidence and keep you from bogging down your supervisor with the issue.

5. Solution-Minded – I won’t quit until I find a solution

Anybody can point out a problem, but solution-minded leaders hunt down the best solutions, and don’t quit until they have solved the problem at hand. To be a solution-minded leader, embrace the three R’s:

Resist – Resist an inflexible attitude, the mindset of a victim and the temptation to make excuses.
Research – Aggressively search for creative answers inside and outside of your network of relationships and sources of knowledge.
Refuse – Refuse to take “no” for an answer; instead persevere to the end.

Church Speaker Placement 101 – Everything You Need to Know

By

Leon Sievers

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September 10, 2024

church speaker placement — Adobe Stock #290333586

Church acoustics matter. Nothing can improve the quality of your church sound system as much as determining the proper church speaker placement for your system.

Upgrading your speakers can make changes in the range of 1 to 5 decibels. But simply changing your speaker position can make differences in excess of 15dB in response! Who would buy a loudspeaker product with a +/-15dB swing in response? Regardless of what speaker system you currently use, a basic understanding of the room & loudspeaker interaction and the applied fundamentals can help you make a substantial improvement in your systems performance.

Church Speaker Placement

There are no magic formulas for ensuring great sound in every room. We can however, identify and gain an understanding of basic acoustical principles for church speaker placement. Some basic equipment, including a 20′ measuring tape, a test CD with a variety of test tones, an inexpensive analog sound pressure level meter and a calculator can reveal more information than you may want to know.

Like a speaker, every room has its own frequency response. To make things more complex about church speaker placement, the response varies with the listener’s location and the room’s dimensions, construction and furnishings. Room dimensions determine standing wave frequencies. In general, rooms with dimensions that are divisible by a common factor, like 10′ x 20′ x 30′, tend to compound standing waves at one frequency.

Room dimensions with non-equal or divisible dimensions are best. Vaulted ceilings, non-parallel walls and irregular surfaces help reduce slap echoes, but have little effect on low frequency standing waves. Room construction affects bass reinforcement, the noise floor and adjacent room noise. The average drywall wall resonates around 70Hz. Doors rattle, windows sing, air vents whoosh. Just grab your test CD or tone generator, play a sweep tone and listen. The difference in sound you will hear during the sweep is almost entirely due to room coloration.

Let’s begin by discussing how the length of a wave relates to its frequency. This understanding will allow you to take a methodical approach to understanding room response problems. Sound nominally travels at about 1130′ per second. The human ear can typically detect frequencies from 20 vibrations per second (Hertz)to roughly 20,000 vibrations per second. We can calculate the wavelength (“l”) of any frequency by simply dividing 1130 (“v” or velocity) by the frequency (“f”), using the formula l = v/f. For example, that trying to dampen a 100Hz bass wave that is 11’3″ long with a pillow 12″ x 12″ x 1.5″ stuck into a corner is futile.

We can also use the formula to determine the fundamental standing wave frequency for a given room dimension by dividing the round trip of that dimension by 1130 (v). That is, if our room is 20′ long, the round trip distance is 40′. Divide 1130 (v) by 40′(f) for a fundamental standing frequency of 28.3Hz (l). Let’s go one step further with our formula and newfound wavelength knowledge and see how we can apply it to understanding the problems of room acoustics.

Early reflections are signals that have bounced off the walls, ceiling and floors and arrive at our listening position later in time, mixing with the direct signal. They are called early or “first” reflections because listening tests have shown that when multiple reflections are received within 20 milliseconds of the direct sound, they are perceived as part of the original. This alters the tonal balance and confuses vocals and dialog.

Youth Ministry Launch Ideas: 6 Kickoff Tips for Churches

By

Andy Lawrenson

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September 9, 2024

Do you need hot new youth ministry launch ideas? Looking for ways to kick off a new student ministry, program, or event? Maybe a new idea has been rolling around in your mind. It keeps popping up, interrupting your thoughts and work.

What’s holding you back from launching that new ministry, position, or Bible study? And how can you blast off successfully?

Read on for practical youth ministry launch ideas from a veteran youth minister!

6 Youth Ministry Launch Ideas

1. Use a legal pad.

First, write down the idea right away. Jot it down as soon as it pops up, no matter where you are. List the pros and cons of various youth ministry launch ideas.

I keep a few legal pads on my desk, while working on administrative tasks. That way I can write down thoughts as I go and not forget later. The more thoughts you can process, the better.

2. Pray!

Seek God’s wisdom and direction to launch anything related to student ministry. Prayer could very well be what causes you to proceed with or drop the idea. So take time to talk with God about it.

3. Ask key questions.

For example:

Does this fit with our church’s purpose and vision?
Who will be involved?
Who would I personally invite to join the team for this?
Does this have the potential to make a difference in our church?
What will be required financially to pull this off?

Then write down your answers on a legal pad!

4. Consult the calendars.

Does the time frame you’re looking at compete with something else happening in the church? The community? Schools? Sometimes we have a great event but choose the wrong time, which impacts participation. Most importantly, how will it affect your family calendar? Give yourself enough time for proper planning and excellent promotion.

Church Family Night Ideas for Children’s Ministry Outreach

By

Stephanie Martin

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September 9, 2024

Church family night ideas are a hit for community outreach and congregational fun. Invite parents and children from the church and surrounding neighborhoods. Then gather for fellowship, games, snacks, and lots of laughter!

The frequency of these events might depend on the size of your church and children’s ministry program. You can schedule biweekly, monthly, or bimonthly family nights. Recruit volunteers to set up and clean up, run the activities, and provide light snacks and drinks.

Keep your church family night ideas low-key (when possible) and low-pressure. These events can be free or low-cost. Another option is to ask for donations. Include prayer time and set out Christian parenting resources for families to take.

At every family night, publicize worship services, Sunday school classes, Bible studies, and upcoming children’s ministry events. Make people feel welcome with these family night ideas. Then invite them to check out what else your church offers.

10 Church Family Night Ideas

Get creative! Adapt these action-packed events to fit your community’s needs.

1. Family Game Night

First, start with a classic. Board games are always a hit, so set out a variety of options. Then let kids and parents choose their favorites. Switch games at regular intervals so everyone gets a turn. Also mix up families so people can interact.

2. Family Scavenger Hunt

Have families set out on a seasonal or biblical scavenger hunt. You can either have them search around the church buildings and property or around a specific neighborhood. Enlist teens and other volunteers for assistance.

3. Biblical Escape Room Ideas

Next up, these church family night ideas take a bit more prep work. But kids and parents will love solving Bible-themed challenges.

4. Family Movie Night

Movie nights are always a big draw. Just make sure to obtain proper permissions to show a film at your church.

5. Craft Night

If older kids in your ministry love crafting, invite them and their parents to bring supplies and create together. That way people can share ideas, chat, and get to know one another.

NC Pastor Arrested in Las Vegas While Trying To ‘Rescue’ His Daughter

By

Janna Firestone

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September 9, 2024

David McGee Las Vegas — Photo by Aleshka (via Pexels)

Pastor David McGee (61) was arrested in Las Vegas on Aug. 20 for being in possession of multiple guns and fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, in his hotel room. The pastor was allegedly traveling from his home in North Carolina to Nevada in search of his estranged daughter.

The situation was initially considered an anti-terrorist incident, according to 8 News Now, since an AR-15 with a scope was among the guns allegedly in McGee’s possession.

NC Pastor in Possession of Guns and Drugs in Las Vegas While Attempting To ‘Rescue’ His Daughter

An alleged rescue attempt has gone wrong. After taking a private jet from North Carolina to Nevada, McGee was arrested and faces charges for possession of multiple guns, including an AR-15, and fentanyl.

According to police documents obtained by 8 News Now, McGee had reported a piece of property missing from his hotel room at the Strat Hotel Casino & Tower. When police were questioning McGee, he replied, “Yes, I have a gun in my guitar case.” McGee had allegedly had a shotgun in his room earlier, and hotel staff alerted him of the no-gun policy.

“The discovery of the firearms, including an AR-15 with a scope, prompted responding officers to suspect McGee was planning a 1 October-style shooting,” documents said, according to local news. Since the 2017 mass shooting, local police have investigated “suspicious situations where multiple firearms are located inside hotels on the Las Vegas Strip.”

According to documents obtained by local news, “McGee advised [the detective] that he brought the fentanyl from North Carolina on his private jet to Las Vegas and paid approximately $1,000.”

“McGee stated that he was a user of fentanyl and intended to distribute the fentanyl to his daughter when he locates her,” the documents said.

McGee has been vocal about his estranged daughter, Sarah Ashli McGee. He shared his love and concern for his daughter, who he believed to be addicted to drugs and living in the tunnels in Las Vegas. As part of his ministry’s “Lost Loved Ones,” McGee planned a trip to Vegas to rescue Sara.

Leading up to his arrest, McGee posted several times on Facebook regarding his planned trip to Las Vegas. “Pls pray for me as I go get my daughter from the worst & scariest place for my daughter in America…the Las Vegas tunnels,” McGee posted on Facebook. “I pray that we bring not only daughter but my son in law John & another fellow named Zac.”

McGee explained in a series of posts that he intended to travel to Las Vegas and rescue his daughter and her friends from the streets and from drug addiction. McGee says he is a recovering addict himself and spoke with authority of the dangers.

“I hope to become a hero one day to my sons & my daughter & a hero to all your kids hurting & dying in the cold.” McGee said. “We will go get them, even if you don’t know where they are. Las Vegas & the tunnels, the Windy City, Philli town, bro love but Heroin central.”

“Fight with us against the enemies that are killing our children,” McGee said. “There is a war going on in the streets of America. Cross the Bridge is joining the fight against the #1 killer of children & young adults in America. How?!? Well pls pray for me. Today hopefully, I am going to rescue my daughter from where she is in Las Vegas.”

“Also pray for anyone who tries to get in my way, that I would ‘lay hands suddenly on them’ & it would [be] quick & productive,” McGee went on to say. “Even though I am really good at hurting people, I do NOT like that, & I have tried to help them since I got saved @ 17 in Teen Challenge.”

McGee hasn’t posted on social media since Aug. 20. His wife, Nora, has since posted on his behalf, requesting prayers. While McGee had come in contact with his daughter, Nora said, “She has been evasive, sometimes leaving but returning later, even the next day.”

According to local news, McGee didn’t appear in court on Aug. 21 due to medical reasons. Bail was not set because prosecutors had not filed a criminal complaint. McGee is expected to appear in court in December.

‘This Is Not the Time To Be Lukewarm’—Family of Pastor and Wife Who Died in Car Crash Urge People To Follow Jesus

By

Jessica Mouser

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September 9, 2024

Congregants in Tennessee are mourning the deaths of their pastor, Dr. Bobby Mullins, who was killed in a car accident on Tuesday, Sept. 3, and Mullins’ wife, Wanda, who was also in the accident and passed away from injuries two days later. Members of Kirk Baptist Church in Piperton are grieving yet determined to carry on the church’s ministry.

“We ask that you love your families for us. That you take a moment to evaluate where you are in your relationship with Jesus Christ,” said an update from the Mullins family on Sept. 5 after the pastor had died and as people waited for news of Wanda’s status.

“This is not the time to be lukewarm in our faith. If you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior,” said the family, “we have multiple friends and pastor friends who would love to help you with that decision today. All you have to do is comment ‘Me’ in the comments and they will reach out to you. Please don’t wait.”

Wanda and Bobby Mullins Die in Tragic Accident

“It is with great sorrow that we share that our parents were in a serious car wreck last night,” said Wanda and Bobby Mullins’ children in a Facebook post Wednesday. “Our precious dad, Bobby Mullins, entered heaven immediately.”

“Our sweet mom, Wanda Mullins, is dealing with some very serious and catastrophic injuries,” the post continued. “We do not know what the day holds but we are asking the Lord to be merciful to her.”

Kirk Baptist Church added that Wanda was in “critical condition.”

“We are shattered and shocked but have complete peace. We know where our dad is as he most faithfully preached about the hope of Jesus Christ and Eternity week in and week out,” the Mullins family said. “But more importantly, he lived that hope out everyday [sic] to his family.”

A post on Thursday revealed the family believed that Wanda’s “spirit has been in heaven since the accident and she is worshiping Jesus alongside our father at this very moment. It’s her body that isn’t ready to let go.” Bobby and Wanda Mullins’ family went on to urge people to evaluate the state of their souls. Later that afternoon, the church announced that Wanda Mullins had passed.

According to Memphis Commercial Appeal, police are conducting an open investigation into the cause of the car crash.

An obituary for the couple says that Bobby and Wanda Mullins were married for 44 years and served in ministry together for 40 years. The couple ministered “within various local churches in Memphis, Milan, Lenoir City, Oak Ridge, and Knoxville.” Bobby Mullins was the founder of Back to the Basics Ministries and hosted a TV program called, “A Fresh Start.”

An Emotional Greg Locke Shares Details of Drive-By Shooting

By

Jesse T. Jackson

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September 9, 2024

Pastor Greg Locke was emotional on Sunday morning while he shared details of the drive-by shooting that riddled his home with bullets on Tuesday night (Sept. 3).

Locke’s remarks came during a worship service at Global Vision Bible Church in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, on Sunday.

“It’s been a wild week for sure,” Locke said as he gave the opening announcements. “I’ve pretty much ignored all of the requests for interviews. I’ve not done any of those.”

“[Media outlets] have kind of done their own stories, and I think maybe early in the week, I said that I would at least answer a few questions, but I’m not answerable to them,” he continued. “I’m answerable to [God].”

“But I’m accountable to you as a church family,” Locke said, reassuring the congregation that his family is “okay.”

“Praise be to God for that,” he said, “so that’s a blessing.”

The pastor explained that he wasn’t going speculate about the assailant’s “motivation” or who might have “targeted” him. “That doesn’t make any difference. What does matter is God protects his children in supernatural ways,” Locke said. “He certainly does that. We could have been having a very, very, very different conversation this morning, if any conversation at all, for that matter.”

Greg Locke Recalls the Events of the Shooting

Recalling the events of the night of the shooting, Locke said that he and his family were in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. While they were planning to come home on Wednesday, Locke said that his wife, Tai, felt like they needed to drive home on Tuesday night.

Locke and his wife drove separate vehicles, due to the size of their family.

Approximately an hour from their home in Mt. Juliet, Locke informed his wife that he need to stop to use the restroom. While Tai did not need to stop, she told Locke that she felt “like the Lord wants me to get over in the slow lane and just go a little slower.”

C.J. Stroud Gives ‘All Glory and Praise’ to Jesus After Winning 1st Game of New NFL Season

By

Stephanie Martin

-

September 9, 2024

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, an outspoken Christian, began his first post-game press conference of the new season by praising Jesus. After a 29-27 road win against divisional opponent Indianapolis on Sunday (Sept. 8), the 22-year-old said, “First and foremost I want to give all glory and praise to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” The second-year player added he’s “just very grateful for another season to be in the NFL,” calling it a “long dream of mine.”

Stroud, last year’s Offensive Rookie of the Year, said his team needs to make some improvements. But he noted that “everybody’s rusty” in week one, and he’s excited because “this offense is just getting started.”

Because Houston made it to the playoffs last season, expectations are high for the Texans this year. But Stroud, the second overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, told reporters he welcomes the pressure while trying not to succumb to it.

C.J. Stroud Finds ‘The Good’ in High Expectations

After Sunday’s game, C.J. Stroud praised his teammates and coaches. The Texans try to call plays so everybody has opportunities, he said, while crediting teammates for making him “look good.” Stroud also praised the team leaders who help “set a standard” that others want to follow.

The QB expressed love for the entire Houston organization, saying, “As you can see, we’re very close and we love each other.”

Stroud has previously described pressure as a privilege. “I know it’s week one,” a reporter asked, “but have you felt a difference this year compared to last year? Not just being a second-year player versus a rookie, but the spotlight on this team has to feel different.”

Stroud replied, “That’s a privilege for everybody to have those expectations for us, because they’re there for a reason.” Without pressure, he said, “There’s no real reward.”

“You want to kind of have your back against the wall, and we have that big red target on our back,” Stroud added. “That’s something we didn’t have last year, something I’m kind of used to being from Ohio State.” The Texans “love that pressure, we want that pressure, and we want to answer that bell every time we get a chance,” he added.

‘I Can Only Control My Play,’ Said Texans QB

Another reporter asked Stroud how he avoids the trap of pressure in such a high-profile role. The QB agreed it’s a trap, saying, “So why fall?”

“Why look at things that I can’t control?” Stroud said. “Why worry about things that I can’t control? I can only control my play and my effort and my execution.”

Evangelical Group Releases Statement of Conviction To Address ‘Social Conflict and Political Division’; Signers Include Russell Moore, Lecrae, Rich Villodas, Phil Vischer

By

Dale Chamberlain

-

September 9, 2024

Evangelical Conviction — Left: Shaleah Craighead, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; Right: Lawrence Jackson, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

As the 2024 presidential election quickly approaches, a group of Christians has released a statement of convictions. Titled “Our Confession of Evangelical Conviction,” the document’s list of initial signers includes a number of well-known evangelical leaders.

The confession, which is aimed at addressing “this moment of social conflict and political confusion,” makes seven affirmations. They are as follows:

7 Affirmations of Confession

We give our allegiance to Jesus Christ alone.
We will lead with love not fear.
We submit to the truth of Scripture.
We believe the Gospel heals every worldly division.
We are committed to the prophetic mission of the Church.
We value every person as created in God’s image.
We recognize godly leaders by their character.

“We stand united in our confession of faith in Jesus Christ, resolved to uphold the truth of the Gospel in the face of political pressure and cultural shifts,” the confession says. “We commit to being a light in the world (Matthew 5:14-16), and faithful witnesses to the transforming power of Christ’s love.”

“We pray that God’s Spirit will revive our Church and strengthen Christ’s people to be agents of his presence and blessing in this turbulent age,” the confession states.

The confession rejects the notion that a “Christian’s loyalty should belong to any political party” and calls upon Christians to “evaluate leaders based on their actions and the fruit of their character and not merely their promises or political success.”

While neither of the two major parties or presidential candidates are mentioned by name in the confession, the statement speaks to a number of themes that have loomed large in public conversations among evangelicals about the election.

Notable Signers of ‘Our Confession of Evangelical Conviction’

Initial signers include historian Dr. Beth Allison Barr, “Good Faith” podcast host Curtis Chang, historian Dr. Kristin Du Mez, AND Campaign founder Justin Giboney, South Carolina Pastor Dr. Derwin L. Gray, author Skye Jethani, hip hop artist Lecrae, Texas Pastor Dwight McKissic, New Testament scholar Dr. Scot McKnight, Christianity Today editor-in-chief Dr. Russell Moore, Be the Bridge founder Latasha Morrison, author Dr. Karen S. Prior, author Kaitlyn Schiess, New York Pastor Rich Villodas, “VeggieTales” Creator and “Holy Post” podcast host Phil Vischer, and New Evangelicals founder Tim Whitaker.

The confession’s website also offers a number of resources, including a link to worship album “Return to Love,” a Bible study guide from InterVarsity Press, a pastor toolkit for civic renewal from the Asian American Christian Collaborative, and a link to “Parables of Puddingham: Knight of Terror!,” an animated short created by Phil Vischer.

Trump’s Abortion Pivot Hasn’t Shaken Evangelical Christian Leaders’ Support

By

Jack Jenkins

-

September 9, 2024

(RNS) — Former President Donald Trump’s shifting rhetoric on abortion has unsettled some conservative faith-based activists, with evangelical Christian leaders especially fretting over the Republican presidential candidate’s recent remarks on Florida’s proposed abortion amendment and allowing federal funding for IVF procedures that some say are tantamount to abortion.

But even amid the backlash, several of Trump’s longterm evangelical supporters are insisting the former president, who still publicly takes credit for nominating the conservative justices who helped overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022, remains the best candidate for their cause.

Trump has distancing himself from hardline abortion stances since at least September 2023, when he riled anti-abortion activists by calling Florida’s six-week abortion ban a “terrible thing and a terrible mistake.” But last month, he called Florida’s current limit on abortion to the first six weeks of pregnancy “too short” and, when asked about a ballot initiative in the state that would enshrine abortion access, said, “I am going to be voting that we need more than six weeks.”

The comments drew swift blowback from anti-abortion activists such as Jeanne Mancini, head of the March for Life, an annual anti-abortion event in Washington where Trump spoke in 2020. In a pair of posts on X on Aug. 30, Mancini responded to Trump’s remarks without mentioning him by name.

“Any politician that would consider voting affirmatively for such a measure will undoubtedly lose the support of pro-life Americans,” she wrote. “We must not lose sight of the fact that the human rights issue of abortion takes the lives of the unborn and deeply harms women both mentally and physically. The reality is that the tragedy of abortion cannot be reduced to politics alone, much less sacrificed for what is perceived to be politically expedient.”

Trump’s campaign insisted he did not say precisely how he would vote, and the candidate himself eventually clarified to Fox News that he would not support the ballot initiative. But the back-and-forth came the same week that Trump announced plans to federally subsidize in-vitro fertilization, a procedure opposed by some anti-abortion activists because it often involves the disposal of embryos.

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign event at the Economic Club of New York, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

In June, an effort to protect IVF access failed in the U.S. Senate after most Republicans, including Trump’s running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, voted against it. About the same time, the Southern Baptist Convention, at its annual meeting, voted in support of a measure calling for more government regulation of the process.

Al Mohler, the president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, who in June called IVF “immoral,” warned Trump in an editorial this week that he risks alienating his anti-abortion base.

“(Trump) needs to remember that he cannot win without strong — very strong — pro-life support,” Mohler wrote in World Magazine, an evangelical Christian publication. “The other side is not impressed with his equivocations on the issue, even as his base is endangered by any confusion.”

Lila Rose, head of the influential anti-abortion group Live Action, blasted the Trump campaign on social media on Aug. 29, saying, “Given the current situation, we have two pro-abortion tickets. A Trump win is not a pro-life win right now.”

In an interview with Politico Magazine, Rose refused to say whether she would vote for Trump, saying only, “I am going to see how the next few weeks unfold,” and urging her supporters to put pressure on his campaign.

Trump has suggested his shift on the issue is a result of raw politics: Since the 2022 Dobbs decision, which overturned Roe and allowed states to make their own abortion policy, abortion-related ballot initiatives have gone the way of abortion rights activists — even in red states such as Kansas and Ohio. Trump blamed the Republican Party’s anti-abortion stance for its middling results in the 2022 midterm elections.

With 10 more abortion-related ballot initiatives in November — including in swing states like Arizona — the issue has the potential to fracture the Republican coalition. White evangelicals, who have long heavily supported the GOP and who alone make up 30% of the party according to a Public Religion Research Institute, are disproportionately opposed to abortion: 72% believe the practice should be illegal in all or most cases, according to a separate PRRI survey conducted in March.

Nationwide, 64% of Americans told PRRI that abortion should be legal in all or most cases — including 62% of white Catholics and 57% of Hispanic Catholics, despite official opposition from the Catholic Church. When it comes to IVF, 70% of Americans say IVF access is a good thing, according to an April poll from Pew Research, with majorities of every major religious group saying the same — including 63% of white evangelicals.

In July, the RNC published a new platform that omitted the rationale for a federal abortion ban for the first time in decades, likely reflecting Trump’s misgivings about the political liability of the party’s traditional position.

Abby Johnson, who runs the anti-abortion group And Then There Were None, suggested in a statement sent to Religion News Service that activists have been pushing Trump and his campaign behind the scenes to change course.

“President Trump’s comments surrounding life issues have been troubling for many in the pro-life movement,” Johnson said. “That is why many of us have been working behind the scenes with him and his campaign team, hoping to change the course he is on. We have already seen some course correction and we hope to see much more.”

National Baptists Choose Connecticut Pastor Boise Kimber as Next President

By

Adelle M Banks

-

September 9, 2024

National Baptists — The Rev. Boise Kimber, center left, president-elect of NBCUSA, addresses the end of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. annual meeting, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, Maryland. The Rev. Jerry Young, center right, outgoing NBCUSA president, listens to Kimber. (RNS photo/Adelle M. Banks)

BALTIMORE (RNS) — After an unusual election that gave voters the choice on the ballot of a name or a “no,” members of the National Baptist Convention, USA, lined up behind a new president, the Rev. Boise Kimber, senior pastor of First Calvary Baptist Church in New Haven, Connecticut.

Kimber, who ran unopposed but needed the approval of the historically Black denomination’s delegates, received 1,774 “yes” votes, or 69% of the votes cast, on Thursday (Sept. 5), while 79 votes, or 31%, were cast as “no” votes.

“Oh, how marvelous God is,” said Kimber, after outgoing NBCUSA President Jerry Young invited him to greet those attending the final session of the annual meeting. “My brothers and sisters in Christ, I greet you in the name of him who orders our steps. What God has done no persons can put asunder.”

In the months ahead of the NBCUSA annual session, which concluded shortly after the election results were announced, officials determined Kimber had received the necessary 100 endorsements from member churches and other NBCUSA entities to qualify to run for president.

Four other men who had hoped to be on the ballot were told they did not qualify: the Rev. Tellis Chapman, a Detroit pastor; the Rev. Claybon Lea, a San Francisco-area pastor; the Rev. Alvin Love, a Chicago-area pastor; and the Rev. James B. Sampson, a Florida pastor.

Pastor Thomas Morris Sr., chairman of the NBCUSA’s Election Supervisory Commission, said in an earlier interview that many of the other candidates’ endorsements were voided because they came from churches that have been unable to afford their required annual registration with the denomination due to lack of funds, consolidation or closure.

In May, the disqualified challengers released a video in which they urged supporters to help them “fight for the soul of our convention.” They hoped sufficient “no” votes would cause the election process to restart.

In August, Sampson wrote about his continuing concerns in a Facebook post that said, in part, “There is no way that any candidate selected under these circumstances can legitimately govern this august body.”

But shortly after the election results were announced, the latest posting on Sampson’s Facebook account seemed to offer a different tone: “God have spoken, let the National Baptist Convention USA inc, Constituency say Amen. Lord Bless and keep ‘President Boise Kimber.’”

The Rev. Dwight McKissic, a Texas pastor whose church has been dually aligned with the Southern Baptist Convention, was a newly appointed NBCUSA officer along with Kimber in 2020. The day before the election, McKissic expressed his support for a “no” voting, saying in a Facebook post that cited lyrics from the hymn “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”: “A ‘No’ vote immediately fuses ‘strength for today’ and ‘bright hope for tomorrow’ into the fabric and fellowship of our great convention.”

McKissic, who declined further comment, told RNS after the election that he sent Kimber a text with his congratulations.

“You prayed and worked hard for this,” he told Kimber. “God granted it to you. May God crown your time in office with phenomenal & Kingdom success. Blessings on you, and the National Baptist Convention.”

On the day before the election, some attendees at the gathering voiced support for Kimber as a generational change.

The Revs. Dwight and Derik Jones, senior pastor and pastor, respectively, of First Baptist Church of South Richmond, Virginia, expressed concern about how the NBCUSA will draw in more members of younger generations.

“We’re hopeful that this election will kind of be the dawn of a new day for the convention in terms of it being serious about meeting the needs of the church in 2024,” said the younger pastor.

How To Wisely Help Your Team Learn

By

Eric Geiger

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September 9, 2024

Wise leaders curate skillfully what they ask those they lead to read because “what develops us, changes us.” Many have said that “we will be the same people in five years except for the people we meet, the books we read, and the places where we travel.” While this may be an oversimplification of what forms us, it is true that the experiences we have with others, with reading, and with new places impacts us deeply.

In his acclaimed book, “Built to Last,” Jim Collins described the culture of “visionary companies.” Collins observed four common characteristics in the company cultures:

Fervently-held ideology: All team members expected to believe in the company ideology.
Indoctrination: Continually taught the essential beliefs and values of the company.
Tightness of fit: People without the same values or ideology should not be on the team.
Elitism: Sense of ownership with being a member of the company.

Collins was emphasizing that a strong culture has a fervently-held ideology and intentionally teaches people their beliefs and values. The two are clearly related. If a group of people really believes what they profess, they cannot help but teach those beliefs to others. If a leadership team does not have a plan to teach “our beliefs and values,” the shared beliefs and values really won’t mean much to the team. If leaders are really passionate about beliefs and values, passing them on to new leaders is deemed as an amazing opportunity to “infuse what we deeply believe into people we deeply believe in.”

We can learn something from the Babylonians on educating young and emerging leaders. When the Babylonians deported Daniel and others into captivity, the Babylonians wanted Daniel and the others to be contributing residents, so they believed it would be necessary and beneficial to educate them on their culture.

The king ordered Ashpenaz, the chief [of his court officials], to bring some of the Israelites from the royal family and from the nobility—young men without any physical defect, good-looking, suitable for instruction in all wisdom, knowledgeable, perceptive, and capable of serving in the king’s palace—and to teach them the Chaldean language and literature. (Daniel 1:3-4, emphasis added)

The Language

“Speaking the same language” is much more than haphazardly using the same words, which can mean different things to different people. A consistent leadership language requires constantly teaching and reminding people of the meaning beneath the words that shape us. Wise leaders teach the identity and the mission of the ministry or organization, ensuring the meaning beneath the doctrinal statements, mission statements, value statements, and strategy statements is understood. When team members grasp the “sacred why” beneath all their activity, they are more able to own and internalize the meaning beneath everything they do.

The Literature

Ralph Waldo Emerson quipped, “If we encounter a man of rare intellect, we should ask him what books he reads.” We are developed through our reading, so the books and articles we assign to others is more important than we often realize. If you don’t assign reading, either someone else will or the young and emerging leader won’t be reading. Books “all of us must read” can serve as a baseline education for the people on your team, including young and emerging leaders. A team that reads the same works is a team that thinks together and wrestles with the same ideas.

Think of training young and emerging leaders through the lens of language and literature: language around your identity and mission and literature that reinforces your identity and mission. What you are doing is more important than the Babylonian leaders who were part of an evil kingdom that quickly vanished. You are part of a Kingdom that will never be shaken. Language and literature are helpful tools in creating and reinforcing a strong culture. Use them wisely.

This article originally appeared here and is used by permission.

Leaving Church – When Is It OK?

By

James Emery White

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September 9, 2024

When is it OK for a member or attender of your church to leave? First, let’s state the obvious. It’s never just “OK.” When someone leaves by choice to go to another church in your community, it’s a dagger through the heart. If someone says differently, they’re lying. Few things are taken more personally by church leaders, and the community left behind, than someone leaving church. It feels like rejection, abandonment, even betrayal.

But that doesn’t mean that sometimes leaving church can’t be a good thing.

For example:

When someone chooses leaving church because they have been confronted with harmful, abusive patterns of sin in their life that were harming the community, and they refused to repent … that’s a good departure.
When someone disagrees with the church’s historic mission, doctrine or values, and openly tries to make their case at every juncture to new believers or members … that’s a good departure.
When someone vocally refuses to trust, follow or support leadership that truly deserves to be trusted, followed and supported … that’s a good departure.

Leaving Church

Now, having said this, I am not saying that leaders should have a cavalier attitude toward such departures. I consider each one a personal sense of failure or loss that we weren’t able to “reach” them and bring them into the community in a more healthy and holistic way. Separating from a church, and the tough confrontation that might have been called for on the front end, is always saddening.

And I am not saying there aren’t times when people should leave church—and have God on their side! There are churches that lead people astray, teach falsehood, allow patterns of abuse and more. If that’s your setting, don’t leave … flee!

But that still leaves a lot of departures ill-defined and ripe for emotional discouragement.

On both sides.

And that’s where I want to offer encouragement.

10 Reasons Why Parking Lot Church Business Meetings Are Seldom Good

By

Chuck Lawless

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September 9, 2024

Maybe you’ve seen it happen. A group of church leaders are striving to make an “official” decision, but the discussions move beyond the official discussion to the parking lot (or the hallways, or the local café, or the telephone). Here’s why those parking lot meetings are seldom good:

The discussions are seldom designed to build up others. If the goal were to help others, the others would be more included in the conversations.
They are, by nature, private or secret meetings. There are times when private meetings are necessary, but the nature of “parking lot” meetings usually reveals less than godly motives among the participants.
They almost automatically create division. Apparently, the parking lot participants weren’t willing to express their opinion in the official meeting, or they’re wondering how to sway votes in future meetings. Both can quickly become divisive.
They’re often “after the fact.” That is, the church has made a decision to move in a particular direction, but the parking lot talk is designed to thwart that decision. That reality takes us back to #3 above.
They’re seldom—if ever—saturated in prayer. A decision-making process that lacks prayer can become man-centered, and it can produce really bad decisions.

Why Wedding Worship Is Different

By

Steve Newman

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September 9, 2024

wedding worship — Adobe Stock #516349878

About a year ago I heard that the son of my good friend was engaged to be married. Michael and his fiancee were attending Wayland Baptist University at the time, and had begun making plans for the wedding. During the course of their planning, I received a call from Michael. He asked me if I would help lead worship at his wedding. I responded with, “You mean sing a song?” “No,” he replied, “I want you to lead worship at our wedding.” I have sung at hundreds of weddings over the years, and had never been asked to lead worship before. “Wasn’t that for Sunday mornings and church services?” I thought to myself. I had never considered a time of congregational worship a part of a wedding ceremony. Call it wedding worship.

You have to know Michael and fiancee to understand what appeared to me, an unusual request. They are worshipers, and they love worshiping the Lord. Worship is part of their daily lives. It’s not something they do only on the weekends, but it’s who they are each day every day. They have hearts full of worship for the Lord, and it is clear to all who know them. To most it came as no surprise that they wanted to have a time of congregational worship. It only came across as odd to me, the worship pastor of fifteen years. What a lesson I learned that day!

December rolled around and we began preparing for the service. The song selection for the worship time was well choreographed as they had chosen songs that reflected their hearts for worship and for God, the special music they had planned was perfect, and the message was written by the bride and the groom. I have to say that this was one of the most well-thought out weddings I have ever been to. From start to finish it expressed their love for each other as well as their commitment to the Lord and each other.

My Experience With Wedding Worship

The service began at 7:00 p.m. with the seating of the families. The lighting of the candles commenced by the mothers and everyone was seated in their place. Worship was the next thing on the program and the worship time extended to a church that was full of friends and family. We began singing and the room was filled with the Spirit of God. Some didn’t understand why we were singing these songs during the wedding, and I’m sure many felt a little out of place as we asked them to stand and sing. It wasn’t a long time of worship, but it was a meaningful one. The bride and groom accomplished several things by spending these few moments in worship. First, they made a statement of the importance of worship in their own lives. Secondly, to all that attended they proclaimed, “We love the Lord enough to worship Him during this special moment in our lives.” Thirdly, they were able to say to the Lord, “We love you enough to come to You first and worship You on this very special moment in our lives.” The wedding (and the wedding worship) was truly a moving service of love and commitment as everyone knew where these two stood before each other and before the Lord.

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1. Positivity – I choose an optimistic outlook

2. Initiative – I don’t wait to be asked

3. Responsibility – I own it

4. Decisiveness – I make decisions without bogging down my supervisor

5. Solution-Minded – I won’t quit until I find a solution

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1. Use a legal pad.

2. Pray!

3. Ask key questions.

4. Consult the calendars.

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1. Family Game Night

2. Family Scavenger Hunt

3. Biblical Escape Room Ideas

4. Family Movie Night

5. Craft Night

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