The Danger of Leaders Constantly Changing Their Minds

August 4, 2024

There have been plenty of stories recently about pastors and other ministry leaders failing or falling from grace. This isn’t one of those stories. This post is about pastors and leaders with teams who don’t trust them to keep their word. Keep in mind that these aren’t bad people, and I’m not talking about outright liars. I’m talking about leaders who’ve spent so many years changing their minds, making rash decisions, or back-peddling that their closest friends and employees can’t trust their decisions anymore.

It happens for a number of reasons:

1) They may be people pleasers and say what people want to hear—even though they have no intention of following through.

2) They make impulse decisions and later realize what they said wasn’t smart.

3) They make decisions without getting good advice and have to backpedal later.

4) They get caught up in the emotion of the moment and make decisions and public statements they later regret.

Ministry consultant and blogger Tony Morgan says:

We need to make sure we deliver on our word. If we can’t or don’t plan to follow through, we shouldn’t say it. The problem is that leaders are people pleasers. We’re afraid to tell the truth if the truth might cause someone to dislike us. In the long run, though, I’d much rather deal with dislike than foster distrust.

One of the most insightful leadership experts in the church today is Dr. Sam Chand. He’s written an excellent book called “Cracking Your Church’s Culture Code.” Get the book. Any leader can find an enormous amount of information in that book about trust and how to create a powerful organizational culture. Sam says:

A. Everything rises and falls on trust.
B. Trust is the currency of human interaction.
C. Trust happens daily between people and organizations at all levels.
D. Poor behavior by many leaders in all sectors of life has created a general culture of mistrust.

Here’s the bottom line: Your decisions matter because they provide the foundation for how your team performs. If your word can’t be counted on, chaos happens because your team has lost its compass.

Stop making decisions based on emotion, impulse, or anything other than the right information, serious reflection, experience, prayer, and advice. Make decisions that can be counted on today, tomorrow, and well into the future.

I can guarantee your team will thank you, and the results will be astonishing.

This article originally appeared here and is used by permission.

Being Bereans With Ourselves

Mike Leake

August 4, 2024

thank you notes for children’s ministry volunteers

If you aren’t familiar with Christianese, being a Berean is being like those dudes in Acts 17:10-15 who didn’t simply take the apostles words but they dug into them to see if they were true. So being a Berean means that you are one to examine a claim to make sure that it lines up with Scripture. (I’d also argue that what really made the Bereans special was that they received the Word).

It seems to me that when we talk about being a good Berean we’re usually thinking about assessing the claims of others that are brought before us. And we do need to be Bereans when it comes to the truth claims of others. There are people intentionally trying to deceive and some who are unknowingly in error. Scripture does call us to assess truth claims.

But I think we’ve wrongly given someone a pass on these matters. Ourselves.

My Sermon Preparation

I write a couple sermons every week. It’s one of my favorite things in life to do. Part of this is the exhilaration of wrestling with a text and trying to see it from multiple angles. Most weeks I see the passage similar to the commentaries I read. My insights aren’t much different from other sermons I read on the topic.

But sometimes….sometimes, I see something almost totally different than what I’m reading. This happened to me last week in preparing a sermon on Luke 1 about Gabriel coming to both Zechariah and Mary. I had a thought that I’d never heard before. So what do I do in that moment?

I rigorously try to disprove myself. And if I cannot then I will, still with trepidation, pose my insight as a possibility. I do that because I’ve been convinced by the Proverbs that, it’s better not to exalt yourself before men and then be thrown down (Proverbs 25:7). If the insight is true than it’ll take flight. If it’s not, then it’ll be squashed down—as it ought to be.

On Social Media

Being a good Berean means questioning ourselves first and foremost. Just because I have an insight hit me like a bolt of lighting doesn’t necessarily mean that thought came from on high. If we really believe what the gospel says about our propensity to error then we’ll become adept at considering our words.

Charles Bridges is correct when he says:

To believe every word of God is faith. To believe every word of man is credulity. Faith is a principle of infinite moment. Eternal life and death hang upon it. But it must be grounded upon evidence, and it can only be exercised according to the character and measure of the evidence. An indiscriminate faith is therefore fraught with mischief. The world was ruined by this weakness. (Gen 3:1-6). And often since it has been the occasion of sin, and even of downfall. (Bridges, Proverbs, 180).

This is true of my thoughts and statements just as much (if not more) than that of my neighbor. Wouldn’t it behoove us to take great caution in not only fact checking the articles we share but also our own insights as well. This stuff carries infinite weight.

This isn’t meant to cripple us into saying nothing. It’s to say let us be cautious with our words. Let us weigh them and put them under the microscope. Let’s put them through the furnace and see what impurities melt away. If we’ve done so and our words stand then let us boldly proclaim them.

But let’s be good Bereans. First and foremost with ourselves.

This article originally appeared here.

When You Feel Like Quitting Youth Ministry, Do This Instead

Doug Fields

August 4, 2024

When you feel like quitting youth ministry, don’t act rashly. Don’t do something you might regret. Instead, follow this advice from longtime youth minister Doug Fields.

I resigned from a youth ministry position after 18 years (the one before that lasted 11 years). I know what it’s like to want to quit. I wanted to quit being a youth minister hundreds of times during that 18 years. (Half of those came directly following a youth group activity.)

Because I speak to many ministry leaders, I often sense defeat and discouragement. Ministry is always difficult, and factors such as a difficult economy add fuel to emotions and stressors.

My ministry compadre Matt McGill blogged about what to do on days when you feel like quitting. He shared these 6 tips.

6 Tips for When You Feel Like Quitting

1. Don’t.

At least not until you’re really sure of your decision.

2. Show up.

You can’t give up just because you feel like quitting. Going through the motions could restore some passion that you’ve lost.

3. Change it up.

You need to show up. But that doesn’t mean you have to go through all the motions.

4. Laugh.

Do whatever it takes to find a little fun. You may be on the Titanic and it’s sinking fast. But better to eek out some joy than soak in all the despair.

5. Talk about it.

Get with a friend (probably not anyone above you in the “food chain” at church). You may be friends with your boss, but you need to hash out some issues with other people.

6. Seek God.

I believe God wants to teach us something every day … even on days when we want to quit. God may be moving in new ways in your life, and feeling like it’s time to quit may be part of this. Discover the root causes of your thoughts and feelings. Sure, everything is piling up and it feels overwhelming. But what’s behind the superficial issues?

6 Things You Need To Start a Family Devotion

Michael Kelley

August 3, 2024

I haven’t always been a family devotion guy. It’s not because I didn’t want or aspire to be; I did. But we went a long time as a family before pulling the trigger and trying to integrate this practice into the regular rhythm of our family life.

We’ve been doing morning devotions together for over 15 years now—long enough that our kids expect that we will. It’s a long road, as are most things with young children I’m finding out. Though revival doesn’t break out every morning over eggs and toast, our continued hope and prayer is that times like these builds into the love and discipline our children will have in the future when it comes to God’s Word.

And through those 15 years, we’ve tried different things, failed at a bunch, and maybe learned some things about starting and continuing in this pattern. I hope some of these things will be encouraging to you to kick this off, or affirming to you if you’ve found yourself in the middle of it.

In my opinion, then, here are six things you must have to start a family devotion:

1. Consistency

There’s a pattern to everything, a routine for most every part of life. And any time you disrupt that routine, even for the noblest of reasons, there is going to be backlash. So before you get started, you’ve got to commit to consistency. Decide on the time of day. And keep it at that time.

For us, it’s 6:45 a.m. at breakfast. That still might change in the coming years, but if you don’t pick a consistent time then it’s doubly difficult to keep the practice going.

What’s more, in our experience, the days that feel like discipline to do this far outweigh the days where you feel like the kids are actually engaged and learning something. But then again, isn’t that often the case in our own lives with our own spiritual growth and development? And yet we keep going because we believe in the power of God and the power of His Word.

2. Variety

For us, we try to change things up once a week. Monday through Thursday, we do a Bible study and prayer (probably around 15 minutes), but Friday is different.

On Friday, everyone shares one specific thing they are thankful for that week, and one prayer request.

For a while, those prayer requests were pretty predictable—that I would have a good day, that I would do well on a test, that I would be kind to friends…that kind of thing. In recent days, we’re tried to bring more variety into those prayer requests as well, asking the kids to share a prayer not for themselves but for someone else, or to share something they’re thankful for that’s not about an activity they get to do that weekend.

3. A Sense of Humor

One of the great things having a family devotion time does for me, as a dad, is helps me not to take myself too seriously. Every once in a while we will be talking through some great truth from the Bible, I’ll be making an incredibly insightful and valuable point in a truly beautiful way…and someone will burp.

Game over. But such is life with kids. And in truth, that’s okay. I can’t help but think it was a pretty undignified scene when the kids were crawling all over each other to try and get into Jesus’ lap, and yet he let them come. Snotty noses and all. Keeping a sense of humor while trying to instill this discipline, in the end, is a helpful reminder that we, as parents, are really stewards of these children.

We do the best we can in faith, but ultimately it is only God who convicts of sin and brings our children—any children—to an understanding of the gospel.

So we laugh, and then we go at it again.

4. Tools

It is our of our experience as a family that I’ve written “The Whole Story for the Whole Family.” It’s a family devotion book that is modeled after our own pattern described above. In a year, you can walk your family through the major storyline of Scripture with an eye on Jesus as the main character. And each daily devotion includes an object lesson or game, a text, a bit of commentary, and some discussion questions—all meant to be done in 15 minutes. This certainly isn’t the only resource you can use. Whatever you do choose, don’t feel like you have to recreate the wheel.

Find something that can help you kickstart the pattern of reading the Bible together as a family.

5. Preparation

I don’t mean preparation in the sense that you have spent two hours studying the devotion you are going to walk through the next morning (though that’s a fine practice if you can manage it). I mean “preparation” more in the sense of creating the environment. In order to make sure we have time before school for devotions, Jana and I have to get up earlier than we used to. We have to be completely ready for the day with breakfast ready by 6:45.

While it often means that I read through the devotion the night before, it also to a greater extent means doing anything we can do to make the morning run more smoothly.

This would be things like making sure lunches are already packed, clothes are laid out, and you haven’t left any lingering homework assignments to be done over the eggs and toast.

4 Ways To Empower Young Leaders

Thomas McDaniels

August 3, 2024

“Empowering” is a current buzz word and is a prime topic in the blog world. Empowering is defined as: to give power or authority, to authorize, to enable or permit. I have been a leader, manager, teacher or instructor most of my life. My greatest satisfaction is sharing my life in order to improve or instruct others. The greatest satisfaction of most teachers is when others take what they have been taught and inculcate it into their lives. That’s what it means to relinquish leadership.

Empowering takes on many different looks and styles, and people can be empowered through a variety of ways. This includes a meaningful conversation, a story, a video, etc.

Empowerment occurs when others under our leadership are inspired to take a new course of action, or be rejuvenated with new passion to continue their course or journey. Empowerment also occurs when a new skill is learned or someone receives new or additional authority. This type of empowerment provides the opportunity for young leaders to expand their leadership capacity.

How to empower others

1. Coach rather than teach.

A few years ago, the main strategy for mentoring and counseling others was to give them your best advice. In the last few years, we have come to realize there is a better method. This new style of training has been reinforced from leaders in the coaching industry. Effective coaches have taught us to coach others in discovering what’s inside of them, rather than to tell them what’s inside us. This method has proven to be both efficient and effective in empowering others.

2. Give responsibility.

Some might define this as delegation. I am using the word responsibility for those ready to be further developed in leadership, but not prepared for permanent delegation. In other words, when we give young or undeveloped leaders temporary responsibility, it sets them up for success and empowerment.

Does Your Team Lack Trust? You CAN Rebuild It!

Jim Osterhaus

August 3, 2024

Have you ever noticed that it takes time to build trust in an organization? As a corollary to this, cynicism seems to multiply like weeds. Cynicism tends to permeate an organization where trust is in short supply. The good news is that once trust is established, a church team can enter into appropriate, constructive conflict, without fear that it will turn destructive. Trust has to do with a willingness on people’s part to be vulnerable within the team. It’s an openness about mistakes and weaknesses. Organizations and teams that lack trust are unable to engage in unfiltered and passionate disagreement around the mission of the organization. Instead, they resort to veiled discussions and guarded comments.

Does Your Team Lack Trust?

Once you have a trusting team, you can have honest disagreements that lead to decisions and plans of action that people are actually committed to. So much of what I see in organizations is compliance (‘I’ll do what you ask, but my heart’s not in it’), but very little commitment. Commitment arises only after each member of a team has been able to wrestle with the initiatives that are presented, offer their disagreements, and grapple with all of the alternatives before arriving at a decision. Once that occurs, the team can hold one another accountable, because there is a shared sense of ownership in the decision.

Trust –> Disagree –> Commit to Decisions –> Hold Each Other Responsible –> Focus on the Achievements Everyone Created

How is trust established? Let’s look at the building blocks that are critical to the growth of trust:

Predictability

Consistency

Dependability

Congruence

Begin with predictability: You’re able to predict in advance what I will do. That’s because I’m consistent. I do the same thing, over and over again, free from variation or contradiction. But I could do the same wrong thing over and over. So that means I have to be dependable: I get the same positive result over and over again from the person or organization.

The last building block is congruence. What I say is backed up by what I do. I talked about this quite a bit in my blog postings last fall. Our ability to think and act inconsistently, and then cover up the discrepancy, knows no limits.

Algerian Olympic Boxer ‘Is Not Trans and Should Not Be Vilified as Such,’ Super Bowl Champion Benjamin Watson Says

Jesse T. Jackson

August 2, 2024

Benjamin Watson, a 15-year NFL veteran, Super Bowl champion, outspoken Christian, and pro-life advocate, told his social media followers on Friday to “dig a little deeper” into the controversy surrounding Algerian Olympic boxer Imane Khelif.

Outrage has ensued since Khelif claimed victory over Italian Angela Carini during an women’s Olympic boxing match on Thursday (Aug. 1). Khelif defeated Carini in 46 seconds after Khelif punched Carini in the nose, forcing Carini to retreat to her corner and forfeit the bout.

After the fight Carini said, “I felt a severe pain in my nose, and with the maturity of a boxer, I said ‘enough,’ because I didn’t want to, I didn’t want to, I couldn’t finish the match.”

Khelif (25) was disqualified from the 2023 International Boxing Association’s (IBA) Women’s World Boxing Championships after failing a gender eligibility test, which reportedly indicated that Khelif had both X and Y chromosomes. Khelif fought for Algeria at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, losing in the quarterfinals to Ireland’s Kellie Harrington.

According to multiple reports, Khelif was recognized as female, not male, birth.

Following critical statements from athletes, influencers, and even former President Donald Trump, Watson said that while “outrage over this boxing match is understandable,” he would “encourage everyone to dig a little deeper.”

“Issues of sexuality, including trans athletes, have been lightning rods in the news lately as they should be,” he added. “Men should not compete against women. However, Imane Khelif is not trans and should not be vilified as such.”

The former NFL player said that he feels for “both of these athletes who are dealing with vitriol, fear and disappointment at what should be a time of celebration.”

“Purity and fairness in sport competition matters and the IOC should prioritize protecting it,” Watson said. “But I believe this situation is more complex than many people are willing to consider.”

It is also important to note that Algeria has strict anti-LGBTQ+ laws, and violations include imprisonment, discrimination, and vigilante executions.

The outrage over this boxing match is understandable but I’d encourage everyone to dig a little deeper. Issues of sexuality, including trans athletes, have been lightning rods in the news lately as they should be. Men should not compete against women. However, Imane Khelif is not… pic.twitter.com/hj1Kt5GsKG

— Benjamin Watson (@BenjaminSWatson) August 2, 2024

Olympic Skateboarder Cordano Russell: ‘I Give It All to the Lord, Truly’

Stephanie Martin

August 2, 2024

“Let’s go! Jesus is King!” That’s what Canadian skateboarder Cordano Russell shouted this week as a camera panned across him and his Olympic competitors. Russell, who turns 20 on Aug. 4, didn’t medal at the Paris Games. But the devout Christian is looking ahead to 2028, when the Summer Olympics will be held in his adopted home state of California.

Russell was born in Ontario and spent part of his childhood in St. Louis. At age four, he found an old skateboard tucked away in a bush, and with his dad’s help, he learned everything he could about the sport. Asked whether that was fate, Russell replied, “Honestly, I feel like it was truly divine.”

By age eight, Russell talked his parents into moving to Southern California, with its world-famous skateboarding scene. As his skills grew, so did his stature. Russell’s 6-foot-3, 230-pound frame might seem more fitted to the football field—where he excelled in high school. But after “a lot of praying,” the athlete said, God showed him “that my love and my heart was set in skateboarding.”

Olympic Skateboarder Is Set Apart

Cordano Russell’s size allows him to gain tremendous power for skateboarding tricks. It also means he “burns through boards as fast as a sick person burns through tissues,” according to reporter Kelsey Grey. But Russell told her, “I like being unique; I like being different. I always try to be as authentic as I can.”

The Olympian also stands out because of his faith. He was raised in a Christian home, attending church and youth group. Russell doesn’t swear, and he listens to Christian musicians such as Lecrae.

The outgoing athlete also gives back, coaching and mentoring young basketball and flag football players. “I want to use my faith and talents to inspire others,” Russell said.

Maintaining balance and giving back helps the skateboarder “elevate” his game. “Honestly, it empowers me,” he said of serving. “I know where my true identity is, and that is in the Lord. So I wanted to use my time, talents, and treasures and ultimately be able to inspire others through that, through my faith, through who I am.”

Failure also helps the super-competitive Russell grow. “You’re going to fall on that ground so much,” he said. “But honestly, it creates in yourself this determination, this grittiness, this ability to withstand failure while still trying to go through and accomplish your goal.”

Cordano Russell’s Journey Has Been ‘Such a Blessing’

Cordano Russell, who graduated from high school with a 4.2 GPA, plans to study business-finance at the University of San Diego. “In skateboarding, you have to know how to manage your finances and grow your brand, so it’ll be very personal for me,” said the athlete, who will be the first in his family to attend college. “And eventually, I want to own a business with my family.”

‘I Prefer Our Version’—Jonathan Roumie Shares Photo of the Last Supper From ‘The Chosen,’ Season 5

Jessica Lea

August 2, 2024

Jonathan Roumie and Dallas Jenkins have revealed what the Last Supper will look like in Season 5 of “The Chosen,” with Roumie alluding to the recent controversy at the Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games. In a separate post, Roumie described what filming Season 5, which wrapped this week, has been like for him.

“Filming Season 5 of @thechosentvseries has been…something of a beast,” Roumie said in an Instagram post July 26. “Some of the hardest and most intense moments of the series (and my career) have been in this season, and we ain’t done yet. It’s been a ‘Camino’ of sorts.”

“But…I’m smothered in prayer,” he continued. “I’m surrounded by love. I’m saturated in warmth. And goodness. And throughout, I’m constantly reminded of what it’s all about. Who it’s all for. And Who’s in charge, ‘cause it sure as heck ain’t me.”

Jonathan Roumie Thankful for ‘Moments of Mirth and Humor’

The Opening Ceremony of this year’s Olympics generated controversy for featuring a drag performance inspired in part by Leonardo da Vinci’s painting, “The Last Supper.” Despite the artistic director stating at one point that the performance portrayed pagan celebrations and Dionysus, the Greek god of wine, organizers acknowledged the portrayal was indeed inspired by da Vinci’s painting and apologized for causing offense.

On July 29, Roumie posted a photo of “The Chosen” cast portraying the Last Supper and said, “Yeah…I prefer our version…”

Sadie Robertson Huff liked Roumie’s post, and Candace Cameron Bure, who had published a video critiquing the Opening Ceremony performance, responded to Roumie with heart and clapping emojis.

Prior to filming Season 5, Roumie said that Season 4 of the hit show was the hardest to act “hands down.” As the storyline of the series draws even closer to Jesus’ death, it seems that filming is only growing more challenging for the actor, who is arguably tackling the most challenging role of his career.

In July, Elizabeth Tabish, who plays Mary Magdalene, described the personal cost that Roumie and the rest of “The Chosen” cast experience bringing the story of Jesus Christ to the screen. “Just being friends with Jonathan and knowing what he’s going to have to go through, performing this, and seeing the weight of this role on him,” she said, “is just like devastating, you know?”

Texas Church Discloses ‘Inappropriate and Hurtful’ Actions That Led to Pastor’s Resignation; Elders Revise Plan for Interim Leadership

Dale Chamberlain

August 2, 2024

The elders of Cross Timbers Church in Argyle, Texas, have provided more details regarding the circumstances of Pastor Josiah Anthony’s resignation, as well as an amended plan for interim leadership.

On Sunday (July 28), church elder John Chalk announced Anthony’s resignation during service, saying that Anthony had been battling mental health issues for some time and that some of his “decisions and actions were inappropriate and hurtful to current and former members of the CT family and staff.”

The church announced that Byron Copeland, Cross Timber Church’s executive pastor, would step in as interim lead pastor. Before coming onto staff at Cross Timbers Church, Copeland was on staff at Texas megachurch Gateway Church in various executive level pastoral positions from 2003 to 2023.

Gateway Church has been embroiled in scandal since June, when allegations that Robert Morris, the church’s founding pastor, had sexually abused a child in the 1980s became publicly known. Morris resigned in disgrace on June 18.

Several lawsuits involving abuse claims have been brought against Gateway, including a 2023 suit in which Copeland was named.

In the lawsuit, a former church employee said that when she came to work as an administrative assistant at Gateway in 2018, she had just undergone treatment for cancer and claimed that she “was subjected to ongoing disparaging comments about her appearance and unwanted romantic advances” from the pastor she reported to.

The former employee said that when she spoke to Copeland, then-executive pastor of Gateway Church, he “sympathized with her but did nothing.” The former employee further claimed that sometime later, Copeland “aggressively confronted” her and “threatened to fire her if she didn’t shut up and stop stirring up drama.”

In an email on Thursday (Aug. 1), elders of Cross Timbers amended their original plan to have Copeland serve as the interim pastor and provided more details into the “events and circumstances” that led to Anthony’s resignation.

In the email, elders acknowledged “that we have made mistakes along the way. We should have communicated more directly and clearly early on. The assumptions that some made about our church, due to our lack of clarity, were far more extreme than the facts.”

“We caused unnecessary speculation and distress, and we are sorry,” the email continued.

The elders then disclosed that they had “received a concerning report of inappropriate communication on social media with a woman who is a former member of our church. This was taken very seriously by the Elders, and we were grateful it was brought to our attention.”

No Work Is Mere Work—God Is Present in Everything You Do

Rick Dempsey

August 2, 2024

Long after the final season of “The Chosen” has come and gone, Come and See will continue the work of translating it into 600 different languages.

We’ve been given the chance to participate in one of the most important acts of contemporary storytelling I’ve ever seen. In a moment where media and technology have powerfully equipped us to share the story of Jesus, we can now reach deeper into cultures and people groups that have not yet encountered the Gospel story in their native languages.

But to complete this task, this incredible, redemptive narrative can’t make a difference unless people pay attention to it. Therefore, we chase excellence in the translation and adaptation of every language version, hoping to capture the attention—and the hearts—of local consumers.

Through excellent storytelling and translations, my hope is that “The Chosen” will not only introduce these individuals to God’s redemptive work, through his son but also inspire them to explore the Scriptures and connect with a local community of believers, who will teach and encourage one another as outlined in God’s word.

One of our local translators and producers in the Middle East often says, “art opens hearts.” And it’s true. Due to the artistic nature of “The Chosen,” the show can be distributed and consumed in unreached regions worldwide, hoping that its message—played out dramatically and artistically—will transform hearts. Art is a fantastic tool to introduce the Gospel in the most hard-to-reach and, frankly, Christian-adverse locations. Good stories told very well have the potential to change lives, especially the greatest story of all time, the story of Jesus.

This project is a privilege that comes with the responsibility to achieve excellence in all aspects of translation and dubbing. First Corinthians 10:31 says, “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” If we are to glorify God, excellence is the chief responsibility of anyone with a mindset to worship him in their everyday tasks, vocations, or ministry. We are to take the talents God has blessed us with and use them for His glory with excellence.

But excellence isn’t exclusive to the work of great men and women. Doing life with excellence should be taken seriously and chased with joy, humility, and creativity in all areas, so that we, as 1 Peter 2 suggests, might “proclaim the excellencies of him who called [us] out of darkness into His marvelous light.” Through excellent work, we not only glorify God and proclaim his excellence but are a testimony to the world by the pursuit of it.

But for all of its merit, the pursuit of excellence is often difficult. It requires steadfastness if we are to attain it. Translating, casting, dubbing, mixing, and mastering eight episodes into just one language takes three to six months. We pray that global consumers find the story of Jesus compelling, see and hear the quality and creativity in this production, and continue to stay tuned.

The gospel story is worth telling; it is worth telling in as many languages as possible with the highest quality standards. God is present in every task we are called to do. This is why I view technology and media—even with its many argued downsides—as a blessing, a gift to be carefully stewarded with excellence. We’ve been blessed to live in a time where technology allows us to tell the story of Jesus’ life, love, death and resurrection to audiences who might never have heard or listened. It’s a privilege to have been allowed to serve God in this way.

Amid many hardships, none of us labor in vain. Instead, we are all called to serve the Lord excellently in whatever task he has befitted us. For those of us in the media and tech space, we must ask ourselves: How can we use this medium to glorify God and best tell his stories? How can we steward it faithfully and willingly with creativity and excellence? When we get it right, God receives the glory and our joy is complete.

8 Healthy Ways To Deal With It When Leadership Is Lonely

Rachel Blom

August 2, 2024

Leadership is lonely in some ways. Whatever your current ministry position, with every step in leadership we make comes the inevitable increase in loneliness. The higher we climb in leadership, the more responsibilities we get, the lonelier we become. We can’t share everything we experience with our team because some of it isn’t beneficial to them. We can’t be completely open about what we encounter or wrestle with toward parents or church members because there’s a confidentiality issue.

We can’t ask just anyone for advice about our struggle with the senior pastor, because we don’t want to talk behind his back. And yet at the end of the day, we’re the ones who have to make the decisions. Yes, leadership is lonely, but the buck stops with us. No one said it better than William Shakespeare in King Henry IV, Part II:

“Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.”

8 Healthy Ways to Deal With It When Leadership is Lonely

If it’s true that leadership is lonely, then being a leader means dealing with loneliness. So how do you do this? How do you find a way to unload and share without damaging others? Here are nine healthy ways to deal with the loneliness of leadership:

1. Have the courage to stand alone sometimes

Being a leader means accepting the loneliness that comes with it up to a certain point. If you are convinced you’re doing the right thing and God has confirmed this, then take a stand and be willing to stand alone.

2. Don’t confide in the wrong people

It’s tempting to confide in people when something bad has happened, like a fall-out with another leader. But ultimately, you will always regret sharing with the wrong people. Don’t burden youth, other leaders, volunteers, parents or even your senior pastor with issues they don’t need to know. If they’re not part of the problem or the solution, keep them out of it.

3. Find a balance with your spouse

If you are married, your spouse may be the most logical person to share your struggles with. Be careful to find a balance here though. When our church was going through a rough time, my daily rants about what was happening had a huge impact on my husband and negatively affected his view of people and of my job. I’ve had to learn to find a better balance in this and share less of the struggles and more of the joys.

10 Reasons Why Your Children’s Ministry Is Not Growing

Dale Hudson

August 2, 2024

Is your children’s ministry stuck? No matter what you do, you just can’t seem to grow. You are not alone. The vast majority of children’s ministries are plateaued.

What is causing this? Let’s look at 10 reasons why your children’s ministry is not growing. See if you can identify with any of these.

You Live in a Scarcely Populated Area.

It’s hard to see your children’s ministry grow when you live in an area where the population is minimum. This is not an excuse for not growing, but it is a factor. It’s hard to reach over 100 children when you only have 150 children living in your community.

God does not call every one to minister in a metropolitan area. He also calls people to small communities. Often people ministering in small, rural areas reach more kids percentage wise than people who are ministering in highly populated areas.

The key is to stay faithful no matter where God leads you to minister. People in smaller communities need Jesus just as much as people living in heavily populated areas. Be diligent to share the Gospel wherever you are and you will grow.

You Are Not Having Guests Visit Your Children’s Ministry.

A ministry obviously grows when they have guests come on a regular basis. Create a culture where kids and parents have an “invest and invite” mentality. They invest in building relationships with the people around them who don’t know Jesus and then they invite them to come to church with them.

You Are Not Having Guests Return and Become Assimilated Into the Ministry.

It is a challenge to get guests to return for a second visit. The national average of guests returning for a second visit is about 7%. If you want to grow, you will need to better than that. Here are some ideas to get more guests to return.

You Are at the 85% Point.

The rule is once you hit a capacity of 85% you will stop growing. In other words, if your worship space will hold 100 people, when you start averaging 85 people in that space, you will stop growing. If you want to continue to grow, then you have two options. You can build more space or you can add another worship service. This rule is for both children’s space and adult space.

You Are Hanging on to Old Traditions That Don’t Resonate With the Next Generation.

A healthy, growing church will have all generations represented. Grandparents. Parents. Young couples. Single adults. Students. Children. Babies. If you are not growing and your attendance is headed the wrong direction, it maybe because you are not reaching all generations. The senior adults must will be willing to change or do some things differently to reach the coming generation. If they are not willing to change for the sake of the next generation, that church will eventually spiral and have to close.

You Don’t Have a Good Children’s Ministry.

When you see a growing church, you can be sure they have a solid children’s ministry. In today’s culture, the children usually have the final say about which church the family will attend. A good children’s ministry will be a major growth engine for the church. A floundering children’s ministry will have the opposite effect.

You Have Grown Comfortable Where You Are.

The comfort zone is where dreams go to die.

I would add that the comfort zone is where children’s ministries go to become ineffective and irrelevant. This is where the “hold on faithful until Jesus returns” mentality comes from. If you want your children’s ministry to grow, then you must be willing to change, stretch yourself, take a hard look at what you are currently doing and find some ways to get outside of the box you find yourself stuck in.

Have We Neglected “Peace With God?”

JDPayne

August 2, 2024

Sometimes I think we have lost the biblical emphasis regarding the gospel being a message of peace. Toward the end of last century, evangelists often spoke of “how to have peace with God” or “steps to peace with God.” We were taught to ask, “have you made peace with God” and “have you experienced the peace of God in your life?” It often seems one generation’s emphasis is the next generation’s neglect. Has peace with God, as a facet of the gospel, become familiar, worn, and a hackneyed point of attention?

Peace With God

The prophet writes, “Behold, upon the mountains, the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace” (Nah 1:15)! We live in a world that continues to crave peace–with self, others, society, and yes, God. Minds and hearts are greatly troubled. Suicide rates climb. Anxiety, depression, stress, worry, and fear enshroud multitudes.

What Does it Mean to Build on the Rock?

Ray Hollenbach

August 2, 2024

Jesus offers his followers the kind of life that results in rest and peace. Yet Christians are thrown from crisis to crisis as if the storms of life are in control. Still, Jesus is very clear on this: if we will build on the rock we will if we will find the kind of life that will be characterized by rest and peace. Who doesn’t want a life like this?

What Does it Mean to Build on the Rock?

My wife worked for years in a crisis pregnancy center. One day a young, unmarried Christian woman (a teenager, at that) came into the center for a free pregnancy test. The test was positive, and my wife delivered the news to the girl. “I don’t understand,” she cried as my wife held the girl in her arms. “How could God let this happen to me?” The news rocked this poor girl’s world. She received the news as if the pregnancy was something that happened to her–as if some force beyond her control had imposed its will on her and changed her life forever.

In my invitations to speak to Christian organizations, many people are familiar with the gospel stories I select as the theme for my talks. This familiarity can sometimes work against hearing the word of God in a way that can change our lives right now. We are tempted to think that because we have a heard a story before we must already understand its meaning. I believe this is especially true of the final story Jesus tells in his Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5, 6, & 7). So many people have heard the story they unwittingly think there is no need to let the word of God instruct them if they hear it again. But let’s try to hear it again:

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” (Matthew 7: 24-27)

Each time, after I read these words out loud, I stop and ask the same question: “What is the rock?” In more than a decade of speaking engagements I have never once been given the correct answer immediately. The answers offered are invariably “Jesus,” “God,” or “the Bible.” These are answers are worthy sentiments, but they are wrong.

What does it mean to build on the rock? See page two . . .

4 Tips for Great Worship Song Intros

Dan Wilt

August 2, 2024

How do we rehearse worship song intros in a band rehearsal? Having strong worship song intros builds the foundation not only for that song, but also for your entire set. A group of songs well introduced, and well completed, give a set flow and strength.

Use these four foolproof tips for worship song intros to help your team rehearse intros that really work.

4 Tips for Great Worship Song Intros

TIP 1 – LISTEN TO AN MP3

First, you will want to send an mp3 or recording of the song (or use software like WorshipTeam.com) for all your band members to listen to prior to rehearsal.

Whatever tool, software, or platform you use, listening to an mp3 will give your band a sense of how the recorded intro goes, and how similar that intro might be to the one you want to create. This all happens before the band even gets to the rehearsal.

If you get to the rehearsal and most of your players have not heard the recording, either play the recording if it is what you want, or play them something on your instrument that approximates how you would like to get into that song in the worship set.

It’s important for people to hear something to get a frame of reference; it is easier from that foundation to change, move, and shape things the way you would like.

TIP 2 – ESTABLISH YOUR VERSION

In other words, talk your band through how you would like to ‘get into’ the song – what you think the texture will be as you move into that song.

Is it a straight count in, then everyone starts at once? Is it a count in and just your voice and acoustic guitar are heard? Is it a count in and just the pads begin on a keyboard with a light hi-hat?

Think about these details before rehearsal so you can confidently bring some direction to the band.

Pass the Potato Game: A Fun Activity for Youth Group Kids

Joel from YouthGroupGames

August 1, 2024

The Pass the Potato game is super-fun for junior high and high school youth groups. Any number of kids can participate. But the more players, the more competitive the game gets! This outdoors game combines the classic Hot Potato with elements of Tag.

Read on to learn how to play this goofy, spud-tacular game!

Pass the Potato Game: Prepare to Play!

Materials Needed: One potato (or something representing a potato)

Where to Play: Outside, in an area large enough for 10 people to run around.

Setup: Mark the boundaries with cones. Choose one person to hold the potato first. The person with the potato must stay in the center. Everybody else can spread out within the boundaries.

Beginning: Shout “Go!” and begin counting down from 20.

The Potato: During those 20 seconds, the potato holder chases everyone else, trying to tag them. If they manage to tag someone, that person must take the potato and chase someone else. When 20 seconds is up, the person with the potato is out. Everyone else plays another round.

Here’s the Catch: The person with the potato can run as much as they’d like. If someone isn’t holding the potato, they can’t run!

Game Over: A round ends after 20 seconds, when someone is eliminated. These rounds should continue until two people are left. Then those two players compete for a prize (of your choosing).

The Final Showdown

Duel: The final two players perform the Potato Toss. This is a variation on a classic game. Players stand an arms-length apart, facing each other. One of them holds the potato. Then that person passes it to the other person. If it’s caught, they both take a step back.

Bible Minute to Win It Games: 12 Resources for Fast-Paced Activities

Stephanie Martin

August 1, 2024

Bible Minute to Win It games are ideal for kidmin programs. They’re brief, action-packed, and children love them! Quick games get kids involved and invested in the day’s lesson. Also, they build community and are fun for regular attendees and visitors alike. When students enjoy Sunday school, they’re more likely to return—and to invite friends!

With Bible minute to win it games, offer small prizes or simply a round of applause. The point isn’t the competition. Focus on the bonding that happens when groups have fun together.

So check out the variety of Bible minute-to-win-it games below. Then adapt them for your children’s ministry classes or programs.

Pro Tips: Bible minute to win it games are great for community events. And youth group members can serve as helpers. Teens love minute to win it games as well!

Bible Minute to Win It Games: 12 KidMin Resources

Below are links to dozens of wild, wacky games for children’s ministry. Use the ideas that best fit your kids’ ages and abilities. When possible, tailor games to that day’s Bible lesson or theme. And if food is involved, be aware of any allergies and minimize waste.

Have fun with these adventurous activities!

1. Old Testament Games

These minute to win it games feature themes and stories from the Old Testament…

2. New Testament Games

…and these feature themes and stories from the New Testament.

3. 45 Minute to Win It Games

Many of these suggestions are physical challenges. So cheer kids on to do their best!

4. Fun Minute-to-Win-It Games

These 13 games are sure to bring out smiles and laughter.

5. Family Game Night

If your ministry or church hosts a family game night, break out these minute-to-win-it activities.

6. Party Games for Kids

Many of these minute to win it games are perfect for a party or celebration.

The Rebranding of Latter-Day Saints to a Christian Denomination: How Should Christians Respond?

Ed Stetzer

August 1, 2024

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is clearly in a season of transition. After recently spending millions of dollars to rebrand itself through the “I am a Mormon” campaign, the church has now decided not to use the word “Mormon” to describe itself but rather to use the phrase the “Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” I certainly will use the words Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, because that is the technical name of the organization. But there is a particular shift inside this religious group that I think is important to address.

Recently, on my own Instagram feed, I saw this ad encouraging me to come to “Christ-centered services” and advertising as a church. (The red arrows and highlights are in the original.) Though I cannot tell if this is an official LDS account, its links are all to those resources.

It’s worth noting the phrase “Jesus-centered” in the conversation. LDS people do indeed believe in Jesus; however, as I will note below, this is not the same Jesus described in Scripture. And if it’s not the Jesus described in the Scripture, then it’s not the true Jesus who has eternally existed as God the Son.

It’s also worth noting that Mormons historically have emphasized their separateness from what they might call Nicene Christianity or Trinitarian Christianity—particularly emphasizing that these other churches are false churches and they are the one true, restored church.

For instance, Brigham Young University’s Religious Studies Center posted this article, which said in part:

This church of Jesus Christ (nicknamed Mormon) is the “only true and living church” (D&C 1:30) that is fully recognized by God, the only one properly organized with the authority to perform for him, and the only one with a total and comprehensive and true program which will carry men to powers unbelievable and to realms incredible. This is absolute truth…This is not another church. This is the Church. This is not another gospel or philosophy. This is the church and gospel of Jesus Christ.

Historically, it has been easy to acknowledge that Christianity is one religion and Mormonism is a distinct and separate religious category—like Jehovah’s Witnesses—which do not claim to be Christians. But Mormons today are clearly trying to deemphasize the differences between LDS beliefs and the Christian faith. This marks a significant shift from the past.

I want to note two prominent shifts happening today and offer some responses for evangelicals.

The Cross Over the Angel Moroni

I recently noted in a social media post that in the last year or so, the Mormon church has quietly updated Google Maps to change the symbols for their stakes or wards from the icon of the angel Moroni to being listed as churches with the icon of a cross.

Here is the problem: While all kinds of groups can and do use the cross for all kinds of purposes, the Google Maps shift demonstrates Mormonism’s attempt to rebrand itself as a denomination of Christianity. There’s no such thing as biblical Christianity without a biblical understanding of who Jesus Christ is, and Mormons therefore do not fit that qualification (Galatians 1:6-9).

Our LDS neighbors are often wonderful people, but they are not Christians in any biblical sense of the term.

Group Publishing Creative Director Pleads Guilty to Sexually Abusing a 6-Year-Old 18 years Ago

Jesse T. Jackson

August 1, 2024

Michael Paustian Group Publishing — Screengrab via Linkedin

Last month, Michael Paustian (53) was sentenced to eight years to life in prison for child sexual assault after he pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a six-year-old.

Paustian was the creative director at Group Publishing, a Christian company known for publishing curriculum for churches.

According to its LinkedIn account, Group Publishing specializes in “creating experiences that bring Children, Youth, and Adults into a closer relationship with Jesus,” which includes curriculum for “vacation Bible school, ministry resources, Sunday school resources, children’s resources, adult resources, and women’s ministry resources.”

According to The Loveland Reporter-Herald, “Paustian pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault of a child from a position of trust for a victim under the age of 15 and sexual exploitation of a child, both class 3 felonies, in mid-May, according to a release from the 8th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.”

“Several other charges, including seven other sexual assault charges, were dismissed in the plea agreement, according to court records,” The Loveland Reporter-Herald added.

Paustian won’t be eligible for parole until eight years of his sentence has been served. If released, Paustian will be required to complete 10 years of sex offender intensive supervised probation, will be a registered sex offender for life, will be required to receive approval to have access to the internet, won’t be allowed to have any contact with children unless approved, and will have to undergo both mental health and substance abuse evaluations.

The Larimer County Sheriff’s Office first learned of Pautsin’s abuse after the survivor, who is now an adult, brought allegations to authorities in September 2022. She was six years old at the time of the abuse.

During their investigation, authorities learned that Paustian had not only admitted to sexually abusing the six-year-old but also that the survivor’s family members were aware of the abuse and never reported it.

The survivor gave a statement to the judge to be read during Paustian’s sentencing hearing.

“I did what I was supposed to do. I told multiple adults, but now I am here still having to advocate for myself and any other children that might be in harm,” the statement said. “I have waited 17 years to get justice for my 6-year-old self, and I can’t wait to bring her peace and justice.”

6 Tips for When You Feel Like Quitting

1. Don’t.

2. Show up.

3. Change it up.

4. Laugh.

5. Talk about it.

6. Seek God.

1. Consistency

2. Variety

3. A Sense of Humor

4. Tools

5. Preparation

How to empower others

1. Coach rather than teach.

2. Give responsibility.

Does Your Team Lack Trust?

Olympic Skateboarder Is Set Apart

Cordano Russell’s Journey Has Been ‘Such a Blessing’

Jonathan Roumie Thankful for ‘Moments of Mirth and Humor’

8 Healthy Ways to Deal With It When Leadership is Lonely

1. Have the courage to stand alone sometimes

2. Don’t confide in the wrong people

3. Find a balance with your spouse

You Live in a Scarcely Populated Area.

You Are Not Having Guests Visit Your Children’s Ministry.

You Are Not Having Guests Return and Become Assimilated Into the Ministry.

You Are at the 85% Point.

You Are Hanging on to Old Traditions That Don’t Resonate With the Next Generation.

You Don’t Have a Good Children’s Ministry.

You Have Grown Comfortable Where You Are.

Peace With God

What Does it Mean to Build on the Rock?

What does it mean to build on the rock? See page two . . .

4 Tips for Great Worship Song Intros

TIP 1 – LISTEN TO AN MP3

TIP 2 – ESTABLISH YOUR VERSION

Pass the Potato Game: Prepare to Play!

The Final Showdown

Bible Minute to Win It Games: 12 KidMin Resources

1. Old Testament Games

2. New Testament Games

3. 45 Minute to Win It Games

4. Fun Minute-to-Win-It Games

5. Family Game Night

6. Party Games for Kids

The Cross Over the Angel Moroni

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