When Ministry Hurts

July 31, 2024

Have you ever heard a new church worker talk about his or her eagerness to work in a church, because of how kind and Christian everyone is going to be? Anyone in ministry for a period of time knows that this is not always true. Churches can sometimes be very unkind and even unforgiving places. Working in ministry is a beautiful calling, but it can also be disappointing when you find yourself faced with situations in which Christians don’t behave like Christ.

I have worked at three megachurches and have had the experience of feeling chewed up and eventually spit out when not needed anymore. Sadly, I’m not alone. When people experience church hurt—whether they work in ministry or attend a church where they have had a traumatic experience—they often walk away from their faith or become angry with God.

But church leaders are just people—flawed, sinful humans, just like the rest of us. In our culture we tend to idolize people. We put them up on a pedestal until they come crashing down. Then we walk away from what they represented. We idolize pastors—especially megachurch pastors—and treat them like rock stars. Then the moment they do something wrong, we crash. Our idol is broken, and we walk away from God, as if we are surprised that Christians are, well, human.

When I say this, I’m not minimizing the wounds I have from church hurt. In our culture, in which we see sex abuse cases raging in churches and even in the higher ranks of denominations, it is critical that churches remain accountable, and that survivors of abuse or church hurt are heard and protected. But for those who know Christ, we need to realize that we are following Christ, not the pastor or the leader who did wrong.

Through the hurts I experienced by leaders in church, I found an ever-increasing faith in God. God was always my comforter and my defender, and God would be my healer as well. I’ve also learned that the only way to overcome hurt, especially when it comes from our Christian brothers and sisters, is forgiveness.

We’re not going to be kind people if we don’t learn to forgive those who have hurt us. I believe everyone wants to find healing and wholeness and not live in a prison of bitterness, anger, and depression. Problematically, though, I also believe that many people either don’t know how to find wholeness or they don’t want to face the trauma that they have experienced in their life. Sometimes living in denial seems safer than facing those horrible truths. However, as someone who has experienced trauma and denial, I can say that the path toward healing, though often difficult, is worth the journey. Nothing compares to living life free from the emotional and physical effects of trauma and woundedness. Living in freedom—freedom from bitterness, hate, and mental anguish—enables you to love and forgive people, to be compassionate and empathetic, and truly to be kind to all of the people you meet.

Are you looking for wholeness? Are you tired of living in a prison of bitterness and hate? It’s time to get help and healing by unlocking your ability to forgive.

If you don’t forgive those who hurt you, you will never find healing. If you never find healing for the trauma and the hurts that you have faced, you will live in bondage—a prison of bitterness, anger, hate, and hardness. And this will affect not only your life but those around you as well. Without healing, you won’t move forward in life. You will be stuck in a constant childhood state of trauma.

Forgiveness is a process. But the more you are able to forgive, the more you will free yourself to experience kindness, and to give it to others too.

It’s an old saying that has become a cliché, but it’s also a golden nugget of truth: “Hurt people hurt people.” If you have not been able to forgive and move on from what happened to you as a child (or an adult), you’re going to be a mean, grumpy, inconsiderate, and bitter person. You’re not going to be fun to be around. You’re not going to be loving. You’re just going to be a jerk to people.

Hurt people hurt people. Wounded people wound people. But rescued people rescue people.

What Is Revival? A Guide for Gen Z

Greg Stier

July 31, 2024

Last week I received an email from Zoe, one of our newer and younger team members here at Dare 2 Share. She wanted to know about the Asbury Revival. Actually, she wanted to know about “revival” in general. Here’s the e-mail she sent me about what is revival:

Hey, you should write a blog defining ‘revival.’ Most of the discourse I’ve seen online is debating whether this is a revival, and it seems that most everyone has a different definition. It might also be helpful for people around my age group (25 and younger), who have never seen or experienced a revival firsthand. I think there is a generational gap between people who have seen ‘revival’ and those of us who have no personal experience with this sort of movement or concept. Personally, the word revival doesn’t mean anything to me—it seems like a fictional term. It feels like a term older Christians use for whatever they see fit.

I think Zoe is right.

Revival in the Rearview Mirror

Those of us who are older are probably much more familiar with the terms “revival” and “awakening” than the younger generation. I’m so old (although I prefer the word “classic” or “vintage”) that I remember the tail end of the Jesus Movement and all of the Jesus-loving, bell-bottom-wearing hippies of the early ’70s!

But I’m also somewhat familiar with revival on a personal level. I saw a version of it sweep through my violent, inner-city, bodybuilding, fist-throwing family and completely transform them from street fighters into street preachers. I began studying the whole subject of revival in my middle school years and have continued ever since.

Books about revival and awakening have always been on my reading list. One of my favorites is called George Whitefield: The life and times of the great evangelist of the 18^th-century revival by Arnold Dallimore. This two-volume, 1,200-page tome is a deep dive into the good, bad, and ugly of the First Great Awakening.

For instance, did you know that the two primary evangelists, George Whitefield and John Wesley, were “frenemies” for most of their ministry careers? Whitefield, a full-on Calvinist (God chose us), and Wesley, an all-out Arminian (we choose God), started as friends and ended as friends, but for the bulk of their ministries, there was a whole bunch of tension between these two men of God.

Rumors were started, letters were written, sides were taken, and feelings were hurt. But in spite of “the bad and the ugly,” there was still so much good. Unbelievers were evangelized, churches were energized, and communities were Gospelized.

And, yes, there were extremes at times. This has been the case with almost every major spiritual awakening in the history of the church.

Both Wesley and Whitefield had to learn how to deal with the excesses and extremes of those who would show up to their services and demonstrate some rather weird behavior. Some believed that these excesses were of God, and others believed they were of the devil.

Theologians argued, tempers flared, and accusations flew.

Sound familiar?

But these excesses didn’t negate the awakening that was taking place. Yes, they had to be dealt with, but they didn’t derail God’s plan to transform a soon-to-be-nation for God!

Revival ‘in the Main’

Reporter Chip Hutcheson, in an article in Kentucky Today, shared some great insights from Tim Beougher, pastor of West Broadway Baptist Church in Louisville and evangelism professor at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Pastor Beougher is an expert on revival and gave this advice regarding Asbury after visiting there and seeing firsthand what was happening:

Throughout the history of revivals, critics have pointed to some type of ‘excess’ accompanying a revival and tried to argue that ‘excess’ discredited the entire revival moment and meant it wasn’t truly a work of God. Jonathan Edwards answered that criticism during the First Great Awakening by using a helpful phrase: ‘in the main.’ What is at the heart of the movement? What is happening ‘in the main’? There will always be ‘excess’ on the fringe, due to overly excited and not yet completely sanctified human beings and/or to Satanic opposition, but what is taking place ‘in the main’? That is a helpful grid to evaluate movements like that taking place now at Asbury.

We don’t want to let the extremes of revivals past or present distract us from the mainstream of what God is doing. We must focus on what is happening “in the main.”

What is revival? Find out more on page two . . .

A Hard Passage To Interpret: The Water and Blood

Nicholas Batzig

July 31, 2024

One of the more difficult aspects of hermeneutics, when approaching the fourth gospel, is to know how to interpret historical details in a book that clearly includes such literary vehicles as symbolism, typology, and double entendres. The goal of faithful exegesis is to accurately interpret a passage according to its grammatical-historical-theological meaning without imposing on it spiritual insights that are foreign to the authorial intent or failing to capture the redemptive-historical meaning of those details. A case study of this challenge can be found in John 19:33-34, namely, in John’s account of water and blood flowing from the pierced side of Jesus.

Water and Blood Flowing From Jesus’ Side

The Apostle John, having stood at the foot of the cross when Jesus was crucified and died, wrote,

“When they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead. . .one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water” (John 19:33-34).

The most widely agreed upon interpretation is that which suggests that the outpouring of the blood and the water was demonstrable proof that Jesus really and truly died. Closely connected to that interpretation is the plausible contextual interpretation that has to do with John’s refutation of docetic heresies about the person of Christ in both this gospel and in his first epistle. D.A. Carson explains,

Already by the time this Gospel was written, there were docetic influences at work—influences that became much worse by the time the Epistles of John were written (cf. 1 Jn. 2:22; 4:1–4; 5:6–9). The docetists denied that the Christ was truly a man, Jesus; he only seemed (dokeo̅, ‘it seems’) to take on human form. And by the same token, he never really died; it only appeared to be so. John will have none of it: blood and water flowed from Jesus’ side, and in many strands of both Jewish and hellenistic thought at the time, the human body consists of blood and water.

However, the question still remains as to whether or not John had any theological and spiritual meaning attached to his record of these details. Many scholars are agreed that John wrote this gospel toward the end of his life, as he reflected back on what he had witnessed so many years prior. It is important for us to remember that John says at the end of the gospel, “There are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written” (John 21:25). This means that John strategically chose which details to include in his account (most of which are not included in the synoptic gospels) with a highly intentional purpose. This purpose is seen throughout the book to show that Jesus is the fulfillment of so many Old Testament types and prophecies. In this section alone, John has intimated that his details about the crucifixion and death of Christ were intended to fulfill the Old Testament (John 19:24, 28, and 36-37). In keeping with this, it is right for us to seek out a divinely intended spiritual or redemptive-historical interpretation of the blood and water flowing from the pierced side of Jesus.

This passage has been subject to many symbolic readings throughout church history. For instance, Chrysostom and Augustine maintained that water and blood flowing from the pierced side of Jesus represented the spiritual significance of the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Augustine also saw in this act the typology of Christ as the second Adam being put to sleep on the cross in order to receive his bride. He wrote:

When He slept on the Cross, He bore a sign, yea, He fulfilled what had been signified in Adam: for when Adam was asleep, a rib was drawn from him and Eve was created; Genesis 2:21-22 so also while the Lord slept on the Cross, His side was transfixed with a spear, and the Sacraments flowed forth, John 19:34 whence the Church was born. For the Church the Lord’s Bride was created from His side, as Eve was created from the side of Adam. But as she was made from his side no otherwise than while sleeping, so the Church was created from His side no otherwise than while dying.

Calvin assented to the “sacramental analogy” interpretation of water and blood when he wrote:

I do not object to what Augustine says, that our sacraments have flowed from Christ’s side; for, when Baptism and the Lord’s Supper lead us to Christ’s side, that by faith we may draw from it, as from a fountain, what they represent, then are we truly washed from our pollutions, and renewed to a holy life, and then do we truly live before God, redeemed from death, and delivered from condemnation.

Worship Spectators or Participators?

David Manner

July 31, 2024

Here’s a parable about worship spectators:

When the Navy starting quarterback was injured in the first half of a 2016 game with Fordham, the coaches called freshman Malcolm Perry out of the stands and into the game. He was listed as the team’s number four quarterback. The number three quarterback had been suspended that week so, consequently, the number two quarterback was the only one left with no back-up if needed. Perry was actually dressed in his Navy uniform whites in the stands with the brigade of other student midshipmen.

The young quarterback didn’t even have his football uniform at the stadium so the coaches had to send someone to pick it up from the team locker room back at the Naval Academy. By the fourth quarter, he was on the field playing in the game. Perry certainly realized that day the difference between watching the game from the stands as a spectator and actually engaging in the game on the field as a participator.

Worship Spectator or Worship Participant?

A spectator is someone who attends or watches an event or game as an onlooker, observer, or member of an audience. A spectator could be a fan or foe depending on who is playing and what is being played. And spectators sometimes assume they are in the game just because they are in the stands.

Faithful Fridays: Weekly Devotions for Young Hearts

Stephanie Martin

July 30, 2024

What are faithful Fridays and how can they benefit teens spiritually? Read on for innovative ideas to help young people grow (and stay) closer to Jesus.

Youth ministers, pastors, and parents play key roles in faith formation. The goal is to help teens build a solid foundation for life. Regular devotions and prayer are essential for spiritual growth. Structure makes faith practices routine. But that doesn’t mean they have to be boring!

Introducing faithful Fridays, a dedicated weekly time for youth devotions. This idea transforms Fridays into a day of reflection and renewal. The result? Deeper connections with God and stronger Christian values.

Faithful Fridays: Why Teens Need Regular Devotions

Because teens are busy, spiritual consistency may seem tough. But youth devotions anchor teens in a storm-tossed world. A dedicated Friday faith practice offers regular time to focus on Christ.

When teens spend time with Jesus every Friday, they develop Godly habits. And when adults model those habits, they show that faith is a priority.

Faithful Fridays not only strengthen relationships with God. They also equip kids with biblical wisdom for daily life.

Sample Structure for Faithful Fridays

Here’s a suggested outline for a typical session:

Opening Prayer: Begin by inviting God to be present. Ask him to prepare hearts and minds.
Scripture Reading: Choose a Bible passage that fits with the week’s theme. Encourage teens to read and ponder the Scripture.
Discussion: Lead a conversation about the passage. Ask open-ended questions that promote critical thinking and reflection.
Practical Application: Relate the Scripture to real-life scenarios teens face. Discuss how biblical principles apply to daily interactions and decisions.
Prayer: Allow time for sharing requests and praises. Then close in prayer.

Themes for Youth Devotions

Next, select meaningful themes to engage teens. Choose relevant topics, such as:

Identity in Christ: What does it mean to be a child of God? How does our identity in Christ shape our lives?
Overcoming Fear and Anxiety: Share peace and hope from Scripture.
Relationships: Examine friendships, peer pressure, and more.
Purpose and Calling: Encourage teens to seek God’s guidance for their lives.

Add Interactive Elements

Make faithful Fridays more engaging with these ideas:

Group Activities: Try role-playing, skits, and art projects.
Journaling: Provide journals for reflection and prayer. Writing deepens personal engagement with the devotion.
Service Projects: Encourage kids to put their faith into action.

The Art of Storytelling: Making Bible Tales Come Alive

Stephanie Martin

July 30, 2024

The art of storytelling is powerful, especially for teaching children. Action-packed accounts captivate minds and hearts. In children’s ministry, storytelling transforms biblical text into memorable adventures.

By making Bible accounts come alive, Sunday school teachers and parents help kids better understand lessons. That, in turn, helps them build deep, lasting faith.

So let’s explore creative tips for the art of storytelling. Learn how to use narrative well in classrooms and family devotions.

The Art of Storytelling: Why It Matters

While teaching the Bible, storytelling isn’t just entertainment. And it’s not fiction. Instead, it’s a relatable way to teach complex concepts. When done effectively, storytelling:

Grabs Attention: Stories add interest, making children receptive to learning.
Boosts Understanding: Through stories, abstract ideas become concrete. That helps students grasp spiritual truths.
Sparks Imagination: Stories help children visualize biblical events.
Builds Connections: Stories evoke emotions, making Bible lessons stick.

Creating Interactive Bible Stories

How can you bring the Bible to life? First, look beyond traditional storytelling methods. Add interactive elements that are age-appropriate. Try these creative ideas for teaching Bible stories:

Use Props and Costumes
- Transform your space with simple objects. A robe and staff can turn a teacher into Moses. A crown and robe can make a child feel like King David.
Include Visual Aids
- Use illustrations or digital slides to depict scenes. Visual aids help children follow along with the sequence of events.
Appeal to the Senses
- Bring stories to life by engaging multiple senses. Use sound effects, like rain for Noah’s Ark. Provide tactile objects, like sand for the desert. Even scents, like spices for the wise men’s gifts, create multi-sensory experiences.
Encourage Participation
- Involve children in the art of storytelling. Assign roles and let kids act out parts. Use call-and-response, where kids shout key phrases or actions. Active participation keeps kids invested.
Creative Storytime Activities
- Add crafts and games that tie into the lesson. Hands-on learning activities reinforce the points.

The Art of Storytelling With Style

Make Bible adventures unforgettable for kids! Try these ideas:

Voice Effects
- Use different tones and expressions for characters. This conveys emotion and makes stories dynamic.
Dramatic Pauses
- With some breaks, children can better absorb the plot.
Ask Questions
- Pause to ask questions. These spur critical thinking and active listening. For example, ask, “What do you think will happen next?” Or “How do you think David felt?”
Repetition and Rhymes
- Repeated phrases and rhyming help children remember details.
Cliffhangers
- If your story spans multiple sessions, end with cliffhangers. Excited children will be eager to return to hear more.

Making Bible Stories Relatable

For God’s Word to stick, it must relate to everyday life. So bridge the gap by diving deeper. For example:

Draw Modern Parallels
- For example, compare the Good Samaritan parable to helping a new kid at school. Then children can see the relevance of Scripture.
Encourage Personal Reflections
- Ask kids how the story applies to them. For example, “Have you ever felt like Jonah?” Or “When have you needed courage like Daniel?” Reflecting on Bible lessons adds real-life meaning.
Make Practical Applications
- Provide details about the story’s teachings. After telling about the Prodigal Son, for example, discuss how we show forgiveness. Brainstorm specific ways to live out biblical principles.

‘Shall Reap Corruption’—Harrison Butker Posts Bible Verse Following Olympic Controversy

Jesse T. Jackson

July 30, 2024

Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker went viral after posting a Bible verse in response to the Drag Queen performance that was featured during the Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France.

The performance appeared to parody Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper.”

In post that has received over 4.9 million views on X, Butker shared an image of the controversial performance alongside a quotation of Galatians 6:7-8, which reads: “Be not deceived, God is not mocked. For what things a man shall sow, those also shall he reap. For he that soweth in his flesh, of the flesh also shall reap corruption. But he that soweth in the spirit, of the spirit shall reap life everlasting.”

Butker also posted an Instagram, where he said, “This is crazy.” That post has since expired.

Olympic officials were quick to apologize for any offense that was caused by the controversial segment. “Clearly there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group. [The Opening Ceremony] tried to celebrate community tolerance,” said Olympic spokesperson Anne Descamps during a press conference. “We believe this ambition was achieved. If people have taken any offense, we are really sorry.”

Thomas Jolly, the performance’s artistic director, said the performance was “interpretation of the Greek god Dionysus [that] makes us aware of the absurdity of violence between human beings.”

In May, Butker, a three-time Super Bowl champion, was sharply criticized after he spoke out against abortion and Pride Month and spoke in favor of women prioritizing homemaking during a commencement speech at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas.

Earlier this month, Serena Williams took a shot at Butker during the ESPY Awards, telling the All-Pro kicker, “We don’t need you.”

During the awards, Williams was joined onstage with her sister, Venus, and “Abbot Elementary” star Quinta Brunson to celebrate women’s sports.

How Matthew West Is Living Out His New Single, ‘Don’t Stop Praying,’ With Fans and Followers

Jessica Lea

July 30, 2024

Christian singer and songwriter Matthew West is living out the words of the title track of his forthcoming album, “Don’t Stop Praying,” by encouraging his followers and fans to persevere in prayer and to put their hope in God.

“I want to know if you’re out there, and maybe you’ve had something, that one thing, that you’ve been praying for for a long time,” West said in a video posted July 15, “and maybe it was a long time before you saw the answer to that prayer or the breakthrough or the miracle. Maybe you’re still praying for it.”

West asked people to share their stories if they felt comfortable. “I think it could encourage other people who are maybe going, ‘Should I even keep praying for this?’” he said.

“Let’s take a moment to encourage and pray for each other,” the singer said in the caption.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Matthew West (@matthewjwest)

Matthew West Prays for Couple at Concert

According to his website, Matthew West is a five-time Grammy nominee and the winner of a number of other awards, including Dove Awards, K-LOVE Fan Awards, and an American Music Award. He has hosted the K-LOVE Fan Awards seven times.

West’s album, “Don’t Stop Praying,” is set to release on Oct. 4, and his single of the same name achieved the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Christian Airplay Chart, according to Crosswalk. West shared with Crosswalk the story of a woman who attended one of his concerts. When she and her husband approached him, West at first thought they wanted a selfie with him.

But the woman said, “Would you mind praying for us?” She said she was having surgery the next day for breast cancer.

“Sometimes I can be guilty of saying, ‘Hey, I’ll be praying for you,’ and then you get busy with life, you move on and forget,” West said. But this time, he took a moment to pray with the couple, despite the long line of people waiting to see him.

Settlement in Mica Miller Case Leads to Justice, Say Lawyers for Her Family and Husband

Stephanie Martin

July 30, 2024

The family of Mica Miller has reached a settlement with her husband, Pastor John-Paul Miller, resolving their disputes about Mica’s death. After a July 29 probate court hearing, lawyers for both sides announced the settlement, saying it provides closure to the case and justice for Mica.

Some terms of the agreement are confidential, but attorneys said it prevents Mica’s family from moving forward with a civil wrongful death lawsuit against John-Paul. In addition, John-Paul will be the representative for Mica’s personal estate. Earlier, her sister had requested that role.

The April 27 death of Mica Miller, age 30, was ruled a suicide. But questions lingered about alleged abuse and grooming by John-Paul, who was 14 years her senior. Prior to her death, Mica had repeatedly called police on her husband and had warned family members that he would be to blame if she was ever found dead.

John-Paul Miller, pastor of Solid Rock Church in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, has denied the abuse allegations. On the day Mica died, he was attending a sports event with a woman he was reportedly dating.

Settlement Brings Closure to Mica Miller Case

Attorney Regina Ward, who represents Mica Miller’s family, acknowledged that some people might be “disappointed” by the settlement. But she said the litigation could have taken years, and “we want to put this behind us.”

Mica’s family doesn’t “want to talk about Mr. Miller anymore,” Ward added. Instead, they want to “move forward to the next chapter,” working to pass a coercive-control law. Ward had previously pushed for a bill to end what she describes as “psychological warfare” that “will damage the very soul of a person.”

“We want to focus on the memory and beauty of Mica and everything she has represented for herself and every single person that has ever been in her situation,” said Ward. “When we say that we’ve gotten justice for Mica as a result of this settlement, it is true.”

John-Paul Miller’s Attorney Asks Protesters to Stop

Russell Long, legal representative for John-Paul Miller and his church, echoed Ward’s statement about justice. “This is over,” he said. “This global agreement is Mica’s justice. The next step is the legislative goal. We only ask that you remember Mica as the wonderful, beautiful person that she was.”

“Mica’s family, Pastor Miller, and the church have set their differences aside to allow Mica’s memory to live on without the encumbrance of continuous litigation,” Long continued. “Those that have sought justice for Mica should feel accomplished in helping the Francis family reach this milestone.”

Although “we don’t know every piece of information that led to the death of Mica,” Long added, “we do know that her life did serve a purpose. Her life mattered.”

“Those that are spending every Sunday morning protesting outside of Solid Rock Church chanting, ‘Justice for Mica,’” he said, “should recognize this time of healing and move on with their lives.”

Pastor Steps Down Amid Backlash for Failing To Report Possible Child Sex Abuse Material on Fellow Clergy Member’s Computer

Dale Chamberlain

July 30, 2024

Barry Stechschulte — Screengrab via WLWT5

The pastor of a Roman Catholic parish in Mason, Ohio, has stepped down after a petition calling for him to resign garnered more than 500 signatures. Fr. Barry Stechschulte of St. Susanna was recently implicated in the cover-up of the possible child sex crimes of another priest in 2012.

In 2012, Stechschulte was serving at Holy Rosary in St. Marys, Ohio, when he discovered “inappropriate content, possibly child porn” on a computer that belonged to another priest, according to WLWT5. The priest to whom the computer belonged was Tony Cutcher, Stechschulte’s predecessor.

Stechschulte allegedly instructed a deacon to “destroy” the computer. The deacon reportedly carried out the request with a “blow torch.”

Stechschulte did not report the material to the police until 2018, after he had moved on from Holy Rosary and was serving at a different parish. Police conducted an investigation in 2018 but ultimately filed no criminal charges against Cutcher. Investigators indicated that the destruction of the hard drive complicated the investigation.

Cutcher was removed from ministry by the Archdiocese of Cincinnati in 2018 after he was accused of sending inappropriate texts to a boy.

According to his Facebook profile, Stechschulte served Holy Rosary from 2012 to 2014 before moving to St. Patrick Catholic Church in Glynnwood, Ohio, in 2014. He came to St. Susanna in 2020.

Members of St. Susanna only recently became aware of Stechschulte’s 2012 actions, for which Stechschulte has apologized.

“I wish I could redo my initial decision from 2012. I am deeply sorry for the distress this has caused all of you,” Stechschulte said in a letter to the congregation.

However, a public outcry soon turned into a widely circulated petition for Stechschulte to step down.

“The decision you made to destroy evidence instead of reporting it to the proper authorities has severely compromised the confidence many of us have in your leadership,” the petition stated. “We believe that for the unity and peace of our parish to be restored, a change in leadership is necessary…we respectfully request your resignation from your position at St. Susanna.”

Signs of Hope in the Australian Church, Voices from the Global Church, part 4

Julian Dunham

July 30, 2024

Australian Church — Adobestock #796521707

Note from Ed Stetzer: We are in a series called, “Voices from the Global Church,” leading up to the Fourth Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization. I serve as the regional director for North America, and serve with a team of other regional directors. I’ve asked them to share what God is doing in their regions as we plan toward the next congress. You can also find more at the Lausanne site, including the State of Great Commission report here. Part 1 of the series, The Church and Mission in Europe Today: Changing the Narrative, is here. Part 2 is The African Church and Its Global Significance. Part 3 is A New Era in Global Missions Emerging From Asia.

Now we go to Australia with Julian Dunham:

Growing up in a conservative Christian Brethren church in Tasmania, Australia, I never saw a single person “get saved” from outside the core of seven or eight families. As the saying goes, the sign out the front said, “Whosoever will!”—but no one ever did.

In my teens, I risked attending a revival meeting at another church. And it turned my life upside down. I repented of my sin, got baptized, and started wholeheartedly following Jesus. It was the 1980s, and student ministry was prolific on high school and university campuses. We were discipled and did evangelism. I joined a discipleship group led by an older believer. I began evangelizing my friends, and several committed their lives to Christ.

At University, I continued evangelizing and discipling students. Afterward, I became a youth pastor in a large Baptist church, and I began to “train for the ministry.”

The Church Growth Movement

While my theological studies helped me, learning from church growth movement excited me much more. My bookshelves contained works from Lyle Schaller, Peter Wagner, James Engel, Carl George, Gary McIntosh, Bob Logan, George Barna, Aubrey Malphurs, Bill Hybels, Wayne Cordeiro, and Rick Warren. Here I saw an antidote to the stagnant church of my childhood. The church growth paradigm beckoned me to lead a well-organized, strategic, capable, and respectable church.

Without realizing it, I was moving from discipleship to a new and supposedly better paradigm: cell groups. The fruit seemed irrefutable. By the late 1990s, many “church growth” churches were growing, proving that attraction, vision, and meeting felt needs did work. We reached and baptized a lot of people—with one major caveat: most of the growth was from people transferring from other churches.

Despite the good intentions and hopeful possibilities, the new and supposedly better paradigm wasn’t producing the results it promised. I now see that all too often people weren’t being fully discipled or trained to make disciples. Training a small group leader was not always the same as making disciple-making disciples. At the time, I wasn’t wise enough to spot the difference.

Church Planting Movements

In the early 2000s, church planting resurged and new expressions of church emerged, focusing on different demographics that were seeking community and spirituality. Innovative models of ministry engaged the secular and spiritually curious. An influx of international collaborations and resources helped guide and enrich local initiatives. Some churches adapted to the rapid rise in immigration by embracing mono-ethnic congregations on the one hand or multicultural congregations on the other.

Despite a decline in adherence to organized religion, this era marked a significant expansion in ecclesiastical diversity and outreach strategies. At the same time, like the focus on church growth, the renewed and innovative focus on church planting didn’t fully embrace the vision of making disciples. While these church growth and church planting movements had good intentions and some wonderful fruit, they fell short of the main goal of making disciples. I believe that if they had focused on making disciples, church growth and church planting would have naturally followed. Thankfully, we’re seeing that course correction happen more and more today.

Disciple-Making Movements

A new vision for discipleship through disciple-making movements has emerged in our time. These movements intend to fulfill the church’s mission to make disciples, and they are finding church growth and church planting happen as a result. In contrast to the church growth and church planting movements, disciple-making creates fewer celebrities. Because many of the most fruitful initiatives of this movement happily fly under the radar, let me introduce you to four exciting developments.

First, City to City’s Ripple Effect is a course produced by Julie-anne Laird and written by Helen Bell. Ripple Effect disciples everyday Christians in relational evangelism, encouraging long term prayer for friends and family while being more open in friendship. The course trains gifted evangelists to serve their local churches, as well as helping ministry teams think through pathways to faith and creating a consistent culture of evangelism. Ripple Effect is bearing fruit, and more churches are joining into the training every week.

Second, Crossway’s Building Discipling Communities (BDC) strategy focuses on cultivating meaningful connections within small groups. Emphasizing relational depth and spiritual growth through regular gatherings, it encourages participants to share life experiences, study Scripture together, and apply teachings practically in their daily lives.

‘Jesus Is the Way’—Olympic Teen Skateboarder Uses Sign Language To Proclaim the Gospel to the World

Jesse T. Jackson

July 30, 2024

Brazilian skateboarder Rayssa Leal used sign language to quote Scripture before a preliminary run at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France, on Sunday (July 28).

The 16-year-old Leal signed a reference to John 14:6, which says “Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life,” when she was introduced before her run.

Leal’s preliminary run was enough to advance to the finals, where she won the Bronze Medal. This is Leal’s second Olympic games and the second time she has received a medal.

In 2020, when she was 13, Leal became Brazil’s youngest Olympian to compete in the Olympic games and was one of the youngest Olympians ever to medal at the games. Leal won the silver medal in the women’s street skateboarding event at the 2020 Olympic games in Tokyo, Japan.

After her bronze medal win, Leal told reporters, “When I was very young, I dreamed of becoming a skateboard athlete. And here I am, with a second Olympic medal from the Games. Once again, thanks [sic] God I won a medal. I’m very happy to be here.”

It is unclear why Leal used sign language to convey her message. Some reports indicate it might have been due to France’s secularism principle, known as Laïcité, which encourages the belief that government and religion should be kept separate.

However, according to an Olympic committee spokesperson, those restrictions do not apply to Olympians.

As the skateboarders were being introduced, each gestured while greeting the camera. Some gave heart symbols and others gave peace symbols. Leal quoted an entire Bible verse.

On Instagram, Leal said, “I don’t know how to explain everything I’m experiencing. I just know how to thank.” The young skateboarder went on to thank God, family, friends, and everyone who cheered her on.

The 2024 Olympic games started off with controversy after an Opening Ceremony performance featured drag queens who appeared to parody Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper.”

JESUS IS THE TRUTH.

Rayssa Leal was told she wasn't allowed to praise Jesus Christ at the Olympics.

Leal responded by saying, 'Jesus is the way, the truth and the life' in sign language to protest…

pic.twitter.com/YGbxDsM0fp

— Graham Allen (@GrahamAllen_1) July 29, 2024

Mennonites March 135 Miles to White House for Gaza Cease-Fire

Aleja Hertzler-McCain

July 30, 2024

Mennonites March — Participants in the “All God’s Children March for a Ceasefire" event cross the Potomac River, Sunday, July 28, 2024, entering Washington, D.C., from Virginia. (RNS photo/Aleja Hertzler-McCain)

WASHINGTON (RNS) — Many of the Mennonites who marched over 135 miles from Harrisonburg, Virginia, to the White House had someone in mind as they walked, nursing blisters and removing ticks as they crossed the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Shenandoah Valley in 11 days.

For Aidan Yoder, an organizer and college student at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, it was the people he met while visiting the West Bank in Palestine during the summer of 2023 on an intercultural college program. One of them was a dancer from Gaza who could not visit her family due to Israeli restrictions on movement, and another was an Arabic teacher who told him she is afraid that her community will face the same devastating bombings that have decimated Gaza.

Outside the White House on Sunday (July 28), the core group of about 15 who had walked with Yoder every day from the main Mennonite hub in the Southeast U.S. had grown 10 times larger, all gathered in prayer for a cease-fire. The Mennonite tradition developed as a peace church believing that the Gospel teaches nonviolence. Organizers said the group included Mennonites from at least 40 different churches in the U.S. and Canada, as well as interfaith supporters from Catholic, Lutheran, Jewish, evangelical Christian and Southern Baptist traditions.

“We need to do something that doesn’t make sense because what’s happening in Gaza doesn’t make sense,” said organizer Nick Martin, explaining the rationale behind “All God’s Children March for a Ceasefire.” Martin continued, “It violates all common sense. It violates basic tenets of human compassion.”

Martin said the group had marched through parking lots, along highways and through suburban neighborhoods. “We felt like we needed to go into places where we would see everyday people and disrupt these spaces where politics supposedly doesn’t exist, but everywhere is political,” he said.

The group had timed their arrival to coincide with the first day of the Christians United for Israel summit, where thousands of pro-Israel activists are expected to gather in National Harbor, Maryland. An interfaith coalition including Christians, Jews, Hindus and Muslims has planned counter-protests for the duration of the event, which Mennonites plan to join.

In February, an interfaith group led by Faith for Black Lives organized a similar march called “Pilgrimage for Peace” from Independence Hall in Philadelphia to the White House over eight days, starting February 14, a day that commemorates abolitionist Frederick Douglass.

This July march followed months of other actions and organizing by Mennonite Action, a group formed in November to protest for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war and an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestine.

In January, about 130 Mennonites were arrested after holding a cease-fire hymn sing in the Cannon House Office Building. Song leaders kept the group in time and four-part harmony, even after their arms were zip-tied behind their backs, by stomping their feet. In December and March, local groups across the U.S. and Canada visited their representatives’ offices with quilts and more hymns.

On Eastern Mennonite University’s campus in March, students rang the campus bell for each of the people who had been killed in Palestine and Israel since the beginning of the war. At the time, it took three days of ringing the bell from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. each day.

Now, more than 39,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the beginning of Israel’s military campaign, in addition to the 1,200 people killed in Israel during Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks, according to their respective governments. The students would have to add another day of ringing if they repeated the protest.

In prayer, Sunday’s protesters uplifted current dire conditions in Gaza, where polio is beginning to spread. We repent of “dehumanizing the dead in Gaza, by counting them as numbers, but not as people who have dreams and aspirations,” said one protester. “How long, oh Lord, will this nightmare continue?”

Catholics, Vatican Officials React to Controversial Olympic Ceremony

Claire Giangrave

July 30, 2024

Olympics Catholics — This scene during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris, Friday, July 26, 2024, was meant to represent the Greek gods during a banquet, according to organizers. (Video screen grab)

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Catholic leaders along with a host of other Christian groups voiced outrage following the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris (July 26) over a scene starring drag performers and French entertainers that many interpreted as a parody of Jesus’ Last Supper.

Organizers have since apologized for the ceremony, while the creative director of the controversial scene, Thomas Jolly, said the Last Supper was not among his inspirations and that it was meant to represent the Greek gods during a banquet.

The tableau featured artists in drag, representing diverse cultural backgrounds, posed behind a long dining table while a woman wearing an ornate silver halo stood in the middle. Singer and actor Philippe Katerine emerged painted blue on a silver platter and adorned with grapes.

Over the weekend, before Jolly’s clarification, social media was rife with arguments over whether the scene was meant to invoke paintings of the Greek gods gathered at Mount Olympus — such as the 1636 painting “The Feast of the Gods” by Dutch artist Jan van Bijlert or the painting “Feast of the Gods” by Johann Rottenhammer and Jan Brueghel, circa 1600 — or if its true similarity was to Leonardo DaVinci’s famous artistic depiction of Jesus’ Last Supper.

Many Christians worldwide, including Vatican officials, saw the latter and took offense.

Maltese Archbishop Charles Scicluna, one of the Vatican’s top advisers in investigating sexual abuse cases, wrote on X that he had contacted the Maltese embassies to France to express the “distress & the disappointment of many Christians at the gratuitous insult to the Eucharist during the Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics.”

Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, who heads the Vatican think-tank on human life and society, also commented on the “derision and the ridicule of the last supper” during the Olympic ceremony on X. “It reveals a profound question: everyone, truly everyone, wants to sit at that table where Jesus gave his life for all and taught love,” he wrote.

The French bishops were among the first to push back against the “scenes of derision and mockery of Christianity” in a statement on Saturday (July 27). “We think of all Christians worldwide who were hurt by the excess and provocation of certain scenes,” they wrote, adding that they hope faithful will see beyond “the ideological biases of a few artists.”

Speaking to OSV News, the special Holy See representative to the 2024 Olympic games, Bishop Emmanuel Gobilliard, said he was “deeply hurt” by the images of the opening ceremony. “It is contrary to the Olympic Charter, to the dimension of unity that is present in its values, to the idea of bringing everyone together, without political and religious demonstrations,” he said.

The news outlet of the Italian bishops, Avvenire, commented on the ceremony in several articles and editorials. “Exaggeration excludes,” wrote Editor-in-Chief Luciano Moia, commenting on the scenes on display at the ceremony.

The Middle East Council of Churches, which includes the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, issued a statement “with a lot of love mixed with astonishment and disapproval,” asking the Olympic organizers to commit to its values of respect and friendship.

“Freedom, diversity, and creativity are not compatible with insulting the beliefs of others, nor with mocking them, in ways that have nothing to do with human equality,” the statement read.

A Lot of Christians Get Abortions. We Can—And Must—Do Something About That

Jeff and Tricia Bradford

July 30, 2024

Sit down at church this weekend and take a look around you. The odds are good that someone nearby has had an abortion—and the odds are even better that, having had an abortion, they feel utterly unable to talk about it with a single one of their fellow believers.

One new poll found that 43% of the women surveyed were regularly attending church at the time they underwent an abortion. That same poll found that only 7% of that group discussed the abortion with anyone who went to church with them.

We know what it’s like to suffer silently in the pews of a church, unable and unwilling to talk about a past abortion. It’s excruciating, and lonesome. We tried for 17 years to keep silent—and thank God we failed, ultimately, to do so.

This silence around abortion isn’t just destroying preborn children. It’s destroying the mothers and fathers who are prevented from receiving the freedom and repentance and healing that the Lord wants for them. The church is where we can gather to support, inform and encourage each other—and where God’s Word and Spirit can heal us.

So it’s time to break that silence.

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge,” we read in Hosea 4:6. Christians need to know what abortion is, what Christian teaching on the sanctity of preborn life is and—just as important—that abortion is not an unforgivable sin.

Most Christians just don’t hear much about abortion from their church leadership and communities—and if they do, it’s often an isolated sermon. Christians, even regular churchgoers, hold mixed and equivocal beliefs on when life begins.

But forgiveness of sins begins with repentance, and repentance requires understanding of the sin itself. Churches need to make clear the horrific nature of abortion and its moral ramifications, stripped of all euphemism.

Life begins at conception. Abortion doesn’t “terminate a pregnancy,” it kills a child. Every life is a gift, and a sacred one at that. Every person bears the image of God. Abortion isn’t a matter of “choice,” but a matter of life and death.

And what’s more, scientific insight proves that a child in the womb is a living human person. Heartbeats can be heard at just six weeks. We see fingers and toes at just 10 weeks. Nearly all internal organs are formed by 12 weeks. These children termed “fetuses” by those who wish to minimize their dignity are recognizably human, and recognizably alive long before the end of the first trimester.

But this first trimester, this miraculous unfolding and growing of new life, is the time in which 91% of abortions occur.

How Storytelling in Small Groups Can Be Transformational

Small Group Network

July 30, 2024

What was Your Favorite Story? Do you remember the stories you were drawn to as a kid? Stories of heroes and villains, friendships, the power of community, and overcoming difficulties and challenges. There is no denying the allure of stories. Storytelling in small groups is the personal narration of our life experiences. It is something, I believe, that is part of the very fabric of who we are as image-bearers of God. They have such an ability to draw us together collectively. Teaching us something about the subject, the situation and even ourselves.

Storytelling in Small Groups

The Master Storyteller

Stories played such an incredible role in the life and ministry of Jesus. So often, we find a crowd of people gathered around him, leaning in and listening intently to him. Stories about a lamp (Matthew 5:14-16), a Sower (Matthew 13:1-23), or the rich fool (Luke 12:13-21).

These stories are known to us as parables and were used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson. Jesus was a master storyteller. His ability to take profound spiritual truths and package them in the form of relatable stories was incredible.

Did you know he also told others to go and tell their own stories?

Mission and Storytelling in Small Groups

Right after the whole event on the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus calmed the storm, he and his disciples encountered a man “…in the Gerasene Country opposite Galilee, [who was] full of demonic spirits” (Luke 8:26-39). We don’t know much about this man. But we do come face-to-face with his reality. He had often been tied up, chained, and kept under guard, but each time he broke free. The demonic power would then drive him into remote places away from human contact. He was imprisoned by evil – broken, needy, and isolated.

His story was tragic.

Until that is, he encountered Jesus and his life was irreversibly transformed. And where do we find him after this interaction with Jesus? Sitting at his feet in the posture of a disciple. He had finally found true freedom and peace in the presence of Jesus.

When it was time for Jesus to leave he begs to go with them. You can almost hear the desperation in his voice, “I can’t stay here. I must come with you. You saved me. Let me follow you.” But it is Jesus’ response to this request that I want you to notice:

No. Go home. Tell your people this unique story about how much God has done for you. (Luke 8:39)

Jesus tells the man his new mission is to go and tell his story. A story that was full of brokenness, wandering and desperation. But also one filled with hope, redemption, and freedom. I believe Jesus did so because he understood the power that sharing our stories has on us and the listeners’ lives.

8 Free Tools for Ministry Success

Small Group Network

July 30, 2024

Have you ever tried to complete a task without the right tools for ministry success?

Or any task, for that matter. I recently had that experience when I attempted to repair the heater core on our 2011 Honda Odyssey. For some reason, it only provided heat on the passenger side, which is an uncomfortable problem in our frigid Canadian winters!

After checking all the easy stuff off the list, I read that flushing the core could potentially fix the issue. It looked like an easy enough process on Youtube. Remove the hoses from the core, flush, replace the hoses and refill the coolant.

Simple right? Wrong.

The hoses were in the most awkward place ever. It was almost as if the design team thought they’d be funny! I could reach the hoses only if I bent my body just the right way and twisted my hand awkwardly through a tiny gap meant, I could only surmise, for the arm of my nine-year-old son.

Once that passage was successfully navigated I encountered what would be the most frustrating and time-consuming part. Hose clamps. And not just any hose clamps, tiny, stiff, mocking hose clamps. It took me hours of attempts with a pair of needle nose pliers to get it loose enough to get the hose off.

But once that monumental milestone was reached and the whole thing was flushed, I was faced with having to get the clamps back on!

It was at this point, I thought, “There must be a better way. There must be some tool that I could use that would make this easier!” So, I jumped onto Amazon, did a quick search, and guess what? There was. Hose clamp pliers. Best $18 I have spent in a long, long time.

The Challenges of Ministry

You know, sometimes ministry can feel like that project. You are grinding away at something or attempting to bring to fruition your vision for groups, and you’re struggling because you lack the tools to make the job easier or, in some cases, doable.

Perhaps you are sitting at your desk thinking, “There must be a better way!” or maybe, you’ve found a tool, but the cost makes it prohibitive! You wouldn’t believe how many free tools exist to help us take our small group ministries to the next level. The challenge, at times, is finding them in the vast digital landscape of the internet! That is where this blog post comes in.

Give ordinary people the right tools, and they will design and build the most extraordinary things. (Neil Gershenfeld)

8 Free Tools for Ministry Success

1. Otter AI

If you’re anything like me, keeping track of everything that was said or talked about in a meeting (especially if they are long) is difficult. Among the tools for ministry success, this clever tool automatically captures meeting notes and transcribes them in a central, secure, and searchable location.

Mini Olympic Games Activities: 39 Fun Ideas for Youth Group

Joel from YouthGroupGames

July 29, 2024

Mini Olympic games activities are ideal for youth group parties, retreats, and other events. In the collection of 39 games below, you’ll find plenty of individual challenges and team events. Activities include relays, competitions, and time trials.

Whether you’re celebrating the Summer Olympics or the Winter Olympics or are just a straight-up Olympic fanatic, these ideas are action-packed. Use as many games as you’d like, and adapt them for your kids and group.

PRO TIP: Enlist plenty of volunteers to help your mini Olympic games activities go for the gold!

39 Mini Olympic Games Activities Kids Will Love

Ready for loads of excitement? Then try some (or all!) of these youth group games:

1. Team Architect

First up, this is a great team-building icebreaker for your mini Olympics event.

2. Chair on the Wall

No prep and no supplies are needed for this fun game.

3. Bucket Balance

Be sure to play this water challenge outside.

4. Sock Wrestling

This game can get intense, but it’s a blast!

5. Table Climbing

When played safely, this is a wonderful competitive activity.

6. Dirty Nappies

Use this classic gross-out game to make kids LOL.

7. Mini-Golf Mayhem

This low-cost youth group game is perfect for a mini Olympics.

8. Matchbox Nose Race

Players race one another in unusual ways during this fun game.

9. Chalk Fencing

Let kids engage in crazy duels!

10. Pantyhose Pull

Teens will love this active icebreaker.

11. Crazy Olympics

Form teams for this energetic relay race.

12. Zombie Apocalypse

Wear good running shoes and avoid the undead!

13. Pizza Box Curling

No ice needed for this wacky version of curling.

‘God Will Not Be Mocked’—John Cooper, Andy Stanley, and Candace Cameron Bure Outraged Over ‘Blasphemous’ Olympic Opening Ceremony

Jesse T. Jackson

July 29, 2024

2024 Olympic Games in Paris Opening Ceremony — (Top image) Screengrab of a segment during the 2024 Olympic opening ceremony in Paris, France via Peacock. (Bottom image) Leonardo da Vinci, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Drag Queen performance highlighted during the Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France, which depicted Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper,” has resulted in backlash from Christians, including notable pastors and Christian influencers.

Although the performance’s artistic director, Thomas Jolly, has claimed his inspiration for the segment was not “The Last Supper,” producers of the ceremonies said otherwise.

A statement obtained by TheWrap said, “For the ‘Festivities’ segment, Thomas Jolly took inspiration from Leonardo da Vinci’s famous painting to create the setting. Clearly, there was never an intention to show disrespect towards any religious group or belief.”

The producers continued by saying that Jolly is not the “first artist to make a reference to what is a world-famous work of art. From Andy Warhol to ‘The Simpsons,’ many have done it before him.”

Another spokesperson apologized for any offense the performance caused. “Clearly there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group. [The Opening Ceremony] tried to celebrate community tolerance,” said Anne Descamps during a press conference. “We believe this ambition was achieved. If people have taken any offense, we are really sorry.”

Jolly said the segment was an “interpretation of the Greek god Dionysus [that] makes us aware of the absurdity of violence between human beings.”

“The idea was to create a big pagan party in link with the god of Mount Olympus, and you will never find in me, or in my work, any desire of mocking anyone,” Jolly added.

Regardless, critics have compared side-by-side images of the segment, and it bears a striking resemblance to da Vinci’s painting.

The performance displayed people in drag, dancing and singing on a long table-like runway. One performer, who was painted all blue, dressed as the main meal.

Following the performance, Leslie Barbara Butch, a French DJ and lesbian activist who was the center of segment, posted an image of the performance next to an image of “The Last Supper” on Instagram and said, “Oh Yes! Oh Yes! The New Gay Testament.”

Gateway Church Launches Formal Search for New Senior Pastor, Apologizes to Cindy Clemishire

Jessica Lea

July 29, 2024

Gateway Church is launching a formal search for a new senior pastor in the wake of the resignation of founder Robert Morris following allegations that he committed child sexual abuse. Elder Tra Williams gave congregants several updates Sunday, some of which had already been published in the media last week.

“I’m going to update you today on where we are right now, where we’re going for the next six months, and what our long-term plans are,” Williams told the Gateway Church congregation prior to a message from Pastor Max Lucado.

“We felt it was important to communicate to our staff first. Rather than send you a video announcement, we thought it would be better to do it in person, so thank you for allowing that,” Williams explained as the congregation responded with applause. He thanked people for their patience and acknowledged that some might be frustrated when “sometimes we have lacked clarity in our communications. So we understand your frustrations and ask for your continued grace.”

Later, Williams said the elders wanted to prioritize hearing from God “even at the expense of speedy communication.”

Gateway Church Says Farewell to James and Bridgette Morris

Gateway Church is dealing with fallout from allegations a woman named Cindy Clemishire made in mid-June. Clemishire said that Gateway’s founding Pastor Robert Morris sexually abused her in the 1980s starting when she was 12 years old and Morris was in his 20s.

Gateway elders initially responded to Clemishire’s allegations by saying that Morris had already previously acknowledged “inappropriate sexual behavior with a young lady” in his 20s and that he had done everything necessary to repent of that sin and be restored.

On June 18, Gateway elders announced that they had accepted Morris’s resignation and that they had not previously understood the “inappropriate” relationship to have been abusive.

They said they would be conducting an investigation into events within the timeframe Clemishire gave for the alleged abuse.

In a statement obtained by CBS Texas last week, Gateway revealed that Morris’s son, James, would be stepping down as associate pastor and that James’s wife, Bridgette, would be stepping down as executive pastor. James had been the intended successor of his father.

Revival in the Rearview Mirror

Revival ‘in the Main’

What is revival? Find out more on page two . . .

Water and Blood Flowing From Jesus’ Side

Worship Spectator or Worship Participant?

Faithful Fridays: Why Teens Need Regular Devotions

Sample Structure for Faithful Fridays

Themes for Youth Devotions

Add Interactive Elements

The Art of Storytelling: Why It Matters

Creating Interactive Bible Stories

The Art of Storytelling With Style

Making Bible Stories Relatable

Matthew West Prays for Couple at Concert

Settlement Brings Closure to Mica Miller Case

John-Paul Miller’s Attorney Asks Protesters to Stop

The Church Growth Movement

Church Planting Movements

Disciple-Making Movements

Storytelling in Small Groups

The Master Storyteller

Mission and Storytelling in Small Groups

The Challenges of Ministry

8 Free Tools for Ministry Success

1. Otter AI

39 Mini Olympic Games Activities Kids Will Love

1. Team Architect

2. Chair on the Wall

3. Bucket Balance

4. Sock Wrestling

5. Table Climbing

6. Dirty Nappies

7. Mini-Golf Mayhem

8. Matchbox Nose Race

9. Chalk Fencing

10. Pantyhose Pull

11. Crazy Olympics

12. Zombie Apocalypse

13. Pizza Box Curling

Gateway Church Says Farewell to James and Bridgette Morris

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