Donald Trump Tells Joe Biden, Others To ‘Rot in Hell’ in Christmas Message

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December 28, 2023

Former President Donald Trump raised eyebrows Monday (Dec. 25) when he told a handful of people who he believes are “looking to destroy our once great USA” to “rot in hell” before wishing them a “merry Christmas.”

The 45th president of the United States posted his statement on Truth Social, the social media platform he founded in 2021 after he was permanently suspended from Jack Dorsey’s Twitter and Mark Zuckerberg’s Facebook following the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riots. The media giants alleged that Trump was using his platform to “incite violence.”

Nearly two years later, Twitter’s new owner, Elon Musk, lifted Trump’s ban, allowing his more than 59,000 tweets to viewed by his now 87.4 million followers. However, although Trump’s suspension was lifted, the former president has chosen only to use Truth Social.

Facebook lifted its ban of Trump in January 2023. That page is run by the “Donald J. Trump for President” 2024 campaign staff.

Truth Social has approximately 2 million active users compared to Twitter, which is now called X and has over 525 million users. Facebook has 3.03 billion monthly active users.

Trump’s Christmas message specifically mentioned President Joe Biden and Special Counsel Jack Smith.

“Merry Christmas to all,” Trump wrote, “including Crooked Joe Biden’s ONLY HOPE, Deranged Jack Smith, the out of control Lunatic who just hired outside attorneys, fresh from the SWAMP (unprecedented), to help him with his poorly executed WITCH HUNT against ‘TRUMP’ and ‘MAGA.'”

The GOP presidential favorite and professing Christian then mentioned world leaders, zeroing in on people he believes have set out to destroy America and wishing for them to spend an eternity in hell.

“Included also are World Leaders,” Trump added, “both good and bad, but none of which are as evil and ‘sick’ as the THUGS we have inside our Country who, with their Open Borders, INFLATION, Afghanistan Surrender, Green New Scam, High Taxes, No Energy Independence, Woke Military, Russia/Ukraine, Israel/Iran, All Electric Car Lunacy, and so much more, are looking to destroy our once great USA.

“MAY THEY ROT IN HELL,” Trump continued. “AGAIN, MERRY CHRISTMAS!”

Mike Todd’s Transformation Church Evacuated Amid Threat on Christmas Eve

By

Dale Chamberlain

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December 28, 2023

Mike Todd Transformation Church — Screengrab via YouTube / @Transformation Church

Transformation Church in Bixby, Oklahoma, was evacuated during its Christmas Eve service on Sunday amid a threat to the church. Pastor Mike Todd, who was in the middle of one of his signature sermon illustrations, directed the evacuation after being informed of the threat, eventually finishing his sermon via livestream from his home.

Initially believed to be a bomb threat, the Bixby Police Department later confirmed that it was a general threat.

In a video captured from the church’s livestream, Todd can be seen inviting a congregant up to the stage to unwrap a gift as part of an illustration about “favor” being “wrapped in a situation that was foolish.”

As the congregant, named Meredith, unwrapped the gift, the audio from the livestream was cut and a team member approached Todd to inform him of the threat.

After having his microphone turned back on, Todd instructed the church, “Hey, real quick: I need everybody to do something for me. We are going to end service.”

“This is Christmas. We love you. I need everybody to gather your things. I need you to get up, and I need y’all to evacuate the building,” Todd continued.

As congregants began gathering their things to evacuate, Todd reassured them, “This is not a situation that you need to be frustrated [with], but I need you to listen and everybody just open those doors, go right out there. Merry Christmas. We’ll let you know what’s going on. Jesus Christ is alive and we love you so much.”

Following the evacuation, churchgoer Zxyrlina Allen told 2 News Oklahoma that she initially thought the interruption was part of the programming.

“I’m thinking it’s a part of, you know, a prop or preaching or something,” she said. “Nothing like this has ever happened.”

After law enforcement gave the all-clear, congregants were let back into the building in groups of 30 to gather any personal belongings they had left behind.

The Bixby Police Department commended Transformation Church for being prepared for an evacuation.

Beyond the Numbers

By

Full Strength Network

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December 28, 2023

The role of a pastor is a noble calling that carries immense responsibility. Shepherding a flock, teaching and guiding them, and being a source of spiritual nourishment are vital aspects of a pastor’s duty. However, in the midst of the demanding nature of their work, pastors can inadvertently place their identity and self-worth in the success of church attendance. But there are dangers that come from this mindset. Let’s discuss the reasons we should aim for a healthier perspective.

The Trap of Church Attendance Metrics

In the modern era, it has become all too easy for pastors to measure their success through numerical metrics such as church attendance. While these figures can provide a glimpse into the growth and impact of a ministry, they should never become the sole basis for evaluating a pastor’s effectiveness or self-worth. Placing excessive importance on attendance numbers can create a dangerous cycle that fosters unhealthy competition, unrealistic expectations, and a distorted view of ministry.

The Fickle Nature of Attendance

Church attendance can fluctuate for a multitude of reasons, many of which are beyond the pastor’s control. Factors like seasonal variations, societal trends, and personal circumstances can all impact the number of people who walk through the church doors on any given day. Relying solely on attendance as a measure of success puts pastors at risk of experiencing emotional highs and lows based on external circumstances rather than focusing on their primary calling.

The Misplaced Identity Crisis

When pastors tie their identity and self-worth to the success of church attendance, they inadvertently set themselves up for disappointment and disillusionment. If attendance numbers drop, they may question their competence and feel like failures, even if their ministry is vibrant and impactful in other ways. Placing identity in numbers places an undue burden on pastors, causing unnecessary stress and jeopardizing their emotional well-being.

The True Measure of Success

Instead of measuring success solely by attendance figures, pastors should strive to focus on more meaningful indicators of impact and growth. Here are a few alternative perspectives to consider:

Personal Transformation: Pastors should find fulfillment in witnessing the personal growth and spiritual development of their congregation. It is the depth of change within individuals that truly matters, rather than the breadth of a crowd.
Community Engagement: A pastor’s success can also be measured by the level of community involvement and positive influence they foster within and beyond the church walls. Building relationships, supporting social causes, and serving others are integral aspects of effective ministry.
Discipleship and Spiritual Formation: Instead of counting heads, pastors can focus on the discipleship journey, nurturing the faith of individuals and equipping them to impact the world. Depth of discipleship and the quality of spiritual formation should take precedence over numerical growth.

William Barber II Escorted Out of Movie Theater, Denied Disability Accommodations

By

Kathryn Post

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December 28, 2023

The Rev. William Barber II at Greenleaf Christian Church in Goldsboro, N.C., March 26, 2022. (RNS photo/Jack Jenkins)

(RNS) — The Rev. William Barber is no stranger to being escorted by police away from scenes of protest. The Disciples of Christ pastor and civil rights organizer has been arrested multiple times at nonviolent demonstrations on behalf of voting rights, a federal minimum wage and other social justice issues.

But even Barber was surprised to find himself being escorted by police out of a showing of “The Color Purple” at Greenville, North Carolina’s AMC Fire Tower 12 movie theater on Tuesday (Dec. 26) after employees barred the minister from using his own chair to watch the movie with his 90-year-old mother.

“It’s one of those things where I don’t know how much longer I’ll have to do things like that with her,” said Barber, who co-chairs the Poor People’s Campaign and recently founded the Center for Public Theology & Public Policy at Yale Divinity School.

Barber, 60, has been public about his battle with a painful chronic form of arthritis known as ankylosing spondylitis. He walks haltingly using two canes and told Religion News Service that he is unable to sit in a wheelchair or in low chairs. He travels with his own chair and almost always uses it instead of the seating provided in public spaces.

“My chair has been everywhere,” Barber told Religion News Service. “In hospitals, in restaurants, in airports, in the White House and in Congress. It’s a need that I have because I face a very debilitating arthritic condition.”

Barber brought his chair as usual to the AMC theater, he said, taking care to place it in the handicap cutout so it wouldn’t obstruct any pathways or sightlines.

According to Barber, management claimed the chair was a fire code violation and said the theater only accommodates wheelchairs. Barber insisted that the Americans with Disabilities Act requires the theater to make accommodations, he said, and told the employees he had never encountered an issue with the chair elsewhere. When he asked to see the theater’s accommodation rules, which weren’t posted, Barber said, management allegedly told him they didn’t have the rules in writing.

As the previews played on the screen, two police officers approached Barber and said the theater wanted him removed.

“I’m gonna take you out,” one police offer told Barber in a video Barber provided to RNS.

The Church Should Be a Place Where Creative People Thrive

By

Phil Cooke

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December 28, 2023

Living and working in Hollywood for more than 30 years, I was thinking recently about the number of creative and media professionals I regularly meet who got their start working for a local church. For instance, I know people who are considered top TV Commercial directors today who got their start shooting videos for local churches.

Both in Hollywood and New York, I can name numerous successful directors, producers, directors of photography, audio engineers, and others who all got their start as volunteers assisting on church media or communications teams.

I’ve worked with hundreds and hundreds of churches over the years, and I’m often brought in to train their volunteer media teams, directors, and camera operators. I remember one media workshop I did for a church in the Bahamas. One of the female camera operators took that training seriously and went on to become one of the highest-paid camera operators for sports television in all the Caribbean!

The implications are tremendous when you consider these Christian creatives’ influence on their professional careers and those they work with. And it all began with the media training they received in their local church.

Notably, Fender Guitars reports that nearly a third of their market is church worship bands. Major video and TV equipment companies like Sony Corporation have successful divisions focused on equipping local churches.

Whatever the size of your church, it’s time to start thinking of becoming a training center for creative people in your congregation. You don’t have to start with a big budget; begin thinking about how raising up a generation of creative people can impact every aspect of your ministry – and extend the kingdom as they build professional careers beyond the church’s walls. (And don’t forget that a vibrant creative team can attract outside young people to your church).

For years, we’ve heard people accepting Grammy’s and other major music awards say, “I got my start singing at church.” In the future, I expect someone to pick up their Oscar and say, “I got my start running camera at my church.”

Considering the number of churches in America, we could become the training ground for the next generation of creative Christian leaders.

And in today’s digital world, that would be a powerful statement.

This article originally appeared here and is used by permission.

Top 10 Ideas for a First Small Group Meeting

By

Mark Howell

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December 28, 2023

thank you notes for children’s ministry volunteers

Any time you’re starting a new small group meeting, a great first meeting is very important. I include these ideas on a simple handout inside every new small group meeting leader’s packet.

Top 10 Ideas for a First Small Group Meeting

1. Use a Great Resource

Be sure and refer to the ABCs of a Great Start for Your Connection Group for important tips on making sure your group members come to the meeting.

2. Make Sure There’s Food

Plenty of food goes a long way in making your first meeting a relaxed time together. But…make it easy for everyone to bring something. You might be tempted to supply it all, but don’t. Asking each person to bring something to the first meeting helps ensure turnout.

3. Encourage Fellowship First

Encourage everyone to come a little early and plan on “grabbing a bite together.” There isn’t a one-size-fits-all prescription, but allow at least 30 minutes hangout and eat together time (i.e., if you’re meeting begins at 7:00 p.m., plan on hanging out until 7:30 p.m.).

4. Have an Icebreaker in Mind

It’s a good idea to have an icebreaker or two in your pocket for the hangout time. While it definitely helps to have a plate with food on it and a cup with something to drink in it, it’s still a little unnerving for many to have first conversations. Here are a few “while we’re eating questions”: (a) Where did you grow up? (b) Are you from this area? (c) If you could live anywhere, where would you live? Why?

Embracing The Gospel of Small

By

Adam Russell

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December 28, 2023

So much of what God does is quiet. It seems he loves to hide in plain sight, and often he’s perfectly content to start small. All of this causes us to scratch our heads in disbelief. After all, isn’t he the God of all creation? Didn’t he speak the worlds by his words and part the Red Sea for Moses? Of course he did, and a good deal more. But then there’s what I call the gospel of small.

The Gospel of Small

It’s just that for all the big, instant and show stopping moments that God has provided in his rather extravagant career, there have been as many, possibly even more, that went completely unseen. The gospel of small. And to the degree that we see or think about God as ‘big’ we are potentially conditioning ourselves to the miss the God who is small, slow, hidden and progressive.

In fact, most of God’s biggest moves are precisely the ones that started the smallest. Creation started with a word, perhaps igniting the big bang, but no one knows exactly how long it took for molecules and elements to combine and rearrange into the world we now enjoy — most likely it was more than 6,000 years. After all, it’s taken me the better part of 15 years to get over teenage angst, and that’s with the help of the Spirit, the very same Spirit that was present and at work in creation! Furthermore, when God decided to rescue his beloved creation from sin and death, he sent his son — an 8 lb. 8 oz. baby! And this baby grew up, unnoticed by anyone for years. Of course Jesus made a few heads turn when he was 12, and then, nothing. Just living at home and working with his adopted dad for the next 18 years!

Everest Ransomware Update from Thirtyseven4

By

Steven Sundermeier

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December 28, 2023

Mount Everest, considered the highest point on Earth at 29,035 feet, is in the Himalayas. Each year tens of thousands of tourists venture to the area, taking in the beautiful landscape, exploring the majestic surroundings, and trekking the mountainous routes. Often driven by an innate need to push physical, mental, and/or spiritual boundaries, there are hundreds of extreme challenge-seekers each year with goal-driven aspirations to summit the mighty mountain. However, even with the serious (and deadly) physical costs aside, booking a professionally lead and guided trip can come with a price tag of between $35,000.00 and $45,000.00. But ever since late 2020, there has been another costly “Everest”, financially impacting thousands of people much closer to home. The Everest I’m referring to is the Russian-speaking, Everest ransomware group. The Everest ransomware group was originally a data exportation band, before shifting focus to a ransomware dealer, and now they are increasingly specializing as an Initial Access Broker. An Initial Access Broker is a cybersecurity term for criminals who sell backdoor access into organizations to other cybercriminals, but don’t directly carry out the attack themselves.

Everest Ransomware

Victims of the Everest ransomware group include organizations within the health industry, financial institutions, and those within the government sector. Examples of high-profile targets include AT&T and NASA.

According to recent data gathered by the Thirtyseven4 EDR Security ThreatLab team, the Everest ransomware group (alarmingly!) appears to have shifted focus and coordinated efforts to the educational market, where the group claims to have (and threatens to release on the dark web) password access to the administrative staff, network admins, faculty, students and more.

Are you in the Educational sector? Are you concerned about the Everest ransomware group?

We should be.

The Multi-State ‘Information Sharing and Analysis Center’ recently sent out an alert regarding the Everest Ransomware selling access to “all school networks”. The Everest ransomware infects hosts through phishing, exploit kits, vulnerable RDP sessions and malicious downloads, and the best defense against Everest is an excellent offense.

Customers of Thirtyseven4 EDR Security are fully protected against the Everest ransomware and its variations.

Children’s Winter Activities: 18 Chill Ideas for Your KidMin Program

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ChildrensMinistry.com

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December 27, 2023

Need children’s winter activities for your kidmin program? Check out these 18 ideas for kids, families, and teachers.

Whether kids live in the north, south, east, or west, they all have one thing in common. They love snow! Kids dream of an icy-cold white blanket to dig in, roll in, mold, throw, and even eat!

So we’ve taken those snow-white dreams and provided 18 ideas for children’s winter activities. Kids will learn about Jesus with this blizzard of games, crafts, treats, and more!

18 Children’s Winter Activities for KidMin Programs

Children’s Winter Activities: Games

Snowman Bowling

Age Level: Elementary ages

Materials:

10 white plastic foam cups of any size per child
black markers
beanbags or small balls

Give each child 10 white plastic foam cups and a black marker. Have the children draw snowman faces on each cup. Then show the children how to arrange the cups in a 10-pin bowling pattern. Use beanbags or small balls for bowling balls. The children may each take their bowling sets home.

Snowman Stacking Game

Age Level: All ages

Materials:

white plastic foam cups of any size
a timer

Form teams, and give each team a package of white plastic foam cups. Have each team work together to make as tall a pyramid of the cups as possible. Use a timer to increase the game’s pace and fun.

Snow Sock Toss

Age Level: Elementary ages

Materials:

white socks
cotton stuffing
yarn
buckets

Have each child stuff a sock with cotton and tie the sock with yarn in two or three places. Children may toss their snow sock into a bucket for a game or play catch. The shape formed by tying the sock in several places makes it harder to control the direction the sock is tossed.

Snowshoe Races

Age Level: Elementary ages

Materials:

6-8 facial tissue boxes

Children will put their feet inside two tissue boxes, then race on a smooth surface. To play, have three or four children race at a time.

Snowboard Relays

Age Level: All ages

Materials:

flattened cardboard boxes
scissors
thick rope about 4 feet long for each snowboard

First, make snowboards from flattened cardboard boxes. Poke two holes in one end of each box, then thread a length of thick rope through the holes and tie the ends of the rope together.

Form two even teams, and give each team a snowboard. Team members take turns sitting on the snowboard, while the team captain pulls the person from start to finish across the floor. When all the teammates have reached the finish line, the relay is finished.

Melting Snowball

Age Level: Preschool to kindergarten

Materials:

a white ball, a beanbag, or white paper bag stuffed with paper

Arrange the children in a circle. Then play this game like Hot Potato. Have children pass the “snowball” quickly around the circle so it won’t stay in their hands too long and “melt.”

Doubting Is Important: How to Nurture Positive Doubts in Teens

By

Youth Ministrycom

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December 27, 2023

Doubting is a critical-thinking skill for youth to develop. Discover key insights about nurturing healthy, positive doubts among your teenagers.

In Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, Captain Kirk meets “God.” When the “god” demands the Enterprise, Kirk stands up to him. ”What kind of god are you if you need a ship?” he roars.

A voice thunders. “Do you doubt me?” Immediately Kirk is hurled backward by the force of a lightning bolt. “THIS is how I respond to those who doubt!” the “god” continues. Each time Kirk “doubts,” the figure attacks him. Finally, of course, Kirk escapes and lives to make another movie.

Maybe your students haven’t seen Star Trek V: The Final Frontier. Chances are, though, if they’ve grown up in the church, they have a similar perspective on doubting. Many of us believe (or perhaps fear) that if we question some fundamentals of the faith, we’re somehow flawed as Christians.

I suspect most of us have sat through sermons or Bible studies where we really wanted to challenge what was being said but had visions of lightning bolts or thunderous voices. After all, church is a place for true believers. Church is a place for answers. No room exists in church for people who’d question.

Really? I hope not. It seems to me that the people of God have always included the doubtful. In fact, a quick glance through my “who’s who” of the Bible shows that our faith is built on the foundation of thoughtful, prayerful doubters.

Think about Sarah’s reaction to the news she’d be a parent. She laughed! What about Moses and the burning bush? Peter slipping on the waves? Thomas demanding proof of the Resurrection? Gideon? Abraham? David? The list could go on and on, and we haven’t even scratched the surface.

Defining Doubt

Webster’s defines doubt as “to be uncertain about, to question.” When we doubt something, we examine its truthfulness; we weigh it. We evaluate it. And we consider how much of ourselves we wish to invest in it. Most of us embrace doubt on a daily basis.

When the used-car salesman tells us, “She runs good and she’s real clean,” very few of us take the claim at face value, fork over the money and drive off. Likewise, when the doctor recommends surgery, we’re encouraged to get a second opinion. And who among us has ever stepped fearlessly into a car with a new driver…with only the assurances of a 10th-grade driver’s ed teacher who tells us, “Little Shelly is perfectly trustworthy behind the wheel”?

Doubt is, at times, a lifesaver for us. Why then, do we sometimes behave as though it’s a contradiction of our faith?

One of the greatest gifts we can give our kids is teaching them how to deal positively with the doubts that are, as theologian Paul Tillich taught, not so much the opposite of faith as an element of faith. Frederick Buechner puts it this way: “Doubts are the ants in the pants of faith. They keep it awake and moving.”

Franklin Graham Decries CT Article on Asian Representations of Jesus’ Birth

By

Stephanie Martin

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December 27, 2023

Franklin Graham CT Asian Nativity — Left: Council.gov.ru, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Right: Photo by Greyson Joralemon (via Unsplash)

After Christianity Today (CT) published a photo essay about Asian artists’ depictions of the Nativity, some evangelical leaders and social media users berated the magazine for being “woke.”

The Dec. 18 piece, titled “How Asian Artists Picture Jesus’ Birth From 1240 to Today,” was written by Victoria Emily White, an art curator and creative director.

In the introduction of the article, White acknowledged that “Some may object to depicting Jesus as anything other than a brown male born into a Jewish family in Bethlehem of Judea in the first century, believing that doing so undermines his historicity.”

“But Christian artists who tackle the subject of the Incarnation are often aiming not at historical realism but at theological meaning,” she went on to write.

Representing Jesus as Asian, White added, helps “convey a sense of God’s immanence, his ‘with-us-ness,’ for their own communities—and for everyone else, the universality of Christ’s birth.”

Asian Artist: Jesus ‘Chose To Make His Home in Every Human Heart’

The photo essay features “indigenized Nativity” artwork from areas such as Iraq, Persia, Turkey, India, China, Thailand, and Japan. The figures often wear regional dress and are depicted with regional foods, animals, and instruments.

In the article, modern-day artists shared insights about their backgrounds and artistic intentions. Sawai Chinnawong, who was raised in Thailand as a Buddhist, became a Christian in young adulthood. “I believe Jesus Christ is present in every culture, and I have chosen to celebrate his presence in our lives through Thai traditional cultural forms,” he said.

“My belief is that Jesus did not choose just one people to hear his Word but chose to make his home in every human heart,” he added. “And just as his Word may be spoken in every language, so the visual message can be shared in the beauty of the many styles of artistry around the world.”

Japanese artist Sadao Watanabe, who converted from Buddhism to Christianity as a teen, said, “I owe my life to Christ and the gospel. My way of expressing my gratitude is to witness to my faith through the medium of biblical scenes.”

White, in her article, emphasized that “not all Asians prefer Asian-specific representations of Christ. In fact, Christians in Asia tend to prefer the traditional European-style art with which many were introduced to the faith; they consider it the most authentically Christian.”

Because most Asian converts to Christianity “want to distance themselves” from their original faith, White added, their biblical-themed artwork “often does not find widespread support in their own country.” Instead, demand comes mostly from the West.

Social Media Responds: Stop the Woke Nonsense

On Dec. 24, CT posted a link to the photo essay, writing: “Jesus was born in Asia. He was Asian. The artists in this photo essay bring him back to Asia—but not to ancient Israel. These nine artworks ‘proclaim the expansiveness of Christ’s kingdom.’”

‘It’s Amazing’—Hulk Hogan Praises God for the Response His Baptism Video Has Received

By

Jesse T. Jackson

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December 27, 2023

Wrestling superstar Hulk Hogan’s recent announcement of his baptism has received over 6 million views on social media, with congratulations from people all around the world continuing to pour in.

The 70-year-old Hogan, whose real name is Terry Gene Bollea, shared just how amazed he has been by the response.

In the post announcing his baptism, Hogan wrote, “Total surrender and dedication to Jesus is the greatest day of my life. No worries, no hate, no judgment…only love,” alongside a video of pastor Aaron Filippone of Indian Rocks Baptist Church in Largo, Florida, baptizing him and his wife, Sky Daily.

“It’s amazing how many emails and messages I’m getting from around the world now that everyone knows I am one with and am living my life for Christ,” Hogan posted Tuesday (Dec. 26) on X (formerly Twitter). “All is well even now, joyful, happy, life is good, thank you God. Amen!”

Some of those who encouraged Hogan on social media were Greg Laurie, Ann Voskamp, Ed Stetzer, Daniel Darling, Matt Brown, Denny Burk, Ruslan, and Sports Spectrum’s Jason Romano.

It’s amazing how many emails and messages I’m getting from around the world now that everyone knows I am one with and am living my life for Christ! All is well even now,joyful,happy,life is good,thank you God Amen! HH

— Hulk Hogan (@HulkHogan) December 26, 2023

On Christmas Day, Hogan thanked God for his perfect timing, saying, “Our Lord and savior born today, grateful, happy, positive, loving, born anew friends and family moving forward in only love toward eternity, thank you God for your perfect timing and grace, one love, and so it is even now. Amen!”

The professional wrestler had a career that lasted more than three decades. He was inducted into the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Hall of Fame in 2005 while he was still wrestling. In 2020, he was inducted a second time as a member of the wrestling group the New World Order (nWo). Hogan was a six-time WWE champion, WWE Tag Team Champion, and two-time winner of the Royal Rumble.

Hogan has never been shy when it comes to speaking about his faith. He has shared that he accepted Christ as his savior at the age of 14.

TD Jakes’ Real Estate Company Receives Approval To Move Forward With Mixed-Income Community in Atlanta

By

Dale Chamberlain

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December 27, 2023

T.D. Jakes Real Estate Ventures, a real estate development organization founded by Bishop T.D. Jakes of The Potter’s House Church in Dallas has obtained key approval from the city of Atlanta to proceed with its plan to build residences, retail, offices, and a senior living community on the site of a former U.S. Army base.

Jakes, who in addition to pastoring The Potter’s House oversees the nonprofit organizations T.D. Jakes Ministries and the T.D. Jakes Foundation and the for-profit organizations T.D. Jakes Enterprises and T.D. Jakes Real Estate Ventures, announced in April that he would be partnering with Wells Fargo to build mixed-income housing in underserved communities.

The partnership will span 10 years, and Wells Fargo has committed to giving up to $1 billion in capital and financing for building projects, as well as grants from the Wells Fargo Foundation.

Jakes’ goal is to revitalize neighborhoods and provide opportunities for upward mobility to those who have historically been overlooked and marginalized.

Fort McPherson, the site where the first development is planned, closed in 2011 as part of the Base Realignment and Closure plan. Another part of the site was purchased by actor and filmmaker Tyler Perry and is now the home of Tyler Perry Studios.

In an appearance on CBS Mornings earlier this year, Jakes explained his vision behind the project.

“I think it’s imperative. The fierce urgency of ‘now’ indicates to us the fact that the future looks very bleak,” said Jakes, “particularly for minorities—Black people, brown people, and also poor white people who are finding it difficult…to find a job, to find opportunities to get housing, to get upward mobility.”

Jakes is hoping to create “communities that are built in repressed neighborhoods and revitalize the community, giving the homeowners who live there, or people who lived in the community, a chance to stay there for affordable rates.”

Construction on Jakes’ mixed-income community is set to begin in early 2024, according to CoStar News. The Fort Mac Local Redevelopment Authority has signed off on the development plan for the 95-acre property.

Priscilla Shirer: ‘Message Preparation Is the Hardest Thing I Do in Ministry’

By

Jessica Lea

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December 27, 2023

The Stetzer ChurchLeaders Podcast · Best of 2023: Priscilla Shirer: ‘Message Preparation Is the Hardest Thing I Do in Ministry’

Priscilla Shirer is an author, speaker, Bible teacher and with her husband, Jerry, a co-founder of Going Beyond Ministries. Going Beyond equips believers through books, Bible study resources, conferences and films like “War Room,” “I Can Only Imagine” and “Overcomer.” Priscilla has authored more than a dozen Bible studies and speaks to churches and conferences across the world every year.

Other Ways To Listen to This Podcast With Priscilla Shirer

► Listen on Amazon
► Listen on Apple
► Listen on Google
► Listen on Spotify
► Listen on YouTube

Other Episodes in the Great Communicator Series

Rick Warren on the Kind of Preaching That Changes Lives

Wilfredo de Jesús: How (Not) To Turn Your Sermon Points Into Stop Signs

Charlie Dates: Why Your Church Needs To Identify and Raise Up Young Preachers

J.D. Greear: How Your Sermons Will Benefit From a ‘Multitude of Counselors’

Beth Moore on the ‘Most Important Part of the Process’ of Teaching God’s Word

Ralph Douglas West on the Benefits of Being Shaped by Black and White Preaching Traditions

Andy Stanley: Are You Missing This Key Part of Your Sermon Prep?

Max Lucado: ‘The One Thing That Has Helped Me More Than Anything Else’ as a Preacher

Sam Chan: How the Topical Preacher Can Avoid Getting on a Hobby Horse

Key Questions for Priscilla Shirer

-How do you prepare for a message?

-How do you come up with the illustrations that work so beautifully with your teaching?

-Should church leaders do their best to communicate as well as they can or wait on the Holy Spirit to guide them?

-In what ways has your communication changed over the years?

Key Quotes From Priscilla Shirer

“I’m very aware that I’ve been sort of in this master class on communications by default my whole life. I’ve just sat in church every Sunday, and Tony Evans has been my pastor since I was one year old.”

“The main way that I come across passages that I will eventually teach to others is that it’s in my personal quiet time that there is a string of conviction that hits my heart with so much power and the Lord and I are dealing with me on it.”

“What is the primary theme of this passage that I’m wanting to communicate to this group of people? And then what are the principles from this text that support that one theme?”

“I remember [Zig Ziglar] saying that an audience is going to remember 10% of what you said. Ninety percent better support that 10% because 10% is really all they’re able to absorb, digest and take home with them.”

“Message preparation is the hardest thing I do in ministry. It is painful sometimes. If I allow it, it can actually become discouraging to me…Study can be more fun for me. Gathering insights can be more fun for me. Once it comes to how I’m going to communicate this, most of the time it’s like a thorn in my flesh.”

“If it’s a good story but doesn’t get me to the principal, it’s not the illustration that I should use for this message.”

Why Don’t People Go To Church Anymore?

By

Gavin Adams

-

December 27, 2023

I recently came across this Tweet (or X, or whatever we’re calling it now).

I responded with…

I’ve written on and taught pastors, church leaders, and churches about this topic for nearly three years. I’ve focused primarily on adjusting our discipleship and engagement pathways in light of cultural Christianity’s death.

But I love how Justin put it: People “no longer find it socially advantageous to pretend” any longer.

The Social Advantages of Church Attendance

I assume this is not a new issue. Yet, it is a rampant issue that’s grown exponentially in the past few years (or decades).

Churches have placated the consumeristic tendencies of their communities for quite some time. And this approach worked on several fronts. Consumable Christianity attracted people and led many to Jesus. This “attractional” approach filled church buildings and small groups. But this methodology also fueled poor behaviors and expectations of Jesus, the church, and pastors.

As the saying goes, “What you win people with, you win them to.”

Not a New Problem, Though

I guess this is comforting: Jesus faced this same issue. We read multiple accounts of Jesus experiencing frustration with crowds due to their consumeristic desires for food, healing, or a miracle. Hence, his “eat my flesh and drink my blood” crowd-thinning sermon.

While we could evaluate how we as churches got here (and throw stones), the better question is, “Where should we go from here?”

Perhaps we should do some “crowd thinning” ourselves. Not to intentionally run people off, but we may need to add a little “eat my flesh” stuff back into the mix.

Maybe We Follow Jesus’ Lead?

Or, as many pastors would say: “Preach the full Gospel.”

The Gospel is the “Good News,” but the Good News is not that Christianity makes life easier. Or that church attendance helps with networking. The “Good News” is that salvation is a free gift through faith that cannot be earned.

Leverage Your Personality To Improve Your Leadership

By

Phil Cooke

-

December 27, 2023

Over the years in my consulting work with churches, ministries, and nonprofits, I’ve seen far too many cases of leader’s personality overwhelming their purpose. For instance, here’s a few situations where personality traits were actually toxic.

One pastor was so driven by his emotions, that his entire staff waited every morning on eggshells to see what his mood would be for the day. Literally, whatever emotion he was feeling when he arrived at the office would become the attitude of the entire team. If he showed up in a good mood, the staff knew it would be a good day. But he showed up angry or upset, the day was going to be miserable. His personality controlled his entire team.

A nonprofit leader loved to recite her business background at the start of every meeting or conversation. Over and over she would remind the staff of her previous experience and expertise in the business world. She was terribly insecure, and used every opportunity to establish her credentials as the boss. For instance, she loved to berate staff members in front of the team, so she regularly humiliated her employees, and was convinced that doing it publicly would earn their respect.

A pastor was so undisciplined that he would regularly show up for meetings two hours late. Multiple times a week his team would literally sit in a conference room for up to two hours waiting for him to show up for a meeting he had called.

We all have personality traits that are good and bad, and it’s important that we make the effort to control the traits that are potentially damaging to our leadership.

What are some of my personality problems? I’m a bit hyperactive. As a result, I want to complete people’s sentences, and keep things moving. I hate meetings. I’m not very patient. I’m interested in action. Don’t tell me how deep the water is, just bring in the boat. Don’t tell me about the labor pains, just show me the baby.

As a result, I have to stay aware of those tendencies and manage them if I’m going to be an effective leader. In some situations those personality problems can actually help, but if unchecked, they could damage my career.

The question is – what personality problems are you bringing into the office? What personality issues are blocking your effectiveness as a leader? Which ones are undermining your career?

When we think of personality, we normally think of positive traits. But great leaders see both sides of the coin, and know when it’s time to keep their negative traits under control.

This article originally appeared here and is used by permission.

5 Simple Adjustments That Will Make You a Better Leader and Parent

By

Andrew Linder

-

December 27, 2023

Not everyone will become a great leader, but everyone can become a better leader. (John Maxwell)

What if every leader improved by just 1% in what they do every year? Imagine how that could change the trajectory of a life over time. Let me encourage you to do whatever it takes to become better at what you do.

As parents, we are leaders, both at home and in our other areas of influence. Here 5 super simple adjustments that I’ve tried to implement as habits to become a better leader.

If you think it, say it.

When you think something positive about someone, it may make you feel good about that person, but it does nothing for the person you’re thinking about, no matter how good the thought was. So next time you think about a great characteristic about your spouse, a reason you love your kids, or something someone did for you that really meant the world, stop, and take a moment to let them know. Making someone’s day is often easier than you think. If you think it, say it.

When asked for prayer, pray right there.

How many times has someone asked you to pray for them and you say something like, “For sure, I’ll be praying for you,” but then you never think about it again? Instead of saying you’ll pray for someone, stop, and pray right then and there with them about their request if at all possible. Not only will it keep you from forgetting, but they will also certainly remember you for it.

Learn and use people’s names.

The sweetest sound to every person is their own name. Always greet people you know by name. And when you meet new people, think of unique ways to remember their names for future interactions. Whether it’s your child’s teacher or coach, a visitor at your church, or the cashier who helps you check out weekly, learn people’s names, and then use them. There’s a hidden power in learning and using people’s names.

Live by the 5-second rule.

Mel Robins, the author of The 5 Second Rule, explains that when you know the right thing you need to do, by developing a habit of choosing it within the first five seconds, it can transform your life by removing the crippling effect of overthinking. When you know you should give that compliment, do that exercise, refuse that invitation, or say no to that extra brownie, use the 5-second rule. It really could change your life.

Learn to keep track of your soundtracks.

As Christian leaders, we are called to the ongoing process of renewing our minds (Romans 12:2). According to Jon Acuff, Soundtracks are the messages we tell ourselves over and over again in our head, either to our benefit or our demise. Maybe what our parents told us all along was actually true—”If you think you can’t, you never will.” However, change your soundtracks, change your life.

One of the soundtracks I’ve learned to change in my leadership and parenting is the shift from “they just won’t” to “I’ve not led them to.” Reframing the things I tell myself really does make a big difference.

This article originally appeared here and is used by permission.

How to Find the Presence of God in the Valley

By

Brandon Cox

-

December 27, 2023

Have you ever heard the expression, when praises go up, heaven comes down? When we hear phrases like that, we typically picture a big crowd in a big church with many hands raised by people singing worship music. And it’s true: when God’s people get together to worship him, he is present among them in a special way. But it’s also true that when you’re all alone, in the dark, walking through the valley of the shadow of death, You will also find God in the valley. And I believe God responds hastily to our praise in the valley.

God in the Valley

It’s always appropriate to offer praise to God from the mountain tops of life, when we’ve experienced victory and our circumstances are good. But I believe there is a special honor for God reserved for the kind of praise we offer out of suffering.

The Apostle Paul and his companion, Silas, were tossed in jail in Philippi for healing and young slave who had been possessed with a demon. Their act of kindness had ruined the business of her owners and they were outraged. Paul and Silas were beaten, then put in prison and chained to the wall. And then something peculiar happened.

Paul and Silas, undaunted, prayed in the middle of the night and sang songs of praise to God, while all the other prisoners listened to their worship. ~ Acts 16:25 TPT

In jail, at midnight, in a strange city, Paul and Silas sang praises to God. And what happened was miraculous. An earthquake followed, freeing them and all of the other prisoners, but not one single prisoner tried to escape. They were all captivated by the message of the gospel Paul and Silas were sharing.

The jailer trusted Jesus that night and the course of history for his whole family changed.

Here’s the point: Miracles occur when you praise God in the valley. Don’t stop! When you worship, especially in broken places, God shows up and manifests his presence in ways you’ve yet to even imagine!

This article about God in the valley originally appeared here, and is used by permission.

Are You Filled With the Spirit?

By

James Emery White

-

December 27, 2023

What does it mean to be filled with the Spirit? Do you ever wonder how to unleash the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in your life? In Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus, he writes, “… be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18, NIV). The original Greek phrase “be filled” is grammatically a present imperative—we don’t have a smooth English translation for this except “be filled.” To really get at the idea of the original Greek, you would need to read this verse as “be being filled” or “keep on being filled.” Further, it’s in the passive voice, meaning it’s not “fill yourself up with the Spirit,” but rather “let yourself be filled” or “let the Holy Spirit fill you.”

Filled With the Spirit

The Bible teaches that an individual is filled with the Holy Spirit by involving himself or herself in the process that leads to an ongoing, day-in, day-out filling. It’s not a once-for-all experience, but rather an ongoing process. It’s a way of doing life. Whenever we talk of something being filled, we usually have an image of something like a glass being filled with water. Whenever the Bible talks about being filled with the Holy Spirit, that’s not what is means. We are not vessels into which God pours a certain amount of Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a Person, so being filled is a relational issue.

So how do we experience “being filled with the Spirit”? Well, it’s not about levitating or foaming at the mouth. To be filled with the Holy Spirit means that we allow Him to occupy, guide and control ever-increasing areas of our life. It’s a simple idea, but a profound one. The more you follow the Holy Spirit, the more you are filled. And the more you are filled, the more you are led. And the more you follow that lead, the more you are filled again. The entire dynamic is that you live in and by and through the Spirit, being led by the Spirit, keeping in step with the Spirit, surrendering daily to His leadership and promptings.

New Research for Better Preaching

By

Charles Stone

-

December 27, 2023

Every communicator needs to understand the science of learning, including those interested in better preaching. In this post I give a few insights about the science of learning. Between 1997 and 2004 the late Professor Graham Nuthall of Canterbury University in New Zealand conducted some of the most robust research ever on learning. His Project on Learning, a long-term study of students aged 9 to 11, examined what students actually retained in the classroom experience. He wired 12 different classrooms with video cameras and microphones to record what happened. As a result of his research, he could predict with 80-85 per cent accuracy what students learned. Some of his findings included these:

A third of what students learn will be unique to them, not known by the other students.
Students will tend to know 40-50% of what we’re trying to teach them, but they all don’t know the same 40-50%.
If a student encounters a concept on at least three different occasions, their chance of remembering it six months later rockets to 80%.
Much of what students learn they learn from each other and 80% is wrong.
Learning happens not because something was taught but happens as a result of how students experience learning.

What Does This Mean for Better Preaching?

For communicators to foster learning, we must remember that learning is a far more mysterious experience than simply using a few communication techniques.

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