Growing Southern Baptist Churches More Likely in Northeast, Among Newer Churches

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September 22, 2023

bapstism — Photo credit: Vince Fleming / Unsplash

If you’re looking for a Southern Baptist church, you’re most likely to find one in the South. If you want to find a growing Southern Baptist church, however, you might want to try the Northeast.

Analysis of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Annual Church Profile (ACP) by Lifeway Research revealed the convention is made up of mostly smaller churches dotting the southern United States. Still, more than 1 in 5 churches are outside of the South. And the only region where Southern Baptist churches are growing numerically is in New England. Additionally, churches started since 2000 are the most likely to be currently growing.

“The trends revealed in this analysis confirm that Southern Baptists must prioritize church planting in our effort to reach people for Christ,” said Kevin Ezell, president of the North American Mission Board. “As we do that, not only will we see lives changed with the gospel, we will also grow our base of churches which will expand our Great Commission efforts throughout the world. I’m grateful for every church that is planting new churches, but we need even more to take up this challenge.”

Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research, noted that the largest Protestant denomination is growing in the least Protestant region of the U.S. “While it’s easiest to achieve high percentage growth in areas with fewer Southern Baptists to begin with, the growth is a sharp contrast to numerical declines throughout much of the country,” he said.

General picture of Southern Baptist churches

The Southern Baptist Convention mostly reflects its name, as 78% of its churches are in the South. Far fewer are in the Midwest (10%), West (9%), Northeast (3%) or U.S. territories (less than 1%).

Not quite half (45%) of churches are in suburban areas with a population of at least 2,500 but less than 50,000. The remaining percentage are split between urban areas (28%) with at least 50,000 in population and rural places (27%) with less than 2,500. Churches in the Northeast and West are more likely than those in the other regions to be in urban areas, while churches in the Midwest and South are mostly in rural and suburban places.

Most Southern Baptist churches (52%) were founded since 1950, including 23% that were started since 2000. Another 21% began between 1900 and 1949, while 27% trace their founding to before the 20th century.

The newest group of churches, those founded since 2000, make up an increasingly larger percentage of all Southern Baptist churches, climbing from 19% of churches in 2017 to 23% in 2022.

“Southern Baptists are the most prolific starter of new churches, but older churches continue to close at a slightly faster pace,” said McConnell.

Almost 3 in 4 churches (73%) have an average worship service attendance below 100, including 46% who have fewer than 50 for a typical service. One in 5 (19%) are between 100 and 249, while 5% average between 250 and 499. And 3% usually have at least 500 for their weekend worship service. Churches in the Northeast (53%), Midwest (55%) and West (53%) are more likely than those in the South (43%) to have an average worship service of fewer than 50 attendees.

The Porter’s Gate Hopes to Bridge Gap Between Mental Health and Faith With New Album

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Kathryn Post

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September 22, 2023

(RNS) — A wave of energy and emotion coursed through the 5,000-person crowd in London’s Royal Albert Hall in early May as the band onstage debuted its latest album.

Surrounded by the Victorian era architecture, the audience stood for The Porter’s Gate, a self-described “worship project” founded in 2017 by longtime worship leader Isaac Wardell and his wife, Megan. Though the songs were new to the audience, many sang along and were visibly moved.

“It was a really holy, almost out of body experience to see the songs impacting people,” said Daniel Whitehead, CEO of Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries and one of the collaborators on the album.

Though worshipful, the songs weren’t about flying away to glory or leaving the pain of this world behind. Instead, they aimed to make space for those feeling hopeless and abandoned, while reminding listeners that God is present in the here and now.

“As we were singing these songs, I was aware of my own grief, and my own faith at the same time, and the consolation of God,” recalled Canadian Christian artist Matt Maher, one of the musicians onstage. “It felt integrated in the best way. “

Attendees of the album-writing retreat brought nearly 50 people, not all pictured, to an island off the coast of Vancouver to collaborate and write the twelve-track album. Photo courtesy The Porter’s Gate

An album-writing retreat brought nearly 50 people, not all pictured, to an island off the coast of Vancouver, Canada, to collaborate and write the 12-track album “Sanctuary Songs.” Photo courtesy of The Porter’s Gate

“Sanctuary Songs,” a 12-track album inspired by conversations about mental health and faith and released on Friday (Sept. 15), is another timely and topic-driven album from The Porter’s Gate that follows earlier projects on climate justice, lament and vocation. It was birthed in partnership with Sanctuary at a five-day retreat in fall 2022 where a group of roughly 20 Sanctuary staff and 30 songwriters — including Jon Guerra, Doe Jones and Andrew Peterson — gathered on an island off the coast of Vancouver, Canada, to craft the album.

Many of the musicians, who represented a range of theological and cultural backgrounds, had personal connections to the topic.

“In that particular year, when Isaac asked me about this retreat, I had been struggling a lot with anxiety, I think like most people during the pandemic. And for the first time I came to an awareness of the physical symptoms of anxiety,” Maher told Religion News Service. “I realized I experienced them all for a long time. I just didn’t have the right language.”

Beloved NC Baptist Charity Leader Steps Down Over Alleged Misuse of $89,000 in Donations

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Bob Smietana

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September 22, 2023

(RNS) — The longtime leader of a North Carolina Baptist charity stepped down this week after an internal investigation found he had used almost $90,000 in charitable funds for personal expenses over the past three years.

The investigation also found that 81-year-old Michael Blackwell, who had led the Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina since 1983, had diverted hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations to a special account set up for his benefit.

He also bought his wife a new car using charitable funds, according to a report from forensic auditors.

Blackwell, who had been on leave since May, when the investigation was launched, has agreed to pay back $88,803.14 in personal expenses charged over a three-year period to his company credit card.

“The Forensic Report describes the personal nature of these expenses, which include snacks, drinks, nutritional supplements, clothes, health care costs, subscriptions, and stays at Structure House—a self-improvement center where program participants stay in ‘luxury apartments,’” according to an investigative report made public this week.

Blackwell denied any wrongdoing in an interview with the Biblical Recorder, a state newspaper for North Carolina Baptists, and in a statement sent to the paper and Baptist leaders.

“There were some misunderstandings, (but) there certainly was no deliberate misuse of anything, ever on my part,” Blackwell said in the interview. According to the Biblical Recorder, Blackwell was allowed to see a summary of the financial review before it was published.

Blackwell also said in the statement that he “had never deliberately done anything to bring harm to this ministry that is so deeply personal to me,” the Biblical Recorder reported.

Todd Unzicker, executive director of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, called the Children’s Homes, which operates residences for children in 35 locations in the U.S. as well as an orphanage in Guatemala, a “beloved ministry” in the state.

“The actions identified by the summary report represent a betrayal of trust with the people that love and support the ministry,” Unzicker said. “We are encouraged to see BCH trustees move toward a change in executive leadership and seek restitution. They should be commended for commissioning an independent financial review and then acting swiftly upon receiving the results.”

Blackwell is the latest in a series of Southern Baptist leaders to step down due to controversy, scandal or alleged mismanagement.

3 Soul Toxins That Derail Servant Leadership

By

Dan Reiland

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September 22, 2023

Joe Stowell describes servant leadership as “leading for the benefit of others.”

That captures it well.

Servant leadership is easily understood, but not so easily practiced on a consistent basis.

We all love to be served, right? Like in a restaurant. It’s really obvious when the wait staff is enjoying their job and trying to make your experience a good one. It’s equally obvious when it seems like we are bothering the person waiting on us.

I wonder sometimes how those we serve see us.

The real question is whether or not the waiter loves to serve, or serves because they are paid.

Leadership is the same, and you can always tell the difference.

There are leaders who love to serve, and do it naturally, intentionally and freely. And those who don’t, they may be good and smart leaders, but you can tell the difference.

I know…we all have tough days…but I’m writing about our overall disposition as we lead.

We all desire to consistently be a servant leader, but there are things that than can and do challenge that aspiration.

Embracing servant leadership is not a strategy, it’s an identity. (Crawford Loritts)

Servant leadership isn’t a skill, it describes who we are. We are still expected to make tough decisions, solve problems, cast vision and get the job done, but it’s the way we do it. Servant leadership comes from the heart.

There are soul toxins within us as human beings that even though we want to serve, can derail us from servant leadership at its best.

We can see it even in Jesus’ disciples. Jesus had just set the example of a servant by washing their feet, and then an argument broke out among them about which one was considered to be the greatest. (Luke 22)

What causes this?

3 Examples of Soul Toxins That Derail Our Leadership From a Servant Disposition:

Notes:

I gleaned from a few sources to strengthen my content, including Crawford Lorritt’s great book, “Leadership as an Identity.”
I’m not suggesting that any of these “toxins” are the constant driving force of your leadership, but merely examples of toxins that can sneak in and steal away the real you.

1. Insecurity: The Insecure Leader Serves out of Fear and Is Often Tempted to Perform.

The driving question is, What will people think of me?

Insecure leaders possess a fear of being discovered for their most real self, unsure they can measure up to others, which often causes them to “hide” rather than be real.

Insecurity makes us second guess ourselves. It causes us to worry about what others think, and consumes so much mental and emotional energy that there is little left with which to serve others.

5 Attacks of the Enemy on Christian Workers These Days

By

Chuck Lawless

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September 22, 2023

A few years ago, Dr. Bill Cook of Southern Seminary and I co-wrote a book entitled Spiritual Warfare in the Storyline of Scripture. The first half of the book (Dr. Cook’s portion) is a solid, thorough look at biblical teachings about warfare. The second half (my portion) is a practical section that looks at how the enemy attacks us today.

In the second half, I wrote a chapter on the enemy’s arrows aimed at missionaries. As I see pastoral and leadership fatigue around the world, though, I’m seeing similar attacks on church leaders regardless of position. Here are five areas I’ve noted in this chapter.

Disinterest. Here, I’m using “disinterest” to refer to those who are losing their interest in doing the work of the gospel. The work has become increasingly more difficult during COVID, and many of us wonder what the new normal will look like. Church leaders still have their calling, but their passion is often waning.
Division. In the early days of COVID, church leaders and laity stood together, united against something we had never faced before. We were patient and forgiving of each other, believing all this chaos would quickly pass. As COVID continues to affect us, though, I’m seeing weariness result in resurrected church and relational divisions that pre-dated COVID.
Discouragement. Most of us don’t have to look far to find discouraged church leaders—and in some cases, we need only look at ourselves. When the enemy uses circumstances to rob us of our peace and joy, we have little energy left for doing God’s work. In fact, our discouragement can become consuming.
Distraction. The enemy has always sought to turn our attention away from reaching non-believers, discipling new believers, and planting healthy churches. He doesn’t mind our “doing church” as long as we avoid the primary work of glorifying God by doing the Great Commission. COVID may have directed our churches at first to minister to one another and our communities, but I suspect it’s been more a distraction than not.
Destruction. Here, I spoke in the chapter about persecution of missionaries, but I’m equally concerned about church leaders destroying their own ministries by sinful moral choices. Particularly during COVID—when we often find ourselves alone, isolated, and frustrated—some leaders have found themselves at the top of the cliff, ready to leap into a fall. Some, I know, have jumped.

I know, though, the enemy will not ultimately win; indeed, he’s already a defeated foe. As we await his final destruction, however, I don’t want him to win today. Let’s pray for each other.

This article originally appeared here.

Praying for Wisdom

By

H.B. Charles, Jr.

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September 22, 2023

A man was given a tour of heaven in a dream. As the tour ended, he noted a particular building was skipped over. The angel warned that he did not want to see that building. This only heightened the man’s curiosity. The angel showed him. It was a building filled with beautifully wrapped presents. When the man asked what these were, the angel answered these were gifts God had prepared for his children that were never claimed in prayer.

If a building in heaven houses unclaimed gifts, many boxes would contain the unwanted gift of wisdom. When facing trials, we pray for provision, healing, strength, protection, intervention, miracles, deliverance, and many other things, besides wisdom.

Don’t ask how to get out of your trials.
Ask what to get out of your trials.

Pray for the unclaimed but precious gift of wisdom. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” This verse is a continuation of the previous paragraph. Verses 2-4 says, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Then is seems James abruptly shifts to the subject of prayer. But the two passages are connected. The link is the word “lack.” Verse 4 says the purpose of girls is to become “perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” Verse 5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God.”

It is God’s will for you to become a mature Christian that lacks no good thing. But we need to grow up. Our faith is still incomplete. We lack needed virtues for godly living. One of the things we lack is wisdom. God uses trials to expose our need for wisdom.

James 1:5-8 teaches that God freely provides wisdom to face life’s trials to those who come to him in believing prayer. Vance Havner said it well: “If you lack knowledge, go to school. If you lack wisdom, get on your knees!”

How do you access the wisdom you need to face life’s trials?

Ask God for Wisdom.

Verse 5 says, “If anyone of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”

The Problem. Verse 5 begins: “If any of you lacks wisdom…” This conditional statement does not suggest some do not need wisdom. James states the fact in a way that requires each person to examine himself and be humble enough to confess the need for wisdom.

What is wisdom? In scripture, wisdom is not academic, philosophical, or intellectual. Wisdom is not knowledge. Wisdom requires knowledge. But you can have knowledge and not be wise. You can be an “educated fool.” Our world is filled with them. We live in the most skilled, knowledgeable, and advanced generation ever. We also live in the most profane, violent, and hedonistic generation ever. We have knowledge. We lack wisdom.

Wisdom begins with a certain kind of knowledge. Psalms 14:1 says, “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” This knowledge of God comes through God’s self-revelation of himself in scripture. The wisdom of God is found in the word of God.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the the incarnate wisdom of God. Colossians 2:3 says in Christ “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” When Adan and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, they made fools of us all. But God sent his Son into the world to live a righteous life, die on the cross for our sins, and rise from the dead to give us new life. The gospel is able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ. But saving faith does not automatically produce perfect wisdom. Jesus is the answer. That does not mean you will not have to face life’s difficult questions. Proverbs 4:7 says, “Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.”

The Prescription. God is the source of wisdom. To receive wisdom to face life’s trials, ask God for it. The prescription for wisdom is simple yet dynamic. You do not need time, experience, or education to be wise. The young, naive, and unlearned can ask God for wisdom.

The prescription is personal: “let him ask God.” You need godly people in your life to intercede for you. But there are things you need from God you will not receive from the intercession of others. You must ask God for yourself. If you need wisdom, you do not have to go to your pastor, visit a counselor, inform your prayer partners, read the experts, or go to your family and friends. The wisdom you need to face life’s trials is only a prayer away.

God gives. After commanding to us ask God for wisdom, James describes the character of God that makes him inclined to grant our request. God is a giving God. It is wrong to view God with clenched fists that must be pried open. God’s arms are outstretched. God’s hands are full, open, and ready to give. God’s pitcher is tilted toward his children to pour out blessings (Matthew 7:11).

God gives generously. The word “generously” means to be simple, single, or sincere. It is that which is pure. James uses the term to say God’s gifts are true gifts. Proverbs 23:1-3 says, “When you sit down to eat with a ruler, observe carefully what is set before you, and put a knife to you throat if you are given to appetite. Do not desires his delicacies, for they are deceptive food.” Sometimes a person’s generosity is not real generosity. That is not the case with God (Romans 11:35). God gives generously, liberally, purely, sincerely, and freely.

God gives generously to all. Divine generosity is nondiscriminatory. God does not play favorites. He is no respecter of persons. In Matthew 20:1-16, Jesus tells a parable about a landowner who kept going to the marketplace to hire workers. He hired workers early in the morning. he hired workers before the end of the workday. But he chose to pay them all the same things. The early birds grumbled against the landowner. The landowner responded, “Don’t I have the right to do what I want with what belongs to me?” Indeed, God has the right to do what he wants. In his sovereign grace, he choose to be generous to all.

God gives generously to all without reproach. You may know people who could help in your time of need. But they are the last people you want to help because of the lecture you would hear when you ask for help. And you would never hear the end of it after they help. God will not chastise you for asking him for wisdom.

You do not have to worry God is too busy running the world to help you.
You do not have to worry God may mock you for not knowing how to face life’s trials.
You do not have to worry God will become irritated because you ask for the same thing.

The Promise. When Solomon became king of Israel, God signed a blank check and gave it to him. In 1 Kings 3:5, God said to Solomon, Ask what I shall give you.” What should you ask for if you had a guarantee that God would grant your request? In 1 Kings 3:9, Solomon asked, “Give your servant an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”

Solomon asked for wisdom. This request so pleased God that he gave Solomon wisdom and threw in wealth, longevity, and success. The wisdom God gave Solomon was not an exclusive gift. God has signed a check and made it out to any believer in Christ who asks for wisdom. All you have to do is endorse it in prayer. Verse 5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”

James 1:5 promises those who ask God will receive wisdom, not answers. All too often, answers become idols. We are like Job, who demanded to interrogate God about his suffering. When God finally took the witness stand, Job was interrogated with questions and never answered one of Job’s questions. Yet Job emerged with greater wisdom. This is how God words.

Wisdom is not a spiritual navigation system with turn-by-turn directions. It is spiritual alertness to see the potholes in the road, or the guy who darts in front of you, and respond in a way that does not ruin your Christian wisdom, dishonor the Lord, or discourage other believers.

Trust God for Wisdom.

There is a natural and critical progression in the text. Trials demand wisdom. Wisdom demands prayer. Prayer demands faith.

Verse 5 commands us to ask God for wisdom. Verses 6-8 explain how to ask God for wisdom. Verse 5 is an open primes every Christian can claim. Verse 6-8 establish an essential condition for receiving the promise. As you ask God for wisdom, trust God for wisdom.

God responds to the one who prays in faith. Verse 6 says, “But let him ask in faith.” God generously gives wisdom without reproach to all who ask him. But God requires that we ask in faith. This requirement applies to anything you ask. Hebrews 11:6 says, “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”

Whatever you ask in prayer must be asked in faith. James specifies that when you pray for wisdom, you must ask in faith. In Mark 11:22-24, Jesus says, “Have faith in God. Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes what what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

God rejects the one who prays with doubt. Verse 6 says, “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting.” There is a sense in which double is a friend of faith, not its enemy. Doubt is the ants in the pants of faith. It keeps faith alive, awake, and alert. Yet James commands us to ask in faith with no doubting. It is a prohibition against spiritual indecisiveness that wavers between trust and double. Doubt your doubts, and believe your beliefs!

What God thinks about the doubter. Verse 6 says, “But let him ask min faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that tis driven and tossed by the wind.”

This marine analogy is one of many images from nature in James. Growing up with his half-brother Jesus near the Sea of Galilee, James was familiar with storms at sea. Winds drove the waves in one direction, then another. Winds tossed the waves, lifting them high and then crashing them down. It is the kind of storm the disciples experienced that caused them to wake up Jesus and ask, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” (Mark 4:38) The one who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.

What the doubter thinks about God. The doubter lives with a foolish assumption. He supposed he can pray with doubt and receive an answer to his prayers. She supposes God will grant her request even though she does not trust God for what she asks. The doubter is confused about who God is and how God works. James disabused the doubter of this erroneous supposition. Verse 7 says, “For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the lord.” James 1:2, James address his readers as “brothers,” a term of spiritual communion used throughout this letter. James addresses the doubter in verse 6 as “that person,” disassociating himself from the one who prays with doubt.

“For that Person must not suppose he will receive anything from the Lord.” “Anything” is not absolute. Matthew 5:45 says, God “makes his sun rise on the evil and the good, and sends his rain on the just and on the unjust.” This is called “common grace.” It is the favor of God put out one all humanity.

James does not mean God refuses to do absolutely anything for the one who doubts. “Anything” must be understood in the context of prayer. God does many things for doubters. But the doubter should never think he or she will receive anything they ask God for in prayer. James states this as a divine command: “For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord.” Doubt receives God’s rejection slip that reads: “Request denied due to insufficient faith.”

Verse 8 gives a final, devastating description of the one who believes but doubts: “he is a double-minded man,” unstable in all his ways.” “Double-minded” is unique to this epistle. Scholars believe James coined the term. It means to have two souls. It is to be two different people. Yet the term does not suggest duplicity or deceitfulness. It describes something far worse: Doubt rooted in divided loyalties.

Deuteronomy 6:4-5 declares, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” There is one God. God demands your total devotion. Double-mindedness is the opposite of complete devotion.

James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” The doubled-minded has a sinful heart that needs to be purified to draw near to God. This is how James describes the one who doubts.

He is a double-minded man.
He is a fence-straddler.
He is “Mr. Facing-Both-Ways.”
He is a walking civil war.
He trust, but he doubts.
He hopes for the best but expects the worst.
He tries to be a friend of the world and God at the same time.

In 1 Kings 18:21, Elijah the prophet confronts the double-minded children of Israel: “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? IF the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” How long will you live in double-mindedness? If God is God, trust him. Faith says, yes. Unbelief says, no. Doubt tries to say yes and no at the same time. Like a staggering drunk, the double-minded man takes one stumbling step toward God. But the next step lurches away from God. He is too unable to stand firm in faith.

The double-minded is not just unstable in his prayer life. He is unstable “in all his ways.” A person who cannot trust God cannot be trusted. He is unstable in all his ways. But turn this verse inside out and consider the inverse: “A single-minded man is stable in all his ways.” Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

This article originally appeared here.

The Power of Sharing Stories

By

Phil Cooke

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September 22, 2023

n 2019, the New York Times reported that scientists are confirming the power of narrative stories to give meaning to our lives. Our “life stories” tell us who we are and why we’re here, and as the Times reported:

“Every American may be working on a screenplay, but we are also continually updating a treatment of our own life — and the way in which we visualize each scene not only shapes how we think about ourselves, but how we behave, new studies find. By better understanding how life stories are built, this work suggests, people may be able to alter their own narrative, in small and perhaps large ways.”

The Power of Sharing Stories

This report is heavy stuff, but it confirms that telling the stories of our lives helps make us who we are. That’s why I’ve always advocated for sharing stories – and you don’t have to be in what’s normally considered a “creative” area to do it.

The Curious Beauty in Depending on God

By

Randy Alcorn

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September 21, 2023

I’m an insulin-dependent diabetic. Without a doubt, the greatest lesson I’ve learned through this is the importance of depending on God rather than on myself. (I believe it’s no accident that it appeared the same month my first book came out in 1985—so that I wouldn’t credit myself for that which God has gifted me in and graciously empowers me for.)

Embracing Weakness: The Path to Depending on God

Every day I must take insulin injections (for many years manually, more recently with a pump) and blood tests. Each time I do, I’m reminded of my own frailty and inadequacy. In an immediate sense, I’m dependent on my insulin to live. In an ultimate sense, I’m dependent on God to live. As Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

Usually I live a normal life, but sometimes I’ve lain helpless, stiff as a board, not in my right mind, needing my wife to get sugar in my mouth. My once-strong body grows weak. Low blood sugar clouds my judgment and leaves me with a memory of having said stupid things, like a drunk.

This humbles me. But I can honestly say I’m grateful for it; yes, I even delight in it because my weakness draws me to greater dependence upon Christ.

The Journey of Dependence: Learning to Depend on God in All We Do

Now, writing isn’t a disease (some might argue that point), but like my disease, it shows my weaknesses. In my writing I hit dead ends, wander in cul-de-sacs, waste days headed the wrong direction and occasionally nearly drive off the cliff. I’m never more keenly aware of my dependence on the Lord than when I’m writing a book.

Charles Hummel wrote that “the root of all sin is self-sufficiency—independence from God.” God has taught me that whether we write or build or draw or fix things or make a home for our families, He wants us to yield our gifts to Him, and depend on Him for the next step, even the next breath. I don’t always succeed, but that’s what I seek to do in my writing.

When Paul asked God to remove his disability, which he called a “thorn in the flesh,” instead of healing Paul (which might have resulted in him becoming self-sufficient), God said to him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” So Paul wrote, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

I’ve often asked God to give me strength, wisdom and perseverance as I write, and to just give me the right words. I do my part, as the junior partner, while God does his much greater part, as the senior partner, that in turn allows me to do mine: As Paul said, “I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me” (Colossians 1:29).

I’m challenged and encouraged by these words from Charles Spurgeon:

Self-sufficiency is Satan’s net, wherein he catches men, like poor silly fish, and does destroy them. Be not self-sufficient. Think yourselves nothing, for you are nothing, and live by God’s help. The way to grow strong in Christ is to become weak in yourself. God pours no power into man’s heart till man’s power is all poured out. Live, then, daily, a life of dependence on the grace of God.

Lord, help us to humbly remember our dependence on You and Your grace. Thank you for the privilege of being Your instruments.

‘I Was Going Pretty Fast’—Pastor Moved to Tears After Receiving Police Escort to Hospital Instead of Speeding Ticket

By

Jesse T. Jackson

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September 21, 2023

On Sunday (Sept. 17), a Springfield, Illinois, pastor was escorted by a local police officer to the hospital after being pulled over for speeding. He was rushing his 3-year-old daughter to the emergency room because of a severe asthma attack.

Glen Morrison Jr., an executive pastor and worship pastor at Emmanuel Temple Church, became concerned when his daughter started to have an uncontrollable coughing fit.

After nearly half an hour of coughing, Morrison grabbed his daughter, jumped into his vehicle, and “started flying” to the nearest emergency room.

During his rush to the hospital, Morrison was pulled over for speeding by Springfield police officer Bill Whitener. The pastor told WICS ABC NewsChannel 20, “I was going pretty fast,” so he wasn’t surprised by the sight of flashing police lights behind him. ”I was flying down Madison [street],” he said.

Morrison pulled over, rolling down his window as officer Whitener approached. He told the officer, “Hey, I apologize for speeding. My daughter, I think she may be having something similar to an asthma attack. And I’m just trying to get her to the hospital.”

Recognizing the medical emergency that was taking place, Whitener told Morrison to turn on his hazards and follow him to the hospital. “He quickly said, ‘Just follow me, follow me,’” the officer said.

Morrison told ChurchLeaders that Whitener “immediately took action and escorted us to the emergency room to avoid the anticipation of sitting at multiple red lights.”

“This personally brought tears to my eyes to be served by our Police Department in such a humbling way,” he added. “This was a reminder that behind those badges are real people that can relate to our day-to-day life situations. And they actually do care for us!”

The pastor wanted to give a special thanks to Officer Whitener for his act of service and said that “my daughter is alive and well from a situation that wasn’t taken for granted by our Men in Blue!”

Morrison concluded his statement to ChurchLeaders by “thanking God for always showing up right on time.”

Morrison’s daughter is doing well after receiving medical treatment and has been attending school this week.

New Orleans Saints’ Demario Davis Exhorts Every Christian, ‘Not Just Christians With a Platform’ To ‘Preach the Gospel’

By

Jessica Mouser

-

September 21, 2023

New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis is continuing to use his status as an NFL player to boldly draw people’s attention to Jesus. After the Saints beat the Carolina Panthers 20-17 on Sept. 18, Davis took time during the post-game press conference to challenge his fellow Christians to “share the gospel,” whether or not they have a platform like his.

“Well, I wasn’t gonna preach today,” said Davis. “I wasn’t going to do that, but if I didn’t, then I would not be being obedient. I told the Lord before today if I went back to the podium that I would make sure that I praised him the proper way.”

Alluding to the press conference he gave following the Saints’ victory over the Tennessee Titans on Sept. 10, Davis said, “The last time I was up here God did an extraordinary work through me. It exceeded past myself and into and around the country. And with that I owe proper praises to God. It had very little to do with me and everything to do with him, so I have to be obedient.”

Demario Davis Urges, ‘Share the Gospel’

Demario Davis is a 34-year-old father of five. He started his career in the NFL in 2012 with the New York Jets and has been playing for the New Orleans Saints since 2018. During his post-game press conference on Sept. 10, Davis shared that on Friday, Sept. 8, his 4-year-old daughter, Carly-Faith, had experienced an epileptic seizure. During the seizure, which lasted for 30 minutes, Carly-Faith foamed at the mouth and stopped breathing twice.

The suffering of their daughter drove Davis and his wife, Tamela, to pray through the night on Carly-Faith’s behalf. Carly-Faith then experienced a miraculous recovery, talking that night “clearer than before” and showing a renewed mental sharpness unusually early for what is typical following a seizure. “God gave me just what I asked for, plus some,” said Davis. “I was blown away.”

The linebacker encouraged viewers to be prepared to answer the “knock” of God in their lives. “I just want people to know if you’ve got stuff going on in your life, lay it before the Lord,” he said. “Lay it before the Lord and trust. And be expecting of a knock. Because the Word says what you have to do is, you have to get up and open the door.”

Davis gave an update on his daughter during the Sept. 18 press conference, saying she has a “full bill of health” and “had a phenomenal week.”

“She’s doing great,” he added. “As I said before, that knock at the door was answered, and God came in and did a wonderful work in my family.”

Davis noted that his words from last week resonated with many people. “The reality is, when you see a message go around that strong, it’s a lot of people that are out there hurting,” he said, “and it’s a lot of people who are waiting on a knock, and I want to continue to reiterate your knock may not come right away, but to be patient and to wait on the Lord, and he will do what he said he’ll do.”

Woman Attempts To Steal Gas From Church Van; Church Responds by Giving Away Gas Cards in Community

By

Dale Chamberlain

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September 21, 2023

Roughly a week after someone attempted to steal gas from its church buses, a South Carolina congregation held a “Pop up at the Pumps” event to give away gas cards to people in the community.

Early in the morning on Sept. 12, security cameras on the campus of Rocky Creek Missionary Baptist Church in Simpsonville captured footage of a woman attempting to steal gas from the church’s buses.

The woman pulled up to one of the buses and got out of her car holding a red gas container. She then began siphoning the gas from the bus. However, midway through the process, she left the gas container and drove away.

The next morning, the church’s pastor, Adrian Wideman, took to Facebook not merely to warn the community of the intruder but also to invite her to church.

“To all area churches in the Simpsonville area, the Rocky Creek Missionary Baptist Church had a visitor last night around 3:00am,” wrote Wideman. “Although we are a loving and giving church, we need our gas for our [buses] that we use to transport our students to and from school.”

Wideman continued, “If you are able to come to the church at 3:00 in the morning on a Tuesday to take gas from our [buses], I want to invite you to Sunday School at 9am and Worship service at 10am on Sundays. See You Sunday!”

In an interview with WYFF, Wideman expressed sympathy for the would-be thief.

“Obviously, if you have the ability or the need to come to a church at 3 o’clock in the morning to steal gas, there’s something else there,” Wideman said. “As she was siphoning the gas, all of a sudden she just got back in the car and drove off. And I would like to believe that something in her heart, something in her mind, tugged at her.”

“My prayer is that she actually heard the voice of God,” Wideman added.

A week later on Sept. 20, Wideman took a team of church members to a local gas station and handed out over 100 white envelopes containing gas cards, many of them donated by members of Rocky Creek Missionary Baptist Church.

The Key to Satan’s Winning Strategy

By

James Emery White

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September 21, 2023

In case you haven’t read about it, Satan doesn’t exist. Recent polling by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research has found that while seven in 10 U.S. adults believe in angels, when it comes to fallen ones—like the devil—it drops to 56%. A recent Gallup report found similar results with only 58% believing, down from 71% just two decades ago.

To be sure, belief in almost every other “spiritual” category is down as well: belief in God has dropped from 90% in 2001 to 74% in 2023; heaven from 83% to 69%; angels from 79% to 57%; and hell from 71% to 59%.

But dropping to 58% belief, it’s the devil that’s faring the worst.

And he’s quite happy about it.

In The “Screwtape Letters,” C.S. Lewis’ masterful fictional account of a senior devil, Screwtape, mentoring a younger devil, Wormwood, he notes the following in the preface:

There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors, and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.

Later in the work, Screwtape writes the following to Wormwood:

I wonder you should ask me whether it is essential to keep the patient in ignorance of your own existence. That question, at least for the present phase of the struggle, has been answered for by the High Command. Our policy, for the moment, it to conceal ourselves…. When the humans disbelieve in our existence we lose all the pleasing results of direct terrorism…. On the other hand, when they believe in us, we cannot make them materialists and sceptics.

Then Lewis, writing in his normally prescient way, adds these words from Screwtape’s pen:

If once we can produce our perfect work—the Materialist Magician, the man, not using, but veritably worshipping, what he vaguely calls “Forces” while denying the existence of “spirits”—then the end of the war is in sight.

And that is precisely what the diminishing belief in Satan, and the increasing belief in all things paranormal, is achieving.

This article originally appeared here and is used by permission.

Why Every Leader Must Understand Cultural Context

By

Eric Geiger

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September 21, 2023

Kaye and I were once at a movie theater, early in our marriage, in Miami. There was a box of popcorn on the row in which we were seated, with more than half the box still filled with buttered popcorn. I viewed the box as trash, as the remnants of a thoughtless moviegoer from the previous film who failed to bring the box to the trashcan. Kaye, however, viewed the box as an opportunity to enjoy some popcorn. Our view of the moment impacted how we reacted in the moment. This is true with popcorn in a movie theater and with how we view the world around us. Our view of our cultural context will dramatically impact how we lead and serve in our unique settings.

Cultural Context – Babylon or Israel?

My good friend and former colleague, Trevin Wax, once observed that some view pastoring and leading a church in America similar to leading God’s people in Israel while others view pastoring and leading a church in America similar to leading God’s people in Babylon. In the Old Testament, we read that God chose the people of Israel as His own, loved them, graciously gave them land and commanded them to only worship Him in that land – to not worship the gods of the surrounding countries. God also carried His people to Babylon, and commanded them to thrive and care for well-being of the city. Some of their history is in the land of Israel. Some of their history is in another land, including the land of Babylon.

Is our cultural context as Christ-followers more like God’s people living in Israel or more like God’s people living in Babylon? How one answers that question will impact how one responds to the world around us.

Those who view our cultural context as comparable to life in Israel articulate that God has established America just as God established Israel and that He uses America to bless other countries. Those who view our context as comparable to life in Babylon articulate that God’s people are exiles in this world just as God’s people were exiles in Babylon and that this world is not our home just as Babylon was not their home. Both viewpoints understand that God is the One who establishes where people live and that Christians should love and serve others.

But these two viewpoints differ greatly, too. Those who view life in America as life in Israel can run down a cultural warpath to tear down cultural sins and agendas that can take America away from “her Christian roots.” Those who view life in America as more comparable to life in Babylon believe that God’s people must indeed be distinct and guard themselves from idols, but they don’t believe their mission is to purge Babylon. They believe they are to serve Babylon.

While our cultural context is not exactly Babylon, there are some similarities. It is important to remember that America is not Israel and God’s people are indeed in exiles in this world.

America is Not a New Israel

I absolutely love living in America. I am thankful for the freedoms, the religious liberty, and the opportunities we enjoy. I am thankful for the men and women who protect those freedoms and serve us. But America is not Israel. The promises given to Israel in the Old Testament cannot be applied to our Country. They can often be applied to those who belong to Christ and are the people of God. In the New Testament, America is not “God’s chosen people.” The apostle Peter reminded Christians scattered all over because of persecution that they are God’s chosen people (I Peter 2:9). The people Jesus rescues from every tribe, tongue, and nation, purchased with His blood are God’s chosen people.

We Are Exiles.

When Jeremiah wrote to God’s people living in Babylon, he reminded them that they were exiles (Jeremiah 29:1-7). As exiles, they were to persevere and grow as a people. They were also to work for the well-being of the place where they now lived. We, too, are exiles and strangers in a world that is not our home (I Peter 2:11). We are exiles here because our citizenship is ultimately in heaven (Philippians 3:20).

Kaye and I had a pretty sharp disagreement over how we viewed that bucket of popcorn. I could not believe she started eating it! And in a divisive cultural time, different viewpoints of our cultural context are more pronounced. Ministry leaders who view our cultural context as more comparable to life in Babylon than life in Israel will disappoint those with the opposite viewpoint. Those who view life in America as life in Israel want a Hezekiah who will tear down the sins in the land. We would benefit from more Hezekiah’s, but judgement should begin with the people of God and not the surrounding culture. Hezekiah did not confront the sins in Assyria or Babylon. He tore down the idols among God’s people. We have plenty of idols among ourselves that need to be torn down.

This article appeared here.

ELCA Hears From Indigenous Boarding School Survivor Ahead of National Day of Remembrance

By

Emily McFarlan Miller

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September 21, 2023

ECLA — George McCauley, right, is a member of the Omaha Nation in Nebraska and an Indigenous boarding school survivor. McCauley attended the Flandreau Indian School in South Dakota as a boy and spoke as a part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s Truth and Healing Movement ahead of the National Day of Remembrance. Vance Blackfox, left, the ELCA’s director for Indigenous ministries and tribal relations, moderated the online conversation with McCauley. Video screen grabs

(RNS) — George McCauley can still hear the school secretary’s voice calling his name over the loudspeaker on the wall of his 11th grade English classroom.

He can still remember walking back to his dorm at the Flandreau Indian School in South Dakota, wondering what he had done wrong, and the school official who met him there, telling him instead that his mother had died.

More than 50 years later, he can still feel the numbness of that moment, far away from his family. Only recently, he said, has he realized how his experience at boarding school created abandonment issues that impacted his life long after he graduated in 1971.

McCauley, a citizen of the Omaha Nation in northeastern Nebraska, shared his experience as a boarding school survivor on Sept. 13 in the first of a monthlong series of online classes and presentations hosted by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s Truth and Healing Movement, focused on the federal Indian boarding school system that separated generations of Indigenous children from their families and cultures.

“I think we need to recognize the trauma that is still here and with the ones that have been to boarding school — the trauma that is felt by all relatives across Turtle Island,” or North America, McCauley said.

September has become a month for acknowledging harms committed against Indigenous people in the U.S., culminating with the National Day of Remembrance for Indian Boarding Schools on Sept. 30. It echoes Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and the Indigenous-led Orange Shirt Day, observed on the same day.

The denomination’s commitment comes not only as a result of the investigative report released last year by the U.S. Department of the Interior that found half of U.S. boarding schools likely were supported by religious institutions, but also out of the Declaration of the ELCA to American Indian and Alaska Native People and its repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery.

In April, ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton announced that the country’s largest Lutheran denomination was launching its own Truth and Healing Movement, centering from Easter through Advent on the efforts Indigenous peoples across the country have led to heal the wounds left by the boarding schools and understand the impacts of colonization.

“We must be in better, right, and healthy relationships with the Indigenous people of Turtle Island. As we know, the truth and our knowing and embracing it, is the first step toward healing for all of us,” Eaton said at the time.

Online events this month by the ELCA include a conversation with descendants of boarding school survivors that took place Monday night (Sept. 18), followed by presentations about the denomination’s Truth and Healing Movement and Truth Seeking and Truth Telling Initiative, its effort to research Lutheran involvement in boarding schools, as well as an “Indian 101” class.

The ELCA also has published a guide for leading a prayer service to remember the Indigenous children who attended boarding schools, written and compiled by Oglala Lakota theologian Kelly Sherman-Conroy.

Additional events have been scheduled by the ELCA’s Truth and Healing Movement through the end of November.

Jerry Falwell’s Legal Battle With Liberty University—And His Brother—Escalates

By

Bob Smietana and Jack Jenkins

-

September 21, 2023

(RNS) — The ongoing legal battle between Liberty University and Jerry Falwell Jr. has taken yet another twist, with the disgraced former president of the school alleging misconduct by its board of directors and attempting to ban the university from using images of his late father.

In an amended complaint filed in federal court last week, Falwell Jr., who resigned from his post in August 2020 in the wake of multiple scandals, alleged that several board members, including former interim Liberty President Jerry Prevo and former Southern Baptist Convention President Jerry Vines, diverted university funds to their private causes.

“During his lifetime, Dr. Falwell earned a reputation as a major proponent of financial integrity in religious and educational institutions and led the way in restoring public trust and confidence in such institutions after financial scandals associated with other, unrelated church leaders rocked the evangelical community in the 1980s,” Falwell Jr.’s lawyer argued in the amended complaint, filed Sept. 13. The reference to “Dr. Falwell” is to Jerry Falwell Sr. “The JERRY FALWELL brand will not be associated with such conduct.”

Falwell Jr. also alleges the board overlooked sexual misconduct by former leaders, including an unnamed former president, only to turn on Falwell Jr. when his life fell apart. Falwell Jr. also alleges the board exploited a near-fatal lung condition he suffered and harassed him by not paying him retirement benefits.

“The JERRY FALWELL brand does not stand for such abhorrent treatment, which is antithetical to the reputation by which it is known,” the complaint alleges.

The complaint lays much of the blame at the feet of Prevo, who the complaint alleges diverted school funds to his personal foundation and used the school’s corporate jet to fly to his homes in Alaska and Arizona ($35,000 per trip and $20,000 per trip, respectively, according to the amended complaint).

Falwell also alleges Prevo made many of his decisions after consulting with evangelical leader Franklin Graham.

“Upon information and belief, Franklin Graham is Prevo’s closest advisor; during the limited times Prevo appeared on campus to fulfill his duties as interim president, he would speak with Graham virtually every day by phone before making any decisions,” the complaint alleges.

Asked about the complaint, a Liberty University spokesperson sent Religion News Service a statement.

“In response to Liberty’s compelling motion to dismiss his complaint, Jerry Falwell, Jr. filed an amended complaint containing improper and unsupported allegations designed to diminish former colleagues, family, and friends and to discredit the university where he formerly served,” the statement read. “These personal attacks have no place in a legal dispute over the use of a person’s name, image, and likeness. Liberty will file the appropriate response to these claims in due time and defend its legal right to continue the use of Dr. Jerry Falwell’s name. Furthermore, we stand by our initial statement that Liberty University and its Board of Trustees have only sought to honor the visionary leadership of Dr. Jerry Falwell and the mission of training Champions for Christ.”

In addition to the complaint, RNS obtained from multiple sources an email sent by Falwell Jr. to Liberty board members on Tuesday evening discussing the latest legal filing. In the email, Falwell accuses David Corry, Liberty’s general counsel, of waging a three-year “campaign” to “use millions of dollars of Liberty student tuition money to make me look as bad as possible in public and to the Board of Trustees.” Falwell also accused Corry of malpractice and incompetence and suggested some members of Liberty’s executive committee want to “gain control of Liberty, benefit personally from Liberty” and “determine who will be Liberty’s future leaders.”

Later in the email, Falwell claimed he had intended to end the legal battle but “had no choice but to strike back this Spring to protect my family’s reputation and future after forgiving 7 times 70,” apparently referencing a biblical quote from Jesus about how many times to forgive enemies.

In Marseille, Pope Francis Will Make the Case for Migrants to the World

By

Claire Giangrave

-

September 21, 2023

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — When Pope Francis visits the southern French city of Marseille this weekend (Sept. 22-23), he is expected to deliver an appeal for welcoming migrants and refugees — not just to France, but to anyone in the world listening.

Migration “represents a challenge that is not easy, as we can see from recent news,” the pope said while announcing his trip during his weekly prayer service on Sunday. “But we must face it together because it is essential for the future of us all. We will only be prosperous if we build on fraternity, prioritizing human dignity and real people — especially those most in need.”

The pope will be in Marseille to attend the Mediterranean Meetings, a Catholic-sponsored gathering of 60 religious representatives from different cultures, backgrounds and countries in the Mediterranean area. The event has taken place twice in previous years in Italy but this year a group of 60 young people will also be present.

The pope’s 30-hour trip to France’s second largest city makes a greater point about Francis’ determination to prioritize people on the margins. During an exchange with journalists on the papal flight returning from his trip to Mongolia Aug. 31-Sept.4, the pope stressed that he is specifically visiting the city of Marseille, not France as a whole.

Pope Francis has avoided visiting centers of political power and influence, giving priority to the global peripheries. The pope’s trip is comparable to his 2014 visit to Strasbourg, France, said Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni on Tuesday, which focused on international rather than local issues.

Marseille is a crossroads of diversity in France, with a high percentage of Muslim, Jewish, Eastern Christian denominations and Buddhists. It is also an important stop in the the flow of immigration passing through Europe from Italy.

Migration has been a key concern of Francis’ papacy since the beginning. His first trip as pope, 10 years ago, was to the Italian island of Lampedusa, which at the time was struggling with an influx of migrants that continues — in recent days, the number of immigrants there has exceeded the number of citizens.

The pope’s visit to Marseille occurs just as a new wave of refugees hits the Mediterranean coasts of Italy and political leaders in Europe argue about who should shoulder the responsibility of welcoming them. The number of immigrants reaching the Italian coasts in 2023 has doubled compared with last year, according to United Nations estimates. Most are North African refugees; many are fleeing political unrest in countries such as Mali, Niger and South Sudan, while others are seeking better economic prospects.

“I won’t allow Italy to become the refugee camp of Europe,” said Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, declaring war on human traffickers, on Wednesday.

France and Germany have responded by closing borders with Italy, leaving the country alone to handle the influx of migrants from North Africa. The pope’s visit will attempt to pull at the heartstrings of Europe to promote a shared responsibility for migration flows.

After a welcoming ceremony at the local airport on Friday, Francis will meet with members of the diocesan clergy at the Basilica of Notre Dame de la Garde before meeting with representatives of local organizations working to resettle and integrate migrants.

In the afternoon he will deliver a speech at a gathering of religious leaders from Marseille. The interreligious moment of reflection will take place at the memorial dedicated to migrants who have died at sea. About 2,300 migrants have died in the Mediterranean Sea this year alone, according to U.N. estimates.

How to Use Your Phone for Good, Not Evil

By

MinistryTech Magazine

-

September 21, 2023

Having a phone that never leaves our side has transformed the way we stay in touch: If our kids are in trouble, or our partner misses us, or our favorite sports team has scored, a notification lets us know instantly. But it means something else, too. We never get a moment’s peace. Every ping your phone emits is another distraction (this alone makes it an evil phone!). You need to learn how to use your phone for good, not evil. Because really: who wants an evil phone? Take control over your notifications.

How To Use Your Phone for Good, Not Evil:

Dwell:

Have you tried listening to scripture? Explore Scripture through Playlists, Stories, Passages, and Plans. Explore Scripture through daily listening plans, topical playlists, curated stories & passages, and more. Choose from four genuine voices, each passionate about reading Scripture. Dwell provides original music by renowned composer Chad Lawson, composed exclusively for Scripture listening. The Dwell App is available for iOS or Android.

ChristAudio:

Our simple idea is to teach Christians worldwide to meditate, so that everyone can live in more harmony with Jesus. The folks at ChristAudio believe there is nothing more important than looking after the health of the heart, soul, and mind. (Luke 10:27)

Bulletin Board Letters: 12 Printable Resources for KidMin Displays

By

Stephanie Martin

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September 20, 2023

Bulletin board letters and other visual shortcuts are must-haves for children’s ministry. These printable resources help you and kidmin volunteers create eye-catching displays with minimal effort. Why spend hours reinventing the wheel when you can click and download existing designs?

Bulletin boards have many purposes in Sunday school hallways and classrooms. Use them to track attendance and learn names. They’re also great for sharing upcoming lesson topics and memorizing Bible verses. To maintain interest and variety, change bulletin boards regularly. Be sure to use age-appropriate scriptural and seasonal themes.

To spark creativity and save time, we’ve assembled a list of bulletin board lettering resources. Many of these helpful ideas are free or low-cost. So check out the wide variety of styles and themes below! These resources are guaranteed to grab attention and delight young viewers.

12 Sources for Bulletin Board Letters

Here are a dozen websites with tips and suggestions galore:

1. Large Bulletin Board Letters

First, consider these hacks for teachers and volunteers. They will enhance the look of all your kidmin bulletin boards.

2. Printable Letters & Numbers

Next, these attractive sets of bulletin board letters include uppercase and lowercase letters, plus numbers.

3. Free Pennant Letters for Bulletin Boards

Children will love the look of these easy-to-make letters and banners.

4. Chalkboard-Style Printable Letters

The chalkboard style is popular right now. Discover how to get that look in your classrooms and ministry spaces!

5. Glitter Letters for Classroom Displays

Younger children adore glitter and anything shiny or sparkly. So ramp up your bulletin boards with these glittery printables.

6. Comic Book Style Letters

Many older kids and tweens are fans of comics and superheroes. Use these free printable letters for bulletin boards about Bible heroes.

Anti-Trafficking Advocate Victor Marx Concerned Success of ‘Sound of Freedom’ Will Lead to Christians Who are Informed, But Who Don’t Act

By

Jesse T. Jackson

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September 20, 2023

All Things Possible Ministries founder Victor Marx was severely abused and tortured as a child. Now he rescues children around the world who are experiencing the abuse he once endured.

In a video testimony, Marx shared how the trauma of abuse led him to a lifestyle filled with drugs, fights, and other sins but that the discipline of the military and his faith in God has helped him recover, become a husband and father, and fight to help others.

According to his website, “Victor focuses his attention to the plights of those affected by ISIS, troubled juvenile offenders, and supporting military personnel from all branches including the special operations community.” Throughout his career, Marx has helped more than 45,000 children.

ChurchLeaders reached out to Victor Marx and asked him to share how the success of Angel Studios‘ “Sound of Freedom,” which has gross more than $210 million worldwide and over $183 million in the United States alone, has impacted the fight against child trafficking.

“God used Tim’s story to put this in front of the Christian Church to say, now you know, what are you going to do? So the success of the film has really forced the conversation,” Marx said.

Marx said that it’s “exciting, but it’s also concerning, because the [American] church is a reflection, sadly, of our culture, not the other way around.”

“And as quick as things come and go on social media newsfeeds, the danger is that people will get lathered up and emotional in the moment and then move on—and it becomes a fad,” Marx expressed.

“Therefore, what happens is those of us who have been laboring in this field for decades are left with people who know enough verbiage to now not be responsible,” Marx added.

Viewers of the film may support an organization by praying for them or sending them money, but the support tends not to be long-term. “They just kind of pay their token, get on the ride, take a picture, and then they’ll always refer to the picture” to remind themselves or someone else that they helped.

Marx said that he believes one of the reasons churches haven’t stepped up more to help fight human trafficking, especially when it comes to children, is because “the current day church, they’re not keen on suffering.”

Global Vision Bible Church Receives Complaints, Bills Due to Noise and Traffic; Greg Locke Responds

By

Stephanie Martin

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September 20, 2023

For months, Pastor Greg Locke’s Global Vision Bible Church in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, has been the source of noise complaints from neighbors. Now, local officials are sending the church bills for extra resources needed to deal with traffic at church functions.

The Wilson County sheriff said he’s sending the church a bill for $7,500 because officers had to work overtime at the church’s recent Labor Day event. County Commissioners also have requested help from state officials to pay for extra resources.

Global Vision Bible Church is facing multiple lawsuits. In March, Wilson County sued the church and Locke for zoning violations and “excessive noise” complaints. The church, which holds worship outdoors, bought a new tent that was supposed to be more soundproof. It also built walls around its property.

But neighbors say that hasn’t helped. They’ve been raising money to hire a lawyer and file a noise nuisance lawsuit against the church.

Greg Locke’s Church Is in the Hot Seat (Again)

At a Wilson County Commissioners meeting on Sept. 18, officials passed a resolution requesting the state step in and help pay for public expenses associated with activities held at Global Vision Bible Church.

About the Labor Day event, Sheriff Robert Bryan told commissioners, “There were thousands of people down there. It was said that I said it was a success, there wasn’t any traffic problems. And that is not the case. I had up to 15 officers working their holiday weekend because of all the traffic down there. And I can say it was not a success. I’ve got a bill right here I’m fixing to send [the church] because it cost us $7,500 to pay for that.”

Neighbors have raised more than $10,000 to sue the church about what they call unacceptable noise levels. “It feels hostile,” one neighbor who requested anonymity told a local news station. “Probably the most upsetting thing is hearing [Locke] angrily casting out demons from people in his congregation.”

Wilson County doesn’t have a noise ordinance, so one resident started an online petition to change that. Locke told ChurchLeaders an audiologist compared the noise of his worship services to a lawnmower. “We’ve not violated any laws,” he said.

Other neighbors say they don’t have any personal issues with the church but just want some peace and quiet. Some say they’ve even considered moving. “The fact is, Greg Locke is holding the whole area hostage because there are no consequences for his actions,” one resident told commissioners on Monday.

Pastor Greg Locke Responds to Uproar

In a Sept. 20 voicemail to ChurchLeaders, Locke said this is a “very confusing time” because “the sheriff is backpedaling.” Bryan initially congratulated him on the event’s success, he said, but now the sheriff is “feeling the pressure politically.” Locke, who described the dustup as “a gigantic political peeing match,” said he plans to call the sheriff and say, “Look, bro, you blatantly lied on TV to save your own hide.”

About 8,000 people attended the church’s Labor Day event, Locke said, and the logistics were “supernaturally flawless.” He said there were no traffic backups, jams, or wrecks. “Yeah, we have a lot of people that come to our church,” said the pastor. “We grew a lot.”

General picture of Southern Baptist churches

3 Examples of Soul Toxins That Derail Our Leadership From a Servant Disposition:

1. Insecurity: The Insecure Leader Serves out of Fear and Is Often Tempted to Perform.

The Power of Sharing Stories

Embracing Weakness: The Path to Depending on God

The Journey of Dependence: Learning to Depend on God in All We Do

Demario Davis Urges, ‘Share the Gospel’

Cultural Context – Babylon or Israel?

America is Not a New Israel

We Are Exiles.

How To Use Your Phone for Good, Not Evil:

Dwell:

ChristAudio:

12 Sources for Bulletin Board Letters

1. Large Bulletin Board Letters

2. Printable Letters & Numbers

3. Free Pennant Letters for Bulletin Boards

4. Chalkboard-Style Printable Letters

5. Glitter Letters for Classroom Displays

6. Comic Book Style Letters

Greg Locke’s Church Is in the Hot Seat (Again)

Pastor Greg Locke Responds to Uproar

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