Death Leads to the Good Life

September 13, 2023

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?” – Jesus Christ, Luke 9:23-25 (ESV)

It is one of the foundational paradoxes of grace. You cannot understand God’s work of redemption if you don’t pursue this theological paradox: Death leads to life.

How would you define “the good life”? What do you feel you can’t live without? What has the ability to make or break your day?

What do others have that causes you to envy? If you could acquire just one thing, what would it be? What does your use of money tell you about what’s important to you?

What would the video of your last six weeks reveal about what has you in its hold?

Is there a place where you’re asking the creation to do what only the Creator can?

Because creation is so obvious—you can see it, taste it, feel it, and smell it—it’s tempting to look to it to deliver “the good life.”

But creation was made to point us to the Creator, who alone has the power to satisfy our longing hearts. He is the bread that will satisfy our hunger. He is the living water that makes us thirst no longer.

Looking to creation to do what it was not meant to do will not only disappoint us, it will enslave us. Idols never just disappoint us, they addict us as well.

Because the buzz of joy that creation gives us is so short, we have to go back again and again, and soon we’re convinced we cannot live without the next hit. What we tightly hold onto takes hold of us, now commanding of us what only God should ever control: our hearts.

And what holds our hearts will dictate our words and behavior.

During this Lenten season, we are called to remember that sin reduces us all to idolaters of creation somehow. Lent gives us a time in the calendar year to pause and reflect on created things that have taken too strong a hold on us, things that we have come to crave too intensely and love too dearly.

If someone doesn’t rescue us from our idolatrous and worldly pursuit of “the good life,” we will lose our lives. We must die if we are ever going to live.

Death leads to life. Coming to Jesus is not a negotiation, an agreement, or a contract. Coming to Jesus is a death—your death.

Christ died so that you may live. Now he asks you to lose your life so that you may find life in him—real, abundant, and eternal life.

Don’t fight the death of your old life; instead, celebrate the new life that is yours by grace and grace alone. And remember that your Savior will continue to call you to die; it is the way of life.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. What has the power to make you very sad?

2. What can produce almost instant happiness?

3. What physical idols tempt you most?

4. What relational idols attract you the most?

5. Review your answers to the questions throughout this devotional again. What might you need to give up, for this season of Lent or more permanently, to root the idols out of your heart?

This content was originally posted by Paul Tripp on www.paultripp.com.

Developing a Strategic Plan for Your Church

Gavin Adams

September 13, 2023

Church Consultant Gavin Adams has a series of articles on strategic planning at his site Transformation Solutions. This is the second in a series of four artciles on developing a strategic plan for your church.

Developing a Strategic Plan for Your Church

The second portion of our strategic planning process follows a similar plan as our first segment. The steps to developing a strategic plan for your church proceed in this fashion through a series of questions:

1. How will we succeed?

Our first step in the strategic planning process defined success (mission and vision). This segment answered the “what” of success. Now we turn our planning to the “hows” of success. How will we succeed?

As you already know, church success is defined by life change through the love and power of Jesus. To simplify our strategy to the irrefutable minimum, we are trying to Great Commission our community.

How can we do that best? I believe the answer is through steps, not programs. We must build ministry models of movement, not moments. Just as the “renewing of our mind” is a process, we should build ministry models to facilitate movement. That’s what spiritual formation and discipleship pathways attempt to do.

How will we succeed? By creating a model that moves people through a discipleship process.

2. What specific areas need addressing? How should they be prioritized?

After redefining the “how” of success, we focus on the specific areas that are working and not working on our discipleship pathway. After evaluating everything we do in light of success, we can decide:

1. What should we keep doing in its current form?
2. What should be retained, but needs some revitalization to work within our model?
3. What should we add along the continuum to help people move through the process?
4. What should we quit doing altogether?

3. What is our specific plan of action?

With the how’s of success defined and our current reality evaluated against our “how,” we can make specific plans to move our organization from where we are to where we hope to be. These particular plans are the building materials for our bridge to the other side.

Perhaps you’ve heard of S.M.A.R.T. goals. Our plans of action follow a similar path:

S) Make the plan Specific and Sequential.
M) Decide how you’ll Measure the plan as it’s placed in action.
A) Ensure the plan is Attainable.
R) Consider how your plans align to your values as to keep your steps Relevant, and finally
T) While the timeline may shift during the process, it’s essential to begin with an agreed-upon Timeline for accountability and expectations.

4. What are our departmental plans?

The final piece of this strategy development section is to include everyone by outlining departmental plans. Excellent strategic planning touches almost every person and process in an organization. Therefore, it’s essential to include everyone in the process.

Developing a strategic plan for your church

From this point, all that is left is a more granular look at tactics and actions and measurement considerations.

This article on developing a strategic plan for your church originally appeared here, and is used by permission. Gavin created Transformation Solutions to help ministry and marketplace leaders progress from innovation through implementation. He dedicates his time to helping leaders discover potential problems, design strategic solutions, and deliver the preferable future.

4 Reasons Every Church Needs Senior Saints Ministry – And IN Ministry

Tim Counts

September 13, 2023

We need the senior saints of the church, and we need senior saints ministry in the church. A couple of days ago, I received an email from a church member in his 80s, letting me know that he’s moving. We have known for some time that it’s best for him to move closer to his family due to his health and housing situation. But the news that the move was finally happening hit me unexpectedly, as if I’d lost a dear friend. I felt it in the pit of my stomach and the tears in my eyes.

Then I realized that is exactly why I felt that way: I was losing a dear friend, and a grandfather in the faith. And our church is losing him, too.

Sometimes senior saints question their usefulness in the church as they age. That’s unfortunate because they’re an essential part of the body of Christ. Although we trust in our sovereign and wise God to add and take away from his local body as he sees fit, church life is different without them. As pastors, therefore, we need to remind our elderly members that they’re not only loved by their Good Shepherd and Savior—they’re also loved and needed by his people. That means senior saints ministry, and senior saints in ministry.

We Need Senior Saints Ministry

1. We Need Your Prayers.

My 80-something friend often leads our congregation in prayer on Sunday mornings. Visitors and members regularly comment on how his prayers are a blessing to them. That’s and example of senior saints ministry. We need older members to pray out loud during worship services, Bible studies and prayer meetings. We also need their private prayers.

Sometimes, I’ll see God work in a way that can only be explained by a work of his Spirit in somebody’s life or in salvation. When this happens, I think, “God has answered the prayers of one of my sisters in Christ,” because I know there are several elderly ladies who pray for our church, our community and my pastoral ministry regularly. Even if you’re reading this on your tablet from a nursing home—I visited an elderly lady doing just that the other day—we as the church need your prayers.

2. We Need Your Practical, Biblical Wisdom.

My grandpa taught an adult Sunday School class until Parkinson’s robbed him of his voice. I’ll never forget a seminary professor who taught class using a special microphone because health complications made it difficult for him to speak. I’m so thankful that these men continued to pass on their biblical knowledge and life experience until they literally could not anymore. Whether through teaching a class or sharing a comment during a Bible study or encouraging a young mom during fellowship, every church members needs the wisdom that comes from decades of studying the Word mixed with decades of life experience.

Senior saints, please continue to speak into the lives of younger believers with love and truth and grace. The church needs your wisdom not simply because you’re older, but because you bring the practical, biblical wisdom that only comes from marinating in the Word and walking with Christ in both life’s joys and sorrows.

3. We Need Your Encouragement.

My friend recently raised his hand at a business meeting as I was almost done explaining a new initiative, and simply said that he saw God’s hand in this and that the congregation should be supportive of where God was leading me with this initiative. We could have just stopped the explanation right then and gone straight to the vote. As a senior saint, your words of encouragement matter.

I’ve seen young, sleep-deprived parents light up when an older person in the church tells them, “Your kids are a joy.” I’ve seen discouraged empty-nesters, struggling with change, rediscover hope as they remember God’s faithfulness in your marriages of over 50 years

As the Psalmist exclaims, “One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts” (Psalm 145:4). Don’t hesitate to share your stories of provision and grace and forgiveness, and to remind us of God’s goodness and faithfulness. Senior saint, we need your encouragement.

4. We Need Your Presence.

We know it takes a lot of work for older folks to get to church. We know that there will come a day that we need to come to you, rather than you coming to us. But until that day, we need your presence.

5 Gifts That Will Greatly Bless Your Pastor

Ron Edmondson

September 13, 2023

I want to share some ideas about the best gifts for pastors. (How’s that for a self-serving article?)

Those from the church where I serve as pastor should read this post knowing I minister to hundreds of pastors every month. In my latest blog survey, over 50 percent of my readers are in vocational ministry. But even more important, only about 10 percent of my readers actually know me personally. So, this is not a personal plea. It’s written for the hopeful benefit of others who can benefit from gifts for pastors. Thanks for being the kind of church that—for the most part—protects the pastor.

Most churches love to bless their pastor. I get asked frequently how the church can help me.

To be a pastor of a local church is a privilege and a high honor. But it’s the hardest work I’ve ever done.

Here are five gifts for pastors:

1. Your understanding of time

Acts 6:1-2, Ephesians 5:31 (applies to the pastor’s marriage too)

The pastor needs time away from the ministerial responsibilities and activities of the church so that he can commit time to his family and to the ministry of the Word of God. Every activity done in the church is important, according to God’s Word, but the primary responsibility of the pastor is to teach God’s Word. I have witnessed so many pastors who burn out because too many demands are placed upon them. If there is a social or an activity in the church or among its people, most people expect the pastor to always be there. There is often little consideration of the fact that the pastor needs time with his family; and certainly time to prepare the message of God’s Word.

If you want your pastor to be prepared to deliver God’s message of the week to you, and if you want his family to be strong enough that he can model family life for you, then give him time alone with God during the week. Make sure he has time to study and for his family. Too many demands on his time will make a very stressed out pastor!

2. Your financial partnership

1 Corinthians 9:11-12

Your pastor needs to be personally supported financially and needs your partnership in funding the mission of the church.

I haven’t met any strong, biblical pastors who don’t realize that the ministry is a sacrifice. Most pastors don’t expect to be wealthy. Most pastors know that the ministry is a life of faith, even in the area of finances. They shouldn’t, however, have to beg for support. The burden of support should be on those receiving the ministry.

Operating any size church takes resources. The stress of “fundraising” on a pastor usually is outside of their comfort zone and expertise. What a blessing it is to a pastor when people give gifts for pastors by willingly sacrificing to fund the vision!

Church Fined for Copyright Infringement – Could Yours Be Next?

Susan Godwin

September 13, 2023

The possibility of being a church fined for copyright infringement is a vital question for church leaders who set policies and procedures regarding copyright infringement. I’m always a little stunned to hear someone counter with, “How many churches have been sued for copyright infringement?” In other words, what’s the chance of us getting caught and what are the risks?

Church Fined for Copyright Infringement? Really?

Two famous lawsuits involving a church fined for copyright infringement raised a major red flag for Christian leaders who have the illusion there is special immunity for churches when it comes to the U.S. Copyright Law, and smaller churches can no longer assume they operate under the radar.

Yesh Music (Richard Cupolo and John Emanuele) filed a complaint on October 28, 2011, claiming that First Baptist Church Smyrna (TN) used two of Yesh’s compositions in videos streamed from their website. The complaint also details Yesh’s assertion that no license was granted for this use. Yesh is seeking $150,000 for each infringement in addition to attorneys’ fees.

The complaint against FBC Smyrna comes on the heels of a much more high profile suit filed by Yesh Music this summer against the nation’s largest church, Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church with weekly attendance of 43,000. While Lakewood may have the resources to combat this type of litigation, many smaller churches could find this kind of lawsuit to be devastating. “Federal copyright laws apply to everyone in the country, whether they are a church or a company. There are are no exceptions,” said the plaintiff’s attorney, W. Craft Hughes. “Our clients made the decision to look to the court system to get justice for what’s happened to them.”

Sometimes decision makers need a clear example of potential risks and liabilities before they move to change internal policies. Copyright infringement can be very damaging to an active church or Christian ministry. It is crucial that churches get proper licensing for any copyrighted works that they use and distribute, be they musical or visual.

We believe it is very important to provide helpful, accurate information to churches and nonprofit ministries so they can take the additional steps needed to respect the rights of copyright owners when using their original works of authorship.

Section 501 of the Copyright Act details the liabilities for which a copyright infringer is responsible. Here are few examples of infringement cases, and the damages ordered by the court. According to Richard R. Hammar, J.D., LL.M., CPA, copyright infringement does not require that the infringer “intend” to violate one or more of the copyright owner’s exclusive rights. In many cases, copyright infringers “innocently” commit copyright infringement in the sense that they do not realize that what they are doing is wrong. This is no defense to liability.

Children’s Ministry Training: 15 Tips for Equipping Your KidMin Team

ChildrensMinistry.com

September 12, 2023

Children’s ministry training doesn’t always need to be an event. Discover 15 ways to sneak in training when volunteers and teachers least expect it.

In kidmin, we always have so much to do with so little time. Let’s talk about the ever-present need to train volunteers. When can you fit that in? The world tells our team members that a packed calendar is a sign of success. So when will they attend training? Besides, training events sound optional. Must volunteers really attend those every time?

When can you train? On Saturday? No, that’s soccer-baseball-water-ski-family day. Okay, how about Sunday? Pleeease! They’re jammed! Could you schedule it during the week? Wait! Weeknights are full too.

Sound familiar? Time-crunched families and volunteers are the norm today. So maybe children’s ministry training doesn’t always need a set time, place, or agenda. Instead, you can sneak in training when volunteers least expect it.

These 15 children’s ministry training ideas can refocus your time, energize your team, and mobilize teachers and volunteers to remain faithful to their calling!

15 Training Tactics for Children’s Ministry

1. E-Team

First, realize you don’t have time to meet personally with each volunteer. So create an “E-Team” to be in charge of encouraging and equipping others. Meet with your E-Team to develop a quarterly game plan so everyone on your team receives encouragement. Use these criteria to select E-Team members: creative, supportive, sensitive to people in need, and detail-oriented.

2. Coffee Break

Does someone struggle more than most with the lesson? Meet with that person one on one at a coffee shop. Share several ideas for a successful Sunday school class time. Help the volunteer work through four to six weeks of totally awesome lessons. Then follow up each week to ask how a specific lesson went.

3. Success Stories

Use play-by-play videos or digital photos each Sunday to show great things that are happening in classrooms. You can play the video as children arrive or post photos in hallways. Volunteers will not only learn from one another but will be encouraged to see they share similar challenges with others.

4. Party Time

Throw a planning party for Sunday school teachers to celebrate individual successes and the things people are doing right. It’s the ultimate volunteer training because they’ll learn from each other.

5. Snack Time

Bring in leaders from other churches on Sunday morning to mingle with your team during a continental breakfast or coffee break. Your guests can ask your volunteers questions to help you assess who’s struggling (because sometimes they won’t tell you) and what’s working (because sometimes we get home-blind and don’t see all the good things).

6. Conferences

Send teachers to a conference, and make sure they drive together. Their discussions before and after the event are sometimes even richer than the conference itself. It’s especially helpful for conference attendees to wrestle together with how they’ll apply what they learned.

7. Tag-Team Training

Match new recruits with experienced volunteers for one class. Then have the new recruits share what they’ve learned. This is a great way to get your veteran teachers—who may feel they can’t learn anymore—to learn how to transfer their years of knowledge relationally.

Passion Gone Too Far

Full Strength Network

September 12, 2023

adrenaline addiction — Source: Lightstock

What drives you?

Passion or adrenaline?

Passion is an intense desire or enthusiasm for something. Adrenaline is a hormone secreted by the adrenal glands, especially in conditions of stress, increasing rates of blood circulation, breathing, and preparing muscles for exertion.

Also called epinephrine, adrenaline is a crucial part of the body’s fight-or-flight response, but over-exposure can be addicting.

A 2004 article by the Table Group points out:

There is something particularly insidious about adrenaline addiction that makes it hard for many leaders to kick the habit. Unlike other addicts whose behaviors are socially frowned-upon, adrenaline addicts are often praised for their frantic activity, even promoted for it during their careers. And so, they often wear their problem like a badge of honor, failing to see it as an addiction in spite of the pain it causes.

Pastors and other ministry leaders may be some of the most adrenaline-driven people on planet earth. We often confuse passion with our calling with being driven by adrenaline. And it comes at a great cost to our health, relationships, and longevity.

At what point does passion for our work degrade into an adrenaline addiction? Let me point out a few differences between the two:

Passion gets us out of bed in the morning, ready to take on the day. Adrenaline keeps us up at night, unable to let go of the cares of the day.
Passion energizes us to carry out our assignment. Adrenaline often propels us beyond our assignment and into responsibilities that belong to others.
Passion produces an appropriate sense of urgency. Adrenaline makes everything seem urgent.
Passion draws us; adrenaline drives us.

So how do we determine if we’re simply passionate—or in reality, adrenaline-addicted? Let me throw a few thoughts into the mix:

If you can’t detach yourself from your smartphone and always check your email late at night, you might be an adrenaline addict.
If people praise you for how hard your work, you might be an adrenaline addict.

If your sense of value rises and falls on how busy you are, you might be an adrenaline addict.
If you can’t sit still, you might be an adrenaline addict.
If you have no time for a personal life, you might be an adrenaline addict.

How To Deal With Adrenaline Addiction

So what can you do if you suspect you might be addicted to adrenaline

1. Admit You’re an Addict

“Hello, I’m [insert your name], and I’m an adrenaline junkie.” Simply acknowledge your current state with brutal honesty. Drug addicts can’t begin the journey toward healing without admitting they have a problem. Adrenaline addiction is real, on the rise, and often leads to both physical and psychological problems. It damages relationships, especially family relationships. The first step toward freedom is admitting you have a problem.

Jill Duggar Dillard in ‘Counting the Cost’: My Dad Treats Me Worse Than My ‘Pedophile Brother’

Stephanie Martin

September 12, 2023

More revelations are emerging from Jill Duggar Dillard’s memoir “Counting the Cost,” released today, Sept. 12. As ChurchLeaders has reported, the former reality TV star has a fractured relationship with her father, Jim Bob Duggar, patriarch of the “19 Kids and Counting” family.

In the book, Dillard, 32, describes a tense encounter with her father that almost became physical. She expresses disgust about her parents’ decision to “protect” her oldest brother, Josh Duggar, who was convicted of receiving and possessing child sexual abuse images. Dillard also is speaking out against the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP), the conservative Christian organization her parents belong to, calling it a “cult” driven by fear.

Other bombshells from the memoir include financial disagreements and conflicts about filming expectations. Dillard, the fourth Duggar sibling, co-authored the memoir with her husband, Derick Dillard. The couple, married since 2014, have three sons.

Jill Duggar Dillard: Dad Treats Me ‘Worse Than…My Pedophile Brother’

In an exclusive memoir excerpt published by People magazine, Dillard describes a mediation session with her husband and parents, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar. Dillard said her parents were hurt by communications she had sent them, including a text to her dad that referenced his alleged verbal abuse.

“You’re not going to apologize? Really?” Jim Bob reportedly asked his daughter, who became emotional. “You know why you’re crying, don’t you?” he then said. “Your conscience is talking to you.” Dillard said her father was “yelling, stabbing a finger at me, standing right over me.”

In response, she told him, “You want to know why I’m crying? It’s that you think I’m some kind of horrible person just because I wear pants and have a nose ring…I’m evolving and changing…but you can’t see it. You treat me like I’m a prodigal who’s turned her back on you. You treat me worse than you treat my pedophile brother.”

The memoir also recounts how Dillard “felt sick to my core” about her parents’ efforts to “guard Josh’s privacy and keep him from being publicly humiliated” when they learned he had been molesting girls, including her and three of her sisters. Although Josh Duggar admitted to his father that he had touched girls inappropriately, Jim Bob didn’t alert authorities until the statute of limitations had run out.

Pastor Says It Was a Mistake To Allow DeSantis To Speak at Vigil for Victims of Jacksonville Shooting

Dale Chamberlain

September 12, 2023

Jacksonville pastor John Allen Newman has expressed regret for allowing Florida governor Ron DeSantis to speak at a vigil remembering the lives of Black victims in a racially motivated shooting at a Dollar General store, which took place last month.

DeSantis’ presence at the vigil, which took place one day after the Aug. 26 shooting, was not welcomed. When DeSantis was given a microphone to address the crowd, he was met with booing and heckling.

In the wake of the racist shooting, DeSantis has been criticized for his ongoing “war on woke,” which many argue has emboldened hatred toward communities of color. DeSantis’ anti-woke agenda has largely centered on policies targeting the perceived use of critical race theory (CRT) in school curriculums, as well as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) training in government agencies.

Newman, who serves as pastor of The Sanctuary @ Mount Calvary Church in Jacksonville and who emceed the vigil, has now said that it was a mistake to allow DeSantis speak at the event.

The vigil was organized by Jacksonville city council member Ju’Coby Pittman, who had asked Newman to help lead it. Newman said in an interview with News4Jax that DeSantis had not been invited to the vigil, and his moment at the microphone was “a fluke.”

According to Newman, Pittman alerted him to the fact that DeSantis would be present shortly before the event, adding, “There was not a lot of lead time from finding that out.”

Newman went on to express that when the time came, he misread the event’s program. While DeSantis’ presence was meant to be acknowledged, Newman ended up handing DeSantis the microphone.

“That was my mistake, by misreading the program,” Newman said.

During the same interview, Pittman addressed the backlash she has faced for her attempt to calm the crowd after the vigil attendees began loudly booing DeSantis.

“I will tell you that the crowd, they had every reason to be angry, upset, because of what had happened the day before,” Pittman said. “But unfortunately, I have been criticized, threatened about the whole situation.”

Dr. Tony Evans Announces Engagement, Asks for Prayer: ‘It Is a Tender Time’

Jessica Mouser

September 12, 2023

Dr. Tony Evans, pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship (OCBF) in Dallas, has announced his engagement to Dr. Carla Crummie. The news comes nearly four years after the death of Evans’ wife, Lois, and the pastor asked his congregation for prayer during what is a “sensitive time.”

“As I come up to the fourth year of the loss of Lois, my wife of 49 1/2 years, it is a tender time. There are reminders everywhere of her life and of her influence on me, my family and this ministry,” said Evans in a video posted to OCBF’s YouTube account on Sept. 11. The announcement appears to have taken place during Sunday service on Sept. 10.

Dr. Tony Evans Engaged to Dr. Carla Crummie

Dr. Tony Evans, who just celebrated his 74th birthday, is a widely respected pastor, prolific author and veteran speaker. As he began his announcement, his children, Priscilla Shirer, Jonathan Evans, Anthony Evans Jr. and Crystal Evans Hurst, came on stage, flanking their father.

“We are a very close family,” said Evans, “and all that has happened in my life, family, church, Urban Alternative, books, tapes, everything, has been defined by [Lois], so we’ve had over these four years the ups and downs and the roller coaster of emotions, sometimes high, sometimes low, but it comes with it.”

People who have had similar losses will understand, said Evans, who noted that “right after she passed was COVID, and we had to deal with that as you did too.”

“And I want to just thank so many of you who have been grievers with us,” he said, “and allowed us to grieve with you on some of your times. And so that’s part of life—it’s outside of our hands. We had to put it in the hands of a sovereign God.”

Evans said as he “worked through the ups and downs of singlehood, God in his sovereignty has brought someone into my life.” At these words, the congregation interrupted Evans with applause. The pastor said, “This someone has traveled this similar road. In fact, she and her husband were on their way to Lois’ funeral when her husband died.”

‘We Get To See You in Person Again!’—Beth Moore’s Living Proof Ministries Re-Opens Its Doors

Janna Firestone

September 12, 2023

Living Proof Ministries Beth Moore — Screengrabs via Instagram / @livingproofministries

Author and speaker Beth Moore and her organization Living Proof Ministries (LPM) have announced that they’re reopening the ministry’s doors to the public. People can visit LPM, located in Houston, for prayer or to study God’s word in the theological library.

On Monday (Sept. 11), LPM posted the news on its Instagram account: “We’re celebrating big at the ministry because we get to see you in person again!!!!🎉 This month, we’re so excited to re-open the doors of Living Proof Ministries to the public for opportunities for prayer and studying the Word. And we’re kicking it off TOMORROW! ❤️”

Beth Moore’s Living Proof Ministries Is Open for In-Person Visitors

Moore posted, “This little clip delighted me not only because we’re ecstatic to reopen our doors to the public at LPM but because you get to see the radiant faces of most of my co-laborers at LPM.”

Moore added, “I say this with deep gratitude to the Lord: I don’t know a group of people who exude more love, joy, faith & hope in Christ and, when I need prayer, these are the 1st people I turn to.”

Prayer is integral to LPM. The team—whether meeting in person or online—focuses on “praying His perfect will be done, His beautiful love shared for all, with great glory to His Holy Name.”

Now offered in person again, the Prayer Hour is an opportunity to join “a safe space to share your prayer requests and receive intercessory prayer right then and there.”

LPM offers a Prayer Hour regularly throughout the month. “Every second and fourth Tuesday of every month, we’ll have openings between 12 and 1 p.m. CST. Because our team is really small, we have to do this by reservation only,” LPM said. “We hope this also helps those of you planning to stop by during your lunch break. You can reserve your prayer time slot at the link in our bio!”

Those not local to the Houston area can still join the Prayer Hour online or via phone. “Our prayer phone line will be open between 12 and 1 p.m. CST every second and fourth Tuesday of each month,” the ministry said.

LPM also has a theological library onsite that will reopen to the public on Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., beginning Sept. 18. The stocked library holds commentaries, language study books, theological works, classics, fiction books, poetry collections, and books focused on Christian living. Men and women are invited to “enjoy a good cup of coffee, and study away.”

“It’s been a while since we’ve been able to host guests at our Study, but we’re excited to also relaunch this opportunity for teachers, pastors, speakers, writers and students of any kind who wish to study Scripture and theology,” shared LPM.

The ministry added, “What we want more than anything else at Living Proof is to be of assistance to you in your pursuit of Jesus Christ. We can’t wait to see you!!!!!!”

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A post shared by Living Proof Ministries (@livingproofministries)

Friends, family, and fans couldn’t be happier. One person commented, “Your gals are so amazing! Warm, kind & welcoming at every event. Fierce, discerning, delightful prayer warriors on the phone! One day, bucket list, to visit LPM in person!”

After Accusations by Top Ukrainian Official, Vatican Bank Denies Receiving Funds From Russia

Claire Giangrave

September 12, 2023

Vatican bank — Pope Francis meets the journalists during a press conference aboard the airplane directed to Rome, at the end of the 37th World Youth Day in Lisbon, Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023. (Maurizio Brambatti/Pool Photo Via AP)

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — After a close aid to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Pope Francis of being a Russophile and the Vatican of receiving Russian funds, the Catholic Church issued a statement denying the accusations on Sunday (Sept. 10).

“The IOR does not receive or invest money from Russia,” read a statement by the Institute for Religious Works, using the Italian acronym IOR for the institution more commonly referred to as the Vatican Bank. “The IOR strongly rejects the allegations of the Councilor, according to whom the IOR would be investing Russian money.”

The Vatican Bank insisted the institute only provides financial services to Catholic organizations and that it is held to the highest possible international standards.

“Any statements made to the contrary in the media are based on nothing and must, therefore, be considered as such,” the statement concluded.

Mykhaylo Podolyak, a top adviser to Zelenskyy, called Pope Francis a “Russophile” in an interview on Ukrainian television Channel24 that aired Sept. 8. “The Vatican can’t have any mediation role, because it would betray Ukraine and justice,” he said.

Podolyak also stated that the Ukrainian government plans to “look into the Russian investments that are being made in the Vatican Bank” and promised to “study this more in detail.”

Pope Francis has promoted peace in Ukraine after the Russian invasion in February of last year, but has stopped short of openly criticizing Russia and its leader, Vladimir Putin. Vatican diplomacy has been focused on attempting to build a bridge between the warring factions and to promote a lasting peace.

The pope sent a peace envoy, the experienced diplomat and Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, to visit Russian elites in Moscow and meet with Ukrainian leaders. The cardinal also met with members of the United States government, and the pope hinted that the next stop for Zuppi might be Beijing. While Zelenskyy has publicly thanked the Vatican for its peace efforts, especially in helping displaced children to reunite with their families and other charity work, he has also made it clear Ukraine is not interested in the pope’s mediation offer and will seek peace “on its own terms.”

A few diplomatic blunders have also hindered Pope Francis’ chance to bring peace. In a message to young people in Russia in late August, the pope was quoted praising the great history and legacy of Russia, including Russian historical figures like Catherine the Great and Peter the Great, which was interpreted by some as a papal sanctioning of Russian imperialist aims.

Addressing those comments, Podolyak said that “it doesn’t make sense to speak of Pope Francis as a mediator, if he takes on a Russophile position that is obvious to all.”

“I was not thinking of imperialism when I said that,” said Pope Francis, while justifying his comments aboard the papal flight returning to Mongolia (Sept. 4). “Maybe it wasn’t the best way of putting it, but in speaking of the great Russia, I was thinking not so much geographically but culturally.”

Meet the Pastor Behind That ‘Quitting the Church’ Essay

Bob Smietana

September 12, 2023

quitting the church — The Rev. Alex Lang. Courtesy photo

(RNS) — Alex Lang thought he was done with the pastorate for good.

On Sunday, Aug. 27, Lang bid farewell to the congregation at First Presbyterian Church in Arlington Heights, Illinois, where he’d served for a decade.

His final sermon done, Lang sat down and typed out some thoughts on why he left not only First Presbyterian but the pastorate altogether. Lang posted that essay a few days later on his website, thinking his few hundred regular readers might be interested.

He was partly right. His regular readers were interested. And so were about 350,000 of Lang’s colleagues.

Lang’s essay, entitled “Why I Left the Church,” went viral — and prompted a national conversation among clergy about the pressures of the profession and how they talk about those pressures. Over coffee and in Facebook posts and denomination offices, Lang’s essay became the topic du jour for clergy around the country. Some resonated with his concerns, while others saw his leaving as a lack of faith.

“I’ve done more than 50 articles,” said the 43-year-old Lang during an interview at his home outside of Chicago. “Usually nobody cares.”

His more recent essay became a blank slate for people to write their own experiences on. Many of those experiences are difficult — as pastors have become burnt out caring for people’s souls amid the decline of organized religion known as the “Great Dechurching” and the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Alex raised issues that are relevant and resonated with clergy serving congregations and other institutions,” said Rev. Craig Howard, executive presbyter of the Presbytery of Chicago, which First Presbyterian is a part of. “These issues include isolation, organizational calcification, burnout, and bullying.”

After reading Lang’s essay, Howard said he emailed other clergy in the Presbyterian Church (USA) in the Chicago area, inviting them to meet up and talk. That meeting, he said, led local leaders to work on some resources to help pastors with spiritual care and mental health issues.

In his essay, Lang talked about the burden of knowing his congregation’s secrets and their sorrows — which became, at times, more than he could bear.

“What you don’t realize is that, over time, the accumulation of all that knowledge starts to weigh you down,” he wrote. “Your mind is a repository for all sorts of secrets and, if you’re human, you feel sympathy and empathy for their suffering.”

The Rev. Alex Lang preaches his last sermon at First Presbyterian Church of Arlington Heights, Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023. Video screen grab

The Rev. Alex Lang preaches his last sermon at First Presbyterian Church of Arlington Heights, Illinois, Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023. Video screen grab

That portion of Lang’s essay resonated with the Rev. Devyn Chambers Johnson, co-pastor of Covenant Congregational Church in North Easton, Massachusetts. She said it’s hard for congregation members or those outside the church to understand that part of a pastor’s life.

While helping professionals like therapists or counselors also support people in crises, they don’t do so on the scale that a pastor does, something she said her husband and co-pastor, Ryan, helped put into perspective.

Virtual Mission Field

James Emery White

September 12, 2023

virtual mission field — Adobestock #123643513

The Church has entered a new era—a post-Christian, digital age. But simply having a website, social media, and an online campus should not be our only forays into a digital post-Christian world. We should enter the virtual mission field.

According to DataProt, it is estimated that there are 3.24 billion gamers worldwide, which is approximately 40% of the world’s population. Writing for Outreach magazine, Jonathan Sprowl asks, “What is the church doing to reach these people whose lives are increasingly lived online?” Or as David Roach titled an article for Christianity Today, “The Next Mission Field Is a Game.”

Generation Z and Generation Alpha, says AdAge, are “growing up in virtual worlds in a way no previous generation has—with Fortnite and Roblox going mainstream and blockchain technologies” making waves. AdAge adds, “The metaverse has been set up to scratch the itch of socialization in a way that didn’t exist until this moment.”

In June 2016, D.J. Soto purchased his first virtual-reality headset. Then he discovered AltSpaceVR, a virtual-reality meeting space. He soon envisioned planting a church in a virtual environment. On the Sunday he held his first service, five people showed up, one of whom was an atheist from Denmark. From that point on, Soto knew he could potentially reach anyone in the world with the message of Christ in virtual-reality environments.

Joining Soto in AltspaceVR is Life.Church, which in late 2021 announced it would be hosting services on the virtual-reality platform, offering its first services in December of that year. “While critics might question if real connections can be made in the metaverse, Life.Church has seen countless lives changed through relationships in digital spaces over the years,” said spokeswoman Rachel Feuerborn. In the church’s experience, she said, people “are often more willing to let their guard down and have deep, meaningful conversations more quickly from the safety of anonymity than they are face-to- face.”

Not only can virtual-reality environments extend our reach but the metaverse can offer enhanced virtual-reality experiences. New environments can be created to allow participants to explore various aspects of the biblical story. They can cross the Red Sea as the Israelites did, experience a storm at sea as the apostle Paul did, or walk the streets of Jerusalem. “It’s a 360-degree immersive experience that brings the Bible to life,” notes Sprowl.

An additional benefit is the safety of the environment: “because everyone interacts with one another through avatars, a range of people from every faith to no-faith backgrounds feels comfortable participating in virtual small group discussions, where they can examine Christianity in a safe environment.”

Jason Poling, lead pastor of Cornerstone Church in Yuba City, California, began ministry in the metaverse in 2019. He too discovered that many people were willing to have a spiritual conversation within the first five minutes. The anonymity made people much more comfortable to ask deeper questions sooner.

Ministry in the virtual world is also critical to reach people in younger demographics, such as Generation Z and Generation Alpha. Consider that the livestreaming platform Twitch, where participants of various games talk with each other as they play, has an estimated 15 million daily users, of which 73% are under the age of 35.

I know of one member of our church who is active on Twitch and uses it to direct people to our online campus, and then, through Twitch, watches a service with them. He has a following in a unique interest group that has nothing to do with spiritual things, but through that shared interest and his expertise in it, he and his followers have both a relationship and trust. He just casually mentions that if anyone wants to join him as he watches Meck’s online campus, much the way they join him to watch him pursue their shared interest, he would welcome the time together.

Many do.

Chicago-based NewThing, a ministry of Community Christian Church, launched a digital church-planting campaign it hopes will result in hundreds of new churches. “The plan is to start looking at digital space and the metaverse,” says Jeff Reed, director of NewThing’s digital realm, “as communities where people are gathering.” The goal is to capitalize on the “increasing number of people who have wide social networks that exist entirely online.”

Spiritual Formation: The Way On

Ray Hollenbach

September 12, 2023

John Wimber, the founder of the Vineyard movement, had a saying: The way in is the way on, by which he meant the very actions and attitudes that empower the miracle of new birth in Jesus are the same actions and attitudes that empower spiritual growth. In much of the North American church, however, the saying could be changed the phrase, “the way in is all there is.”

I once attended a meeting of pastors who were planning a “city-wide revival.” The pastor of a respected and growing church opened the meeting with these words: “God is only going to ask each of us two questions when we get to heaven: ’Do you know my Son?’ and ‘How many others did you bring with you?’” It was a memorable opening because it was short, dramatic, and wrong. The record of the first century church, preserved for us in the book of Acts and the letters written to newly-planted churches, reveals a profound concern for a spiritual transformation – the way on – that flows from a decision to follow Jesus.

Consider the Apostle Paul’s prayer for the people of the church in Colosse:

Since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1: 9-14)

Paul prayed for the spiritual transformation of people who already knew Jesus. This prayer lays out at least three priorities each follower of Jesus. Perhaps we can discover the way on through Paul’s prayer.

The Way On

1. We need to be filled.

Paul asked God to pour “the knowledge of his will” into the believers in Colosse. The next step after coming to Jesus as Lord is to be filled with the knowledge of his will. It requires something more than mere human intellect–it requires spiritual wisdom and understanding. I believe Paul prayed these words because he understood our tendency to apply the old way of living life to our new life in Christ. The problem is, we were “born again” into a new kingdom. How many babies know how to find their way around their new environment? If we take the image of the new birth seriously we should realize there’s a whole new life ahead. The new life ahead requires something beyond our old resources. It requires seeing things–and understanding them–from God’s perspective.

Millennial Parents: 7 Ways To Reach Young Families Today

Chris Reinolds

September 12, 2023

Millennial parents and young families are causing a paradigm shift in churches and children’s ministry. Until now, the church attracted generations of families based on tradition. So they just stuck with it.

A common bond always tied families to the church. Bonds included the community, similar jobs and economic status, a common race, and familial relations. Although these identifiers aren’t bad, they can be isolating.

Paul makes it clear in Ephesians 4:1-6 that church unity isn’t to be based on personal similarities. Rather, the foundation is our one God and his one work of salvation. That common bond should unite us with other believers. Unfortunately, we’ve allowed insignificant differences to separate us.

One major issue facing the local church is a lack of young families. Millennial parents and their children are more culturally diverse than previous generations. Although young families may seem minor right now, in the next 10 to 15 years they’ll be a force like no other. So why should we concern ourselves with them now? Simply put: If we don’t adjust our ministry methods, we’ll lose these next-gen families.

Lifeway Research found that many young adults leave the church because they don’t find it relevant. That trend can’t continue!

The good news is that church leaders can slow this decline. Use these tips to reach millennial parents and develop them into kingdom builders.

7 Ways to Connect With Millennial Parents

1. Develop new forms.

For the overall direction of the church, two areas are key: form and function. The church’s essential function must encompass at least two tasks. The first is to glorify God. The second is to fulfill the Great Commission.

These two things take place in a variety of ways; that’s “form.” We always must carry out the “function” of the church. But the “form” in which we accomplish that can be extremely diverse.

Can You Spot Background Check Red Flags?

Daniel Raley

September 12, 2023

background check red flags — Adobestock #273708211

There are many hurdles toward selecting quality employees or volunteers; passing a background check shouldn’t be one of them. Background checks are often the final litmus test before extending a job offer. They are (rightly so) an increasingly common requirement in ministries hiring procedures and vetting policies for volunteers. A thorough background investigation, such as one conducted by a nationally-accredited Consumer Reporting Agency (CRA) like Protect My Ministry, will deliver information on a person’s criminal record, credit history, drug test record, education verification, and reference checks. This is essential information for recognizing background check red flags.

Many ministries whose employees work with children or other vulnerable populations also require that candidates pass an abuse safety training course in addition to a background check. More and more ministries are incorporating mandatory child safety training for all of their childcare workers and volunteers who participate in Vacation Bible School and after school programs.

Can You Spot Background Check Red Flags?

There is No Such Thing as Perfect

It’s unlawful to run background checks on a candidate without his/her consent. It’s also totally normal to have some reservations about agreeing to a background investigation. With so many misconceptions about background checks, it’s hard to know what information is being gathered about a job candidate, how it’s being assessed, and why it can affect candidates’ employability.

Ministries need to be aware that even the best applicant on paper may not seem so squeaky clean after a background check. It’s important that your ministry has a standardized policy when it comes to background check red flags that will disqualify someone from employment or volunteerism. Even red flags such as behavior or character traits need to be thoughtfully weighed as they could expose your church to increased risk.

Connecting With Kids: 7 Children’s Ministry Tips for Breaking the Ice

Greg Baird

September 11, 2023

Connecting with kids is key to any children’s ministry program or activity. When children attend for the first time, it’s important to establish connection and develop truth. With children you know well, it’s important to continue building the relationship. Connecting with kids is important whether they appear outgoing and confident or shy and tentative.

Sometimes we prioritize focusing on parents rather than connecting with kids. Sometimes we’re too busy putting out kidmin fires. Often we just don’t know how to break the ice.

Whatever the case, anyone who leads and serves in children’s ministry must be connecting with kids. Do it early (as soon as they walk in) and often (in different situations and ways).

Here are 7 ideas for connecting with kids of all ages:

1. Make sure you see eye to eye.

This means you need to get down to children’s level. Kneel down on one knee and look them in the eye as you greet them with a smile.

2. Don’t be afraid of (appropriate!) physical touch.

A gentle squeeze of the shoulder, a high five, or a pat on the head can go a long way. Just don’t invade physical space. Some kids can be very shy about someone touching them, just like us big people. So always use touch appropriately.

3. Make kids primary in your interactions.

It always bugs me when I see leaders engage in conversation with parents and completely ignore the kids. How about we give a quick hello to parents and then kneel down to strike up a conversation with kids? Usually this goes a long way with both the kids and the parents.

4. Know children’s names.

I’m terrible at remembering names. But our names are some of the most important words a person can speak to us. It’s no different with kids. In fact, if you’ve been in kidmin more than a week or two, you’ve no doubt had a kid come ask if you remember their name! So find ways to learn and remember names.

5. Have a toy or game with you at all times.

This is especially great for shy kids. It’s amazing what a Gumby or Pokey bendable toy will do. (Yes, these two favorites of mine work great because most kids today don’t know who they are!) Likewise, a quick game of Jacks can warm up a conversation. (Yes, another old school game. But it’s novel for today’s kids, easy to carry, and takes about 30 seconds to play.)

Christian Rock Icon Mylon LeFevre Dead; John Cooper Shares How He Was a ‘Great Friend’ and ‘Mentor’

Jesse T. Jackson

September 11, 2023

Mylon LeFevre John Cooper — (L) Mylon LeFevre (R) John Cooper. Photo courtesy of John Cooper

Christian rock icon Mylon LeFevre, best known for his work with his band Mylon and Broken Heart, died Friday, Sept. 8, at the age of 78 after a long battle with cancer.

LeFevre recorded over 20 albums and won both a Grammy Award and a Dove Award for his 1987 album, titled “Crack the Sky,” with his band Mylon and Broken Heart.

Much like his father Urias, his mother Eva Mae, and his uncle Alphus, all of whom were part of the southern gospel singing group The LeFevres, LeFevre was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2005.

LeFevre’s last album, “Bow Down,” was released in 2003 and was produced by his son-in-law and former Newsboys lead singer Peter Furler.

LeFevre’s wife, Christi, posted 1 Timothy‬ ‭6‬:‭12 on social media the day after her husband’s death: “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” She went on to write, “My precious, strong and courageous husband laid hold of eternal life last night.”

“When we discussed heaven through the years, Mylon was most excited about receiving the soul winner’s crown,” Christi added. “With his contemporary Christian rock band, Mylon and Broken Heart, he had the privilege of leading over 250,000 youth to Jesus. He cherished all the years of music ministry and the countless lives touched through his songs but his greatest joy was teaching the Word of God, especially through our broadcast, On the Road to Freedom.”

Over the years, LeFevre traveled the nation preaching at churches and could often been seen on networks such as TBN, Victory Channel, and Daystar.

Christi continued, “Throughout the last years of this intense non-stop battle, never once did I hear him falter in his good confession of faith. In every broadcast and church service, many witnesses can attest to his bold declaration: JESUS IS MY HEALER.”

“Until his very last breath he fought the good fight of faith. He finished his race. He kept the faith,” she wrote, adding that she knows he is hearing, “Well done good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord.”

Concluding her post, Christi told her husband, “My love, you are finally enjoying in this moment what you affectionately referred to as ‘the first day of forever.’ It has been my highest honor and privilege for God to trust me with you these past 25 years.”

‘I Began To Drink’—Max Lucado’s Ministry Was Booming, but His World Had ‘Gone Crazy’

Jessica Mouser

September 11, 2023

Twenty years ago, it appeared that the ministry of best-selling author and “America’s pastor,” Max Lucado, was thriving. At 50 years old, his church’s numbers were growing, tourists often visited during Sunday services, and his writing and speaking career was moving full steam ahead. However, what was not apparent to observers, said Lucado, was, “I was a mess.”

“Our staff was struggling,” Lucado wrote in an op-ed for Fox News published Sunday, Sept. 10. “Departments were squaring off against one another. Tacky emails were flying like missives. Ministers were competing for budget dollars. A couple of invaluable employees, weary from the tension, quietly resigned. And since I was the senior pastor, it fell to me to set things in order.”

But Lucado was too busy to address these problems. “I had lessons to prepare,” he said. “The problem with Sundays is that they happen each week! In addition, I led a midweek prayer service and taught a weekly early morning men’s gathering. Deadlines were coming at me from all sides. I needed time to think, to pray, to study.”

Max Lucado Has a ‘Divine Wrestling Match’

Max Lucado’s congregation is Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, where he presently serves as teaching minister. He is a prolific author whose books have sold 145 million copies, and his op-ed was adapted from his latest book (releasing Sept. 12) titled, “God Never Gives Up on You: What Jacob’s Story Teaches Us About Grace, Mercy, and God’s Relentless Love.”

In addition to being too dominated by deadlines to address the conflicts within his ministry, Lucado was having heart problems from the stress. Feeling pressure from his staff, his church, his publisher and, in fact, the “entire world,” Lucado was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation.

“So I did what came naturally,” he said. “I began to drink.”

In a September 2022 interview on “The Stetzer ChurchLeaders Podcast,” Lucado shared that abusing alcohol is something he struggled with at a young age. “I was a mess in high school and college,” he said. “I was the guy you did not want your daughter to date. I was drunk at least three nights Thursday, Friday and Saturday or Friday, Saturday, Sunday, all the way. I was a barroom brawler.”

Lucado was raised in church and learned about the Holy Spirit through a traveling evangelist while he was a senior in high school, but he went back to his “old ways” before he returned to Christ in his early twenties. And while Lucado’s op-ed described a watershed moment in his life at age 50, in his podcast interview with Dr. Ed Stetzer and Daniel Yang, Lucado described a different pivotal moment that occurred while he was in his 30s.

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1. We need to be filled.

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There is No Such Thing as Perfect

Here are 7 ideas for connecting with kids of all ages:

1. Make sure you see eye to eye.

2. Don’t be afraid of (appropriate!) physical touch.

3. Make kids primary in your interactions.

4. Know children’s names.

5. Have a toy or game with you at all times.

Max Lucado Has a ‘Divine Wrestling Match’

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