He Made It Out of Prison. Now He’s Helping Others Do the Same.

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July 28, 2023

(RNS) — Some 600,000 people leave U.S. prisons every year, only to encounter a series of roadblocks to reintegration.

Stanley Frankart knows. He was one of those people.

Frankart’s various forms of incarceration began at age 10, when he broke a schoolmate’s jaw. He then cycled in and out of juvenile detention centers and correctional institutions on various drug charges. When he was 16, he shot someone in the face and got a 10-year sentence.

By the time he left prison in 2017, he had spent 18 years under the supervision of the legal system.

These days, Frankart goes back once a week to his old prison, Richland Correctional Institution in Mansfield, Ohio, to coach soon-to-be-released prisoners who are hoping to make a new life when they are released. Through a nonprofit he founded in 2015 called Young Christian Professionals, the 32-year-old former prisoner teaches a blend of what he calls Christian character development and professional business practices to help incarcerated people prepare for life on the outside.

Stanley Frankart. Photo courtesy The Witness Foundation

Stanley Frankart. Photo courtesy of The Witness Foundation

“It was just natural that I was here to minister and pastor individuals who come from where I come from,” said Frankart, who is married and the father of two girls.

Young Christian Professionals has a staff of 75, mostly volunteers, who run an eight-week curriculum in prisons across Ohio — with startups in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Illinois — followed up by one-on-one support for prisoners after they’re released.

The program pairs study of Christianity with practical employment skills. It teaches prisoners how to shake someone’s hand, look them in the eye, tie a necktie and properly enunciate. Frankart calls this “business etiquette,” much of which he himself learned from books.

About 1,800 prisoners and their family members have gone through the program, which Frankart started while still in prison. Funding comes mostly from The Witness Foundation, which trains and funds Black Christian leaders. (Frankart was part of the inaugural cohort of Witness Fellows and recently shared his story on a podcast with Jemar Tisby.)

Reentry is a huge challenge for many formerly incarcerated, who encounter a combination of laws and rules that block them from jobs, housing and voting.

A report from the Brennan Center for Justice found that “a prior criminal conviction all but ensures a lifetime straddling the poverty threshold.” Most employers conduct background screening on candidates for full-time positions. Various state legislatures have enacted as many as 27,000 rules barring formerly incarcerated people from holding professional licenses. Public housing is often denied to people with a criminal record.

The Witness Foundation Witness Fellows 2021-2023. Courtesy photo

Those hardships disproportionately affect Black Americans. While Black Americans make up 13% of the population, they account for 38% of people in prisons and jails. They are incarcerated at five times the rate of whites.

President Joe Biden recently designated April as “Second Chance Month” to bring awareness to these barriers and promote opportunities for former prisoners. He also directed the federal Small Business Administration to offer more business startup loans to applicants with criminal records.

Frankart, who also leads a weekly “reentry worship” at Crossroads United Methodist Church in Canton, Ohio, believes church and parachurch ministries have not done a good enough job helping former prisoners reenter society.

As Organized Religion Falters, the Devil Falls on Hard Times

By

Bob Smietana

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July 28, 2023

the devil stats — Photo by Davide Cantelli/Unsplash/Creative Commons

(RNS) — The 21^st century has been hard on God, with faith in the divine and organized religion facing unrelenting decline.

The devil, it turns out, is not doing much better.

Losing faith in God seems to be accompanied by disbelief in the devil, according to a new Gallup report that found that more than half of Americans (58%) said they believe he exists, down from two-thirds (68%) in 2001. About the same percentage (59%) said they believe in hell, down from 71% two decades ago.

The poll of 1,011 adult Americans, taken in May 2023, asked about beliefs in five spiritual entities: God, the devil, angels, hell and heaven. Belief in all five is at its lowest point since Gallup began polling about these five topics in 2001.

Belief in God (74%) dropped from 90% in 2001 to 74% in 2023. Belief in heaven was down from 83% to 67%, while belief in angels dropped from 79% to 69%.

"Americans' Belief in Five Spiritual Entities, 2001-2023" Graphic courtesy Gallup

“Americans’ Belief in Five Spiritual Entities, 2001-2023” Graphic courtesy of Gallup

The loss of faith in God and spiritual entities parallels a decline in religious identification and membership in faith communities. About 1 in 3 Americans claims no religion, a number that other recent studies say could grow to more than half by 2070. Fewer than half of Americans say they are members of a house of worship.

Just as people are divided about whom to vote for and what public policies to promote, politics also divided Americans when it comes to God, the devil and the afterlife. Republicans are more likely to believe in hell (79%) and the devil (78%) than Democrats, 48% of whom said they believe in hell. Forty-four percent believe in the devil.

Those with household incomes under $40,000 are more likely to believe in the devil (63%) and God (81%) than those with $100,000 in income. Among that higher income bracket, 54% said they believe in the devil while 68% said they believe in God.

White Americans are less likely to believe in God (70%) and the devil (66%) than Americans from other ethnic backgrounds.

Protestants were slightly more likely to believe in both heaven (89%) and hell (81%) than Catholics — where three-quarters (76%) believe in heaven and 61% believe in hell. Twice as many of the so-called nones — Americans who claim no religion — said they believe in God (25%) as say they believe in the devil (12%).

"Americans' Belief in Five Spiritual Entities, by Demographic Subgroup" Graphic courtesy Gallup

“Americans’ Belief in Five Spiritual Entities, by Demographic Subgroup” Graphic courtesy of Gallup

Meghan Henning, the author of “Hell Hath No Fury,” which looks at early Christian ideas about the afterlife, said she’s not surprised that Protestants, who include the nation’s evangelical Christians, retain higher levels of belief in the devil and hell than other Americans. Both are helpful when trying to evangelize people. Preachers, she said, often used the fear of hell to motivate people to accept Jesus as their savior.

It may scare them into church: Those who attend services weekly are most likely to believe in God (98%), angels (94%), heaven (92%), hell (84%) and the devil (86%). Those who attend services less than monthly are less likely to believe in God (57%), angels (52%), heaven (48%), hell (41%) and the devil (40%).

5 Negative Church-Leader Mindsets About Funding

By

Rich Birch

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July 28, 2023

Do you lie awake and ponder how your church will meet its budget for this coming year?

Are you wondering how to increase the generosity culture at your church?

Is there a gap between the vision for which you believe God has called, and the funding your church currently is generating?

As church leaders, there is a connection between our beliefs on generosity, fundraising, funding, giving, and what happens in our churches. We must identify inherently negative ways of thinking and replace these thoughts with the mindset God desires of us. These negative mindsets can creep in over time, without us even realizing it. We need to actively align our philosophy on financial matters at our churches with what God would have us consider.

I’ve pulled together five negative mindsets I’ve seen within my own life that I’ve needed to uproot and address. These beliefs are also at play in other church leaders. I’ve wondered whether these mindsets are ultimately the cause for other churches’ lack of progress in this area.

Simple Silver Bullet Solution

As leaders, there’s a real temptation to attempt to find the silver bullet to this problem.

It’s tempting to think that simply delivering the right message on offerings or having an impactful year-end campaign would solve all issues pertaining to generosity and the finances at our churches. The reality is that there is no single silver bullet to funding issues at our churches. We are attempting to disciple people connected to our church into leading a generous lifestyle. That takes consistent work and a unified approach over time.

We need to continue to lead our churches towards a lifestyle of generosity.

A single sermon series would not be sufficient to accomplish this objective. We need to maintain a consistent focus on this for an extended period. Effort applied on a weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual basis will, over time, create the kind of desired change in our churches.

Our vision can be fully funded and arrive at the point where we have the resources required to accomplish what God has called us to perform. Some churches reach this stage because they applied consistent strategies over an extended period. There is no silver bullet to the issue of funding.

Too Afraid to Challenge People and Ask Them to Give?

I get it. Money is hard to discuss.

This reality is peculiar to our culture. It seems like we can easily discuss the most intimate of human relationships, even talking about sexual relationships. However, we get defensive when thinking about discussing money. People’s approach to their finances is at the very core of how people perceive themselves. It’s critical! We need to find a way to overcome this—whether by abolishing this mindset, using humor or simply calling out the fact that it’s a difficult topic to discuss.

Over the years, many church leaders have found a way to lean in and discuss money, ultimately challenging members to live in a more Jesus-centered way concerning their money. These leaders have been afforded incredible opportunities and accelerated growth on the other side of this approach.

Our ability to persevere in discussing money and generosity, and challenge people in this regard, is directly connected to people’s desire to grow in generosity. This approach will impact how funds are generated at your church.

It’s Unspiritual to Talk about Money.

One of the biggest lies propagated among church leadership is that it is unspiritual to talk about money.

This belief comes from a strange disconnect between our views on faith and its impact on our lives. It’s a dangerous notion that, somehow, our faith only exists between our ears, that it’s only about what we think, about developing the right thoughts and having the right ideas. Some believe it not about how we live, and in this case, what we do with our money. This mindset has led some of us to the point where we believe that it’s somehow unspiritual to talk about money and generosity.

Jesus is clear on this: how we invest our lives and how we invest our money reveals much about what we value in life. [ref] Challenging people to think correctly about money, be generous, and lead generous lifestyles is at the core of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. At the core, Jesus challenged us to live another centered life. In a world so obsessed with money, there are few other, more obvious ways to a centered life, other than being generous and donating your resources to help others get connected with Jesus’ teachings.

Discussing money is incredibly spiritual, plus it is one of the things that people worry about all day long. Striving to ensure that people understand biblical teachings about money, and helping them apply those lessons to their lives, will accelerate your membership’s spiritual growth.

You Feel Like a “Used Car Salesman.”

Why is it that when we consider discussing money at a church, the stereotypical picture of a used car salesman comes to mind?

You know that guy: he’s little and slimy, his hair is greased back, he wears a bad suit, and he’s just trying to rip you off. Why do so many people possess this mental image when considering whether to discuss money in their churches?

Part of the reason that this is the case is that there have been “slimy car salesmen” in the name of Jesus. They’ve ripped people off and used their money for nefarious ends. There is no lack of evidence of church leaders who have abused this privilege and honor to help people with generosity and help them move into a more generous lifestyle.

But here’s the thing, you are not a slimy used car salesman. You’re not attempting to help people grow in their generosity because you want to get something from them. You’re doing this because you want something for them. You want to help people transition into a more generous lifestyle. You want them to experience the freedom and exhilaration of a fuller lifestyle through giving. You are not trying to extract cash out of them so that you could fund some new crazy plan at your church. You’re not a used car salesman. You’re a messenger of the peace of Christ, and this is a critical aspect of the conversation that must be communicated to our membership.

Your Personal Finances are in Chaos.

Are you drowning in debt?

Are you living your life with no margin?

Are you not being generous because of the financial decisions that you’ve made?

Too many pastors are living less than paycheck-to-paycheck. We’ve structured our financial lives in such a way that we’re struggling, and we’re not giving generously, and that’s ultimately driving us into debt. This issue of debt is an epidemic among church leaders nationwide.

If this is the case in your life, I strongly recommend that you get help in this area. Whether it’s Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University or Joe Sangl’s Financial Learning Experience or Good Sense, you can take control of this area of your life and get things right in your finances at home.

Too often, people aren’t generous because they have too much debt.

What is debt? Debt is simply living beyond your means. It’s not trusting that God will provide, and it’s leveraging other people’s money to live the lifestyle you want to live. The antidote to an active debt lifestyle is generosity. It is a tool that will break the debt mindset, because what is generosity at its core? Generosity, at its core, is saying that God will provide. That I’m going to give up this money to help someone else, and that I believe that God will provide for me. Maybe the thing you need to do is to be more generous.

Listen, I understand that living and life costs a lot of money, but this might be a wake-up call for you to get your finances in order, to help you speak more clearly and with conviction to your own people and, ultimately, see them take steps towards generosity.

Are you looking for more help to raise more funds for your ministry?

We’ve put together a few resources to help your church build even more in the area of generosity, providing an important example of what you do as a church leader. This free download includes an MP3 and PDF.

MP3 // Increasing Your Church’s Generosity Culture with Steve Stroope // Steve started as the first pastor at Lake Point Church about 40 years ago and has since passed the baton to Josh Howerton. Lake Pointe began with a launch team of about 60 people and has grown to eight campuses with over 15,000 attendees. In this interview, Steve offers practical tips on how we can increase generosity at church.
PDF // 5 Free Resources to Increase Your Church’s Generosity // Each of these resources can be used and implemented to help your church see ever-increasing levels of generosity. This “read to apply today” PDF is a great tool get the conversation and action rolling with your team!

Click here to download these two resources and access the information to help your church increase generosity.

This article originally appeared here.

Intentionally Planning an Authentic Church Experience

By

Gavin Adams

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July 28, 2023

authentic church experience — Lightstock #134623

Church leaders love the feeling of an organic church service. “Organic” goes by several other names, such as “authentic,” “vulnerable,” “real,” and “Spirit-led,” an authentic church experience. I love these, too. Unfortunately, church leaders feel they need to neglect planning and organizing in an effort to be more authentic and organic. It’s like we are forced to choose one or the other.

This conversation isn’t an anti-spirit-filled diatribe. As you may guess, though, I am, by nature, more organized, systematic, and strategic than organic. For a long time in my journey, it felt like these options were binary. Our church services were organized. Our nights of worship, on the other hand, were highly organic. I was highly involved in the planning and execution of our church services. I remained away from nights of worship planning, allowing our music director and others like him to create these more organic experiences.

Intentionally Planning an Authentic Church Experience

Over time I found that organizing the organism of the body of Christ isn’t antithetical to the organic nature of the church. And it’s not working against God’s vision for the church.

In this conversation, I’d like us to address how your church can have a more authentic church experience without losing its organic nature. I Didn’t Expect Auburn Community Church (ACC) to be so Organized! I wrote about my recent experience at ACC in this post.

I’ve known Miles for a little while. He’s a wonderful pastor, communicator, and leader for ACC. Yet, my initial impression of thee church was that it’s a “church as an organism” kind of place.” Before I attended a service at ACC, I stopped by while passing through to visit with him and his leadership team. While there, this topic came up.

Talking with his team helped clarify my approach to church leadership a bit more. I love the local church. And I love the organic nature of the organism. Yet, I also knew from years of pastoral leadership experience that a disorganized church cannot be a growing church. Growth requires scale, and scale demands organization.

At Woodstock City Church, we were highly organized by choice and requirement. As a campus location of North Point Ministries, our multisite matrix organization demanded skilled orchestration. Our campus hosted 6,000 – 8,000 attendees per Sunday pre-Covid. I’m unsure how many people a church can have on Sunday without some amount of organization, but it’s much less than 6,000. Heck, it took 1,000+ volunteers coordinated across 8 ministries to execute a church experience for 6,000 attendees!

7 Ways to Support Your Pastor’s Spouse

By

Ron Edmondson

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July 28, 2023

One of the toughest jobs in the church is being the spouse of a pastor. It has been called the loneliest job in the church. Yet, most church members I know want to support the pastor and the pastor’s spouse.

No doubt I had one of the best pastor’s wives in Cheryl. By trade, Cheryl is an accountant, an excellent mom and wife. Yet, the demands on her as my spouse have been some of the most overwhelming to her in the 21 years I have served in the pastorate.

Still she always handled her role with grace and a smile. In full disclosure, Sunday is actually Cheryl’s favorite day of the week.

In this post, I want to help churches know how to support and protect your pastor’s spouse. And I realize the terms are different in different contexts – pastor, minister, bishop, etc. I’m using terms from my context but hope the application is transferable.

Thankfully, we have mostly been in a good church environments, as far as the way our staff and spouses are treated. Plus, we came out of the business world into ministry. We were older and more seasoned by life, so we’ve always approached things differently. For example, we protected our personal time more. We knew we had to even if the church didn’t.

I know, however, because of my work with pastors that a pastor’s spouse faces burnout, a sense of loneliness, and some even struggle to come to church. This should not be.

7 Ways to Support Your Pastor’s Spouse:

1. Do not put too many expectations on them.

Regardless of the church size, no one can be everywhere, at everything and know everyone’s name and family situation and still carry out their role in her family. They simply can’t. Don’t expect the spouse (or the pastor) to be super-human.

2. Do not expect them to oppose their spouse.

Naturally they will be protective of their spouse. (Hopefully, you understand as you would equally protect your spouse.) If you bad mouth the pastor the spouse is likely to respond in a way you don’t want them to, but should expect them to. Don’t put them in a situation of having to defend their spouse. That’s never a fair predicament and causes unhealthy tensions.

3. Protect them from gossip.

Check your motives in what you share. Don’t share what you don’t have permission to share. Don’t pit the spouse in the middle of drama. They likely do not need to know all the “prayer concerns”, especially the one really just shared as a way of spreading rumors.

4. Help them protect family time.

The pastor is pulled in many directions. The family understands the nature of the job. Life doesn’t happen on a schedule. Yet, in reality, there are often unreasonable demands on the pastor and they always impact the family.

Books for Pastors – 5 Modern Classics

By

Ray Hollenbach

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July 28, 2023

Good pastors lead, but great pastors read (and think, and pray). Wise pastors, the ones who flourish through decades of ministry, set aside time to read, think, and pray. The world is in a rush 24/7. Those Christians who pause each Sunday morning to go to church need a pastor who has taken the time to read, think, and pray; someone who can deliver the good news in with power and insight. That starts with books for pastors capable of deepening our own life in Christ.

Books for Pastors – 5 Modern Classics

The Great Omission, Dallas Willard.

Dallas Willard was an ordained Southern Baptist minister, PhD., and professor at the University of Southern California’s School of Philosophy. Perhaps the best introduction to his work is a collection of essays on discipleship, The Great Omission. In The Great Omission Willard points out that following Jesus and teaching others to do the same is the mission of the church. This is accomplished through discipleship:

“Eternal life is the Kingdom Walk, where in seamless unity, we “Do justice, love kindness, and walk carefully with our God.” (Micah 6: 8) We learn to walk this way through apprenticeship to Jesus. His school is always in session. We need to emphasize that the Great Omission from the Great Commission is not obedience to Christ, but discipleship, apprenticeship to him.”

Eat This Book, Eugene Peterson

Eugene Peterson is widely known for his scriptural paraphrase, The Message, but his own books are a wealth of wisdom and instruction for pastors. Like Willard’s work, any number of his books for pastors would be an excellent selection, but Eat This Book is an excellent discussion on how to assimilate God’s world into everyday life. It’s a valuable resource for pastors. Here’s a taste:

“Christians don’t simply learn or study or use Scripture; we assimilate it, take it into our lives in such a way that it gets metabolized into acts of love, cups of cold water, missions into all the world, healing and evangelism and justice in Jesus’ name, hands raised in adoration of the Father, feet washed in the company of the Son.”

Jamie Foxx Thanks God, Family, ‘Everybody That’s Prayed,’ for Him Through Recent Health Complications

By

Jessica Mouser

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July 27, 2023

Oscar-winning actor Jamie Foxx thanked his family, God and fans for getting him through a recent health scare that started in April. Foxx broke his silence about the scare last week on Instagram, saying he had been to “hell and back.”

“First of all, I want to say thank you to everybody that’s prayed, man, and sent me messages,” Foxx said in a video he posted Friday, July 21. “I cannot even begin to tell you how far it took me and how it brought me back. I went through something that I thought I would never, ever go through.”

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A post shared by Jamie Foxx (@iamjamiefoxx)

Jamie Foxx: ‘I’m Coming Back’

Jamie Foxx, who was raised Baptist, is a singer, comedian and actor who is known for his roles in “Ray,” “Django Unchained,” and “Just Mercy.” He won an Academy Award for his portrayal of singer Ray Charles in “Ray” and was nominated that same year for another Academy Award for his part in “Collateral.” While it is not clear how active Foxx is with his faith, he told actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt in an interview that “Jesus is the foundation.”

On the evening of April 12, Foxx’s daughter, Corinne, shared that her father had “experienced a medical complication,” but was “already on his way to recovery.” She said, “We know how beloved he is and appreciate your prayers. The family asks for privacy during this time.” TMZ reported at the time that the incident was serious enough that Foxx was hospitalized.

Foxx didn’t post on Instagram again until May 3 when he simply said, “Appreciate all the love!!! Feeling blessed.” Several posts from the actor after that promoting an upcoming movie and celebrating his niece’s birthday drew indignation from some fans who wanted an update on his health and suggested there were shady reasons for why Foxx had not yet given one.

“I know a lot of people were waiting, you know, or wanting to hear updates,” said Foxx in his Friday video. “But to be honest with you, I just didn’t want you to see me like that, man. You know, I want you to see me laughing, having a good time, partying, cracking a joke, doing a movie, television show. I didn’t want you to see me with tubes running out of me and trying to figure out if I was going to make it through.”

Foxx said that his sister, Deidra Dixon, and daughter Corinne, “saved my life. To them, to God, to a lot of great medical people, I’m able to leave you this video.” The actor expressed gratitude to his family, who “protected” him, keeping quiet about what was going on. He also dispelled rumors that he was blind, paralyzed, or even cloned, a reference not only to rumors people were spreading but also to his new movie, “They Cloned Tyrone.”

“I went to hell and back, and my road to recovery had some potholes as well,” said Foxx, “but I’m coming back and I’m able to work. So I want to thank the people that let me work. And I just want to say that I love everybody and I love all the love that I got.”

Tori Kelly Provides Update on Health Scare She Suffered Sunday

By

Jesse T. Jackson

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July 27, 2023

“American Idol” alum Tori Kelly provided an update regarding the health scare she suffered this past Sunday (July 23), which sent her to the ICU at a Los Angeles hospital.

According to reports, Kelly was out with friends on Sunday night when she suddenly collapsed. Doctors at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center discovered that the Christian singer had blood clots throughout her body and near vital organs.

Kelly’s husband, André Murillo, said via an Instagram post on Wednesday that “Tori is smiling again and feeling stronger,” but shared that she wasn’t fully out of the woods just yet. “Just waiting on a few more answers,” he said, thanking everyone for their love and kindness towards his wife.

On Thursday morning, Kelly provided an additional update alongside a reference to Deuteronomy 31:8.

“Hi friends,” the Grammy Award-winning and Dove Award-winning singer posted on Instagram. “As you may have heard, I’m dealing with some unexpected health challenges.”

“Its been a scary few days,” she continued, “but I can feel your prayers and can’t stop thinking about you. I’m feeling stronger now and hopeful, but unfortunately there are still some things to uncover.”

Kelly praised the doctors and nurses who have been looking after her and shared her disappointment at missing upcoming events and appearances, which were scheduled around the release of her EP this week.

“I’m heartbroken about all of the things I had planned for this week of releasing my EP, but I know my health must come first,” Kelly said.

Although she won’t be able to promote the EP like she had planned, Kelly told her followers that she still wants them to “enjoy a project that represents the happy place I’ve been in the last few years. I won’t let this hurdle prevent the music from being yours on Friday!”

“I love you all so much and I am truly overwhelmed by all of the love and care I have received. Thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Kelly concluded.

Kelly received messages from fellow Christian artists Brandon Lake, Andy Mineo, Tedashii, Israel Houghton, and Jordin Sparks, letting her know they were praying for her complete healing and recovery.

Jeremy Camp, Chris Pratt To Be Featured at Dodgers’ Christian Faith and Family Day

By

Stephanie Martin

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July 27, 2023

clayton kershaw — Screenshot from Twitter / @Dodgers

For the first time since the pandemic, the Los Angeles Dodgers are hosting a Christian Faith and Family Day at the ballpark on Sunday, July 30. On July 26, Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw and his wife, Ellen, posted a video about the event, inviting people to attend.

Christian musician Jeremy Camp will perform at Dodgers Stadium, and actor Chris Pratt, an outspoken Christian, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch. After the game, Kershaw and some teammates will be “sharing our testimonies about our faith and just getting to share the Word,” he said.

Join us this Sunday for Christian Faith & Family Day at Dodger Stadium with special pre and postgame performances by Jeremy Camp! Stay after the game for player testimonies and a chance to receive an exclusive hat, while supplies last. For tickets, visit https://t.co/Us9TFkfqJm. pic.twitter.com/oLag91BHMP

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 27, 2023

Clayton Kershaw: Dodgers’ Faith Night Is a ‘Great Opportunity’

In late May, Clayton Kershaw announced the “relaunch” of the Christian Faith and Family Day, tweeting that the team is “grateful for the opportunity to talk about Jesus and determined to make [the event] bigger and better than it was before COVID.” The Dodgers’ previous Christian Faith and Family Day was held in 2019.

This year’s faith-focused event follows controversy surrounding the team’s Pride Night in June. The Dodgers extended, then rescinded, then re-extended an invitation to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, an LGBTQ advocacy group whose members dress in drag as nuns. Backlash from religious organizations was swift when they learned the Dodgers would be honoring the Sisters with a community award.

Kershaw, who decided not to boycott the Pride Night game, said in May that the Dodgers were always planning to hold a Christian event this year. But he indicated “the timing of our announcement was sped up” because of the Pride Night debacle. The pitcher, who said he doesn’t agree with making fun of other people’s religion, called the Christian event “a great opportunity to see the platform that Jesus has given us and how to use that for his glory and not ours.”

Catholic Group: Faith Night Is a ‘Band-Aid on a Gaping Wound’

Not everyone is happy about the Dodgers’ Christian Faith and Family Day. Brian Burch, president of the advocacy group CatholicVote, called it a “public relations stunt” that doesn’t make up for the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence situation.

In a statement, Burch called the faith event “the equivalent of putting a Band-Aid on a gaping wound,” saying it “in no way diminishes the harm and hurt caused by [the Dodgers’] plan to honor a vile anti-Catholic organization.”

Beloved Connecticut Pastor Struck and Killed by Police Vehicle

By

Dale Chamberlain

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July 27, 2023

Tommie Jackson — Screengrab via Facebook / @Rehoboth Stamford

A beloved pastor tragically died on Wednesday after being struck by a police vehicle near his home in Stamford, Connecticut. In addition to serving as pastor of Rehoboth Fellowship Church in Stamford, Rev. Tommie Jackson, 69, was well known in the community as an urban planner and a fixture in city politics.

Jackson, the husband of a Stamford police commissioner, was reportedly retrieving his mail in front of his home on a narrow road with no sidewalks while 24-year-old Officer Zachary Lockwood was responding to a call and traveling on that same road. When Lockwood came around a curve in the road and saw Jackson crossing the street, he reportedly attempted to make an evasive maneuver to avoid Jakson but still fatally struck him.

“The pedestrian was rushed to Stamford Hospital where life saving measures were unsuccessful,” the Stamford Police Department said in a statement. “The investigation is being handled by the Connecticut State Police. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the deceased.”

The speed at which Lockwood was traveling and whether he was flashing the vehicle’s lights and siren is currently unknown.

Stamford Mayor Caroline Simmons said she was devastated by Jackson’s death.

“Reverend Jackson was a pillar in the Stamford community and led a life devoted to faith and public service,” Simmons told Daily Voice. “He was a larger-than-life presence who was steadfast in his advocacy for social and racial justice and touched the lives of so many.”

“Reverend Jackson’s decades of service and leadership made an indelible impact on the City of Stamford,” Simmons continued. “I was honored to call him a friend, and I will greatly miss his positive energy, wonderful sense of humor, and infectious smile.”

Rich Lyons, a longtime friend of Jackson’s, said that he had spoken with the pastor throughout the day of his death via phone calls and text messages. Lyons said the last text he received from Jackson was at 4:05 p.m. According to police, Jackson was struck by the police vehicle at 4:10 p.m.

“Tommie was trying to help one of his parishioners who had a tree go through the roof of his house. I was helping him put people in place to try to keep repair costs down for the parishioner,” Lyons told CT Examiner. “I must have talked to him just before this happened. It’s such a shock.”

Lyons described Jackson as a good friend who cared for his community.

Vatican Prosecutors Request a Total of 73 Years in Prison for Defendants in Corruption Trial

By

Claire Giangrave

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July 27, 2023

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Vatican prosecutors in the Catholic Church’s 2-year-old corruption trial asked Wednesday (July 26) that Cardinal Angelo Becciu be sentenced to seven years and three months in prison and pay 14 million euros in fines for embezzlement, abuse of office and witness tampering in connection with a real estate deal that lost almost $200 million.

In all, the Vatican’s head prosecutor, Alessandro Diddi, asked that the trial’s 10 defendants serve a cumulative 73 years and one month in prison.

None of the defendants has been found guilty by the Vatican tribunal, which will continue to hear closing arguments this week. The judges have until December to make a ruling on innocence or guilt and issue a sentence.

Becciu, who was stripped of his powers as a cardinal but not his title by Pope Francis in 2020, would be the first cardinal to be sentenced to prison by a Vatican tribunal.

Becciu has staunchly insisted on his innocence against all accusations through interviews, statements and in court. “Concerning the Prosecutor’s request, a single day in prison would not be a fair sentence,” said Becciu’s lawyers, Maria Concetta Marzo and Fabio Viglione, in a statement on Wednesday.

“The Cardinal has always been a loyal servant of the church and has suffered in silence, defending himself during the trial and actively taking part in the hearings. He subjected himself for several days to exhausting interrogations and has clarified every doubt by proving his absolute good faith and fairness,” the statement added.

Besides his participation in the real estate deal, Vatican prosecutors say Becciu gave 125,000 euros to a charitable company owned by his brother in their native Sardinia. Becciu is also charged with illicitly paying Cecilia Marogna, a diplomacy and national security consultant, more than half a million euros, which Marogna used to pay for expensive dinners, designer bags and holidays. Prosecutors have requested that Morogna serve a sentence of more than four years if convicted.

A Vatican trial of 10 people accused of financial crimes, including Cardinal Angelo Becciu, resumes after a chief judge ordered the prosecution to give the defence more access to evidence and to question defendants who were not given the right to speak earlier, at the Vatican, Nov. 17, 2021. Photo by Vatican Media

A Vatican trial of 10 people accused of financial crimes, including Cardinal Angelo Becciu, at the Vatican, Nov. 17, 2021. Photo by Vatican Media

What has been called “the trial of a century” centers on a 2014 investment in a London apartment complex in which the Secretariat of State depended on Italian businessmen to broker their purchase of the building in exchange for large fees. When the deal was initially signed, Becciu was substitute at the secretariat, the third highest position at the Vatican.

Summarizing their investigation, prosecutors described the thicket of fees and commissions paid to the businessmen, Raffaele Mincione and Gianluigi Torzi, and drawn from Vatican accounts. “Piecing these financial operations together was not easy,” said Diddi, “but we did it.”

Prosecutors asked for prison terms of 11 years and five months for Mincione and seven years and six months for Torzi, along with hefty fines, if they are convicted of money laundering, corruption and fraud.

Monsignor Mauro Carlino, Becciu’s personal secretary, who is charged with extortion and abuse of office, risks a prison sentence of five years and four months. Fabrizio Tirabassi, the former Secretariat of State official who is alleged to have OK’d contracts giving Torzi control over the real estate, faces a massive fine totaling nearly 100 million euros if he is found guilty. He also risks being convicted to 13 years and 3 months in prison.

Prosecutors asked that Torzi’s lawyer, Nicola Squillace, receive a sentence of six years in prison and a fine of more than 1 million euros. Enrico Crasso, a longtime manager of Vatican funds, risks nine years and nine months in prison. Prosecutors charged both with money laundering and fraud for their role in the real estate deal.

The former president of the Vatican’s financial watchdog agency, René Bruelhart, and his No. 2, Tommaso Di Ruzza, were asked to pay 15 million euros each by prosecutors, who also asked for four years in prison for Di Ruzza and one month for Bruelhart for abuse of office.

The Vatican City State has a small prison, with only three cells, and it remains unclear whether the sentences would be carried out in the neighboring state of Italy if the judges rule in favor of the prosecution.

This article originally appeared here.

5 of the Worst Leadership Traits I’ve Experienced

By

Ron Edmondson

-

July 27, 2023

leadership traits — Adobestock #13850646

A young pastor asked me a great question once. He appeared to be doing a great job leading, but he wanted to do better. His question was this: “What are the worst leadership traits that you’ve seen limit a leader’s potential to lead well?”

That’s a hard question, because depending on the circumstances I think there could be many different answers. I wrote the “most dangerous” traits previously, but this question seemed different to me. It wasn’t addressing the dangerous traits, as much as the ones that were just bad. You can have these and perhaps still see some success as a leader, but they are still bad leadership traits—the worst. And they keep one from leading well. Eventually, they may derail a leader if not addressed.

There are many I’ve observed. I’ve seen laziness, for example, cripple a leader. With the right team around him or her, however, even a lazy leader can experience success. I thought of incompetence, but I have seen some dumb leaders (like me at times) smart enough to surround themselves with wise people.

So, what about the worst?

I’ve narrowed my list to the following five of the worst traits I’ve observed personally. Feel free to disagree or add to my list.

5 of the Worst Leadership Traits I’ve Observed:

Poor Character – Nothing can overcome a flawed character. Dishonesty in a leader, for example, will always overshadow even the most worthy vision. You can’t hide a corrupt heart. Immorality always shines brighter than competence or ability. And it can be argued whether it should be called success, but I’ve seen some bad characters leading what appears to be very successful organizations.

Avoidance – The leader who ignores problems invites trouble to the church or organization. Problems never go away on their own. They fester and eventually explode. It may take a long time for them to be exposed but they will eventually catch up with the leader. Yet I have seen some leaders survive a long time while avoiding the real problems.

Indecisiveness – Every decision a leader makes is subject to opinion and there are always at least two. Most of the time many more. But leaders are called to make decisions when no one else can or will. Indecisiveness stalls progress and frustrates people. Yet I have talked with countless staff members of very large church who say their senior pastor can’t or won’t make decisions.

Control – Inflexibility on the part of a leader limits the church or organization to the level of performance solely by the leader. That’s always bad. Even if the person is a genius, there’s a lid placed upon the organization or church’s future. People feel squashed of their potential and under appreciated, producing half-heartedness and poor morale. Who needs that? But there are still growing organizations with controlling leaders. (Notice I didn’t say healthy, but growing).

Pride – Perhaps the worst trait I’ve personally observed is the arrogance of a leader. It turns people away in disgust when they hear a leader brag on all his or her accomplishments. The braggart feels good personally, but is never as popular as he or she perceives. I’ve found if a leader is really good at what they do, they won’t have to tell others about it. Yet, do you know any arrogant leaders who apparently lead “successful” organizations – even churches?

That’s my list. Again, these are all bad leadership traits, in my opinion and observation. Some will argue you couldn’t have these and lead successfully. That would depend, I suppose, on your definition of success, but regardless they are still bad traits. I would even say the worst.

This article originally appeared here and is used by permission.

How to Turn the Tide and Build Trust

By

Chet Gladowski

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July 27, 2023

If trust has become an endangered species, how can we turn the tide towards restoration? It almost seems that the word trust has disappeared from our vocabulary. How often do you use or think the word trust in your daily experience? But perhaps more than disappearing from our language, trust is becoming more and more rare in our daily lives. Trust is seen so rarely these days that you can almost think of it as an endangered species. We need to turn the tide and build trust.

Who Do You Trust?

We’ve come to the point of asking the same question that The Joker asked in Batman. “And now folks, it’s time for “Who Do You Trust”.

For more than 20 years, the Edelman Trust Barometer has independently surveyed trust and credibility. They call trust “the ultimate currency” when it comes to relationships. You can well imagine their findings.

The world is ensnared in a vicious cycle of distrust, fueled by a growing lack of faith in media and government.
Failure of leadership makes distrust the default assumption in all areas of life.
While government and media are primarily responsible when it comes to distrust, all stakeholders are accountable.
Social media leads the pack in the distrust category, falling further and further behind.

You can see trust shrinking in all areas of life: at work, in our families, with our friends, at church. We distrust leaders and their motives at every level of life, from the local PTA up to the highest levels of our national government.

Listen to how they define trust.

Trust is the foundation of all deep and meaningful personal relationships. It is what makes you feel safe being vulnerable to another, allows relationships to endure through difficult times, and gives you the confidence to bet your future on someone. Without trust, there is no intimacy and very little long-term potential for a relationship to grow and deepen.

Turn the Tide and Build Trust in Your Small Group

Let’s take a moment to dig into that definition as it relates to small groups.

Trust is the foundation – trust is not one of many things that make up a foundation. No, trust is THE one and only foundation. Period. Without trust, deep and meaningful personal relationships are flat impossible. There is NO substitute.
Trust makes you feel safe – you can have all the data in the world, even have apps repeating safe messages. But without trust, there will be no vulnerability, there will be no transparency, there will be no accountability.
Trust allows relationships – without trust, you cannot get through the tough times. This lack of trust certainly helps explain why so many people have struggled mightily during the pandemic.
Trust gives confidence – no one opens-up, becomes vulnerable, without trust. Trust is the glue that allows people to commit, giving their time, money, talents, lives to something bigger than themselves.
Trust makes intimacy possible – the deepest hurts, the most sensitive parts of life, remain shutoff, buried, unreachable without trust. We are only willing to open-up and uncover ourselves with people we trust.
Trust nourishes growth – we are all stuck in our ruts of life without trust. Trust is the good soil where relationships grow. Trust feeds an openness and optimism towards God, life, and others.

Why I Still Prefer Email Over Text

By

Josh Weidmann

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July 27, 2023

It’s no secret that we live in a world of instant gratification, where communication constantly evolves. These days, people tend to communicate via text messages, social media, phone calls, video chats, and DMs. With all these options at our disposal, it might seem strange that I still prefer email as my primary means of communication. But believe me when I say I’ve thought deeply about this (and even prayed about it!), and there are many reasons why I like it best.

Why I Still Prefer Email Over Text

1. Emails are more thoughtful and intentional

Text messages can be sent quickly, and thoughts can be abbreviated or incomplete. Social media is filled with distractions and interruptions. Phone calls are great but not always possible, and oftentimes don’t allow for the same level of reflection that emails do. Conversely, email allows me to pause, reflect, and compose my thoughts before sending them off. It also allows for more thorough and detailed communication with fewer misunderstandings.

2. Email communication leaves a paper trail

When I want to reference an email from someone or send a reminder to someone about a previous conversation, I can always go back and look it up. I usually need that trail of communication because I am in several conversations simultaneously. Looking back and seeing what we said and agreed upon is helpful. Context is king! Email provides that; I cannot say the same for text messages, which can sometimes get lost in the shuffle of endless notifications. This is especially important when communicating with clients, coworkers, or vendors. It’s much easier to keep track of deadlines, agreements, and transactions when they can be referenced later.

Dove Award-Winning Artist Plumb Praises Derek Webb’s Collaboration With Drag Queen ‘Flamy Grant’

By

Jesse T. Jackson

-

July 26, 2023

Plumb — Screengrab via Instagram @plumbmusic

Tiffany Arbuckle, better known in the contemporary Christian music (CCM) world as the lead singer for the Dove Award-winning modern rock group Plumb, recently shared her appreciation for fellow CCM artist Derek Webb’s concert with drag queen singer Flamy Grant.

Webb is a member of the Dove Award-winning group Caedmon’s Call. The band hasn’t released a new album since 2010, but reunited earlier this year for two sold-out shows in Nashville.

“These beautiful people. What an honor to stand with them. @gracepointetn hosted @derekwebb new album release #TheJesusHypothesis. What a privilege I was offered to join them last night,” the popular Christian music singer posted for her 72,700 Instagram followers.

Arbuckle was referring to Webb’s album release show for “The Jesus Hypothesis” this past Sunday in Nashville, Tennessee. The Plumb singer shared a photo of her alongside Webb, Flamy Grant, and 1999’s Gospel Music Association’s “New Artist of the Year” Jennifer Knapp—who in 2010 told Christianity Today she not only was a lesbian but had also been in a same-sex relationship since 2002.

Webb describes his new album, which features a song with Flamy Grant, titled “Boys Will Be Girls,” as his “first Christian and gospel album in 10 years.”

“What started as an album release show blossomed into the best, most beautiful party that I couldn’t believe I was even invited to,” Webb shared on Instagram. “So grateful to my dear friends @FlamyGrant, @jenniferknappmusic, and @plumbmusic for their hearts and voices.”

In an interview, Flamy Grant said, “I’m a singing/songwriting drag queen named after arguably the most successful Christian artist of all time. In my house growing up, we were only allowed to listen to Christian and gospel music, so as a closeted queer kid, Amy Grant was my version of an inspirational diva.”

Last month, Webb and Flamy Grant released a music video, which depicts Webb’s transformation into a drag queen.

Flamy Grant shared a post that included the same photo that Arbuckle shared, as well as videos of Arbuckle and Knapp singing.

“One of these things is not a 90s CCM star like the others. Last night was a dream,” Flamy Grant said. “I got to fill the Plumb-shaped-hole in my heart by meeting the faaaabulous Tiffany Arbuckle.”

‘The Chosen’ Offers First Look at New Scene From Season 4 As Filming Wraps

By

Jessica Mouser

-

July 26, 2023

The team behind “The Chosen,” the hit series based on the life of Jesus, is offering a first look at a new scene from Season 4 in celebration of wrapping this round of filming. The show recently ranked third on Prime Video’s most watched TV shows, falling behind “The Summer I Turned Pretty” and “Jack Ryan.”

“Whoa, #3 in the US on @PrimeVideo and still climbing,” the show tweeted on July 25. “We’re coming for you, Jim. Er, Jack.”

Whoa, #3 in the US on @PrimeVideo and still climbing… We’re coming for you, Jim. Er, Jack. #TheChosen pic.twitter.com/UeUfN9QkeO

— The Chosen (@thechosentv) July 25, 2023

As of this writing, “The Chosen” is No. 4 on Amazon’s most watched TV shows.

‘The Chosen’ Wraps Season 4

“The Chosen” was briefly impacted by the actors strike that began on Friday, July 14. In an update July 13, creator and director Dallas Jenkins explained that “The Chosen” had not been granted an exemption before the strike began and so had to pause filming on Season 4. However, after taking a break that Friday, the show was able to resume filming the following Monday, having been granted a waiver as requested.

In an email the evening of Tuesday, July 25, “The Chosen” team announced that they were about to wrap filming on Season 4 and would be offering a first look at one of the season’s scenes. “Before we’re even done filming, Dallas already has a new scene to show you!” they said.

At 7:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 30, viewers can tune into a livestream that will run on Facebook, YouTube and The Chosen app. In addition to a first look at the new scene, there will be a Q&A with Jonathan Roumie, who plays Jesus on the show, some announcements, and discounts on merchandise. The livestream will disappear at midnight.

“The Chosen” was recently featured on the cover of TV Guide and on July 16 premiered on the television network The CW. “Did you ever imagine a Jesus show would be on the cover of TV Guide?” the show tweeted. “This feels historic. Get used to different, indeed. This points people to the airing of all three seasons on Sunday nights on The CW.”

Some of the show’s actors have shared that working on “The Chosen” has impacted their lives. Nick Shakoour, who plays the role of Zebedee (father of disciples James and John), was not certain that God existed, but after agreeing to work on “The Chosen,” has had “one encounter after the next.” Brandon Potter, who plays the Roman centurion Quintus, has described the show as “one of the great joys of my life.”

“The Chosen” has dealt with its share of controversy, with some people accusing it of being influenced by the teachings of the Church of Jesus of Christ of Latter-day Saints. Another recent controversy erupted when a crew member displayed a Pride flag on set.

‘I Don’t Pray for Revival, I Pray for Repentance’—Nick Vujicic Speaks Against the ‘Delusional’ American Church

By

Janna Firestone

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July 26, 2023

Australian native and evangelist Nick Vujicic is known for his bold, challenging messages of perseverance as he shares his own story of life without limbs. Vujicic has recently turned his focus to the American church, and he called for change.

Vujicic has embraced a deep love of evangelism for decades. “I had a calling. It wasn’t just someone sitting in the pew wanting to be part of somehow the Great Commission,” Vujicic said during a podcast with Sadie Robertson Huff. “I wanted to be a champion for Jesus Christ and an ambassador for the King of kings and Lord of lords.”

Now, he is challenging the church to stand up and address certain issues. He told The Christian Post, “We have 100,000 churches in $498B in debt for buildings that are half empty. Half a million kids are waiting for an adoptive mom and dad. Where are we?”

Nick Vujicic Urges the American Church to Tackle Today’s Issues

“I believe we’re all part of the Great Commission if we actually engage,” Vujicic told Sadie Robertson Huff. “And I think the church will be absolutely dead if they do not [do] two things, which is—reach the lost and actually disciple middle-of-the-road, not too charismatic and not too conservative [Christians in] the basics” of the Christian life.

The evangelist plans on meeting with “22 heads of denominations…to give them the idea of Gen Z outreach.”

“You don’t need to be an evangelist or an ordained minister to preach the gospel,” Vujicic said. “You tell people how Jesus changed your life. Invite them to church. And even if they don’t come to church, will you at least tell them how you met Jesus?”

In an interview with The Christian Post, Vujicic went on to detail how he believes the church needs to change. “I think most churches are delusional,” he said, continuing:

I don’t pray for revival; I pray for repentance. I don’t think America deserves a single more blessing from God—not one. We need to repent. And not only do we need to turn away from things, but we also need to equip and encourage the church to go toward this: How do you stay out of your pornographic addiction? How do you now engage…the one family in the church [that] ends up fostering and adopting?

Vujicic addressed the tension between current social issues and how churches often focus on buildings and programs, which come with a great deal of debt.

According to Vujicic, the answer lies within the church getting more involved in today’s issues and using “their voice for good.”

“Christians [need to go to] school boards,” he said. “Instead of just complaining about what’s happening in your school districts, go and get your church to be a part of that. I really believe with media, politics, and business, it’s Christians being the light in the dark place.”

Vujicic’s Facebook page is full of posts and videos raising awareness to end human trafficking, advocating for the pro-life movement, admonishing bullying, and supporting political candidates.

“I think the American church hasn’t stopped to heal the saved people,” Vujicic concluded. “When you’re healed, now you’re complete [and strength comes] out of the overflow to then go help someone else in need. I think it’s important. I think we need to go back to the basics,” he said.

LA Pastor Praises Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson for Surprise Visit, Donations to Expectant Mother

By

Dale Chamberlain

-

July 26, 2023

A Los Angeles pastor is praising Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson for his donation to a church-run organization that serves the community “in the areas of homelessness, hunger, poverty, addiction, domestic violence, education, and human trafficking.” Matthew Barnett, pastor of Angelus Temple and CEO of The Dream Center, took to social media after unexpectedly meeting the superstar.

“How in the world do I describe the magnitude of the moment when [The Rock and his wife Lauren Hashian] showed up at the [The Dream Center] to take care of one of the mothers who lives on campus by providing for the needs for her baby delivery,” wrote Barnett in an Instagram post.

“Not only did he treat her like the most important person in the world he stayed and listened with a heart of extraordinary compassion to her and anyone. I realized very quick that this man not only cares about people’s immediate needs but he cares about their potential,” Barnett continued. “I’m still in awe by his extraordinary humility and the spark of hope that he brings to the world.”

Located in the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, Angelus Temple is known for its community engagement and was founded in 1923 by evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson, who also launched the Foursquare Church denomination.

Barnett, who co-founded The Dream Center in 1994, became the church’s pastor in 2001. That same year, The Dream Center merged with Angelus Temple. The center offers a variety of programs, including educational courses, transitional housing, and other physical resources for underserved members of the community.

Barnett told Faithwire that he was surprised to meet Johnson, saying that he was in his office studying for a Sunday sermon when a staff member informed him that someone was dropping off a donation of various items for an expectant mother.

Barnett said that he went outside to help with the items and thank the donor. As he glanced in the car, he noticed Johnson was inside taking a phone call. Barnett said he didn’t want to bother the professional wrestler turned Hollywood actor. Nevertheless, moments later, Johnson jumped out of the car to greet Barnett and others who were present.

Barnett noted that Johnson was generous with his time and attention.

“He’s like, ‘Hey, how are you guys doing?’” Barnett said. “Engaging people in the most real, normal level. I’m thinking, ‘How much time does he really want to spend here?’”

“[He was] talking to this mother…for 10 minutes, asking what she’s going through,” Barnett added. “She was in foster care most of her life…it meant so much for her.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Matthew Barnett (@matthewbarnett1)

Bryan Loritts: What the Church Risks by Not Fighting for Ethnic Unity

By

Jessica Mouser

-

July 26, 2023

The Stetzer ChurchLeaders Podcast · Bryan Loritts: What the Church Risks by Not Fighting for Ethnic Unity

Dr. Bryan Loritts is teaching pastor at The Summit Church in Durham, North Carolina, president and founder of the Kainos Movement, and Vice President of Regions for the Send Network. He is the author of several books, including, “The Dad Difference: The Four Most Important Gifts You Can Give To Your Kids.” His latest is, “The Offensive Church: Breaking the Cycle of Ethnic Disunity.”

Other Ways To Listen to This Podcast With Bryan Loritts

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Key Questions for Bryan Loritts

-What progress toward ethnic unity have you seen over the past 20 years, and what are you seeing threaten that progress?

-What can we do to get better at authentic multiethnicity in the leadership and the culture of a church?

-Should we expect every church to be multiethnic?

-What are some helpful and harmful ways you’ve seen churches try to respond well and build better bridges for ethnic unity?

Key Quotes From Bryan Loritts

“Over my years just doing this work, I think the race conversation kind of rises and falls with what’s happening in our world in the news cycle…And I think basically our posture has been one of defense when it comes to the race conversation.”

“Jesus postures hell on the defensive and church on the offensive. And so…what is the way in which we can play offense when it comes to what I call ethnic unity?”

“The gospel is both vertical and horizontal. Vertical is of first importance, Paul would tell the Corinthians, but the gospel knows nothing of an unforgiving Christian, it knows nothing of a greedy Christian, and it knows nothing of a racially insensitive Christian.”

“What I felt and heard a lot during the pandemic…[was] a lot of individuals and particularly minorities who were a part of multiethnic churches just saying there was fatigue, there was frustration. There’s this thing in which, I’m done.”

“I fear that we have people who’ve gotten a taste of the multiethnic church, the problems hit the fan, they didn’t like the response, and now they’re just like, ‘I gave it a good try and I’m done.’ It’s almost in the same vein of deconstructing.”

“The basic norm of the New Testament church was multiethnic.”

In New Book, Russell Moore Urges Evangelicals To Stop Lying and Come Back to Jesus

By

Bob Smietana

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July 26, 2023

(RNS) — Russell Moore has a bit of advice for his fellow American Christians in his new book, “Losing Our Religion.”

Don’t lie.

A simple principle, based on the Ninth Commandment’s ban on bearing false witness, and one many Christian leaders are tempted to break by repeating claims that are popular but untrue, argues Moore.

“I’m not really talking to the people who are intending to deceive and destroy — yes, I would hope they stop lying too,” said Moore in a recent interview about the new book. “I’m talking more about the disconnect between what people really believe and what the expectations of the tribe demand. And that is what I see to be so dangerous and exhausting to people.”

Following Moore’s advice could come with consequences. The former Southern Baptist ethicist was a rising star in 2013, when he was elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission after the group’s former leader left amid scandal. Moore was known for his love of 1970s outlaw country stars Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson, his advocacy for immigration reform and his skepticism about the close ties between the Republican party and evangelicals.

Things went well until the rise of Donald Trump, which turned evangelical leaders into would-be contestants on a real-life version of “The Apprentice” — Trump’s reality television series— “all clamoring to make the cut on the next episode and fearful of hearing the words you’re fired,” he writes in “Losing Our Religion,” out Tuesday (July 25) from Sentinel, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

Moore’s criticism of Trump as a candidate and as president, along with his advocacy for survivors of abuse in the SBC, made him enemies and eventually cost him his job. In 2021, he resigned from the ERLC to take a new role at Christianity Today, where he is now the editor-in-chief.

His new book was inspired by conversations Moore has had in recent years with disillusioned evangelicals, some of whom he said are feeling a sense of despair at the state of the church and of American culture. The book is part altar call for his fellow evangelicals and part retelling of the surprising lessons he’s learned in recent years.

The book recounts Moore’s struggles to reconcile what he believed with how he saw Christian leaders acting during the Trump era. He recalls a Baptist leader who told him he was playing the game of leadership wrong. That leader suggested Moore give people “90% of the red meat they expect” — referring to conservative politics and the culture wars — and then he could spend 10% of his time on things he cared about, like immigration.

He also recalled being told to “get real” — meaning he should give up on naive ideals like telling the truth or acting with personal integrity because the cultural and political stakes were too high for such niceties.

“People who have higher expectations for themselves and for others are often made to feel naive and stupid,” he said.

That willingness to do anything to succeed in politics, he writes, was rooted in the way churches treated celebrity pastors and leaders. As long as they got the job done, those celebrities could be terrible people and Christians would shrug it off.

That habit of overlooking the character flaws of Christian celebrities — such as disgraced former megachurch pastors Bill Hybels and Mark Driscoll or abusers like the late evangelist Ravi Zacharias — made it easier for evangelicals to overlook Trump’s flaws, Moore said in an interview.

Simple Silver Bullet Solution

Too Afraid to Challenge People and Ask Them to Give?

It’s Unspiritual to Talk about Money.

You Feel Like a “Used Car Salesman.”

Your Personal Finances are in Chaos.

Are you looking for more help to raise more funds for your ministry?

Intentionally Planning an Authentic Church Experience

7 Ways to Support Your Pastor’s Spouse:

1. Do not put too many expectations on them.

2. Do not expect them to oppose their spouse.

3. Protect them from gossip.

4. Help them protect family time.

Books for Pastors – 5 Modern Classics

The Great Omission, Dallas Willard.

Eat This Book, Eugene Peterson

Jamie Foxx: ‘I’m Coming Back’

Clayton Kershaw: Dodgers’ Faith Night Is a ‘Great Opportunity’

Catholic Group: Faith Night Is a ‘Band-Aid on a Gaping Wound’

5 of the Worst Leadership Traits I’ve Observed:

Who Do You Trust?

Turn the Tide and Build Trust in Your Small Group

Why I Still Prefer Email Over Text

1. Emails are more thoughtful and intentional

2. Email communication leaves a paper trail

‘The Chosen’ Wraps Season 4

Nick Vujicic Urges the American Church to Tackle Today’s Issues

Other Ways To Listen to This Podcast With Bryan Loritts

Key Questions for Bryan Loritts

Key Quotes From Bryan Loritts

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