Dodgers Apologize, Reinvite Queer ‘Nun’ Group To Annual Pride Night

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May 24, 2023

Dodgers and Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence — San Francisco, California, USA. 8th Apr, 2023. Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence take part during the demonstration. Pro drag rights protestors marching to Union Square for drag rights across the country. (Credit Image: © Pat Mazzera/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire)

The Los Angeles Dodgers have publicly apologized to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, an LGBTQ+ advocacy group that satirically refers to itself as “a leading-edge Order of queer and trans nuns,” and reinvited them to the team’s annual Pride Night on June 16.

The group had previously been removed from the evening’s lineup following backlash from conservative Catholics groups, as well as other public figures.

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence came into existence in San Francisco on Easter in 1979 when three men dressed as nuns during a protest and has since grown into a larger movement with chapters around the world engaging in LGBTQ+ activism.

Operating under the motto of “go forth and sin some more,” the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence reappropriates Catholic language and iconography in a self-described effort to use “humor and irreverent wit to expose the forces of bigotry, complacency and guilt that chain the human spirit.”

However, what the Sisters describe as humor and wit, Florida Senator Marco Rubio lambasted as “lewd imitation” in a letter to Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred.

Similarly, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles said in a statement that the group “clearly mocks the Catholic faith and makes light of the sincere and holy vocations of our women religious who are an integral part of our Church.”

“The Archdiocese stands against any actions that would disparage and diminish our Christian faith and those who dedicate their lives to Christ,” the statement went on to say.

While the group maintains that it is not anti-Catholic, the events it has hosted—such as a “Hunky Jesus Contest,” which was held on Easter this year and featured sparsely dressed contestants, including a pro-choice Mary of Nazareth—have led many Christians and conservatives to disagree in the strongest terms.

Amid pressure, the Dodgers rescinded their invitation to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence last week, as well as the honor of the team’s Community Hero Award, which had previously been promised to the group.

In a statement on May 17, the Dodgers said, “Given the strong feelings of people who have been offended by the sisters’ inclusion in our evening, and in an effort not to distract from the great benefits that we have seen over the years of Pride Night, we are deciding to remove them from this year’s group of honorees.”

‘Every Demon in Hell Has Been Turned Loose’—Franklin Graham Warns NRB 2023 To Prepare

By

Jesse T. Jackson

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May 24, 2023

During his keynote address at the opening session of the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) conference on May 22, evangelist Franklin Graham warned Christian communicators that he believes there is a “coming storm that we’ve all got to be ready for.”

While charging attendees to remain faithful to the gospel, the president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan’s Purse reminded them that God has the power of “waves” and “wind” in this predicted storm—a storm that Graham claims Satan is behind.

“The world is deteriorating so quickly. It seems like every demon in hell has been turned loose,” Graham said. “And we cannot be deceived and we can’t be fooled. We need to get ready and be prepared.”

Graham gave three areas where ministries can prepare themselves for when the storm hits: data companies, banks, and insurance companies.

Graham believes that large companies that provide services in these important areas, such as Amazon, which is a leading provider for storing information, will stop doing business with Christians. Graham shared that his team has started its own data center in Denver, Colorado. He intends to use the data center not only as a resource for the organizations he leads but also for others being “canceled” for their views on marriage and sexuality.

“If Amazon shuts us off, maybe we could continue for another few years,” Graham said. “The whole purpose is because we’re living in a cancel culture, and they want to destroy Christian organizations. They want us to shut our mouths, and they don’t want to hear from us.”

Franklin Graham: ‘Don’t Apologize for the Gospel’

“If you don’t preach the gospel, you don’t have anything to worry about,” Graham said. “If you’re not going to talk about sin, you don’t have anything to worry about.”

“But if you’re going to try to preach and proclaim the gospel, they’re gonna try to shut you up,” said Graham.

Graham concluded his time by exhorting Christian communicators to “preach. Don’t back up. Don’t make excuses…We cannot back up. We can’t retreat. Don’t apologize for the gospel.”

“Just declare it. Just preach it. Give an invitation. See what happens,” said Graham. “Oh my goodness gracious, it works. I promise you that it works.”

Uvalde, One Year Later

By

Lydia Kaiser

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May 24, 2023

The media has descended on Uvalde, Texas, marking one year since the horrific shooting at Robb Elementary School. Poking and prodding the townspeople with questions to get an emotional rise out of them, they are doing more harm in the opinion of Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) local ministry director, Angela Carillo. “They are stirring the pot and poking wounds” she states.

On that fateful day, May 26, 2022, East Texas State Director for CEF, Mimi Sellers, instantly had flashbacks to the 2018 high school shooting in Santa Fe. Now comparing the two tragedies she says, “The best thing we did was keep the media out. Churches were strong, we were able to heal. When the media comes back to Uvalde on the anniversary of the shooting, we can expect protesting and possibly riots.”

The town already had a lot of challenges. Extreme poverty not only plagues the townspeople but prevents gathering enough taxes to help with civil government infrastructure. People who couldn’t afford to lose their jobs suffered such grief and turmoil that they didn’t go to work and lost employment. The ripple effect has caused the economy to suffer even more. People have spiraled down with grief, guilt, regret, and blame. The media goads people into venting about what hasn’t happened by way of improvements since the shooting. People wonder what happened to the donated money and the promises for better school security.

The atmosphere in the town is one of volatility. Loud people are approaching others, even people in their cars, and intimidating them. People feel vulnerable and afraid—when they’re not feeling angry.

Sellers summarizes the complexity and hopelessness. “There has been an economic, emotional, and spiritual collapse. There is a need for someone to rise up and take the town and turn it around. We know that Jesus is the answer.” Sellers and her ministry colleagues are strategizing on two levels.

The first part of the strategy is a partnership with churches to reach children and their families through various community outreaches. The second part has to do with long-term sustainability for ministry.

After the shooting, CEF volunteers from around Texas and even from headquarters in Missouri came to Uvalde and did street ministry. They started by connecting with pastors who themselves were traumatized. They were with families as they went to the hospital and morgue, viewed unspeakable things, and some were touched even more personally. At one point, CEF workers and pastors met for a strategy meeting. “You are the first people to ask us how we are doing” they said.

CEF volunteers brought thousands of a gospel-centered trauma healing booklet by the title, “Do You Wonder Why?,” for distribution. They walked the streets offering to pray with people and distributing both English and Spanish booklets. Representatives from the schools and library took over a thousand copies of the booklet between them. Churches used the booklet that very Sunday.

One of the CEF staff who came to the town was Angela Carillo, the CEF Local Director for San Antonio. After seeing the spiritual openness of the Uvalde townspeople, she just couldn’t leave. God provided for her to stay in town for eight months. She was able to hold several trainings and establish a local CEF ministry, coordinated by Silvia Alvear, a woman with administrative and teaching skills. Alvear leads the children’s ministry at her church and has made inroads with a few others.

Most churches in town have not recovered. Families with children or families who lost children have seemingly lost faith and are not attending church. Most churches are aging, and the pastors are demoralized. However, there are two bright spots.

Templo Christiano, which holds services in both English and Spanish hosted a volunteer training by Carillo and Alvear. Ten volunteers from the church help at the library’s Good News Club and the church held a CEF Party Club booth at a recent Dia Los Ninos fair. In the past, the church passed out candy, toys, and did games. But with Alvear’s direction, they had multiple programs with a Bible story and led over a thousand children and parents in prayer to receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior. The church pastor loved the improved format.

Gary McIntosh: The Surprising Roles All Pastors Take and the ‘Number One Challenge’ Facing the Solo Pastor

By

Jessica Lea

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May 24, 2023

The Stetzer ChurchLeaders Podcast · Gary McIntosh: The Surprising Roles All Pastors Take and the ‘Number One Challenge’ Facing the Solo Pastor

Dr. Gary McIntosh is president of the Church Growth Network and Distinguished Affiliate Professor of Christian Ministry and Leadership at Talbot School of Theology. He is a former pastor and an internationally known speaker and church consultant who has written numerous books, including “Growing God’s Church” and “The 10 Key Roles of a Pastor.” His latest is, “The Solo Pastor: Understanding and Overcoming the Challenges of Leading a Church Alone.”

Other Ways To Listen to This Podcast With Gary McIntosh

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Key Questions for Gary McIntosh

-How do pastors and church staff members understand the roles that God has given them?

-How would you recommend that pastors shore up and build up the skills that they need for the various roles they have to take?

-What advice would you give to pastors about leading well in this time in society?

-What does it mean to be a “solo pastor,” and what are some of the benefits and challenges of that role?

Key Quotes From Gary McIntosh

“Not surprisingly, the number one place that pastors tend to put their time is in preparation for speaking and teaching, because that’s a lot of what the pastors do, leading Bible studies, preaching on Sundays and that sort of thing…the thing that came in last, which was really surprising to me, was engagement in the community.”

“The big challenge is to lead yourself as a pastor.”

“Pastors have a lot of demands upon their time. They have a lot of expectations on them, whether a megachurch or a little church…and effectiveness and fruitfulness comes down to pastors being able to manage themselves.”

“If you don’t control your time and lead yourself, other people will lead you.”

“If you find yourself in an area where you’re not gifted, you limit yourself to what you do in that area, and you also engage with other people. I believe that God…brings around us enough people with other gifts and that if we’re willing to involve those other people, we can get the job done.”

“Frankly, a lot of pastors still find it difficult to delegate and to give ministry away, particularly in the smaller churches.”

Pope Francis Taps Italian Cardinal Zuppi To Lead Peace Mission in Ukraine

By

Claire Giangrave

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May 24, 2023

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Pope Francis appointed Italian Cardinal Matteo Zuppi to head his mission to foster peace in the Russian-Ukrainian war as the Vatican renews its efforts to mediate the conflict in the heart of Europe.

Zuppi, who is the head of the Italian Bishops’ Conference, or CEI, “was charged with conducting a mission in accordance with the Secretary of State that contributes to easing tensions in the conflict in Ukraine with the hope, never lost by the Holy Father, that this might open paths toward peace,” read a statement by the Vatican on Saturday.

The timing and execution of the mission is currently under study, the statement added.

Pope Francis and the Vatican have attempted to mediate a peace between Russia and Ukraine ever since the conflict began 15 months ago. The pope has sent trusted advisers to Ukraine, including Papal Almoner Konrad Krajewski and Vatican Secretary for Relations with States Mons. Paul Gallagher.

Zuppi’s closeness to the Movement of Sant’Egidio, a Catholic lay organization focused on mediating peace and helping the poor, is considered among the main reasons why Francis selected him for the mission. The cardinal worked alongside the movement and its founder, Andrea Riccardi, to promote peace and diplomacy in Mozambique in the 1990s and more recently in the secessionist Basque territories.

In previous interviews with Italian media, Zuppi has taken a position that seeks peace by any means necessary and has been skeptical that Western governments sending weapons to Ukraine is the best and only solution to the conflict.

Ukrainian soldiers fire a Pion artillery system at Russian positions near Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Friday, Dec. 16, 2022. (AP Photo/LIBKOS)

“War is a pandemic. It involves us all,” he told Italian bishops gathered in Rome for their General Assembly on Tuesday (May 23).

“What happened to creative peace efforts?” Zuppi asked. “Peace will never come from pursuing our own strategic interests, but from policies that are capable of looking at the whole, to the development of all.”

The appointment signifies an important papal recognition for Zuppi, who already faces many challenges in Italy. The cardinal is currently overseeing the general assembly of Italian bishops in Rome, which has been under pressure to provide transparency and accountability in the fight against clerical sexual abuse in the country. His diocese, in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna, has recently experienced floods that have killed 14 people.

In Rare Move, Vatican Official Chastised Texas Bishop Strickland at Conference

By

Jack Jenkins

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May 24, 2023

(RNS) — If Texas Bishop Joseph E. Strickland is known outside of his diocese for anything, it’s for controversy.

The conservative firebrand, who oversees the Diocese of Tyler, Texas, has sparked backlash from critics for everything from voicing support for priests who refuse to get vaccinated against COVID-19 to offering a prayer at a “Jericho March” event in the weeks leading up to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. More recently, Strickland challenged Pope Francis, announcing on his Twitter feed that he believes the pontiff is “undermining the Deposit of Faith.” His efforts have inspired some detractors to call for Strickland’s resignation, while others have urged Vatican intervention.

But according to multiple sources, Strickland has already been on the receiving end of the Vatican’s ire for more than a year: He was chastised by a representative of the Holy See in 2021, they say — a move that simultaneously signals the potential for formal Vatican disciplinary action and exemplifies the difficulty of reining in a controversial cleric.

The revelation came last week during a broadcast of the Terry and Jesse Show, a program that regularly features Strickland as a guest and airs on Virgin Most Powerful Radio, a conservative-leaning Catholic outlet. While discussing blowback to Strickland’s recent tweets, co-host Terry Barber described an occasion where Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the Vatican’s U.S. ambassador, allegedly approached Strickland at a gathering of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. According to Barber, Pierre, known as the papal nuncio, “wagged his finger” at Strickland while saying “Bishop Strickland, we’re watching you — stop talking about the deposit of faith.”

“(Strickland) doesn’t really care,” Barber said of the alleged encounter. “It’s the truth that sets us free. If he goes down because he’s speaking the truth, oh well.”

A separate source who is familiar with the meeting but who chose to remain anonymous, as they have not been given permission to discuss the matter publicly, told Religion News Service the incident took place in November 2021 at the annual USCCB meeting in Baltimore, Maryland. The source said the nuncio specifically confronted Strickland about his Twitter feed, which had garnered controversy at the time for, among other things, posts that opposed the three major COVID-19 vaccines distributed in the U.S. at the time.

Archbishop Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, delivers remarks at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' annual fall meeting in Baltimore, Monday, Nov. 13, 2017. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States, delivers remarks at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ annual fall meeting in Baltimore, Monday, Nov. 13, 2017. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

Asked about the encounter via email this week, Strickland said he would “prefer not to comment.”

The nuncio’s office did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

For his part, Barber told RNS he did not wish to speak further about the incident and would not name the source of his information. Instead, he criticized Pope Francis, accusing him of being ambiguous about important moral questions and calling the pontiff a “disaster for the Catholic Church.”

Strickland would hardly be the first cleric in U.S. history to be reprimanded by the Holy See. In the 1980s, the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith — headed by then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who went on to become Pope Benedict XVI — launched an investigation into Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen, an outspoken liberal cleric and critic of nuclear power, who oversaw the Archdiocese of Seattle at the time. The Holy See ultimately appointed an auxiliary bishop to the region who shared authority with Hunthausen.

But it’s highly unusual for the public to learn about less formal admonishments doled out to bishops by Vatican officials behind closed doors. What’s more, Massimo Faggioli, a professor of theology and religious studies at Villanova University and an expert on U.S. Catholicism, said a nuncio privately dressing-down a U.S. bishop at a conference is particularly rare, and showcases the delicate situation facing modern popes when it comes to cowing outspoken, media-savvy clerics who buck the party line.

Strickland has become a popular figure in right-wing Catholic circles for his criticism of President Joe Biden and oppositional stance against COVID-19 vaccines, which includes expressing support for priests who have challenged their own bishops by refusing to get vaccinated. (Strickland’s position contrasts sharply with that of Pope Francis, who has advocated repeatedly for the use of vaccines, even calling them an “act of love.”) In addition to the Terry and Jesse Show, Strickland has appeared on a number of conservative and far-right Catholic websites, ranging from EWTN to Church Militant.

Emotional Rule of Life

By

Full Strength Network

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May 24, 2023

You may have heard of a Rule of Life, but have you ever considered creating an Emotional Rule of Life? Your typical Rule of Life represents spiritual growth commitments that you make after a season of prayer and consultation with your trusted accountability partners. An emotional rule of life is an adaptation that focuses on an intentional commitment to develop healthier, more Christ-like emotional habits so that you can be more present to God, others, and of course, yourself.

If you take up this challenge for emotional growth, be sure to set rules that take into account where you are presently so you are not discouraged by the usual “one step forward and two steps back” process of meaningful change.

Consider inviting others to be your Emotional Rule of Life covenant partners. Below you’ll find five areas for your consideration in creating an Emotional Rule of Life:

Cultivate a habit of daily gratitude. It is so easy to forget to be grateful. Make it an early entry into your Emotional Rule of Life. Scripture is full of verses that exhort (and command) us to “give thanks to God.” But don’t stop there! Try keeping a daily gratitude journal and at the end of each day make a list of specific things that you saw, felt, or experienced for which you can be grateful. What can you be thankful for right now?
Cultivate a habit of forgiveness. Forgiveness is a characteristic of God, which should be reflected in the relationships of God’s people – but too often it isn’t. Forgiving another doesn’t mean that you become a doormat for another’s bad behavior. Forgiveness of specific offenses takes spiritual fortitude, especially when you have been wounded deeply by someone you trusted. Nevertheless, forgiveness is an emotional state and a spiritual trait that you can develop with daily practice. Colossians 3:5-17 contrasts characteristics of an unforgiving heart with those of a forgiving heart. Do you have a forgiving heart? Is there someone God is asking you to forgive?

Why Church Staff Alignment Is Essential

By

Church Fuel

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May 24, 2023

Life in your church is complicated. You’re continuously coordinating multiple moving parts. From your weekly worship service, small group ministry and everything in between, there is a variety of activity taking place in your church. To make sure everything (and everyone) works well together, here’s what you need to know: Every ministry in your church will naturally drift toward misalignment. In other words, your staff and ministries will eventually pursue their own purposes—not the mission of the church. That’s why church staff alignment is essential.

Church Staff Alignment

Often, misalignment doesn’t happen on purpose. The vast majority of ministries or events are rooted in good intentions. However, over time, everything tends to drift away from its original purpose. Things change. New ideas emerge. People pursue different directions.

Then, perhaps without even knowing it, what started as one thing turns out to be something entirely different, and it becomes misaligned with the church.

When people or ministries become misaligned, you’ll run into many problems, including:

- Internal conflict
- Confusion
- Lack of clarity
- Fights over money
- Scheduling conflicts
- Lack of volunteers
- Poor morale

Not convinced? Think about it this way. Let’s say the wheels of your vehicle become misaligned. At first, your vehicle will slightly pull to the left or right. But if you let this problem persist, then you will damage the wheels of your car, and maybe even experience a tire blowout while you’re driving, which can quickly lead to an accident.

Thankfully, no one will get physically injured or potentially die when your church staff becomes misaligned. But the problems it causes are real and they can negatively impact your church and thwart your ministry efforts.

To help you assess your ministry, fight for alignment and achieve greater ministry success, we’re going to cover the following topics:

- What is church staff alignment?
- Four reasons why staff alignment is important
- Nine warning signs of misalignment
- Six practical tips for aligning your church staff

Let’s get started!

What Is Alignment?

Alignment isn’t a complicated concept to grasp. It simply means to agree with a person or idea. For example, when it comes to politics, to be in alignment is to be on the same side of a political party or to support a specific cause. To practically apply this definition to your church, Carey Nieuwhof writes:

“Alignment happens when you have a team of people—from the top leadership right through to the newest volunteer—pulling in the same direction not only around the same goals, but using the same strategy.”

For your church to be in alignment, you and your staff need to be on the same side in three core areas:

- Beliefs
- Mission
- Philosophy

Regarding your beliefs, I’m not suggesting that everyone on your staff needs to agree with you on every single point of doctrine. But I am suggesting that your team needs to agree with your church’s essential beliefs.

For your church, there are many Christian creeds, confessions and statements of faith you may or may not adhere to. That’s OK. Whatever creed or passages of the Bible inform your beliefs, it’s essential for your staff to be in agreement with them, too.

One last point about your beliefs:

Provide your staff with the opportunity to share their disagreements.

For example, many creeds contain a variety of essential, secondary and even tertiary doctrinal issues. Whether it’s during the interview process or a pastoral transition, provide interviewees and members of your staff an opportunity to discuss where they diverge.

This simple act will not only help your entire church staff to become aligned. But it will also help to create an environment for your team to feel safe in sharing their opinions.

When it comes to creating alignment in your mission, your church staff should be moving toward accomplishing the same goal—to be on the same page. Think about it this way.

If you’re on a road trip and there’s a disagreement about your final destination, you’ll end up nowhere fast. In the same way, if there’s disagreement over the direction of your church, then your staff will go in different directions, which will negatively influence the team’s productivity and your church’s fruitfulness.

If your mission is what you want to accomplish, then staff alignment of your philosophy of ministry is how you will achieve your mission.

How your church fulfills its mission is just as important to people as the mission itself. For example, you can agree on the same destination (mission), but you can have different opinions on how you should reach your destination (philosophy of ministry). From your style of worship music to your dress code, your philosophy of ministry will have a variety of practical implications.

In sum, it’s important to remember there are a few things alignment doesn’t mean:

- Everyone has to be in 100 percent agreement
- Staff members have to forfeit their perspective
- No one can voice an opinion

This isn’t the case at all. In general, your staff needs to be on the same side as you in your beliefs, mission and philosophy of ministry. But you can allow your staff to share concerns, voice opinions, and even adhere to secondary or tertiary differences of opinion.

4 Daily Prayer Practices for Pastors and Church Leaders

By

Rick Warren

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May 24, 2023

We’re looking for better methods, machinery and motivations, which are all OK, but God is looking for people to use. He is looking for leaders. And for God to use the leaders, they must be men and women of God. You can learn a lot about people by the kinds of prayers they pray. We have a sample of a leader’s prayer practices in the book of Nehemiah.

Remember that Nehemiah, when he first heard about the downfall of Jerusalem, prayed for four months before taking action. This is not just a casual prayer. The prayer we’re going to look at this week is just a sample prayer he prayed. It gives us a pattern for successful praying. If you want to know how to pray as a leader, study the book of Nehemiah, and particularly examine the prayer Nehemiah prays in the first chapter.

4 Secret Prayer Practices From the Life of Nehemiah

1. Base your requests on God’s character.

Pray like you know God will answer you…

I’m expecting you to answer this prayer because of who you are. You are a faithful God. You are a great God. You are a loving God. You are a wonderful God. You can handle this problem, God!

Nehemiah went to God and said in chapter 1, verse 5, “O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands” (NIV).

Nehemiah said three things about God:

You’re great—that’s God’s position.
You’re awesome—that shows his power.
You keep your promises—God’s covenant.

The first thing Nehemiah did was to acknowledge who God is. That’s what praise is. And the beginning of seeing prayer answered is believing that God answers prayer and asking him, based on his character and his promises, to listen and to act.

2. Confess the sin in your life.

After Nehemiah based his prayer on God’s character, he confessed his sins. Repeatedly in his prayer, Nehemiah said the words “I” and “we.” He says, “I confess…myself…my father’s house…we have acted very wickedly…we have not obeyed,” and so on throughout this passage.

It wasn’t Nehemiah’s fault they went into captivity. He wasn’t even born when this happened 70 years earlier. He was most likely born in captivity. Yet he was including himself in the national sins. Our society has taught us we’re only responsible for ourselves. And that’s just not true! You are your brother’s keeper. We are all in this together.

Leaders accept the blame, others pass the buck. If you want to be a leader, you accept the blame and share the credit.

How To Tell a Jesus Story

By

Michael Adam Beck

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May 23, 2023

Even before the Gospels were written down, the early Christians gathered in homes and public spaces to tell stories about Jesus and his teachings. In Fresh Expressions and other innovative forms of Christian community focused on people who aren’t already part of the church, the simple practice of sharing Jesus stories brings this tradition alive today.

“Jesus Stories” are simple, short retellings about something Jesus said or did in five minutes or less. They can be told by any disciple (not just clergy). Jesus stories are accompanied by open-ended questions that spark discussion. Gathering around Jesus stories provides opportunities for open and honest conversations about the joys and struggles in our lives that people from any or no religious background can enter into.

Here are some simple instructions for how to tell a Jesus story. As with anything in Fresh Expressions or mission, don’t go alone! At least two people should partner together to lead these kinds of conversations (Lk 10:1). They happen best in neighborhood spaces or homes where people are comfortable gathering and have already begun to form relationships characterized by listening, loving, and building community.

Crafting the Jesus Story

Step 1: Prayerfully Choose a Jesus story.

Prayerfully search the scriptures and ask the Holy Spirit to inspire you as you read. What is something Jesus said or did that resonates with you? Read the passage multiple times, consult commentaries to see what others have said about this passage.

Step 2: Locate Yourself in the Jesus Story.

Prayerfully ask yourself why this Jesus story is so meaningful to you. Why does this story touch your soul? Where do you see yourself in what Jesus said or did? How has this changed you? If the story or teaching doesn’t move you personally, you should find another one that does.

Step 3: Prepare the Jesus Story.

How will you share this Jesus story with others? If it helps you to write it down, feel free to do so. However, it’s better if you can tell the story without notes. Perhaps read the passage aloud, then rehearse how you will communicate to the group.

Step 4: Deliver the Jesus Story in 3-5 Minutes.

Tell the Jesus story to your community. It doesn’t need to be long. Three to five minutes is a good rule. You could simply read a couple verses of the story out loud, then summarize. Try thinking of the narrative form you are using like the one offered below in section II.

Step 5: Ask Questions To Spark the Conversation.

Here are some questions you might consider: What would this story look like today? What if this Jesus story is true? If it is true, how would it make a difference in my life? What is this Jesus story saying to me? What is one small thing I can change in my daily life as a result of this Jesus story? What is one thing I might do differently?

These questions give access for non-Christians to join in the conversation. They are intentionally designed not to be “right or wrong” answer questions, but to invite curiosity and reflection.

Delivering the Jesus Story

Telling a story is an art form that you can improve upon with practice. Remember the four movements of a good Jesus story:

Set the Tension: invite your hearers on a narrative journey with something provocative or curious that upsets the equilibrium (ex. “Jesus ate good food with bad people” “Have you ever felt unclean?” “Jesus was guilty of shepherd malpractice; he left 99 in the wilderness to pursue a lost wild one” “Here’s a story Jesus told about a reckless sower, he cast good seed wastefully all over the place,” etc.).
Paint the Picture: tell the group exactly what the story says. Look for details in the text that color the story for your hearers.
Personal Experience: why is this Jesus story meaningful to you personally, how has it healed, challenged, or changed you? Give personal testimony about Jesus in your own life
Resolve the Tension: close with answering the question you asked or restoring equilibrium to the quandary you raised. Better yet, invite your hearers to resolve the tension by using the kinds of questions suggested above!

Ron DeSantis Tells Christian Communicators at NRB 2023 He’s ‘Waging a War on Woke’

By

Jesse T. Jackson

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May 23, 2023

On Monday (May 22), Florida Governor Ron DeSantis received loud applause and standing ovations while giving a welcome address at National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) 2023.

According to their website, the NRB is a “nonpartisan, international association of Christian communicators whose member organizations represent hundreds of millions of listeners, viewers, and readers.”

The 46th governor of Florida, who is believed will announce his 2024 run for United States president this week, told a room filled with a few thousand Christians in media about how he’s helped lead Florida against the “woke agenda.”

“One of the things I’m most proud of is that the state of Florida stands unequivocally in defense of the family and in defense of our children,” DeSantis said. “And we have done more to protect children than any state in the country. Of course, just a short few weeks ago, I was fortunate enough to sign the heartbeat bill, which is the strongest pro-life bill Florida has seen in its modern history.”

“When we are acting to protect an unborn child that has a detectable heartbeat, that is humane; that is not harsh,” DeSantis continued. “That is the right thing to do.”

DeSantis explained that he understands that being pro-life means being pro-life through the life of the child. Therefore, he said, Florida has “provided unprecedented support” for mothers in this bill. “We’ve increased by $25 million our Pregnancy Support Services program to meet physical and emotional needs of would-be mothers, and that’s whether they decide to keep the child or put it up for adoption.”

He said his administration is taking a stand for families by making sure that the Florida school system is providing “kids with an education not with an indoctrination.”

While telling the crowd that “parents have a right to know what curriculum is being used in their kids’ classrooms or being used in their library,” DeSantis shared about a recent press conference, which he titled “Exposing the Book Ban Hoax,” wherein he showed graphic images of the content to which Florida parents have objected.

The governor said, “The news stations that were carrying the press conference cut their feed because they said it was too graphic. Well, if it’s too graphic for the 6 o’clock news, how is it okay for a 10-year-old school child?”

‘Read the Bible,’ AOC Tells DeSantis After His Good Samaritan Reference

By

Stephanie Martin

-

May 23, 2023

The chokehold death of a man on a New York City subway has sparked a debate about a biblical parable. On May 1, 30-year-old Jordan Neely, a man experiencing homelessness, was screaming at and threatening other passengers. That’s when Daniel Penny, a 24-year-old ex-marine, put Neely in a chokehold, restraining him until he stopped breathing.

The death was ruled a homicide, and Penny was charged with second-degree manslaughter. He faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who’s expected to announce his presidential bid soon, has praised Penny as “a good Samaritan” for protecting people. But U.S. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC), who attended Neely’s funeral on Saturday, told a reporter that DeSantis “should read the Bible.”

Ron DeSantis: We Can’t Have ‘Inmates Running the Asylum’

During a May 16 news conference, Ron DeSantis said Penny did the “right thing” by stepping in because Neely was “very dangerous” and “putting people in harm’s way.” The governor (and fellow veteran) said, “Vets look out for vets,” and “What we can’t have in our society is inmates running the asylum.”

Calling Penny a good Samaritan, DeSantis said he doesn’t think the 24-year-old should be prosecuted. Criticizing Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, the governor added, “When people have the temerity to fight back against the criminal element, he goes after them.”

DeSantis also defended his retweet of a fundraising page for Penny. “We must…stop the Left’s pro-criminal agenda, and take back the streets for law abiding citizens,” DeSantis wrote. “We stand with Good Samaritans like Daniel Penny.”

By contrast, the Rev. Al Sharpton characterized Penny as a killer. In his eulogy for Neely, Sharpton said, “A good Samaritan helps those in trouble; they don’t choke them out.” He criticized the criminalization of mental illness and New York City’s neglect of people experiencing homelessness.

“He’s been choked his whole life,” Sharpton said of Neely, who had an extensive arrest record. Neely’s family said he “experienced a mental health episode” on the subway.

AOC: DeSantis Should Read Luke 15

As she left Neely’s funeral, Ocasio-Cortez was asked what she thought about DeSantis calling Penny a good Samaritan. “I think he should read a Bible,” she told the reporter. In the parable, found in Luke 10:25-37, a Samaritan stops to aid a robbery victim after religious figures had passed by without helping.

After February’s Super Bowl, Ocasio-Cortez criticized the Christian-themed “He Gets Us” ads, saying they “make fascism look benign.”

Fundamentalist Preacher Under Fire for Suggesting Public Executions for Parents Who Affirm Trans Children

By

Dale Chamberlain

-

May 23, 2023

A clip taken from a recent sermon delivered by fundamentalist Baptist preacher Jason Graber has gone viral on social media for Graber’s violent language toward parents who would allow their children to receive gender reassignment surgery.

Graber is pastor of Sure Foundation Baptist Church in Spokane, Washington, a congregation that is loosely affiliated with a movement of Independent Fundamentalist Baptists led by Arizona pastor Steven Anderson, who is known nationally for espousing violent rhetoric against the LGBTQ+ community.

While the full video of Graber’s sermon has since been taken down from YouTube, a clip featuring key moments of the message continues to circulate on Twitter.

“To any parents who would have their child have a transgender surgery done on them, any parent that would do that, they just need to be shot in the back of the head,” Graber said in the sermon. “They need to be convicted in trial and immediately shot in the back of the head, okay? And then we can string them up above a bridge, so that the public can see the consequences of that kind of wickedness.”

Graber later said, “And so there should be no excuse to not put these people to death—no excuse whatsoever.”

“There are very few people out there who are actually fighting the spiritual fight,” Graber said, challenging his congregation to find another preacher in the Spokane area who preaches “the message where they said that these child molesters, that these child butchers, that these f****ts, all these LGBTQ people, people that desire strange flesh, that they should all be put to death in a public execution by the government.”

“Find me the preacher that says that,” Graber reiterated. “I wanna see him.”

This is not the only time in recent months that Graber has offered harsh words to parents with regard to LGBTQ+ issues. In a sermon delivered on Mother’s Day, Graber urged mothers to instruct their children with spiritual wisdom. However, he offered a very specific vision for that instruction.

Should mothers fail in their duties, Graber argued, any number of “pitfalls” could beset their children. Included among these pitfalls were the possibility of daughters becoming “whores,” as well as of young men who sleep with “one of these whorish women” contracting AIDS.

“At some point, she slept with somebody who’s a homo, okay, that’s how AIDS—basically, you’re in contact with somebody who’s a homo if you have AIDS,” Graber said. “Because that’s where AIDS comes from: it’s from homos. And so that’s the only way it gets around.”

Graber added, “If you look at somebody who has AIDS, this is the type of thing that’s happened to them, okay, or they are that person…You’re worthless at that point.”

‘Jesus Revolution’ Distributor Lionsgate Acquires Worldwide Distribution Rights to ‘The Chosen’

By

Jessica Lea

-

May 23, 2023

Lionsgate has acquired worldwide distribution rights to “The Chosen,” the hit series based on the life of Jesus. The film studio, which has distributed movies such as “Knives Out,” “La La Land,” and the “John Wick” franchise, has made a sub-licensing deal with Angel Studios.

“Lionsgate is perfect for us,” said “The Chosen” creator Dallas Jenkins. “They’re strong and experienced in the areas we’re not, but they also understand what’s unique about us and will protect that. We’ll continue to do what we do best unabated, and they’ll expand our efforts with their tremendous distribution team.”

‘The Chosen’ Partners With Lionsgate

“The Chosen,” which launched in 2019, bills itself as the “first-ever multi-season series about the life of Christ.” It is crowdfunded and free for viewers to stream through The Chosen app. Episodes 1 and 2 of Season 3 were released in theaters on Nov. 18 to great success, grossing over $8 million over the weekend and ranking third in total weekend sales.

“The more I learned about ‘The Chosen,’ the more I wanted to ensure that it is on the best platforms across the globe,” said Lionsgate President of Worldwide Television Distribution Jim Packer.

“It’s no surprise that an artfully crafted story about such an important historical figure, unlike anything done before, would be in great demand,” Packer continued. “The multi-season approach has allowed ‘The Chosen’ to consistently build its audience and generate a unique level of engagement. We’re excited by the opportunity to elevate this incredible property to the next level of worldwide recognition and popularity.”

According to Deadline, “After any theatrical release, the Angel Studios app and ‘The Chosen’ app still have global exclusive rights in the first window for all existing and future seasons.” Moreover, “Angel Studios has perpetual rights and exclusive perpetual rights to NFTs.”

The Come and See Foundation, which announced a new partnership with “The Chosen” in December, will “retain and manage licensing rights for all The Chosen’s activities within the non-profit sector, including translation.”

As it has risen in popularity, “The Chosen” has been the subject of both controversy and acclaim. “Taxi Driver” screenwriter Paul Schrader has praised “The Chosen” as “the exception” among often lackluster faith-based films. Numerous fans have expressed appreciation for the show’s artistry and how it has helped them to understand Jesus better.

Intel Wins 2023’s Most Faith-Friendly Company As Fortune 500 Warms to Religious Diversity

By

Kathryn Post

-

May 23, 2023

intel — Intel headquarters in Santa Clara, California. Intel was ranked as the most faith-friendly Fortune 500 company, according to the 2023 Corporate Religious Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Index. Photo © Intel Corporation. RNS illustration.

(RNS) — On Jan. 3, ESPN host Dan Orlovsky stunned viewers when he broke into prayer for Damar Hamlin, the Buffalo Bills player who went into cardiac arrest the night before, on a live broadcast.

“God, we come to you in these moments that we don’t understand, that are hard because we believe that you’re God and coming to you and praying to you has impact. We’re sad. We’re angry. And we want answers, but some things are unanswerable,” he said. “We just want to pray, truly come to you and pray for strength for Damar, for healing for Damar, for comfort for Damar.”

This prayer is emblematic of the kind of religious freedom promoted by the Religious Freedom and Business Foundation, said President Brian Grim. The organization released its 2023 benchmark assessment of corporate America’s religious diversity efforts Monday morning (May 22).

The annual report, he said, celebrates companies that allow employees to bring their whole selves to work and respond authentically to crisis.

“The basic idea of religious freedom is that you’re free to have a faith, change your faith or have no faith at all,” said Grim, who added that belief in the workplace should be treated as an asset, not a threat.

This year, Intel was ranked as the most faith-friendly Fortune 500 company, with American Airlines and Equinix trailing close behind, according to the 2023 Corporate Religious Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Index. Intel earned a perfect score on the index, which assessed “25 top faith-friendly companies” via an opt-in survey. The survey evaluates companies in 10 categories, including their religious accommodations, spiritual care offerings and belief-based employee resource groups.

For the first time since the REDI Index launched four years ago, companies that didn’t take the survey were ranked separately on their religious diversity efforts based on publicly available information. This separate ranking, called the REDI Monitor, found that 219 companies (44%) refer to religion on the diversity page of their website, up from 202 last year, and 43 companies (8.6%) publicly report having faith-based employee resource groups, up from 37 last year.

Among the top 25 companies assessed in the REDI Index, 96% clearly address religion in their diversity training and have clear procedures for reporting religious discrimination. Eighty percent provide chaplains or other forms of spiritual care, and 72% match employee donations to religious charities. This is the first year that three European-based companies opted in to the REDI Index.

According to Grim, one of the attributes that allowed Intel to snag the top spot was its interfaith coalition of employee resource groups, which brings together employees from a range of religious and spiritual perspectives for mutual education. Recently, the head of Intel’s Bahá’í employee resource group was tapped to head the interfaith coalition. “It was just such a beautiful example of majority faiths and a very small minority faith working together for the greater good of a company. Some of those dynamics are very impressive. What a model for society that even your smallest religious group can do something that makes everyone better,” said Grim.

The REDI Index report also highlighted other standout initiatives, including Tyson Food’s 100 chaplains, the Equinix Foundation’s 24/7 spiritual and emotional support services and Salesforce’s “mindfulness zones” for prayer and meditation.

Last Generation Climate Change Activists To Stand Trial at the Vatican

By

Claire Giangrave

-

May 23, 2023

Last Generation climate change activists — A video grab from footage made available by environmental activists shows two members of Ultima Generazione, or Last Generation in English, who glued their hands on the Roman statue of "Laocoön and His Sons," one of the masterpieces of the Vatican Museums' collection, to protest against climate change, Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The activists displayed a banner reading, "Last Generation No Gas No Coal" urging politicians to listen to the call from the scientific community and act against climate change. (Ultima Generazione via AP)

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Three Italian environmental activists will face their second trial hearing at the Vatican on Wednesday (May 24) for having glued themselves to the famous statue “Laocoön and His Sons” in the Vatican Museums last summer.

Ester Goffi, a 25-year-old art history student, and Guido Viero, a 61-year-old health worker, glued their hands to the marble statue in August of last year in a sign of protest urging world leaders to combat climate change, while another friend, as yet unnamed, was filming on her cellphone. The statue was not damaged, and Vatican police eliminated the recording on the device after sequestering it.

The three will stand trial at the Vatican, facing charges of vandalism.

The environmental activists belong to the Italian movement Ultima Generazione, which translates to “Last Generation” in English, and is responsible for several public vandalism acts to major artistic and historical sites in Italy aimed at drawing attention to the danger of climate change. On Sunday, Last Generation activists filled Rome’s famous Trevi Fountain with black coloring to protest fossil fuels.

During the first hearing on March 9, the activists chose not to come to trial. The Vatican’s legal system uses canon law, and its criminal law is based on the Italian penal code from 1889. “The lawyers who are authorized to defend us in the Vatican State are too expensive and we can’t afford them,” a spokesperson for the Last Generation movement told local media outlets.

Last Generation activists will gather Wednesday afternoon near the Vatican in protest.

In the interview they pointed to the floods that have overrun the northern region of Emilia Romagna in Italy, which has already claimed 14 lives, as “a sour taste of what awaits us in the coming years.”

“We must change the course immediately and cut public funding to fossil fuels if we wish to limit the escalation of extreme events and save innocent lives,” the organization said. “Our actions have this objective: protect the lives of our fellow citizens and people living in the rest of the world. Ours is a desperate cry before the lack of action by politicians who have the responsibility to protect the environment and the populations.”

Pope Francis is considered an ally of environmental movements ever since he published his “green encyclical” Laudato Si in 2015 promoting the care of creation and the fight against climate change. In a new book called “The Taste for Change: Ecological Transition as the Path to Happiness,” Francis wrote in the preface that “we must admit sincerely that it is the young people who embody the change we all objectively need.”

This article originally appeared here.

Rev. Alvin Herring, Head of Faith in Action, To Retire

By

Jack Jenkins

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May 23, 2023

WASHINGTON (RNS) — The Rev. Alvin Herring announced on Tuesday (May 23) that he will step down next year as head of the congregation-based organizing network Faith in Action, leaving the group he has helmed for five years.

“I think this is a good moment to step aside and give younger leaders a chance to lead, more women a chance to lead and to be their champions on the outside — to herald their work and to continue to lend my support,” Herring, 66, told Religion News Service in an interview.

Faith in Action is still deciding on a replacement for Herring, who previously served as the group’s director of training and faith formation before leaving for a two-year stint at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, where he said he helped the organization focus on racial justice and racial equity. He is expected to continue to serve in his current position until March 31, 2024.

The leadership change comes as Faith in Action, a faith-based organization previously known as PICO National Network, gears up for another election cycle. Although the group rejects political labels, it helps member congregations mobilize around a host of issues relevant to their local community — issues often seen as liberal-leaning, such as immigrant rights, the effects of climate change on vulnerable communities and prison reform.

Herring, who is ordained in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, noted Faith in Action assembled a massive voter engagement effort ahead of the 2020 election, encouraging those they contacted to register to vote and show up on Election Day.

“I hope … we will continue to fight for democracy every way that we can, and one of the most powerful ways to fight for democracy is to fight for the right to vote,” Herring said.

The Rev. Alvin Herring speaks during the Vote Common Good summit in Des Moines, Iowa, Friday, Jan. 10, 2020. Video screen grab via Vote Common Good

The California pastor leaves behind a sprawling network that boasts active efforts in 200 cities across 25 U.S. states. The organization also has emerging efforts in six additional countries abroad such as El Salvador and Rwanda. It’s a fledgling global effort Herring said he has worked hard to expand.

Faith in Action also flourished financially under his leadership, aided in part by a multimillion-dollar grant in June 2021 from billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott.

“Now we are one of the most financially solvent organizations in our environment, with a significant endowment that will ensure the financial health of this organization for many years to come,” he said.

Looking back, Herring said he is proud of many things that occurred while he worked at the organization, particularly the elevation of more women and people of color into leadership positions.

“We’ll continue to advocate that women and young people of color be at the forefront of every important decision made in this country, and at the forefront of every important decision made in this organization,” he said.

As for what’s next, Herring isn’t sure. He expressed a desire to embark on a bike trip across the country or focus on his art.

He still intends to remain involved in organizing, however, and expressed optimism that Faith in Action’s efforts can help bring about the changes they seek.

“I’ve lived long enough to know that sometimes change can happen in an instant if the intentions are right, if the circumstances are right, if the environment has been seeded with enough belief, enough faith,” he said. “I think this organization is the perfect embodiment of that, so I think we have a bright future ahead of us.”

This article originally appeared here.

From Hi-Tech to Hi-Touch: Stories from Church Management Software

By

MinistryTech Magazine

-

May 23, 2023

thank you notes for children’s ministry volunteers

Behind the features, advantages, and benefits of Church Management Software (ChMS) lay the real purposes of the software: caring for God’s people. Over the years Ministry Tech Leaders have partnered with a wide variety of ChMS firms; we’ve discovered that, in addition to technical excellence, these companies are committed to the larger mission of serving the church. In this roundup of testimonials and user experiences you’ll discover some of the real-life stories and comments, drawn from the intersection of technology and ministry, resulting in hi-touch care for God’s people.

TouchPoint and Redeemer Presbyterian Church

When the team at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New Your City reached out to other churches for ChMS recommendations, they found that if they wanted to add anything different to their existing solutions, they would have to lobby development for a new feature to be added or find third-party applications. With TouchPoint they can customize a hi-touch solution that meets the needs of their unique church. All-in-one Church Management System. All with one login.

The all-in-one tool is giving Redeemer a clearer picture of the state of their church. One area in which leadership has new insight is giving. “We’re trying to increase the number of recurring givers. Whenever 25% of your annual budget comes in December, that’s stressful. You don’t know how you’re going to pay the bills throughout the year,” said Chris Dolan, director of Information Services. “Right now roughly 13% of households have recurring giving. We’d like to see that grow to 50%.” Redeemer is leveraging TouchPoint to create a future in which they can make new goals based on current data. Chris explained, “TouchPoint has been great for us, because all of our data is in one place. It’s cleaner than it’s ever been. We can really report on it, dissect it, look at it in many different ways, and use it to understand who our people are and how we are ministering to them. We are trying to use that data to make better decisions to steer our future.”

One of these future goals includes helping people to become members sooner. “Our current membership process has been fairly passive on the church’s side,” explained Chris. “Until recently, someone who wanted to become a member had to complete a number of steps that could take months because they had to drive most of the process themselves.” With TouchPoint, Redeemer can easily identify an individual’s stage in the membership process and send them prompts to help move them to the next step more quickly. What’s more, “Now we can actually seek out people who would be good potential members based on their current involvement,” said Chris. Chris also described how one church leader is using TouchPoint to collect data on member engagement. “One of our senior pastors has identified a target group of congregants. He’s meeting them in person and is encouraging them to get involved in key areas like community group, volunteering, giving, and membership. We’re looking to see if there’s any change between the people he’s able to reach and those he’s not. We’ll use those results to drive how we encourage our congregants to deepen their involvement with the church.”

These data points—membership, generosity, community group commitment, and volunteering—give Redeemer a clearer and fuller picture of how the church is helping people to mature in Christ. From there, they can continue to refine processes and create new programs that will accelerate their impact in a city that wields incredible influence over the country and the world. TouchPoint couldn’t be more thrilled and humbled to partner with Redeemer in continuing the Great Commission in New York City.

Advice for Graduates: 10 Tips to Share With Graduating Seniors

By

Jeff Baxter

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May 22, 2023

Need advice for graduates in your youth ministry or church? Read on for a collection of life wisdom that’s always applicable.

During graduation season, emotions run high for high school seniors. On one hand, excitement and anticipation are off the charts for these soon-to-be college freshmen. On the other hand, if graduates are leaving home, stress can accumulate. What a combination of mixed emotions, independence, and responsibility!

At the end of my book Following Jesus Into College and Beyond, I offer quick, straight-forward advice for graduates. I hope these tips help the young people you minister to. And I hope they help you, as well!

10 Snippets of Wise Advice for Graduates

1. Listen more than you talk.

You have lots more to learn!

2. Exercise.

Even if you were active in high school, remember to walk, jog, and move for your health.

3. Draw healthy boundaries.

Know ahead of time where you set your moral and ethical boundaries.

4. Have fun.

This seems easy and obvious to many teenagers. But some high school graduates are so intense they miss the fun factor.

5. Steer clear of substances.

You don’t want to start down the path of using alcohol and drugs. So resist temptation and say no.

6. Eat healthy.

College cafeterias are a draw for some universities. But be sure to walk off what you eat.

7. Don’t abuse your freedom.

All this newfound freedom can seem like a wide-open ocean. But if you’re not prepared to swim, you might drown. So be wise.

Kenneth Boa: Navigating Transitions in Life and Ministry

By

Jason Daye

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May 22, 2023

As pastors and ministry leaders, we face a number of transitions throughout our lives and ministries. Some of those transitions are welcomed, and some are forced. Some feel great, and some are painful. So the question is, how do we navigate these transitions in a healthy way that both honors God and helps us grow more deeply in our faith? In this week’s conversation on FrontStage BackStage, host Jason Daye is joined by Ken Boa, president of Reflections Ministries and author of a number of books, including his latest, “Recalibrate Your Life.” Together, Ken and Jason explore the tremendous opportunities that are presented to us as we face transition. They look at ways that we can reflect and recalibrate our lives so that we can grow in our intimacy with Christ in such a way that it impacts our lives and our ministry.

FrontStage BackStage Podcast Kenneth Boa

View the entire podcast here.

Keep Learning

Looking to dig more deeply into this topic and conversation? Every week we go the extra mile and create a free toolkit so you and your ministry team can dive deeper into the topic that is discussed. Find your Weekly Toolkit here… Love well, Live well, Lead well!

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Video links to this week’s episode – easily share with the ministry leaders in your church
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Additional resource links from this week’s conversation – so you and your team can easily find what is mentioned or referenced
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Step 3: Prepare the Jesus Story.

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AOC: DeSantis Should Read Luke 15

‘The Chosen’ Partners With Lionsgate

10 Snippets of Wise Advice for Graduates

1. Listen more than you talk.

2. Exercise.

3. Draw healthy boundaries.

4. Have fun.

5. Steer clear of substances.

6. Eat healthy.

7. Don’t abuse your freedom.

FrontStage BackStage Podcast Kenneth Boa

Keep Learning

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