‘This Is Gross’—Christians Appalled After Steven Crowder Mocks New Barbie Doll With Down Syndrome

April 27, 2023

Many are reacting with outrage after conservative commentator and professing Christian Steven Crowder mocked Mattel’s newly released Barbie doll with Down syndrome. While a clip Crowder posted to Twitter has shocked a number of people, Crowder and those joining him on his show, “Louder with Crowder,” went on to make jokes about the situation that escalated in offensiveness.

“This is gross,” said Daniel Darling, director of the Land Center for Cultural Engagement at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. “Christianity sees every human as being made in the image of God and possessing full value and dignity. [A] reflexively reactionary conservativism without Christianity will become as toxic as the progressivism it seeks to oppose.”

This is gross. Christianity sees every human as being made in the image of God and possessing full value and dignity. A a reflexively reactionary conservativism without Christianity will become as toxic as the progressivism it seeks to oppose. https://t.co/enr5mMTsro

— Daniel Darling (@dandarling) April 27, 2023

Barbie Doll With Down Syndrome Released Tuesday

In a statement Tuesday, Lisa McKnight, executive vice president and Global Head of Barbie & Dolls, said:

As the most diverse doll line on the market, Barbie plays an important role in a child’s early experiences, and we are dedicated to doing our part to counter social stigma through play…We are proud to introduce a Barbie doll with Down syndrome to better reflect the world around us and further our commitment to celebrating inclusion through play.

Barbie partnered with National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) to make sure the new doll reflected the characteristics of people with Down syndrome. The Barbie doll’s outfit is symbolic, incorporating colors that stand for Down syndrome awareness and featuring a necklace that represents the chromosomes that cause Down syndrome. The doll also comes with pink ankle foot orthotics, worn by some children who have Down syndrome.

“This means so much for our community, who for the first time, can play with a Barbie doll that looks like them,” said NDSS president and CEO Kandi Pickard. “This Barbie serves as a reminder that we should never underestimate the power of representation. It is a huge step forward for inclusion and a moment that we are celebrating.”

The new Barbie doll is part of Mattel’s Barbie® Fashionistas™ line, which celebrates “diversity and [offers] endless possibilities for storytelling and fashion exploration. Other dolls in this line include those with various body types, skin tones and hair textures, as well as a doll with a wheelchair and ramp and a doll with a prosthetic leg.

While many are welcoming the news about the Barbie doll with Down syndrome, Steven Crowder has said that he thinks the doll is “stupid.”

Christian NBA Superstar Rejects ‘Failure’ Label After Being Eliminated From Playoffs

Stephanie Martin

April 27, 2023

After his Milwaukee Bucks were eliminated in the first round of the NBA playoffs, star player and outspoken Christian Giannis Antetokounmpo rejected the notion that the loss represented failure. During a post-game press conference Wednesday (April 26), the power forward known as the Greek Freak took issue with a reporter’s question about success and achievement.

Despite being the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, the Bucks lost their best-of-seven series to the Miami Heat (a play-in team) in five games. Sports commentators debated whether that was the biggest upset in NBA playoff history.

During the series, Antetokounmpo, 28, battled a back injury, missing most of game one and all of games two and three. The two-time league MVP is Greek Orthodox and speaks openly about his faith.

Giannis Antetokounmpo Speaks About ‘Steps to Success’

After the Bucks were eliminated Wednesday, Giannis Antetokounmpo challenged a reporter who asked if he considered the season a failure. His answer is being praised for its honesty and its relevance for all types of pursuits and leaders.

“You asked me the same question last year, I think,” Antetokounmpo began. “Do you get a promotion every year? No, right? So, every year you work is a failure? Yes or no? No.” He continued, “Every year you work, you work toward something—to a goal—which is to get a promotion, to be able to take care of your family, to be able to provide a house for them or take care of your parents. You work toward a goal. It’s not a failure. It’s steps to success.”

As an example, Antetokounmpo pointed to basketball legend Michael Jordan, who played 15 years and won six championships. “The other nine years was a failure?” he asked. In 2021, the Bucks won their first championship in 50 years, and Antetokounmpo also asked: “So…it was 50 years of failure? No, it was not. There were steps to it. And we were able to win one, and hopefully we can win another one.”

Antetokounmpo said the reporter was asking the “wrong question” because “there’s no failure in sports. There’s good days, bad days. Some days you are able to be successful, some days you are not. Some days it is your turn, some days it’s not. That’s what sports is about. You don’t always win. Some other group is gonna win, and this year someone else is gonna win. Simple as that. We’re gonna come back next year and try to be better, try to build good habits, try to play better.”

Is Athlete’s Answer Commendable or a Cop-Out?

After Antetokounmpo’s comments went viral, reporters and fans debated its merits. “You don’t always win,” agreed NBA analyst and former player Charles Barkley. Injury is disappointing and losses are unfortunate, he added, but “to win a championship, a lot has to go your way.”

Reporter Adam Schefter tweeted a snippet from the press conference, writing, “Giannis is outstanding.” In a comment, someone wrote: “This mindset separates Giannis from every other NBA star. He is frustrated but focused on the big picture and can be at peace because he plays hard every time he takes the court. This is a leader.”

T.D. Jakes Announces 10-Year Partnership With Wells Fargo To Build Mixed-Income Communities

Dale Chamberlain

April 27, 2023

T.D. Jakes Wells Fargo — Screengrab via Twitter @CBSMornings

Bishop T.D. Jakes has announced he is partnering with Wells Fargo to build mixed-income housing in underserved communities. His goal is to revitalize neighborhoods and provide opportunities for upward mobility to those who have historically been overlooked.

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

The partnership does not involve The Potter’s House Church, of which Jakes is pastor. Instead, the project will be undertaken by the T.D. Jakes Group, which is a conglomerate of four entities Jakes oversees: the nonprofit organizations T.D. Jakes Ministries and the T.D. Jakes Foundation, and the for-profit organizations T.D. Jakes Enterprises and T.D. Jakes Real Estate Ventures, LLC.

“We are excited to collaborate with the T.D. Jakes Group as they play a key role in the transformation of communities that will have a lasting impact for generations to come,” said Wells Fargo CEO Charlie Scharf in a press release. “This strategic partnership goes beyond a one-off capital investment and underscores our continued commitment to diverse and inclusive communities. We look forward to seeing the meaningful difference we’ll make together in communities across the country.”

Jakes said of the partnership, “This alliance with our organization allows us to further our four decades-long work to provide economic justice, eradicate food deserts, construct desirable workplaces and affordable housing, closing the digital divide and ultimately help families leave a rich and lasting legacy for the next generation.”

“We recognize the need for CEOs like Charlie Scharf bending the arc and aim of Wells Fargo toward correcting systemic inequalities. We are committed to ensuring additional opportunities actually reach as many areas of need that we can influence,” Jakes continued. “Disruptive partnerships like this create a paradigm shift in how we can collectively bring long overdue transformation, particularly to Black and Brown communities and other marginalized groups around our nation.”

The first project will be to build a mixed-income housing and retail development in an area just outside Atlanta. In 2022, Jakes’ real estate company purchased nearly 100 acres of what used to be army base Fort McPherson, which is near Tyler Perry Studios.

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

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

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

“So this is an exciting moment for us. We’re really, really thrilled to be able to do it,” Jakes said.

Jimmy Dodd: Is There an Emerging Pastor Crisis in America?

Jason Daye

April 27, 2023

Are we slipping into a pastor crisis here in the United States? In this week’s conversation on FrontStage BackStage, host Jason Daye is joined by Jimmy Dodd, founder and CEO of PastorServe. PastorServe comes alongside pastors and ministry leaders through coaching, consulting, crisis care, and soul care. Jimmy is also the author of several books, including the best-selling “Survive or Thrive.” Together, Jimmy and Jason look at some recent research and assess the current realities of pastoring here in the United States. Then, they look at some incredible places of hope, where you can find support and encouragement as you serve in ministry.

FrontStage BackStage Podcast Jimmy Dodd

View the entire podcast here.

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UMC Top Court Rules Disaffiliating Clergy Don’t Automatically Lose Credentials

Emily McFarlan Miller

April 27, 2023

(RNS) — The United Methodist Judicial Council ruled Tuesday (April 25) that clergy will not automatically lose their credentials if their churches leave the denomination.

The decision comes as the second-largest Protestant denomination in the United States continues to splinter over the ordination and marriage of its LGBTQ members.

According to the latest tally by United Methodist News Service, nearly 2,500 congregations have disaffiliated from the denomination since 2019. That’s when United Methodists’ General Conference created a disaffiliation plan for churches wishing to leave the denomination for “reasons of conscience” regarding its stance on sexuality.

The disaffiliation plan allows churches to leave with their buildings and other real property as long as they have made their “apportionments” — a form of tithe to the denomination — and have met their payments to the clergy pension fund. The plan allows regional annual conferences, as United Methodists‘ geographic districts are known, to add their own further requirements for disaffiliation.

But according to the Judicial Council, the Wisconsin Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church went too far in forcing ministers serving disaffiliating congregations to take one of three options: part with their congregations and remain in the United Methodist Church, retire or surrender their credentials as ministers.

Wisconsin Bishop Hee-Soo Jung had decided that if a church disaffiliates from the United Methodist Church, and its pastor chooses to leave with the congregation, that pastor “is deemed to have withdrawn from the UMC and has surrendered his or her credentials.”

The denomination’s top court disagreed, saying clergy maintain their credentials unless action is brought against them — generally meaning a formal complaint has been filed accusing them of violating church law, according to United Methodist News Service.

The Judicial Council’s decision reads in part, “Clergy who withdraw from their annual conference membership by written request or by simply leaving their appointment have not surrendered their credentials unless action is taken against them.”

In other decisions released Tuesday, the Judicial Council ruled that the Book of Discipline does not require churches to state their “reasons of conscience” in order to disaffiliate but that conferences are free to add that requirement.

Pope Francis Clears Way for Women and Lay Catholics To Vote in Upcoming Bishops’ Meeting

Junno Arocho Esteves

April 27, 2023

ROME (RNS) — In a series of changes to the upcoming Synod of Bishops on Synodality announced Wednesday (April 26), Pope Francis cleared the way for lay women and men to participate as voting members.

Five men and five women from religious orders will also be added to the assembly and will be given the power to vote on resolutions.

The new voting members will replace auditors, or nonvoting participants, of the synod, the Vatican announced. “Instead, an additional 70 non-bishop members have been added who represent various groupings of the faithful of the People of God (priests, consecrated women, deacons, lay faithful) and who come from the local churches,” the Vatican said.

Francis will choose the 70 from a list of 140 people to be selected by the continental synodal meetings currently taking place around the world.

The Vatican requested that of the 140 candidates, “50% of them be women and that the presence of young people also be emphasized.”

Beyond gender and age, the Vatican set out standards for the candidates, saying, “In selecting them, account is taken not only of their general culture and prudence, but also of their knowledge, both theoretical and practical, as well as their participation in various capacities in the synod process. As members, they have the right to vote,” the Vatican said.

The synod is already expected to break ground when it comes to giving women concrete roles: In 2021, Francis appointed Nathalie Becquart, a French nun, as one of two undersecretaries of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops, making her the first woman in the history of the church with the right to vote with the bishops at a synod.

Synod on Synodality logo. Courtesy image

The Synod on Synodality, with the theme “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission,” was motivated by Francis’ wish to include the voices of lay Catholics. It began nearly two years ago with an invitation to Catholic parishes and dioceses to hold listening sessions where congregations, it was hoped, would voice their concerns and visions for the future of the church, in person and online.

The Simplest Way To Impact Your Community Right Now

Michael Kelley

April 27, 2023

It was the great missionary William Carey who said in the late 18th century: “Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God.”

That resonates with most Christians; we want to see God move mightily, and we want to play a part in it. We want to see our homes, communities, countries, and world reached with the gospel of Jesus Christ. But where do we begin? Where do we start?

We might get so fixated on “attempting something great” that we miss the opportunity right in front of us—an opportunity that is readily available and also very simple. The best opportunity you might have to impact your community right now is through hospitality. What’s more, that’s not a new phenomenon.

Hospitality was vitally important to the spread of the gospel in the days when the church was just beginning to flourish because when traveling to a new area, people were at the mercy of the people who lived in that city. Christians took hospitality seriously, and because they did, the gospel was able to take root as it spread through displaced Christians who were welcomed into the homes and lives of others. It’s not wonder, then, that the biblical authors of the New Testament put such an emphasis on hospitality:

Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality. (Romans 12:13)
Don’t neglect to show hospitality, for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it. (Hebrews 13:2)
Be hospitable to one another without complaining. (1 Peter 4:9)

From a purely pragmatic perspective, the early church had to practice hospitality in order for the gospel to continue to move throughout the world and for the church to grow. But there’s also a deeper reason why hospitality is so vital—that’s because it is one of the simplest and most tangible ways we model the truth of the gospel.

But times have changed. Despite the fact that much of our lives is lived in a “public” way online, most people value privacy more than they did in the past. Though we might put forth a version of ourselves through social media, we still really like our personal space, personal thought, and personal time. The very nature of hospitality runs counter to this. Hospitality is sharing what we consider to be “personal” with each other in a sacrificial way.

While there are certain acts, like making the casserole or opening your home, that are indicative of hospitality, the characteristic itself has a deeper meaning and implication than these actions.

The word hospitality comes from the combination of two words: “love” and “stranger.” Literally, then, hospitality is the love of strangers.

This is a powerful description of what the gospel is. When we were strangers and aliens, God took us in. When we were without a home and family, God brought us into His. When we were without hope in the world, God adopted us as His children. In the ultimate act of hospitality, God provided a way to welcome us through the death of Jesus Christ.

God is ultimately hospitable, and therefore hospitality is a characteristic built into the spiritual DNA of all those who have experienced this divine hospitality.

Choosing the way of hospitality says something about the nature of the gospel to others. Specifically, here are three aspects of our faith we put on display when we welcome others into our lives:

1. We Are Speaking About Our Provision.

Exercising hospitality will cost us something. It will cost us time, energy, resources, privacy—all kinds of things. Any time there is a personal cost, the temptation for us is to focus on what we are giving up in order to welcome someone else in. When we make ourselves willing to be used by God in order to practice hospitality, we are testifying that we believe God to be our great provider. He will take care of our needs.

Why Everyone Should Be a Serious Theologian

Scott Sauls

April 27, 2023

For Christian believers, there can be a love/hate relationship with theology.

We love theology because it provides an ordered, systematic, storied picture of the sixty-six books of the Bible. Theology packages the Bible—which can itself feel daunting—into a more digestible, less intimidating, easier to understand, cohesive whole.

Theology gives us an interpretive lens from which to more clearly see God, the world, our neighbor, and ourselves. It anchors us and forms our most deeply held convictions. It give us greater certainty about things that are true and things that are not; about things that should be treated as lovely and things that should be treated as repulsive; about things that are healthy and that enhance life and things that are harmful and that diminish life. On the whole, and when handled with humility and care, theology can be a tremendous asset to our existence.

But if handled poorly, theology can bring out the worst in us. As Paul was quick to warn the Corinthian saints, we can fathom all mysteries, but if we don’t have love, we have and we gain nothing. James says the same thing, perhaps even more bluntly, when he says that having the most sound, water-tight, correct system of doctrine *by itself* puts us in the same category as the devil of hell. “Even the demons believe,” James says, “and they shudder.”

We can memorize the whole Bible and affirm and believe and even preach every word of it, and still not be even remotely submitted to it. To the degree that this is true of us, we, like the demons, ought to shudder. Then we should run to Jesus immediately.

My predecessor at Nashville’s Christ Presbyterian Church, Dr. Charles McGowan, once shared a metaphor with me that I found both humorous and helpful. He said, and I paraphrase:

Scott, I believe that in the life of a Christian, theology should function like a skeleton. The skeleton is, of course, absolutely necessary for providing structure and strength to the rest of the body. But, like a skeleton with a body, if our theology is the only thing or even the main thing about our spirituality that is visible to others, it means that we are either spiritually sick or spiritually dead.

Ouch.

And so on point.

In his skeleton metaphor, Charles was in a way explaining why some people think of seminary, the place where many aspiring ministers go to become sound in their theology, as a “cemetery.” Those who think of seminary in this way are concerned the study of Scripture become so much of an academic exercise, that the pursuit of God wanes into a dull, lifeless, and in many ways useless endeavor.

Positively, these are also people who haven’t forgotten that the first and greatest commandment is to *love* the Lord our God with our whole selves, and to *love* our neighbor as ourselves.

The skeleton metaphor is especially relevant for those of us who come from a Reformed Presbyterian tradition. You see, we Reformed folks are known for emphasizing sound doctrine. Most of us would say that sound doctrine—that is, a biblically-grounded, accurate theology—is the greatest strength of our tradition. Indeed, this may be true. But when we fail to prioritize the life of the heart as a logical and necessary fruit of the life of the mind—manifest through things like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control—we risk of missing the whole point. Deep knowledge of Scripture as the *sword* of the Spirit, and the sound doctrine that flows from it, must always lead to manifestations of the *fruit* of the Spirit.

Transformational Change and Your Small Group’s “Brain”

Small Group Network

April 27, 2023

What encourages continual transformation within the heart of a believer? Some say it is reading Scripture, while others might say that it is a healthy prayer life. Certainly, these items are vital and they incorporate two core activities of the Christian faith. Yet if you asked those who study neuroscience, it’s likely that they would have another item to add. Co-authored by Jim Wilder and Michel Hendricks, the book The Other Half of Church explores the neuroscience of transformational change and what we in the church can (and probably should) do in order to unlock huge opportunities for our churchgoers’ spiritual growth.

Transformational Change in Your Small Group

1. Transformational change: Our Brain’s Two Halves

For those who remembered their lessons from high school biology, our brain is made up of what our authors refer to as two “processors” (the left and the right), which work together but specialize in different responsibilities. While it is common that the right side of the brain is often associated with art or emotions and the left side of the brain is often associated with logic or problem solving, what may not be as commonly understood is that all of the information that our brain receives will traverse through a pathway that begins on the right side of our brain before it travels to the left side of our brain. As a result, our right brain processes data more quickly than our left brain. According to Wilder, “The right hemisphere process that creates our working identity integrates our reality six times per second. The brain brings together current experience and emotionally important personal memories to create an active sense of who we are in our relationships at that moment.”

‘It’s a Must’—Tithe.ly Releases Report Detailing the Importance of Digital Giving

Jesse T. Jackson

April 26, 2023

digital_giving — Photo credit: Michael lima / Unsplash

Tithe.ly has released its “2023 The State of Giving” report, which provides insights into the means by which givers make their contributions to the local church.

For the report, Tithe.ly, which exists to “serve the Church and advance the Kingdom of God with simple, effective, and affordable church technology,” analyzed billions of dollars that were given to over 37,000 churches and surveyed more than 6,000 individual churches.

According to the report, giving by cash or check has increased by nearly 2.5% since 2019, despite online giving also being up 13%. Giving by credit or debit card is the main means by which people give, as opposed to direct deposit.

Notably, only 1 in 10 churches reported having received over 60% of their donations from recurring givers. Although recurring gifts allow churches to plan better for the future, the report found that nearly half of churches have less than 20% recurring donors.

Tithe.ly said that while “many churches (around 2,000 surveyed) did not have online giving prior to March of 2020,” more than 80% now offer online giving options—an increase of almost 24% from the pre-pandemic era.

Over 26% of churches surveyed reported that their giving has stayed the same since 2021. The report says that 23.4% of churches saw a 10% increase in their giving, and 23.4% of churches saw their giving increase by 20%. Also, 10.7% of churches said their giving was up more than 20% from the previous year.

Moreover, 15.9% of the surveyed churches reported a decrease in their giving, 6.3% of whom said their giving had decreased more than 10%.

Tithe.ly reported that “the vast majority of givers in 2022 were people that were already giving,” which begs the question: “Does the church need to grow in encouraging new members (or new believers) to give?”

“Summer may represent a drop in church attendance, but it doesn’t necessarily mean people aren’t giving from June-August,” Tithe.ly reported. “Digital giving and recurring giving solutions are a must, so that people can continue to be faithful no matter where they are.”

A finding worth celebrating is that despite the economic uncertainty brought on by the pandemic, church giving appears to be on the rise: “For most churches, giving continued to stay the same or increase in 2022 (from 2021).”

In fact, Tithe.ly reported that 57.5% of churches said their giving has increased and that “the vast majority of churches anticipate that their total and year-end giving will either remain the same or increase in 2023.”

Wrongfully Imprisoned NC Pastor Went From ‘Hero of the Year’ to Shunned by the Town

Janna Firestone

April 26, 2023

Pastor Darron Carmon was said to be “a leader right in our community, making it better and safer for all,” according to the town of Winterville, North Carolina. However, that all changed after Carmon filed a lawsuit against the town and two former police officers.

Back in 1993, Carmon was wrongfully accused and arrested for a robbery. After a false conviction and sentencing, he served eight years of his 40-year sentence. Carmon was released early due to good behavior.

He then went on to become a pastor and began nonprofit organizations, including People Against Racism. Carmon’s church was used as a vaccine clinic during the pandemic, and he has spearheaded multiple community projects, which include art endeavors and feeding people in need.

Decades after his conviction, Carmon’s new attorneys uncovered fingerprint evidence that was never submitted to the city courts during the original hearing. He has since been exonerated and is now pursuing a pardon for a crime he didn’t commit.

The Town No Longer Honors Pastor Darron Carmon

According to The News & Observer, Carmon was expected to receive the Hero of the Year award in 2023 for the third year in a row. But in light of the recent lawsuit, the town of Winterville chose another recipient and has pulled all of its support and recognition of Carmon. Keen Lassiter, the town’s attorney, mentioned that this response is standard procedure while involved in litigation.

The town canceled any observances on what would have been the fifth Pastor Darron Antonio Carmon Day. Winterville’s previous proclamation noted Carmon’s Sikono Mentoring Program (for children aged 3 to young adult) having a “breathtaking 100% success rate.”

“It’s almost like being victimized again,” said Carmon. “It’s a lack of integrity, a lack of concern, a lack of care.”

He spoke with the Reflector and shared more of his story, saying “Winterville’s response right now is to not say anything, not talk to me.”

“These are people who called me, talked to me. They wanted to use my church. You can Google that. We partnered with ECU and the mayor wanted to use my church so they could vaccinate people during the pandemic,” Carmon said. He continued, “We were very active for the city during that time.”

According to the lawsuit, Carmon is accusing the officers of arresting him despite the fact that he didn’t fit the description of the robber provided by the witness. The clerk described the armed robber as six feet tall and with a long afro. Carmon is 5-foot-6 and had short hair at the time. The officers also took fingerprints at the crime scene, which they left in an evidence locker.

Last year, Carmon posted a five-minute video titled, “When They Don’t Apologize.” He addressed the times in life when people are wronged, and the offender never apologizes. Carmon encouraged his listeners not to meditate on the wrongdoing since many won’t return to say, “I’m sorry.”

Carmon continued, “Where your focus goes, there your energy flows.” He challenged others to choose to do what is right and to make amends when they’ve done wrong.

Utah School District Warned Not To Ban Bible for ‘Pornographic’ Content

Jessica Lea

April 26, 2023

After a parent requested that the Bible be reviewed by a Utah county school district on the grounds that it is “pornographic,” a nonprofit law firm dedicated to defending religious liberty is pushing back. On April 24, First Liberty Institute sent a letter to the Sensitive Materials Review Committee of the Davis School District, warning the committee “not to act in a manner that is hostile toward Christianity.”

“Consistent with Constitution and district policies, Davis School District libraries have copies of the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Torah, and the Quran available to check out,” said the letter. “Removal of the Bible while permitting other holy books to remain available presents unconstitutional hostility toward Christianity.”

Davis School District Asked To Review Bible

In late March, The Salt Lake Tribune reported that in December a parent had filed a request to have the Bible removed from school libraries, calling the text “one of the most sex-ridden books around.”

The parent referenced a law banning sensitive materials in schools that the Utah state legislature passed in March 2022. Critics of the law argue it is being used to silence the perspectives of minorities and that it is interfering with librarians’ book review process, which had been adequate prior to the law’s passage. Supporters say the law is protecting children from the destructive impact of pornography.

According to the parent who wrote the district, the Bible contains “incest, onanism, bestiality, prostitution, genital mutilation, fellatio, dildos, rape, and even infanticide.” The parent continued, “You’ll no doubt find that the Bible, under Utah Code Ann. § 76-10-1227, has ‘no serious values for minors’ because it’s pornographic by our new definition. Get this PORN out of our schools! If the books that have been banned so far are any indication for way lesser offenses, this should be a slam dunk.”

The parent included a document listing “offensive” Bible passages from the Old and New Testaments, including Matthew 15:19, where Jesus said, “For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.”

The Bible is currently one of more than 80 books the district committee is reviewing, according to a statement sent by Davis School District spokesperson Christopher Williams to The Christian Post in March.

In its letter, First Liberty Institute said that removing the Bible would present “serious constitutional concerns.” The firm defended the Bible as having “serious value for minors” as a work of literature and history. Furthermore, should the district remove the Bible, it would be discriminating against Christianity because other religious texts contain some of the same passages the parent cited in his or her letter.

Conservative Baptist Network’s Mike Stone Accepts Nomination for SBC President

Dale Chamberlain

April 26, 2023

Georgia pastor Mike Stone announced on Wednesday (April 26) that he intends to accept a nomination for president of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) at the denomination’s annual meeting in June.

In addition to being pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Blackshear, Georgia, Stone is also a former chairman for the SBC’s Executive Committee (EC), as well as an influential figure within the Conservative Baptist Network, a group formed in 2020 by a group of SBC pastors to address what they believe to be “liberal drift” in the denomination.

Stone will run against Texas pastor and current SBC president Bart Barber, who will be seeking a second term.

“After hearing from Southern Baptists across the country, I have prayerfully agreed to accept a nomination for the presidency of the SBC,” Stone said in his video announcement, which was posted by Alabama pastor and longtime SBC influencer Mac Brunson.

Stone continued, “I’m thankful for the godly men and women who serve our Convention, and there’s a lot to celebrate in the SBC—from church planting to international missions and beyond.”

“And while I have no desire to disparage anyone, there are also serious causes of grave concern,” Stone said.

Stone specifically identified two areas of concern. The first was the denomination’s handling of its sexual abuse crisis. The second was evangelism.

With regard to the SBC’s sexual abuse crisis, Stone said, “In this critical hour, we need leaders who will guide us to care well for victims while, at the same time, embracing scriptural principles of due process and the handling and publishing of accusations.”

Stone added that when outside help is necessary for these matters, SBC leaders must be “committed to only use those that are driven by facts and informed by the truth.”

These remarks were a reference to Guidepost Solutions, the firm that was hired to investigate the EC’s handling of sexual abuse across a 20-year period. The report that Guidepost Solutions delivered in May 2022 revealed the repeated and systemic failure of the EC to respond well.

Notably, Stone was named in that report, which accused him of helping to cover up the misconduct of a fellow pastor and intimidating witnesses who sought to bring that misconduct to light in 2019. Stone has denied the allegations.

Despite the thoroughness of the investigation, Guidepost Solutions came under fire from some Southern Baptists for a June 2021 tweet in which the firm expressed support for LGBTQ+ Pride Month. Some cited the tweet as a reason why they distrusted the findings of the Guidepost Solutions investigation.

Controversy surrounding Guidepost Solutions was later reignited when the SBC’s Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force announced the denomination would again partner with the firm—this time for the creation of a “Ministry Check” website, which will serve as a database of SBC clergy and leaders who have been credibly accused of sexual abuse.

Escaped Detainee Who Allegedly Killed a Pastor Is Dead Following Standoff, Police Believe

Dale Chamberlain

April 26, 2023

An escaped jail detainee was reportedly killed in a police standoff in Leake County, Mississippi, on Wednesday (April 26). Dylan Arrington, 22, and three other detainees had escaped from Raymond Detention Center over the weekend. Arrington allegedly went on to shoot and kill a local pastor, stealing his truck.

Arrington was being held after he was charged with auto theft and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. He had a previous conviction for a separate auto theft.

The other escapees were Casey Grayson, 34, Corey Harrison, 22, and Jerry Raynes, 51. They were in custody for various felony charges, most involving theft, according to the Associated Press.

The group escaped from Raymond Detention Center, which is roughly 15 miles from Jackson, by breaching a cell and making their way to the roof. Prison officials believe that the four made their initial escape from their cell sometime around 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, leaving the property in staggered time intervals after making it to the roof.

Their escape was discovered at 12:30 a.m. when staff conducted a routine cell check.

Arrington is suspected to have shot and killed 61-year-old pastor Anthony Watts in Jackson on Monday after Watts apparently pulled over to help Arrington when he wrecked a stolen motorcycle.

“Based on information gathered from investigators, the suspect…fit the description of 22-year-old Dylan Arrington,” Jackson Police Chief James E. Davis said.

Arrington allegedly fled the scene in Watts’ Dodge Ram.

Watts was the pastor of St. Mary Missionary Baptist Church in D’Lo, Mississippi. Carl Burton, assistant pastor at the church, told an NBC affiliate, “He was a good man, willing to do anything for anybody. And he showed that every day of his life.”

Watts routinely posted encouragements to the church’s Facebook page. On Monday, mere hours before he was murdered, Watts posted a prayer.

Bob Roberts Jr.: How To Evangelize Without Seeing People as Projects

Jessica Lea

April 26, 2023

The Stetzer ChurchLeaders Podcast · Bob Roberts Jr.: How To Evangelize Without Seeing People as Projects

Bob Roberts Jr. is the Senior Global Pastor at Northwood Church, which he planted over 30 years ago in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. The author of several books and host of the Bold Love Podcast, Bob has been a trailblazer in the peacemaking and international religious freedom arenas. He is the founder of Multi-Faith Neighbors Network, as well as GlocalNet, a non-profit dedicated to mobilizing the church for transformation in the public square.

Other Ways To Listen to This Podcast With Bob Roberts Jr.

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Key Questions for Bob Roberts Jr.

-How did meeting the religious leaders in your city change the way that you pastored your local church?

-Why is having relationships with people of other religions essential?

-How can church leaders actually meet with religious leaders in their cities?

-What is a peace builder’s responsibility to speak up about the persecution of Christians?

Key Quotes From Bob Roberts Jr.

“[Earlier in my life], evangelism was more of a project for me than it was a lifestyle.”

“I can’t stand the word ‘interfaith’…Evangelicals often are not a part of interfaith conversations because we’re viewed as bigots, because we’re exclusivist with reference to what we believe is the gospel.”

“I like the word ‘multifaith,’ and the reason I do is that multifaith says, you don’t have to compromise your faith. You don’t have to give up your faith. You have to just be truthful and honest about who you are and say it in the kindest and most loving way.”

“I think when we begin to see the image of God in everybody, then instead of calling them out as sinners…we’re challenging them to live up to who they are, their identity as how they were created in Christ.”

“I share my faith all the time. Eighty percent of the time I’m with non-Christians.”

“When an imam accepts Christ, a lot of people come to faith in Christ.”

“These people come to faith in Christ because of the message and the messenger…[but] a lot of times we don’t have time to build a relationship with them.”

In Rural Texas, Spending Taxpayer Money on Private Schools Is a Hard Sell

BeLynn Hollers

April 26, 2023

In-rural-Texas-spending-taxpayer-money-on-private-schools — Photo credit: RNS

TYLER, Texas (RNS) — “If you will bow with me, please,” said Christopher Moran, superintendent of the Whitehouse Independent School District, after he was invited to pray to open a news conference outside the Tyler Independent School District building last month. Those from both school districts were there to voice local opposition to a school voucher proposal being floated by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott that would channel taxpayer money to private schools.

The news conference took place the day before the governor’s visit to Grace Community School, one of the largest Christian schools in Tyler, to promote his proposal for education savings accounts, a voucherlike program that would provide families $8,000 per student per year to use toward private school tuition or other education-related expenses.

This being East Texas, there was nothing controversial about Moran, a public school official, leading a prayer. What was unexpected — apparently even for the governor himself — was the staunch objection from locals to giving public funds to religious schools.

After Moran’s invocation, Wade Washmon, president of Tyler’s school board, stepped onstage and wasted no time calling Abbott’s push for education savings accounts a gift in exchange for “political platitudes.”

Vouchers have the potential to decimate public school budgets in Tyler, which, according to data from The Dallas Morning News, has one of the largest concentrations of private schools of any rural area in the state.

But Washmon only objected to depriving public schools of funding, not the idea of public support for religious education. His solution was to allow public schools to teach religion. “See, for ages public schools and conservative Christian communities like Tyler have been forced to be less vocal about our faith or face legal action and repercussions from multiple government agencies, both state and federal,” Washmon said.

Moran echoed Washmon’s appeal. “Why not just allow Tyler ISD to have a Christian choice school that’s measured by the same educational standards as all other public schools, instead of sending taxpayer dollars to places they’ve never been and having no control over how outcomes are measured, or how education is executed?” Washmon asked.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks during a primary night event March 1, 2022, in Corpus Christi, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks in Corpus Christi, Texas, on March 1, 2022. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

The voucher issue is one that has left the state’s House and Senate at odds as well.

On April 6, the Texas House passed an amendment by a vote of 86-52 that banned voucher funding from the state budget. Twenty-four of the votes that banned vouchers came from members living in rural areas.

But that didn’t settle the question: The Texas Senate overwhelmingly passed its own bill that would fund school choice, and days after it had voted against vouchers, the House took up a pro-vouchers bill filed by Rep. James Frank, R-Wichita Falls. More than 100 witnesses testified at the hearing.

Frank’s bill is still pending in committee; the House referred the Senate pro-voucher bill, meanwhile, to the chamber’s Public Education Committee.

Nor has Abbott given up trying to convince rural Texans to support school choice. “I cannot do it alone, I need you standing with me every step of the way,” Abbott has told his audiences.

Since early March, the governor has reprimanded public schools for pushing “woke” agendas, telling a crowd at Brazos Christian School in Bryan, Texas: “Schools should not be pushing a woke agenda on their children. Our schools are for education, not indoctrination.” Abbott’s office says there were 200 parents in Bryan to hear him speak and over 500 parents in Tyler the next day.

Abbott, a Roman Catholic, has since given similar speeches in at least 12 private schools — 10 of them exclusively Protestant and mostly rural. After Texas Monthly published an article that reported Abbott pitching school choice at exclusively Protestant Christian schools, he visited Catholic schools in Texas — St. Mary Magdalen School in San Antonio and Nolan Catholic High School in Fort Worth.

Fort Worth’s Rep. Charlie Geren and San Antonio’s Rep. Steve Allison, both Republicans, were the only two metropolitan-area GOP members that voted against vouchers.

This article originally appeared here.

As Death Toll Mounts in Kenya Church, Local Clergy Wonder at Scale of Indoctrination

Fredrick Nzwili

April 26, 2023

NAIROBI, Kenya (RNS) — In an expansive forest near Kenya’s southern coast, detectives have been exhuming bodies of people who starved to death to go to “heaven,” allegedly at the orders of a Christian pastor.

Anger and shock gripped the East African nation as families learned Paul Mackenzie Nthenge, the leader of the Good News International Church, ordered members to pray and fast to death so they could meet Jesus. When the people died, Nthenge and other members reportedly buried their bodies in shallow graves in Shakahola, an 800-acre forest ranch near Malindi, a tourist town on the Indian Ocean.

“Shakahola” means “a place of treating people’s problems,” according to retired Anglican Bishop Julius Kalu of Mombasa, whose home is near the area. Kalu wonders if the place’s meaning held a special appeal to Nthenge.

“When he bought the land in Shakahola, he told the people that he wanted to practice farming,” Kalu told Religion News Service.

“It got us by surprise. I do not know where he got this kind of theology. Christians pray and fast, but they don’t do it until their death,” he said. “I think we could not detect it because most of the victims are people from upcountry. The area is also sparsely populated.”

The death toll now stands at 90, with 26 new bodies exhumed Monday (April 24) from the mass graves in the ranch. Local teams anticipate more bodies in the ongoing search — the Kenyan Red Cross Society said on Sunday that 112 people had been reported missing to a tracing desk it set up near where the church was located — and Kenyans from different parts of the country have traveled to the area searching for their relatives.

Many are decrying the Good News International Church as a cult and calling Nthenge a cult leader.

“It’s indeed a worrying trend to watch how many desperate and innocent Kenyans are being spiritually terrorized or swindled by multiple fake pastors and cultic leaders,” said Roman Catholic Bishop Wilybard Kitogho Lagho of the Malindi Diocese on April 24. “What makes cultism a complicated phenomena to deal with is that cult followers believe their religious, sect or cult leader is always right, and their leader has the exclusive means of knowing ‘truth.’”

Pastor Paul Makenzi, who was arrested on suspicion of telling his followers to fast to death in order to meet Jesus, accompanied by some of his followers, appears at a court in Malindi, Kenya on Monday, April 17, 2023. Kenya's president William Ruto said Monday, April 23 that the starvation deaths of dozens of followers of the pastor is akin to terrorism. (AP Photo)

Pastor Paul Mackenzie Nthenge, who was arrested on suspicion of telling his followers to fast to death in order to meet Jesus, accompanied by some of his followers, appears at a court in Malindi, Kenya, on April 17, 2023. Kenya’s President William Ruto said on April 23, 2023, that the starvation deaths of dozens of followers of the pastor are akin to terrorism. (AP Photo)

The horrors began unfolding on April 14 when police raided the Nthenge compound on a tip that some people were starving to death there. They found 15 emaciated people, including four who later died. The survivors said they were following the pastor’s instructions to starve in order to meet Jesus.

Kenya’s President William Samoei Ruto described the incidents at the ranch as “akin to terrorism,” saying terrorists use religion to advance their heinous acts.

“People like Mackenzie are using religion to do exactly that,” said Ruto.

Religious leaders and human rights campaigners have criticized the pastor’s actions as an abuse of Kenya’s right to freedom of worship. Kenya is majority Christian: About 85% of the country’s nearly 53 million population is Christian, while about 10% are Muslim.

5 Things Every Child Wants From Your Ministry

Dale Hudson

April 26, 2023

what every child wants from children's ministry — Adobestock #178081713

This week children will walk through the doors of your church. They will come from many different backgrounds, family dynamics and life situations. No matter what they are mentally or physically carrying as they walk into the doors of your church, there are five big things every child from your children’s ministry.

They may not be able to articulate these five things, but it is what they are longing for.

1. Every Child Wants To Hear Their Name Spoken.

The sweetest sound to a child is hearing their name called (unless they are in trouble).

When you call a child by name it shows them that you care enough about them to memorize their name. (Of course, name tags are a big help with this, but don’t depend on name tags. Learn the child’s name and remember it.)

2. Every Child Wants To Be Accepted.

Kids are often insecure…especially if they are new or don’t have any friends at church (kinda like us as adults—right?).

Help them get connected to other children in the church so they have the opportunity to make some friends. You will often have to initiate this for them.

After we have been in a church for awhile, we tend to forget what it is like to walk into a new place and not know anyone. It can especially be hard for a child to do this.

Go the second mile to make children feel accepted. One key part of this is teaching the kids who are already attending to be intentional about helping new kids or kids who are loners.

If you really want to be intentional, train a team of kids to be greeters. They can meet new children at the door and hang with them throughout the entire service. This will not only help new or lonely kids to feel accepted, but will also give established kids an opportunity to serve.

3. Every Child Wants To Know They Are Missed When They Are Not Able To Attend.

We often complain (myself included) about kids who only attend church once a month of even less. We often point a finger at the children’s parents for not making church attendance a priority. But stop and think with me for a moment. Maybe one of the reasons children don’t attend regularly is because we don’t show them that they are missed. Why attend when it doesn’t matter to anyone that I will be absent?

One of the big things you can do is to send personal miss you cards to children when they are absent. Let them know you missed seeing them. Let them know it matters a lot when they are not there. Send the card through the mail to the child. It’s a big, big, big, big deal for a child to get a miss you card. As adults, we are always getting mail (like 10 credit card apps a day). But kids rarely get mail. Use the postcards you send to show them that you care and they are missed. It will make a difference.

4. Every Child Wants To Know More About Jesus.

This is another thing kids may not be able to articulate, but it is something they want and need. They want to know more about this person who died for them. They want to know more about how much Jesus loves them. They want to know more about why He died on the cross and rose again.

Finding Balance When Everything Seems Like a “Big Deal”

Ron Edmondson

April 26, 2023

Senior leaders are called to the work of finding balance all the “big deals” within an organization.

I’ll never forget the time I found out a staff member was disappointed with my leadership. He didn’t think I supported his ministry. Actually, I had said no to a budget item for his ministry area, because we needed to do something in another ministry area. I felt horrible, because I valued his ministry – and him – but my actions had led him to believe otherwise.

Thankfully, I learned a couple of things from this experience.

First, I needed to better communicate the “why” behind my decisions.
Second, there are some things we do as senior leaders others on the team can’t understand. We shouldn’t expect them to.

Finding Balance When Everything Seems Like a “Big Deal”

As a leader, I have to consistently remind myself one person’s big deal may not be another person’s big deal.

As a pastor, those in finance ministry naturally believe their ministry is critical to the success of the church. This may lead them to think attention should be given to finances above everything else. It’s their big deal.

Those in small group ministry naturally believe their ministry is most critical to the success of the church. This may lead them to think attention should be given to small group ministry above everything else. It’s their big deal.

Those in worship planning ministry naturally believe their ministry is most critical to the success of the church. This may lead them to think attention should be given to worship planning above everything else. It’s their big deal.

Those in children’s ministry naturally believe their ministry is most critical to the success of the church. This may lead them to think attention should be given to children’s ministry above everything else. It’s their big deal.

You get the point.

It was true when I was in the nonprofit role also. It was true when I was in the business world as a senior leader.

Of course, the ultimate “big deal” is the vision of the organization. As a church, our big deal – our vision – was to “lead people to Jesus and nurture them in their faith“. While everyone on our team agreed with this vision, they were also rightfully passionate about – and actively involved in – their specific role in accomplishing their individual vision. I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. We wanted ownership of their individual ministry and them doing everything they could to see it prosper. But at times this specially focused passion for their role could cloud their ability to see the needs of other ministries.

Media Influence: How Hollywood Has Hijacked Our Minds

Ethan Renoe

April 25, 2023

thank you notes for children’s ministry volunteers

Want to learn more about media influence, especially on today’s young people? Keep reading for one youth pastor’s take on how Hollywood has hijacked people’s minds.

Recently I was introduced to the idea of Soft Power. The term alone caused so many things to instantly click in my head. Soft Power is a clear paradox to Hard Power, and once you grasp the simple concept, so much will make sense. It’s the reason you always feel like you’re offending someone. Or that if you disagree with someone, you’re anathema to the cultural tide.

For example, consider the two Koreas. North Korea has nuclear weaponry aimed at the soil of the world, hovering her finger above the launch button if someone pries too closely. Hard Power. The bully with the bigger muscles and the baseball bat.

By contrast, South Korea is a rising star in the music scene with numerous breakout bands. K-Pop is infecting radio waves alongside the behemoth of entertainment which is the United States. Soft power is far more subliminal but perhaps even more powerful than its opposite.

South Korea, with its intellectual Soft Power, is growing the ability to influence fans however they want. Of course, this is slow and over time rather than blatant like North Korea’s nukes. The reason this is so important? In the West, we’re in far more danger of giving in to Soft Power than Hard.

Soft Power & Media Influence

For instance, look no further than the third chapter of Genesis. Does the serpent come to Eve with a crossbow and tell her to eat the fruit “or else…”? No, of course not! Satan slips subtle lies into her mind. He makes Eve question things she was once so sure of. Before long, she has given in and doomed the progeny of the world to death and toil.

I’d wager that few of us face AK-47s or barbed-wire clubs on the daily. But we face a far more insidious power: Intellectual Colonialism. What is Colonialism? It’s the invasion of Western culture into indigenous lands. The white man came in and said people should do things a certain way (to put it lightly).

Without realizing it, Christians in the West have become slaves to the machine of Intellectual Colonialism. We’ve hear that how we think is wrong. Media influence tells us we need to do it like them. We must be sexually liberated (as long as it’s safe and consensual). We need to tolerate every belief simply because someone feels it’s true.

Problem is, feelings aren’t great dictators of truth. Someone once commented on a YouTube video of mine. They said I shouldn’t be so hard on Christians who may believe something the Bible doesn’t teach. “If they believe it strongly, then it can be true for them.”

That phrase, in addition to being ridiculous and ignorant, was disproven in the 300s B.C. Something cannot be simultaneously true and false depending on how someone feels. No matter how hard I feel that the winter should be sunny and 75, reality will keep dumping snow on me.

But now I’m off track…

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Other Ways To Listen to This Podcast With Bob Roberts Jr.

Key Questions for Bob Roberts Jr.

Key Quotes From Bob Roberts Jr.

1. Every Child Wants To Hear Their Name Spoken.

2. Every Child Wants To Be Accepted.

3. Every Child Wants To Know They Are Missed When They Are Not Able To Attend.

4. Every Child Wants To Know More About Jesus.

Finding Balance When Everything Seems Like a “Big Deal”

As a leader, I have to consistently remind myself one person’s big deal may not be another person’s big deal.

You get the point.

Soft Power & Media Influence

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