4 Ways to Build Leadership Transparency

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October 5, 2022

Leadership transparency can build or break trust. Without trust, leadership suffers. However, when a staff, customers, or congregation trust their leaders, good things happen. Several years ago our church made some significant changes to our governance and our church constitution. After a two-year study process, our board of elders presented the changes to our church resulting in overwhelming approval, a unanimous vote. A key reason the process went so well was because they ruthlessly practiced leadership transparency. Here are 4 ways to practice leadership transparency and move your church or ministry forward.

4 Ways to Build Leadership Transparency

Communicate-communicate-communicate.
- Our board went out of the way to communicate the proposed changes. They included some key influencers in the re-write. They provided copies of the change several weeks in advance. They convened a focus group of key influencers to get their take before it came to the church. We asked for a strong congregational attendance at our annual meeting where these kinds of issues must face a vote. We had a great attendance.
Welcome input and questions.
- In addition to the focus group, they gave plenty of time during the annual meeting to field questions. Our head elder who led the meeting kept encouraging questions without appearing to rush the meeting in any way. He allowed spaces of time when no one raised questions, yet he still conveyed an openness to field any questions as they might come up.
Be graceful in the face of difficult questions.
- A few people raised some tough, but fair questions. Neither the head elder nor the assistant head elder who fielded questions responded defensively when those questions were raised. They acknowledged the question, affirmed the person who asked it, and answered the question without a defensive or off-putting tone.
Be totally forthright.
- Some of the proposed changes required a significant change from congregational rule to a board rule form of governance. When such questions were raised, the head elder didn’t attempt to soft sell, beat around the bush, or obfuscate the reality of the change. He answered clearly and explained the why behind each answer.

I hadn’t lead a church for some time that held such significant congregational meetings. Yet, the spirit in which the board lead provided a textbook example how good leadership transparency can move the ministry forward.

What other ways have you seen that builds leadership transparency?

This article originally appeared here, and is used by permission.

Ron Edmondson: My Top 5 Corporate Worship Experiences

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Ron Edmondson

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October 5, 2022

This is a hard post to write, because I typically don’t do “favorites”, but I’ve thought a lot recently about corporate worship. That always floods my mind with memories of corporate worship highlights in my life, or favorite worship moments. I have had many. To me, worship is when God fills me with Himself. It’s when God has all of me and all I want is all of Him. That doesn’t have to happen in a church service, and often doesn’t for me…which is why I titled this “top 5 corporate worship moments“. I do believe, however, that there is something special about corporate worship with other like-minded believers. (In fact, I would contend we are commanded to do so regularly.)

Of course, any time of worship is an incredible time. The fact that a holy God would choose to allow me into His presence should bring me to my knees constantly in worship. Honestly, however, there are times I’m just going through the motions of “worship”.

My Top 5 Corporate Worship Experiences:

Los Angeles

It had been a long week at a business conference, and truthfully a very non-spiritual week. I was so busy that all week I read one chapter…Psalm 150. As is our custom, we went looking for a church on Sunday morning. I thought I had found a California mega-church online, but, after getting lost several times and nearly missing the service, we arrived to find out it was a very small church. There were less than 100 people and we were very obvious visitors. We decided to visit in spite of my introversion and on the marquis, permanently inscribed was a single verse: Let everything that have breath praise the Lord. Psalm 150:6. It turned out to be one of the most meaningful times of worship in my life.

Brooklyn Tabernacle Church

Cheryl and I were there for a Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir experience. I had heard people talk about this, and usually if I’m anticipating something it isn’t as likely to happen for me, but it did. I felt God’s presence like never before. I can still capture the memories of that moment today.

Brazil

I was about to speak via a translator for the very first time. Prior to stepping on stage, we were led in almost an hour-long time of worship, although it seemed like only a few minutes. Hearing Portuguese and English together proclaiming the goodness of the same God humbled me to tears.

Promise Keepers

I went to many Promise Keepers events, and they were all good, but on this particular occasion my boys went with me. They were probably both pre-teens at the time and at this conference, not only did I worship, but I got to witness, for the first time, my two boys worship. It was indescribable!

Passion Conference

I had gone with our college team, but for this session I slipped away by myself. I was alone in a crowded room…if you’ve ever been there. I knew no one around me and for 30 minutes, I gave God everything in my heart. I’ll never forget the jubilation. (I don’t get to use that word very much…but it seems appropriate here!)

Some may wonder, why didn’t you name your own church? Well, that’s a great question. I’m a very strategic-minded person, so on Sundays, to be candid, it’s more work that it is worship. Still, I’ve had some amazing times of worship at our church, especially backstage, which is why it didn’t make the list here.

This article on corporate worship originally appeared here, and is used by permission.

Herschel Walker’s Son Accuses Father of Violence, Hypocrisy After Abortion Story Breaks

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Jessica Lea

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October 4, 2022

A report from The Daily Beast published the evening of Monday, Oct. 3, claims that Herschel Walker, a former NFL player running for a U.S. Senate seat in Georgia, paid for a former girlfriend to have an abortion. Walker is a professing Christian and is staunchly pro-life. His son, Christian Walker, responded to the news with several tweets and videos saying that he is done with his father’s lies and accusing his father of violence against him and his mother.

“I know my mom and I would really appreciate if my father Herschel Walker stopped lying and making a mockery of us,” said Christian Walker on Twitter the evening the report came out. “You’re not a ‘family man’ when you left us to bang a bunch of women, threatened to kill us, and had us move over 6 times in 6 months running from your violence.”

I know my mom and I would really appreciate if my father Herschel Walker stopped lying and making a mockery of us.

You’re not a “family man” when you left us to bang a bunch of women, threatened to kill us, and had us move over 6 times in 6 months running from your violence.

— Christian Walker (@ChristianWalk1r) October 4, 2022

Christian continued, “I don’t care about someone who has a bad past and takes accountability. But how DARE YOU LIE and act as though you’re some ‘moral, Christian, upright man.’ You’ve lived a life of DESTROYING other peoples [sic] lives. How dare you.”

Herschel Walker Put on Blast by Son

Herschel Walker is a former running back in the NFL and is running for a U.S. Senate seat against Sen. Raphael Warnock. The race is a key one as the Senate at this time contains 50 Republicans, 48 Democrats and two Independents. Vice President Kamala Harris casts the tie-breaking vote if necessary, but a victory for Walker would mean the Republicans would take the majority.

Walker has come down hard against abortion and has said he would support federal legislation proposed by Sen. Lindsey Graham banning abortion after 15 weeks. In a statement to Politico, Walker said, “Raphael Warnock wants to protect the killing of babies right up to the moment of birth. We need to do better. I am a proud pro-life Christian, and I will always stand up for our unborn children. I believe the issue should be decided at the state level, but I WOULD support this policy.”

The website for Herschel Walker’s campaign states that faith and family are important to the candidate:

As a Christian, a father, and a husband, Herschel knows that strong families are the bedrock of our country. Herschel’s upbringing in rural Georgia instilled a personal faith in God, which he carries with him to this day. He prays every day for this country, and with God’s help will bring those values with him to Washington. Herschel is a compassionate conservative who is pro-life and pro-family.

However, Walker, who has been outspoken against absentee fathers, was plagued by controversy earlier this year after it came to light he had three children of whom the public was unaware. Christian, Walker’s child by his first wife, Cindy Grossman, was already in the public eye. Then The Daily Beast revealed that Walker had a 10-year-old son born out of wedlock, after which Walker confirmed he had another son (13 years old) born to a different woman, and an adult daughter. Walker says he “never denied” these children and that they “knew the truth.”

Regarding yesterday’s explosive report, the Senate candidate categorically denies having paid a girlfriend in 2009 to get an abortion, despite the fact The Daily Beast printed receipts the outlet says the former girlfriend provided as evidence. The Beast also a printed a get-well card that Walker allegedly sent to her following her abortion.

Kanye West’s and Candance Owens’ ‘White Lives Matter’ Shirts Has Internet in Uproar

By

Jesse T. Jackson

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October 4, 2022

Kanye West Candace Owens — Screengrab via Twitter @RealCandaceO

“Jesus Is King” singer Kanye West turned heads at his Yeezy fashion show in Paris on Monday (Oct. 4) when he appeared alongside conservative influencer and talk show host Candace Owens wearing shirts emblazoned with the phrase “White Lives Matter.”

West’s shirt was black with large white lettering on the back, and Owens’ shirt was white with large black lettering, also on the back—both with the identical phrase. The front of the shirts featured a picture of the Pope’s face.

Owens posted the image of her smiling as she stood next to West on Twitter, a tweet that garnered over 105,000 likes and 14,300 retweets along with an endless string of comments both for and against the rapper’s branded shirts.

After debuting his shirt at the fashion show, Kanye shared a now-deleted Instagram story in which he wrote, “EVERYONE KNOWS BLACK LIVES MATTER WAS A SCAM. NOW IT’S OVER. YOU’RE WELCOME.”

West didn’t specify, but many believe that the 45-year-old was referencing Black Lives Matter executive Shalomyah Bowers, who has recently been accused of stealing $10 million in donor funds.

pic.twitter.com/e8nlOFBg06

— Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) October 3, 2022

ADL, an anti-hate organization founded in 1913 and known for “combating antisemitism, countering extremism, and battling bigotry wherever and whenever it happens,” labels the phrase “White Lives Matter” as a hate slogan.

“‘White Lives Matter’ is a white supremacist phrase that originated in early 2015 as a racist response to the Black Lives Matter movement, which arose to protest against police brutality against African-Americans and garnered considerable publicity in 2014 for protests in Ferguson, Missouri, following the shooting death of Michael Brown at the hands of a Ferguson police officer,” ADL says on their website.

The “Jesus Walks” rapper is no stranger to stepping into controversial situations and statements. For example, last year, during one of his Sunday Services, which feature a choir singing worship songs and are at times accompanied by well-known preachers like Joel Osteen and Rich Wilkerson, West invited well-known anti-Christian shock-rocker Marilyn Manson as a guest. Outspoken believer in Christ Justin Bieber was also a guest.

Many wondered whether West was seeking to positively influence Manson or merely pulling an elaborate publicity stunt.

Music Legend Loretta Lynn, Dead at 90, Clung to Jesus as Her ‘Friend’

By

Stephanie Martin

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October 4, 2022

Trailblazing country musician Loretta Lynn “passed away peacefully” at age 90 today (Oct. 4), according to a statement from her family. Known for her hardscrabble life as a “Coal Miner’s Daughter” and her personal lyrics, she also was a devout Christian who spoke openly about her faith. Two days before her death, a post on Lynn’s Instagram account shared the words of John 3:20-21.

The award-winning Lynn is being remembered for her talent and grit. “She was the groundbreaking female singer-songwriter in country music,” says author Robert Oermann. Lynn also made three gospel albums and hosted an annual gospel music festival at her Tennessee ranch.

Loretta Lynn: ‘Gospel Music and Church Is What I Knew’

Born into poverty in Kentucky in 1932, Lynn dropped out of elementary school, married at age 15, and had four of her six children by age 19. She describes attending Sunday school and church as a child, listening to her father’s cousin preach. “Gospel music and church is what I knew,” she said. “We had church in a little one-room schoolhouse that my great-grandfather built.”

In her 1976 autobiography “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” later made into a movie, Loretta Lynn admitted that all those sermons “about God and the devil” led to some “funny beliefs,” including superstitions. After a band member dedicated his life to Christ and began studying the Bible with Lynn, she got baptized as an adult. “I was real nervous because the Bible says you have to be immersed,” she wrote, and “I’m scared to death of water.” Though the singer’s travels often kept her from Sunday worship, she read Scripture “whenever I can.”

Retired minister Terry Rush told the Christian Chronicle that Lynn “really was serious about her faith and a devout member of the Church [of Christ].” Lynn once described how religious music needs to be made “without instruments” because “the Church of Christ feels you should make music in your hearts.”

‘I’ll Be Lost’ Without Jesus, Admits Country Superstar

In a video posted to Instagram this past Easter, Loretta Lynn shares what Jesus means to her. “My faith means a lot to me,” she says, strumming a guitar. “If it wasn’t for God, none of us would be here. Jesus is my friend. I keep hold of his hand and I don’t let loose. If I ever let loose, well, I hope he grabs me because I’ll be lost.”

Christian Nationalism ‘Is Beneath the Calling of Any Christian,’ Says SBC President Bart Barber

By

Dale Chamberlain

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October 4, 2022

Bart Barber Christian Nationalism — Newly elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention Bart Barber, pastor of First Baptist Church of Farmersville, Texas, answers questions during his first press conference June 14 at the Anaheim Convention Center (photo courtesy of Baptist Press).

Christian nationalism is an issue that continues to loom large in American political discourse, as well as among church leaders and Christians seeking to engage with politics in a way that aligns with their faith.

Some evangelical leaders who identify with conservative, and particularly Republican, politics have expressed their frustration with the term “Christian nationalism,” seeing it as a slur aimed at discrediting faithful followers of Jesus in the public sphere.

Jack Graham, who pastors Prestonwood Baptist, a megachurch in Texas, and who at one time served as the President of the Southern Baptist Convention, tweeted on Tuesday (October 4), “The accusations of ‘Christian Nationalism’ is the latest tactic of the left to run believers off the field of political engagement. I’m not buying it.”

Others, instead of rejecting the term, have come to embrace it. This trend was set by congressional representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, who began touting Christian nationalism at a conservative conference in July. She has gone on to continue advocating for Republicans to identify as Christian nationalists, even making branded merchandising to that effect available for purchase.

Since that time, some church leaders have begun expressing similar sentiments.

Nevertheless, little consensus exists on how to define and identify Christian nationalism, with many conservative church leaders and politicians equating the term with merely being a faithful Christian with regard to civic engagement, while historians and sociologists identify the term with a particular brand of white nationalism wedded to Christian identity.

This week, current Southern Baptist Convention president Bart Barber weighed in with his thoughts on Christian nationalism via a Twitter thread.

“A reporter recently asked me about Christian Nationalism. He asked me about a lot of things, and that material didn’t make the cut, so I feel free to share it (expanded a bit) here,” Barber began his thread.

“I love my country. I’m a proud American. At FBC Farmersville, we encourage people to obey Romans 13:7 individually, and we sometimes obey it corporately, giving thanks to God for our nation in our corporate worship,” Barber explained. His biblical reference includes Paul’s words to the Roman churches: “Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.”

“So, these are not the words of a reactionary,” the SBC president and rural church pastor wrote. “Nevertheless.”

Cooperative Program Helps Fuel Disaster Relief Ministry

By

Timothy Cockes

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October 4, 2022

NASHVILLE (BP) – As Southern Baptists across the country prepare and mobilize to provide relief to hurricane victims on the East Coast, the importance of the Cooperative Program is seen in action.

As the unified missions offering of Southern Baptists, the Cooperative Program directly supports SBC ministries like seminary education, church planting, international missions and disaster relief, including recent efforts related to Hurricane Ian.

Coy Webb, crisis response director for Send Relief, said CP is essential to their work.

“The Cooperative Program is part of the lifeblood of disaster relief and our work in crisis response through Send Relief,” Webb said.

“We’re not only able to bring practical help in times of disaster, but the hope of Christ to people who are hurting and devastated after crisis events. We recognize that every person’s greatest need is not even food – it’s their lostness and that they need Jesus Christ.

“As we’re giving that cup of cold water in Jesus’ name, we’re also sharing how they might know the hope of Christ that can change their lives eternally.”

Send Relief is a joint effort of the International Mission Board and the North American Mission Board and is equipped to respond to disasters across the U.S. and around the world because of CP support.

At least one decision for Christ is made for every six or seven contacts made by disaster relief workers, Webb said, adding: “That wouldn’t be possible if it wasn’t for those people in the pews giving to the Cooperative Program.”

Webb said this DR work that is enabled by the Cooperative Program should not be understood only on the national level, but at the state level and personal level as well.

CP supplies funding for DR programs in every state convention, which then in turn train and send our volunteer teams.

Shawn Ames is a regional strategist for the SBC of Virginia and has been serving as the state’s DR coordinator since 2021.

His role is not only to help mobilize DR volunteers in Virginia, but also to work with other state leaders to synchronize relief.

“The coolest thing that I have learned about Disaster Relief is the coordination between the state leaders,” Ames said. “… I think that’s one of the greatest strengths of Southern Baptist Disaster Relief.”

Baptist School, Samford University, Cuts Ties With LGBTQ-Affirming Ministries Amid Student Outcry

By

Kathryn Post

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October 4, 2022

(RNS) — When Sarah Grace Moses enrolled as a freshman at Samford University, a Baptist school in Birmingham, Alabama, four years ago, she still had doubts that the school was the right fit.

“When I was coming to Samford, I was not necessarily out (as a lesbian), but I was worried about it being an issue for me. I was going to spend four years here, and when I Googled LGBTQ things at Samford, the first thing that came up was Samford Together not being allowed,” said Moses, referring to a now-defunct LGBTQ student group.

A few years later, Samford has again made headlines for its opposition to LGBTQ groups, this time for disinviting representatives from at least three LGBTQ-affirming campus ministry groups and churches to its annual ministry fair. On Friday (Sept. 30), president Beck A. Taylor addressed the matter in a video message.

“(W)e’ve decided to limit Samford’s formal ministry partnerships with churches and organizations that support Samford’s traditional view of human sexuality and marriage,” said Taylor. “Formal ministry partners have special privileges, such as enjoying direct access to students on campus, reserving spaces for programming and receiving the implied endorsement of our campus ministry staff.”

Taylor added that Samford would not be excluding LGBTQ students or students and faculty who belong to progressive denominations.

“We at Samford love all of our students — each one — regardless of belief, background experience, race, gender, ethnicity or identity, because each is a child of God made in God’s image,” he said.

A spokesperson for Samford pointed RNS to Taylor’s video statement but declined to comment further in time for publication.

Madison Vaughn, the ministry coordinator for UKirk Birmingham, a regional Presbyterian college ministry, learned on the morning of Aug. 31 that UKirk was disinvited to a ministry fair happening on Samford’s campus that day because of the group’s LGBTQ-affirming theology.

Vaughn told RNS that Samford’s Spiritual Life team ignored her initial inquiries about attending the fair, then said UKirk wouldn’t be able to attend due to limited space. It was only later that a representative from the Office of Spiritual Life made clear that their exclusion was a matter of theological disagreement.

“I was very upset,” said Vaughn. “But they are a private institution, so I didn’t know what I could do except reach out to students I had connections with and say ‘hey, we will keep doing what we’re doing.’”

Two other groups, an Episcopalian group called Trinity Commons and a progressive Baptist church, also said they were barred from the event due to their LGBTQ-affirming theology.

On Sept. 20, several dozen students, faculty, staff and members of the Birmingham community held a silent protest outside of an event being held by Samford’s Office of Spiritual Life. The student-led protest requested that LGBTQ-affirming churches be welcome at the ministry fair, that the school approve a gay/straight alliance and that the school pass anti-discrimination policy to protect LGBTQ students.

Perhaps 100 Christians Murdered in Nigeria Ahead of U.S. Government List

By

Diana Chandler

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October 4, 2022

BENUE, Nigeria (BP) – Several dozen Christians were murdered and 6,000 displaced in terrorist attacks in Nigeria’s middle belt in September as international advocates are urging the U.S. State Department to cite Nigeria for religious liberty violations.

“Armed herdsmen and terrorists have not stopped their unprovoked attacks on Christians in Benue state,” Akpen Leva, chairman of the Benue State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, said Sept. 24 in a press statement. “These attacks are aimed at killing defenseless Christians and to force them out of their communities.”

Those killed in a series of September attacks in Benue included “dozens” murdered in eight majority-Christian villages Sept. 23 and 21, 13 killed in two additional villages Sept. 9-10, and nine killed Sept. 1-3 in the same two villages, Morning Star News reported, quoting law enforcement and religious leaders. Fifteen villagers were killed Sept. 15 in Logo Local Government Area of Benue, the Daily Post reported.

Others were killed in smaller attacks, including three killed Sept. 18 in a Christian village Guma County, Benue; two on Sept. 25 in Plateau State, two on Sept. 24 in Kano state, and a woman working on her farm Sept. 19 in Plateau State, Morning Star reported. Others were injured, kidnapped or displaced in the attacks. Homes, farms and churches were destroyed, and food was stolen.

Attackers displaced more than 6,000 from three Benue counties in September, according to Emmanuel Shior, executive secretary of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency.

“Recent attacks by herders on some Christian communities in Benue state have left 6,000 Christians displaced in Logo, Guma and Gwer West local government areas of the state,” Morning Star quoted Shior. “These continuous attacks by herdsmen on Christian communities in the state have also resulted in the destruction of facilities like churches, schools, markets and health care establishments.”

Militant herdsmen, the Islamic State West Africa Province and bandits have been blamed for the murders and attacks, with animist worshipers also blamed for church attacks.

“These attacks by the herdsmen have left dozens of Christians dead and several more with gunshot injuries and machete attack wounds,” Morning Star quoted a text message from resident Ukan Kurugh after the Sept. 23 attack. “Survivors of these herdsmen attacks have been taken to some hospitals, and they need urgent medical attention but lack the funds to pay for their medical bills. Some of them need urgent surgeries but they can’t afford to pay for the charges.

“Our people have suffered immensely in the hands of these marauding herdsmen.”

More than 100 worshipers were kidnapped in September from churches in northwest Nigeria, the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) reported in a press release, citing attacks Sept. 12 and 13 at two separate sites of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Niger and Kaduna states.

“There is still no breathing space for Christian communities in southern Kaduna, as terrorists, jihadists, bandits and armed herdsmen have continued to plunder and wreck Christian communities in the southern part of Kaduna state,” Morning Star quoted SOKAPU National President Awemi Maisamari Sept 22.

The U.S. State Department dropped Nigeria from its 2021 list of Countries of Particular Concern (CPC) or egregious violators of religious freedoms, and the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission is among a coalition urging the return of Nigeria to the list released annually in November. Nigeria, which has led countries in deaths of Christians by terrorists, was first included on the State Department’s list of Countries of Particular Concern in 2020, but was not retained the next year.

“As religious minorities face increasingly intense persecution for their faith in Nigeria, it is imperative that Secretary (Antony) Blinken re-designate Nigeria as a country of particular concern. Over the past year, we’ve continued to see deteriorating conditions in Nigeria as thousands of Christians have been martyred for their faith,” ERLC policy manager Hannah Daniel has said. The U.S. government “must do more to pressure the Nigerian government to take action and protect its people from these heinous acts of violence against people of faith, and the CPC designation is an essential piece of such a strategy.”

More than 2,500 Christians were killed in the first six months of 2022 in Nigeria, the advocates said in their letter, referencing a report by the International Society of Civil Liberties and Rule of Law. The Observatory of Religious Freedom in Africa counted more than 4,300 Christians and 2,200 Muslims killed in “jihadist-related contexts” from Oct. 1, 2020, to Sept. 30, 2021, according to the Observatory of Religious Freedom in Africa.

This article originally appeared at Baptist Press.

Gov. DeSantis and Wife Help Florida Baptists Serve Meals to Ian Survivors

By

Diana Chandler

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October 4, 2022

DeSantis Ian — First Lady of Florida Casey DeSantis talks with Florida Baptist Disaster Relief Director David Coggins after DeSantis had helped hand out meals from a Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief mobile kitchen at Murdock Baptist Church in Port Charlotte, Fla., on Monday (Oct. 3). Send Relief photo by Alan Youngblood

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (BP) – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and his wife Casey joined Florida Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers Oct. 2 and 3 at two Southern Baptist churches serving residents displaced by Hurricane Ian.

The gubernatorial couple volunteered together Oct. 2 at First Baptist Church of Naples, and First Lady Casey DeSantis returned Oct. 3 to serve at Murdock Baptist Church in Port Charlotte.

“Worked with Florida Baptist Relief to distribute food and water to residents of Naples,” the governor tweeted Sunday. He said he and First Lady Casey DeSantis “have been encouraged by the outpouring of prayers and assistance for Floridians in need. Keep up the good work!”

More than 100 people were killed in the state after Ian came ashore Sept. 28 as a Category 4 storm, according to latest news reports, as the search for victims continues.

Florida Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers prepare food at Murdock Baptist Church in Port Charlotte, Fla., to be distributed to people at the church as well as by the Salvation Army in the surrounding communities. Send Relief photo by Alan Youngblood

“I’m proud of our faith-based organizations that have traveled from across the state to deliver help and hope,” Casey DeSantis said in an Oct. 3 press release. “It is heartening to see communities come together to help neighbors and friends in need. Floridians and resilient, and today I saw that first-hand through the simple act of delivering a hot meal.”

Murdock Baptist Church is among nine feeding and cleanup sites Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) has established in six counties. Feeding units are operating at Calvary Baptist Church in Arcadia New Hope Baptist Church in Cape Coral, First Baptist Church in Naples, First Baptist Church in Venice, Riverside Baptist Church in Fort Myers and Crossroads Baptist Church in Fort Myers. Additional sites are expected to be established Tuesday at McGregor Baptist Church in Fort Myers and First Baptist Church in Wauchula, SBDR reported.

This article originally appeared here.

3 Keys to Tapping Into the Power of Self-Awareness

By

Andrew Linder

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October 4, 2022

You’ve probably noticed how easy it is to identify other people’s problems. For most of us it’s a natural gift. We can start picking people apart at first sight without ever even having met them. What talent! 😉

So why is it so hard it is to accept when other people do the same towards us by pointing out our own problems or faults? Why do we naturally dig in our heels when someone points out an area where we’re stuck in our own ways?

If multiple people think you have an issue that you don’t think is an issue, or if someone close to you has repeatedly tried to point something out to you, it might be time to lean in and pay closer attention. You may be lacking in the very important quality of self-awareness – the ability to see yourself the way others do. And you, and those you love, may be suffering because of it.

Whether you think you are, or know you aren’t a self-aware person, here are three keys to tapping into the power of self-awareness.

Admit You Can’t Do It Alone.

If you live with someone who doesn’t have self-awareness, you know it, but they most likely don’t. This can make change very difficult.

You know how hard it is to change yourself. Now think of how hard it must be to try changing someone else.

Self-aware people are willing to admit that they need the input and advice of others in their life. And they don’t just allow it, they welcome it.

If you are not changing, you are not growing. A self-aware person is a continually changing and improving person.

Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. (Galatians 6:2-3)

Learn to Ask the Right Questions.

People who aren’t self-aware rarely ask questions of others because they often think they already have all the answers.

As you become more self-aware, you will start to ask more questions. For example, whether as a parent, teacher, coach, pastor, or friend, a great question to ask is, “What is it like to be on the other side of me?” (What are some of my blind spots?)

Sometimes we don’t see what others see in us. We all have blind spots and we need those closest to us to help identify them. One of the best ways to do that is to humbly ask. Because the opposite of self-awareness is self-denial.

The Deadly Sin I Was Least Aware Of

By

Eric Geiger

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October 4, 2022

thank you notes for children’s ministry volunteers

I recently finished a teaching series on the seven deadly sins, and I saved the best for last. Or so I thought. Compared to the other sins, I thought a message on sloth would be the most fun to prepare because surely the Lord would not need to deal with me on the topic. Sermon prep is always a bit beautifully painful because the Lord confronts me over parts of me that need to change, and I knew I was in store for His gracious rebuke when I signed up to preach on pride, malice, greed, etc. But as one who wakes up early, seizes the day, and believes that hard work pays off, I thought the sermon prep time on sloth would be painless.

But then I prepared this message on sloth. I have been slothful. Sloth is an enemy within, even in the midst of busyness and drive.

I found that when the early church fathers spoke of sloth, they were speaking of something much deeper than activity. Just as a full schedule and a busy routine does not equate productivity, a busy life does not eliminate spiritual sloth. We can be filled with sloth on the inside and be very busy on the outside. Because sloth is about apathy and not activity, you can be slothful and very busy at the same time.

Because sloth is failure to pursue our first love, busyness can actually be a good cover for the sloth beneath the surface. Thomas Aquinas stated sloth is aversion to the divine good in us. Of this profound quote, Rebbeca Konyndyk DeYoung’s explained:

This may sound pretty mysterious to us, but when his readers heard the phrase, “the divine good in us,” they would have immediately understood it as referring to what Aquinas had just said in the questions on charity—the “divine good in us” is our participation in God’s nature via the indwelling of the Holy Spirit by grace.

Sloth is indeed deadly because it kills the joy of knowing Jesus more, of participating with Him to become more like Him.

Instead of being averse to the Lord’s work within us, we are commanded to “work out our salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12-13). We are not to “work for our salvation” as Christ has done all the work for us to make us right with God. But because of what He has done, we are to work out the implications of Christ ruling over all parts of our lives.

I hated working out in high school, mainly because most of my friends could lift more than me. And I hated being asked “Do you even lift bro?” But this working out is different and better. As we work out salvation, the fruit of the Spirit is seen in our lives. The Divine works in our character. This is better than muscles. This is about maturity that lasts.

The command to “work out our salvation” is sandwiched between God’s great work in us. He came here to rescue us (Philippians 2:5-11). Therefore, work out your salvation. “For it is God who is working in you to will and work according to His good purpose.” (Philippians 2:13) God is the One who does the ultimate changing of our lives as we work out our salvation. We get to enjoy and partner with the Divine who now lives within us!

To enjoy Christ and His gracious work, sloth is an enemy that must be slayed.

This article originally appeared here.

EVERYTHING You Need to Know About Church Microphones

By

Caleb Neff

-

October 4, 2022

With the obvious exception of talent, nothing is more important in live sound than the microphone. The microphone is the “ear” that captures the sound, and everything else that happens downstream — preamp, equalization, compression, and effects — can only manipulate the raw material provided by the mic. This is why it’s really unfortunate that all too often churches haven’t considered their microphone choices since the sound system was first installed. I commonly find this to be one of the biggest areas of need for improvement, and in terms of expense, there’s probably no other place in your live sound budget where you’ll see a bigger bang for your buck. That’s right: church microphones.

Writing any definitive guide is challenging for a few reasons: 1) There are so many good choices in the world in 2019 and it’s hard to cover them all, and 2) since every situation is different (style of music, size of room, stage layout, and on and on) sometimes the answers are different. If you’re struggling in this area, I’d be glad to help. That said, here is a list of affordable tried and true solutions, curated with the help of a few trusted colleagues in the industry.

EVERYTHING You Need to Know About Church Microphones

Drums:

Still using the $500 “all seven microphones in one box” starter kit? Please, please let me help.

Kick drum – you have no idea how many leftover cheapo microphones I’ve seen thrown in kick drums. Just because you can’t see it, doesn’t mean Jesus doesn’t know what you did. Also, it sounds terrible. Try a Shure Beta 52 ($189) for extra low-end heft, or an AKG D112 ($199) for a little extra beater attack. Both microphones are aggressively “pre-EQ’d” to sound good on modern kick drums. Play with (and pay extra attention to) placement.
Snare – the Shure SM57 ($99) is a classic here for a reason, and will always reliably get the job done. The Beyerdynamic M201 ($299) is a great “step up” option — the hypercardioid pattern means great rejection of hi-hats, and it has a more natural EQ response. If your drummer has a great sounding, properly tuned snare, the Beyer will help that come across clearly.
Toms – The Sennheiser e604 ($139) has been a favorite of mine for a couple [of] years in this application. They’re small, light, relatively cheap, attach to a drum’s rim, and sound really good. I use them both live and in the studio a couple [of] times a week. The Heil PR28 ($149) is another great option with tons of body. Both mics have built-in upper midrange EQ boosts that will help your toms cut through the mix.
Overheads – I am in love with the Line Audio CM3 ($145, only available direct from [the] manufacturer or on eBay) because it is the most delightfully boring, vanilla, sounds like nothing microphone I’ve ever heard. The issue with cheap condenser microphones (the ones that came in your $500 starter kit box) is, well — they’re awful. They are made to be really bright so that when you first plug them in you are impressed with how hi-fi they sound. In practice, that bright sound makes every single cymbal and hi-hat hit irritating. Often, my first step when I’m running sound at a church with cheap overhead mics is the mute button. The CM3 adds absolutely nothing to your sound. Getting a mic that truly does that is usually really expensive. If your kit sounds good, the CM3 will translate that. If your kit sounds bad, it will sound exactly the same way through the CM3, and you probably need new/different cymbals, a conversation for another day. The other great thing about them is they have a very wide pickup pattern, meaning they are forgiving in terms of placement, and often one can get the job done. The Shure KSM 141 ($399) is another great option, providing a full sound that’s a little more pre-EQ’d in comparison to the CM3.

Bass: (Yes, we’re talking about church microphones, but since we’re not usually mic-ing a bass amp, let’s talk about the first thing the bass sees — the direct box.) Running the bass through a cheap DI isn’t making things easy for the front of house person. The Aguilar tone hammer ($245) is a super flexible tone machine that can make it so you’re sending a nearly finished bass sound from the stage. The Avalon U5 ($715) is a well-known studio staple DI with EQ presets for glorious bass tones. You’ve definitely heard it on some of your favorite records, and it rocks in live situations as well.

Guitar amps:

Like it is on snare, the SM57 is a classic for a reason. The EQ curve of the mic tends to benefit what you want to hear in the mix from the guitar. However, in situations where you want a more neutral place to start from, the Cascade Fathead ($159-195) is a fantastic option. It’ll give you a fuller low end and a more natural midrange, with a pleasantly rolled off high end. The Fathead is a ribbon microphone and therefore has a figure-8 pickup pattern, so it’s ideal for a situation where your amps are off stage.
Acoustic guitars — Again, we’re talking about DI’s here, but as with bass, having the right thing is a pretty big deal (and there are more options than ever before). Looking for a great sounding DI with no controls to mess up? Try the Radial JDI ($199). Looking to be able to control your guitar from the stage and send a more finished sound to the front of [the] house? Try the Fishman Platinum Pro EQ ($299). I have one and love it.

Keys: Usually what you’re looking for here is a quality DI that will transmit your sound purely without degrading it. The Radial is a great option here as well.

Horns: If your church uses horns, please stop using those cheap clip-on mics. If you ever solo those things in your headphones, you hear something like a terrible harmonica, regardless of the brass instrument being mic’ed. Shoved down into the horn isn’t necessarily the best place to mic anyway — a little bit of space is your friend. If you have extra SM58’s, they can do a great job. Another really cool option is the Electro-voice RE20 ($449) — they are full sounding with a really great midrange.

CHECK PAGE TWO FOR MORE ON CHURCH MICROPHONES

The Single Most Important Thing in Leading a Small Group

By

Jim Egli

-

October 4, 2022

What is the single most important thing in leading a small group? Joel Comiskey and I surveyed over 1,800 small group leaders from around the world to discover what makes small groups grow. One thing emerged as most important. Here it is: Quit doing everything yourself and involve others!

Expressed as one-word verbs, there are four key actions that fuel small group growth. They are pray, reach, care and empower. Each of these is important, but the one that the statistical analysis pointed to as most important is empower.

Small group leaders that involve their members in leadership and ministry in their group have groups that grow significantly faster.

Here are the 10 specific questions that we asked leaders related to empowering. They responded to each of them on a five-point scale indicating: never, seldom, occasionally, often or very often.

I make a special effort to notice small group members’ gifts and abilities so that I can involve them in ministry in our group.
At one of our typical small group meetings, several people may lead different parts of the meeting.
When the church offers small group leader training, I seriously consider whom I should encourage to attend.
I meet every week or two with an intern or apprentice whom I am preparing to lead their own group some day.
I am constantly looking for small group leadership potential among the members of the group.
When I minister to a member in a time of need, I take an intern or apprentice with me in order to teach practical ministry skills.
I talk to members of my group about their leadership potential.
Other people besides me lead the Bible study portion of our small group meetings.
I encourage members to take risks and to try new things in ministry and group leadership.
I like to lead the entire small group meeting myself. (This final question was “reverse loading” meaning that it inversely correlated to group health and growth.)

Do you want a vibrant, growing group? If so, take some time this week to pray and think about how you can best involve your members in leadership and ministry.

This article on leading a small group originally appeared here and is used by permission.

Grow Youth Ministry by Adding More of These 10 Key Components

By

Matt Cleaver

-

October 3, 2022

Need tips on how to grow youth ministry? Want to build up your church’s program to teens? When I wrote about 10 Things Youth Ministry Needs Less Of, that article generated lots of discussion and insightful comments. (Check them out, if you haven’t already.)

My point wasn’t to simply be a critic. Instead, I wanted to make space for things I think are really important. For example, if your youth ministry currently holds a midweek worship service, how much time and energy would you free up for leaders if you canceled it? I would expect quite a lot.

If we’re going to do less of certain things, what do we need more of? To grow youth ministry at your church, I propose these 10 suggestions. Let me know if you agree!

10 Ways to Grow Youth Ministry

1. Adults

Our students don’t need adults to teach them. They need adults who know them. And the only way teens can be truly known is by making sure plenty of adults care about them and listen to them. Unless your adult-to-student ratio is 10:1, you could use more.

2. Intimacy

We need to quit using the word relationships (“It’s all about the relationships”). Instead, let’s start talking about intimacy. We don’t need to do more activities to build relationships. We need to build more intimacy within our relationships.

Intimacy tells what kinds of relationships we’re trying to develop. To truly know the young people in our congregations, we must talk about things that matter, not just what happened at school this week. Having a 20-minute breakout group after a sermon isn’t enough time for students to develop intimacy with adults or other students. You need extended blocks of time over the long-term to truly develop intimacy and to grow youth ministry.

3. Prayer

Prayer is a naturally intimate pattern of speech. So to develop intimacy with our students, we need to be praying with and for them regularly. Again, time is a necessary ingredient for prayers to develop beyond shallowness. (For more thoughts on prayer and intimacy, see Five Smooth Stones for Pastoral Work by Eugene Peterson.)

4. Scripture

Scripture teaches us how to pray, how to relate to one another, and how to relate to God. Research shows that teens are typically very biblically illiterate. So we need to do our best to weave Scripture in with whatever we’re doing. I would caution against adding and adding Bible studies, because that could have issues of its own.

5. Passion

Are we calling students to something worth giving their life for? Teenagers are naturally passionate (i.e., middle school girls and Justin Bieber) if they find something they think is worth their time. To grow youth ministry, somehow we must recover the passion in our faith. (See Practicing Passion by Kenda Dean for more.)

6. Life Coaching

We seem to assume that every student needs to do well in school and then go to college and then go get a job. What about the kid who is struggling in English, math and science but is a brilliant artist? Or what about the student who always struggles academically but came into his own when you were building houses on a mission trip? Should we harp on kids to get their grades up (and to concentrate less on things they’re actually good at) so they can go to college? Or should we encourage them to develop and express their natural gifts and abilities?

I think we need to pay attention to the uniqueness of each student in our church. We need to help them grow and mature individually, not encourage them to conform to our assumptions about the path everyone needs to take. (I’m not sure if “life coaching” is the best label, but it’s what came to mind. Suggest something better in the comments!)

7. Integration

Youth ministry needs to think of itself less as a separate program of the church. Instead, view it more as a network of relationships helping teenagers grow in faith. As such, youth ministry must better integrate with other areas of the church.

When you encourage a girl to join the adult choir (or praise team) and then go ask a woman to take her under her wing, that is youth ministry. When you send a guy who’s good with his hands with the men’s group to build houses for a week instead of taking him with you to camp, that is youth ministry. And when you cancel your normal youth group activities for a week to allow students to lead VBS, that is youth ministry.

The goal is to see people growing in Christ, not to see them coming to your events and programs. We need to seek out ways to integrate students in ways that fit their unique gifts.

Questions About the Bible: How You Can Be Ready to Answer Kids

By

Jon Bloom

-

October 3, 2022

Questions about the Bible come up often with young children. Kids are thinkers. They ask good and sometimes hard questions about Scripture. Between ages 5 and 8, my kids asked me some of the hardest theological questions. They’ve queried me on comparative religion, death, eternity, heaven, hell, Jesus and the cross. What about all those people who have never had a chance to hear the gospel?

Interestingly, these questions about the Bible tend to come at bedtime. But frankly, I don’t care if they are at times bedtime-stalling techniques. Such questions are always worth staying awake to talk about.

One of my children repeatedly pressed me with questions like, “How do you know that Christianity is the right belief?” That naturally led us to talking about the Bible. Who wrote it? How is it God’s word if men wrote it? What makes it different from other religions’ holy books? How do we know it doesn’t have mistakes in it? What does it not tell us?

Christianity stands or falls on the reliability, inspiration and authority of the Bible. Children pick up on that early. We tell them that they should trust the Bible. At some point, they will (and should) ask why (if they feel it’s OK to ask). So here are a few answers (in language I would speak to my 9-year-old twins) that might be helpful for mealtime (or bedtime!) discussions.

6 Questions About the Bible

As a parent or teacher, you’ll likely hear some variation of these questions about the Bible.

1. How Do We Know the Bible is Reliable?

We know that our Bible says the same things as the Bibles people read thousands of years ago because so many ancient Bible manuscripts have survived. We have more than 5,000 full or partial Bible manuscripts. They allow us to compare them with each other and our current versions for accuracy. No other book from the ancient world even comes close to as many surviving manuscripts. Most other ancient classical works have 20 or less.

But far more important than having lots of old manuscripts is the fact that when we read the Bible ourselves, it begins to win our trust. It is no ordinary book! It has an authority all on its own. The Bible contains 66 books written by 40 different authors in three different languages (Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic). It was written over a period of about 1,500 years yet is consistent—it all fits together—and doesn’t contradict itself!

You don’t have to be a scholar to see this. The Bible shows itself to be the word of God to those who read it! Here’s how a children’s catechism (or teaching lesson) from over 360 years ago says it:

Question: How doth it appear that the Scriptures are the word of God?

Answer: The Scriptures manifest themselves to be the word of God, by their majesty and purity; by the consent of all the parts, and the scope of the whole, which is to give all glory to God; by their light and power to convince and convert sinners, to comfort and build up believers unto salvation: but the Spirit of God bearing witness by and with the Scriptures in the heart of man, is alone able fully to persuade it that they are the very Word of God. (Westminster Larger Catechism, question 4)

2. Who Decided What Should Be in the Bible (Authority)?

Actually, God did. No individual or group of people or institution decided which writings would be in the Bible. Each book of the Bible has its own story about how it came to be included in the Scriptures, but in each case God caused his people over time to recognize these writings as manifesting the power and authority of the Holy Spirit.

That’s why the Apostle Paul wrote, “All Scripture is breathed out by God” (2 Timothy 3:16). God has used men, councils and the church to weed out the writings that were not inspired by God (a lot of wrong and even strange teachings have been written!), but God himself determined the Scriptures. And this means that every individual, group of people, church and denomination are under the authority of Holy Scripture as God’s revealed written word and must submit to Scripture as their final authority.

Co-Founder of ‘Dating App for the Right Wing’ Expects To Draw Christians

By

Jessica Lea

-

October 3, 2022

The Right Stuff, a new dating app aimed at political conservatives, launched on Sept. 30, 2022. John McEntee, former Trump administration personnel chief, and Daniel Huff, former Trump appointee in the Department of Housing and Urban Development, co-founded the app, which is billed as “a dating app for the right wing.”

“Right now, conservatives are spread out on all these different dating apps,” writes McEntee in an article for Newsweek. “We’re consolidating that.” He continues:

I believe conservatives exist on mainstream dating apps, but have to hide their political views because the vitriol against them is so strong. We’re trying to be traditional in our values, but keep things light. The biggest difference is that whether you’re looking for marriage, a serious relationship or just fun, it’s almost guaranteed that everyone on the network will support your political views.

The Right Stuff Targets the Right Wing

The website for The Right Stuff says, “The Right Stuff was created for conservatives to connect in authentic and meaningful ways. Other dating apps have gone woke. We bring people together with shared values and similar passions.” One of the selling points for the app is that users will get “back to normal” by not putting their pronouns in their profiles.

Women in an ad for the app say they are looking for partners who are conservative and who value faith and family. They say they want conservative men because these men actually act like men and treat women like women. One woman says she likes men who are “masculine,” while another says she likes “the Alpha male vibe.” One value all of the women in the commercial agree on is that the men they are looking for absolutely cannot be Democrats.

When people sign up for The Right Stuff, the app asks them to list their sex as either male or female and then asks for height, birthday, hometown, and whether or not they want children. People select from the following religious beliefs: Buddhist, Catholic, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, Spiritual or Non Practicing. Following that, users add a profile picture and select five additional photos for their profiles. Users also have the option of adding music to their profiles, which viewers will hear as the profile photos appear consecutively.

Prompts users can select include ones that are fairly typical for dating apps, such as ”Fact about me that surprises people” and “Give me travel tips for.” Others that are not as typical include “Favorite fact about America” and “Favorite liberal lie.”

A key feature of The Right Stuff is that it is “invite-only,” meaning that users cannot sign up for it without an invitation. “The platform is invite-only, which means as long as users don’t intentionally mislead someone or promote something harmful they’re allowed on The Right Stuff,” says McEntee. “But, if someone who was disrespectful of conservative views did make their way onto the app, other users could simply un-match them. We’re trusting our initial influencer group to create a high-quality network.”

Once users set up their profiles, the app requires the invitation and requests to access users’ contacts to see if any friend can send that invitation. If users decide to wait for an invitation, the app suggests they invite their “right wing friends” in the meantime. The invite-only nature of the app is the source of much of the frustration expressed in negative reviews left in Apple’s App Store, where The Right Stuff currently has 2.8 out of 5 stars.

McEntee told Religion News Service that he believes Christians will make up the majority of the app’s users. Curiously, while The Right Stuff does not offer options for LGBTQ users, it is funded in part by Peter Thiel, a billionaire who is in a same-sex marriage.

Dominion Dating: For ‘Biblically Faithful Singles’

Another app trying to appeal to a niche audience is Dominion Dating, which gets its name from God’s command to Adam and Eve to rule the earth in Genesis 1:28. Dominion Dating’s website says, “Join a growing network of bold, biblical singles ready to build families, shape culture, and obey the creation mandate by being fruitful, multiplying, and exercising dominion over the world.”

Sean Feucht Calls Out Lecrae for Supporting Pro-Abortion Politicians After Lecrae Claims To Be ‘Kingdom,’ Not Partisan

By

Jesse T. Jackson

-

October 3, 2022

Lecrae Sean Feucht — (L) Screengrab via Instagram @seanfeucht (R) Photo courtesy of Sean Feucht.

Grammy award-winning Christian hip-hop artist Lecrae told his followers on Twitter last Thursday (Sept. 29), “I’m not progressive. I’m not liberal. I’m not conservative. I’m Kingdom,” making it clear where he stands when it comes to the topic of politics.

In response, political activist and “Let Us Worship” leader Sean Feucht posted an image of Lecrae with his arm around lawyer and pro-abortion politician, Stacey Abrams (D), with the caption, “Really????”

Feucht continued, “What’s confusing to believers is that you’ve even campaigned with extreme progressive pro-abortion candidates ([Raphael] Warnock (D)/[Jon] Ossoff (D)) and then claim to be apolitical.”

Feucht was referring to a “vote early” rally in Georgia, which was held ahead of Georgia’s Senate runoff elections in 2020. Lecrae shared on Phil Vischer’s “Holy Post” podcast that he was under the impression that the event would be bipartisan—a mistake in information he wasn’t aware of until after his performance.

Lecrae told those at the 2020 rally to support Warnock and Ossoff, saying, “We all have a very unique opportunity to continue making a difference in this city [and] continue making a difference in this country. And that’s exercising our right to vote. So I want to continue to promote that this is a reality of freedom that we get to cherish, especially here in the state of Georgia, in the city of Atlanta—in a city of many great historic figures who laid their lives down for us to take [our] right, take ownership of this opportunity.”

Lecrae continued, “So in the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King and in the spirit of Andrew Young, I want to continue to remind us that we’re free. We are free now to vote. So let’s get out there and make sure we do that.”

The rapper then performed the song “Set Me Free” from his album “Restoration,” singing to the small crowd, “You can pick a side if you wanna; you already know who I roll with. You don’t want no problems with me. Get these shackles off of my feet.”

Both Warnock and Ossoff went on to win their campaigns, Ossoff defeating David Perdue (R) and Warnock defeating Kelly Loeffler (R) to become United State Senators.

Feucht told Lecrae, “I would honestly love to know/understand why [you] (along with probably many others)” supported the two politicians. Feucht then asked Lecrae if he’d be open to a dialogue.

Lecrae responded to Feucht, explaining that the image of him and Abrams was taken four years ago, adding, “I’d hate to think people aren’t allowed to change their views. One thing I can say for myself, I live by my views. They may change but when I believe it I’m all in.”

Joyce Meyer Conference Lineup Includes Chris Tomlin, Joel Osteen and Christine Caine

By

Stephanie Martin

-

October 3, 2022

Following the recent 40^th anniversary celebration of Joyce Meyer’s LoveLife Women’s Conference, some people are questioning why certain Christian speakers and musicians participated. Meyer, a charismatic preacher and author, previously had ties with the prosperity gospel movement and was one of several televangelists investigated by the U.S. Senate in 2007.

The lineup for the St. Louis conference, held September 22 to 24, included speakers Joel Osteen and Christine Caine, plus contemporary Christian musicians Tauren Wells and Chris Tomlin.

Joyce Meyer Is ‘A Spiritual Mother,’ Says Christine Caine

Christine Caine, co-founder of the Propel Women ministry and the anti-human trafficking A21 Campaign, preached at Meyer’s conference. Afterward, she shared photos on social media and described the “powerful” experience celebrating “40 years of faithfulness.”

Of the 79-year-old Meyer, Caine writes: “Momma J is full of more passion and compassion than ever. I thank God for a spiritual mother and role model who inspires me to run hard after Jesus until my last breath.” Caine adds, “I would not be who I am today” without Meyer.

In response, Meyer expresses her love for Caine, commenting, “I’m very thankful for our friendship.” Meyer adds, “Looking forward to being with you and @shelleygiglio at the @pcc_thegrove conference coming up!” The Grove Conference had been scheduled for the following weekend at Passion City Church in Atlanta but was postponed due to Hurricane Ian.

Although comments on Caine’s Instagram post were mostly supportive, that wasn’t the case for worship leader Chris Tomlin.

Critics Question ‘Credibility’ of Chris Tomlin

Award-winning Christian musician Tomlin shared a photo of the event on Instagram, writing, “Wonderful night at the 40th anniversary of the Joyce Meyer conference…grateful to be a part of the celebration!”

In response, someone comments: “Well there goes your credibility. #heresy I guess you all stick together.” Another writes: “Seriously…why bro? Joyce Meyer? False teacher, you should have not teamed up with her or any other know heretic/prosperity gospel preacher.” Someone else notes: “She is a false teacher, this is a reflection on what you believe about the gospel. Very sad.”

Pastor Josh Buice, whose Georgia church recently left the Southern Baptist Convention, tweeted about Tomlin’s appearance. “The most prolific musician within the contemporary Christian music industry celebrated & promoted one of the most dangerous false teachers of our day,” he writes.

‘Inappropriate’ Photos of Daughter Outside of Church Building Get Father Reprimanded by Facebook Friend

By

Dale Chamberlain

-

October 3, 2022

facebook inappropriate — Screengrabs via Reddit @ArtByBriannaJoy

A conversation about modesty in church—even for people standing outside the building—swelled online after a woman posted images of herself wearing an evening gown and posing in front of a Catholic Church alongside the Facebook messages her father received after he shared the pictures.

The woman, named Brianna, took to Reddit and wrote, “I posted these photos on Facebook from a gala I went to last weekend and this is the DM my dad received.”

“I’m sending this private message because I don’t want to post publicly,” the message read. “I’m deeply saddened and disturbed that you and Brianna would pose in front of [redacted] Catholic Church. I suppose I really don’t mind using the church as a backdrop, but several of her pictures, appearing to show her legs, seems inappropriate.”

“Would you pose like that in front of [redacted] Baptist Church? I don’t think so. I attend [redacted] and that’s why I’m sensitive. I suggest you take down those few [pictures in] which she is posing with so much of her leg showing,” the message continued. “She is a beautiful lady!”

After some time passed with no response, the person followed up with another message.

“This is my second message…Brianna is beautiful. But I am offended by the provocative poses in front of [redacted] church. That’s disrespectful to everyone at the Catholic Church and simply not acceptable. Please take down from your posts those provocative poses,” the message read.

Later in the Reddit thread, Brianna clarified, “I am a photographer and I have taken 1,000’s of photos in front of this church, and every time the pastor or elder in the church has seen me and my clients they have been nothing but kind, accepting, and loving. No matter what my or my client’s appearance was.”

“They have even offered for us to use the interior as a backdrop and invited us inside to eat with them,” Brianna added. “I always ask permission to photograph there when I see a leader or elder and they always are happy we are there and using their beautiful church as our backdrop. This is not a representation of the religion or church which I guess is why these messages she sent my father bother me.”

Brianna further expressed that she was in the area for a charity gala and walked over to the church building to take a couple photos, adding, “I’m incredibly insecure and haven’t had my photo taken in years and this was my opportunity to do what I have always wanted to do.”

4 Ways to Build Leadership Transparency

Communicate-communicate-communicate.

Welcome input and questions.

Be graceful in the face of difficult questions.

Be totally forthright.

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Admit You Can’t Do It Alone.

Learn to Ask the Right Questions.

EVERYTHING You Need to Know About Church Microphones

Drums:

Guitar amps:

10 Ways to Grow Youth Ministry

1. Adults

2. Intimacy

3. Prayer

4. Scripture

5. Passion

6. Life Coaching

7. Integration

6 Questions About the Bible

1. How Do We Know the Bible is Reliable?

2. Who Decided What Should Be in the Bible (Authority)?

The Right Stuff Targets the Right Wing

Dominion Dating: For ‘Biblically Faithful Singles’

Joyce Meyer Is ‘A Spiritual Mother,’ Says Christine Caine

Critics Question ‘Credibility’ of Chris Tomlin

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