United Methodists’ Native American International Caucus Calls for End to Columbus Day

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October 5, 2022

Columbus Day — Tobin Waller, of Salem, Oregon, a member of the Ojibwe tribe, dances to drummers pounding a beat as Oregon celebrated its first-ever Indigenous Peoples Day, Monday, Oct. 11, 2021, in Salem, Ore. (AP Photo/Andrew Selsky)

(RNS) — The Native American International Caucus, which advocates for Native Americans both inside and outside of the United Methodist Church, is calling on lawmakers to get rid of Columbus Day.

To replace the federal holiday, which this year falls on Oct. 10, the caucus is asking Congress to approve several bills formalizing Indigenous Peoples Day as a legal public holiday, according to a statement from the caucus posted on it website Tuesday (Oct. 4).

“While we respect the ethnic community of American Italians, we cannot accept or support the continued state-sponsored, public recognition of Christopher Columbus as a symbol of discovery, exploration, conquest since it continues to significantly harm all Native people both those within and outside the 570+ Native American tribal nations in the United States, who continue to live with the impact of systemic injustices and abuse began by settler colonialism,” the statement reads.

A growing number of cities and states have begun recognizing the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples Day in addition to or instead of Columbus Day. In 2021, President Joe Biden also issued a proclamation recognizing Indigenous Peoples Day nationally for the first time.

That comes as advocates like the Indigenous Peoples’ Initiative aim to “tell a more positive and more accurate tale of Native Americans” than the one that begins with Columbus discovering the Americas in 1492.

Indigenous Peoples Day is a day to “celebrate our culture, affirm our human rights as sovereign tribal nations, and continue the work of repairing the damaging legacy of colonialism and racism,” according to the Native American International Caucus.

The caucus applauded the celebration of Indigenous Peoples Day and Biden’s previous proclamation in its statement.

Congress’ approval of Indigenous Peoples Day would be a public recognition of “Native people’s human dignity and sacred worth,” according to the statement.

“We ask every United Methodist Agency and Board to prominently promote this effort with their networks and every UMC congregational member to contact their congressional representatives to advocate for this legislation now,” it reads.

The United Methodist Church is one of several Christian denominations in the United States recently to have issued repudiations of the doctrine of discovery, the theological justification for the discovery and domination by European Christians of lands already inhabited by Indigenous peoples. The UMC has also acknowledged the role its predecessors played in the boarding school system that separated generations of Indigenous children from their families and cultures.

This article originally appeared here.

Texas Inmate Who Fought Prayer, Touch Rules To Be Executed

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Juan A. Lozano

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October 5, 2022

texas_inmate — FILE - This undated photo provided by The Texas Department of Criminal Justice shows John Henry Ramirez. The Texas death row inmate whose case clarified the role of spiritual advisers in death chambers across the country faces execution on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022, amid unsuccessful efforts by a district attorney to stop his lethal injection for killing a convenience store worker during a 2004 robbery. (Texas Department of Criminal Justice via AP, File)

HOUSTON (AP) — A Texas death row inmate whose case clarified the role of spiritual advisers in death chambers nationwide is scheduled for execution Wednesday, despite efforts by a district attorney to stop his lethal injection.

John Henry Ramirez, 38, was sentenced to death for killing 46-year-old Pablo Castro, a convenience store clerk, in 2004. Prosecutors said Castro was taking the trash out from the store in Corpus Christi when Ramirez robbed him of $1.25 and stabbed him 29 times.

Castro’s killing took place during a series of robberies; Ramirez and two women had been stealing money following a three-day drug binge. Ramirez fled to Mexico but was arrested 3½ years later.

Ramirez challenged state prison rules that prevented his pastor from touching him and praying aloud during his execution, saying his religious freedom was being violated. That challenge led to his execution being delayed as well as the executions of others.

In March, the U.S. Supreme Court sided with Ramirez, saying states must accommodate the wishes of death row inmates who want to have their faith leaders pray and touch them during their executions.

On Monday, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles unanimously declined to commute Ramirez’s death sentence to a lesser penalty. According to his attorney, Ramirez has exhausted all possible appeals and no final request to the U.S. Supreme Court is planned.

The lead prosecutor at Ramirez’s trial in 2008, Mark Skurka, said it was unfair that Ramirez would have someone praying over him as he dies when Castro didn’t have the same opportunity.

“It has been a long time coming, but Pablo Castro will probably finally get the justice that his family has sought for so long, despite the legal delays,” said Skurka, who later served as Nueces County district attorney before retiring.

Ramirez’s attorney, Seth Kretzer, said while he feels empathy for Castro’s family, his client’s challenge was about protecting religious freedoms for all. Ramirez was not asking for something new but something that has been part of jurisprudence throughout history, Kretzer said. He said even Nazi war criminals were provided ministers before their executions after World War II.

“That was not a reflection on some favor we were doing for the Nazis,” Kretzer said. “Providing religious administration at the time of death is a reflection of the relative moral strength of the captors.”

Kretzer said Ramirez’s spiritual adviser, Dana Moore, will also be able to hold a Bible in the death chamber, which hadn’t been allowed before.

Ramirez’s case took another turn in April when current Nueces County District Attorney Mark Gonzalez asked a judge to withdraw the death warrant and delay the execution, saying it had been requested by mistake. Gonzalez said he considers the death penalty “unethical.”

During a nearly 20-minute Facebook live video, Gonzalez said he believes the death penalty is one of the “many things wrong with our justice system.” Gonzalez said he would not seek the death penalty while he remains in office.

He did not return a phone call or email seeking comment.

Also in April, four of Castro’s children filed a motion asking that Ramirez’s execution order be left in place.

“I want my father to finally have his justice as well as the peace to finally move on with my life and let this nightmare be over,” Fernando Castro, one of his sons, said in the motion.

In June, a judge declined Gonzalez’ request to withdraw Wednesday’s execution date. Last month, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals declined to even consider the request.

If Ramirez is executed, he would be the third inmate put to death this year in Texas and the 11th in the U.S.

This article originally appeared here.

A New Film by Emmy-Winning Director Centers on Pope’s Vision for Environment

By

Claire Giangrave

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October 5, 2022

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — A new documentary titled “The Letter,” directed by Emmy-winner Nicholas Brown, premiered at the Vatican on Tuesday (Oct. 4). The letter of the title is Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical, Laudato Sì, addressed to “all people of good will” and urging an interconnected vision for humanity and the planet.

Brown, who has directed many environment-focused documentaries, voiced his hope that the movie will encourage people to “abandon illusions of otherness and come together” to protect the environment.

The premiere on Tuesday took place on the day of the feast of the pope’s namesake, St. Francis of Assisi, who was known for his commitment to peace, to the impoverished and to the environment. It also coincided with the day the Paris Climate Agreement accords, which the Holy See signed this summer, come into effect at the Vatican.

But rather than the policy decisions of those in power, the 80-minute feature focuses on how people at the grassroots level can bring about change. In the movie, a diverse group of climate activists, Indigenous people, scientists and faithful meet with Pope Francis to dialogue about the environment.

“Voices from the peripheries are usually ignored in global summits and environmental decision-making, typically dominated by powerful corporate interests,” said Cardinal Michael Czerny, who heads the Vatican Department for Promoting Integral Human Development, during a press conference presenting the movie at the Vatican on Tuesday.

“The film and the personal stories powerfully show that the ecological crisis has arrived and is happening now. The time is over for speculation, for skepticism and denial, for irresponsible populism,” the cardinal added. The movie will be available to audiences for free on YouTube and dubbed in Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and French.

Among the cast of climate activists who are represented in the movie is Chief Cacique Odair “Dadá” of the Borari people, who live in the lush Amazonian jungles in Brazil. The Indigenous leader was captured and tortured by mercenaries after he used GPS technology to expose the illegal activity of loggers who were destroying his home.

Under the presidency of Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil has seen a rapid deforestation of the Amazon forest, and elections in the country were underway at the time of the premiere. “I am here in the name of the forest, in the name of the Indigenous population,” said Chief Dadá at the Vatican press conference, where he advocated for “a new kind of politics” that protects the environment and those most affected by its destruction.

“Today we suffer the destruction of the forest firsthand,” he said. “I hope that all presidents in all countries will come together to save and protect the forest.”

In Wake of Abortion Scandal, Herschel Walker Attends Closed-Door Prayer Event

By

Jack Jenkins

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October 5, 2022

(RNS) — Georgia Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Herschel Walker attended a closed-door prayer event at a prominent evangelical church in Atlanta on Tuesday (Oct. 4), huddling with religious supporters a day after he denied allegations he paid for an abortion in 2009.

The event, a “Herschel Walker Prayer Luncheon,” was convened at First Baptist Atlanta, which was once led by prominent evangelical leader the Rev. Charles Stanley. Press was reportedly barred from the event, with an official saying the decision was made by the church and Walker’s campaign.

Kelly Stewart, First Baptist’s director of business operations, told Religion News Service the event was not preplanned, but an Eventbrite invitation for the luncheon was later found online, and it was unclear how long ago it was created. The luncheon came together, she said, because Walker’s campaign “was looking for a place to bring the prayer warriors to gather for Mr. Walker.”

Stewart said the event drew around 240 people and largely consisted of the church’s current pastor, the Rev. Anthony George, asking Walker questions about his faith and “religious liberties.” She said Walker also offered his personal testimony, after which the group prayed over him. Footage of the event shared on social media and unearthed by Word and Way also showed George celebrating the presence of conservative Christian activist Ralph Reed in the crowd.

“Everyone gathered around him and prayed for him and prayed for our country,” Stewart said.

However, Stewart said the pastor did not ask Walker about a new report published by the Daily Beast on Monday alleging the candidate paid for the abortion of a woman he impregnated in 2009.

“We did not get into personal things with him,” Stewart said. Facebook videos of the event did not feature George asking Walker about the reporting, although the pastor appeared to allude to it on multiple occasions and also spoke critically of the press.

According to the Daily Beast’s report, the woman, who remained anonymous, shared with the outlet a $575 abortion clinic receipt, an image of a signed $700 personal check from Walker and a “get well” card featuring what appears to be his signature.

Walker denied the allegations on Monday, calling it a “flat-out lie” and threatening to sue the Daily Beast over the article. The outlet has since said it stands by its reporting.

“I can tell you right now, I never asked anyone to get an abortion,” Walker told Fox News host Sean Hannity Monday evening. “I never paid for an abortion — it’s a lie.”

Walker’s campaign did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the event.

First Baptist is one of several churches to have hosted Walker during his campaign this year, including when George appeared with the candidate during worship for a question-and-answer session in front of the congregation. After Walker told George, “I’m not just going to Washington, I’m taking Jesus with me,” the pastor asked the former NFL star about his “pro-life” stance.

“When somebody asks me that question, I say it’s strange, it’s so strange, because I’m a Christian,” Walker replied. He later added: “Did I not say I’m a Christian? That means you’re supposed to be pro-life.”

The Decline of Christianity in America Continues—How Can We Stop It?

By

Phil Cooke

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October 5, 2022

Pew Research continues to report on the decline of Christianity in America. According to their polling, nearly a third of people raised in the Christian faith currently leave before turning 30 years of age, and an additional 7% do it later. On that trajectory, by 2070 (and probably much sooner), Christianity will become a minority religious faith in this country.

Having worked with churches and ministry organizations my entire life, I think a big reason for this decline is our obsession with BIG. Big evangelistic campaigns, large missions efforts, and massive projects. Think of how many conferences have themes like “Shake the Nations” or “Win the World.” One current campaign is spending $100 million with the goal of “Making Jesus the Biggest Name in Your City.”

All of these efforts are laudable, and I’ve been involved in plenty of them. However, here’s an idea:

Let’s just focus on reaching one person. That’s right. Just one.

When your goal is to reach an entire city, state, or to “shake the nations,” things get pretty impersonal. We can farm it out to professionals and produce TV commercials, billboards, and marketing strategies. But we’ve seen that done again and again, and we’re always back to the same result:

Christianity keeps declining.

In 2017, the General Social Survey revealed that only about 20% of Americans have spent time regularly with their neighbors, and a third say they’ve never interacted with them. A 2021 survey reported that 26% of Millennials don’t even know their neighbor’s name.

So maybe we start there. When was the last time you talked to a single person about Jesus? When was the last time you mentioned to your waiter or waitress that you came to the restaurant from church, and see where that conversation went?

I brought it up to a middle-aged UBER driver some time ago, and discovered he had actually been an evangelist himself in his twenties, but back then just couldn’t give up smoking. As a result, churches stopped calling him and he considered himself a failure, and hadn’t preached the gospel in more than twenty years.

We talked for nearly an hour during our drive from the airport, and by the time we reached my house, I’d made him realize that churches, revivals, and evangelistic campaigns were fine, but there were plenty of other ways he could be effective sharing the gospel. I encouraged him to get back out there in ministry and he could start with his UBER customers.

I’m all for the big campaigns and major evangelistic efforts. But maybe it’s time we tried something that’s been actually working since the days of the Early Church.

Who’s that one person you could reach this week? If each of us use reached one, it could actually do more than all the major evangelistic efforts combined.

Hey – it’s worth a shot…

This article originally appeared here and is used by permission.

The War on Joy

By

Sam Luce

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October 5, 2022

I love C.S. Lewis. He isn’t perfect. He had a few ideas that were a bit much for protestant me. Overall he was a genius. What made him so brilliant is his ability to take the complex and translate it into words and ideas that others could understand and repeat. When you really understand something, you move beyond the jargon, take the idea apart, and remove the unnecessary, so the truly important can shine through with greater clarity.

I love the Narnian Novels by Lewis. They are brilliant. They have so many themes within his other books and are completely relevant for our world today, almost 70 years later. Lewis fought in World War I and wrote this book only a few years after the end of World War II. He was painfully aware of fighting in the middle of winter without the ability to celebrate Christmas. When Lewis penned one of his most famous lines, he summed up how the world’s enduring suffering faced during the second world war with one line. “It’s always winter, never Christmas.”

This past year has felt like it is always winter, never Christmas. It feels as though there has been a spell put on the world that has frozen hearts, frozen dreams, and is desiring to freeze our joy. There is a war we are facing in our world today, and it is a war on Joy. True Joy everlasting Joy.

The Weather

One of the central themes of the life of C.S. Lewis was that of joy. His autobiography is entitled “Surprised by Joy” He had much to say about Joy. It was the hope of what was to come for him and the real enjoyment that comes from understanding we have been forgiven. The Pevensie kids understood this in the gifts they were given. “All Joy reminds. It is never a possession, always a desire for something longer ago or further away or still “about to be.” -C.S. Lewis (Interestingly, his wife’s name was also Joy).

The contrast between the Witch and Aslan at this point is one of the central themes of the first Narnian book. A key scene occurs in Chapter 11 when the Witch and Edmund are traveling through the woods in pursuit of the beavers and the other children. They happen upon “a merry party” made up of a squirrel family, two satyrs, a fox, and a Dwarf, seated at a table and enjoying a delicious holiday meal. The Witch is incensed and demands to know, “What is the meaning of all this gluttony, this waste, this self-indulgence?” When she discovers that the meal was a gift from Father Christmas, she turns the entire party into stone. The benefit of the scene is that it demonstrates that the Witch’s evil is not fundamentally about winter and cold weather, but about a deep-seated hostility to life, joy, and celebration.

Joe Rigney

4 Ways to Build Leadership Transparency

By

Charles Stone

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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

By

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

By

Jessica Mouser

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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

-

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

-

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

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

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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

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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.

The Weather

4 Ways to Build Leadership Transparency

Communicate-communicate-communicate.

Welcome input and questions.

Be graceful in the face of difficult questions.

Be totally forthright.

My Top 5 Corporate Worship Experiences:

Los Angeles

Brooklyn Tabernacle Church

Brazil

Promise Keepers

Passion Conference

Herschel Walker Put on Blast by Son

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

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

Admit You Can’t Do It Alone.

Learn to Ask the Right Questions.

EVERYTHING You Need to Know About Church Microphones

Drums:

Guitar amps:

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