New Judge Lets Missouri Christian Boarding School Stay Open for Now

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September 28, 2022

New-Judge-Lets-Missouri-Christian-Boarding-School-Stay-Open-for-Now — This December, 2020, shows Agape Boarding School in Stockton, Mo. Cedar County Circuit Judge David Munton signed an order Wednesday night, Sept. 7, 2022, to close the boarding school after the Missouri attorney general's office and the state Department of Social Services filed petitions citing evidence that someone on the state registry for child abuse and neglect was actively working there. (Jill Toyoshiba/The Kansas City Star via AP)

A Missouri judge on Tuesday allowed a Christian boarding school to remain open for now, scheduling two days of hearings in October to determine its fate after multiple current and former students alleged widespread abuse.

Cedar County Associate Circuit Judge Thomas Pyle’s ruling came a day after he took over the case involving Agape Boarding School in Stockton. The Missouri attorney general’s office had asked Pyle to close the school after requesting the new judge for the case previously presided over by Cedar County Circuit Judge David Munton. The state didn’t say why it sought a new judge.

Pyle also approved the state’s request to again place Missouri Department of Social Services workers at Agape. On Monday, Munton lifted the order allowing state workers at the school. They had been there to monitor for abuse since Sept. 8.

Two days of hearings to determine Agape’s fate are scheduled for Oct. 13-14.

Agape’s attorney, John Schultz, said he was pleased with the judge’s decision allowing Agape to continue operating.

“The students at Agape are not facing immediate harm as the State argued,” Schultz said in a statement. “We monitor the students 24/7 and will continue to do so with the DSS workers returning. We look forward to having a trial in this matter beginning on October 13th where actual evidence, versus unfounded allegations, can be heard and considered.”

A spokesman for Republican Attorney General Eric Schmitt declined comment.

Schmitt’s office filed a motion earlier this month to close the school, calling it “an immediate health and safety concern for the children residing at Agape.” The school once served over 100 boys. The current number is unclear. School officials have declined to respond to interview requests.

Last week, the Republican speaker of the Missouri House, Rob Vescovo, sent a letter to U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore in Kansas City also urging closure of Agape. His letter said the situation is “more far-reaching and contains more deeply-rooted corruption than we are able to address solely at the state level.”

Vescovo’s letter didn’t explain his allegations of corruption and he has declined interview requests.

Agape’s website calls it a boarding school “for teenage boys exhibiting bad behavior or failing academics. Our mission is to turn around your troubled teen.” Its parent handbook says it is a ministry of Agape Baptist Church, also in Stockton. The school opened in 1996.

Abuse allegations at Agape and a nearby Christian boarding school for girls, Circle of Hope, resulted in a new Missouri law last year that among other things established minimum health and safety requirements for boarding schools, required background checks for employees, and required adequate food, clothing and medical care for students.

Last year, Agape’s longtime doctor, David Smock, was charged with child sex crimes and five employees were charged with low-level abuse counts. Schmitt’s office contended that 22 workers should have been charged, and with more serious crimes. But in Missouri, only the local prosecutor can file charges, and Cedar County Prosecuting Attorney Ty Gaither has said no additional employees would be charged.

Circle of Hope, in Humansville, Missouri, closed amid an investigation in 2020 and its husband-and-wife co-founders face 99 charges, including child abuse and neglect and sex crimes.

The petition filed by Schmitt’s office cites several abuse allegations at Agape, including many from current students as told to DSS workers on-site.

One student was slammed through a magnetically-locked door and then restrained for about 40 minutes, several current students said.

In another case, a student said he saw another student punched in the stomach by a staff member while other staff held the student, who was then allegedly placed in handcuffs for about two weeks except for visits to the bathroom. The punishment was because the student refused to do jumping jacks, according to the court filing.

This article originally appeared here.

White House Conference Puts Spotlight on Hunger Relief

By

Sara Herschander

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September 28, 2022

hunger relief — FILE - Bagged lunches await stapling before being distributed to students at the county's Tri-Plex Campus involving the students from the Jefferson County Elementary School, Upper Elementary School and Junior High School on March 3, 2021 in Fayette, Miss. As the country’s food charities struggle to keep up with rising inflation and demand, the White House will host a conference on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022. For several months, the Biden administration has hosted listening sessions with hunger and nutrition groups, corporations, and federal agencies to help find ways to end hunger by 2030. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)

For months, Catholic Charities of Southeast Texas has had to waitlist families hoping to join a food pantry program, as the nonprofit and other charities have struggled to meet soaring demand amid rising food prices and the end of federal pandemic relief aid.

The families who frequent the food bank, which is stocked like a grocery store with a wide range of nutritious food, are often already struggling to pay for housing, health care, and other expenses. So when they’re turned away from the pantry, they often seek out cheaper food or other food banks with fewer healthy options.

“If somebody is hungry and there isn’t anything else to eat but a honey bun, a honey bun is going to hit the spot,” says Carol Fernandez, president of Catholic Charities of Southeast Texas.

As the country’s food charities struggle to keep up with rising inflation and demand, the White House will host a conference on Wednesday. For several months, the Biden administration has hosted listening sessions with hunger and nutrition groups, corporations, and federal agencies to help find ways to end hunger by 2030. It’s an ambitious goal that would transform operations for nonprofits like Catholic Charities and the foundations that help feed the one in six Americans seeking food from nonprofits every year.

While few details have been released on the conference’s specific policy priorities, and questions abound over the political likelihood of big changes, nonprofits and foundations have found reasons for optimism. They hope the conference will be a launching point for sweeping change.

Food banks, which millions of Americans rely on when federal assistance is not enough, are not a long-term fix to the nation’s hunger problem, nonprofit leaders say. Instead, new approaches are needed that take into account how food is made available to those in need and how other factors, like high rents and low wages, affect hunger.

“The truth is that we throw away more food in the United States than is necessary to end hunger,” says Vince Hall, chief government relations officer at Feeding America. “This is not a question of lacking resources — it’s a question of lacking resolve.”

The last time the White House held a conference on hunger and nutrition was more than 50 years ago. The 1969 conference, called for by President Richard Nixon, promised to “put an end to hunger in America for all time” and led to several landmark policy changes, including school lunches and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.

Such federal programs typically provide low-income Americans with direct assistance for purchasing food.

But foundations and nonprofits say that because hunger is related to other social and environmental challenges, including low wages and poverty, climate change, and racial and gender inequities, they have been focusing on addressing those issues.

Yet the federal government has not embraced that approach, hunger experts say.

“Food insecurity at its heart is caused by inadequate income,” says Lisa Davis, senior vice president of Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign. “And we know that when families have incomes that don’t cover all their basic expenses, food is often the first thing they cut.”

The Child Among Us

By

Dale Hudson

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September 28, 2022

Jesus took a little child whom He placed among them. Taking the child in His arms, He said to them, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in My name welcomes Me; and whoever welcomes Me does not welcome Me but the one who sent Me.”

Jesus cares about children. Throughout His ministry, He ministered to children. In the passage you just read, Jesus placed a child in the middle of the 12 disciples.

Jesus is still doing that today. He places children in our midst. Who has He placed in the midst of your ministry?

What child is He asking you to mentor?

What child is He asking you to love unconditionally?

What child is asking you to encourage?

What child is He asking you to believe in?

What child is He asking you to invest in?

Then it says Jesus took the child up into His arms and made a big statement. He says those who welcome a child are welcoming Him. It means that much to Him.

Are you welcoming the children that God allows you to cross paths with?

I often say this.

A church that minimizes children’s ministry is minimizing God’s blessings upon their ministry. A church that maximizes children’s ministry is maximizing God’s blessings upon their ministry.

If you want to make a big impact for the kingdom, it will happen through your children’s ministry. I truly believe that.

As I travel across the country and minister in churches, one thing has become very apparent. The churches that are growing are investing heavily in the next generation. They have placed the importance of children’s ministry in their midst, just as Jesus did many years ago.

On the flip side, churches that are dying have something in common. They haven’t placed children in the midst of them as Jesus did. The next generation is just an after thought. This makes the church terminal. As the older members pass away, the church dies with them and eventually they have to place a for sale sign out front.

Let me ask you this.

Where are the children in your ministry? Are they in the middle where everyone can see them? Is the children’s ministry elevated in importance?

“Jesus loves the little children. All the children in the world. Red and Yellow, Black and White, they are precious in His sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world.”

If you find that your children’s ministry is not at the center of your church, then here are a few steps you can take to bring them to the center.

Priority – make children’s ministry a top priority.

People – the best volunteers will be serving in children’s ministry.

Programs – children’s ministry programs will be very important.

Program Funding – children’s ministry will have one of the largest budgets in the ministry.

Passion – the church will be passionate about reaching the next generation.

Physical Space – the children’s ministry space will be the best in the church.

Are children at the center of your ministry? If you want to minister like Jesus, then place them there and watch as God blesses your ministry for it.

This article originally appeared here and is used by permission.

4 (Detailed) Worship Leader Tips to Improve Your Worship Leading

By

Mark Cole

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September 28, 2022

Leading people in worship to the Living God is an awesome privilege and involves four major areas: music, worship, leadership and your relationship with God. The more you understand and grow in each area, the stronger your worship leading should become. I have been leading worship with congregations ranging from 70 to 7,000 people for over 25 years, and I am still learning. Here are worship leader tips to consider for growth in your own personal journey.

4 Worship Leader Tips to Improve Your Worship Leading

1. Develop your music skills for worship leading.

Take music lessons on piano and/or guitar (Keyboards: 12 Keys to Improving)
Become a lifelong student of musical skills and styles
Learn to sing at a good level (10 Keys to Improving Your Singing)
Take music theory courses (Worship Musicians Theory Book)
Learn to sing vocal harmonies
Learn to memorize music
Learn to play-by-ear, improvise with chord charts and read notes
Develop a good sense of time and rhythm
Learn to write your own songs
Learn to write your own charts (Worship Charts: 7 Keys to a Great Rehearsal)

2. Develop your worship skills for worship leading.

Worship in private
Study worship in the Bible
Understand the progression of worship
Study under a strong worship leader
Serve faithfully on a worship team
Watch great teams online (Hillsong, Bethel, Gateway, Elevation, Lakewood, Passion)
Read great books on worship (Some of my favorite books on worship)
Develop strong stage presence Learn to pick great worship songs (12 Keys to Picking Great Songs)
Be a lifelong student of worship

3. Develop your leadership skills for worship leading.

Love people
Learn the importance of serving – Matthew 20:28
Lead yourself and your home well
Be faithful with whatever opportunities (small or large) God opens up
Learn good administrative skills (The Role of a Music Director)
Learn to run great rehearsals (10 Tips on Improving Your Worship Rehearsal)
Develop your own strong team
Learn to communicate in front of an audience
Learn how to be a constructive member of a pastoral team
Develop a good relationship with your pastor
Mentor future leaders and grow your worship team (12 Keys to Being a Successful…)
Read leadership books (My favorite books on worship)
Study other leaders and be a lifelong student of leadership styles

4. Develop your relationship with God for worship leading.

Read the Bible daily
Pray daily – Luke 5:16
Listen to what God says
Listen to what God is saying to the church
Do what God is telling you to do – John 5:19
Learn to trust Him more daily
Keep your heart soft and pliable before God – Revelation 2:4
Learn from other great men and women of God
Learn to love the church like Jesus loves the church (Top 10 Guidelines)

Check out my book, Leading Worship ~ Notes from a Grand Adventure, available in Kindle or Soft Cover Editions. This is a great gift for the musician or worshipper in your life.

This list of worship leader tips originally appeared here.

I HATE Bad Policies – Don’t You?

By

Ron Edmondson

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September 28, 2022

I hate bad policies, and I love good policies. Okay, love is too strong a word also. A “wet paint” sign to me is an invitation to test it. But I don’t hate them. I’m not a huge fan of most policies and a majority of them, in my opinion, need improvement. It could be because I’m not a very good rule follower, but I honestly don’t think many policies work as well as they were intended when created. Policies are defined as a course, plan or principle of action. They are designed, by definition, to offer a sense of control. In theory, policies are to make things better and, I will admit, they are a necessary part of dealing with people in an organizational setting. Without policies we would have chaos.

It is my firm conviction that many organizations (especially churches) have bad policies that need to improve. And, most likely, some policies that simply need to disappear. My problem with polices is they often interrupt progress rather than enhance it. If we are not careful, a policy may control the success you want to see as a leader.

I personally would rather have chaos with no policies than a bunch of really bad policies.

When I arrived at an established church we had a policy – voted on by the church in a business meeting at some point – on folded chairs. True story. It told the procedures to do if someone borrowed folding chairs from the church. We probably no longer even had the chairs of which the policy spoke, but there was still a policy in place.

Granted, policies may make sense when they are created. Yet, as we look at the issue from a bigger picture, they can even appear comical over time. Obviously, we can figure out what led to a folding chair policy. Someone borrowed chairs. They didn’t bring them back or treat them as they should. Therefore, to prevent this from ever occurring again people wrote a policy.

4 Reasons to HATE Bad Policies:

1. Bad policies eliminate a sense of freedom.

Policies, by nature, are methods of control. Even for those who love rules and want everything spelled out for them, policies can add a sense of burden as you attempt (or don’t attempt) to live up to their demands. Show me an environment with a bunch of policies and you can almost always find some stressed out people.

2. Bad policies limit ability to think outside the box.

Policies can limit thoughts to a pre-determined outcome, which keeps the random and potentially explosive thoughts from developing. They can limit people’s ability to dream, explore, redesign and imagine. If everything is spelled out for people they have no reason to actually think for themselves.

3. Bad policies stall attempts at excellence.

The parameters of a policy often produce an atmosphere of mediocrity. Everything is clear. Planned. Written. Solved. No need for improvement here until someone finds another way to mess up, of course, then we need to add another policy.

4. Bad policies curtail the pursuit of progress.

The weight of meeting the demands of policies can take valuable energy from pursuing things, which have the opportunity of producing greater progress.

And, my suggestions?

4 ways to improve bad policies:

1. Handle individual problems individually.

Ask yourself if the policy is needed for everyone or just a few people. Is it needed for everyone to keep us organized, effective or legal? If so, write the best policy you can for everyone. (And be willing to tweak it with time.)

When the answer is it’s only for a few people, rather than create a new policy to control an issue, deal directly with the individuals who need more control. For example, in the case of the chair policy I mentioned above, rather than write a policy – go get the chairs! (They are likely in the garage.)

2. Treat individual people individually.

If a team has more than one person, then there will be more than one type of person on the team. Do you follow me?

Policies tend to treat everyone the same, which ignores individuality and personality differences.

For example, some people may need to be in the office to get things done, for example. They may need help disciplining their time. Others may work best when the schedule and work environment is more flexible. Put me in a coffee shop and my productivity grows. Don’t write a policy that makes everyone “work” the same. Be willing to individualize things those issues.

Yes, I realize this is where it can get messy and even be abused. You’ll have to guard against that. This is why I like to let people write some of their own and job descriptions. Everyone is subject to accountability but we all agree on the front end the structure that works best for them.

4. Lead more than you manage.

Management is more about implementing policies and seeing they are adhered to completely. We need good management. In fact, knowing my own shortcomings, I’m a huge advocate for good management.

Leadership, however, sets a vision and guides people towards it. Less policies are needed in that process. Manage when you must. Lead whenever you can. You’ll get the best out of people.

Purposely allow for mistakes in your culture.

Policies are easier to measure. They often have a pass/fail assessment attached to them. Again, they are less “messy”. When you have fewer policies you even have to allow for grace and forgiveness.

People, however, learn best from their failures when they know they can explore and create without the repercussions. The fear of breaking a policy controls more than empowers this.

My bottom line on policies:

I’m not suggesting we can do without policies or that we should even try. I am suggesting we work to improve them. Policies should not be the “go to” solution to fix a problem. Most problems in an organization don’t need a new policy. Granted, leading is more difficult without policies. Yet, with less policies you’ll almost always have greater opportunities to experience new and exciting realities.

Here’s a challenge: Look through your policies and rules find where you need to improve. See which were created to control people as a reaction to a problem. See which should have been handled individually. Finally, see where a policy no longer needed.

The real challenge is to lead towards an environment which empowers more than it controls.

Hey, check out my leadership podcast where we try to provide quick, helpful applications. I’d love to hear if you are enjoying it and any topics you would like us to cover. Be sure also to check out the other great Lifeway Leadership Podcasts.

This article on improving bad policies originally appeared here, and is used by permission.

Maverick City Music ‘Pauses’ Their Relationship With Grammy Award-Winning Singer Dante Bowe Due to His Behavior

By

Jesse T. Jackson

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September 27, 2022

Maverick City Music released a statement on Tuesday (Sept. 27) explaining they are putting a “pause” on their professional relationship with Grammy and Dove Award-winning gospel singer Dante Bowe.

Bowe posted a message on Instagram saying that he was taking a break from social media after receiving counsel from others. “In light of recent events and opinions, I’ve talked to some of the wisest leaders and brothers around me. I’ll be taking time off social media to rest mentally and physically.”

“Years ago, when I dreamt of all I would accomplish one day, I didn’t account for the pressure and opinions that would come with it,” the singer continued. “It’s important for everyone to know when to step back and refocus. Hope y’all understand and support. I’ll hit you up when I’m back.” Bowe concluded by telling his fans, “Love you guys! This is for the best.”

Bowe’s Instagram account has since been made private, so only those who have been following him can see his posts.

The statement from Maverick City Music, which included the caption “With love from @maverickcitymusic,” is as follows:

Due to behavior that is inconsistent with our core values and beliefs, we have decided to put a pause on our professional relationship with Dante Bowe. Decisions like these are not easy because of the level of nuance, both professionally and personally, but we felt it necessary to address.

Maverick City Music Is a collective of various artists from many different backgrounds and life experiences; as such no one artist’s actions or behavior can always be attributed as a reflection of our core beliefs and values.

Dante is a brother in Christ and as such he has our full commitment and unwavering support as he continues to navigate his path forward. Each of us need God’s grace, and our hope is that we all pray and give him the same opportunity to grow in Christ as we give ourselves.

Maverick City Music

Maverick City Music released their statement in the same month that Bowe posted a video of him and some friends singing along to Puerto Rican rapper/singer Bad Bunny’s “Después de la Playa” on a party bus—a song talking about getting a girl “wet” in his bed. While the music collective’s statement doesn’t provide specific details as to why they’ve decided to pause their relationship with Bowe, some fans have speculated that this may have been the reason for doing so.

Cam Newton’s Comments on Polygamy in the Bible Draw Pushback From Benjamin Watson, Derwin Gray

By

Jessica Mouser

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September 27, 2022

Dr. Derwin Gray and Benjamin Watson have each taken issue with NFL quarterback Cam Newton’s recent statement implying that the Bible condones polygamous relationships in some cases. Newton made his comments in a frank conversation with Megan Brooks and B. Simone on his Funky Friday interview series.

“I believe that in our religion, it has got lost in translation,” said Newton in the interview, which premiered Sept. 16 [Editor’s note: This video contains language some may find offensive.]. “People say, ‘Oh, that’s in the Old Testament, this is the New Testament and things like that. There are some high-value men in the Bible that had a lot of favor from God by having multiple wives and multiple concubines. So you can’t sit up here and say you want a man of God and not acknowledge the fact that, oh, in this society it’s socially accepted, but in the Bible—when you talk about David, when you talk about Solomon, the wisest person in all of earth—he had the most wives anybody has ever had, and concubines.”

Cam Newton, B. Simone and Megan Brooks Discuss Relationships

Cam Newton is an NFL quarterback who is currently a free agent, but is best known for playing for the Carolina Panthers. One of his guests was B. Simone, a comedian, actress, and businesswoman who was a cast member on MTV’s Wild ‘N Out for six seasons. Joining her was Megan Brooks, who has been friends with Simone for 20 years and has been her assistant in the entertainment industry. The two women recently launched the podcast, Know for Sure.

During the conversation, Newton, Simone and Brooks revealed that they are all pastor’s kids and have experience with the church, although Newton and Brooks were more familiar with the Bible than Simone. The three spent the majority of their time discussing the struggles that people have with modern relationships.

Simone is currently single, Newton is in a relationship, and Brooks has been married for 12 years. One of the key relationship challenges they all acknowledged was dealing with or even being people who are focused on sex, money and appearances instead of pursuing a committed relationship with depth to it.

Newton shared that he has met women he could have married, but that he wasn’t mature enough for marriage at the time. Now, he actively seeks accountability for sexual temptation, as well as open communication in his relationships.

Throughout the interview, all three held up monogamy as a high value, although Newton and Simone both voiced that people should do what makes them happy. Simone and Brooks emphasized the importance of men being honest and communicating what they want out of a relationship. If men want to sleep around, they need to be forthright with women about that. Brooks argued that it is childish for men to say they want marriage and then to cheat.

During the interview, Newton asked Brooks if it is more common for men to have multiple wives than it is for women to have multiple husbands.

Pastor Who Left Porn Industry Shares How He Pursues Purity Now

By

Stephanie Martin

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September 27, 2022

Joshua Broome, a pastor who left a lucrative career in pornography, says walking with God and being fruitful for his kingdom is a daily process—one that leads to purpose, freedom, and purity of heart. Broome, who leads The Good News Baptist Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, recently spoke with Richard De La Mora on the “Let’s Talk Purity” podcast. The men discuss topics such as intimacy, lust, friendships, loneliness, and ministry challenges.

As Church Leaders has reported, Broome spent six years in the porn industry. The career brought him success and wealth as well as feelings of profound isolation and worthlessness. After walking away, he struggled to find a job and maintain relationships.

But now Broome, 40, is married and has two children. He often travels to speak about purity, recently leading chapel for the Los Angeles Chargers. In a September 7 Facebook Live post, Broome requested prayers for his first trip to Hollywood in almost 10 years, where he’d be stepping into “the tension of people remembering me for who I used to be.”

Joshua Broome on Spiritual Refinement

On the podcast, Broome emphasizes that the Christian walk is a “step by step” process. Like Joseph in Genesis, he says, we must be patient and allow God to refine us and prepare us for what he has planned next.

Part of the search for purpose, he says, involves asking God to search your heart. You have to “pray that dangerous prayer: ‘God, show me my inadequacies. Show me how I’m offending you. Bring that to my attention because I want to submit to you.’”

Broome warns, “Don’t be fooled to believe that your heart is pure just because you’re not succumbing to pornography.” He describes how replacing God with anyone or anything—even ministry—leads to loneliness and discontent. True intimacy comes only through an active relationship with God, he says, and solid, supportive friendships are key.

When asked for advice on finding trustworthy friends, Broome recommends looking for evidence of fruit. Pointing to John 15, he says we need to cut off unproductive branches. That, in turn, requires self-awareness: “Is this friendship producing fruit? Is it…benefiting me? Is it edifying me higher?”

Don’t Make Ministry an Idol, Warns Joshua Broome

While discussing purity, Broome and De La Mora talk about more than just physical temptations. After leaving adult entertainment and becoming a Christian, Broome says, he struggled with wanting to be accepted and approved. Previously, his accomplishments had been the source of his happiness.

But then he focused on Psalm 23, including David’s message “I shall not want.” The pastor says he needed a reminder that “it’s not about me; it’s about furthering [God’s] kingdom.”

Bolsonaro Campaign to Evangelicals: Brazil’s Soul at Stake

By

David Biller

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September 27, 2022

SALVADOR, Brazil (AP) — Off a byway outside Salvador, past an evangelical church and down a short path, Thiago Viana was preparing a celebration. Two new members of his temple would soon emerge from months of seclusion, marking initiation into his Afro Brazilian faith, Candomble.

Then his phone started pinging with messages: Michelle Bolsonaro, the wife of President Jair Bolsonaro, had posted a video to Instagram of Viana and his sister showering former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva with popcorn — a Candomble cleansing rite associated with Obaluaê, the deity of earth and health. The first lady’s short comment denounced such a display from da Silva while some criticize her for speaking about God.

It unleashed a flood of posts from pastors, lawmakers and ordinary people using the video to claim the Lord’s will is for da Silva to lose. Some called Viana and his kind devil worshippers, though he says there’s no such thing as the devil in Candomble.

“I was thick-skinned on the outside, but it destroyed me within. … My flesh was trembling and began to throb,” he said. “I expected this from an ordinary evangelical person, but not from a person like the first lady.”

Viana was caught in the crossfire of a religiously tinged political attack on da Silva, who leads all polls against the incumbent. Bolsonaro is waging an all-out campaign to shore up the crucial evangelical vote that involves keyboard crusaders and the first lady ahead of Oct. 2 elections.

Influential politicians and evangelical pastors are warning their followers, on Facebook and in pulpits, that da Silva would close Christian churches — which he vehemently denies. Users are liking, sharing and commenting in what appears a concerted tactic to distance evangelicals from da Silva, according to Marie Santini, the coordinator of NetLab, a research group at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro that monitors social media and has specifically focused on evangelicals.

“This discourse that the election will be a religious war is theirs,” Santini said. “They want to make this election a religious war.” ___

This is the first installment in The Associated Press’ two-part package about the intersection of politics and religion in Brazil.

___

Self-declared evangelicals make up almost a third of Brazil’s population, more than double two decades ago, according to demographer José Eustáquio Diniz Alves, a former researcher for 17 years at the national school of statistical sciences. He projects they will approach 40% by 2032, surpassing Catholics.

They helped carry Bolsonaro to power in 2018, and he proceeded to tap members of their churches for important ministries and for a Supreme Court justice nomination. But in this electoral cycle, Bolsonaro initially found more difficulty winning their favor.

In Hometown of St. Francis of Assisi, Pope Touts ‘Radical Criticism’ of Capitalism

By

Claire Giangrave

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September 27, 2022

st. francis of assisi — Pope Francis speaks during the 'Economy of Francesco' meetings with young entrepreneurs for a more inclusive and human economy, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, in Assissi, Italy. Photo courtesy of Economy of Francesco

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Joining young people from more than 100 countries, Pope Francis signed a document on Saturday (Sept. 24) that lays out ideas for a new economy inspired by St. Francis of Assisi, the pope’s namesake known for his dedication to the poor, the environment and peace.

More than 1,000 young activists, economists and entrepreneurs under the age of 35 gathered in Assisi, St. Francis’ birthplace, over the weekend for a meeting on “the Economy of Francesco,” held to present an economic vision that pushes back against systems currently in effect that the activists said favor the rich.

The gathering was the culmination of two years of online and in-person gatherings and events inspired by the pope’s call to action two years ago to mitigate the worst effects of capitalism.

The 85-year-old pontiff arrived aboard a helicopter to the main square early on Saturday to hear testimonies from some of the participants and deliver a speech juxtaposing the promise of young people with the devastation wrought by climate change, war and financial inequality.

“Today, a new economy inspired by Francis of Assisi can and must become an economy of friendship with the earth and an economy of peace,” the pope said. “It is a question of transforming an economy that kills into an economy of life, in all its aspects.”

Francis then signed “The Economy of Francesco Pact,” written by the young members of a group of the same name, which pledges its signers to pursue peace, care for the environment and place the poor and most vulnerable at the center.

“Usually, in mainstream economy, poverty is considered at the margins,” said Archbishop Domenico Sorrentino of Assisi, a member of the committee of the Economy of Francesco, in an interview with Religion News Service. Supply side economic views, which theorize that wealth trickles down from the wealthiest to the poorest in society, tends to place poor people at the bottom of the pyramid, the archbishop said.

“Today this view is in a crisis thanks to critics of mainstream economy,” he added, pointing to the work of English economist Kate Raworth, a proponent of the “doughnut economy,” which prioritizes sustainable development. Raworth presented her views to Economy of Francesco advocates in a 2020 session called “We are all developing countries now,” drawing praise from the pope.

“We support this radical criticism,” Sorrentino said, adding that the wide disparity “between the tiny percentage of rich people who have most of humanity’s wealth in their hands and the great multitude of poor who greatly struggle” is proof that “mainstream economy has failed.”

Shifting the focus to the poor was a main point of Francis’ speech on Saturday and of the proposals of the young economists of Francesco. Taking his cue from the life of St. Francis, who rid himself of all possessions including his clothes, and of the Franciscan friars who followed in his footsteps, the pope sketched his economic outlook.

Nigeria Should Be On ‘Countries of Particular Concern’ List, ERLC and Others Say

By

Tom Strode

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September 27, 2022

WASHINGTON (BP) – Nigeria should be restored to the list of the world’s worst violators of religious freedom, a coalition that includes a Southern Baptist Convention entity has told Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) joined more than 30 other organizations, as well as 35 individuals, in a Sept. 19 letter that asked Blinken to re-designate Nigeria as a “country of particular concern.” They also asked him to name a special envoy to investigate violence that has targeted Christians in particular in Africa’s most populous country.

Blinken is expected to announce before the end of the year the State Department’s latest “countries of particular concern” (CPCs), a list reserved for the world’s most severe violators of freedom of religion and belief. He removed Nigeria from the CPC list in November of last year in a move that shocked religious freedom advocates.

Violence in general and against Christians specifically has increased since that decision, the letter signers said. More than 2,500 Christians were killed in the first six months of 2022 in attacks by Islamic terrorist groups in Nigeria, according to a report by an international civil liberties organization cited in the letter.

More than 4,300 Christians and 2,200 Muslims were killed in “jihadist-related contexts” from Oct. 1, 2020, to Sept. 30, 2021, according to the Observatory of Religious Freedom in Africa. Open Doors reported more Christians were slain in Nigeria in 2021 – 4,650 – than in all other countries put together. From January to June of this year, no less than 2,543 Christians died at the hands of Islamic terrorists, the International Society of Civil Liberties and Rule of Law reported.

“It is difficult to imagine the hardships that persecuted Christians in northern Nigeria face,” said Todd Nettleton, spokesperson for The Voice of the Martyrs and host of VOM Radio. Voice of the Martyrs has designated Nigeria as a “hostile” nation.

“Attacks on Christians in Northern Nigeria have become so common they are rarely mentioned by global news outlets,” Nettleton said. “Yet every attack means members of our spiritual family are being beaten, maimed or killed; losing all their possessions, and being forced to flee for their lives. The media may ignore their suffering, but as fellow members of the Body of Christ we cannot.”

While non-government actors have carried out the violence against religious adherents, Nigeria’s government has not demonstrated the capacity and determination to provide adequate protection for Christians and Muslims, the letter signers said.

The re-designation of Nigeria as a CPC and appointment of a special envoy “are vital to recognizing the gravity of the religious freedom violations occurring in the country and the government’s unwillingness to control the problems, as well as its contributions to the problems,” according to the letter.

Hannah Daniel, the ERLC’s policy manager, told Baptist Press, “As religious minorities face increasingly intense persecution for their faith in Nigeria, it is imperative that Secretary 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.”

Chitwood Says Greenway To Bring ‘Invaluable’ Experience to IMB

By

Scott Barkley

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September 27, 2022

NASHVILLE (BP) — Former Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary President Adam Greenway is joining the International Mission Board in a role that “will be focused on training missionaries to address the greatest problem in the world: spiritual lostness,” according to an entity spokesperson today.

Greenway made his resignation official Sept. 23 after several hours of online speculation overnight. He had been president of Southwestern since February 2019.

IMB President Paul Chitwood, who was executive director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention when Greenway served as state president from 2011-12, welcomed Greenway aboard.

“Having known Adam for many years, I was confident he would approach his work at the seminary with the Great Commission at the forefront. He has done just that. His years of experience in seminary classrooms, as dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions and Evangelism at Southern Seminary and as president of our seminary in Ft. Worth, will be invaluable to the IMB as we are in a season of growing our reach among the nations by deploying and developing Southern Baptists’ missionaries.”

Baptist Press reached out Monday (Sept. 26) to Greenway for comments on his move to the IMB, but he had not responded by time of publication.

In his new role, Greenway will report to Zane Pratt, IMB vice president for Training.

Baptist Press asked a series of additional questions to the IMB pertaining to Greenway’s position and received the following:

“IMB has 4,000 employees and is aggressively recruiting new team members from across the U.S. who can help us effectively address the world’s greatest problem – lostness. We have a long-standing practice of respecting employees’ confidentiality in our hiring process.”

This article originally appeared on BaptistPress.com.

6 Types of People Today’s Church Leaders Have to Try to Shepherd in a Single Congregation

By

James Scott Jr.

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September 27, 2022

When you think of your local church, you probably conjure up a picture of a group of people that has little variation to it.

But the truth is, when describing any group of people, including a local church, you’re actually dealing with a conglomerate of individuals, complete with their own temperaments, their own personalities, their own characters, and lots (and lots!) of individual opinions.

You might say shepherding a local church is kind of like herding cats … just harder!

To help you better understand one of the many challenges church leaders face in shepherding the flock of God put into their care, it’s important to understand that in each congregation you’ll likely find a mix of these six types of people attending that local church.

6 types of people attending church

1. Godly – Mature.

These are those Christians who have been well-discipled and have spent a long time growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord. These Christians are able to serve in leading ways in the church, such as in key teaching positions, as disciplers of new converts and other Christians “young” in the faith. These Christians are the ones usually tapped to serve as elders, deacons, and ministry leaders. They are not perfect, but they have matured well in the faith and continue to grow while also being leading servants in the church. There aren’t a lot of these types of people in most churches, but there could be.

2. Godly – Developing disciples.

These are Christians who aren’t as mature as the “Godly – Mature” leaders noted above, but they are devoted to being discipled and are in earlier stages of developing well as faithful and obedient followers of Jesus. It’s exciting to watch these people continue in their spiritual formation over the years, and it is just that — a process that takes time. But they are in this for life! This type of person should be commonplace in most any church, but they aren’t because we so often fail to disciple people properly so that they’re actually “developing disciples.”

3. Undiscipled

The majority of people in any American church will tell you they have never been in a discipling relationship. The may attend church, and perhaps attend a Sunday School class or home group, but that’s all the “discipling” they’ve experienced in their local church. These people are undiscipled. They are biblically illiterate and do not have a biblical worldview. According to recent research, these types of people make up the majority of churchgoers in American churches.

4. Functional atheist

These people are not “classic” atheists because they actually profess faith in Jesus Christ. In fact, they may serve in leading positions in the church, they may even be in teaching positions, and they can quote some scripture. These people are good at “talking the talk,” but what makes them “functional atheists” is that they don’t “walk the walk”; they profess a faith in Christ, but how they live their lives each day is opposite of a life of faithful obedience to, and followership of, Jesus Christ (living as a disciple). The reason this group of people aren’t “lumped in” with the “Undiscipled” noted above is that some of these people have been discipled, yet they do not live out what they have been taught or what they profess to believe. Along with the Undiscipled, this type makes up a majority of the people in the church today.

10 Symptoms of a Sick Church

By

Thom Rainer

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September 27, 2022

symptoms of a sick church — Photo via PxHere

Are you able to recognize the signs of a sick church? There are certain metrics and issues physicians check when we go to the doctor. They want to check our blood pressure and temperature. They do blood tests to see if there are any warning signs. They are looking for symptoms that might indicate real problems exist.

After working with churches for 30 years, I too look for symptoms that might point to greater concerns. The symptoms are not necessarily the problem; they simply provide warnings or cautions of potential issues.

Symptoms of a Sick Church

While there are many potential symptoms of a sick church, I have found 10 to be consistently common. These 10 are not listed in any particular order:

1. Declining worship attendance.

Surprisingly, the majority of church leaders do not monitor worship attendance. I advise leaders to compare each month’s average worship attendance to the same month of previous years.

2. Decline in frequency of attendance of church members.

This symptom is the number one explanation for attendance decline in most churches. Members are not as committed as they once were. Their waning love for their church is reflected in their declining frequency in worship attendance.

3. Lack of joy and vibrancy in the worship service.

Obviously, this symptom is subjective. It is still, however, very important. Most people can sense when a worship service is vibrant, lukewarm or dead.

4. Little evangelistic fruit.

As a general rule, a healthy church will reach at least one non-Christian for every 20 in worship attendance. A church with a worship attendance of 200, for example, should see at least 10 new Christians a year.

The Antidote to Anxiety During Troubled Times

By

Clint Archer

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September 27, 2022

These are troubled times. I think it’s fair to say that the year 2020 was a stressful year for the global population. The COVID-19 pandemic was a large part of that, but people are also worried about the government, the economy, their health, their jobs, their loved ones, and their futures.

A survey of 3,013 adults conducted on behalf of the American Psychological Association (APA) in 2020 showed stress levels in American adults as the highest since these levels started being recorded, and “marks the first significant increase in average reported stress” since the survey began in 2007.

According to the APA, parents are more anxious than adults without children, reporting stressors related to education, basic needs, access to health care services, and missing out on major milestones. The poll found that nearly 80% of adults say the coronavirus pandemic is a significant source of stress in their lives, while 60% say the number of issues America faces is overwhelming to them and might benefit from reading the Gorilla Glue Weed Cannabis review by fresh bros.

Dr. Arthur C. Evans Jr. APA’s CEO said: “This survey confirms what many mental health experts have been saying: Our mental health is suffering from the compounding stressors in our lives…[which] will have serious health and social consequences if we don’t act now to reduce it.”

It’s 2022 and people are still overwhelmed. And there is not much hope out there. One medical website asked and answered the question: “Can you cure yourself of anxiety completely? The short answer is, No.” They go on to explain that anxiety is partly a genetic condition and can thus never be cured completely but you can control it with help from Hollyweed CBD products.

Friends, I have good news: I have found a vaccine for anxiety! And I will give it to you right now – for free.

All you have to do is turn to John 14.

Jesus is talking to his disciples the night before he goes to the cross. He has told them that he will be betrayed and that he is going back to the Father. They are understandably shaken, afraid, anxious, upset, and troubled. What antidote will Jesus offer to cure that anxiety during their troubled times?

3 Realities of for Peace in Troubled Times

1. THE PERSON OF CHRIST

John 14:1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.“

Anxiety is a condition that starts in the mind and affects the body and behavior. Stress is the puppet master that pulls the strings of your thinking and behavior. Jesus injects his cure precisely where the anxiety resides: in the heart: “Let not your hearts be troubled.”

You can’t always change your environment, but you can change your thinking. The first dose of Christ’s remedy is to focus your thoughts, attention, faith on… your God.

“Believe in God; believe also in me.”

Trusting in the person of Jesus is the most potent cure for anxiety I know. To trust in a person means that you consider their character. Jesus is saying that when your heart is troubled, trust in God. You know who he is, you know what he is capable of, and you know his character.

Stop letting your feelings steer your life. Let your faith steer your life!

Phil 4: 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand.

If you put a little toy soldier next to a molehill and take a picture, the molehill looks like a mountain. But if you put an actual Army Ranger in full gear next to the molehill and take a picture, it’s not a mountain anymore, you don’t even notice the clump of dirt.

Jesus is not a toy soldier, he is a warrior, armed with power, and he is on a mission to accompany you through whatever valley you are going through: The Lord is at hand.

During troubled times, when you zoom in on your fear, to exclude Jesus, of course it will cause anxiety. Frankly, if Jesus weren’t real, and good, and in control of everything, nothing could convince me to have peace.

Always keep Jesus in the picture, especially in troubled times. Keep your perspective. God has got this. Jesus is God. Trust in God and trust in Jesus.

2. THE PREPARATIONS OF CHRIST

John 14:2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?

Here Jesus reveals something that is absolutely mind-blowing. Many people think of Heaven as a place of clouds and rainbows with us playing harps for eternity. That is not even close.

The New Heavens and New Earth represent a physical reality, an actual place. It is a world, with buildings, roads, agriculture, animals (living creatures), industry and exploration. God could make cities with a word, like he did with nature. But he doesn’t. With Earth, God created a paradise of natural resources and put humans in it to cultivate and improve it by inventions and technology and mining and experimentation.

God could have made a world with bridges and sky-scrapers, espresso machines, cars, cellphones, and WiFi – but he didn’t. God gets glory from his creatures exercising their own creativity, ingenuity, and diligence. The image of God is manifest in the various ways his diverse creatures produce and cultivate and exercise their creativity. And it appears from Jesus’ words here that some sort of construction is going on in Heaven, too.

14:2 In my Father’s house are many rooms.

The word is monai which could mean mansion, dwelling place, or room. This monai is in the Father’s house. So, in modern language, I would translate this as a suite. And those units are under construction. They are being prepared.

I imagine Jesus as the project manager, not the bricklayer. But when he says he is “preparing a place,” it implies he is somehow involved in the project. If I had one person designing, constructing, and decorating the perfect dwelling place for me, I would want that person to be Jesus, wouldn’t you?

You might have this burning question: How do we get to this perfectly customized suburb in the sky?

3. THE PAROUSIA OF CHRIST

John 14:3 And if (since) I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

This promise refers to what theologians call the parousia of Christ. The word parousia is a Greek term for “coming, arrival, or physical presence.” This word is used 24 times in the New Testament and 17 of those refer to the glorious coming of Christ.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 says that Jesus will come again, physically, to gather his saints to himself.

For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Let that sink in for a moment: Jesus is coming back to earth again… to get you.

He wants you with him in his home.

Jesus has not forgotten us here. There is nothing that can keep him from keeping his promise and coming to get you. He is getting everything just right for us. And he will come back. You can bet your soul on it.

CONCLUSION

Do you have rising anxiety levels from watching the news?

The disciples heard the news during troubling times too, but they also heard the ultimate comfort. Hope in the person of Jesus, in his preparation of heaven for you, and in the certain return of your Savior.

This article about overcoming anxiety during troubled times originally appeared here, and is used by permission.

How to Involve Teens in Children’s Ministry: 7 Need-to-Know Tips

By

Missy McKinnon

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September 26, 2022

Are you wondering how to involve teens in children’s ministry? When people tell me teenagers shouldn’t be allowed in kids ministry, my heart breaks. Let me tell you why.

My parents have been in ministry my entire life. They also involved me in ministry my whole life.

I was 7 the first time I was in a puppet skit. I was so short, I had to stand up in the bottom part of the stage (instead of kneeling).
At 10 I taught my first preschool class. Granted, the class had only three kids. But I followed the curriculum every week.
I was 16 when I was in charge of my own puppet team one weekend every month. My team consisted of about 10 kids and young teens, and we ministered to about 300 kids.
Almost every summer of my childhood involved traveling and ministering with my parents at VBS and summer camps. So many road trips…

I’m not saying this to brag on myself. Trust me, I have my own problems. I’m saying all this to brag on my parents.

In the Bible, Paul (a teacher) talks to Timothy (a young person, new in ministry). In 1 Timothy 4:12 he says: “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young. But set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”

I’m going to turn the verse around a little. I want to use it to challenge you, the children’s ministry leader, to not look down on youth in your church. Instead, you can learn more about how to involve teens in children’s ministry. For example, you can:

Help teens set an example.
Teach them how to be an example.
Give kids a place to shine.

How to Involve Teens in Children’s Ministry: 7 Pointers

1. Give them a job.

Don’t just have teens sit in the back of the room. Give them something to do. Church was never boring to me because I had a job. I did puppets, taught classes, led a small group, and ran a summer day camp. It was new and challenging.

Here’s an infographic on jobs that kids and youth can do. And the list of how to involve teens in children’s ministry is really endless!

2. Trust them.

Give kids a job and let them do it! Don’t micro-manage. And if kids mess up, use it as a learning tool.

The first time I ran my own puppet team, I was 16. I was tired of the same old songs we always used. At the time, the band Hawk Nelson had just come out, and they had a song called “Bring ‘Em Out.” It was fun, so I chose to use it in a puppet skit.

After church, my dad calmly sat me down. He asked bluntly, “What did that song have to do with Jesus or the lesson?” I replied, “Nothing.” He then told me the songs should be about the lesson or some spiritual truth. He didn’t squash my spirit; he just provided direction for my creativity.

Over 5,000 Join Sean Feucht, Eric Metaxas in Times Square: ‘There’s a Church That’s Rising Up That’s Refusing To Back Down’

By

Jesse T. Jackson

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September 26, 2022

Over 5,000 Join Sean Feucht, Eric Metaxas in Times Square: ‘There’s a Church That’s Rising Up That’s Refusing to Back Down' — Sean Feucht during the "Let Us Worship" event in Times Square on September 25, 2022. Courtesy of Sean Feucht.

Sean Feucht’s “Let Us Worship” tour stopped in New York City’s Times Square on Sunday night (Sept. 25) in an event that Feucht said “was hijacked with praise, joy and salvation…If it can happen there, it can happen anywhere!”

There was no stage, big light show, or video production, just Feucht’s band filling Times Square along with 5,000 other voices, the majority of which were New York City residents, singing praises to God in one of the busiest parts of the nation.

Feucht told ChurchLeaders that the NYPD said “they’ve never seen anything like” the faith-based Christian event they witnessed last night.

“When people say the church is dead here, don’t listen to them,” Feucht said. “God is moving, people are rising up. There is a bold church in the midst of, you know, the COVID pandemic and the lockdowns and the tyrannical government orders from the governor and mayor here. There’s a church that’s rising up that’s refusing to back down and we experienced that last night and it was very, very, very powerful.”

Videos of the event posted throughout social media show that thousands of people from all races and different denominations came together to worship God. Clips show people speaking in tongues, surrendering to God, praying over people, waving flags that read “Jesus,” dancing, and screaming the name of Jesus in the streets of New York.

Christian conservative radio host and best-selling author Eric Metaxas joined Feucht Sunday night. In response to Feucht’s Twitter message, “Revival just hit Times Square. No one wants to leave,” Metaxas said, “And keep in mind, we were there praising Jesus loudly not merely in Times Square last night, but at the very moment—sundown—when the Jewish New Year was beginning. Aslan is on the move!”

“Today when we worship we are doing spiritual warfare,” Metaxas told the crowd. “We’re not just singing songs. The enemy wants this city. The enemy wants to rob you and your children of salvation. Jesus wants you to stand firm and induce spiritual warfare. When we worship, I want you to know you are doing spiritual warfare—you are calling Jesus into this place and he is going to come and we are going to see his hand do things in this city.”

Albert Pujols Makes History With 700th Home Run, but Says His ‘Life’s Goal Is To Bring Glory to Jesus’

By

Jessica Mouser

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September 26, 2022

Major League Baseball (MLB) player Albert Pujols made history Friday, Sept. 23, when he hit his 700th home run on behalf of the St. Louis Cardinals during a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Pujols, who is not shy about sharing his Christian faith, expressed gratitude to God for his achievement.

“What a special night,” said Pujols. “To have my family in town and to do it at Dodger Stadium. I said it earlier, my joy, pretty much, of this game came back last year [while playing for the Dodgers] and being in the postseason. It’s pretty special with the Dodgers fans here, and I get both sides of this. [The Dodgers] get to enjoy this and I get to do it with a Cardinals uniform, which makes it even more special. I’m just thanking God.”

Mr. 700, #AlbertPujols! pic.twitter.com/ccQ4DQcXV0

— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) September 24, 2022

Albert Pujols: Baseball Is Not My ‘Chief Ambition’

Albert Pujols, 42, is back with the team who drafted him and playing in what he has said is the final season of his career. He joins Babe Ruth, Barry Bonds, and Hank Aaron as the only players in the history of the MLB to hit 700 home runs. Pujols and Aaron are also the only players to achieve 3,000 hits during their careers.

The St. Louis Cardinals drafted Albert Pujols in 2001, and he played for the Cardinals through 2011, winning two World Series with the team during that time. Pujols played for the Los Angeles Angels from 2012 to 2021 and for the Dodgers in 2021. When he got the opportunity to return to the Cardinals in 2022, Pujols did not hesitate.

Former teammate Skip Schumaker expressed his amazement at the hitter’s 2022 home run streak in an appearance on the Sports Spectrum Podcast prior to Pujols’ record-setting No. 700. Schumaker, now a bench coach for the Cardinals, said, “It doesn’t make any sense to me of how he’s doing this. I am the same age as him. I feel terrible. And he’s hitting home runs in the major leagues against young kids that nowadays are throwing every pitch 95 to 100 [mph]. And he’s catching up to it like it’s no big deal. And he’s the best hitter in the major leagues against left-handed pitching.” The Cardinals ended up beating the Dodgers Friday 11-0.

Yet Pujols says his remarkable achievements pale in importance to his Christian faith. “Believe it or not, baseball is not the chief ambition of my life,” he writes on the website for the Pujols Family Foundation. “Becoming a great baseball player is important to me, but it is not my primary focus. Because I know the Hall of Fame is not my ultimate final destination.”

Eagles’ Jalen Hurts, ‘You Have To Put [God] at the Center of Everything That You Do’

By

Jesse T. Jackson

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September 26, 2022

During an interview with CBS’ Cody Benjamin earlier this month, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts shared that he keeps God the center of his life after realizing that “God is everything.”

The 2020 second round pick is in his third year as the Eagles starting quarterback and has his team off to a 3-0 start after beating Carson Wentz and the Washington Commanders 24–8 the third week of the 2022 season.

“I’ve just matured and realized that God is everything and he’s worthy of praise,” Hurts said as he discussed his faith. “You have to put [God] at the center of everything that you do. That’s what I believe.”

Jalen Hurts Says Family Taught Him About God

Jalen Hurts credits his family for his strong faith due them teaching him about God. “All my spiritual wisdom, all of my wisdom as a whole, comes from him, in some way, shape or form, whether that be passed down from my father, my mother, my grandmother,” Hurts said. “I just think, in all the things that we experience in life — good, bad or indifferent — you have to keep him in the center.

The young, electrifying quarterback explained that God is at the center of all he does and deserves all the praise for the man he is today. Hurts shared in the interview that someone asked him if by being an African American NFL quarterback in Philadelphia he feels like he has to “open up or be a certain way.”

T.D. Jakes’ Daughter, Pastor Sarah Jakes Roberts, Anointed To Succeed Her Father

By

Stephanie Martin

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September 26, 2022

Sarah Jakes Roberts — Screengrab via YouTube @T.D. Jakes

At the final Woman, Thou Art Loosed! conference, which concluded on Sept. 24 in Atlanta, Bishop T.D. Jakes handed the reins of his successful women’s-empowerment ministry to his daughter, Pastor Sarah Jakes Roberts.

The 65-year-old Jakes called his daughter to the stage, saying she was “walking into her destiny.” He emphasized that he was anointing her not through DNA, birth order, favoritism, or nepotism. “If I did not know that the hand of the Lord was upon you, I would never do this,” he said.

As Jakes poured oil on his daughter’s head, he prayed that God would bless her with strength and power. She then collapsed and remained on the stage as her father told all the attendees he was declaring “a new season in your life.”

Sarah Jakes Roberts Continues Father’s Legacy

Through her Woman Evolve ministry and a book of the same title, Sarah Jakes Roberts encourages women to “break up” with their fears and “revolutionize your life.” She also co-pastors two branches of The Potter’s House church—one in Los Angeles and one in Denver—with her husband, Touré Roberts.

On social media, her proud father writes: “I have watched you grow from my baby girl into a leader, changemaker, and influencer with a reach far beyond generations of women. You’ve touched the lives of so many, and as your earthly father, I’ve never been prouder! It is my distinct honor to pass the torch to you. You’ve earned it and will excel wherever God takes you for women’s empowerment!” Jakes vows to “always be there to put my coat over you for as long as I live, and gladly so. For as I decrease, I will watch God increase you!”

In her 2014 book “Lost and Found,” Jakes Roberts describes overcoming struggles including a pregnancy at age 13, a marriage at 19 that ended in divorce, low self-esteem, and more. By dealing with guilt and shame, she was able to transform from insecure and fearful to a “powerhouse” who helps other women “evolve into the best version of themselves.”

Bishop T.D. Jakes: ‘I Must Decrease’

After 30 years of conferences and 45 years of preaching, Jakes said to his daughter, “The time has come that I must decrease, and you must increase.” He describes the leadership transition as a beginning, not an ending, and he refutes the notion that it’s “weak” for a man to empower a woman.

4 Worship Leader Tips to Improve Your Worship Leading

1. Develop your music skills for worship leading.

2. Develop your worship skills for worship leading.

3. Develop your leadership skills for worship leading.

4. Develop your relationship with God for worship leading.

I personally would rather have chaos with no policies than a bunch of really bad policies.

4 Reasons to HATE Bad Policies:

1. Bad policies eliminate a sense of freedom.

2. Bad policies limit ability to think outside the box.

3. Bad policies stall attempts at excellence.

4. Bad policies curtail the pursuit of progress.

4 ways to improve bad policies:

1. Handle individual problems individually.

2. Treat individual people individually.

4. Lead more than you manage.

Purposely allow for mistakes in your culture.

My bottom line on policies:

Cam Newton, B. Simone and Megan Brooks Discuss Relationships

Joshua Broome on Spiritual Refinement

Don’t Make Ministry an Idol, Warns Joshua Broome

6 types of people attending church

1. Godly – Mature.

2. Godly – Developing disciples.

3. Undiscipled

4. Functional atheist

Symptoms of a Sick Church

1. Declining worship attendance.

2. Decline in frequency of attendance of church members.

3. Lack of joy and vibrancy in the worship service.

4. Little evangelistic fruit.

3 Realities of for Peace in Troubled Times

1. THE PERSON OF CHRIST

2. THE PREPARATIONS OF CHRIST

3. THE PAROUSIA OF CHRIST

CONCLUSION

How to Involve Teens in Children’s Ministry: 7 Pointers

1. Give them a job.

2. Trust them.

Albert Pujols: Baseball Is Not My ‘Chief Ambition’

Jalen Hurts Says Family Taught Him About God

Sarah Jakes Roberts Continues Father’s Legacy

Bishop T.D. Jakes: ‘I Must Decrease’

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