Home Blog Page 491

Modern Scripture Meditation on the Good Samaritan

scripture meditation
Adobestock #488040277

Here’s a modern scripture meditation on Jesus’s Good Samaritan parable. Scripture meditation is one way to explore the impact of Bible passages. We should never confuse our musings and scripture meditation as having the authority of the Bible–far from it! But scripture meditation, when used humbly, can be a valuable tool in applying the Bible to our everyday lives.

Modern Scripture Meditation on the Good Samaritan

1). Once there was a Good Samaritan traveling a country road who came across a man beaten and bruised. Using his cell phone the Samaritan immediately made an on-line donation to the Red Cross in honor of the man in the ditch.

Later, the Samaritan thought better of his actions, and immediately called Marriott to send a shuttle to the man in the ditch and set him up in a comfortable suite for three days, and to charge it to his Capital One card, so he could get airline miles in addition to his Marriott Reward points.

2). Once there was a Good Samaritan traveling a country road who came across a man beaten and bruised. Using Siri on his iPhone, the Samaritan immediately made a note to himself to develop a Samaritan App that would enable people to send help right away with one touch on their phone. The Samaritan App will ask permission to use your location.

3). Once there was a Good Samaritan traveling a country road who came across a man beaten and bruised. Later that day the Samaritan blogged about the importance of noticing people on the side of the road. Especially women and minorities. Then he tweeted a link to his blog. Later, the Samaritan kicked himself because he realized he should have shot some video of the man in the ditch. Video always enhances a blog post and those kinds of video are likely to go viral.

4). Once there was a Good Samaritan traveling a country road who came across a man beaten and bruised. The Samaritan stopped his car and ran to the man. He picked the man up and carried him to the car, which spoiled the interior of the car with bloodstains, as well as the Samaritan’s clothing. At the Emergency Room the Samaritan stayed with the man through the initial treatment. He offered to call his family and stay with the man until they came to his side. It turned out the man’s family couldn’t book a flight until the next day, so the Samaritan ended up at the man’s bedside for another 24 hours, during which time the police came and questioned the Samaritan about the incident—they told him he would have to testify at a trial if the thieves were ever captured.

The Samaritan lost two days of work and a thousand dollars of resale value on his car. His favorite suit was ruined. The Samaritan became frustrated because of the inconvenience, but he quickly saw how small-minded this was. He repented from his own personal lack of patience and realized more deeply than ever that loving his neighbor was costly.

When the man’s family arrived, the Samaritan learned the man was in reality the son of a Great King. The Great King bowed low to the Samaritan in gratitude and honored the Samaritan, declaring that because the Samaritan had stopped to care for the King’s son, the King would forever more watch over the Samaritan and his family.

 

This scripture meditation on the Good Samaritan originally appeared here, and is used by permission.

Successful Children’s Ministry: 18 Tips Every Leader Needs to Know

successful children's ministry
Adobestock #436772113

A successful children’s ministry can seem like a daunting operation, especially when you’re in charge. But after nearly 30 years leading children’s and family ministries, I believe it can be both daunting and rewarding!

When I started in kidmin, I was clueless. Seriously…clueless. And as I’ve worked with church leaders throughout the country and world, I’ve found many others are just as clueless. Many people who step into children’s ministry literally have no idea what they’re getting into.

So here are tips about successful children’s ministry I’ve learned along the way. Everyone needs to know these insights before becoming a children’s ministry leader!

18 Tips for a Successful Children’s Ministry

1. Leading in children’s ministry is not primarily about the kids.

2. Everyone would assume I knew how to change a diaper. I didn’t!

3. Children are the most responsive group to the Gospel. They’re also the most receptive to discipleship.

4. The standard answer in children’s church is “Jesus,” “God” or “the Bible.”

5. Jesus gave a promise and a warning about serving kids. (Look it up: Mark 10:42.) He didn’t do this for any other group.

6. One parents is always—always—assigned to be an hour or more late to pick up their kid from special events.

7. Church children’s ministry is tough.

8. Fruit-punch puke really stains carpeting in the fellowship hall. Do not let that happen or the maintenance crew will not be happy.

9. Senior church leadership can be key to successful children’s programming.

10. Your church’s impact in children’s ministry begins in the nursery.

11. People can be very creative in saying “no” to serving.

Self-Differentiated Leadership Revolutionizes Thoughts & Actions

self-differentiated leadership
Adobestock #514924326

Self-differentiated leadership is an important topic for me. I spent years in leadership in various ministry positions. And I continue taking on leadership roles within my newer vocation of marriage and family therapy. But self-differentiated leadership has become even more important lately. That’s because I know I haven’t always led well.

Unfortunately, I probably made the same mistake as many other leaders. I “imbibed on data and technique” rather than working on the central task that makes someone a great leader.

What is the central task leaders need to work on? Themselves! By resolving their personal and emotional issues, individuals lead out of a more effective and differentiated place than leaders who do not.

I’ve written on the importance of self-differentiation several times. For example, I addressed the difference between authenticity and differentiation. The role of family of origin work in pastoral leadership. And that leaders are only as successful as their levels of differentiation.

I also wrote an article for Catalyst on Anxiety and Church Leadership.

Expert Advice for Self-Differentiated Leadership

Edwin Friedman’s work on differentiated leadership and his focus on the emotional process of leaders (especially how they regulate anxiety) sets him apart from other theorists. It also sets him above most leadership ideas. That’s because he gets to the heart of leadership, which ultimately emanates from the leader. Simply put, the self-differentiated leader is able to lead more effectively.

Friedman says this about how differentiation compares to collecting data and gathering more technique:

It was at this point that I began to realize that before any technique or data could be effective, leaders had to be willing to face their own selves. Otherwise the effect of technique was like trying to build up energy in a spring where the initial twists store up more potential and then suddenly, with one twist too many, the entire spring unwinds. If this sounds similar to the recover problems of alcoholics, there may be more to the association than we would care to admit….the chronic anxiety in American society has made the imbibing of data and technique addictive precisely because it enables leaders not to have to face their selves. (pp. 21)

I highly recommend reading Friedman’s works. The materials are a must for all leaders. Check out A Failure of Nerve: Leadership in the Age of the Quick Fix. Also read Generation to Generation: Family Process in Church and Synagogue. Both books will revolutionize how you think about leadership.

For now, take a look at this video. It sums up in a straightforward way some of Friedman’s views on self-differentiated leadership.

‘Star Trek’ Star Nichelle Nichols Trusted Jesus After Listening to Martin Luther King Jr., Says Evangelist

nichelle nichols
Nichelle Nichols speaking at the 2013 Phoenix Comicon at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Nichelle Nichols, known for playing Lieutenant Uhura on “Star Trek” passed away from heart failure Saturday, July 30, at age 89 in Silver City, New Mexico. Dylan Novak, who has a ministry evangelizing to celebrities, says that Nichols died knowing Jesus as her savior.

“I’m saddened by the news of Nichelle Nichols passing away, but I am thankful to know where she put her faith and trust,” said Novak in a Facebook post on Sunday.

Nichelle Nichols: Her Legacy and Testimony

Nichelle Nichols was a trailblazer as one of the first Black women to play a leading role on television. When considering leaving “Star Trek” at one point to do theater, Nichols was convinced to stay by none other than Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. King told Nichols that he and his family were her greatest fans and that “Star Trek” was the only show that he and his wife allowed their children to stay up and watch. When Nichols told King she was considering leaving “Star Trek,” he urged her to stay, saying that in her role she was elevating the dignity of Black Americans. 

Nichols stayed and had another significant moment when she and William Shatner, who played Captain Kirk, participated in what is considered to be the first interracial kiss on television. Nichols went on to take other acting roles and later recruited women and minorities for NASA.

But what were her religious beliefs? Dylan Novak is a preacher who works full-time sharing the gospel with celebrities through his ministry, Celebrity Evangelist. “Sharing the Gospel with Hollywood is a forgotten mission field, and a much needed one,” says Novak on his website. “Since this ministry began, God has opened the door for me to share the Gospel with over 700 celebrities, and several life changing decisions have been made!”

Novak told ChurchLeaders that he had met Nichols at the Fanboy Expo in Knoxville, Tennessee, and that he had given her the “typical gift” he gives when he meets celebrities. The gift included a Bible, gospel tracts from Lifeway, a book called “GASP!” written by his friend Tony Nolan, and a letter explaining the gospel

Novak had researched Nichols’ beliefs ahead of time and knew she had a Presbyterian background, but wasn’t sure where she was spiritually. When he gave her the gift, he told her that he was a follower of Jesus and had come to meet her because “I love and care about your soul.”

Nichols first pulled out the Bible and expressed gratitude because she had been looking for a Bible that was travel-sized. When Novak explained why he had come with the gift, Nichols got emotional and said Novak was the first fan she remembered caring about her eternal destiny. 

Novak said she told him, “No fan has ever cared about my eternal life before,” and said that “she went on to share her testimony of coming to know Jesus as her personal Lord and Savior.”

It turns out that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had a significant influence on Nichols’ religious beliefs as well as on her career. Novak said Nichols told him that she had been a huge fan of King and had heard him speak many times. At one of those speeches, King presented the gospel and that, said Novak, is when Nichols “accepted Jesus as her personal Lord and savior.”

‘Journey to Hell’ Is a Faith-Based Movie That Aims To Change Hearts and Lives

journey to hell
Screenshot from YouTube / @Tim Chey Films

When it hits theaters this Friday (August 5), “Journey to Hell” will sound a clear and frightening warning to anyone who doesn’t believe in Jesus Christ. The faith-based movie, delayed several times by the pandemic, offers a glimpse into what awaits non-believers in the fiery underworld.

Director Timothy Chey says the movie has a two-part goal: to help people “understand how real hell is” and to have “many people coming to Jesus.”

‘Journey to Hell’ Is Based on a John Bunyan Allegory

John Bunyan, author of the classic 17th-century allegory “The Pilgrim’s Progress,” provides the inspiration for “Journey to Hell.” In the film, a man named Shane Badman (who thinks he’s a Christian) dreams about hell during a near-drowning. The terrifying experience makes him realize he had been a Christian in name only. When Badman recovers, he dedicates his life to Jesus.

In interviews about the movie, Chey says he “changed the ending to make it completely uplifting” because “no one would go [see the movie] if it’s just about a man being in hell.”

The trailer for “Journey to Hell” shows Badman wandering a flame-covered landscape, encountering notorious figures such as Judas Iscariot, Nero, and Adolf Hitler. Viewers see glimpses of a prosperity preacher, someone saying no “magic prayer” guarantees salvation, someone claiming hell is an “old-school fundamentalist belief,” and someone quoting this Old Testament warning: “Remember him—before the silver cord is severed” (Ecclesiastes 12:6).

Badman (played by John Terrell) eventually acknowledges he is “just a filthy sinner” who needs Jesus Christ. When he regains consciousness, he thanks God for sending his Son. He also admits he deserves hell but promises to start praising and living for Jesus.

Can You Scare People to Faith?

Promotional materials for the movie note that only about half of Americans believe in a literal hell. Chey says “Journey to Hell” will alert lukewarm Christians to change their ways. Then on Judgment Day they won’t hear Jesus say, “I never knew you; depart from Me” (Matthew 7:22-23).

The director notes that in the Bible, Jesus speaks about hell more than heaven. And the film’s trailer features Charles Spurgeon’s warning that “Hell is filled with almost-saved people.”

Chey says he thinks we’re living in the last days, and he describes himself as “a firm believer” in the Rapture. “Only the Rapture will rescue [God’s] church before the seven years of tribulation that will come on the entire earth,” he says.

Lifeway Research: Pastors Have Experience With Mental Illness

mental illness
Photo by Gadiel Lazcano (via Unsplash)

Most pastors have seen mental illness in their pews, while some have seen it in themselves. A Lifeway Research study explores U.S. Protestant pastors’ experiences with mental illness and how well their churches are equipped to respond to those who need help.

A majority of pastors (54%) say in the churches where they have served on staff, they have known at least one church member who has been diagnosed with a severe mental illness such as clinical depression, bipolar or schizophrenia. Most of those pastors had experience with a small number of members: 18% say 1-2 and another 18% say 3-5. Fewer pastors say they’ve known 6-10 (8%), 11-20 (5%) or more than 20 (6%). Around a third (34%) say none of their church members have been diagnosed with a severe mental illness, while 12% don’t know.

“There is a healthy generational shift occurring as younger and middle-aged pastors are much more likely to have encountered people in church with severe mental health issues than the oldest pastors,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. “However, it is not clear whether the presence of those with difficult mental illnesses is increasing among church members or if they have simply felt more comfortable sharing their diagnosis with younger pastors.”

Pastors 65 and older (46%) and those with no college degree (52%) are more likely to say they haven’t known any church members with a severe mental illness.

Twenty-six percent of U.S. Protestant pastors say they have personally struggled with some type of mental illness, including 17% who say it was diagnosed and 9% who say they experienced it but were never diagnosed. Three-quarters (74%) say they’ve never dealt with a mental illness.

Compared to a 2014 Lifeway Research study, a similar number of pastors today say they have endured mental illness themselves (26% v. 23%). More pastors now, however, say they have been diagnosed (17% v. 12%).

“During the COVID-19 pandemic many Americans have faced challenges to their mental health,” said McConnell. “More pastors today are seeking professional help as evidenced by more having been diagnosed with mental illness. Younger pastors are the most likely to say they have endured mental illness.”

Pastors under 45 (37%) are most likely to say they have struggled with some form of mental illness.

Church Help

Churchgoers may not hear about mental illness frequently from the pulpit, but most churches will hear about the subject at least once a year from their pastor.

Six in 10 U.S. Protestant pastors say they speak to their churches about acute or chronic mental illness in sermons or large group messages at least once a year, including 17% who bring up the subject about once a year. For more than 2 in 5 pastors, the issue comes up multiple times a year, with 30% saying they talk about it several times a year, 9% saying about once a month and 4% saying several times a month.

Other pastors cover the topic much less frequently, with 26% saying they rarely bring it up and 11% saying they never talk about it. Another 3% aren’t sure.

Pastors are more likely to broach the subject in a large group setting today than 2014, when 49% said they rarely or never spoke about it. Eight years ago, 33% mentioned the issue several times a year or more compared to 43% today.

Dayton-Area Pastor Struck and Killed by Vehicle Mourned by Community

joel burton
Screengrab via Facebook

Members of the community in the Dayton, Ohio, area have been mourning the loss of pastor Joel Burton, who died after being struck by a vehicle while crossing a road in Fort Walton, Florida, over the weekend. 

Burton, 42, was the founder of Simple Street, an evangelistic organization in the township of Harrison. He was also an associate pastor at Hopeland Church in nearby Vandalia. 

Burton had been in Florida with friend and fellow Dayton resident Zebulon Dill, 32, who was also struck by the vehicle as the two sought to cross the street near their hotel. Burton was pronounced dead at the scene, and Dill suffered a broken leg and cuts down his leg, according to WHIO

RELATED: Uber Driver Charged With Murder of Beloved Houston Pastor After Road Rage Shooting

“It should not have happened,” Dill said. “It was like a flash of lightning. I just remember how fast he was coming.” Dill nevertheless said of the driver, “I forgive the man who did this. I hope I get to meet him so that I can show him who Jesus is. I forgive him and do not hold it against him.”

Colt Shelton, 20, of Fort Walton Beach was identified as the driver of the car, according to police. He was not injured in the crash. No arrests have been made and the crash remains under investigation.

Earlier in July, the facility of Simple Street had been broken into and vandalized twice in one week. 

“We will not be stopped and will not be swayed, we have a mission to save souls and that is what is going to happen. Things can be replaced,” Burton said at the time. “It’s hard to understand now but we can’t be swayed; keep our heads up and keep rolling; we already hold the victory; the devil is just mad.”

In the Dayton-area, friends and coworkers are remembering Burton for his leadership in the community and the impact he had on their lives. 

“I’m going to miss him, miss Joel,” Hopeland Church Pastor Chris Allen told WDTN. “He was a good person and a great friend.”

RELATED: Brooklyn Pastor Robbed of $1 Million in Jewelry Accused of Plundering Congregant’s $90,000 Retirement Fund

“He cared for what was happening for people with addictions, people who were being written off as unimportant or on the margins of life, he was right there and told them they were important, they mattered and wanted to be there with them,” Allen went on to say.

Al Mohler Clarifies ‘Pastor’ Title in Baptist Faith and Message

pastor
(L) Saddleback Church ordaining women pastors screengrab via Facebook @Saddleback Church (R) Albert Mohler photo by Jesse Jackson

On Friday (July 29), Southern Baptist Theological Seminary president Albert Mohler released a statement explaining what he and two others meant when they were tasked with defining the title of pastor in the Baptist Faith & Message, the statement of faith for the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), adopted in 2000.

The question of whether a woman can carry the title of pastor at an SBC church became a hot topic after Saddleback Church, pastored by Rick Warren, ordained three women as pastors in May 2021.

During the SBC’s annual meeting a month later, messengers called for an inquiry into whether or not Saddleback Church should be disfellowshipped from the SBC, which resulted in some contentious discussion at the 2022 annual meeting.

As of today, Saddleback Church is still affiliated with the SBC.

“I served on the committee that brought the Baptist Faith & Message 2000 that was overwhelmingly adopted by this Convention,” Mohler said to the Convention during this year’s annual meeting. “My concern as a churchman, a theologian, and someone who loves this Convention—as I know everyone in this room does—if we eventually have to form a study committee over every word in our confession of faith, then we’re doomed.”

RELATED: Saddleback’s Status as an SBC Church in Doubt As Mohler, Ascol, Others Push For Disfellowship on the Convention Floor

Mohler explained how the word “pastor” was defined and why they used the term in 2000, telling those at the meeting, “We say what we believe in specific words that are in the Baptist Faith & Message (BF&M). The moment we start to, of necessity, have study committees decide what the words mean—the words mean what Southern Baptist said in the year 2000. At that time, the word ‘pastor’ was used by the committee and adopted by the Convention, because we were told, that is the most easily understood word among Southern Baptists for pastoral teaching leadership.”

Mohler’s remarks came in response to the recommendation set forth by the committee tasked with investigating Saddleback Church, called the Credential Committee. The Credential Committee recommended that Saddleback not be disfellowshipped “until clarity is provided regarding the use of the title ‘pastor’ for staff positions with different responsibility and authority than that of the lead pastor.”

Over a month removed from June’s annual meeting, the debate regarding whether a female can carry the title of pastor in the SBC is ongoing.

RELATED: Saddleback Church, One of the Largest in the SBC, Ordains Its First Female Pastors

In his statement, which was signed by fellow Baptist Faith & Message Study task force members Charles S. Kelley, Jr. and Richard D. Land, Sr., Mohler explained that the group was appointed by committee chairman Dr. Adrian Rogers to provide commentary and a study guide on the BF&M in 2000.

Not everyone in the SBC agrees on the meaning of “pastor” in “Article VI: The Church,” which reads: “Its scriptural officers are pastors and deacons. While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.”

“As background,” Mohler explained, “it is important to know that the committee sought to identify the one word about the pastoral role that Southern Baptists would best understand. As Dr. Rogers stated and the committee concurred, the one word that virtually all Southern Baptists understand is the word ‘pastor.’”

Kansas First State To Vote on Abortion Since Roe’s Demise

ban abortion
In this photo from Friday, July 8, 2022, a sign in a yard in Olathe, Kansas, promotes a proposed amendment to the Kansas Constitution to allow legislators to further restrict or ban abortion. Supporters call the measure "Value Them Both," arguing that it protects both unborn children and the women carrying them. (AP Photo/John Hanna)

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas on Tuesday was holding the nation’s first test of voter feelings about the recent Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade, with people throughout the state deciding whether to allow their conservative Legislature to further restrict or ban abortion.

The referendum on the proposed anti-abortion amendment to the Kansas Constitution is being closely watched as a barometer of liberal and moderate voters’ anger over the June ruling overturning the nationwide right to abortion. But the outcome might not reflect broader sentiments about the issue in the country as a whole, given how conservative Kansas is and how twice as many Republicans as Democrats have voted in its August primaries over the past decade.

Supporters of the measure wouldn’t say before the vote whether they intend to pursue a ban if it passes, but they’ve spent decades pushing for new restrictions on a nearly annual basis and many other states in the Midwest and South have banned abortion in recent weeks. By not stating their position, they were seeking to win over voters who favored some restrictions but not an outright ban.

Abortion rights advocates expect the Legislature to ban abortion if the ballot measure passes, and the state saw a surge in early voting with an electorate more Democratic than usual.

“At what level does the insanity stop?” said Eric Sheffler, a 60-year-old retired Army officer and Democrat who cast a “no” vote early in the Kansas City suburbs. “What will they try to control next?”

Polls opened Tuesday across Kansas and election officials anticipated the abortion measure will draw more voters. Polls were busy Tuesday morning, with lines reported at some locations. Typically, primary elections in Kansas are limited to the two major parties, but unaffiliated voters can cast a vote in this election for the constitutional amendment. Advance in-person voting and mail ballots were up in the large counties of Sedgwick, Johnson and Wyandotte counties compared to the 2018 primary election.

An anonymous group has sent a misleading text to Kansas voters telling them to “vote yes” in order to protect choice. The Kansas City Star reported the text message went to voters across the state, including former Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. Kansans for Constitutional Freedom, the main “vote no” campaign, called the text an example of “desperate and deceitful tactics.”

The Kansas measure would add language to the state constitution saying that it doesn’t grant a right to abortion, which would allow lawmakers to regulate it as they see fit. Kentucky will vote in November on adding similar language to its constitution.

Meanwhile, Vermont will decide in November whether to add an abortion rights provision to its constitution. A similar question is likely headed to the November ballot in Michigan.

The Kansas measure is a response to a state Supreme Court decision in 2019 declaring that access to abortion is a matter of bodily autonomy and a “fundamental” right under the state’s Bill of Rights.

Family Asks UK’s Top Court to Intervene in Life Support Case

life support
The mother of Archie Battersbee, Hollie Dance, centre, speaks to the media outside the Royal Courts of Justice, London, on July 25, 2022. A British court is holding an emergency hearing on Monday, Aug. 1, 2022, to determine whether a hospital can end life-support treatment for a 12-year-old boy who has suffered catastrophic brain damage.The parents of Archie Battersbee are fighting the decision but have lost a series of court challenges. (Dominic Lipinski/PA via AP)

LONDON (AP) — Britain’s Supreme Court says it has received an appeal from the family of a brain-damaged 12-year-old boy whose life support treatment had been due to end on Tuesday.

The parents of Archie Battersbee want Supreme Court justices to block a lower court’s ruling that the Royal London Hospital can turn off the boy’s ventilator and stop other interventions that are keeping him alive.

The Supreme Court said it would consider whether to hear the full appeal. It said it was “aware of the urgency of this matter.” Archie’s treatment had been due to end at noon on Tuesday, but the hospital is expected to await the decision of the Supreme Court.

Archie was found unconscious at home with a ligature over his head on April 7. His parents believe he may have been taking part in an online challenge that went wrong.

Doctors believe Archie is brain-stem dead and say continued life-support treatment is not in his best interests. Several British courts have agreed.

The family has appealed to the U.N. Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and wants the withdrawal of treatment put on hold while the committee examines the case.

“We do not understand what the rush is and why all of our wishes are being denied,” said Archie’s mother, Hollie Dance.

The case is the latest in the U.K. that has pitted the judgment of doctors against the wishes of families. In several cases, including this one, the families have been backed by a religious pressure group, Christian Concern.

Under British law, it is common for courts to intervene when parents and doctors disagree on the treatment of a child. In such cases, the rights of the child take primacy over the parents’ right to decide what’s best for their offspring.

This article originally appeared here

Small, Rural Church Embraces SBC Sex Abuse Prevention Journey

sexual abuse rural
Liz Evan (L) and Scarlett Nokes (R) speak at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Orlinda, Tenn., on July 31. Evan served on the Sexual Abuse Task Force and Nokes is an attorney for Bradley legal. (Facebook photo)

ORLINDA, Tenn. (BP) — Bivocational Pastor Mark Carroll is the only paid staff member at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, a congregation of about 50 worshipers in the farming community of Orlinda, Tenn., where less than 1,000 people live.

But the church is embracing its cooperation with the Southern Baptist Convention in creating ministry spaces safe and free from sexual abuse, bivocational Pastor Mark Carroll told Baptist Press.

Pleasant Hill invited longtime Southern Baptist laypersons Scarlett Nokes and Liz Evan to the July 31 worship service to update the church on the work the SBC has begun in fighting sexual abuse, receiving and responding to abuse accusations and ministering to victims.

While Nokes is an attorney with Bradley Legal, serving as interim legal counsel for the SBC Executive Committee, and Evan served on the SBC Sexual Abuse Task Force (SATF) that commissioned a lengthy investigation of the EC’s handling of sexual abuse complaints, neither spoke in those capacities, Carroll said.

“I asked those two ladies if they could come and share, not as a lawyer and a member of the task force, but just personally what they have experienced, what they’ve been through working on the task force and working with the Executive Committee, and then kind of where we’re headed as a convention,” Carroll said. “We wanted to update our folks.”

Carroll is committed to following requests the SATF made in its report of how the EC handled sex abuse allegations from 2000-2021, and is looking forward to the upcoming work to be done by the Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force yet to be named.

“We’re already doing things to protect our kids and our flock, but we’ll be more diligent about it going forward,” Carroll said. “We background check our children’s workers and of course, we’re a single-staff (member) church, but we will use the database (of convicted and credibly accused offenders). Anybody that has any contact with our children or anybody in the church will be looked at. We just need to do our due diligence to protect our flock.”

Nokes is a lifelong Southern Baptist and a member of Temple Baptist Church in White House, and Evan is a member of Hillcrest Baptist Church in Clarksville.

“I was taking off my lawyer hat and talking to them as someone who has read the report, knows a little bit about the issue and is concerned, and as a friend. He was the associate pastor at my home church,” Nokes told Baptist Press. “I was just there as a Southern Baptist who’s read the report and the recommendations, and hopefully could help them understand what’s going on and the changes that are taking place.”

Nokes expressed appreciation for Pleasant Hill’s interest in and commitment to preventing sex abuse among Southern Baptists.

Blalock, Keahbone To Head Abuse Response Implementation Task Force

Abuse Response Implementation Task Force
File Stack and Magnifying Glass

NASHVILLE (BP) – Two Southern Baptist pastors with recent leadership experience in addressing sexual abuse in the SBC will fill similar roles with the Abuse Response Implementation Task Force (ARITF).

Marshall Blalock, pastor of First Baptist Church in Charleston, S.C., will be chair while Mike Keahbone, pastor of First Baptist Church in Lawton, Okla., will serve as vice chair, SBC President Bart Barber announced today.

“Both of these pastors are well-respected by Southern Baptists, by survivors of sexual abuse, by state-convention leadership and by their peers,” said Barber. “I’m delighted at their willingness to serve and optimistic about the solutions that they will lead the Implementation Task Force to propose.”

Barber announced on Twitter Sunday, July 31 that the rest of the names making up the ARITF would be released later this week.

Blalock served last year on the Sexual Abuse Task Force, whose report at the SBC annual meeting was widely accepted by messengers. That experience, he told Baptist Press, greatly impacted how he viewed the subject.

“I think that most, if not all, pastors have a heart to want to help and serve people,” he said. “But if you want to lead and pastor well, it’s important to understand how sexual abuse has affected the people in your church.

“I, along with the other pastors on the Task Force, didn’t realize the depth of the trauma that’s involved with someone who is abused. It’s much more traumatic and life-altering than I ever understood or knew.”

Keahbone is a member of the SBC Executive Committee and served on the 2022 Committee on Resolutions that proposed the resolution “On Lament and Repentance for Sexual Abuse.”

“Through those areas of service, Mike is well acquainted with the work that has gone into refining and revising various proposals for how the SBC should respond to clergy sexual abuse,” said Barber. “He is therefore well-equipped to lead us as we continue that process.”

This article originally appeared on BaptistPress.com.

The Main Reason People Don’t Become Church Members

thank you notes for children’s ministry volunteers

Church membership should not consist of rules to keep people out, but ramps to help people grow. Membership in a local church may seem outdated or unnecessary, but if led well, it adds great strength to your church. We need to be aware that there are definite reasons people don’t become church members.

Candidly, nearly all churches have some form of “membership.”

  • Some formal, calling it church membership.
  • Others informal, using words like belonging, discipleship, culture, team, or community, etc.

Both are referring to the same idea, but with different words, in a different style, and with differing amounts of emphasis.

I’ve served in two churches that are part of The Wesleyan Church, a great denomination. In both churches, I’ve taught all or part of the membership class for many years.

It’s been my practice to remain after the class and field questions from anyone who wants to talk. I’ve listened to thousands of questions over thirty years.

These are among the five most often asked questions from people who don’t become church members.

  1. What if my spouse is not a believer?
  2. What if I’m not sure about being baptized?
  3. What if I don’t have time to serve in a ministry?
  4. What if I can’t give a full tithe?
  5. What if I’m not qualified to be a leader?

These questions are packed with doubt and uncertainty for people who don’t become church members. Those who have asked these questions wonder if they measure up to what they’ve been encouraged to embrace for spiritual growth.

In each case I emphasize a grace-filled path for growth rather than an either-or, you are in or out, kind of membership loaded up with a list of do’s and don’ts, rules and requirements.

Church membership is most effective when you emphasize vision, values, teamwork, and life change. Church growth is essential, but focus on the growth of the person, not the growth of the church.

I’ve wondered at times why questions like the five I mentioned arise in a class taught with so much grace, encouragement, and opportunity. So, I’ve asked those who attend and people who don’t become church members.

The most common response for people who don’t become church members includes two things:

1) Their church background. 
Their previous experience is not always positive. They have often only known a list of do’s and mostly don’ts.

2) Culture is changing – rapidly.
Membership is no longer something desired unless there is perceived value. People want to be part of something they value.

Membership in current culture does work, from frequent flyer miles on Delta to discounts at Costco, and from a free sandwich at Subway to Prime Membership with Amazon where you receive free shipping.

People do join where they perceive value.

This might sound like an approach that builds consumer Christians, that’s not at all what I want to communicate.

In fact, it’s the opposite. Let’s not use the word membership for a minute.

Maybe you communicate; become part of our church family, or find a place to belong within our community, or discover your place on the team.

Use whatever language you would prefer and fits your culture.

The concept of belonging to a body of believers, (whether you call it membership, team, community or family, etc., is about spiritual growth, a call to maturity, and giving yourself away to others.

The foundational leadership principle that makes this work is: You as the leader(s) give first.

Good leaders always give first and invest more. When you model this lifestyle, the people in your congregation discover that you really do want more for them than from them.

10 Secrets of a Powerful 25-Minute Sermon

thank you notes for children’s ministry volunteers

One of the greatest opportunities I’ve had in life was working at Fellowship Church and being a member of the creative team that helped Pastor Ed Young plan creative messages. I remember hearing Ed often say he never preached a 25-minute sermon he didn’t like. I agree.

The reality is, there are few people who can preach longer than 30 minutes without losing their audience. A good philosophy is to leave them wanting more, not wanting to get out!

10 Secrets of a Powerful 25-Minute Sermon

1. Cut Your Introduction.

Don’t spend so much time trying to set things up. Get in and get out by avoiding too much detail and long stories. One secret of a 25-minute sermon is to shoot for a three-minute introduction.

2. Minimize Lists.

Long lists of examples can add length, especially if you comment on each one. Try combining similar points and using these examples in a sentence rather than a list.

3. Stick to the Point.

The best way to preach a 25-minute sermon is to define the main thing you want people to walk away with and stick to this thought. Cut information that is not relevant to this idea. Remember, you can always use it later!

4. Plan the Landing.

Know how you want to land the plane and don’t ramble at the end of your message. Focus on one main challenge or thought, develop a power statement, or (perhaps) refer back to your introduction by stating how the problem can be solved.

The Best Fog Machine for the Money

thank you notes for children’s ministry volunteers

While a fog machine may not be something used on a regular basis for Sunday morning services unless you have a very contemporary worship service, every church can benefit from having one of these machines on hand to use for special events. A great fog machine can really help to set the stage for special plays, youth performances, and more, but they have to be powerful, easy to operate, and won’t malfunction. Choosing the best fog machine for the money for a church to use can be tricky and frustrating, especially when working with a limited budget. No matter how much money you have in your budget, you want to make sure that you choose the best fog machine for your church.

Pastors and purchasing committees need to be careful when shopping for best fog machine for the money so that they can be sure that they choose the right one. Rather than shopping blindly for this equipment and hoping to get the best option, many churches can benefit from investing in the Chauvet Hurricane 1301.

This is a popular fog machine that many churches turn to not only because it is reasonably priced, but also because it boasts a number of great features that make it the perfect choice for both regular and sporadic use.

Considerations for Buying the Best Fog Machine for the Money

It can be tricky to choose the best fog machine for the money if you don’t have any experience with them. To make sure that you choose the best one for your church there are a few things to consider.

  • Output – the output of a fog machine tells how much smoke or fog it will be able to produce in a minute. To ensure the best possible coverage in your church or on your stage, you will want to opt for one with a higher output.
  • Weight – the weight of a fog machine will easily dictate who can move it and how easily it can be moved from one location to another.
  • Tank Capacity – fog machines with larger tanks will be able to hold a lot more liquid in them before they run out and need to be refilled. When a tank is too large, however, then it can add to the overall weight of the machine and make it difficult for some people to lift and carry.
  • Warm-up Time – all fog machines take a little while to warm up before they can start producing fog. This can be frustrating for some people who may want to be able to use their new machine right away without any delay.

Why We Chose The  Hurricane 1301 Over Others

CHAUVET DJ Hurricane 1600 Compact High-Output Fog MachineCHAUVET DJ Hurricane 1600 Compact High-Output Fog Machine

  • Compact, lightweight, high output fog machine with DMX control
  • Variable output control from DMX or the included timer Remote allows for precise effect operation
  • Always ready technology provides fog on demand
  • Advanced fluid sensor, with automatic shut-off protects the pump from overheating
(If you buy from Amazon, we earn a very small commission at no charge to you.)

The Chauvet Hurricane 1301 is one of the safest fog machines on the market today, making it an obvious choice for use by any church who wants to keep their staff, children, congregants, and visitors safe when the machine is in use.

The LED tank is designed to shut off the machine as soon as it runs out of fluid, which prevents it from accidentally overheating. Not only that, but it comes with a fluid sensor that allows users to easily see how much fluid is still in the tank so that topping it off is faster and easier than ever before.

Unlike some compact fog machines, the Chauvet Hurricane 1301 emits incredibly thick bursts of fog that can easily fill a small room or cover a stage without much delay. The manual fog button on the machine is easy to use, but since it ships with a basic remote, it can easily be controlled from a distance, as well.

The remote allows users to set it for timed on and off production, turn it on for continuous production, or set manual production using the interval and duration buttons. This ensures that you always have the perfect fog for any event.

What We Like and Dislike About The Chauvet Hurricane 1301

There are some great features of the Chauvet Hurricane 1301 that make it an obvious choice as the best fog machine for the money for any church. One of the top features of this fog machine is that it comes with a powerful remote so that it can easily be controlled from a distance.

Another benefit of this fog machine is that it has an automatic shut off that will turn off the machine when it runs out of fluid. This prevents it from overheating and being damaged.

Additionally, the Chauvet Hurricane 1301 has a very short heat up time of only five minutes, which means that it can start producing fog right away.

The Chauvet Hurricane 1301 also has a large 3.3-liter tank, which means that users won’t have to worry about refilling it on a regular basis during shows or plays. The empty machine is just under 20 pounds, which means that even when filled it can easily be carried.

One drawback of the Chauvet Hurricane 1301 is that it has a slightly lower output than some models, which means that it can take a longer time to produce enough fog for an event.

Additionally, this fog machine has a long recharge time, which can be frustrating when trying to fill a larger church or venue.

Why We Feel You Should Consider This Fog Machine

While fog machines may not be the most expensive equipment that a church has to budget for and buy, it is still important to make sure to choose the best fog machine for the money and to ensure that it offers the power and control necessary for a great show.

The Chauvet Hurricane 1301 may, at first glance, seem like a basic fog machine, but it is shockingly powerful and able to produce a lot of fog quickly, making it a wonderful addition to any church for plays and special events.

Because it can be controlled from up close, as well as from far away via the remote control, the Chauvet Hurricane 1301 is perfect for any event. Its basic operations are easy to adjust and it always produces thick fog that doesn’t quickly dissipate.

The large tank is easy to see and to fill and because it will automatically shut down the fog machine when there isn’t enough fluid in the tank to operate, there aren’t any safety concerns for even young children to be around the machine. All of the pros of this fog machine outweigh its few cons, making it a great option for any church to invest in.

 

This article on the best fog machine for the money originally appeared here.

Does God Call Leaders? Who Is Qualified?

thank you notes for children’s ministry volunteers

Does God call leaders? What does God’s call to leadership mean? Years ago, a sweet lady in our church handed me a little slip of paper to encourage me on my journey. I unfolded it and it read: God doesn’t call the qualified; he qualifies the called.

Does God Call Leaders?

I’m not sure who said it originally, but I’ve heard and repeated it many times since.

And then, as I was re-reading J. Oswald Sanders’ classic work on Spiritual Leadership, I stumbled across this paragraph…

Often truly authoritative leadership falls on someone who years earlier dedicated themselves to practice the discipline of seeking first the kingdom of God. Then, as that person matures, God confers a leadership role, and the Spirit of God goes to work through him. When God’s searching eye finds a person qualified to lead, God anoints that person with the Holy Spirit and calls him or her to a special ministry.

I think the distinction we sometimes miss is that God welcomes everyone into his family, entirely by grace and on the basis of the blood of his Son, Jesus, without respect to any qualification in us. We’re all welcome—every last broken one of us.

But when it comes to leadership, God will call leaders, and bestow influence and authority on those who have proven to be faithful stewards of smaller responsibilities.

In other words, leaders must be prepared.

But what does that mean? What kind of preparation is pre-requisite to being used mightily by God? How does God call leaders?

It’s a matter of having a heart fully surrendered to God.

Notice what Sanders points to as the sign of a person ready for God’s full anointing as a leader—“someone who years earlier dedicated themselves to practice the discipline of seeking first the kingdom of God.”

God will call leaders, raise them up and bless and anoint them for great impact on the world those who have sought the Kingdom of God first and foremost in their lives.

I’ve been guilty, at times, of building my own little kingdom. Without realizing it, a few steps in the wrong direction spiritually places us at the center of our own universe. There, our objective becomes building a life all about our comfort and accomplishments.

But when we realize and acknowledge that King Jesus alone belongs on the throne, as loyal subjects our prime objective must become the ushering in of the Kingdom of Jesus all around us.

If you want to lead, seek more of Jesus. And seek more for Jesus—more souls in need of him and more glory for him.

This article asking “does God call leaders” originally appeared here.

Kindergarten Promotion Ideas for Reaching Out to Parents

kindergarten promotion
Lightstock #644519

Kindergarten promotion is a highlight of every back-to-school season at our church. In our children’s ministry, it’s a way to celebrate and welcome new students and reach out to parents. Read on for some surefire kindergarten promotion ideas…

Every August, our church holds a Promotion Weekend, when children move up a grade in Sunday school. These transitions are easy for some kids (and parents) but tougher for others. Either way, it’s a great opportunity to help kids and parents make stronger connections.

And with our newest students, we can capitalize on parents’ attention from the very beginning. That’s why our kindergarten promotion ideas emphasize both kids and families.

On the other end of our children’s ministry, we also help upcoming middle schoolers adjust to their new classrooms and groups. Focusing on key transitions helps calm the nerves and fears of kids as well as their parents.

Kindergarten promotion is significant at our congregation because kids move from preschool to elementary classes. These are two distinctly different environments.

So we spend two weekends in a row giving pre-K kids a taste of the elementary experience in 30-minute doses. We also host a “Kindergarten kNEXTion” the first week of August. It’s in the evening, with free pizza for dinner and a night of fun for parents and kids.

For the first 30 minutes, parents and kids get a taste of the large-group experience. Skits, messy games, and worship are all great kindergarten promotion ideas. Then for the last 30 minutes, we send kids off with volunteers. They complete different activities much like kids will experience in small groups on the weekends. During that time, we pull parents aside and talk to them about important topics.

Kindergarten promotion: 3 areas of focus for parents

Here’s what we share with parents of new kindergartners:

1. Who we are

This never gets old! Every time we have an audience with parents, we should share our mission and vision. We always review these with parents so they know why we’re here.

2. What they can expect

I want to give parents a glimpse down the road. Their child is currently 5 or 6 years old. In the next few years, they will begin digesting and internalizing the gospel message. The Truth will become personal to them, and they’re likely to respond to that Truth.

Youth Ministry Environment: How to Welcome Teens to Your Church

youth ministry
Adobestock #30033532

How much does a youth ministry environment matter? Can it make a difference in who attends—and who returns? This may seem weird, but I’m always concerned about what unchurched kids are thinking when they first attend our program.

I like to sit back and watch newcomers process their experience, especially if they’re unfamiliar with churches in general. What are their first impressions? How do our regular attendees treat them? And how do the visitors respond?

Here’s What I Wonder About Our Youth Ministry

  • What are visitors thinking? Do they seem overwhelmed? Do they think church youth group is stupid and irrelevant?
  • Am I communicating that the Bible matters for how they live? In fact, do they even respect the Bible?
  • What do they think about the worship, especially the lyrics they’re supposed to sing?
  • Do they feel included or judged?
  • What adults greet them and make them feel important? Do any other students meet and greet them?

I’m learning that it’s okay to constantly consider the unchurched students who show up.

Creating a Safe Environment

As youth workers, it’s wise to ask. How can our youth ministry create an environment that’s safe for kids who say no to church and God?

It doesn’t matter what youth outreach strategies you adopt: Inside/Out approach (go on to the unchurched students’ turf) or Outside/In approach (unchurched students come to our turf, church). What does matter is forming places and spaces where unchurched students feel comfortable with students and leaders who follow Jesus.

When I was in Los Angeles circa 2004-2005, I was on a mission. I wanted to figure out how to build warm, nonjudgmental, accepting, and inclusive youth ministry environments. The goal? Communicate to unchurched students that they could be in “church environments” and not feel weird or judged.

In my pursuit, I stumbled on Mosaic Church (aka Erwin McManus’ church). I learned how they created spaces and places that encourage believers and nonbelievers to fellowship together. The major value McManus injected in Mosaic’s culture was creating places where unchurched people didn’t have to believe in order to belong.

He says the church/youth group is often a 1st space that doesn’t allow outsiders. The 2nd space is a generic set of relationships; not everyone is like you, yet relationships still exist. The 3rd space is where no relationships exist, and they won’t unless they’re invited.

The Need for 3rd Spaces

Third spaces are when nonbelievers feel included in “neutral” spaces.  Third spaces allow students to belong before they have to believe.

Brooklyn Pastor Uses Homophobic Slur, Fat-Shaming During Instagram Live After Two Church Leaders Mock Him Getting Robbed

Lamor Whitehead
Screengrab via YouTube @Larry Reid Live

Bishop Lamor Whitehead continues to be featured in viral videos, but perhaps not for reasons that the pastor of Leaders of Tomorrow International Ministries would want.

Whitehead made national headlines a week ago after he and his wife were robbed at gunpoint during their Brooklyn church’s livestream. The thieves got away with approximately $1 million in jewelry.

Mere days later, it was made known that Whitehead is being sued by a 56-year-old congregant for allegedly stealing $90,000 in retirement savings. The congregant had allegedly given Whitehead the funds to help her purchase a house—money the pastor supposedly used as a downpayment on a property for himself.

Bishop further went viral when he yelled at multimedia personality and pastor Larry Reid as an unplanned guest on Reid’s Instagram live last week, a video that also included Apostle Geneses Warren.

RELATED: Church’s Livestream Catches Thieves Stealing Over $1 Million Worth of Jewelry From Pastor and His Wife

Reid, who is the founder of the The MBN Network, owner of LDREnterprises, and is the spiritual leader for the Reformation Church of Atlanta, is supposedly the person who first posted the video of Whitehead getting robbed live on camera, which was later picked up by national news outlets.

Warren was a guest on Reid’s Instagram Live, and the topic of discussion was the robbery that took place at Whitehead’s church. The two church leaders can be seen laughing and appear to be mocking Whitehead’s actions while making fun of Whitehead’s diamonds and the church’s stage backdrop.

Reid made it clear to Warren that he doesn’t appreciate Whitehead’s traditional beliefs regarding homosexuality, further saying that he finds it offensive when Whitehead uses the word “gay” and calls people the f-word, referring to the word “f*gg*t.”

“I can’t get with that,” Reid said. “You know, because that’s what he was trying to say—that everybody, people like you and me who embrace the LGBTQ community—they say ‘We gay’ or ‘We compromise’ because we’re not trying to send them to hell.”

Warren told Reid that she felt bad for laughing when she watched Whitehead getting robbed, but she shared that she was “scream-laughing.” Expressing that the robbery, wherein a gun was put to the head of Whitehead’s 8-month-old child, was “horrible,” Warren nevertheless said that she was laughing at the stage backdrop behind Whitehead’s pulpit.

RELATED: Brooklyn Pastor Robbed of $1 Million in Jewelry Accused of Plundering Congregant’s $90,000 Retirement Fund

Warren also called the whole ordeal very “Tyler Perry-ish,” implying that Whitehead may have had something to do with the robbery, saying, “Maybe someone that knows him had him set up.”

When Does Conflict Become Spiritual Abuse? Churches Large and Small Face That Question.

spiritual abuse
Mark Driscoll, left, is interviewed by Pastor Andy Wood at Echo Church leadership conference. Video screengrab from conference

(RNS) — Concerns about spiritual abuse have become common in recent years — at churches large and small — following the fall of megachurch pastors like Mark Driscoll, of the now-disbanded Mars Hill Church in Seattle, and Bill Hybels, founder of Willow Creek Community Church outside Chicago, both accused of creating toxic cultures ruled by fear and intimidation.

Elders at Saddleback Church, one of the nation’s largest congregations, recently said an investigation found “no pattern of abuse” at a church run by Andy Wood, who has been named successor to Saddleback founder Rick Warren. The elders noted there had been conflict at Echo Church, where Wood and his wife, Stacie, were longtime pastors, but added that “disappointment and hurt are not the same as abuse.”

Elders at Hope Community Church in Austin, a small multiethnic community, came to a similar conclusion after the conflict there led to allegations of spiritual abuse. As a result, half the church left amid calls for an outside investigation.

At the heart of these conflicts is a question: when does a disagreement, an unhealthy culture or the normal challenges of church life turn abusive? The answer is not always clear. But there is a growing consensus that spiritual abuse is real and something to be worried about.

Spiritual abuse, at its core, involves the misuse of spiritual authority. And it goes beyond run-of-the-mill church conflict, said Scot McKnight and Laura Barringer, co-authors of “A Church Called Tov: Forming a Goodness Culture That Resists Abuses of Power and Promotes Healing.”

Instead, there’s a pattern of using spiritual ideas to manipulate or coerce others, they said.

“What is good is used to harm and deceive,” said Barringer.

In their book, McKnight and Barringer describe what they call a “power through fear culture” at unhealthy churches, which often revolve around a powerful pastor or leader. In that kind of culture, even a small disagreement with a pastor could lead to a spiritual war.

The backlash to questions is often disproportionate, said McKnight, and can lead to people being shunned or fired. In response, some people do whatever they can to prove their loyalty, while others will keep their concerns to themselves, putting up with unhealthy behavior out of fear of hurting the church.

Lisa Oakley, associate professor in applied psychology at the University of Chester, describes spiritual abuse in her co-authored book “Escaping the Maze of Spiritual Abuse,” as a “systematic pattern of coercive and controlling behaviour in a religious context” and sees it as related to emotional and psychological abuse.

“This abuse may include: manipulation and exploitation, enforced accountability, censorship of decision making, requirements for secrecy and silence, coercion to conform, control through the use of sacred texts or teaching, requirement of obedience to the abuser, the suggestion that the abuser has a ‘divine’ position, isolation as a means of punishment, and superiority and elitism,” she wrote.

One of the most widely publicized examples of allegations of spiritual abuse in recent years took place at Mars Hill Church in Seattle, which was retold last year in a popular podcast from Christianity Today.

855,266FansLike

New Articles

New Podcasts

Joby Martin

Joby Martin: What Happens When Pastors Finally Understand Grace

Joby Martin joins “The Stetzer ChurchLeaders Podcast” to discuss what happens when a church leader has truly been run over by the “grace train" and understands the profound love and grace of God.