Beloved Houston Pastor Murdered in Apparent Road Rage Incident

June 27, 2022

Pastor Dr. Ronald K. Mouton Sr. of East Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Houston, Texas, was shot and killed on Friday afternoon (June 24) in what police are characterizing as a possible road rage incident.

What led up to the shooting is unclear, but surveillance footage revealed that just prior to Mouton crashing his car, a man was running back and forth in the street and on the sidewalk.

Community members described Mouton, who was 58, as “a man of love and service,” “a hard worker,” and “a staple” in the Houston area community. Mouton had served as pastor of East Bethel Missionary Baptist Church for over 30 years.

“Pastor Mouton was a loving father, husband, and friend. A wonderful pastor, and a true man of God that lived and practiced what he preached,” said Pastor Lionel Flanagan of East Houston Trinity Walk of Faith Ministry. Flanagan went on to say that Mouton was a “true friend.”

“He allowed me to do things that he didn’t do for no other. He gave me a chance to do what I’m doing now, and I thank God for him,” Flanagan said.

On Saturday, East Bethel Missionary Baptist Church released a statement to Facebook on behalf of the Mouton family, which said, “Dr. Mouton was known and loved by many. If you knew him, you would know him to be a gracious servant, a leader, and a friend. As we begin to cope with the reality of his passing, we ask that you would respect our family’s privacy during this time.”

Mouton leaves behind his wife of nearly 40 years, four children, and 10 grandchildren.

Police said the suspect was believed to be driving a black sedan, according to Click 2 Houston. United States Congressional Representative Sheila Jackson Lee and Crime Stoppers of Houston are offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to an arrest in the case.

Lee, who knew Mouton personally, said of him, “This was just an innocent man traveling on a road near his church where he worked all the time. He loves ministry. He was just doing the work of a pastor.”

Anyone with information related to the case is being asked to contact the Houston Police Department.

Tony Evans: ‘It Is Time for God’s People To Lead the Way in Promoting a Whole Life Agenda—From the Womb to the Tomb’

Jesse T. Jackson

June 27, 2022

On Saturday (June 25), Christian author and pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship Dr. Tony Evans released a statement regarding the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision.

Evans expressed gratitude for the Supreme Court’s ruling and called upon Christians to embrace a “Whole Life Agenda.”

“I join with the countless voices heard today, as well as those yet to be heard someday—those who will now have the opportunity to do so through the gift of life, in giving God the glory for His sovereign hand in this historical decision by our Supreme Court,” Evans said. “Christians everywhere ought to humbly celebrate this decision to overturn the 1973 ruling of Roe v. Wade. This decision removes the federal constitutional right to an abortion and returns abortion laws to the states, some of which plan to restrict or ban abortion altogether.”

The “Kingdom Man” author explained that abortion is a direct attack on God, because “all life is created in His image,” urging Christians to continue to ask for God’s mercy on the nation.

Evans said that “in addition to the saving of countless lives of our collective humanity, this decision also positions us more fully to intercede on behalf of God’s mercy on our nation in order to reverse the crime epidemic. This is so because Scripture states that when innocent blood is shed, we can expect more innocent blood in the society to be shed through violence and oppression,” citing Psalm 106:36-42 and Joel 3:19.

“Thus, a decrease in the number of abortions can lead to a decrease in violent crime,” Evans continued.” At the heart of the abortion debate stands the imago Dei. Attacking the unborn is tantamount to attacking God since all life is created in His image (Genesis 1:26-28), including the life developing in the womb (Psalm 139:13-16).”

Referencing James 3:9 and Psalm 8:4-5, Evans encouraged Christians “not lose sight of the fact that the imago Dei equally applies to protecting the dignity of people once they are born.” The pastor explained that because God values all life, the same “fervor and passion” that Christians have applied to the saving babies in the womb must also be given to working against anything that demeans the value of life at any stage.

“All forms of the denial of justice and human dignity, whether racism, classism or degradation of any kind, must be viewed and addressed in terms of, and with respect to, the image of God,” Evans wrote.

Evans urged Christians to be the leading advocates for a “Whole Life Agenda,” which means advocating for all life from “womb to tomb.” Evans further argued that the importance of that message should be shared alongside the gospel message and the “gift of forgiveness [God] offers to all who come to Him for it.”

Pope Hails Families, Blasts ‘Culture of Waste’ After Roe

Nicole Winfield

June 27, 2022

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis celebrated families Saturday and urged them to shun “selfish” decisions that are indifferent to life as he closed out a big Vatican rally a day after the U.S. Supreme Court ended constitutional protections for abortion.

Francis didn’t refer to the ruling or explicitly mention abortion in his homily. But he used the buzzwords he has throughout his papacy about the need to defend families and to condemn a “culture of waste” that he believes is behind the societal acceptance of abortion.

“Let us not allow the family to be poisoned by the toxins of selfishness, individualism, today’s culture of indifference and waste, and as a result lose its very DNA, which is the spirit of welcoming and service,” he said.

The pope, noting that some couples allow their fears and anxieties to “thwart the desire to bring new lives in the world,” called for them not to cling to selfish desires.

“You have been asked to not have other priorities, not to ‘look back’ to miss your former life, your former freedom, with its deceptive illusions,” he said.

Francis has strongly upheld church teaching opposing abortion, equating it to “hiring a hitman to solve a problem.” At the same time, he has expressed sympathy for women who had abortions and made it easier for them to be absolved of the sin of undergoing the procedure.

The Catholic Church holds that life begins at conception and must be protected and defended until natural death.

Francis delivered his homily in a packed St. Peter’s Square at the end of the World Meeting of Families, a four-day conference held every few years aimed at helping church workers provide better pastoral care for families, especially those in difficulty.

The head of the Vatican’s laity office, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, celebrated the closing Mass before tens of thousands of people given Francis has a bad knee that makes it difficult for him to stand for long periods of time.

The pope instead sat to the side of the altar and delivered the homily seated, though he was able to stand up easily for the reading of the Gospel and other moments with the help of a cane.

The Vatican welcomed Friday’s ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that provided constitutional protections for abortion in the U.S. The move opens the doors for individual states to ban or restrict abortion access, with bans now expected in about half the U.S. states.

‘Blessing of Elders’ Lauds 7 Black Christian Luminaries at Museum of the Bible Gala

Adelle M Banks

June 27, 2022

blessing of elders — Honoree Bishop T.D. Jakes, center front of stage, offers a prayer at the end of the "Blessing of the Elders” awards ceremony at the Museum of the Bible, Thursday, June 23, 2022, in Washington. RNS photo by Adelle M. Banks

WASHINGTON (RNS) — Well-known names from the world of gospel music and the Black church gathered at the Museum of the Bible to hail the contributions of African American churches and to call for continued efforts toward building unity and bridging divides.

The “Blessing of the Elders,” an awards celebration held Thursday (June 23) just blocks from the U.S. Capitol, specifically honored seven leaders known for their contributions in megachurches, denominational leadership, civil rights, music and religious broadcasting.

The Rev. A.R. Bernard, an honoree and a Brooklyn, New York, pastor, described the Black church, in its varied expressions, as a repository of Black culture in America.

“Embracing Christianity, Blacks didn’t seek to imitate white Christianity — oh no, instead we created a parallel religious culture, our own brand of Christianity with our own hymns, music, style of worship, much influenced by the challenge of slavery,” Bernard said in the museum’s World Stage Theater.

Pastor A.R. Bernard speaks after being honored at the "Blessing of the Elders” awards ceremony at the Museum of the Bible, Thursday, June 23, 2022, in Washington. RNS photo by Adelle M. Banks

Pastor A.R. Bernard speaks after being honored at the “Blessing of the Elders” awards ceremony at the Museum of the Bible, Thursday, June 23, 2022, in Washington. RNS photo by Adelle M. Banks

“Christianity gave Blacks hope in the midst of a hopeless situation, and we’re not done yet. I believe the 21st century will see the Black church lead the way to hope and healing in a deeply divided nation.”

One honoree, Bishop Charles E. Blake Sr., the former top leader of the Church of God in Christ, was unable to attend due to medical reasons.

“Bishop Blake wanted me to tell you he was sorry he couldn’t be here,” said Harry Hargrave, chief executive officer of the Museum of the Bible. “He’s coming off of COVID. He’s feeling much better.”

Jon Sharpe, the museum’s chief relations officer, and the Rev. Tony Lowden, pastor of the Georgia church where former President Jimmy Carter is a member, took the stage to explain how the predominantly Black gathering came to be.

Sharpe said he had a vision two decades ago that “the Black church is going to lead spiritual renewal in America.”

The museum executive, who is white, shared his idea over dinner with Lowden, an African American man who had attended a 2020 fatherhood conference at the museum. Lowden said the concept — which Bernard now calls a “movement” — resonated with him.

“There was a move that we had to answer, asking us to come together, go around the nation to talk about how we can bring the Black church together to lead,” Lowden said.

Honorees Tony Evans, left, and John Perkins pose together ahead of the "Blessing of the Elders” awards ceremony at the Museum of the Bible, Thursday, June 23, 2022, in Washington. RNS photo by Adelle M. Banks

Honorees Tony Evans, left, and John Perkins pose together ahead of the “Blessing of the Elders” awards ceremony at the Museum of the Bible, Thursday, June 23, 2022, in Washington. RNS photo by Adelle M. Banks

Over the course of the more than three-hour ceremony, coming together and overcoming were recurrent themes.

Supreme Court Sides With Coach Who Sought to Pray After Game

Jessica Gresko

June 27, 2022

Joseph Kennedy — An American flag waves in front of the U.S. Supreme Court building, Monday, June 27, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Monday sided with a football coach from Washington state who sought to kneel and pray on the field after games.

The court ruled 6-3 along ideological lines for the coach. The justices said the coach’s prayer was protected by the First Amendment.

“The Constitution and the best of our traditions counsel mutual respect and tolerance, not censorship and suppression, for religious and nonreligious views alike,” Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote for the majority.

The case forced the justices to wrestle with how to balance the religious and free speech rights of teachers and coaches with the rights of students not to feel pressured into participating in religious practices. The outcome could strengthen the acceptability of some religious practices in the public school setting.

The decision is also the latest in a line of Supreme Court rulings for religious plaintiffs. In another recent example, the court ruled that Maine can’t exclude religious schools from a program that offers tuition aid for private education, a decision that could ease religious organizations’ access to taxpayer money.

That the court ruled for the coach is perhaps not surprising. In 2019, the court declined to take up the case at an early stage, but four of the court’s conservatives agreed that a lower court decision in favor of the school district was “troubling” for its “understanding of the free speech rights of public school teachers.”

The case before the justices involved Joseph Kennedy, a Christian and former football coach at Bremerton High School in Bremerton, Washington. Kennedy started coaching at the school in 2008 and initially prayed alone on the 50-yard line at the end of games. But students started joining him, and over time he began to deliver a short, inspirational talk with religious references. Kennedy did that for years and led students in locker room prayers. The school district learned what he was doing in 2015 and asked him to stop.

Kennedy stopped leading students in prayer in the locker room and on the field but wanted to continue praying on the field himself, with students free to join if they wished. Concerned about being sued for violating students’ religious freedom rights, the school asked him to stop his practice of kneeling and praying while still “on duty” as a coach after the game. The school tried to work out a solution so Kennedy could pray privately before or after the game. When he continued to kneel and pray on the field, the school put him on paid leave.

Three justices on the court attended public high schools themselves while the rest attended Catholic schools.

The case is Kennedy v. Bremerton School District, 21-418.

This article originally appeared on APNews.com.

Popular CCM Artist Chris Rice Allegations of Grooming, Inappropriately Touching Teenage Boy Found Credible

Jesse T. Jackson

June 25, 2022

Reports that Christian music artist Chris Rice groomed and sexually assaulted a teenage boy in the late 90s to early 2000s from Tates Creek Presbyterian Church (TCPC) in Lexington, Kentucky, have been deemed credible by Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment (GRACE) after a year-and-a-half long investigation.

Chris Rice Investigation

The 29-page report details the findings from an investigation that was launched after a survivor came forward in 2020, alleging that the singer sexually abused a teenager while he was contracted to lead worship for the church’s youth and college retreats. The survivor shared information regarding his abuse after TCPC had begun investigating allegations of sexual abuse against Brad Waller, their former pastor and close friend of Rice.

Rice has been nominated for 10 Dove Awards and took home the award for Male Vocalist of the Year during the 1999 Dove’s. He has also releasedn 10 albums, including his latest release in 2019, “Untitled Hymn: A Collection of Hymns.”

One of the Rice’s survivors explained why he was coming forward now, years after the incidents took place, saying, “I just don’t want this to happen to anybody else. I just want people to be on guard….I just don’t want anybody else to be taken advantage of like this, God forbid. It’s just not right, it’s not right. So, that’s what I really want.”

Allegations Against Rice

Rice was contracted by TCPC to lead worship at high school youth and college retreats from 1995 to 2003. The survivor met Rice when he was around 13 years of age and claims that he and Rice started exchanging back massages when he was 15 or 16 years old. The survivor stated that he looked at Rice as a mentor and spiritual father figure, and the two would often share the same room during church retreats, sleeping in the same bed.

Rice, who was signed to Michael W. Smith’s Rocketown label at the time, started directing his conversations with the teenaged boy in a more sexual manner, asking if he had ever struggled with pornography. Rice sent the survivor an app to put on his computer to hold him accountable, something the survivor’s parents were unaware of. The survivor shared that because of the program’s restrictions, he had to call Rice for the password in order to visit certain sites.

When the survivor turned 16 years old and got his driver’s license, Rice asked him to drive to his home in Nashville, which was about a three hour drive away. Rice had the teenager sleep in his personal bed with him, where they watched animated movies and massaged each other’s backs.

As the visits to Rice’s house became more frequent, the survivor stated the massages “progressively got more aggressive from backs to lower backs to legs, to thighs, to more than that.”

During a birthday celebration for Rice, the musician requested that the now 17 or 18-year-old boy go camping with him in Nashville. “Once they were in their sleeping bags in the tent, Rice suggested that it would be warmer if they slept naked and then further that they should sleep naked in the same sleeping bag,” the report stated. The teenager declined Rice’s proposal and shared that the next day, the usually talkative Rice just “shut down.”

4 Steps to Remove Stereotypes in Leadership

Gavin Adams

June 25, 2022

Do you tend to see people by their differences or their similarities?

I get this is a loaded question, but pause for a moment and think about it. Imagine you’re walking down the sidewalk and a person is approaching? What do you see? What do you notice? How do you react?

This concept hit me in the face a few days back.

My 14-year-old daughter wanted a nose ring. I don’t know what to think about stuff like this at times. She’s a fantastic girl and owns her style. Although she hates getting the “Most Likely to be a Leader” award at the end of every school year, she’s a leader. I love that she gets that award!

She’s been hoping for this nose piercing for six months or so. We’ve made her wait to evaluate this decision more fully. We agreed to her new piercing last week and began investigating how to make this happen. I naively assumed we’d go back to Clairs – the retail home of inexpensive jewelry and ear piercings. I have some experience with this place.

Turns out Clairs do not pierce noses. Or anything other than ears, for that matter. Tattoo shops are the place for nose holes. Who knew? I researched, found a place close to our home, and made the appointment. When we showed up, I basically knew what to expect. My daughter, not so much. Of course, the shop owner had no skin without a tattoo. His female counterpart was him in girl form, just with an additional dozen or so piercings.

Physically, the tattoo shop people didn’t look like me. They didn’t look like my daughter. I’m considering getting a tattoo, but I doubt I’ll have a sleeve soon. Or neck tattoos. Or forehead. Yet, I saw myself as I began talking with this fully tattooed and pierced shop owner.

And I don’t mean “spiritual as a brother in humanity” or something weird. This guy had skateboards and skate stickers from the 80s and 90s plastered all over the shop. I have that in my office. He had Halloween gear on display. I don’t display what I’ve got, but trust me, my attic has a few bins of Hollywood-quality masks and accessories. On his table sat an entire pack of Prismacolor pencils. I’m a non-practicing artist, but these same pencils were my weapon of choice in my art days. And he owns the shop. He’s an entrepreneur. Like me.

I am this tattoo shop owner. And he is me. I’m guessing we grew up in different circumstances. Had different opportunities and met other people. Our school choices might have been different. But at our core, deep down, we seemingly have everything in common.

The Problem

If I saw this guy on any sidewalk, I’d walk by, assuming he and I were nothing alike. I probably couldn’t imagine having so much as one conversation.

Oh, I forgot: He likes coffee and has been to my coffee shop several dozen times.

And I’ve never noticed him. I’ve never seen him. And I’ve never connected with him.

7 Reasons You Should Invite (Some) People to Leave Your Church

Carey Nieuwhof

June 25, 2022

You spend a lot of your time trying to grow your ministry. When it comes to the mission of the church, it seems almost unthinkable to reach fewer people. Eternity hangs in the balance. And every person represents a potentially transformed life. The desire to grow is also part of human nature, isn’t it? In any organization, none of us really want to reach fewer people or have less impact. And yet sometimes, one of the best things you can do to become even more effective at accomplishing your mission is to invite people to leave your church.

It might kill you to entertain the thought of people leaving (it still kills a part of me).

But hang on.

I believe you’ll be a better leader and your organization will be more effective if you can embrace this truth.

But I realize it’s completely counterintuitive.

That feeling in the pit of your stomach…

Like you, it bothers me every time someone leaves.

When I first started in ministry, it hurt so much every time someone left. I felt like I had let them down, like I let the church down, like I had failed.

I also felt as though if I had been a better leader, I would have been able to keep them.

For a season, it hurt so much I pretended I didn’t care any more. But I did. I do.

I realize some of this is irrational and much of it might be unhealthy, but it hurts when someone goes.

However, if you let it fester, you’ll begin to live in fear all the time.

In fact, you can end up with people-pleasing as your main goal. You will lead in a way that you hope is going to prevent the greatest number of people from leaving.

That’s a terrible strategy.

The moment you begin to focus more on who you want to keep rather than who you want to reach, you put the mission in danger.

Fearful leaders focus more on who they want to keep, not who they want to reach.

I even feel terrible every time someone unsubscribes from my blog.

I feel this tension even when I write this blog.

I’ve been inviting people to subscribe to my blog. It’s a great way to communicate and a key to connecting with people.

Over the last 22 months, the list of subscribers has gone from zero to over 4,800 people. Some months, I’m amazed at how quickly the list grows.

But every time I send an email, a handful of people unsubscribe. Sometimes one or two. Sometimes as many as 12 or 15.

And every time someone unsubscribes, I feel disappointed and sad.

I’ll often click over to see who it was, and I’ll ask myself questions like, “What did I do? What did I say? Could I have done anything different to keep them?”

Meanwhile (don’t miss this), I might have had 15 or 30 people (sometimes more) sign up that day to my email list.

But do I click over to see who they were?

Sadly, often I don’t.

Why?

Bible Bingo: Use These Free Materials for a Fun KidMin Event

Stephanie Martin

June 24, 2022

Bible Bingo and other games are a hit with children and families. So why not plan a fun children’s ministry Game Night, complete with Scripture-learning, prizes, and smiles galore?

Bible Bingo also works well at summer gatherings such as camps or Sunday school picnics. And you can use themed Scripture Bingo cards to supplement any lesson. They’re perfect as time-fillers at the end of class—or any time you need to settle children down.

Choose a Bible Bingo resource that fits your students’ ages and developmental levels. What a fun, engaging way to help children remember lessons from God’s Word!

Many free Bible Bingo materials are available online to download. Print as many copies as you need. Then distribute ink stampers or small tokens for players to use as markers.

Clarify the rules ahead of time. For example, determine how many cards each person can play at once. Then call each item loudly and repeat it several times.

You can give small prizes to players. Winners can be those who complete one row (vertical, horizontal, or diagonal). Other “bingos” can be from filling in the corners, completing the border, and completing the entire board.

We’ve assembled various Bible Bingo options below. Have fun with your kids as they learn and live out God’s Word!

10 Resources for Children’s Ministry Bible Bingo Games

Here’s a fun sampling of materials. Use them in your own church and kidmin program:

1. Days of Creation

Children will enjoy reviewing everything God made. This bingo card is based on the first two chapters of Genesis.

2. The Lord Is My Shepherd

These cute, kid-friendly cards bring Psalm 23 to life!

3. Noah’s Ark

These free downloads include six different Noah’s Art Bible bingo cards.

7 Surprising Ways To Prepare Yourself To Share the Gospel

Kevin G. Harney

June 24, 2022

Anyone who has been around the church for any length of time has heard the exhortation written in 1 Peter 3:15: “But in your hearts, revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”

What does it mean to be prepared to share the gospel? What does this preparation look like?

What often comes to mind is evangelism training, being equipped, learning specific ways to articulate the story of Jesus, practicing telling our story of faith, and a host of other very valuable and important things. These are essential, but not very surprising.

What is surprising for many followers of Jesus is that there are many aspects of preparation that are often simply missed.

As I train leaders, pastors, and church members all over the globe, I am learning that there are some things we need to do as part of our preparation that goes beyond learning evangelism skills. Here are seven ways to prepare yourself to be a person that God can use to share his good news—and to whom others will actually listen.

1. Walk closely and intimately with Jesus.

It is hard to lead people where we don’t go. If you want to shine the light of Jesus, spend time in the presence of the One who is the light of the world! Sit at his feet. Make time to commune with your Lord. Be so close to Jesus that people who are far from him can see that you have been with the One you love above all others.

2. Learn to be highly responsive to the Holy Spirit.

God is speaking, more than we often recognize. The Spirit of the Living God dwells in you if you are a follower of Jesus, the Messiah. Listen. Ask for guidance. Then respond when the Spirit whispers, calls out loudly, nudges, and directs. Do this in every part of your life so that when he speaks to you about sharing the love and message of Jesus, your heart responds naturally.

3. Engage in faith-filled and frequent prayer.

We are called to the adventure of praying at all times (1 Thess. 5:17). My wife Sherry, the one who has taught me about the beauty and power of prayer, puts it this way, “It is not that we have to pray continually, it is that we get to!” As we speak with our Maker and the lover of our soul, we receive power, vision, wisdom, and leading to share the good news of Jesus. Set aside specific times of prayer, every day…this seems to be a lost art and discipline. In addition, pray spontaneously throughout your day, alone and with others.

4. Immerse yourself in the Bible and follow what it teaches.

The heart of evangelism is rooted in the Word of God. The story of our Savior is chronicled in the pages of the Bible. The pathway for us and those who come to place faith in Jesus is laid out in the pages of the Old and New Testament. We must be people who believe the Bible is true, who read and study it faithfully, and who seek to bend our stubborn hearts and lives to submission under its teaching, even when it is difficult and counter-cultural.

5. Strive to walk in holiness and repent when you fall into sin.

As a new believer, the best gift anyone gave me was my first Bible. I was told, “You are a Christian now so you are supposed to read this.” They added, “This is the Word of God and it is true!” So, I read it. Then I was told that it would be good to memorize big portions. I started with 1 Peter, a powerful and practical book.

When I was memorizing 1 Peter chapter 1, I ran across these words…or, better yet, these words ran across me: “As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy’” (1 Peter 1:14-16). I studied the topic of holiness and read a brand-new little book by Jerry Bridges titled, “The Pursuit of Holiness.” It wrecked me in a beautiful way. I believe one of the best ways we can prepare to share the amazing story of Jesus is by seeking holiness, recognizing where we fall short, and humbly turning from our frailties and rebellions.

6. Build close and loving friendships with people outside the family of God.

This might sound obvious, but you would be staggered to know that many Christians (including and especially pastors) have very few intimate and deep friendships with people who are far from Jesus. It is time for us to spend less time in the church and in Christian circles and more time making new friends with people who need to discover the amazing grace of God.

7. Get comfortable saying, “I don’t know!”

Some people feel the best way to share our faith is being sure we have an answer for everything. Others are convinced they need to have answers that can defeat their non-believing friend and crush them with superior reason. I am a huge fan of reason and do believe we need to be ready to articulate our faith. I am also a great believer in apologetics, and we are wise to learn how to communicate intelligent answers to the questions people are asking.

But, it is also fine to say, “I don’t know” when confronted with a really good question. You might follow up by saying, “Maybe we can study that topic together.” Humility goes a long way. I have been a follower of Jesus for four decades and a pastor for more than three of those decades. There are still lots of things I don’t know, can’t wrap with a bow in a sixty-second response, and am still figuring out myself. When I admit this to people who are asking questions about the Christian faith, it is very disarming. It leads to a conversation rather than a debate or verbal battle.

I spend much of my discretionary time training people how to share their faith. In this process, I help them learn to articulate their personal testimony, share the story of Jesus, have good answers to real and important questions, and all the stuff that is normally part of preparing people to do what I call Organic Outreach.

These are all extremely important. If you will add the seven things listed above, you will be well on your way to being prepared to naturally share your faith.

How To Talk With a High School Senior Who Is Reconsidering Fall Plans

Charlie Goeke

June 24, 2022

high school senior — Source: Adobe Stock

Encouraging students to accept that they do not need to know how the future will unfold will give them the freedom to live in the present and learn to make decisions from a place of freedom, not control.

Every April, I see an uptick in students and parents who reach out to a gap year. Parents and students alike share the uncertainties about their fall plans—most of which involve college—and are looking to pivot. That’s the norm.

I would not consider this spring normal by any measure.

As initial research by the Art and Science Survey of high school seniors is showing, there are more students who are questioning their college plans.

My experience supports this study. For five years I’ve fielded more calls in April than any other month. This year? It’s spiked. This means more people—parents, youth pastors, mentors—are finding themselves in conversations around this topic.

Here are a few ways to engage a high school senior who is in the throes of the “what’s next” decision.

Throw away the ‘one right path’ idea

As I’ve worked with college students over the past decade, it’s become obvious that somehow many Christian students enter their twenties with this perception that “God’s will” is a tightrope. It’s this narrow, singularly correct path they must follow through life—they’re either on it, or off.

Thus, every fork (read: decision) in the path is a chance to fall out of God’s will. Gripped by fear of disappointing God, decisions have an unwarranted weight of significance.

Jerry Sittser, in his book “The Will of God as a Way of Life,” offers this perspective,

“…the Bible has very little to say about the will of God as a future pathway. Instead, the Bible warns us about anxiety, and presumption concerning the future, assures us that God is in control, and commands us to do the will of God we already know in the present.”

Jesus is much more concerned about our daily posture and actions than our future plans. Once they embrace this idea, students may find a newfound freedom to live out their faith day by day and be a little less anxious about how their lives may or may not unfold.

Help your student see the falsehood of the narrow path by sharing, or re-sharing, your story of how you navigated post-high school life. Share the “plan” that you had laid out for post-high school and share how it actually unfolded. Make sure to highlight how your life has turned out differently than you originally anticipated and emphasize how you’ve seen God work through it.

In daily faithfulness to Christ, students will find they have an incredible amount of freedom in the choices they do face like where they are heading after high school.

Second guessing the college decision is okay

Encourage the questions that are being asked to make space for the second-guessing and honest conversation.

COVID-19 has introduced incredible changes into the lives of our high school seniors. Completing final last college visits, finalizing applications, and waiting to hear back on financial aid decisions are just a few of the aspects of senior year that are now already inherently different.

However, one of the hidden benefits from this season is time. Our seniors, who were once maxing out their schedules, now have more time than they can fill.

Instead of surrendering time to endless video games and streaming services, encourage seniors to set aside time to determine what is truly important to them in the next stage of life.

Given the circumstances, it would be valuable for students to consider what is truly important to them and take the time to re-think how their next step after high school will help prepare them for the future.

To get the conversation started, I’ve included a few questions I would ask a senior who’s second-guessing his or her fall plans.

What’s prompting you to rethink your post-high school plans?
How has the pandemic influenced how you’re seeing next fall?
What are you feeling uneasy about?
When you think about life after high school, what matters most to you?
How do your current fall plans reflect those values?
If they do not, what options out there do reflect those values?
Are there doors that are opening in your life now that were not there 3 months ago?What are the benefits/negatives of these new options?
What steps can you take to explore the new opportunities?

Explore new options

For the student who may decide that he or she would rather wait a year to college, he or she has a surprising (and growing!) amount of options.

A gap year is a time of experiential learning taken after high school that is used to build professional skills, expand practical experience, and grow personal awareness. There are so many gap year options—to jump start your exploration, I’ve grouped them into three main categories:

Volunteering/Internship – Students gain valuable life experience and perspective as they volunteer or intern at a ministry or non-profit. Often, there is a cross-cultural component as they incorporate travel or are based in overseas and/or developing areas. The volunteering and internship type of gap years can really expand practical experience and build service mindset.

Build Your Own – The more adventurous students out there may opt to design their own experience. This usually includes a mix of travel, volunteer work, and short-term work. It’s takes a highly motivated individual to pull this option off. Not only that, but the price tag can get steep quickly. The benefit? Highly tailored to the student’s interests, passion, and strengths.

Programmed – This is probably the most common type of gap year. Often, the program has a main focus: service, academic preparation, faith formation, leadership development, travel. Participants benefit from the expertise of the organization, a set plan and purpose to the year, and the community that forms as a result of the shared experience.

For those who want to deepen their faith before college or whatever else follows high school, a Christ-centered gap year will help a student build a practiced faith, discover their purpose, and discern their callings.

Final Thought

If your senior is in the boat and feeling anxious about next year, he or she is certainly not alone. As seniors are forced to slow down, confront the uncertainty of the future, and reconsider their options, we have a great opportunity as parents and mentors to speak Truth into their lives and be a part of the conversation as they transition to adulthood and beyond. This could produce untold fruit in their lives as they make decisions in future seasons of life and weigh what really matters.

Jackie Hill Perry, Preston Perry Urge Singles To Wait on God, Not Resort To Dating Unbelievers

Stephanie Martin

June 24, 2022

While acknowledging the challenges of being single, married couple Jackie Hill Perry and Preston Perry warn Christians not to get impatient and settle for relationships with non-Christians. They also say it’s “dangerous to have faith that God is going to come along and save” your non-Christian partner.

The Perrys, married for eight years, share these insights during a June 13 episode of their podcast “30 Minutes With the Perrys.”

Jackie Hill Perry, an author, Bible teacher and poet, is a former lesbian. Her book “Gay Girl Good God” describes how God helped her overcome homosexuality. Preston Perry is a Christian performing artist.

Jackie Hill Perry, Preston Perry Tell Singles They Are ‘Not Alone’

The Perrys, who speak candidly about relationships, admit the “loneliness piece” of being single is tough. Jackie describes her initial experiences after leaving lesbianism, when she had no one to text or hang out with. “It was uncomfortable for me to come to Jesus and just be without anybody to talk to,” she says.

Preston describes his dating challenges before he met Jackie. One relationship fizzled because the woman claimed to be a Christian but wasn’t committed to the lifestyle. Then Preston had to end a relationship with a non-Christian woman because “we couldn’t stay pure” and “I wanted to be holy.”

Loneliness, say the Perrys, can tempt singles to settle for a non-Christian partner. “A lot of singles are just like: ‘You know what? I don’t have time to wait on a man or a woman who is a Christian,” says Jackie. “So let me go ahead and open up my world to non-Christians because I’ll have more options.’”

Preston adds, “God has somebody that he has uniquely designed that will be perfect for you. But our lack of patience, we want to date someone who checks off all of these boxes except following Jesus.”

Instead of viewing singleness as a season of “punishment,” he recommends seeing it as a time of protection. “I think we have to be reminded that ‘No, God really is good by his very nature, good and sovereign and kind and that he’s with me, that I’m not alone in my singleness.’”

Perrys: Being Yoked With Unbelievers Is Spiritually Risky

“I think for a Christian to intentionally choose someone who doesn’t know Jesus,” says Preston Perry, “you’re probably not weighing…all of the spiritual implications and all of the difficulties that that might bring.” Being “unequally yoked” (2 Corinthians 6:14) is “dangerous,” he adds, “because it’s going to create a whole different set of problems.” Throughout life’s ups and downs, Preston advises singles, “you’re going to want to be with somebody who knows Jesus.”

SCOTUS Should Re-Evaluate Protections for Contraception, Same-Sex Relationships, Says Justice Clarence Thomas in Concurring Dobbs Opinion

Dale Chamberlain

June 24, 2022

On Friday (June 24), the United States Supreme Court handed down its ruling in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case, overturning the legal precedent set by Roe v. Wade (1973) and Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992), which established abortion as a constitutionally protected right.

The case centered on a Mississippi law that bars most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, with the Supreme Court ruling in favor of the law, in accordance with the expectation set by a draft of the majority opinion that was leaked last month. The question of abortion rights and legislation will now return to the individual states.

The news of Roe’s overturn was met by strong emotions on both sides of the issue, as pro-life advocates immediately took to social media in celebration, while pro-choice advocates are expected to protest the decision through public demonstrations in the coming days and weeks.

RELATED: Supreme Court Overturns Roe

Justice Samuel Alito wrote in the Court’s majority opinion that the “critical question is whether the Constitution, properly understood, confers a right to obtain an abortion,” arguing that the Casey decision “skipped over that question and reaffirmed Roe solely on the basis of stare decisis,” that is, the established legal precedent of Roe.

However, while Alito wrote the majority opinion, many are drawing their attention to the concurring opinion written by Justice Clarence Thomas. In that opinion, Thomas suggested that in the future, SCOTUS should also re-evaluate the legal precedents established in cases that had previously provided federal protections for access to contraceptives, same-sex relationships, and same-sex marriage.

The cases Thomas named specifically were the 1965 Griswold v. Connecticut case, which protects the liberty of married couples to buy and use contraceptives without government restrictions, the 2003 Lawrence v. Texas case, which ruled that criminal anti-sodomy laws were unconstitutional, and the 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges case, which conferred to same-sex marriage the status of fundamental right.

Notably, the same constitutionally unenumerated “right to privacy” that served as the basis for these cases was likewise pivotal in the Roe v. Wade decision.

The reasoning behind Thomas’ argument that these cases need be re-evaluated was that since “the Due Process Clause [of the 14th Amendment] does not secure any substantive rights, it does not secure a right to abortion,” and by extension does not secure any other constitutional right that had previously been granted by such line of reasoning.

“For that reason, in future cases, we should reconsider all of this Court’s substantive due process precedents, including Griswold, Lawrence, and Obergefell,” Thomas wrote. “Because any substantive due process decision is ‘demonstrably erroneous’…we have a duty to ‘correct the error’ established in those precedents.”

Karen Swallow Prior: How the Church Should Move Forward Now Roe Has Been Overturned

Jessica Mouser

June 24, 2022

The Stetzer ChurchLeaders Podcast · Karen Swallow Prior: How the Church Should Move Forward Now Roe Has Been Overturned

Dr. Karen Swallow Prior is Research Professor of English and Christianity and Culture at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. She is the author of several books, a prolific writer, and gives frequent lectures and talks on her work. Karen has been active in the pro-life movement for several decades.

Other Ways to Listen to This Podcast With Karen Swallow Prior

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Key Questions for Karen Swallow Prior

-Tell us about your work and experience in the pro-life movement. How have you seen the movement change over the years?

-What was your initial reaction when Justice Samuel Alito’s opinion was leaked, indicating that Roe would be overturned? And what do you think now in this moment?

-How would you suggest we simultaneously advocate for a holistic approach to life and also advocate for the unborn?

-What is your hope for what churches will do now regarding the unborn?

Key Quotes From Karen Swallow Prior

“I entered into the pro-life movement and became passionate as an activist and wanting to overturn Roe, but sort of not really thinking it would ever happen, it was just so entrenched in our culture. I mean, abortion just had a hold on our culture. And it still does.”

“I was convinced, even if I wouldn’t live to see it, that abortion would eventually be seen for the barbarism and the injustice that it is. And just simply overturning Roe versus Wade won’t do that alone. But we know that the law is a teacher. The law does cultivate attitudes and opinions and values and even forms our imagination. So if we do come to a place where more and more states protect the lives of the unborn and support women who are in these pregnancies, then I think we will have the world that all of us really dreamed of, even if we didn’t know it would really happen.”

“We have to think about how we apply our pro-life ethic, not just in general, but even in in the kinds of of difficult circumstances that the law will have to take into account.”

“I’m seeing that that the pro-life position has been almost assumed within the church community for 50 years without us really having to think about how to change the law because we haven’t had the opportunity. We’re going to have to educate ourselves quickly and thoughtfully and not just rush to put legislation in place that would be disastrous or uninformed or medically irresponsible.”

“We must also think about why we think that innocent unborn children’s lives should be protected. It is because they are made in the image of God. Well, so are the lives of immigrants, refugees and others who might be inconvenient to us…if we are going to oppose the taking of of innocent unborn life because that life is made in the image of God, then we do need to be prepared to think about other policies.”

BREAKING: Supreme Court Overturns Roe

Dale Chamberlain

June 24, 2022

Roe — Photo by Adam Szuscik (via Unsplash)

On Friday (June 24), the United States Supreme Court ruled to overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, thereby revoking abortion as a constitutionally protected right and sending the decision on abortion legislation back to the individual states.

The 6-3 decision came as a break from nearly 50 years of legal determinations by SCOTUS, who had previously reaffirmed the Roe decision in the 1992 Planned Parenthood v. Casey decision.

A great deal of anticipation has surrounded the announcement of this ruling, which came in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization regarding a Mississippi law that bars most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, as a leaked draft of the opinion written by Associate Justice Samuel Alito in May indicated a possible victory for the pro-life movement.

Later that same month, Democratic senators presented a bill that would federally protect abortion rights, thereby codifying Roe, but it was ultimately struck down by a 49-51 vote.

Had it passed, the Women’s Health Protection Act (WHPA) would have provided federal protections for abortion rights up to the point of birth, striking down regulatory laws surrounding abortion at the state level. Every Republican senator voted against it, and Democratic senator Joe Manchin crossed party lines to join them.

“The Constitution does not confer a right to abortion; Roe and Casey are overruled; and the authority to regulate abortion is returned to the people and their elected representatives,” the SCOTUS opinion reads.

The opinion goes on to say that the “critical question is whether the Constitution, properly understood, confers a right to obtain an abortion,” arguing that the Casey decision “skipped over that question and reaffirmed Roe solely on the basis of stare decisis,” that is, the established legal precedent of Roe.

In response to the news, pro-life advocates took to social media to express gratitude and celebration.

“This is a great day for American justice. A grievous wrong has been corrected. This ruling was decades in the making, through long and patient legal, political, and cultural advocacy,” tweeted journalist and legal expert David French. “But this fight is not over. Far from it. The struggle to build a culture of life continues.”

Southern Baptist Influencers Forecast SBCs Future on Cooperative Program Stage Panel

Timothy Cockes

June 24, 2022

sbc_panel — .D. Greear (left) and Robby Gallaty were part of a panel discussion on the future of the SBC in the exhibit hall of the 2022 SBC Annual Meeting in Anaheim. Photo by Charissa Graves

ANAHEIM, Calif. (BP) – Several Southern Baptist pastors and leaders highlighted the need for repentance and unity during a CP Stage panel forecasting the future of the SBC during last week’s SBC annual meeting.

The panel took place on Monday morning, June 13, and featured pastors J.D. Greear of The Summit Church in Durham, N.C., and Robby Gallaty of Long Hollow Church in Hendersonville, Tenn., as well as Shane Pruitt, national Next Gen director for the North American Mission Board.

The panel was moderated by Jordan Easley, pastor of First Baptist Church, Cleveland, Tenn., who opened up by reiterating the common mission of Southern Baptists.

“What we all have in common in this room and really beyond this room, is that we all want to be part of a convention that honors the Lord, makes disciples, sees peoples saved, plants churches and sends missionaries,” Easley said.

“I think that ought to be the focus of our convention today. I don’t believe God is finished with the SBC.”

Easley then asked the panelists of what the convention needs to do to be something they want to be a part of in the future.

The themes of repentance and unity were consistent among the answers.

Greear began by saying that in order to move forward, the convention must acknowledge the problems it currently faces, particularly in the area of sexual abuse. Properly handling challenging issues like sexual abuse is a part of the cooperative mission of Southern Baptists, he said.

“I’m committed to this convention because of our focus on missions and evangelism, but I do not believe that it honors God to use that as a way to cover up for dealing with these things that are in front of us,” Greear said. “This is an application of the Great Commission. The Spirit of God is always leading us into paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. That’s my hope right now.”

Gallaty, who helped host a time of prayer before the SBC Pastors’ Conference, echoed Greear’s sentiment about the need for a united spirit of repentance in the convention.

“The Lord put two words on my heart leading up to the prayer time, repentance and unity,” Gallaty said.

Presbyterian Church in America Votes To Leave National Association of Evangelicals

Emily McFarlan Miller

June 24, 2022

(RNS) — Commissioners for the Presbyterian Church in America approved a motion to leave the National Association of Evangelicals on Wednesday (June 22) at the PCA’s General Assembly in Birmingham, Alabama.

It’s the third time in the past decade the theologically conservative Presbyterian denomination has considered a measure to leave the association, an umbrella organization of 40 evangelical Christian denominations.

The decision comes at a time when the head of the NAE serves a PCA congregation. Walter Kim, who took charge of the association in 2020, is a teacher-in-residence at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Before transitioning to a full-time role with the NAE, Kim was ordained by the PCA and served as pastor for leadership at the church, according to the organization. He maintains his ministerial credentials with the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference.

The National Association of Evangelicals does not comment on denominational decisions, a spokesperson told Religion News Service.

At issue, according to the overture submitted by the Pee Dee Presbytery in South Carolina and approved by a 1,059 to 681 majority, is the NAE’s advocacy work.

The NAE has “frequently intermeddled in civil affairs,” according to the overture. It points to a 2011 statement by the association meant to spark discussion on how climate change impacts vulnerable populations, the organization’s past efforts supporting immigration reform and its 2015 change of heart on the death penalty, which it had previously supported.

The overture specifically names the Fairness for All Act drafted by the National Association of Evangelicals and the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. The act calls for federally recognized protections for sexual orientation and gender identity alongside strong religious exemptions.

“Advocating for a political compromise regarding sexual orientation, gender identity, and religious freedom” oversteps the Westminster Confession of Faith, according to the overture. The confession, which was written in the 1600s for the Church of England and later adopted by the Presbyterian Church in America, says “synods and councils are to handle, or conclude nothing, but that which is ecclesiastical; and are not to intermeddle with civil affairs which concern the commonwealth.”

The overture also argues, “Many prominent conservative and evangelical thinkers and leaders have denounced this compromise as not leading to ‘fairness’ for all who uphold biblical teaching on sexuality and marriage, but rather attempts to guarantee religious freedom for some organizations and institutions while potentially undermining the pre-political religious freedoms of all Americans codified in the 1st Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.”

Commissioners speaking in support of leaving the National Association of Evangelicals said they were not sure what benefit the denomination received from its membership in the organization. They argued the denomination did not need the association to speak for its members when the General Assembly is the voice of the denomination.

Roy Taylor, former stated clerk of the Presbyterian Church in America, told the General Assembly he planned to file a protest over its decision to leave the NAE.

Taylor argued for the denomination to remain part of the association, urging commissioners to show the same unity as George Whitefield and John Wesley, two prominent ministers in the Church of England during the Great Awakening. While the two held different beliefs on some theological matters, he said, Whitefield regarded Wesley “as a brother in Christ” and stipulated in his will that Wesley preach at his funeral.

“I am a George Whitefield Calvinist. I hope that you are, too,” Taylor said.

This article originally appeared here.

Lifeway Research: Pastors Have Clarity on Same-Sex Marriage, Not the Role of LGBTQ+ People in Churches

Marissa Postell Sullivan

June 24, 2022

LGBTQ+ — Photo by Sharon McCutcheon (via Pexels)

This month marks seven years since the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage with its Obergefell v. Hodges decision. Five years later, the 2020 American Community Survey from the United States Census Bureau estimated there were more than 570,000 same-sex married couple households in the United States.

But most of these same-sex couples did not ask a Protestant pastor to marry them. A study from Lifeway Research found 87% of Protestant pastors have never been asked to perform a same-sex marriage ceremony. Of those who have been asked, 9% have been asked within the past five years, while 3% say it’s been over five years since they were asked to perform a same-sex marriage ceremony. At the time of a 2016 study from Lifeway Research, 88% of Protestant pastors had never been asked to perform a same-sex wedding, and 11% had been asked.

Baptist (4%) and non-denominational (4%) pastors are least likely to say they have been asked to perform a same-sex wedding ceremony. And Presbyterian/Reformed pastors are most likely to have been asked (26%).

Overall, mainline pastors are nearly three times as likely as evangelical pastors to have ever been asked to marry a same-sex couple (20% vs. 7%). And female pastors (17%) are almost twice as likely as male pastors (9%) to have been asked.

“There are signs there may have been an initial surge of requests or a discovery process to see which churches would perform same-sex weddings shortly after it became legal in all 50 states,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. “But overall, the prevalence of inquiries to pastors has been fairly consistent.”

Different service opportunities in churches

Although most pastors haven’t been asked to perform weddings for same-sex couples, many have guidelines of where an LGBTQ+ person can serve in their churches. But guidelines vary significantly across the Protestant church landscape.

Fewer than one-third of Protestant pastors do not allow LGBTQ+ people to serve at their churches in any capacity (31%), compared to 34% in 2016. While 28% of Protestant pastors say LGBTQ+ people can serve anywhere in their churches, others have limitations. In 2016, 30% of pastors said LGBTQ people could serve anywhere in their churches, while 15% said they could serve in some areas. Today, 22% of pastors say LGBTQ+ people can serve in at least one service area, but not anywhere in the church. Protestant pastors are more willing to allow LGBTQ+ people to serve in helping and service roles (44%) than public worship (24%), public teaching (25%) or public leadership (25%) roles.

Another 7% of pastors say they’re not sure where an LGBTQ+ person can serve in their churches, and 14% say they haven’t discussed the issue.

“Overall, more pastors indicate LGBTQ+ persons may serve somewhere in their churches today compared to 2016,” McConnell said.

Lack of uniformity over LGBTQ+ roles in churches

Although mainline pastors are more likely than evangelicals to be open to having LGBTQ+ people serve in their churches, it is not a clear-cut stereotype. Half of mainline pastors (52%) say LGBTQ+ people can serve anywhere in their churches. Many mainline pastors (61%) say LGBTQ+ people can serve in helping and service roles. But they are more divided over whether they can hold public-facing worship (45%), teaching (48%) or leadership (47%) roles. Still, 13% of mainline pastors say LGBTQ+ people cannot serve in their churches.

Waiving Attorney-Client Privilege Among Several Topics Discussed by Baptist21 Panelists

Brandon Porter

June 24, 2022

ANAHEIM, Calif. (BP) – The Baptist21 (B21) panel at the 2022 SBC Annual Meeting provided a last-minute opportunity to hear from key leaders hours before crucial decisions were made in the Tuesday, June 15, business session.

A panel hosted by B21 board member Jed Coppenger featured Danny Akin, Tom Ascol, Bart Barber, Dana Hall McCain, Albert Mohler and Juan Sanchez.

The discussion ranged from the recommendations of the Sexual Abuse Task Force, the waiving of attorney-client privilege by the SBC Executive Committee to how Southern Baptist churches and entities should respond to companies that hold a view of sexuality that is in contradiction to the Baptist Faith and Message.

Texas pastor Bart Barber said the work of the Sexual Abuse Task Force and the waiving of attorney-client privilege should be viewed as a reminder that SBC messengers hold the right to ask questions of any of their SBC entities.

Florida pastor Tom Ascol urged those who attended the meeting to be willing to slow down in their consideration of the next actions needed to eliminate sexual abuse, while agreeing that every Southern Baptist wants to see it driven out of Southern Baptist churches.

Later that day, Barber and Ascol would both run for SBC president against two other candidates. Barber was elected in a runoff.

Texas pastor Juan Sanchez talked about how a recent pro-PRIDE month tweet by Guidepost Solutions affected the company’s credibility. Guidepost was contracted in October 2021 to carry out the investigation into the alleged mishandling of the sexual abuse claims by the SBC Executive Committee.

Sanchez said “at the time”, it appeared Guidepost was the best company for the job.

“We somehow think we’re in Jerusalem. We’re in the Promised Land,” Sanchez said. “We’re in Babylon. We’re serving with Nebuchadnezzar.” He pointed to the fact that every person and every church is forced to do business with companies that take positions on human sexuality that are in opposition to what Southern Baptists believe the Bible teaches.

Akin, president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, agreed: “It casts a cloud, but does not negate the facts they uncovered.”

“We live in a fallen world and we have to realize that fallen corporations make fallen decisions,” said Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Audio of the panel discussion is available here

This article originally appeared at Baptist Press.

After $2 Million Brooklyn Church Robbery, Houses of Worship Evaluate Theft Risk

Riley Farrell

June 24, 2022

Brooklyn church robbery — The tabernacle, left, before thieves removed it with power tools from St. Augustine Catholic Church in Brooklyn, New York. The solid 18-karat gold tabernacle is valued at around $2 million. Photos courtesy DeSales Media Group

(RNS) — When the Rev. Frank Tumino, pastor of St. Augustine, walked into his Catholic church in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn on the last Saturday in May, he found physical and spiritual wreckage: Angels that had decorated the front of the building were decapitated, Communion wafers were scattered across the altar and, most shocking, an 18-karat gold tabernacle, where the sanctified Eucharist was stored, had been stolen.

According to a press release from the Diocese of Brooklyn, the tabernacle was worth more than $2 million but is “irreplaceable due to its historical and artistic value.”

This description could apply to the fixtures in many houses of worship, and the theft in Brooklyn has many assessing their security and insurance.

Leiza McKenna, a senior fine arts consultant at Church Mutual Insurance Co., a nationwide insurer of religious organizations, said her company is checking in with clients and updating their policies.

“We’re hoping that there are no copycats out there, but if there are, we feel confident that we’ve got the measures in place to protect with insurance as much as possible,” she said.

Washington National Cathedral, one of the country’s largest and most-visited houses of worship, makes constant security a priority, said Kevin Eckstrom, chief communications officer of the cathedral. “We have rare items that are always being watched because of their value and heritage,” he said, citing statues of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Mother Teresa as among its most precious furnishings (along with its 10-bell peal and carillon, though, at more than 2 tons, these would be difficult to make off with).

But not all religious organizations have the resources to protect their possessions, said Eric Spacek, the assistant vice president of risk control at Church Mutual Insurance Co. Nor do houses of worship typically take the same approach to security other public places and businesses do.

“Houses of worship tend to be trusting places,” Spacek said. “Plus, there are budgetary restrictions in many churches. Their security could be seen as a volunteer effort.”

After a man entered the San Fernando Cathedral in San Antonio, believed to be the nation’s oldest, and toppled century-old statues, the cathedral reassessed its security. Today, said its business and finance manager, Elizabeth Cardenas, its coverage is “extensive.”

Insurance, of course, can only cover material goods, as members of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Hydes, Maryland, realized recently. Just two months before the Brooklyn break-in, the 200-year-old church was similarly violated when its tabernacle was stolen.

The theft felt baffling, said Megan Malkus, St. John the Evangelist’s communications coordinator and a lifetime member of the church. “That kind of stuff just doesn’t happen here,” said Malkus. “It opened our eyes to the fact that bad things happen to good people.”

In the weeks since the robbery, a donor supplied St. John the Evangelist with a new tabernacle, which is now bolted into place. The church also installed a new security system.

Malkus said the church community’s most valuable response was to unite in the face of adversity, and she advised St. Augustine’s congregation do the same.

“Sure, the tabernacle can be replaced because of its monetary value, blah, blah, blah,” said Malkus. “But, in our minds, someone came in and stole Jesus from the church. Still, through Christ, we can all come together and support each other.”

This article originally appeared here.

Chris Rice Investigation

Allegations Against Rice

The Problem

That feeling in the pit of your stomach…

10 Resources for Children’s Ministry Bible Bingo Games

1. Days of Creation

2. The Lord Is My Shepherd

3. Noah’s Ark

1. Walk closely and intimately with Jesus.

2. Learn to be highly responsive to the Holy Spirit.

3. Engage in faith-filled and frequent prayer.

4. Immerse yourself in the Bible and follow what it teaches.

5. Strive to walk in holiness and repent when you fall into sin.

6. Build close and loving friendships with people outside the family of God.

7. Get comfortable saying, “I don’t know!”

Throw away the ‘one right path’ idea

Second guessing the college decision is okay

Explore new options

Final Thought

Jackie Hill Perry, Preston Perry Tell Singles They Are ‘Not Alone’

Perrys: Being Yoked With Unbelievers Is Spiritually Risky

Other Ways to Listen to This Podcast With Karen Swallow Prior

Key Questions for Karen Swallow Prior

Key Quotes From Karen Swallow Prior

Different service opportunities in churches

Lack of uniformity over LGBTQ+ roles in churches

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