5 Practices of Leaders Who Develop Leaders

By

-

May 12, 2022

Developing leaders is an art. It’s a great responsibility and one of the most meaningful things you can do as a leader. Personally, I love it! It’s life-changing, Kingdom advancing, and spiritual legacy in the making.

It’s nearly impossible to accomplish your God-given vision by yourself, therefore developing other leaders becomes essential.

It’s rare that anyone would disagree with that, and yet a surprising number of leaders acknowledge the lack of intentional development on their staff and among their volunteers.

Pastors talk about their desire to develop others but say they just don’t have the time.

I get that.

Leadership development isn’t something that screams at you to make it happen. You have to fight for the discipline to stay with it.

Developing leaders helps you break through your leadership lid.

Here’s one personal example, for so many years, I used a program I created called Joshua’s Men.

I led one group a year with 7 or 8 guys. My passion was high, and the results were good, but my strategy was poor.

Today I have 6 leaders leading the J-Men groups at 12Stone Church, and they are incredibly gifted at it. I call that Kingdom math. I can develop 8 guys a year; the leadership team can develop 48 per year. That’s a lid buster!

You can also get some help in developing your leaders through expert resourcing.

A unique and creative opportunity is happening on March 3-4, called She Leads Church: A Summit for Women in Church Leadership. It’s a fantastic opportunity for developing women leaders that serve in your church! And this online event is FREE! Register for your free ticket here.

There are specific practices among the best developers of leaders, and I’m sharing five of them with you here.

5 Practices of leaders who develop leaders:

1) Continuous improvement in self-leadership

You don’t have to become a leadership expert to develop other leaders, but you do need to keep improving your own skills and self-awareness.

If you can’t lead yourself well, it’s difficult to lead others and nearly impossible to develop other leaders.

There’s no magic bullet or quick fix to self-leadership. Improving your personal habits and leadership skills is a life-long endeavor.

Here are a few helpful questions:

How consistent is your prayer life? Do you sense God’s presence and voice in your life?
How are you leveraging your greatest skills and abilities?
What skill-gap are you working on that would help you achieve your current top organizational priority?
How would you answer this question? I’d be a better leader if: _________________________.
Do you have someone who coaches or mentors you?

The best mindset you can have for this is not one of another task on your to-do list that you must accomplish this week, but one of a life-long pursuit that you take one small bite at a time.

2) Intentionally gather potential leaders

The best developers have the ability to gather potential leaders.

You don’t have to have a big personality or be a top communicator, but you need to be intentional. Eagles don’t flock; you have to go get them one at a time.

What are you doing to discover and meet potential leaders? You can start by praying for them.

What you pray for, you look for, and what you look for you find.

Pray for leaders!

Develop them. Here’s a tried and true approach that will help you get started in developing leaders. You can read it here.

Here are some common traits among those who can gather potential leaders well.

They have a positive, faith-filled attitude.
They love life.
They believe the best in others.
They are encouragers.
They want more for people than from them.

3) Demonstrate productivity in leadership endeavors

Leaders who develop leaders need the credibility that comes from building something they lead.

Build anything, something small, something large, but build. It’s not a scorecard, but it does something intangible and immeasurable for you to know that you can lead — that you can grow what you lead.

It does something for those who follow you and embrace your development. You don’t have to have all the answers or a big church, but progress is important.

Here’s some encouraging news, you can do both simultaneously. Sometimes that’s how it happens. You develop some leaders, and they help you break through to the next level.

If you don’t have a lot of experience or success in developing leaders, start where you are and with who you have. Start with one person or with a group of three. Start small but start.

Leadership development was never designed to be a big event. Leadership events can be incredibly helpful with strong content and inspiration, but at its core, development has to be personal.

4) Adept at integrating art and system

Some leaders are better at the art and some better at systems; the best can do both.

In most of my younger leadership, I leveraged my strength in the “art” of developing a group of leaders. It came naturally and was largely intuitive.

But I wasn’t strong at the overall strategy for developing hundreds or thousands of leaders. I’ve made a lot of progress in those systems over the years, and I’m still learning.

Which side are you best at? How can you develop the other?

The art is to lean into connection, selection, reading the room, spotting the catalytic moments, and paying attention.

The systems are more about how to move from developing a few to developing many.

5) Empowering those who have been developed

There is one step beyond developing your leaders, and that is to actually empower them to lead.

Sometimes it can feel like you are handing the car keys to your teenager; no matter how smart or responsible they are, you know they might wreck the car. But you have to trust them with the keys, or they can’t drive.

Here’s a quick outline on how to empower from my book Amplified Leadership and a blog post that gives you more content.

Clear steps of empowerment:

Trust with responsibility.
Train for competence.
Unleash with authority.
Communicate clear expectations.
Believe in each one for maximum potential.

This article originally appeared here.

4 Great Internal Church Communication Tools

By

Bryan Haley

-

May 12, 2022

Internal communication can make or break an organization. When an organization is running on all cylinders, everyone on the team uses the internal tools. The right tools keep everyone engaged and informed while also providing avenues for sharing knowledge and being productive. Internal communication is about more than productivity—it also promotes community and collaboration. On the other hand, when a church—or any organization—feels chaotic behind the scenes, one cause is often a lack of buy-in for the communication tools or other systems and processes. When it comes to church communication tools, striking a balance between proper structures for internal communication while maintaining an agile culture can be difficult because churches often deal with paid staff, volunteers, committees, councils, and the congregation. Getting the proper setup for your church should help provide clarity, build community, and improve your communication—first with one another, then with outward-facing communication.

At Church Juice, we’re part of a ministry distributed across several states and provinces, time zones, and various programs. Like your church, ReFrame Ministries includes several smaller initiatives and programs that make up one cohesive ministry with one joint mission: “Relying on the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we create contextual media resources that proclaim the gospel, disciple believers, and strengthen the church throughout the world.” While our team is likely a bit more dispersed than the staff at your church, the reality is even in a local church context, people aren’t together all the time. Ministry calls people to be out with people or serve at various times with different schedules. Having a structured plan for communicating with one another can be helpful. Here are the tools we use at Church Juice and ReFrame Ministries, including how we use them to help our internal communications thrive in a fast-paced ministry environment.

4 Great Internal Church Communication Tools

1. Slack

Slack is our primary communication tool throughout the week. If you’re not familiar with Slack, it’s an evolution of earlier Internet instant messaging combined with chat room features. Slack offers direct, one-to-one messaging. It also offers public and private channels to involve several people around a common topic, project, or interest. You can have as many channels as you’d like, and people can create their own.

We use Slack for direct, instantaneous communication. Our team expects that everyone is online and available on Slack when working. It’s easy to update your status on Slack to let everyone know if you’re busy—like focusing on a project, in a meeting, or running an errand.

2. Email

Email isn’t going anywhere, but our team relies sparingly on email among the rest of our ministry team. We send emails when we’re addressing something more formal or conversing with people outside of our ministry (meaning they’re not on Slack). We expect an email to receive a response, but probably not immediately—usually within 24 hours during the workweek.

3. Google Workspace

Document storage and collaboration have gotten much more accessible in recent years. Our team uses Google Drive and Google Docs for our file storage and document creation. Using Google Workspace helps ensure everyone has access to everything they might need. Our team utilizes shared drives across the ministry, expecting that most files are on a shared drive unless. We create documents, spreadsheets, and presentations using Google Docs, which allows the team to collaborate and work together in real-time.

I recently worked with a couple of collaborators on the annual budget for my church. The people I worked with didn’t use Google Docs, instead insisting on emailing Microsoft Excel files back and forth. Every time one of us shared an updated version of the spreadsheet, it needed to be saved as a new file. Fifty-seven versions (and files) of the budget later, we finally had a “Final Budget.” The whole process made me have a deeper appreciation for the collaboration tools that Google Workspace offers.

4. Asana

The last tool in our internal communication toolbelt at Church Juice and ReFrame Ministries is Asana, our project management software. Asana manages tasks and project collaboration across our entire team. The expectation for our team is that we include all jobs and projects in Asana—this helps the whole team see what others have on their plate, creates an organized system for managing needs, and provides accountability for everyone on our team. Having a tool like Asana offers an organized way for everyone to work together on larger projects. It also means there’s a place to keep track of individual tasks—and even a place to “brain dump” ideas or things to get to in the future.

These are the primary internal church communication tools we use at Church Juice. While any given service might not work for every scenario, I hope, at a minimum, it gets you thinking about how you might adapt your tools or find a solution that meets your church’s unique needs.

If you need some additional assistance to figure out how to build a system that works for your church, reach out to our Church Juice team. We love working with churches to use effective church communication tools!

This article about internal church communication tools originally appeared here, and is used by permission.

10 Ways to Attract and Empower Small Group Leaders

By

Reid Smith

-

May 12, 2022

Not everyone connects in the same way. Church leaders have found that offering multiple entry-points into their church’s community life helps more people build relationships and find a small group so they can be more committed to their ongoing spiritual growth. There are more approaches than ever to helping people connect and grow together in Christ, which create opportunities to attract and empower small group leaders.

In other words, you can identify and empower small group leaders when you help people connect in different kinds of ways. As a result, individuals who never saw themselves as a leader will take their first steps in serving as a community-building agent for the Kingdom of God! This post will offer ten strategies you can implement so that you can attract and empower new small group leaders.

10 Ways to Attract and Empower Small Group Leaders

1. Personal Invitation

There is no greater “strategy” than one friend encouraging another to journey with him in Christian community. This strategy involves small group leaders helping their group members invite others by encouraging it and equipping them with tools (print or digital) to do so. See “To Invite, or Not to Invite: That is the Question!” at www.reidsmith.org for more on this strategy. Invitation can be a group member’s first big step into their own leadership journey where they intentionally disciple others and eventually start their own group.

2. Pair Up

If we follow the examples of Jesus and the Apostle Paul, we will purposefully develop others as they serve alongside us (Luke 6:12–13; 2 Tim 2:2). Build on the relationships people already have by encouraging those serving in any leadership capacity to ask a friend to join them in the journey. There’s good reason why Jesus sent out His disciples 2×2 (Luke 10). This also creates built-in encouragement so new small group leaders don’t drift away or drop-out (Ecc 4).

3. Campaign Strategy + “Two Friends” Approach

As Steve shares in his book, Planning Small Groups with Purpose: “A campaign is forty days of intensive, churchwide focus on a particular aspect of spiritual growth for each age group.” (p. 110) It encompasses all activities in the church and one of the goals of campaigns is to start new groups. Saddleback then encourages anyone who has at least two friends to start a group with their video curriculum and begin to progress through their leadership development pathway after the first study (cf. 137).

How to Preach About Jesus to Kids at Your Church

By

Mark Harper

-

May 11, 2022

Have you wondered how to preach about Jesus to kids? Don’t make the process unnecessarily complex. Instead, stay age-appropriate, enthusiastic, and welcoming.

I use these 10 steps in developing all my children’s ministry curriculum. I hope the insights about how to preach about Jesus to kids serve as valuable reminders.

10 Easy Steps: How to Preach About Jesus to Kids

Keep these 10 tips in mind while preaching every children’s church sermon, Sunday school class, or chapel service.

1. FOCUS!

Narrow the key message to just one per week.

2. THINK LIKE A KID.

Use a kid filter for everything you teach and preach. Adjust the message based on kids’ ages and developmental stages.

3. TEACH IN A SERIES.

This can be a huge plus, especially for older kids. A series helps listeners know where you’re going.

4. BE VISUAL.

Use short films, PowerPoint slides, object lessons, and dramas. Engage and involve children with the message whenever possible.

5. TELL STORIES.

The best preachers are good storytellers. After all, consider how many parables Jesus used in the New Testament!

6. KEEP IT MOVING.

Change what you’re doing every five to seven minutes. That way you’re less likely to lose children’s attention.

7. STAY CURRENT.

If you package an eternal message in an old wrapper, it seems like an old message. Although you don’t have to bow to culture, be aware of it…and of current best practices.

The Satanic Temple Will Protect ‘Religious Abortion Access’ If Roe Is Overturned

By

Jessica Mouser

-

May 11, 2022

In response to Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito’s leaked draft indicating Roe v. Wade could be overturned, The Satanic Temple is taking steps to ensure that women have access to its so-called “abortion ritual.”

“The news that Roe v Wade will likely be overturned is extremely distressing,” said The Satanic Temple in a statement posted to Twitter on May 5. “The Satanic Temple (TST) has nevertheless positioned itself to protect religious abortion access for our members.”

The Satanic Temple’s ‘Abortion Ritual’

On its Twitter page, The Satanic Temple describes itself as “the only federally recognized international (non-theistic) religious Satanic organization.” While TST is classified as a religion (and is therefore tax-exempt), members do not actually believe in the supernatural or in Satan as a real being. The Satanic Temple is not the same as the Church of Satan, founded by Anton LaVey.

The stated mission of TST is “to encourage benevolence and empathy, reject tyrannical authority, advocate practical common sense, oppose injustice, and undertake noble pursuits.” TST adheres to seven “fundamental tenets,” the third of which is, “One’s body is inviolable, subject to one’s own will alone.”

This is not the first time TST has offered its “abortion ritual” as a solution to abortion restrictions in the U.S. On Sept. 1, 2021, an abortion law went into effect in Texas, banning abortion after a fetal heartbeat can be detected, typically around six weeks into pregnancy.

What sets the ban apart is its enforcement provision, which grants power to civilian whistleblowers and intentionally makes court challenges difficult. The Satanic Temple responded to the law by offering to help anyone in the state who wishes to undergo the “Satanic Abortion Ritual.”

“The Satanic Temple stands ready to assist any member that shares its deeply-held religious convictions regarding the right to reproductive freedom,” TST said on its website. “Accordingly, we encourage any member who resides in Texas and wishes to undergo the Satanic Abortion Ritual within the first 24 weeks of pregnancy to contact The Satanic Temple so we may help them fight this law directly.” TST has filed a lawsuit against the state of Texas on the grounds that by restricting abortion, the state is infringing on the religions rights of TST members.

Russell Moore: Do Christians Who Commit Suicide Go to Hell?

By

Jesse T. Jackson

-

May 11, 2022

Russell Moore suicide — Screengrab via YouTube @The Gospel Coalition

In a video shared on The Gospel Coalition, director of the Public Theology Project at Christianity Today Russell Moore answered the difficult but often asked question, “If Christians commit suicide, do they still go to heaven?”

Moore, who authored Onward: Engaging the Culture Without Losing the Gospel, explained that it pains him when a Christian asks him this question, because he often fears the person asking is contemplating taking their own life.

“Suicide is murder,” Moore said, adding, “Suicide is the attacking of the image of God. And suicide is horrible. Not only a sin but also a sin that leaves wreckage and devastation all over the place.”

Before Moore answered the question, he pleaded with anyone who might be thinking about suicide to seek help, reassuring them that life is worth living.

Moore further expressed that this question isn’t just asked by people contemplating suicide, but also those whose loved one has died by suicide and who are worried that their loved one will be judged by their last act on Earth: murder.

Do you go to hell if you commit suicide?

Many Christians fear that when someone who loved Jesus commits suicide, they will go to hell, even if they had previously repented of their sins and placed their faith in Jesus. Moore states that this belief is not true.

“This person is in Christ. That means the blood of Christ covers that person’s sins in the past, present, and future,” Moore explained. “We’re not saved on the basis of the last thing that we do being something that is acceptable to God. We’re saved by the grace and mercy of God. We’re saved by the grace and mercy of God.”

“And that’s also something that’s especially important when we’re thinking of issues of suicide, where often—almost always—those who are committing suicide are in a place of deep, deep anguish and distress of various sorts of mental illness or mental plagues or sense of hopelessness that’s coming upon them,” Moore continued.

Moore said that Christians should respond with compassion toward someone who has died by suicide. Don’t blame or be angry at that person, Moore counseled, telling Christians not to worry if that person is outside of the reach of God’s grace.

“God’s grace covers a multitude of sins, including those that are so hurtful that we hesitate to even talk of them,” Moore concluded.

‘I’m Ok With Going to Hell’: Elon Musk Tweets About Death; Says He Would Let Donald Trump Back on Twitter

By

Dale Chamberlain

-

May 11, 2022

Eccentric billionaire Elon Musk has never been one to keep from speaking his mind, regardless of who agrees or disagrees with him.

On Sunday, Musk took to Twitter and alluded to his possible death, leading to a follow up tweet about where he stands with regard to his own afterlife.

“If I die under mysterious circumstances, it’s been nice knowin ya,” Musk tweeted. It appears Musk was referring to Russian space chief Dmitry Rogozin threatening him for SpaceX’s Starlink satellite-internet system, which has been supplying internet to Ukrainians following Russia’s invasion.

“Elon, you will be held accountable like an adult—no matter how much you’ll play the fool,” Rogozin had said. Musk’s tweet signaled that he was taking the threat in stride and was unfazed enough to joke about it.

Nevertheless, Musk’s tweet garnered over 146 thousand comments, one of which read, “You won’t die before your day, Elon. Anyhow, you are/were a unique figure in this world.”

“I’m only wondering one thing: As a genius, haven’t you [found] out that there is a great creator of this world yet? If you did, make sure you confess this before your last heart beat,” the response continued. “Bless u.”

Musk replied, “Thank you for the blessing, but I’m ok with going to hell, if that is indeed my destination, since the vast majority of all humans ever born will be there.”

Musk, who recently moved the headquarters of Tesla from the progressive dominated Silicon Valley in California to the Republican majority state of Texas, has increasingly become the darling of many American conservatives, and evangelicals in particular.

Musk has even expressed appreciation for Christian satire site The Babylon Bee and has said that “wokeness is an enemy to comedy.”

In a December 2021 interview with the Babylon Bee, Musk shared about the religious influences in his upbringing, saying, “When I grew up, funnily enough, I went to Anglican Sunday school—the Church of England, basically. But I was also sent to Hebrew preschool, although I’m not Jewish. Nonetheless, I was singing ‘Hava Nagila’ one day and ‘Jesus our Lord’ the next.”

In New Book, Baylor Coach Scott Drew Describes J.O.Y. of Putting Jesus First

By

Stephanie Martin

-

May 11, 2022

While overseeing one of the biggest turnarounds in college basketball history, Baylor University men’s coach Scott Drew has received numerous accolades. But what matters most to him—and what he’s become known for—is spreading a culture of J.O.Y. that prioritizes Jesus.

Now Drew, 51, is sharing his life story, faith insights, and leadership lessons in a book published by Thomas Nelson. Titled “The Road to J.O.Y.: Leading With Faith, Playing With Purpose, Leaving a Legacy,” the book offers “an insider’s look at the others-first culture that spurred Baylor’s rebound.” Co-written with Don Yaeger, the May 3 release emphasizes that “faith is the foundation for everything Drew does.”

Scott Drew Takes Baylor From Scandal to Championship

When Drew arrived at Baylor in 2003, the team was dealing with drug scandals and the murder of one player by another. During those challenges, the coach says he relied on Jesus’ guidance and wisdom—and was able to point people to his source of help. “When you have what seems like an impossible task,” Drew writes, “don’t forget to ask Jesus to make the impossible possible.”

Baylor, located in Waco, Texas, is the world’s largest Baptist university. During Drew’s 19 years helming its men’s basketball program, he has won 419 games and racked up 13 seasons with 20 or more wins. The highlight occurred in April 2021, when the Bears won their first NCAA National Championship, defeating previously unbeaten Gonzaga 86-70.

Drew has taken Baylor to the NCAA Tournament eight other times and received numerous Coach of the Year awards. But his formula for true J.O.Y.—putting Jesus first, Others second, and Yourself last—is what he wants to be remembered for. Speaking to The Christian Post, the coach says, “If you have that order right, then life is a lot more rewarding, fulfilling, and people want to be around you a lot more, that’s for sure.”

Coach Scott Drew Rallies His Team To Rely on God

During the pandemic “bubble” season, Baylor’s basketball team spent much more time together than usual. Drew credits those experiences with helping players and coaches get to know one another “a lot more intimately.”

In “The Road to J.O.Y.,” Drew also details his upbringing in a family who loved God and all types of competition. He followed in the footsteps of his dad, Homer Drew, a former head basketball coach at Valparaiso University. Scott Drew served as an assistant there under his father and then became the head coach after his dad retired. But after just one year at Valpo, Baylor came calling.

Vance Pitman: Why Stress Should Not Be a ‘Normal’ Part of a Pastor’s Life

By

Jessica Mouser

-

May 11, 2022

The Stetzer ChurchLeaders Podcast · Vance Pitman: Why Stress Should Not Be a ‘Normal’ Part of a Pastor’s Life

Vance Pitman was the senior pastor of Hope Church in Las Vegas, Nevada, which he planted in 2001, before stepping down in December 2021 to taken on a new role as president of the Send Network. He speaks across the U.S. and around the world to inspire people to join in God’s eternal, redemptive mission of making disciples and multiplying the church among every tribe, tongue, people and nation. Vance’s latest book is, “The Stressless Life: Experiencing the Unshakable Presence of God’s Indescribable Peace.”

Other Ways to Listen to This Podcast With Vance Pitman

► Listen on Apple
► Listen on Spotify
► Listen on Stitcher
► Listen on YouTube

Key Questions for Vance Pitman

-Most people accept that stress is a part of life. What is a normal level of acceptable stress, especially if you’re a pastor?

-Why is God’s peace essential to a life without stress, and to what extent do our own decisions impact our stress levels?

-How do we access God’s peace in the more difficult areas of our lives?

-What are practical ways for church leaders to step outside of stress, even though they can’t completely remove themselves from certain situations immediately?

Key Quotes From Vance Pitman

“I had no idea really when I started down this journey of writing the book that it would be coming out in a time like what we’re living in right now—if you know the world of publishing, it’s kind of a slow wheel.”

“My body literally shut down after about 22 years of ministry, 13 years in Vegas. My body said, ‘Enough’s enough.’ And for eight days I just slept.”

“We don’t have to allow the stressors of life to dominate our lives. Yes, we all are going to experience apprehension and anxiety. We can’t escape from stressors, but we can respond to those situations in a way that allows us to enjoy life and not just endure it.”

“There is a clinical medical anxiety disorder, and that’s not what I’m addressing. If somebody’s got a clinical medical issue, you can’t pray your way out of that. You need medicine, you need doctoral help. You need professional help to be able to deal with that. What I’m talking about is the normal, everyday amount of stress in life that all of us have to deal with.”

“I define stress like this: Stress is the fearful concern that’s experienced when life’s demands seem greater than my ability to meet them.”

Man Pleads Guilty to Stealing Checks Intended for Churches

By

AP News

-

May 11, 2022

GREENBELT, Md. (AP) — A Florida man has pleaded guilty in connection with the theft of more than 2,600 checks intended for religious institutions in several states that were deposited into fake bank accounts, a federal prosecutor in Maryland said.

Florin Vaduva, 31, of Dania Beach, Florida, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud. The plea agreement orders Vaduva to pay at least $1 million restitution, U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron announced Tuesday in a news release.

The guilty plea says that from June 2018 to January 2021, Vaduva and at least five others conspired to steal checks intended for religious institutions and deposit them into multiple fraudulent bank accounts. The checks were stolen from roadside mailboxes.

Vaduva and the co-conspirators deposited the stolen checks into bank accounts through ATMs, then withdrew money and spent the proceeds using debit cards.

During five months in 2020, Vaduva deposited or was part of the deposit of at least 49 stolen checks totaling more than $27,000 from churches in Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia into five fraudulently opened bank accounts. Vaduva was apprehended last September.

Vaduva faces up to 30 years in prison and five years of supervised release when he is sentenced on Aug. 8.

This article originally appeared on APNews.com.

California Child Who Died Was Allegedly Subject to Exorcism

By

AP News

-

May 11, 2022

california church — Pastor Rene Huezo is seen giving a sermon at Iglesia Evangelica Apostoles y Profetas church in San Jose on the church’s YouTube channel. Pastor Huezo was the grandfather of the three-year-old girl who died when he performed an exorcism on her last September. Screenshot from YouTube / @Iglesia Apostoles Y Profetas San jose CA

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — A 3-year-old girl whose death last fall has been ruled a homicide was the subject of an alleged exorcism last year at a Northern California church, a newspaper reported Tuesday.

The child, Arely Naomi Proctor, died last September after family members performed a ceremony to “liberate her of her evil spirits,” church officials told the San Jose Mercury News. The Santa Clara County medical examiner’s office ruled the death a homicide caused by asphyxiation.

The girl’s mother, Claudia Hernandez, was charged with assault on a child resulting in death. The Associated Press could not immediately determine whether Hernandez has an attorney.

Details of the case were not made public at the time but the newspaper reported on it amid new scrutiny on the Iglesia Apostoles y Profetas, a tiny Pentecostal church in San Jose, following the recent kidnapping of a 3-month-old baby that led police to search the church.

No evidence was found in the church that was relevant to the child’s abduction and the church was not part of the case submitted to the district attorney’s office, said Officer Steven Aponte, a spokesman for the San Jose Police Department. The baby was found safe in a San Jose apartment several hours after the abduction was captured on surveillance video, and police arrested three suspects, including at least one of whom attended the same church.

The church pastor, Rene Huezo, was the grandfather of the 3-year-old and took part in the exorcism but has not been charged, the newspaper reported.

According to court records, Hernandez told police she believed her daughter was possessed because she would “wake up and scream or cry periodically.” She and her brother brought the child to the church on Sept. 24 where they were joined by Huezo to perform an exorcism, the Mercury News reported.

Hernandez is accused of holding the girl’s neck, squeezing it and depriving her of food while her father and brother held the child down.

The church operates out of a basement in a San Jose home. Attempts to reach church officials through their social media accounts and the church website were not immediately successful.

Huezo said he feels a lot of pain at the death of his grandchild but does not believe the exorcism caused her death.

This article originally appeared on APNews.com.

NY To Send $35M to Abortion Providers Amid Worry Over Roe

By

Marina Villeneuve

-

May 11, 2022

abortion-protest — EDS NOTE: OBSCENITY - Abortion-rights protesters hold signs during a demonstration outside of the U.S. Supreme Court, Saturday, May 7, 2022, in Washington. A draft opinion suggests the U.S. Supreme Court could be poised to overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade case that legalized abortion nationwide, according to a Politico report released Monday. Whatever the outcome, the Politico report represents an extremely rare breach of the court's secretive deliberation process, and on a case of surpassing importance. (AP Photo/Amanda Andrade-Rhoades)

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York will give abortion providers $35 million to expand services and boost security in anticipation of the U.S. Supreme Court possibly overturning the landmark Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationwide, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Tuesday.

The Democrat said the state must get ready for a potential influx of out-of-state patients seeking abortions from the roughly half of U.S. states that are expected to ban or greatly restrict abortion if Roe is overturned.

“To truly ensure that anyone seeking an abortion in New York has access to them, we have to ensure that the providers have the resources and the capacity to accommodate all patients who walk through their doors,” Hochul said.

Abortion providers in New York and elsewhere have long faced safety fears: In Hochul’s hometown of Amherst, New York, an anti-abortion activist fatally shot Dr. Barnett Slepian through a window in his home on Oct. 23, 1998.

Hochul’s office said she’ll use an emergency Department of Health fund to provide $25 million in grants and reimbursements to abortion providers, including increasing access to services, while the remaining $10 million for security upgrades at abortion providers and reproductive health centers will come from from the state’s Division of Criminal Justice Services, which is part of the state’s executive branch.

“I consider this an emergency and I’m going to make sure that that money is available the second the decision comes down,” she said.

New York Attorney General Letitia James announced Monday that she backed a similar proposal to provide $50 million in funding for abortion providers.

A leaked Supreme Court draft opinion that would throw out the landmark 1973 abortion rights ruling has spurred Democratic leaders in several states to consider steps to increase access to abortion services. A final ruling is not expected until the end of the court’s term in late June or early July.

In February, Oregon launched a $15 million fund to provide grants to Oregon nonprofits to expand access to abortions. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, proposed a budget that includes $68 million for reproductive health care services including abortion providers.

Hochul is also backing a proposed state constitutional amendment to guarantee abortion rights and prohibit discrimination based on factors from race to “pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes.” That amendment would need to be approved by the state legislature in two legislative session years and then be approved by voters.

In Vermont, voters this fall will consider an abortion rights amendment to the state constitution. Connecticut, Michigan and Colorado are facing calls for similar amendments, while states like Iowa, Kansas and Kentucky are considering amendments restricting abortion rights.

Other states, including Connecticut and Washington, have also taken steps to shield providers from possible lawsuits as people seek abortions across state lines.

New York and its Democratic-led Legislature have expanded abortion rights in recent years by allowing more abortions after 24 weeks, removing abortion from the state’s penal code and allowing access to medication abortion services through telemedicine visits.

This year, lawmakers used the state budget to pass a law enshrining existing regulations that require every insurance plan to cover all types of abortion, regardless of reason. That law has been the subject of an ongoing legal challenge by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany.

Hochul on Tuesday also called for an end to a U.S. law prohibiting the use of federal funds for abortions except in scenarios including rape, incest or to save the life of the mother. New York is one of 16 states where Medicaid pays for all or most abortions in cases where they’re deemed medically necessary, according to abortion-rights supporting Guttmacher Institute.

Donna Lieberman, the executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, said that even New York’s protections could be vulnerable in a court battle.

“We should not harbor any illusions that the agenda of the radical right is to ban abortion completely, to do it on the federal level, to do it state-by-state,” she said.

State GOP chair Nick Langworthy said the expected Supreme Court’s opinion won’t jettison abortion rights in New York and claimed Democrats are overblowing any potential impact.

Associated Press writers Rachel La Corte in Olympia, Wash. and Michelle Price in New York City contributed reporting.

This story has been corrected to show that state funding is not contingent on the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, and that funding for security upgrades will come from New York’s Division of Criminal Justice Services, not the Department of Health.

This article originally appeared here.

US Interior to Release Report on Indigenous Boarding Schools

By

Felicia Fonseca

-

May 11, 2022

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — The U.S. Interior Department says it will release a report Wednesday that will begin to uncover the truth about the federal government’s past oversight of Native American boarding schools.

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland announced an initiative last June to investigate the troubled legacy of boarding schools, which the government established and supported for decades. Indigenous children routinely were taken from their communities and forced into schools that sought to strip them of their language and culture.

Catholic, Protestant and other churches also led some of the schools, backed by U.S. laws and policies.

The Interior report was prompted by the discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves at former residential school sites in Canada that brought back painful memories for Indigenous communities. Haaland has said her agency’s report will identify past schools, locate known and possible burial sites at or near those schools, and uncover the names and tribal affiliations of students.

The first volume of the report will be released Wednesday. The Interior Department hasn’t said how many volumes were produced.

At least 367 boarding schools for Native Americans operated in the U.S., many of them in Oklahoma where tribes were relocated, Arizona, Alaska, New Mexico and South Dakota, according to research by the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition.

Children at the schools often were subjected to military-style discipline and had their long hair cut. Early curricula focused heavily on vocational skills, including homemaking for girls. Some children never returned home.

Accounting for the number of children who died at the schools has been difficult because records weren’t always kept. Ground penetrating radar has been used in some places to search for remains.

The boarding school coalition has said Interior’s work will be an important step for the U.S. in reckoning with its role in the schools, but noted the agency’s authority is limited.

Later this week, a U.S. House subcommittee will hear testimony on a bill to create a truth and healing commission modeled after one in Canada. Several church groups are backing the legislation.

This article originally appeared here.

State of the Bible: 40 Percent of Gen Z Believe Jesus Sinned

By

Diana Chandler

-

May 11, 2022

state of the bible — Photo by Priscilla Du Preez (via Unsplash)

PHILADELPHIA (BP) — Nearly 40 percent of Generation Z believe Jesus was a human and sinned like other people when He lived on earth, the American Bible Society reveals in State of the Bible 2022.

The perception among Gen Z, polling at 38 percent, was comparable to other age groups, including Generation X, 37 percent; and millennials and boomers, 35 percent. Only the elderly polled significantly lower in believing Jesus sinned, at 26 percent. The numbers based on age groups do not address whether those polled identify as Christian or non-Christian.

Among the Scripture-engaged of all ages, only 18 percent believe Jesus was a sinner, the ABS said.

The findings are included in Chapter 2 of the 2022 report, in part focusing on how the Bible shapes ideas about spiritual things, specifically their perceptions of God, Jesus and Satan.

ABS expressed hope in finding that Gen Z registers high in curiosity about Jesus and/or the Bible, with 75 percent falling between a little curious (11 percent) and extremely curious (31 percent). One-fifth, 21 percent, said they were very curious and 13 percent said they were somewhat curious.

Curiosity has been called “the most underrated tool of persuasion. If that’s true, then Christians are well-positioned to share God’s message with their neighbors because curiosity is trending higher,” ABS said, gauging curiosity about who Jesus is and what the Bible says. “It cuts across all generations. The Elder generation leads all age groups at 87 percent curiosity.”

The rise in curiosity was found despite a drop in Bible readership.

“It’s crucial for churches, ministries and practicing Christians to understand the questions that non-practicing Christians have and help them find answers in the Bible,” ABS said in its study. “We need to invite them into life-giving relationships centered on biblical faith and vibrant Christian community.”

Overall, those whom ABS described as Scripture-engaged held a more scriptural perception of Jesus, with only 18 percent believing that Jesus was a sinner. Among those in the Movable Middle category, which includes both those who are Bible friendly and Bible neutral, 33 percent perceive Jesus as a sinner. The highest portion of respondents who believed Jesus was a sinner, 43 percent, falls among those categorized as Bible Disengaged.

Nearly all respondents in the Scripture-engaged category, 92 percent, perceive God as an “all-powerful, all-knowing, perfect creator of the universe who rules the world today,” compared to 76 percent of the Movable Middle and 33 percent of the Bible Disengaged who expressed that belief. When studied by age group, irrespective of Bible engagement, 57 percent of Gen Z held the Scripture-based view of God, compared to 48 percent of millennials, 63 percent of Gen X, 67 percent of boomers and 82 percent of the elderly.

Chapter 2 of State of the Bible 2022 is available here, with subsequent chapters slated for release throughout 2022.

ABS researchers collaborated with the University of Chicago’s National Opinion Research Center to survey a nationally representative group of American adults on topics related to the Bible, faith and the church. The study conducted online via telephone produced 2,598 responses from a representative sample of adults 18 and older in all 50 states and Washington D.C.

This article originally appeared here.

3 Reasons Kids Ministries and Youth Ministries Can Drift From Jesus

By

Eric Geiger

-

May 11, 2022

Several years ago, I wrote a book with my good friends Matt Chandler and Josh Patterson about Jesus being the center of a local church. We called the book Creature of the Word, the title coming from an old Martin Luther quote where he taught that that when the gospel is rightly declared and applied to God’s people, the church becomes “a creature of the Word.”

As the book was released we were asked to do interviews and podcasts about the book. Well, actually most of the interviewers wanted to talk to Matt because, well, he is Matt Chandler. A question Matt was asked several times was, “Where does a church often shift away from the gospel without realizing it?” I thought Matt’s answer was profound and it applies to both churches and families. Matt would respond, “It can often happen subtly in the kids ministries and youth ministries of a church.”

Why can a drift from Jesus at the center of a church happen easily in kids and youth ministries? I think for at least three reasons:

1. Teaching Behavior Can Be Attractive to Parents.

Who doesn’t want their kids to behave? I want my kids to behave! Because of this, there is a subtle attraction to teaching that focuses kids on important actions such as obeying their parents, being responsible, and treating people with kindness. These are all really good things! But remember the religious leaders in Jesus’ day focused on behavior too, and Jesus told them that they were focused on the outside of the cup while the inside of the cup was unclean.

Jesus never affirmed right behavior apart from a transformed heart. And the reality is that commitments and actions not rooted in our new identity as Christ followers won’t last anyway. If we teach character apart from Christ, we burden kids with expectations they will not be able to live up to because none of us can obey God apart from Him transforming our hearts.

2. Teaching Jesus Will Offend Some.

The message of Jesus has always been and is still fundamentally offensive. The message of Jesus confronts us with our inability to rescue and fulfill ourselves and shows us that He is our only hope. A kid’s ministry and youth ministry that points people to Jesus over and over again is choosing to build a ministry on the only One that can transform. But the One who will transform is also the One who will offend – the Cornerstone and the stumbling block. To keep Jesus at the center of a ministry will offend some.

3. As Leaders We Prefer Applause.

Leaders of kid’s ministries and youth ministries are people just like us – which means they prefer applause to criticism. There will be plenty of applause and approval if we teach virtues rather than the Vine. But we can’t live virtues consistently or sincerely apart from the Vine.

As a parent and as a pastor I have experienced the subtle temptation to drift from Jesus. And I know the way to overcome is to fight, to bring the grace of Jesus to the center of my parenting and pastoring. A story I have used with my daughters to teach them about God’s grace has become a kid’s book – actually a book that Evie (my youngest) and I have written. It is a parable about the grace we receive when we trust Jesus and the freedom of not living for approval. The book is called The Quokkas, the Snails, and the Land of Happiness, and you can get it on Amazon here.

This article originally appeared here and is used by permission.

All Is Not Lost: How We Can Respond When Bible Engagement Is Low

By

Christy Gates

-

May 11, 2022

The latest American Bible Society State of the Bible (SOTB) report reveals that “Americans are less likely than ever before to say that the Bible is influencing the way they live out their faith in relationship to others.” This is no surprise, especially for those of us in college ministry who have seen a progressive decline in biblical literacy among freshmen.

But what we have seen is that people are still open to exploring the Bible if they can learn how and study in community. Take this story about a student Bible study leader as an illustration. When asked to lead on her college campus, Tori felt ill-equipped and nervous because she had never led others through Scripture. She soon realized, however, that she did not need to know more than the other people – she just needed to be curious and open like they were. Soon, Tori’s group had grown, and the Bible study method she was using was also adopted by her home church, leading to growth in Tori and in many others in her church community.

Those of us in campus ministry accept that we face real challenges: often, the spiritual climate is neutral or hostile toward the Christian faith, and many students are either unfamiliar with the Bible or have not been taught how to engage Scripture well. Yet many in college ministry have learned how to thrive in the midst of these obstacles.

This is good news for churches! We believe that low Bible engagement among Americans presents great opportunities for growth and increased ministry impact in local communities. Allow me to share three realities and three prompts we need to consider before becoming discouraged by what the latest SOTB report reveals.

First, Your Neighbors Are Ready for Spiritual Conversations. Are You?

Although Americans are engaging the Bible less, the latest SOTB also shows heartening news: one-third of “non-Bible Users” indicated they are “very” or “extremely” curious about the Bible and/or Jesus. We can respond by learning how to talk with our neighbors about spiritual things. This begins by connecting through something we share in common. Once we have a connection, we can bring up faith by asking an open-ended question about their spiritual background, what they believe about God, or how they view the spiritual side of life.

As we listen well and get to know one another, we can say something that keeps the door open for further conversation. This could happen by expressing how much you have enjoyed talking, how the conversation will keep you thinking, or how you look forward to hearing more later. The key is to have spiritual conversations regularly, even with people who believe differently from you.

Second, Your Neighbors Are Ready to Explore the Bible With You. Do You Know What to Do?

On campus, we find that approximately half of non-Christians will say yes to studying the Bible if a trusted friend invites them. In the flow of a spiritual conversation, you can simply ask, “Would you ever want to read the Bible with me so that you can explore Jesus for yourself?” If they say no, receive their response warmly and continue initiating spiritual conversations with them from time to time.

If they say yes, then read a chapter from one of the Gospels with them. Talk together about what you see—characters, relationships, locations, time, actions, repeated words, comparisons, contrasts, and cause and effect. Ask questions and use the text to answer them as best you can. Discuss what points you think the passage is trying to make. After you have done this, discuss how you think the passage may or may not be relevant to your everyday lives or what thoughts and feelings arise from studying this passage. Share openly about your own life.

Third, Your Neighbors Are Ready to See the Bible in a New Light. Can You Lead the Way?

On campus, we find that students are eager to engage the Bible when they realize it speaks to the heart of their life experience. Those who have stopped reading the Bible may not have a problem with the Bible in general. Instead, they may just have a problem with how they have seen the Bible taught and what they have heard some Christians say it means.

Engaging the Bible through an interactive discovery process can be effective because curiosity and active learning help people become lifelong students of the Bible. When reading the Bible is communal and we use the text to answer our questions, we are creating a level playing field and a transparent, investigative approach that is welcoming and easy to pass on.

Studying Theology – 4 Reactions From “Regular People”

By

Eric Geiger

-

May 11, 2022

In the summer of 2020, I led an online theology class for people in the church I pastor. I was blown away that over 1000 people engaged in the class, asked thoughtful questions, and walked through the material each week. We used a theological text book as our reading, and explored a different “ology” each week: Bibliology (study of the Bible), Christology (study of Christ), Soteriology (study of salvation), Pneumatology (study of the Spirit), and so on. There were four overarching comments I heard from people in our church after studying theology with them for eight weeks.

Studying Theology – 4 Reactions From “Regular People”

1. Studying theology impacts me every day.

Some have wrongly thought that studying theology does not impact our daily lives. But theology simply means “thinking about God,” and our thinking about God impact everything about us. A.W. Tozer famously wrote, “the thing that we think when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”

Salvation accomplished for us in Christ impacts our striving and accomplishing.
The triune God existing in community shapes our view of relationships.
Jesus being fully God and fully human impacts our prayers.
Christ emptying Himself to serve us motivates us to serve others.
God as Father impacts our parenting.
Work existing before the fall of humanity helps us see how our work can be holy.
The Church being the family of God impacts how we engage in our church.
The Spirit within us impacts our view of overcoming temptation and sin.
And so on…

2. I have a better and deeper understanding of what I believe.

C.S. Lewis said, “If you do not listen to theology that will not mean you have no ideas about God, rather it will mean you have a lot of wrong ones.” We want the right thoughts about God. By studying theology, people see how all the different things they believe interact with one another. They see how the person of Jesus cannot be separated from the work of Jesus. How the work of Jesus impacts their salvation being secure. How their salvation being secure impacts their motivation for living. How their motivation for living is connected to Christ returning. And so on…

3. Thinking about God is richer in community.

Many have pointed out that theology must be done in community – that even our historical Christian creeds and confessions were formed in community. We are too frail and too limited in our understanding to come to theological conclusions on our own. And why would we want to? We can be encouraged and challenged by the work Christ is doing in others.

4. The reading was too much for “a normal person.”

I loved studying theology with people in our church. Based on the feedback I received, they loved it too. But the reading was too much for many. “Not enough hours in the day.” “Kept falling behind.” “Wish there was a shorter option.” Those were common comments. Based on that feedback, I am convinced need to make “the great ologies” more accessible to people in our churches.

THis artice about good theology originally appeared here, and is used by permission.

Do You OVER Welcome First-time Visitors?

By

Phil Cooke

-

May 11, 2022

There’s no question that too many churches are pretty poor when it comes to welcoming new visitors. I can’t count how many churches I visited over the years without a single person saying hello, or introducing themselves. After hearing from hundreds of church focus groups, one of the top responses our team at Cooke Media Group hears is that a major reason people decided to join a church was because they were so moved by the welcome on their first visit. But beware of the over welcome as well.

Do You OVER Welcome First-time Visitors?

Let’s think about doing it better.

1. The “over the top” welcome.

I’ve actually visited churches that have lines of people applauding when people walk in the door – like a football team taking the field. Others hold signs or hand out balloons. In places like that the lobby can have a carnival atmosphere.

2. Don’t get me wrong.

I’m all for a welcoming environment, creating a “welcome team” and training ushers to make people feel at home.

But in the effort, be careful about how an over welcome can go over the top . It’s one thing to feel welcomed, and something else entirely to be made to feel embarrassed or awkward.

Don’t over welcome. Just make it genuine. It’s hard to go wrong there.

This article about the dangers of an over wecome originally appeared here, and is used by permission. Phil Cooke works at the intersection of faith, media, and culture, and he’s pretty rare – a working producer in Hollywood with a Ph.D. in Theology. His client list includes studios and networks like Walt Disney, Dreamworks, and USA Network, as well as major Christian organizations from Voice of the Martyrs, Joel Osteen, Joyce Meyer, The Museum of the Bible, The Salvation Army, The YouVersion Bible app, and many more.

Youth Group Promotion: Preparing Students for What Comes Next

By

Youth Ministrycom

-

May 10, 2022

It’s that time of year. Youth group promotion is on the horizon! In a few short months, churches everywhere will move elementary-aged kids up to junior high ministry. And 8th graders will enter the sometimes-intimidating world of high school youth group.

For years at Saddleback, we’ve been fairly intentional in our youth group promotion strategy. Specifically, we employ what I call a “push up/reach down” approach. It’s a great way to help students move smoothly from one department to the next. Let me explain…

But first one key thought. “Youth Group Promotion Sunday” (or whatever you call it) is not a one-time event. Instead, it’s a mindset you should enter into a couple of months before the actual date.

Youth Group Promotion: Pushing Up & Reaching Down

Pushing Up

The department below “Pushes Up” to the department above.

Our children’s ministry does an amazing job at “pushing up” toward our junior high ministry. Leaders spend significant time and effort preparing 6th graders for their new home in junior high. Here are some things they do:

They always speak highly of our junior high ministry to students and parents.
They purposely neglect doing some things in 6th grade in order for junior high to be the first time kids experience them. In other words, they don’t try to be a miniature junior high ministry.
They host a special event for 6th graders and their parents to prepare them for junior high ministry. The junior high team plays a significant role in the event.
As a graduation gift, every 6th grader receives a hat, T-shirt, or backpack featuring the junior high ministry logo.

Children’s Ministries Help These 25 Largest U.S. Churches Thrive

By

Dale Hudson

-

May 10, 2022

Each year, Outreach magazine releases a list of the largest and fastest-growing churches in America. Without exception, the churches always have great children’s ministries. And children’s ministry makes a big impact not only on kids but on the entire church. Children’s ministries can spur major growth within congregations.

I personally know many church leaders on this list. Trust me: Their passion is to reach the next generation. The size of their church is simply a by-product of that passion. These leaders know that behind every number is a person Jesus loves and died for. And they want people to experience that love.

The current size of your church shouldn’t be your main focus. Instead, pay attention to the people outside your church walls who need Jesus. That’s what should keep us up at night, as we obey Jesus’ Great Commission. Many people in our communities are far from God.

Transfer growth shouldn’t be our goal. Growth by reaching lost people should define us.

Some of you serve in small towns, without millions of people nearby to reach. But percentage wise, you may be larger than some churches on this list.

5 Practices of leaders who develop leaders:

1) Continuous improvement in self-leadership

2) Intentionally gather potential leaders

3) Demonstrate productivity in leadership endeavors

4) Adept at integrating art and system

5) Empowering those who have been developed

4 Great Internal Church Communication Tools

1. Slack

2. Email

3. Google Workspace

4. Asana

10 Ways to Attract and Empower Small Group Leaders

1. Personal Invitation

2. Pair Up

3. Campaign Strategy + “Two Friends” Approach

10 Easy Steps: How to Preach About Jesus to Kids

1. FOCUS!

2. THINK LIKE A KID.

3. TEACH IN A SERIES.

4. BE VISUAL.

5. TELL STORIES.

6. KEEP IT MOVING.

7. STAY CURRENT.

The Satanic Temple’s ‘Abortion Ritual’

Do you go to hell if you commit suicide?

Scott Drew Takes Baylor From Scandal to Championship

Coach Scott Drew Rallies His Team To Rely on God

Other Ways to Listen to This Podcast With Vance Pitman

Key Questions for Vance Pitman

Key Quotes From Vance Pitman

1. Teaching Behavior Can Be Attractive to Parents.

2. Teaching Jesus Will Offend Some.

3. As Leaders We Prefer Applause.

First, Your Neighbors Are Ready for Spiritual Conversations. Are You?

Second, Your Neighbors Are Ready to Explore the Bible With You. Do You Know What to Do?

Third, Your Neighbors Are Ready to See the Bible in a New Light. Can You Lead the Way?

Studying Theology – 4 Reactions From “Regular People”

1. Studying theology impacts me every day.

2. I have a better and deeper understanding of what I believe.

3. Thinking about God is richer in community.

4. The reading was too much for “a normal person.”

Do You OVER Welcome First-time Visitors?

1. The “over the top” welcome.

2. Don’t get me wrong.

Youth Group Promotion: Pushing Up & Reaching Down

Pushing Up

New Articles

New Podcasts