Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill Discuss Ukraine War for First Time

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March 17, 2022

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Pope Francis and Orthodox Patriarch Kirill of Moscow spoke via video on Wednesday (March 16) to address the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and joint efforts to promote peace and provide aid to the Ukrainian people.

“The discussions focused on the war in Ukraine and the role Christians and their pastors can have in doing everything possible for peace to prevail,” said a statement by Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni.

Pope Francis also thanked the Russian patriarch for attending the meeting, which he said proved commitment of the two churches to achieving a cease-fire and peace in Ukraine.

“The church must not use the language of politics but the language of Jesus,” Francis said in agreement with Kirill, according to the Vatican statement. “We are pastors of the same people who believe in God, in the Holy Trinity, in the Holy Mother of God. For this reason, we must unite in our efforts of promoting peace, helping those who suffer, finding the roads to peace to stop the fighting,” the pope added.

Pope Francis announced he will be consecrating both Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on March 25.

“Those who pay the price of war are the people, the Russian soldiers and the people who are bombed and killed,” the pope said during the videoconference with Kirill, underlining the importance of the negotiations currently underway between Russia and Ukraine.

“As pastors we have the duty to stay close and help all the people who suffer because of the war,” Francis said. While he observed that in the past both churches spoke of “holy wars” and “just wars,” he went on to insist that “today we can’t talk this way.”

“The Christian conscience on the importance of peace has developed,” Francis said.

The Vatican statement said both Kirill and Francis agreed churches have a duty to “strengthen peace and justice.” Pope Francis spoke on behalf of the children, women and many victims of war.

“War is always unjust. Because who pays are the people of God,” Francis said.

Kirill “cordially greeted” the pope during the conversation, which featured a “detailed discussion” on the situation in Ukraine, according to the official website of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Pope Francis and Kirill discussed the actions their churches might undertake to address the humanitarian consequences of the conflict, the statement read.

Study: Christians, Jews and Muslims Encounter Workplace Discrimination Differently

By

Alejandra Molina

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March 17, 2022

(RNS) — Christians, Jews and Muslims encounter workplace discrimination, but they experience it differently, according to a new report by Rice University’s Religion and Public Life Program.

While Muslims and Jews say they’ve felt targeted by anti-Islamic and antisemitic rhetoric, it’s most often in the context of being seen as part of a larger group, they said in the study. Whereas evangelical Christians say they more often feel singled out when taking an individual stand based on their moral views, the report found.

Rachel Schneider, one of the report’s authors, said they learned that people often experienced workplace discrimination in the form of microaggressions — such as stereotyping and othering — not just in the hiring, firing and promotion process.

“It was these everyday practices and behaviors in the workplace that was really surprising to learn more about how they’ve manifested,” said Schneider, a postdoctoral research fellow in the Religion and Public Life Program.

The report, “How Religious Discrimination Is Perceived in the Workplace: Expanding the View,” draws its research from Rice University’s “Faith at Work: An Empirical Study,” which included a survey of more than 11,000 people. Additionally, researchers conducted in-depth interviews with nearly 200 of those who were surveyed, including 159 Christians, 13 Jews, 10 Muslims and 12 nonreligious people. The research was funded by the Lilly Endowment.

A large proportion of Muslim (63%) and Jewish (52%) participants reported religious discrimination compared with other religious groups.

Perceptions of religious discrimination varied within Christian subgroups, with evangelical Protestants the most likely to report experiencing religious discrimination (36%), whereas roughly 20% of Catholics and mainline Protestants each reported religious discrimination, according to the report. About a quarter of other Christian/other Protestants say the same (24%).

Among nonreligious participants, 27% perceived religious discrimination in the workplace.

Through in-depth interviews, Jewish and Muslim participants described verbal microaggressions tied to antisemitic and anti-Islamic stereotypes.

One white Jewish woman working in social services in Indiana detailed co-workers using a common antisemitic trope, saying she was “good at bookkeeping and keeping track of money.” In another example, a white Jewish man who works in information technology in Florida described hearing comments such as “Well, Jews run all the banks.”

Similarly, Muslims described Islamophobic sentiment in the workplace.

An Asian Muslim man who is an engineer in New York mentioned colleagues expressing anti-Muslim views along the lines of “Muslims are extremists,” although he didn’t consider this to be discrimination or directed at him explicitly, according to the report.

In a more extreme example, a white Muslim woman working in sales at a construction company in Louisiana said she was “harassed” when she converted to Islam. She was “ridiculed” after deciding to cover her head and dress more modestly. Signs were put up in the office, with one reading “I tried to see your point of view, but your point of view is stupid.”

Schneider said Muslims and Jewish people didn’t feel they could take advantage of religious accommodations in the workplace, such as access to prayer rooms, because they would have their co-workers “looking at them a certain way.” Researchers found Jewish and Muslim women “concealed or downplayed their religious identity in the workplace to preempt discrimination.”

Muslims and Jews also felt like they were treated as foreign or exotic. “People didn’t really know how to act around them,” Schneider said.

Christians, particularly those who are evangelical, reported that verbal microaggressions often took the form of specific name-calling.

Extreme Poverty Grows by 97 Million Globally in COVID-19, New Report Says

By

Diana Chandler

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March 17, 2022

BALTIMORE, Md. (BP) – At least 97 million more people have fallen into extreme poverty globally since the COVID-19 pandemic began two years ago, World Relief said in a study released March 15 on the second anniversary of the declaration of the pandemic.

Setbacks during the COVID-19 pandemic have reversed about three or four years of progress in the fight against global hunger, with the worst outcomes seen in the poorest countries and among women and children, World Relief said in its report.

“COVID-19 has hit the world’s most vulnerable … in ways that are really ferocious and in a level of devastation that we’ve not seen in our lifetime,” World Relief President and CEO Myal Greene said in releasing the report. “As a report the pandemic has resulted in one of the greatest humanitarian issues in recorded history.

“It’s the first time in my lifetime, really, that we’ve seen a rise globally in the number of people living in extreme poverty. So this is really a devastating and heartbreaking issue that we face.”

World Relief compiled its report using data and findings from various sources including the United Nations, the World Health Organization and other groups. No numbers specific to the U.S. are included in the report.

“Pockets of the United States have experienced tremendous pain and setbacks because of COVID-19. As we have seen in both the United States and abroad, those living in vulnerability have suffered significantly from the social and economic consequences of the pandemic,” Greene said. “In this report, it’s our desire to share that story with people in western countries about how our global neighbors have suffered during the pandemic.”

At least 265 million people are facing “acute food insecurity” globally, with numbers increasing in at least 20 African countries, World Relief said. Direst outcomes were seen in Gabon, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Malawi, Uganda, Zambia, Mali and Madagascar.

Southern Baptists’ compassion ministry, Send Relief, has seen similar effects from the pandemic, a Send Relief spokesperson told Baptist Press, including an escalation in food security and health issues.

In the last two years, Send Relief has participated in 593 ministry projects, served 1.5 million people, saw 5,259 churches serve their communities and provided more than 2 million meals.

“Not only across North America but around the world, we have seen the devastating impacts of COVID on families and communities,” said Send Relief President Bryant Wright. “Send Relief’s response has been focused on ensuring people in need have enough food and basic resources to get them through the crisis. The needs have been great, but it has been encouraging to see how churches and individual Christians have worked together with us to help serve the many people who have been struggling, feeling isolated and without hope.”

World Relief referenced UNICEF’s finding that the pandemic created the biggest crisis for children in UNICEF’s 75-year history. Also noted was The Lancet Report’s finding that the number of children orphaned due to COVID-19 related deaths rose to 5.2 million in a seven-month period ending Oct. 31, 2021, increasing the number of orphans by 90 percent worldwide.

Women suffered more poverty and domestic abuse.

20 Awesome Things J.C. Ryle Said About Prayer

By

Andrew Hess

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March 17, 2022

20 Awesome Things J.C. Ryle Said About Prayer

“The only way to be really happy, in such a world as this is to be ever casting all our cares on God.”

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“He loves me best who loves me in his prayers.”

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“Nothing seems to be too great, too hard, or too difficult for prayer to do. It has obtained things that seemed impossible and out of reach. It has won victories over fire, air, earth, and water. Prayer opened the Red Sea. Prayer brought water from the rock and bread from heaven. Prayer made the sun stand still. Prayer brought fire from the sky on Elijah’s sacrifice … Prayer has healed the sick. Prayer has raised the dead. Prayer has procured the conversion of souls.”

✦✦✦✦

“Above all, we should cultivate the habit of expecting answers to our prayers.”

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“Fear not because your prayer is stammering, your words feeble, and your language poor. Jesus can understand you.”

Small Groups: Putting COVID Behind Us

By

Allen White

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March 17, 2022

The last two years have been unprecedented, unbelievable, devastating, incredible. (Pretend this is the Amplified version of this blog. You pick the word!) Now, as the last holdouts for Coronavirus mandates, Oregon, Washington, and others, are planning to reduce their restrictions, it’s time to put COVID behind us and move forward as a church. But, moving forward is not the same as returning to life as it was in 2019. Here are some things you should expect.

Don’t Expect Everyone to Rush Back.

Churches that’ve been fully open for more than a year are seeing 50% in in-person worship. Your people fall into one of three categories: Cautious, Comfortable, or Curious. The cautious are still not sure they want to take the risk. While COVID numbers are falling, new variants are lurking around the globe. Maybe they’re concerned about their health or a loved one’s health. They will probably continue to stay away for a while. Many comparisons have been made between this pandemic and the Spanish Influenza of 1918-1919. Do you know when the Spanish Influenza completely disappeared? It lasted until 1951 when it was replaced by Bird Flu. (Sorry for that bit of bad news.)

Some of your people are comfortable. It’s just more convenient to stay home in their pajamas to watch the worship service while they’re eating brunch. Bad habits have formed. Think of a health club membership. Health clubs survive on people paying their monthly dues but never showing up. They intend to show up, but they just have trouble getting there. The same is true for your congregation.

If your weekend service is largely built on programming, here’s the rub – people can equally access programming at home. So, why don’t you just cancel your online stream? Because they will switch over to someone else’s online stream. Your weekend service has to be more than programming. They might have come for programming initially, but they will come back for community. It’s time to rethink your Sunday morning. No one is going to start attending in-person again just because they are “supposed to.” Those folks are already attending in person.

The third group who’ve been watching online are the curious. They’ve enjoyed watching the service without anyone watching them. This is the group to pay attention to when they show up in-person. They aren’t a “first time guest.” They’ve been watching online for weeks to months. When they show up, they are ready for next steps. A pastor told me recently that someone showed up for the first time in-person, made a profession of faith, attended their Growth Track, and joined a small group – all in one day! When they show up, be ready to engage with them.

Don’t Expect Volunteer Roles to Fill Immediately.

During the pandemic, people divested themselves of everything – going to the office, attending worship services, going to school, volunteering their time, shopping for groceries, going out to dinner, and everything else. Why go somewhere when it can be brought to you? Why live in San Francisco with its high taxes, when you can telecommute from Miami and pay no state income tax at all? Why go out to a movie, when you can Netflix and chill at home? The world has changed.

Many churches who have been open for a while have struggled to offer additional worship services because they just don’t have the help they need in children’s ministry. Some of the workers left. Some of the workers continue to stay home. Some went somewhere else. Others were just burned out. Much energy and effort will be required to rebuild this. You should count on those who are already gathered in-person to help before you expect folks to show up and reengage immediately. Lead the folks you have.

Expect People to be Gone.

The Spanish Influenza of 1918-1919 was followed by the Roaring 20’s. (Hey, we’re in the 20’s). Two significant things happened after 1919. First, the Spanish Influenza was never mentioned again. People put it completely behind them and didn’t talk about it anymore. Second, people were gone. They traveled extensively both nationally and internationally. They had been cooped up for too long. They had been limited for too long. Now, they were gone.

5 Enemies of the Soul That Hurt Your Church

By

Dan Reiland

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March 17, 2022

It’s easy to get so consumed with solving the problems in the church that we miss slaying the enemies of the church.

Problems come in a wide variety from things such as developing effective strategy in a time when the future is so uncertain to financial pressure and complexity of hiring staff. They involve factors like understanding culture, how to lead the online church, and both ideological and theological differences. You get the picture.

Here’s how it works.

As leaders, it’s part of our job to see and solve problems, so we understandably invest a great deal of time in that process.

The pressure to solve problems in the church requires so much focus that we have little energy left to conquer the enemies of the soul.

That leaves room for these quiet destroyers to do significant damage.

These enemies of the soul tend to run underneath many of the practical problems we face and, in fact, are often the cause, or at least the aggravation of our problems.

Learning to see them quickly and take the time to address them is vital to the health and progress of your church.

The good news is that we can:

Get honest about their existence.
The human mind is powerful and can create amazingly intricate rationalizations for attitudes and behaviors that do not please God or build up the body of Christ. So the first step is to get honest about them.

Allow growth to overcome guilt.
When we do get honest about the enemies of the soul, guilt can prevent us from taking the action steps to growth. It’s important to allow growth to win over guilt.

Learn and practice the spiritual remedy.
There is a spiritual remedy to each of these enemies of the soul.

5 Enemies of the Soul That Hurt You and the Church:

1. Divisiveness

Division is a mortal enemy of the church and is birthed in the souls of individuals, not the organization.

There are numerous causes of division, from not getting our way and the desire for control to various levels of immaturity.

Division can appear in your church at two levels.

The result of an honest disagreement but lacking resolution.
A spirit of divisiveness that seeks to divide and get its own way.

The second of the two is rare, though it does exist.

Spiritual passion can often result in honest disagreement, but it doesn’t need to result in sacrificing the overall mission.

The spiritual remedy to divisiveness is a spirit of commitment to unity. (Ephesians 4:3-4)

Worship From a Bomb Shelter

By

Phil Cooke

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March 17, 2022

My friend Rob Hoskins, president of OneHope sent me a note early one Sunday morning: “One of our OneHope partners, Pastor Yuri Kulakevych of Peace Pentecostal Church in Ukraine is meeting in a bomb shelter this morning and zooming their worship from a bomb shelter online before their men go out to fight and serve.”

Worship From a Bomb Shelter

Pastor Yuri said:

“Let those who will be blessed with a stable online connection and electricity to see faces of our beloved, pray together and be fed from above. After a short message every one will get back to his ministry. Deacons are already in the field.

What is my Bible text for the sermon, you ask? 2 Cor. 9-10: Known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing, poor, yet making many rich, having nothing, and yet possessing everything… ‘

Then they had this young woman play the violin from the bomb shelter in Kharkiv:

I’m reminded of how many pastors and leaders in America have told me over the last two years, “Phil, I don’t mind putting our worship services online, but that’s not real ministry.”

From a remote bomb shelter in a war zone, I think pastor Yuri would beg to differ about worship from a bomb shelter and the value of live streaming.

This article on bomb shelter worship 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 Joel Osteen, Joyce Meyer, The Museum of the Bible, The Salvation Army, The YouVersion Bible app, and many more.

Bill Maher in Favor of Fla.’s Controversial ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Bill: ‘Shouldn’t Parents Know Everything?’

By

Jessica Lea

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March 16, 2022

don't say gay — Screenshot from YouTube / @Real Time with Bill Maher

Political commentator Bill Maher has expressed support for a bill in Florida that bans teachers from discussing sexual orientation or gender identity with young children. Maher, who is extremely critical of religion, believes the parameters of what opponents call the “Don’t Say Gay” bill are reasonable.

“We’re talking about very young kids,” said Maher on an extended portion of his March 11 episode of “Real Time with Bill Maher” [Editor’s note: Video contains language that some viewers may find offensive.] “It’s not like there is no kernel of truth in that maybe kids that young shouldn’t be thinking about sex at all.”

Maher referenced the fact that critics of the bill are concerned it will lead to children being “outed to their parents.”

“The phrase struck me as odd,” said Maher. “Shouldn’t parents know everything anyway?”

‘Don’t Say Gay’ Bill Likely to Become Law

Bill HB 1557 passed the Florida Senate on March 8 and is now awaiting a signature from Florida governor Ron DeSantis, who has indicated he will sign it. The portion of the bill that has received the most attention states: “Classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards.”

Exactly. You have every right to oppose it and disagree, just be honest about what it actually says/doesn’t say. Is has nothing to do with “don’t say gay.” https://t.co/kOhmcZEIaE

— Dean Inserra (@deaninserra) March 8, 2022

The bill’s sponsor, Republican Rep. Joe Harding, has said, “It’s actually providing boundaries and it’s fair to our teachers and our school districts to know what we expect.”

Republican Sen. Dennis Baxley said, “I know how important it is to empower parents in this relationship. I want to encourage parents across Florida to own it. They’re your kids, and it is tough — it’s tough to figure out what influences will be on them and what kinds of decisions they will make and how that all comes out.”

The bill has drawn national attention, as well as criticism from the Biden administration and Saturday Night Live. Hundreds of students in Florida have staged walkouts to protest the bill. Florida Rep. Carlos G. Smith said the bill “sends a terrible message to our youth that there is something wrong with LGBTQ people, that there is something so dangerous or inappropriate about us that we have to be prohibited and censored from the classroom.”

Planned Parenthood Promotes Abortion Rights Using a Children’s Ice Cream Truck

By

Jesse T. Jackson

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March 16, 2022

ice_cream_pp_ — Screengrab via Twitter @alexismcgill

President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Alexis McGill Johnson posted an image of ice cream truck the company used promote abortion rights at South by Southwest (SXSW)—an annual festival of film, media, music performances, and conferences that takes place in Austin Texas.

On the second day of the festival, March 12, 2022, Johnson posted the image on Twitter, saying, “Ice cream, you scream, we all scream for abortion rights!”

“Catch us around SXSW and stop by to grab some free Bans Off swag, condoms, and education on the cold hearted policies of the Texas legislature,” she wrote.

The truck is reminiscent of one that someone might see driving around neighborhoods playing an enticing children’s tune in order for them to beg their parents to buy them an ice cream treat.

Bright white with popping pink graphics, the ice cream truck flies an American flag attached to its driver’s side, and passenger’s side mirrors contain logos referencing both abortion and women’s rights.

One logo calls out Texas’ politicians, saying, “Ice cream as cold as TX politicians,” which is a reference to the state’s controversial “heartbeat ban” that went into law September 2021. At the end of 2021, the Supreme Court upheld the Texas law that bans abortion after a fetal heartbeat can be detected, which is usually before most women even know they are pregnant. New data released in February estimates that the new ban is saving 100 lives a day.

Other logos in the shapes of candy read, “Don’t Tread on Me,” and “My Choice,” and “Don’t Mess With Texas Women,” and “My Body.” A large image of an ice cream come next to a condom and a pregnancy test asking people to “join the fight to defend abortion access” while encouraging people to text a number.

The menu that would normally display images of ice cream treats was replaced with images of condom wrappers made to look like ice cream bars. “Ribbed, Glow in the Dark, Sponge (made to look like Sponge Bob SquarePants), Bubblegum, Studded, and Spidey (depicting an image of Spider-Man) were all names listed as the flavor of condoms.

With hashtag #BansOffOurBodies, a campaign started to fight back against reproductive healthcare, the truck drove around SXSW as Johnson and Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas’ president Ken Lambert handed out ice cream, Bans Off Our Bodies swag, and condoms.

An image posted by Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas on Twitter shows a young child handing out Planned Parenthood swag to supporters.

Christianity Today News Editor Reports CT’s Failure to Properly Address Sexual Harassment Allegations

By

Dale Chamberlain

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March 16, 2022

Christianity Today Sexual Harassment Daniel Silliman — Image via Adobe Stock, logo courtesy of Christianity Today.

On Tuesday (March 15), Christianity Today published a report detailing the organization’s failure to properly address sexual harassment allegations about former advertising director Olatokunbo Olawoye and retired editor in chief Mark Galli.

Olawoye was fired from CT in 2017 after he was accused of attempting to pay for sex with a teenage girl, a crime for which he served a three-year prison sentence. Complaints about Galli’s inappropriate behavior span more than a decade, including after his retirement.

The allegations against these two men included unwanted hugs and touching of the small of women’s backs, their legs, and the straps of their bras. Olawoye was accused of inviting himself into the offices of female employees for long, personal conversations about his marriage and sex life. Galli once barged in on a female employee who was known to be pumping breast milk. Both men were known for commenting on the appearance of female employees.

When Olawoye was arrested for a sex crime, Galli delivered an address to employees about suspending judgment.

An independent Guidepost Solutions assessment did not find any allegations of harassment or abuse outside of these two former employees but identified where CT’s procedures for reporting and response to harassment allegations allowed the problem to persist.

Further, while Guidepost “did not find a wider pattern or culture of systemic harassment engrained at CT,” they did find that “CT’s work environment and culture can feel inhospitable to women at times.”

“While many believe that this aspect of CT’s culture has improved under its current leadership, others believe that women are still discounted and treated as ‘less than’ in the CT workplace,” the report said.

Daniel Silliman, who serves as news editor for CT, also interviewed more than two dozen current and former employees regarding the pattern of harassment with these two former employees in an investigation that ran concurrent to but independent from the Guidepost assessment.

Silliman reported his findings in an article published on March 15. While the article was edited by CT’s senior news editor Kate Shellnutt, it was not reviewed by members of CT’s executive team prior to its publishing.

What Silliman found was that CT did not have “clear corporate guidelines laying out the consequences” for sexual harassment violations, which led to HR opening files and taking notes but ultimately nothing being done by executive leadership in response to complaints. Multiple female employees were not even certain whether HR was responsible for sexual harassment complaints during the time period when the harassment occurred.

ND Pastor Pranked With Kmart Sign on Lawn, Sparking a Selfie Trend

By

Stephanie Martin

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March 16, 2022

Anyone who’s ever been “flocked” with flamingos for a church fundraiser can surely empathize with Paul Knight. Last week, the North Dakota pastor discovered a giant Kmart “K” sign in the middle of his snow-covered front lawn.

Although no one has claimed responsibility for the prank, Pastor Knight suspects it was some fellow staff members at Hope Evangelical Covenant Church in Grand Forks. “I don’t know who to call, ’cause I don’t know who put it up,” he says, but “you’re welcome to remove it any time.” He adds, “My wife hopes it’s gone by June, I think.”

Paul Knight’s Kmart Sign Leads to Hashtag

As news of the sign’s appearance spread, church and community members “made the pilgrimage to take pictures and selfies with this 8^th wonder of the world!” as one resident describes. On Facebook, people have been posting photos of themselves next to the sign, using the hashtag #ksignselfie. Others have edited images of famous people into the shots, including the former and current U.S. president and even Jesus.

Pastor Knight posted his own selfie with the huge K, which “dwarfs” his garage. He writes: “I have a large ‘K’ for sale $100 – you pick up. No deliveries.” In the comments, someone informs him, “You probably need to stuff [the sign] in the corner of your garage for 50 years for it to be worth money.”

Referring to an article titled “Pastor requests those responsible to please remove giant Kmart ‘K’ from his front lawn,” one person writes, “Don’t believe the title… Paul is eating this up! Get out and take your selfie… If you need the location DM me.”

Kmart Sign Came From Land the Church Is Developing

In 2015, Paul Knight’s church purchased Grand Cities Mall, in central Grand Forks, with a vision of “Enriching the Community While Glorifying God.” Last year, the church sold the empty Kmart building on that property, and it’s undergoing extensive renovations. Knight believes someone on his church team arranged the delivery of the huge K from that site. But he admits he doesn’t really know who the sign “belongs to right now.”

Aubrey Sampson: Pastor, God Is for You—But Do You Really Believe That?

By

Jessica Lea

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March 16, 2022

The Stetzer ChurchLeaders Podcast · Aubrey Sampson: Pastor, God Is for You—But Do You Really Believe That?

Aubrey Sampson serves on the teaching and preaching team at Renewal Church in West Chicago, which she co-planted with her husband, Kevin. She speaks at churches and events around the country, writes regularly for Christine Caine’s Propel Women and is the author of three books: “Overcomer,” “The Louder Song,” and her latest, “Known: How Believing Who God Says You Are Changes Everything.”

Other Ways to Listen to This Podcast With Aubrey Sampson

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

Key Questions for Aubrey Sampson

-Why do we accept certain labels for ourselves, whether true or false, and how do the names we live by impact our lives?

-It’s easy to read the Bible and agree that God loves us and sees us as worthy, yet still go through life believing lies about ourselves. How can we actually take what God tells us to heart?

-How does Jesus show us how to live out of our true identity, rather than a false one?

-How can understanding they are known by God impact ministry leaders, and what are the dangers if they do not grasp this truth?

Key Quotes From Aubrey Sampson

“I was seeing two simultaneous things happen, at least here in evangelical America. One, this just intense pressure to build a ministry and professionalize our calling and get influence.”

“It feels like there’s a lot of pressure to build towers unto our own name. And I feel that pressure as much as anybody else does.”

“We’re in pastoral ministry ministering to so many Christians who are walking around like with their heads hanging low because they really don’t know this very basic, foundational truth that God loves them and God is for them.”

“Let’s remember that God is good. God is for us. And then to let’s also remember why we’re here, and that is for the name and renown of Jesus and for the flourishing of others, not for our own names.”

“We tend to go to other people or other people, groups or affiliations or tribes or you name the category, and we go, ‘OK, I’m going to put myself on that group’s or that person’s scale, and I’m going to say, ‘You tell me I’m worthy. You name me, you tell me who I am.’”

Woman Who Says Priest Abused Her Settles With Church

By

AP News

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March 16, 2022

Eds: UPDATES: This story has been updated with a statement from the archdiocese.

BOSTON (AP) — A woman who says she was sexually abused by a Roman Catholic priest who taught at her high school in Massachusetts has reached a financial settlement with the church, her lawyer said Tuesday.

The settlement with the Archdiocese of Boston reached late last year “was in the high five figures,” attorney Mitchell Garabedian said at a news conference.

The priest, the late Rev. Michael J. Regan, has not previously appeared on any list of credibly accused clergy, including the archdiocese’s own list, Garabedian said. He died in 2020.

“No substantiated claim of abuse was received while he was living,” the archdiocese said in a statement.

The now 60-year-old woman was sexually abused multiple times from 1977 until 1980 when she was from 14 to 17 years of age and attended the now-closed Pope John XXIII High School in Everett where Regan taught economics, Garabedian said.

Ordained in 1962, he served at multiple parishes, schools and church facilities around the archdiocese during his career.

Regan said he would not let her graduate if she did not comply with his sexual demands, the attorney said.

“She was terrified,” Garabedian said.

Officials at two church watchdog groups, BishopAccountability.org and the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, said they had never before heard of Regan.

“This is the first time we have seen this name,” SNAP’s Michael McDonnell said.

Terry McKiernan of BishopAccountability.org said new names of accused church employees are coming up with increased frequency.

“We are seeing a surprising number of new accused priests that have never before been on our radar,” he said. The organization has a nationwide database of about 7,400 priests, members of religious orders, nuns, seminarians and deacons who have been accused of abuse, he said.

The Boston Archdiocese’s list of about 130 credibly accused clergy is sorely lacking, he said.

Ukrainian Catholic and Diplomatic Leaders Urge Aid, Weapons

By

Luis Andres Henao

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March 16, 2022

The top leader of Ukrainian Catholics in the United States and Ukraine’s ambassador to the nation made an urgent appeal to the world Tuesday for more weapons to fight against Russia’s invasion and aid to address the worsening humanitarian crisis.

The Most Rev. Borys Gudziak, metropolitan archbishop of Philadelphia for the Ukrainian Catholic Church in the United States, said at a news conference in Washington that there is a dire need for armored ambulances, medical supplies and food — but also arms.

“What good is it if you feed the stomachs of these children, these women, these people in cities, if their brains are going to be blown out, if their apartment buildings are going to be rendered into rubble?” Gudziak said. “There needs to be massive defensive and massive humanitarian aid.”

Ambassador Oksana Markarova also called for more sanctions against Moscow and increased aid and diplomatic efforts to keep humanitarian corridors open. She accused Russian forces of committing genocide.

“They’re targeting civilians. They’re killing children, pregnant women. They’re killing the elderly,” Markarova said.

More than 3 million people have fled Ukraine since the start of the war, now in its third week, and thousands of soldiers and civilians have died.

On Tuesday, Russia stepped up its bombardment of Kyiv, the capital, and civilians fled Mariupol along a humanitarian corridor in what was believed to be the biggest evacuation yet from the besieged port city.

Gudziak said it was “sad” to see the leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church supporting President Vladimir Putin and the war, and he criticized Patriarch Kirill for giving a large icon of the Virgin Mary to a leader of the Russian national guard.

“This is happening in the biggest church in the capital of Russia. The patriarch is giving the mother of God to these war criminals,” the archbishop said.

Gudziak, who also heads the department of external church relations for the Kyiv-based Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, added that he met with Pope Francis five weeks ago, before the war, and asked the pontiff to call Putin.

The Vatican has called for peace, humanitarian corridors, a cease-fire and a return to negotiations, and has also offered to mediate between the sides. Francis went to the Russian Embassy in Rome last month to personally “express his concern about the war,” in an extraordinary papal gesture without recent precedent. But Francis has not publicly condemned Russia by name or publicly appealed to Kirill.

Mayor of Kyiv Makes Plea for Visit by Pope Francis, Calling It ‘Key for Saving Lives’

By

Claire Giangrave

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March 16, 2022

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — The mayor of Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital under bombardment by Russian forces, invited Pope Francis to visit the city in a letter sent last week, saying the pontiff’s presence “is key for saving lives and paving the path to peace.”

The letter from Mayor Vitali Klitschko, dated March 8, offers to help the pope go to Kyiv while recognizing that the journey may be impossible. The letter also offers to hold a joint recorded or live videoconference with Francis. “Efforts will be made to include President (Volodymyr) Zelenskyy on this call,” the letter said.

Klitschko concluded, “We appeal to you, as a spiritual leader, to show your compassion, to stand with the Ukrainian people by jointly spreading the call for peace.”

The Vatican confirmed receiving the letter in a statement sent to journalists on Tuesday (March 15). “The Holy Father received the letter by the mayor of the Ukrainian capital and is close to the suffering of the city,” including those who have fled and its political leaders, the Vatican said.

Before the war began, the pope had received several invitations from religious and political leaders in Ukraine, but the Vatican made no announcements about plans for a papal visit, nor has any conversation between the pope and Zelenskyy been made public.

Klitschko’s invitation seemed to be aimed at stopping the Russian army from firing. “They killed an American journalist, they shoot at churches and this is a genocide,” he told Vatican journalists in a phone call, apparently referring to Brent Renaud, a filmmaker and journalist who was shot Sunday near Kyiv. “My question is: And the pope?” Klitschko asked.

Let us make Kyiv the capital of humanity, spirituality and peace.#StopTheWar #United #StandTogether #Ukraine #Kyiv #StandWithUkraine #FreeUkraine #WeAreAllUkrainians #StopWar #ActNow @Vitaliy_Klychko pic.twitter.com/MoBCiiTpri

— Klitschko (@Klitschko) March 5, 2022

Kyiv has been a primary target of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s attack on Ukraine. Russian troops have been stalled in their advance on the city, but over the weekend fighting had reached the suburbs and residents have suffered heavy bombing.

Ukrainian leaders have made urgent personal appeals to corporations, individuals and other nations part of their strategy for surviving the war, with Zelenskyy appearing by video on both social media and in Britain’s House of Parliament and aides contacting Elon Musk and other company chiefs for assistance.

On Tuesday, the prime ministers of Poland, Slovenia and the Czech Republic will meet with Zelenskyy in Kyiv to bring aid and show “the unequivocal support of the entire European Union for the sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.”

Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of the Greek Catholic Church of Ukraine said in a statement on Tuesday: “Today once more I would like to address the mighty of this world: Do not be outside observers of the pain and sorrow of Ukraine! Don’t just watch on television how they are killing us! Do something! Let us do everything to stop this war which is today a wound for all of humanity.”

While only 10% of Ukraine is Catholic, Francis has become an important voice for the Eastern Orthodox Christian majority as a prospective mediator between Russian Orthodox leaders and Orthodox communities that have become estranged from the Moscow patriarchate. After years of outreach to Patriarch Kirill, Francis has avoided calling out Russia and Putin by name when condemning the war, but he has been vocal about the need to end the violence.

“With pain in my heart I join my voice with that of common people who beg for an end to the war. In the name of God, may the scream of those who suffer be heard and may there be an end to the bombings and attacks!” Francis said during his Sunday prayer service in Rome.

“In the name of God, I ask you: End this massacre!” he added.

This article originally appeared here.

Study: Black Catholics in US Are a Tiny Minority Increasingly Drawing on Immigrants

By

Yonat Shimron

-

March 16, 2022

black catholics immigrants — Cardinal Wilton Gregory, Archbishop of Washington, places ashes on the forehead of a parishioner during the Ash Wednesday Mass at Saint Matthew the Apostle Cathedral in Washington, Wednesday, March, 2, 2022. Ash Wednesday which marks the beginning of Lent. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

DURHAM, N.C. (RNS) — The congregation at Holy Cross Catholic Church is an anomaly in one sense: a historically Black congregation led by the Rev. Pius Wekesa, one of just 250 or so Black priests in the United States.

Many Black Catholics, a minority within a minority, rarely see a Black priest celebrate Mass at their church. Founded by the Jesuit order in 1939, Holy Cross has about 400 families, 70% of whom are Black. But it never had a Black priest before Wekesa became pastor last July.

Wekesa, and some in his congregation, are typical of Black Catholics in one way: They are immigrants.

Black Catholics, at about 3 million total, comprise only 6% of U.S. Blacks, most of whom are Protestant. And they’re an even smaller share of U.S. Catholics — 4%, according to a new analysis of Black Catholics published Tuesday (March 15) by Pew Research.

The study, which included 562 Black Catholics among 8,660 Black adults, found that most Black Catholics worship in predominantly white churches. Only about 25% of Black Catholics attend churches where the majority of congregants are also Black.

The Catholic Church has 798 predominantly African American congregations across the country, according to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Most of those are on the East Coast and in the South.

The study, originally fielded in 2019 and 2020 , found that 68% of Black Catholics are U.S.-born. A growing number — about 12% — are, like Wekesa, from Africa. The rest were born in the Caribbean (11%) or in other parts of the Americas (5%).

Wekesa, 59, was ordained a priest in his native Kenya and came to the Diocese of Raleigh in 2005 to work with the growing numbers of Swahili-speaking Catholics.

The Diocese of Raleigh, which spans the 54 easternmost counties of the state, has 12 Black priests.

The bigger reason why Black Catholics are such a small population is that they are the least likely of all Catholics to remain in the fold. While Catholics generally are prone to religious switching, Black Catholics have the highest rates. Only 54% of U.S. Black Catholics who were raised in the faith remain so as adults (compared with 61% of white Catholics and 68% of Hispanic Catholics.)

Some Black Catholics explain this number by pointing out that they tend to be more liberal than their mostly white Catholic counterparts when it comes to immigration and race (possibly because there are more immigrants among Black Catholics than among white Catholics).

Most Black Catholics say that opposing racism is important to how they think about being Christian. About three-quarters of Black Catholics (77%) say opposition to racism is essential to what it means to be a Christian.

Black Catholics are also more liberal on abortion and homosexuality: 71% said abortion should be legal in all or most cases and 78% said homosexuality should be accepted in society.

Honest Faith

By

Randy Alcorn

-

March 16, 2022

My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?
Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning.
O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer;
And by night, but I have no rest.
Yet You are holy,
O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel.
In You our fathers trusted;
They trusted and You delivered them.
To You they cried out and were delivered;
In You they trusted and were not disappointed.
(Psalm 22:1–5, NASB)

What an honest cry to God for help: “Why, God? Why does it seem like you’re not answering my prayers?” As he wrestles with this, David turns to Scripture, where God’s deliverance of His people is documented. David reflects on their trust in God. In the end, God’s faithfulness toIsrael inspires David to believe that God will prove faithful to him as well.

God’s Word contains countless expressions of concern and anguish about the hard times people experience and the fact that they sometimes don’t feel God’s closeness. In this fallen world, “Why?” is a common question.

Jackie Hill Perry writes, “While reading the Psalms, I’m struck by how often God is questioned. Why He’s allowing this. Why He’s forsaken that. Suffering makes you curious and to me, it seems, being inquisitive is in fact a healthy part of prayer. Even Jesus, in His dying hour, asked God a question.”

Randy Butler, a pastor, told me about his teenage son’s death. “For twenty years, God gave me a perfect life, family, and ministry. Then Kevin died, and nearly every morning, for three or four months, I screamed questions at God. I asked, ‘What were you thinking?’ And, ‘Is this the best you can do for me?’ And finally, ‘Do you really expect me to show up every Sunday and tell everyone how great you are?’ In the silence I began to hear the voice of God…then, without any announcement, when I became silent, God spoke to my soul. He had an answer for each of my three questions.”

Had Randy not been unreservedly honest with God, he couldn’t have completely grasped how the God he spoke to had watched His own Son die long before Randy had. God the Father had endured the horrible death of Jesus, His only Son. So, better than anyone in the universe, God empathized with Randy’s pain.

A lot of bad theology inevitably surfaces when we face suffering. When people lose their faith because of suffering, it suggests a weak or nominal faith that didn’t account for or prepare them for evil and suffering. Any faith not based on the truth needs to be lost—the sooner, the better.

Suffering and evil exert a force that either pushes us away from God or pulls us toward Him. But if personal suffering gives sufficient evidence that God doesn’t exist, then surely I shouldn’t wait until I suffer to conclude He’s a myth. If my suffering would one day justify denying God, then I should deny Him now in light of other people’s suffering.

Believing that God exists is not the same as trusting the God who exists. A nominal Christian often discovers in suffering that his faith has been in his church, family, career, or social network, but not Christ. As he faces evil and suffering, he may find his beliefs shaken or even destroyed. But genuine faith—trusting God even when we don’t understand—will be made stronger and purer.

If your faith is based on lack of affliction, it’s on the brink of extinction and is only a frightening diagnosis or a shattering phone call away from collapse. Token faith will not survive suffering. Nor should it.

Thank you, Lord, for welcoming the honest cries of our hearts. Thank you for allowing us to ask, “Why?” It’s a gift to us that your prophets and King David asked, “Why,” and even your Son, Jesus, asked, “Why?” as He hung on a cross. But give us the grace and wisdom, Lord, to ask our questions while looking to your Word and to your Holy Spirit for answers.

This article originally appeared here and is used by permission.

Guidepost Begins Drafting Final Sex Abuse Study Report

By

Diana Chandler

-

March 16, 2022

NASHVILLE (BP) – Guidepost Solutions is drafting its final report based on an investigation of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee’s handling of sexual abuse complaints, the Sexual Abuse Task Force said in its latest update.

“Of note, Guidepost has begun drafting its final report, including its independent recommendations, in preparation for the publication of the full report and recommendations prior to the SBC Convention in Anaheim in June 2022,” the task force said in the March 11 update.

Guidepost investigators have met with Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission leaders and are reviewing archived ERLC documents, the task force said.

The ERLC interviews and document reviews were “within the scope of the EC investigation process,” Task Force Chairman Bruce Frank, pastor of Asheville, N.C.-area Biltmore Church, told Baptist Press.

An additional 12 interviews are scheduled with Executive Committee current or former trustees, and Guidepost is in the process of contacting 22 additional trustees, according to the update. The research will add to information received in 133 interviews already conducted with trustees.

Guidepost had already interviewed about 170 current and former Executive Committee trustees and employees.

“These interviews are essential in conducting a full, fair, and comprehensive investigation and assessment,” the task force said. “The interviews also provide an opportunity for interviewees to offer recommendations and provide feedback as to how the SBC EC can create a safer community going forward.”

With more than five terabytes of data collected, Guidepost has continued to meet with survivors who contacted Guidepost to provide information, has received remaining documents requested from former Executive Committee external legal counsel Guenther, Jordan & Price law firm and has reviewed Executive Committee presidential papers and ERLC documents on file at the Southern Baptist Historical Library and Archives, the task force reported.

Guidepost had received approximately 4,230 documents from Guenther, Jordan & Price as of its Feb. 8 update. The law firm, which held a long-term role as legal counsel for the SBC EC, severed its relationship with Southern Baptists shortly after the EC voted to waive attorney-client privilege in the investigation.

“Additional updates will be forthcoming as the investigation proceeds,” the task force said in its update.

As messengers to the 2021 SBC Annual Meeting voted, Guidepost must submit its report to the task force at least a month before the 2022 SBC Annual Meeting. The task force will review it and release it publicly in advance of the 2022 meeting in June.

This article originally appeared at Baptist Press.

However You Treat the Lord’s Pastors, He Takes Personally

By

Joe McKeever

-

March 16, 2022

Have you really thought about how to treat your pastor?

“Whoever receives you, receives Me. Whoever listens to you, listens to Me. Whoever rejects you, rejects Me.” (Matthew 10:40 and Luke 10:16)

Pastors are reluctant to preach this because it sounds self-serving. “People, the Lord in Heaven is taking note of how you treat me. Whatever you do to me, Jesus considers it the same as though you were doing it to Him.”

He’ll not be saying that.

So, I’ll say it for him. Because it’s true.

Know How to Treat Your Pastor

As you’re considering how to treat your pastor, consider this. “A king arranged a marriage for his son, and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding. And they were not willing to come. Again, he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready; come to the wedding.” But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them.” (That’s Matthew 22:1-6.)

We must not miss the reaction of the king in the Lord’s story. “But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And his sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers and burned up their city” (Matthew 22:7).

However the people treated the king’s messengers, it was the same as doing it to him.

In I Samuel 8:7, the Lord said that when the people rejected Samuel, he shouldn’t take it personally (because the Lord would be doing that!). ”They have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.”

So, stop your whining, pastor. This is not about you.

Almost nothing you do, servant of God, is about you!

Consider this both a warning to those who would mistreat these God-called servants sent to His churches as well as an encouragement to those who honor them.

This must not be abused. No pastor should be trying to feather his own bed by promising the people heavenly riches if they would treat him nicely now. No messenger of the Lord should ever promise people, “If you will send me a love offering now, God will prosper you.” Those who have done such have brought great shame on themselves, on the church and on the gospel.

Woke Thinking Has Infiltrated the Church at Higher Levels Than You Think

By

Phil Cooke

-

March 16, 2022

I had an interesting experience recently when one of the largest ministry organizations in the world called and asked me to do an online training session with about sixty members of their global leadership team. After my talk, one of the questions asked was about cancel culture and how they should prepare if the cancel crowd comes after them. In the process we discussed woke thinking and how cancel culture is a symptom of that woke thinking, and how it’s almost become a religion – but a religion without forgiveness, redemption, or the possibility of salvation. From a Biblical perspective, it’s the antithesis of what the Church stands for and teaches.

Woke Thinking Has Infiltrated the Church

It was a good discussion, but after the session, I got a call from one of top leaders who shared how offended many of the ministry’s leaders were after my talk. Apparently, many of their younger leaders felt being woke was exactly what Christians should be doing today – and worse, the global director of the ministry wasn’t even sure if that was a problem or not.

That experience taught me that wokeness has infiltrated church and ministry organizations at a higher level than many of us thought. Plus, the top leaders of many of these organizations don’t know enough to correct the erroneous theology.

As a result, we all need to look around and see exactly who our churches, ministries, and nonprofits are raising up, and what they believe about woke thinking. Without being too dramatic, the future of the church may depend on it.

This article on woke thinking originally appeared here, and is used by permission.

“The only way to be really happy, in such a world as this is to be ever casting all our cares on God.”

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“He loves me best who loves me in his prayers.”

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“Above all, we should cultivate the habit of expecting answers to our prayers.”

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“Fear not because your prayer is stammering, your words feeble, and your language poor. Jesus can understand you.”

Don’t Expect Everyone to Rush Back.

Don’t Expect Volunteer Roles to Fill Immediately.

Expect People to be Gone.

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“The only way to be really happy, in such a world as this is to be ever casting all our cares on God.”