Hillsong Boston Pastor Josh Kimes Announces ‘Difficult Decision’ to Resign

April 19, 2022

After almost a year in the spotlight, Hillsong Boston co-pastors Josh and Leona Kimes are departing the global megachurch. “While it’s never been in our plans to leave Hillsong,” Josh Kimes wrote Monday on social media, “we’ve made the difficult decision to resign as we know God is directing our steps to walk confidently and humbly into the unknown and trust Him to open the right door and plant us somewhere new.”

The couple, who helped build the now-embattled Hillsong New York City, say they appreciate prayers as they “carefully consider what’s next.” Josh Kimes also apologizes if he ever hurt anyone as a leader, and he praises his wife’s bravery and resilience.

Hillsong Boston Pastor Josh Kimes Commends Courage of Wife, Leona

Last spring, Leona Kimes accused former Hillsong NYC pastor Carl Lentz of sexual abuse, saying the misconduct occurred during the seven years she served as the family’s nanny. Lentz, who was fired for moral failures in November 2020, denies the allegations. But last week, a leaked report of an independent investigation revealed rampant abuse by Lentz, partly attributed to a “lack of oversight.”

Kimes described feeling “trapped and silenced” by Lentz’s unwanted sexual advances. Investigators said the power imbalance between the two made it “unlikely that Leona was capable of achieving the distance necessary to exercise true choice.” The report mentions that Laura Lentz punched Leona Kimes in the face after catching Carl and Leona together. A rep for Carl and Laura Lentz has labeled various claims “libelous” and “rooted in lies and misinformation.”

In Monday’s resignation post, Josh Kimes describes Leona as “kind, confident & courageous,” adding, “She’s the bravest woman I know.” He continues: “What it takes for anyone to speak up against any form of abuse is painful, lonely & costly & comes at a price I wouldn’t wish on anyone, especially when it’s public.” Josh commends his wife for choosing “love, humility, resilience & personal growth” over “hate & bitterness toward those who’ve abused, hurt, judged, lied [and] tried to shame & silence her.”

Departing Pastors Still Love ‘Broken but Beautiful’ Hillsong

While at Hillsong Boston, Josh Kimes faced allegations of overworking staff members and volunteers. Two years ago, former volunteer Tiffany Perez said she received just $150 per week to babysit, dog-sit, and clean for the family.

In his lengthy post, Josh Kimes writes, “I’m deeply sorry that many have been hurt a long [sic] the way. I apologize for any part my leadership has played in that hurt by perpetuating a culture that at times valued the building of the church at the expense of those building it.”

London Street Preacher Acquitted of Hate Speech After Preaching Biblical Definition of Marriage

Dale Chamberlain

April 19, 2022

72-year-old street preacher John Sherwood has been cleared of charges of hate speech, a year after an incident in which he was arrested after preaching the traditional definition of marriage in an open air sermon near London’s Uxbridge Underground Station in April 2021. Sherwood, who serves as pastor of Penn Free Methodist Church in north London, was preaching from the book of Genesis.

“God’s design in creating mankind was to set human beings in families, headed by a father and a mother, not by two fathers or by two mothers. The distinction within mankind of just two genders, male and female, made in the image of God, constitutes the essence of God’s created order,” Sherwood said in the sermon.

Police arrived on the scene in response to multiple complaints of “alarm and distress.” Officers warned Sherwood to avoid making any homophobic remarks.

In response, Sherwood told the police that “to uphold God’s moral law and to speak about the dangers of sin in respect of LGBT issues implies absolutely no hatred or unpleasantness towards any individual or group of people. Indeed, it is an act of love to one’s neighbor. Nevertheless, the Bible’s description of homosexuality as sinful is plain and clear-cut.”

Pointing out that the LGBTQ Pride parade taking place nearby was affirming beliefs that Christians would find offensive, Sherwood argued that there is no law against offending people. Sherwood then resumed preaching. After bystanders began voicing their displeasure with his message, officers stepped in and took Sherwood into custody.

During the arrest, which was caught on camera, police and Sherwood can be seen engaged in a mild physical altercation, but Sherwood was ultimately taken into custody without serious incident. While Sherwood was released without charges after being held overnight, he was later charged in September 2021.

“I wasn’t making any homophobic comments. I was just defining marriage as a relationship between a man and a woman. I was only saying what the Bible says. I wasn’t wanting to hurt anyone or cause offense,” Sherwood said after his initial arrest. “I was doing what my job description says, which is to preach the gospel in open air as well as in a church building.”

During the trial, Sherwood’s defense centered on Article 10 of the 1998 Human Rights Act, which guarantees freedom of expression.

“This right shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority,” the article says.

SBC Executive Committee To Hold Special Called Meeting

Brandon Porter

April 19, 2022

NASHVILLE (BP) – Chairman Rolland Slade announced Monday (April 18) that the SBC Executive Committee will hold a special called meeting Thursday, April 28. The meeting is being called primarily to discuss the relocation of the 2023 SBC Annual Meeting currently slated to be held June 13-14, 2023, in Charlotte, N.C.

“The good news is the attendance at the annual meeting is trending up, which is the primary reason for the move,” Slade said. “The footprint or space needed to hold our meeting is significantly larger than back in 2016 when the city was chosen.”

Charlotte was confirmed as the 2023 host city by messengers to the 2016 SBC Annual Meeting in St. Louis. Since that meeting, however, attendance at the annual event has grown, which means the 280,000-square-foot Charlotte Convention Center is not large enough to host the event, which is expected to draw more than 15,000 attendees. Space requirements for hosting an SBC annual meeting now exceed 400,000 square feet.

With the city unable to fulfill its commitments, the SBC Executive Committee has a duty to secure a replacement city per the SBC Constitution. The replacement city is slated to be New Orleans.

“I imagine the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina is going to be disappointed, yet at the same time be understanding,” Slade said. “We are not second guessing the decisions made in the past. We are trying carry out our duty to have the annual meeting be successful and comfortable for all who will attend.”

Todd Unzicker, executive director-treasure of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, said North Carolina Baptists “have been excited to host and welcome our national brothers and sisters,” but added that they “understand the challenges presented by the ever-growing number of attendees.”

“It is a good thing that so many Southern Baptists want to be on mission together, and we look forward to joining them in New Orleans,” Unzicker said.

New Orleans last hosted the SBC annual meeting in 2012 – a historic meeting in which Fred Luter was elected SBC president. The meeting would be held at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, the same location as the 2012 meeting. The dates for the gathering would not change.

“New Orleans easily meets the four main objectives for a host city,” said Jonathan Howe, vice president for communications for the SBC Executive Committee. “We look for cities with ample space, with available dates, with available hotels, and that are in proximity to Southern Baptists. New Orleans was the only city in the southeast United States that met those criteria just 14 months from the scheduled gathering.”

Howe told Baptist Press that New Orleans boasts more than 4,000 hotel rooms within a 10-minute walk and more than 500,000 square feet of space for events at the convention center – easily meeting the needs of convention attendees and organizers.

Meeting in New Orleans would also mean Southern Baptists from around the country would have the opportunity to visit one of their seminaries – New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

Baptist Leader Helps Train Churches to Reach, Protect Those With Disabilities

Timothy Cockes

April 19, 2022

disabilities — Tom Stolle's (right) journey in caring for his son Jimmy has led to an intentional effort to equip laypeople and churches in the Baptist Convention of Maryland and Delaware for ministering to individuals and families with special needs.

DAGSBORO, Delaware (BP) – For Tom Stolle, associate executive director and chief financial officer for the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware (BCMD), helping equip churches to care for those with disabilities is a deeply personal endeavor. His son, Jimmy, now 20, was born with severe autism.

Stolle’s latest involvement is serving as chair of the state convention’s task force meant to analyze and address sexual abuse. Stolle said part of his reason for wanting to lead the task force is that those with disabilities are at a very high risk to be sexually abused.

He cited research from the Bureau of Justice Statistics that states the rate of rape and sexual assault against individuals with disabilities is 7 times the rate of those without disability. According to the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape, more than 90 percent of people with intellectual disabilities will experience sexual abuse at some point in their lives.

“What these statistics mean for someone like my son is that it’s not a matter of if, it’s almost a matter of when,” Stolle said.

“People should experience the love of God and who God is within the Church. They should not experience things that would make them think that God does not love them and that the Church does not care about them. If they are not protected and these things happen to them, these are the things they experience. The Church needs to be better than that, and that’s what I want.”

His passion for educating churches about special needs ministry comes from his own journey with Jimmy. Despite the many blessings Stolle said his family has experienced, the road has been challenging and unexpected.

“In all the things we discussed when preparing to have a third child, the thought of disability entering into our lives was just something that never occurred to us,” Stolle said.

Jimmy’s autism caused serious developmental disorders. To this day, he remains nonverbal.

Stolle and his wife Shelley became accustomed to their routine of caring for Jimmy, but the teenage years brought an unexpected danger.

The onset of hormones combined with Jimmy’s autism would frequently elicit violent outbursts from Jimmy, in which he would scratch and hit his parents. Stolle described the attacks as severe and sometimes lasting up to an hour.

The episodes went on for several years, and the Stolles still bear physical scars from them. But Stolle said he and Shelly never responded with violence against Jimmy.

The road was hard, but one place the family was able to find some relief and encouragement is through their church – High Tide Church in Dagsboro, Del.

Why Leaning Into the Beauty and Power of the Church, at Its Best, Matters

Dan Reiland

April 19, 2022

When you think of the church, what’s the first thing that comes to your mind?

To a large degree, your answer has a dramatic impact on how you lead, perhaps even on how you pursue God.

I love the Church, even with its flaws.

That’s the two-sided tension. God is perfect; we are not.

The Church is imperfect, so there will always be problems to solve, but if we’re not careful, we’ll only see the problems because, as leaders, it’s our responsibility to solve them.

There are problems to solve, and as leaders, we must solve them. However, we must also lift our eyes above the problems to see the beauty and power of the church at its best, to remember where we are headed and why.

We tend to see what we look for and focus on, so it’s important not to allow human imperfection to blind us from the beauty of the Church as God designed it to be.

The source of beauty in the Church is the eternal nature of God’s unending love and Jesus’ selfless sacrifice for our redemption.

We see the beauty in things such as:

Grace
Compassion
Forgiveness
Generosity
Sacrifice
Kindness

The source of the power in the Church (the body of Christ) is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father sent in Jesus’ name. (John 14:26)

We see that power in action through things such as:

Spiritual wisdom far beyond our own.
Transformation to new life
Answers to prayer
Communities, cities, and countries impacted for good
Miraculous intervention

See the Church as God intended:

His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. (Ephesians 3:10-12)

As you read through the five points, take a moment of reflection for two things:

What are the areas in which you can thank God for His presence and power in your church?
What one area might your church step up for an even stronger ministry?

1. In Its Purest Form, the Church Seeks Nothing for Itself.

When you see the church as Jesus sees it (The Father’s love, redemption, unified community, and hope), you know the potential. You see only problems when you see the church through conflict, hurt, disappointment, or even cynicism.

The nature of God’s love and the example of Jesus’ life seeks nothing for self. That may seem way out of reach for us, yet, that is our example.

Let’s look at an obvious and practical illustration.

Extraordinary Acts of Love in Ukraine, Directed at the Most Vulnerable – Children and Orphans

Heather Dyer

April 19, 2022

A “dark historical first.” That is how James Elder, a spokesperson for UNICEF, described United Nations data from last month revealing that children were making up nearly half of the refugees who had fled Ukraine since the war began. Since that time, things have only gotten darker. Multiple sources reported that Manuel Fontaine, UNICEF’s emergency programs director, just a few days ago said that having 4.8 million of Ukraine’s 7.5 million children displaced in such a short time was “something he hadn’t before seen happen so quickly in 31 years of humanitarian work.”

With men ages 18-60 needing to stay in-country to be part of the resistance, families have been separated at an escalating speed, and most are uncertain as to whether they will ever be reunited. Even as mothers and children head towards safety, fathers have been left behind, tears in their eyes, as they watch those dearest to their hearts seek safety.

“Today is the hardest and most difficult day for me,” said Maksim, as he watches his wife and young son head out of Uzhgorod. “I have to hold back tears in the presence of my wife. I understand this is all for a while, but how long? Will I be able to see them again? It’s very painful and difficult, but I make these decisions for their life and good.”

Tragically, Maksim’s story is not unique for Ukrainian families in the midst of the current crisis. It’s estimated that more than 4.7 million people have been forced to flee Ukraine in the past seven weeks, many leaving behind husbands and fathers to defend their country’s freedom.

For many of us working in the child welfare and orphan care space, we know from past crises that this kind of temporary family separation puts children at an increased risk of being permanently separated from their families. Women who were forced to leave their husbands behind struggle to provide for their children as refugees in a foreign country, and poverty leads to increased risks for their children, including some of these women making the impossible choice to place their children in an orphanage to meet their needs. Residential care facilities like orphanages may be able to provide for physical needs like food, water, and shelter, but they can’t provide all of the developmental, social, and emotional support a child fleeing a war-torn country will require to thrive long-term.

Inside Ukraine, efforts are being made to bring a semblance of order into a very chaotic reality.

Nikolai Kuleba, former Child Ombudsman (Minister of Children’s Rights) of Ukraine, coordinates a large-scale national effort to evacuate tens of thousands of children and families to neighboring Poland. As Nikolai and his team work through the logistics of transporting, housing, and providing food and water for hundreds of children and families at a time, he can only respond this way when asked how he is doing: “I am not safe if Ukraine’s children are not safe.”

In the western part of Ukraine, Jane and Barbara run a family restoration center called the Ark that is seen as a model for care by the Ukrainian government. For years, the Ark has been caring for children and working with biological parents by providing support services that will help them reunite with their children. After the outbreak of the war, Barbara and the rest of the Ark staff moved the children to a bomb shelter for safety where they stayed for eight days — no daylight, no showers. They have since evacuated to a temporary shelter in Germany as they figure out their next steps. The ongoing destruction of homes and livelihood for vulnerable families makes the possibility of reunification for these children even more challenging.

In the eastern part of the country, Petr and Tamara are helping to evacuate families from the war zone while caring for the many foster and adoptive families and children in the church where Petr serves as a pastor. For those who are unable to evacuate, the couple is providing food, medicine, personal hygiene products, and water. Serving these children and families is not new to Petr and Tamara—for years, they have been leaders in church orphan care ministry, leading hundreds from their congregation to foster and/or adopt children who would have otherwise languished in orphanages.

Inside of Ukraine are heroes like Maksim who have made the hard decision to do what is best for those they love. There are heroes like Nikolai, Jane, Barbara, Petr, and Tamara who are sacrificing their very lives for the sake of children who are unable to provide for themselves.

And for families who are seeking safety on the other side of the border, there are hundreds—thousands—of churches and Christians who are opening up homes and buildings and providing tangible resources for those seeking safety and rest. In Romania, there are people like Alex, who leads Romania’s national orphan care movement, and who is one of many who are welcoming in the thousands of women and children now entering their country. With an established network of partners, Alex is helping families stay together at a short-term facility to provide immediate shelter and food; assisting at a long-term refugee center to provide housing, food, and necessities; and offering food to those standing in line in Ukraine waiting to cross over.

7 Sexual Lines No Pastor Should Ever Cross

Joe McKeever

April 18, 2022

boundaries for pastors — Photo by Keira Burton via Pexels

There are 7 distinct sexual lines no pastor should ever cross in order to protect his marriage, church and himself.

Recently, we did an article on “7 Women That Pastors Need to Watch Out For.” Someone who just read it wanted to know why we put the blame on the women when pastors are more likely to be the sexual predator. “Google that,” she suggested, “and see for yourself.” My only defense is that in the body of the article, we said, “Sometimes women are the victims; sometimes they are the victimizers.” However, my critic is correct. And thus, what follows …

I’ve known more than one pastor who was a sexual predator. And, if it makes the reader feel any better, every one of them is out of the ministry now.

My observation, however, is that no serial adulterer occupying the pastor’s office entered the ministry with such sordid intentions. He fell into sin and one thing led to another. (Sound familiar? It’s how life works.)

So, what follows is for young ministers in particular who have not been snared in the lust trap and wish to make sure they don’t. (For your information, I invited my wife Margaret to add her observations.)

Here are seven lines pastors do not want to cross.

1. Do not use cologne.

Women are sensitive to fragrances, my wife says, which is why they wear them in the first place. When a man wears them, he sends out a subtle signal, the type no wise minister needs to be emitting.

2. Do not hug women.

One pastor said he hugs no one between the ages of six and 66.

To the minister who argues that, “Well, I am a toucher and people need to be hugged,” I reply:

a) Granted, but let women hug women and men hug men, if necessary and appropriate.

b) In most cases, your “touching” indicates some physical or emotional need in yourself, and is not what healthy ministers do.

Even if your intentions are pure, you make yourself vulnerable to charges of inappropriate touching. And—do not miss this—in the minds of many, to be charged is to be convicted.

Best to guard against these dangers.

3. Do not be in your office with a woman alone.

A pastor of a large church told some of us why he does not counsel in his office. “All she has to do is run out of the office screaming and your ministry is over.”

When someone catches him following a worship service with, “Pastor, could I come by and talk with you about a problem?” he answers, “Let’s sit in a pew right over here and talk now!”

Their visit is in public, but far enough removed from people so that no one hears their conversation.

Ministry Leader Responds to Backlash Against Viral Video of Christians Worshiping on Airplane

Jessica Mouser

April 18, 2022

Composite image. Screenshots from Facebook / @Jack Jensz Jr. and TikTok / @jackjenszjr

An April 9 video of a man leading passengers in worship during a commercial flight has gone viral, drawing reactions from other Christians, Rep. Ilhan Omar and even the Church of Satan. Jack Jensz Jr., who posted the video to social media, gave further context for what happened after the incident received widespread praise and backlash.

“We are taking this flight over for Jesus!” says the description on the video Jensz posted to TikTok. The video features a man identified as Jonathan Neo playing the worship song, “How Great Is Our God,” in the middle of a flight while passengers participate, record the moment on their phones or simply observe.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jack Jensz Jr. (@jackjenszjr_)

Jensz wrote in the caption on Instagram, “Worshipping our King Jesus 30,000 feet in the air!” However, not everyone in the video appears enthusiastic about the worship, particularly a man wearing a teal and blue plaid shirt seated next to Neo. And while many have praised what happened, the post has received quite a bit of criticism from Christians and non-Christians alike.

Jack Jensz Jr.’s Video Divides Viewers

Jack Jensz Jr. is the founder of prayer and healing ministry, Kingdom Realm Ministries, whose website appears to be under construction. According to his Facebook page, Jensz attended the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry, and he describes himself on TikTok as a “Preacher of the Gospel.” Jensz and his team have been doing ministry and providing aid in Ukraine, and they reportedly led in-flight worship on an EasyJet flight, likely somewhere over Europe.

Jensz’s post drew mixed reactions on Instagram. “So bold! Blessings!!” said one user. “Dream team!” said another. But another person asked, “How would you guys feel if Twin Temple performed on the plane (if you have no idea who they are, their music is ‘Satanic Doo Wop’)? Would you guys appreciate that? I doubt it. Neither is it appreciative disrupting others who just wanna relax before they arrive to their destination…I don’t care what someone’s faith is. Just don’t be so obnoxious about it.”

Facebook users’ responses were also varied. Some of the positive comments included, “Love this!!!!!”, “Praise God!” and “Love you bro! This is fire.” Someone who disapproved said, “This is not how you win people to Christ. This is gross and invasive.”

User Raelyn Meader said, ”This is unacceptable. How would you feel if Muslims started praying in the aisles? Not happy, I’d bet. I would have demanded my money back if I were on this flight. Those passengers weren’t there asking for your guidance and wisdom. Have some respect.”

Meader was not the only person to speculate how people would be reacting had a Muslim led the plane in worship. Ilhan Omar, who represents Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives and who is Muslim, tweeted the video, saying, “I think my family and I should have a prayer session next time I am on a plane. How do you think it will end?”

Omar’s tweet has drawn criticism from several Republican candidates, some of whom have accused her of hating Christianity.

Canadian Church Hosts Assisted Suicide Service for Member

Jesse T. Jackson

April 18, 2022

assisted suicide — Photo via Pexels.com @Ksenia Chernaya

Churchill Park United Church is a progressive, affirming Canadian church located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, whose leadership says “is a church that makes you feel at home.” So much at home that it even provides its sanctuary as a place members can feel welcome to bring their lives to an end. On March 9, 2022, 86-year-old Betty Sanguin did just that in an assisted suicide ceremony.

Last spring, Sanguin was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), or better known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, named for the famous baseball player who was diagnosed with it. According to the Mayo Clinic, ALS “is a progressive nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, causing loss of muscle control.” The disease currently has no cure.

Sanguin’s daughter, Renée, said Sanguin’s health rapidly declined and “within a very short period of time, (the doctors) were talking about a feeding tube, because she couldn’t eat and swallow anymore.”

“My mom saw other people that were further along in their (ALS) diagnosis and all she knew is that she didn’t want that. That’s what my mom struggled with the most,” Sanguin’s other daughter, Lynda, shared.

“As the sun streamed through the stained glass windows in the music-filled sanctuary,” Sanguin’s obituary reads, the mother and grandmother was surrounded by her children, grandchildren, and close friends during her planned death.

The assisted suicide, which is legal in Canada, was called a “simple Crossing Over Ceremony” where Sanguin was able to “let go of her hold on this life.”

Sanguin visited with her family and friends during the ceremony hosted at the church. The lethal injection started at 1PM. An hour later, she was no longer present on earth. At 4PM, the funeral home arrived to take her body.

Sanguin was described as someone with a servant’s heart and an inspiration to others. Her ALS diagnosis came as shock to her family, and after the passing of her husband, she began to rapidly decline. Sanguin leaves behind six children, twelve grandchildren, and eleven great-grandchildren.

In May 2017, Churchill Park United Church’s denomination passed a resolution that allows for a “case-by-case approach to medical assistance in dying.”

“We are not opposed in principle to the legislation allowing assistance in dying and to such assistance being the informed, free choice of terminally ill patients,” The resolution reads. “There are occasions where unrelenting suffering and what we know about the effect of pain on the human body can make Medical Assistance in Dying a preferable option. However, we urge a cautious approach by legislators and medical professionals implementing these laws, as well as by individuals, families and communities of faith who are considering making use of this new legislative option. To this end, we advocate community-focused and theologically robust discernment on a case-by-case basis that also ensures the protection and care of those potentially made vulnerable by this new law and others like it.”

Daffodils Amid Destruction: Pastor Who Lost House in Colo. Fire Shares Easter Hope

Stephanie Martin

April 18, 2022

bill stephens — Pastor Bill Stephens gives the message on Easter Sunday, April 17. Screenshot from Facebook / @ascentcommunity

When the Marshall Fire destroyed more than 1,000 homes in Boulder County, Colo., last December, 26 of those belonged to families who attend Louisville’s Ascent Community Church. That includes the home of Lead Pastor Bill Stephens, who’s spent the past few months coming to terms with the losses.

As the congregation gathered for worship yesterday, Stephens said Easter provides the hope and the victory “that a lot of us need” right now. He also used striking visuals from the fire to show how Easter represents new life amid a backdrop of earthly pain.

Bill Stephens: Easter Means Death Won’t Win

When wind-whipped flames swept through 6,000+ acres on December 30, 2021, the Stephens family was out of state and unable to save any possessions. (On Facebook afterward, the pastor wrote, “As it turns out, if you buy a fire safe a couple months before a fire, you should actually put things in it.”)

For the past few months, Bill Stephens and other families in the church and community who lost everything have tried to pick up the pieces. Being “buried” beneath debris and insurance claims has felt overwhelming, the pastor admitted. “If there was ever a year that I have needed life out of death and hope out of being buried, it’s this year,” he said.

During his sermon, Stephens showed an image of daffodils springing up amid the burned remnants of his house. Like those flowers, the Easter message represents hope, rebirth, and new life, he said, even though destruction is still visible in the background. “Death is not gonna win,” he said. “That is Easter.”

Stephens also rolled out a wheelbarrow of debris he’d recently collected from his property. Included were remnants of his family’s 12-foot Christmas tree, which once held about 250 treasured ornaments. Seeing all that loss and sadness in the backdrop of hope is painful, the pastor said, just as Jesus endured the cross and the weight of the world’s sins. But because God so loved the world, we have victory and new life through our Savior—even when day-to-day life “isn’t all daffodils.”

Bill Stephen: God Grants Joy ‘In the Heart of Pain’

Stephens decided that Easter would mark a much-needed turning point in his disaster-recovery process. He had been frequently revisiting the loss—both mentally and physically—but “the other day, I just finally said, ‘You know what Bill? Enough.’”

‘God Gives Us Access to a Greater Story’: Hillsong Atlanta Relaunches As Story Church

Dale Chamberlain

April 18, 2022

Story Church Hillsong Atlanta Sam Collier — Screengrabs from Facebook.

On Easter Sunday (April 17), Story Church in Atlanta, Ga., held its first service. The church has taken the place of Hillsong Atlanta after that congregation disbanded in the wake of the resignation of its lead pastor, Sam Collier. Collier cited scandals within the Hillsong global church as the reason for his departure.

Collier, who had been Hillsong Church’s first African American pastor to lead a congregation, announced on March 27 that Hillsong Atlanta would dissolve. The announcement came less than a week after the resignation not only of Collier, but also Hillsong Church’s global senior pastor Brian Houston. Houston resigned the church he planted nearly four decades ago after it was revealed that he had acted inappropriately toward two women in separate incidents.

During the announcement regarding Hillsong Atlanta’s dissolution, Collier announced the launch of Story Church, which has retained much of Hillsong Atlanta’s leadership team with Collier as the lead pastor.

The launch of Story Church in place of Hillsong Atlanta came with the blessing of Hillsong Church’s leadership, as interim global senior pastor Phil Dooley expressed his hope that Story Church would flourish via video message to Hillsong Atlanta on its final Sunday gathering.

“We want to be a Spirit-filled environment,” Collier said as he invited Story Church into a time of worship through music on Sunday. “Which just simply means this: we believe that God is still alive, and He’s still moving throughout our midst.”

“We are praying for revival in this city and in this nation: an outpouring of God’s Spirit on every person. That every person that walks the earth that doesn’t know Christ would experience him in a transcendent moment,” Collier went on to say. “And in that moment, past all of the confusion and past all of the doubts and past all of the worries, the revelation of who God is would push through. That it would cut through and all would know that God is real. That Jesus is real. That we have access to Him that gives us the ability to overcome.”

Later in the service, Collier brought some members of the Story Church staff onto the stage to introduce them. He also invited those in attendance to a “family meeting” that will take place next week. During that meeting, Collier said that all the staff and board members will be introduced and congregants will be able to ask questions about the church.

“One of the things I want to point out is you’ll notice that we have women in leadership here,” Collier said as the church cheered and applauded. “Which, at some churches, is not a thing. But it will be true here. Women will find freedom and be empowered in this church.”

“Obviously, the men will as well,” Collier added, “but that really hasn’t been the issue, has it?” After some laughter from the congregation, Collier went on to reiterate that diversity is a core pillar for Story Church and that he hopes the church will be a place that “uplifts both women and men.”

Grand Rapids Pastors Mobilize in Wake of Fatal Shooting of Patrick Lyoya

Kathryn Post

April 18, 2022

(RNS) — Pastors in Grand Rapids, Michigan, are taking action as the city reels in the aftermath of the fatal shooting of 26-year-old Patrick Lyoya by a Grand Rapids police officer on April 4. Video footage of the shooting was released on Wednesday (April 13), sparking protests outside the city’s police department.

Lyoya, who is Black, was pulled over last week for a mismatched license plate. Video footage shows a white officer shooting Lyoya in the head after a brief scuffle. Lyoya and his family arrived from the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2014 as refugees, and he leaves behind his parents, two young daughters and five siblings.

In the days since Lyoya’s death, a group of Black pastors in Grand Rapids, called the Black Clergy Coalition, has been organizing community events to promote dialogue, healing and justice.

“We think that our faith perspective is critical in this hour, to not just discuss policy change, which is necessary, but to also discuss the spiritual and faith dynamic,” said Pastor Jathan K. Austin of Bethel Empowerment Church in Grand Rapids. “We must continue to keep our trust in the Father so that people don’t lose trust in this time because of the heartache, the pain.”

On Sunday (April 10), the group helped organize a forum for community discussion in response to Lyoya’s death. The discussion took place at Renaissance Church of God in Christ in Grand Rapids — the location was intentional, according to the church’s senior pastor, Bishop Dennis J. McMurray, who noted the wider church’s historic role in guiding civil rights movements and said the Black Clergy Coalition is drawing on that legacy.

“It was unreal, the level of cooperative dialogue and understanding that took place,” McMurray told Religion News Service. “If these conversations would have started almost anywhere else, the volatility that could be associated to something as devastating as what we’re facing could have been a bomb that goes off that would cause so many other issues.”

The group also helped host a Thursday press conference at the Renaissance Church of God in Christ and a noon Good Friday service at the church, where they took up a collection for the Lyoya family.

The Rev. Khary Bridgewater, who lives in Grand Rapids, said the city’s racial and religious landscape informs how local leaders are responding to Lyoya’s death. Grand Rapids has a population that’s over 65% white and about 18% Black. It’s also the headquarters for the Christian Reformed Church, a small, historically Dutch Reformed denomination, and is home to over 40 CRC churches. According to Bridgewater, leaders shaped by the CRC’s reformed theology are often more likely to advocate for change within existing systems.

According to Bridgewater, “It’s very hard for most CRC churches to look at a system and say, ‘This is wrong, we’re going to act as activists to push the system into a different state.’ They’re more inclined to say, ‘Hey, let’s sit down and have a conversation with the leaders and try to do things differently.’” Bridgewater says this theology can bump up against the Black church’s prophetic tradition of change-making. For this reason, he said, Christian groups in Grand Rapids need to have theological discussions around topics like justice and citizenship.

Nik Smith, a Grand Rapids activist and member of Defund the GRPD, agrees the city’s religious culture is shaping local leaders’ responses.

“The nonprofits are run by Christian folk who are just waiting for Jesus to come, not realizing not only was he here already, but he’s given us things to live by,” said Smith. “So we have to be seeking justice actively in our community. We can’t just say, let’s pray. Prayer is not going to bring Patrick back.”

For Many, Easter Sunday Marks a Return to in-Person Worship

Steve LeBlanc, Giovanna Dell'Orto and Deepa Bharath

April 18, 2022

in-person worship — The faithful packed St. Peter Claver church in St. Paul, Minn., for the first indoor, in-person Easter Sunday service since the pandemic hit, on Sunday, April 17, 2022. The Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis rescinded all pandemic restrictions on April 1, while encouraging parishes and congregants to follow their own pace in loosening COVID-19 protocols. (AP Photo/Giovanna Dell'Orto)

BOSTON (AP) — For many U.S. Christians, this weekend marked the first time since 2019 that they gathered in person on Easter Sunday, a welcome chance to celebrate one of the year’s holiest days side by side with fellow congregants.

Notable events included a 6 a.m. sunrise Mass outdoors near the waterfront in South Boston, and a joyous, hug-filled service at St. Peter Claver, a historically Black congregation in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Another mostly Black congregation, Watson Grove Baptist Church in Nashville, Tennessee, had hoped for an outdoors service at a downtown park. But rain forced a last-minute change of plans, and about 700 mask-wearing worshippers met instead in the church’s sanctuary for what senior pastor John Faison said was by far their biggest indoor gathering during the pandemic.

“We hadn’t seen a crowd like this for two years,” Faison said. “Eyes were lighting up. People just felt good.”

The pandemic erupted in the country in March 2020, just ahead of Easter, forcing many churches to resort to online or televised worship. Many continued to hold virtual services last spring after a deadly winter wave of the coronavirus and as vaccination campaigns were still ramping up. But this year more churches opened their doors for Easter services with few COVID-19 restrictions, in line with broader societal trends.

Among them were Catholic parishes in the Archdiocese of Boston, which since last June has once again required most churchgoers to attend Mass in person — though those with health risks may still watch remotely, and pastors have been asked to make space for social distancing in churches.

MC Sullivan, chief health care ethicist for the archdiocese, said celebrating Mass communally is important to how Catholics profess their faith. Church attendance has been trending upward, and parishioners are excited to gather again to commemorate Christ’s resurrection.

“It has been quite wonderful to see how well-attended Mass is right now. … It seems to have brought a lot of people back to the idea of what’s important to them,” she said.

At St. Peter Claver in St. Paul, there was whooping, applause and exultant pounding on the wooden pews when the Rev. Joseph Gifford told more than 200 faithful that the church’s usual sign of the peace was back – no more pandemic-era nodding or mild handshakes.

“The place just explodes,” said longtime parishioner Lynette Graham. “When he said we could do it, people were all over the church,” hugging each other.

Another highlight of the service: the first performance by its Cameroonian choir – with its spirited drumming and West African melodies – since the pandemic hit.

“We’re back and He’s risen and it’s huge,” choir director Brendan Banteh said. “The ministry in our culture is very celebratory, being one in church – the choir, the priest, the people. Not being able to come to church had created a disconnect that we had never experienced before.”

Pope Makes Easter Plea for Ukraine Peace, Cites Nuclear Risk

Frances D'Emilio

April 18, 2022

VATICAN CITY (AP) — On what is supposed to be Christianity’s most joyful day, Pope Francis made an anguished Easter Sunday plea for peace in the “senseless” war in Ukraine and in other armed conflicts raging in the world, and voiced worry about the risk of nuclear warfare.

“May there be peace for war-torn Ukraine, so sorely tried by the violence and destruction of this cruel and senseless war into which it was dragged,” Francis said, speaking from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Square.

The pontiff had just finished celebrating Easter Mass in the square packed by faithful for the holiday for the first time since the pandemic began in early 2020. Applause erupted from many of the crowd, estimated by the Vatican to number 100,000 in the square and on a nearby avenue, when he mentioned Ukraine.

“Please, please, let us not get used to war,” Francis pleaded, after denouncing ”the flexing of muscles while people are suffering.” Yet again, the pontiff didn’t cite Russian President Vladimir Putin for the decision to launch the invasion and attacks against Ukraine on Feb. 24.

People’s hearts are filled with “fear and anguish, as so many of our brothers and sisters have had to lock themselves away in order to be safe from bombing,” the pontiff said.

“Let us all commit ourselves to imploring peace, from our balconies and in our streets,” Francis said. ”May the leaders of nations hear people’s plea for peace.”

In a clear reference to the threat of nuclear warfare, Francis quoted from a noted declaration of 1955: “’Shall we put an end to the human race, or shall mankind renounce war?'”

He was quoting from a manifesto written by philosopher Bertrand Russell and physicist Albert Einstein. The manifesto’s text, sounding a grim warning against the consequences of nuclear warfare, was issued a few months after Einstein died.

Meanwhile, in Britain, the leader of the Anglican church, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, called for Russia to declare a cease-fire and withdraw from Ukraine.

Noting that in the Eastern Orthodox church followed by many in Russia and Ukraine Sunday marks the start of Holy Week — with Easter coming on April 24 — Welby exhorted Russia to withdraw from Ukraine and commit to talks.

Francis also drew attention to other wars in the speech known by its Latin name “Urbi et Orbi” — to the city and to the world.

“May the conflict in Europe also make us more concerned about other situations of conflict, suffering and sorrow, situations that affect all too many areas of our world, situations that we cannot overlook and do not want to forget,” Francis said.

Two days after Palestinians and Israeli police clashed in Jerusalem, Francis prayed that “Israelis, Palestinians and all the inhabitants of the Holy City, together with pilgrims, experience the beauty of peace, of living in brotherhood and of accessing Holy Places” in reciprocal respect.

He called for peace and reconciliation for the peoples of Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Libya.

Francis spoke plaintively about Yemen, “which suffers from a conflict forgotten by all, with continuous victims.” He expressed hope that a recent truce would restore hope to that country’s people.

Virtual Bathtub Baptisms Help Maryland Megachurch Gain Online Members During Pandemic

Adelle M Banks

April 18, 2022

baptisms — The Rev. Maurice Winn, left, congratulates Amina Massai Jefferson-Motley, right, and her mother, Brandi Jefferson, following Amina's virtual baptism in February 2021. Video screen grab courtesy of RNS

(RNS) — In February 2021, Amina Massai Jefferson-Motley dressed in a white shirt and pants for her baptism.

Her mother stood nearby as an associate minister of First Baptist Church of Glenarden asked the little girl about her Christian beliefs.

But the officiant of the Maryland megachurch was states away. Amina was in the bathtub of her Georgia home, becoming the first online campus member of the Maryland megachurch to be baptized virtually.

“I’ve been wanting to get baptized for years now and I finally got to do it,” said the now 11-year-old in an interview during Holy Week, when Christians say their baptism symbolizes their belief in Jesus’ crucifixion, death and resurrection.

“After I got baptized, I just felt so grateful that I was saved, and the Holy Spirit was with me.”

Brandi Jefferson, who assisted her daughter’s immersion in the bathtub, said the virtual baptism was an answer to her prayers. The mother and daughter had been watching the congregation’s services online after they moved away from Maryland. But Jefferson didn’t know how to fulfill her daughter’s request for baptism when they were physically distant from her church of almost 20 years.

Fourteen months after the fifth-grader took part in the ritual, the church has held 91 virtual baptisms. It is planning to start in-person baptisms on Tuesday, but the bathtub variety will still be offered to online campus congregants.

“We’re getting people baptized and being obedient to Christ all over the world,” said Pastor John K. Jenkins Sr., the leader of the predominantly Black church in the suburbs of Washington, D.C.

“This pandemic has pushed me to understand that there are things that I never thought we could do that we can do.”

The megachurch is not the first to expand the tradition from the sanctuary to the screen — requiring for each ceremony for a baptismal candidate someone to assist with the baptizing, and someone to hold the camera as the online officiant declares the public act of faith “in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.”

There are online videos of such ceremonies dating to the 2000s, including one in a Georgia bathtub where the officiant was in Florida. Another was in a swimming pool in Alabama when the local pastor was away at a conference in Indiana. John Dyer cited these instances in his blog about technology and theology in 2020, adding that the woman who requested the pool baptism had been ill and died four days after the ceremony.

Dyer, a vice president at Dallas Theological Seminary, wrote that a church’s decision to engage in virtual baptism “may depend on how your community understands the meaning of baptism.” For those who make that choice, he recommended using “physical water,” including the declaration “I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,” and being baptized by another Christian.

The Rev. Keshia Dixon, online campus minister at First Baptist Glenarden — which recently added “International” to the end of its name — said her church has determined that the baptism assistant does not have to share the faith of the baptized.

“The power is in the profession of faith that you’re making and the power is in the work of the Holy Spirit in that moment,” she said. “So it doesn’t matter who helps you go under the water. It’s what it symbolizes. And it’s the presence of the Holy Spirit that’s important in that moment.”

Dixon notes in an instructional video she created for baptismal candidates that there are options if a bathtub is too small or not available. She suggested a jacuzzi — “but make sure the water isn’t too hot” — a swimming pool or a public body of water. Alternatively, the assistant can pour a warm pitcher of water over the head of a baptismal candidate sitting on a chair in a tub or shower stall.

Alicia Cameron, the first international online campus member to be baptized, started watching the church’s services early in 2021.

The beaches in her location in Arima, Trinidad — where ocean baptisms are traditionally common — were closed to the public due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and she didn’t have a bathtub. So, after the “blown away moment” when she learned virtual baptism was possible through First Baptist Glenarden, she also discovered she could use her shower for the ritual.

“This is really working out for me,” she recalled thinking ahead of her Aug. 28 baptism. “God is just opening pathway after pathway to make this possible

Now, Easter has new meaning for Cameron, 45, a senior manager at an educational institution who used to consider Christmas the more prominent holiday.

“This time around, for me, Easter takes on a new significance now that I’m reevaluating what Christ really did around this time and what that meant for me as a child of God,” she said.

“I’m going to use it to be very introspective, very reflective of the true meaning of what Easter is all about.”

This article originally appeared here.

A Christian Response to ‘Don’t Say Gay’

James Emery White

April 18, 2022

Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida recently signed legislation that prohibits classroom instruction and discussion about sexual orientation and gender identity in elementary schools, specifically kindergarten-third grade.

The cultural divide can be seen in how the bill is referenced. While the law is officially titled “Parental Rights in Education,” it has drawn national criticism from LGBTQ groups who refer to is as the “Don’t Say Gay” law.

When signing the bill, DeSantis made his convictions clear: “We will make sure that parents can send their kids to school to get an education, not an indoctrination.”

Opponents fear a chilling effect among teachers and young students, coupled with a concern that the law censors and excludes a community of people from public schools. Reaction from critics has been swift: because the company’s chief executive did not take a stronger stand against the legislation, LGBTQ workers and their sympathizers at Disney staged walkouts in protest. During the Oscars, hosts Amy Schumer, Regina Hall and Wanda Sykes chanted “gay, gay, gay.” President Biden called the legislation “hateful.”

Sentiment against the legislation seems to rest on the rejection of any situation or context where there isn’t the freedom to introduce, discuss and teach on issues related to sexual orientation and gender identity—even to very young children independent of a parent’s consent. Somehow, if not allowed, that is a blow to the legitimation of the LGBTQ community.

But why, precisely, would sexual orientation or gender identity need to be discussed or taught in a kindergarten class to protect the LGBTQ community? There is no reason, and none have been offered. Nor is there is a reason, nor one being offered, as to why a teacher needs to be set free to engage potential conversations – if asked – by a kindergartner on such matters. For children of that age, that is for the parent to engage.

And if a child asks an unprompted question on the matter, again, any discussions at such a young age should be between a child and their parent, not a child and their teacher. And to the “chilling” effect this has on the classroom? I’m not feeling the temperature drop. In the 0.00001% chance a child does ask a teacher an unprovoked question related to such advanced topics, the teacher can simply say, “That is a very good question, and it’s one you should ask your parents about when you get home. Now let’s get back to our ABCs.”

Whether you think the legislation was needed or not – meaning political grandstanding or authentic concern – the legislation itself simply says, again, that sexual orientation and gender identity issues have no place in kindergarten-third grade. And it’s true. They don’t.

To be enraged that such common-sensical thinking be put in writing is non-sensical.

The only other argument against the legislation that is suggested is that it harms children who may not have anywhere else to turn. But that is precisely the point of the legislation. It is not the role of a public-school teacher to become the parent of a child. To say that a child would have “nowhere else to turn” insinuates that if a child wants to turn away from a parent’s authority or influence, they should be able to.

What Will It Be Like to Step Into Heaven and Come Face to Face With Jesus?

Randy Alcorn

April 18, 2022

Many of you have asked about Nanci’s memorial service. It will be held Sunday, May 15 at 3:30 p.m. at our home church, Good Shepherd Community Church, 28986 SE Haley Rd, Boring, OR 97009. A live stream will be available, and the video will also be available at that web address after the service.

Thanks so much for your continued prayers for our family. We would also appreciate your prayers that the service will be honoring to Nanci and above all honoring to her beloved Jesus.

Contemplating Heaven is where my heart is at right now. In this excerpt from my novel Deception, I picture one of the characters entering Heaven:

One moment Carly Woods was awake in a world of pain. The next moment she felt herself falling to sleep. A rush of sound and light awakened her.

At first she thought she was walking through a glowing passageway. Then she realized she was being carried, effortlessly, in mighty arms.

Behind her was a ruined paradise, a wasteland waiting to be reclaimed. Ahead of her was a world of substance and light, overflowing with color. The place beckoned her to come dive into it, to lose herself and find herself in something greater than she’d ever known. In one moment, Carly Woods had moved from midnight to sunrise.

“Awesome!” she said.

“Yes,” said a deep, resonant voice above her. She turned and looked up at the rock-chiseled face of a great creature, a shining warrior, looking like a man, yet different. She’d never seen anything like him. Yet somehow she thought she’d known him for years. She sensed he was rescuing her, that his job was to carry the wounded to where they’d be made well.

“I am Tor-el, servant of Elyon, God Most High. I have served Him by watching over you each day of your life in the Shadowlands.”

“I never knew.”

“Elyon knew,” he said, the edges of his lips turning barely upward. “That is all that matters.”

She turned to look where she was going. With every step the warrior took, she saw more color, detail, and activity. She could taste and smell life. The place reached out to her, pulling her in, as a magnet pulls iron filings.

“I’m getting stronger,” Carly said, recognizing her voice, but realizing it was much fuller. She’d never liked the sound of her voice. Now she did.

“I thought my life was over. It feels like it’s just begun.”

The voice above her spoke again. “The end is behind you, little one. This is the beginning that has no end.”

People crowded against a beautiful white fence, reaching their arms toward her. She heard their applause and an enchanting laughter. The warrior put her down.

She turned and said, “Thank you, Tor-el. For everything. I… I’d like to talk more.”

8 Spiritual Growth Questions to Ask Small Group Members

Peter Mannering

April 18, 2022

You love surveys most likely if you need the information and despise them if you have to fill it out.

As a small group leader or point person, you have a vested interest in spiritual growth. Some leaders tend to value metrics, and others desire more qualitative information like stories.

No matter where you find yourself, we want to know that individuals in small groups are pursuing spiritual growth as critical leaders.

Recently, I found myself in a leadership conversation about spiritual growth and surveys. Browncroft, the church I serve, utilizes Church Community Builder (CCB) as its Church Management Software (CMS). This platform provides us with crucial insights like small group attendance, serving, and giving.

Two problems emerge in our discussion about spiritual growth. First, prayer and Bible engagement metrics need more context (as with every spiritual growth area) than a checkbox. Secondly, surveys and reports can diminish the value of these discussions in small groups.

Small groups are the central location for conversations about spiritual growth. Leaders like yourself provide pastors and elders with far more insight into the spiritual temperature of the church.

Don’t get me wrong, I see tremendous value in CMS reporting and surveys, but small groups create a safe atmosphere to process spiritual next steps. If we all committed to normalizing these conversations, I wonder if we could help individuals grow spiritually through encouragement and accountability.

8 Spiritual Growth Questions to Ask Small Group Members

1. What are you reading in the Bible, and how is it challenging you to grow?

Often, we want to know how often people engage the Bible. A better starting place comes from individuals identifying how God’s Word influences their life. This question helps individuals articulate that, and then you can check on regularity. Also, it’s helpful to know if people find themselves in a desert season of engagement. Now, the small group can support and encourage someone in that season.

2. What have you been praying about, and how is God working your life through prayer?

The content of our prayers reveals our worries, fears, hopes, and dreams. Taking a moment to delve into our prayers’ content will help individuals see where God is working. Consider this – when was the last time someone asked you that question? Getting in the habit of spiritual growth questions challenges us to more in-depth conversations about what God is doing in our lives.

3. When did you get baptized? If you have not been baptized, what’s challenging for you to pursue it?

As a church leader, do you know if every person in your group has gotten baptized? Again, this question does not come as a checkbox but as a way to prompt spiritual growth. Often, I have found people have fears about baptism. I wonder how much of that would change if they knew their small group supported them publicly declaring their faith.

4. What are your spiritual gifts? How are you using the gifts God gave you to serve others?

Imagine what would happen at the church you serve if people knew and recognized their spiritual gifts. People sit on the sidelines because they fear failure or even wonder if they can make a difference. Even before offering a serve opportunity, you as a leader can help start the discussion with individuals on their spiritual gifts. That discussion could even lead to someone moving out of a serving role to a better position. That could also mean individuals serving more in the small group.

5. Who are you sharing your faith with and what’s the biggest challenge you face?

A key outgrowth of someone maturing in following Jesus becomes sharing their faith. Sometimes, we find ourselves embarrassed to share. These questions delve deep so that we can normalize our fear and anxiety. Regularly asking this question helps individuals strategically think about who God has placed in their life to experience the gospel.

6. How are you financially giving and investing in the church?

You probably have heard it said that Jesus talked about money more than any other topic. One of my friends Tom Melzoni often says, “Giving is something God wants for you, not from you.” In some ways, this question is less about giving and more about how individuals might need help with budgeting. Yes, it could become a messy conversation, but if we can’t talk about money in small groups, where can we? No matter where a person is on the continuum of giving, God challenges us to have faith and look for ways to invest in His kingdom. Our bank statement reflects our values.

7. When did you become a church member? If you have not pursued membership, what’s challenging you to pursue it?

Not all the churches represented in this network have membership. If you do, you will want to clarify the value with senior leadership. The membership discussion reflects a commitment to the church. This practice has changed generationally, but the more extensive discussion helps people see their essential participation in the Body of Christ.

8. What’s your spiritual next step?

None of us have arrived spiritually. Small groups that ask this question help individuals take risks and get outside their comfort zones. I wonder how many people find themselves second-guessing an opportunity because they have not felt the support of their small group. Let’s normalize this question and celebrate it.

We can become tempted to go on autopilot in our small groups. I believe these questions provide clarity and can spark spiritual growth in individuals. They also provide context more than data.

This article originally appeared on smallgroupnetwork.com

The Secret to Writing a Great Youth Ministry Talk

Aaron Helman

April 18, 2022

What’s the single biggest difference between the top speakers and the average ones?

The answer will surprise you.

It’s not wild creativity or better jokes or cool clothes and haircuts.

It’s not presentation skills or voice quality or rehearsed hand gestures.

So what is it? What’s the secret sauce that top speakers have that the rest of us don’t?

The secret to a great talk is in the editing, not the writing.

A top-notch director might shoot 45-80 hours of video to put out a 90-minute feature film.

What do we do before youth group?

We show up with 18 minutes of prepared material and try to stretch it into 20.

I’m not nearly optimistic enough to pretend like every idea I’ve ever had is good enough to see the light of day.

Are you?

Here’s the thing about those top speakers. It’s not that they always have only great ideas. It’s this:

Great speakers have plenty of bad ideas. They’re just good at squashing those ideas before they get used.

Sometimes this means resisting the temptation to share everything.

Other times it means cutting out your most hilarious story because it just doesn’t fit that well.

But in every case, it means preparing enough material that you can cut some of it and still have plenty of message left over at the end.

Prepare more than you need.

If you know you need to speak for 15 minutes, your first draft should run 20 minutes.

Don’t stop when you think you’re done, write more and then write some more. Add another illustration. If you’re a funny person, write a few more jokes. Find even more Bible verses that support your point.

If you found a great video, find another one.

Collect more good ideas than you can possibly use, and don’t worry, we’ll do something with all of those real soon.

Edit like a pro.

I always shoot to cut as much as a third of my message between first draft and final presentation. You can do that too, but first a word of warning.

Don’t try to draw a line between good and bad ideas. After all, there’s an excellent chance that all of your ideas are pretty good ideas.

Instead, you’re looking for best ideas and ideas that aren’t quite to that level. What do I do with all of those ideas?

Best ideas stay in the message.

Good ideas are cut from the message and filed away for another day.

Bad ideas are expunged without pity and I don’t like to talk about them.

Ruthless editing in practice.

If you want to become a better speaker, here’s how you can put this into practice by tomorrow.

1. Prepare 20 percent more material than you usually do.

2. Plan on speaking 20 percent less than you usually do.

So if you usually speak for 15 minutes, plan on writing 18 minutes of material and speaking for 12.

Yes, it’s extra work, but then you didn’t think you’d become a better speaker without extra work, did you?

If you’re down to become a ruthless editor and a better speaker, let me know about it.

5 Leadership Lessons From Will Smith’s Slap Heard Round the World

Brian Dodd

April 16, 2022

During the Oscars, Will Smith and Chris Rock were part of one of the most uncomfortable, disturbing, and talked-about moments ever witnessed on national television.

As is the tradition in these type of events, Rock was roasting many of the members in the audience. This happens annually at the Oscars, Golden Globes, ESPYs, Grammys, and for that matter, every late night talk show and Bill Maher. But Rock’s statement to Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith, apparently crossed a line when he said, “‘G.I. Jane 2,’ can’t wait to see it.” The following video shows what ensued.

Will Smith initially laughed at the joke but then came on stage and slapped Rock in the face. For those who do not know, Smith’s wife suffers from alopecia, an auto-immune condition that causes hair loss. Afterwards, from his seat in the first row, he twice shouted, “Keep my wife’s name out of your [expletive] mouth.” The audience was stunned. Twitter exploded. As a result, this issue has been examined from every possible angle.

I will now give my thoughts.

5 Leadership Lessons From Will Smith’s Slap Heard Round The World

We Live In A Lawless Land

Will Smith should have been arrested. Period. Assault is generally defined as “intentionally putting another person in reasonable apprehension of an imminent harmful or offensive contact. Physical injury is not required.” I think Smith’s slap obviously was offensive contact and put Rock in a reasonable apprehension of harmful contact.

Notice the legal definition does not state anything about whether the act was justified or not.

I am still confused as to why Smith was allowed to return to his seat and less than an hour later win an award, get a standing ovation, and then say, “I’m being called on in my life to love people and to protect people. And to be a river to my people.” This action would indicate Smith’s river is polluted with hypocrisy and lawlessness.

Never Get Fun At Someone Else’s Expense

I am also confused at to what Smith was expecting. He was the presumptive winner of Best Actor for his portrayal of Richard Williams in King Richard. Smith was seated in the front row. Once again, comedians with a history of roasting people were employed to be the show’s hosts. Traditionally, “poking fun” at the stars is what happens at these events.

But we were reminded of a basic form of respect and human decency which is to never get fun at someone else’s expense. Dignity is the imprint of God on every human soul. “I was just kidding” is never an excuse for degrading comments. Degrading a person and hurting their dignity for the purposes of increasing our own self-worth or public standing is unadvisable and just plain wrong.

Maybe this will be the start of ending the “roasting” and degradation of people and the start of building others up.

Angry People Are Foolish People

The only difference between anger and danger is a “D”. Since Smith said in his acceptance speech, “I am overwhelmed by what God is calling on me to do and be in this world,” allow me to share with you what God says about angry people. I could have gone on for dozens and dozens verses more but will stop at 15.

Hillsong Boston Pastor Josh Kimes Commends Courage of Wife, Leona

Departing Pastors Still Love ‘Broken but Beautiful’ Hillsong

1. In Its Purest Form, the Church Seeks Nothing for Itself.

Here are seven lines pastors do not want to cross.

1. Do not use cologne.

2. Do not hug women.

3. Do not be in your office with a woman alone.

Jack Jensz Jr.’s Video Divides Viewers

Bill Stephens: Easter Means Death Won’t Win

Bill Stephen: God Grants Joy ‘In the Heart of Pain’

8 Spiritual Growth Questions to Ask Small Group Members

1. What are you reading in the Bible, and how is it challenging you to grow?

2. What have you been praying about, and how is God working your life through prayer?

3. When did you get baptized? If you have not been baptized, what’s challenging for you to pursue it?

4. What are your spiritual gifts? How are you using the gifts God gave you to serve others?

5. Who are you sharing your faith with and what’s the biggest challenge you face?

6. How are you financially giving and investing in the church?

7. When did you become a church member? If you have not pursued membership, what’s challenging you to pursue it?

8. What’s your spiritual next step?

5 Leadership Lessons From Will Smith’s Slap Heard Round The World

We Live In A Lawless Land

Never Get Fun At Someone Else’s Expense

Angry People Are Foolish People

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