A Strategy for Pastoring in Divided Days

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February 9, 2022

thank you notes for children’s ministry volunteers

Imagine that you live in a day and age filled with a multitude of opinions and very much heat. Anger abounds. Society is at an unrest. There are many celebrities—faces of different movements—attempting to move the world in their particular direction. The gospel at times shines brightly through these figures at other times it is overshadowed. The church sees both success and is overcome by a party spirit and division.

No, I haven’t just described for you Christian Twitter. Nor am I trying to describe your own local church setting. I’m describing for you the religious landscape of the late 1700s. So many differing opinions in a changing age. Men like these:

Thomas Scott. A Socinian who mocked evangelical religion.

John Campbell. An influential philanthropist but a religious doubter.

William Wilberforce. A young man given over to politics but considering leaving that field and his friends to become more serious about religion.

John Ryland, Jr. A passionate young minister giving his energies to arguing with Arminians and a lust for celebrity. A modern day “cage-stage Calvinist”.

Charles Simeon. A young pastor, 23, who was just given a charge of an influential church.

The Common Bond

How would you minister to such a diverse group of people? If you were planted in a location and given no small influence on the lives of each of these men, what would you do? Would you enter into controversy? Would you join the shouting? Would you discuss each branch of division and try to show error? Or would you have a different strategy?

There is one man who ties these stories together? John Newton. Many of them were influenced by Newton while he was at London (Scott was during his Olney stay). There was much diversity—and with it arguing—in the London of the late 1700s. Even in the group mentioned above some were Baptists, some Anglican, some were even part of heretical groups. All with passionate beliefs.

When Newton arrived in London he found a congregation that was strategically positioned among the wealthy of the city. Yet, their evangelical interests were stale. Newton set his eyes upon the poor—and really upon anyone who wanted to hear the gospel. As Moule observed, Newton “attracted the poor at once, and, more gradually, the wealthier people.” Eventually his congregation was filled with people of all theological and economic backgrounds. As he said they were made up of “various discordant parties…”

Why Interpreting the Bible is a “Dangerous Blessing”

By

Ray Hollenbach

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February 9, 2022

Interpreting the Bible can be dangerous business. And pastors enter into the danger every time we preach. How should we proceed?

Imagine a fairy tale about an enchanted book. Everyone who comes to the book reads the same words, but each person comes away with a different picture: some see a warrior riding a white horse, others read a love story with an impossibly happy ending, and still others find secret messages with the tale capable of predicting the future. The hero of each and every picture is someone named Jesus and, amazingly, in each and every case the hero-Jesus tends to look like our very own values, hopes, and dreams.

Interpreting the Bible

The current fashion among many Christians is to remind us that Jesus is the perfect picture of God. They point us (properly) to Hebrews 1:3: “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being . . .” So far, so good—until we begin to describe what this representation looks like. Jesus is the conquering King, Christus Victor. Jesus is the sacrificial lamb, Agnus Dei. Jesus is the way of peace, the Viam Pacis.

“God looks like Jesus.” Right. I’m with you—right up until you begin to describe what Jesus looks like. The grave can’t hold Jesus; neither can our opinions. This is what I love about Jesus: he defies any category—no single description will do him justice, not even a “biblical” one.

It’s completely true: the Bible is an enchanted book. But the fairy tales remind us that enchantments can be dangerous blessings. We come to the Bible with full assurance of its inspiration and reliability, unaware that we ourselves, the readers of this inspiration, are not so reliable. We behold in the book a mirror of our values. Our heart is first stirred by those things we already love, and there lies the dangerous blessing: we are likely to see Jesus from one angle while missing ten thousand more. “I have seen Jesus!” we say, unaware of other (infinite) possibilities.

We fall in love with our viewpoint of Jesus and in our enthusiasm we want everyone to agree with us–and sometimes only us. In our excitement we overstep the boundaries of our finite perspective, and begin to insist that this, our own viewpoint of Jesus, is the true revelation of God’s great glory. But interpreting the Bible is not always about right-or-wrong views of Jesus. He represents all the glory of God’s nature, a glory beyond the scope of any single eye.

This article about interpreting the Bible originally appeared here, and is used by permission.

Nursing Home Outreach Idea for Spreading Valentines Love

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ChildrensMinistry.com

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February 8, 2022

Bring some cheer to people who’ve lived—and loved—the longest. Children and seniors alike will cherish this nursing home outreach idea for Valentine’s Day.

This is a fun, meaningful way to express love for homebound people and nursing home residents. Plus, kids can express their creativity and build confidence by interacting with seniors.

Scripture: James 1:27

You’ll need:

Bible
card stock
markers
stickers

Nursing Home Outreach Idea

Find a retirement home in your community. Then schedule a time around Valentine’s Day when your kids can visit and perform. Let the facility representative know that this performance is especially for residents who have lost a spouse.

Meet with kids beforehand to prepare. Say: Valentine’s Day celebrates love and romance. But it can be a difficult day for people who are single, especially if their husband or wife has died.

Read aloud James 1:27.

For this nursing home outreach idea, give kids card stock, markers, and stickers. Then have them make cards for widows and widowers in the retirement home.

Next, learn and practice a song about God’s love. Prepare to sing to your valentine recipients. For example, you might sing “Oh, the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus” or “Behold What Manner of Love.”

Purchase carnations. Then deliver a flower and card to widows and widowers on Valentine’s Day at the nursing home. Serenade them with the song you learned.

Have kids show love by interviewing recipients, using these questions as a guide:

Genesis Bible Lessons for Youth: The Beginning of God’s Story

By

Youth Ministrycom

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February 8, 2022

The book of Genesis provides a rich look into the beginnings of the story of God. By studying Genesis Bible lessons for youth, you offer teenagers a solid foundation for Christian faith.

Use these free three Genesis Bible lessonsfor youth—on Creation, Abraham, and Joseph—in your ministry!

3 Genesis Bible Lessons for Youth

1. Genesis Bible Lessons for Youth: The Story of Creation

Supplies: You’ll need Bibles; pencils; colored pencils; pieces of poster board; three to six movie posters (or DVD covers); and a box of random items (one per participant). Also, create and photocopy a handout divided into three columns: atop one column, draw a triangle; atop the next, draw a human stick figure; and atop the last column, draw a circle. (Optional: TV/DVD player and the Toy Story DVD.)

Have everybody grab one item from the box of random objects. Give everyone the challenge of creating and telling an impromptu story that somehow includes their object. Have teenagers form small groups of four, then give each storyteller just one minute to make up and tell their spur-of-the-moment story. When everybody’s done, challenge small groups to try to find five common threads that run through all their stories.

Ask a few kids to share the similarities they found, then say: One obvious trait of all good stories is that they have a beginning, middle, and an end. If you ask a child to tell a story, he’ll most likely include an incident that begins the story. Next, rising action builds tension. Finally, a resolving action brings the story to an end.

Ask: Did your stories fit this formula? If so, how? If not, why not?

Next, hold up a Bible. Say: This book is made up of hundreds of “small” stories—different people’s real lives, different incidents, different times and cultures. But these true stories all work together to comprise one large narrative. It’s the story of God and his plan to save us. And this story has a beginning, a middle, and an end.

Teach about the elements of a good story’s beginning. It tells you something about the world of the story, offers characterization, and introduces an inciting incident in which the protagonist’s world is thrown into disharmony.

For example, in Toy Story, Woody’s world is shaken when Andy gets the new, exciting toy Buzz Lightyear on his birthday. This “problem” of Buzz Lightyear’s arrival propels the story into action. (If you want, show a clip from Toy Story as an example. Start at 0:11:00, when the toy soldiers are in the planter. End at 0:14:45, when the screen shows Buzz Lightyear’s face.)

Invite the group to study the beginning of God’s story (Genesis 1 and 3). Give everyone a prepared handout. Have them take notes on their observations, writing out key phrases and ideas (including Scripture references) that give us insights about God’s character (triangle column), humanity (stick figure column), and the created world (circle column).

Read Genesis 1:1-2:3 aloud as teenagers take notes. Next, have them study and take notes on Genesis 3 on their own.

After 10 minutes, gather everybody back together. Reveal the movie posters (or pass out DVD covers). Ask the group about each movie poster: Based only on this image, what do you learn about the characters or the problem in this story?

Discussion Questions

Have kids re-form small groups of four and discuss these questions:

• Based on your observations from Genesis, what conclusions can you draw about the character of God? humanity? the world? Why?

• In your opinion, what’s the incident that puts the story into motion?

• How would you describe the “problem”?

Give each small group posterboard and colored pencils. Challenge them to design a promotional poster for the story of God (so far), aiming to visually communicate the main “characters” and the problem. Have groups share what they created, then use the poster to spark a meaningful conversation about the possible solution to the “problem.” Ask questions like:

• If you’d never heard the Christian story, what questions would you have at the outset?

• What sort of solution would you anticipate? Why?

• How does the story’s beginning shed light on what life’s all about?

Conclude with a quote from George MacDonald: “God is the origin of both need and supply, the father of our necessities, the abundant giver of the good things …. The story of Jesus is the heart of [God’s] answer, not primarily to the prayers, but to the divine necessities of the children he has sent out into his universe.” Then say: As we’ll discover in our upcoming studies, this is an amazing story that solves humanity’s problem by God himself becoming the hero.

Venue Church Pastor Tavner Smith Admits to ‘Inappropriate Relationship’ in Return to the Pulpit

By

Jesse T. Jackson

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February 8, 2022

On Sunday, Venue Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee welcomed its lead pastor, Tavner Smith, back to the pulpit after reports of an affair forced him to take a brief sabbatical.

The non-denominational church, which was one of Outreach Magazine’s 2015 fastest growing churches in the U.S. and once boasted an estimated weekly attendance of 2,000 people, has not only experienced a drop in attendance but also the resignation of several staff members in the wake of Smith’s inappropriate relationship with a married woman.

Smith and his wife separated in January of 2021 and filed for divorce a few months later. The couple had been married for over 15 years and share three daughters together.

Volunteers caught Venue Church’s pastor by surprise at his house in November of 2021 with a female church employee, Smith’s personal assistant. She was wearing only a towel, and Smith was in his boxers. When questioned about it, Smith said that they had spilled food on their clothes.

One of the volunteers said that the incident confirmed prior suspicions she had regarding Smith having an affair with a an employee of the church. Smith denied the rumors.

A video of Smith kissing the same woman in public later surfaced in December of 2021, sparking people to call for the pastor’s resignation, but he refused to comply.

Since then, multiple staff members have stepped down, a campus has closed, and Chattanooga Times Free Press reports that attendance is low.

Smith has also been accused of misusing church tithes to fund his lavish lifestyle, and church leadership has been accused of physically and mentally abusing some members.

Strict Accusations by a Former Church Employee

Former church employee Colt Chandler Helton wrote on Facebook this past December, “In hindsight I taught the ‘Iranians how to make nuclear weapons,’ I gave a man who had very very bad intentions the ability to make a mega church.”

Helton gave nine reasons why he left Venue Church, concluding that “there could not be a more dangerous man and or organization than Pastor Tavner and Venue Church. He currently has cheated on his wife with his assistant and lead worship leader. His staff have almost all quit and he refused to step down. This is in part due to no elder system or any leadership to force him out.”

Smith Apologizes; Admits to ‘Inappropriate Relationship’

A livestream video hosted on the church’s Facebook page, which has since been deleted, showed Smith back on stage after being absent for the entire month of January and some of December.

“What’s up Venue Church,” Smith joyfully yelled as he spoke during the church’s morning worship service introduction and offering call. “Good to see you guys here at the eleven o’clock. I’m so, so honored to be with you.”

Ohio Pastor Arrested in Sex Sting Operation

By

Dale Chamberlain

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February 8, 2022

Aaron Newll — Aaron Newell preaching at Niles Christian Assembly on Sunday, February 6. (Screengrab via YouTube.)

On Monday night (February 7), police in East Palestine, Ohio, arrested a local pastor caught in a sting operation conducted by a Human Trafficking Task Force. Aaron Newell, who had been serving as lead pastor of Niles Christian Assembly in the nearby city of Niles, Ohio, faces charges of engaging in prostitution and possessing criminal tools.

According to WKBN, Newell responded to an online advertisement for prostitution, which had been put in place by undercover officers. Newell arranged to meet with someone in order to pay for sex and was arrested when he arrived at the agreed upon location.

It is unclear what items police found in his possession that they believed were intended for criminal purposes.

Newell could be seen preaching in Niles Christian Assembly’s live-stream the day before, where he was concluding a series on deconstruction.

In a message entitled “I Don’t Think That Means What You Think It Means,” Newell explained that he believed many people didn’t understand the difference between being a sheep and being a goat, referring to Jesus’ parable in Matthew 25:31-46, wherein Jesus speaks about the final judgment.

“As we conform ourselves to the image of Christ, that means we do what Jesus did,” Newell preached. “And what Jesus tells us to do. It’s all through Scripture. So the question we then have to realize is, ‘Who are we, really?’”

Characterizing the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats as an overt warning rather than a parable, Newell said, “We need to start realizing, ‘Wait a second; Jesus is not talking to people who don’t know Him. Jesus is talking to people who claim to know Him.”

“And, dare I say it, it goes into that spot of where I might have to recognize that, ‘Maybe I’m the goat.’ And I don’t mean the ‘Greatest of All Time,’” Newell later said.

Newell entered a plea of not guilty on Tuesday morning, and his bond was set at $2,500. His next court appearance is scheduled for April 5.

We Are Messengers Frontman Survives Car Accident–‘It’s a Miracle That I’m Alive’

By

Jessica Lea

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February 8, 2022

We Are Messengers frontman Darren Mulligan shared on Instagram Friday that he was in a serious car accident on his way to a show in Greeley, Colo. But even though his car flipped and then rolled three times, Mulligan survived and was even able to participate in the Christian band’s first concert of 2022.

“I’m Ok. I promise,” Mulligan posted to Instagram after the accident. “In fact I’m on an airplane going to our first show of the year in Greeley Colorado…I am a very grateful man, more than ever and I’m convinced this too is the goodness of God in my life.”

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A post shared by We Are Messengers (@wearemessengers)

Darren Mulligan: God Is ‘Unbelievably Kind’

We Are Messengers is an Irish American band whose members released their debut, self-titled album in 2016. The band’s second album came out in January 2020, and the latest, “Wholehearted,” was released in October 2021.

Darren Mulligan, guitarist and the band’s lead singer, was driving to the airport in Nashville, Tenn., during an ice storm early on Feb. 4 when he drove over a bridge covered with ice. The singer explained in a Facebook Live video that the accident happened about 10 minutes after he had left his house. “My truck lost all traction,” he said, “slid across both lanes, down through the verge separating east and west highways.” Mulligan said he thought the grass in the median would slow him down, but, “it didn’t. It was all frozen solid.” Instead, the car began going faster until it was on the opposite side of the freeway and heading toward oncoming traffic.

“At that point I knew that I was going to hit somebody if I kept trying to stop myself from crashing,” said Mulligan, “ and I didn’t want anyone else to be hurt. So I just turned that wheel as far as I could.” His car flipped and then rolled three times before it stopped, leaving the singer hanging from his seatbelt. He managed to get out of the car and, while he is a “bit sore,” Mulligan said he is otherwise unscathed, with no scratches anywhere on his body.

“It is a miracle that I’m alive,” said Mulligan. “[Ten] seconds before the accident I had been talking with Jesus and I said out loud ‘my life has always been in your hands and it still is’. I guess God put that to the test and He has once again proved Himself unbelievably Kind.”

One of the ways that God showed his kindness to the singer was through a young man named Efrain who stopped to help him after the accident. Mulligan said that Efrain was the driver of the vehicle he saw just before he flipped his car. “Everything that is good about this country could be found in that young fellow,” said Mulligan. “His was the car that was coming the opposite direction. Efrain was so kind to me, his only thought was to make sure I was ok.”

Efrain had been on his way to work, but got permission to take time off. “He drove me to the airport so I could go about the work God has called this band to,” said the singer, who ended his post with the hashtag #ComeWhatMay.

Lifeway Research: Pastors Concerned With Growing Leaders, Reaching Outsiders

By

Aaron Earls

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February 8, 2022

When thinking about ministry difficulties, pastors say they’re most concerned with growing the people inside the church and reaching those outside it.

According to the latest release in Lifeway Research’s 2022 Greatest Needs of Pastors study, U.S. Protestant pastors say developing leaders and connecting with people not involved with a church are their two most prominent ministry needs.

“Paul’s instructions to ‘preach the word; be ready in season and out of season’ strike a chord within pastors like never before,” said Ben Mandrell, president of Lifeway Christian Resources. “In the midst of ministry challenges, it’s no surprise that their top felt needs are multiplying leaders and reaching the unchurched.”

Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research, noted that despite pastors having many personal needs, they often place a higher priority on the needs of their churches. “There is much agreement around the areas of ministry that need their attention today, because these needs have been the core work of disciple-makers since the Great Commission: equipping believers to share the gospel with unbelievers.”

Ministry Difficulties Identified

For the 2022 Greatest Needs of Pastors study, Lifeway Research interviewed 200 U.S. Protestant pastors who identified 44 issues they face in their roles and then surveyed 1,000 additional pastors to determine which of these needs was most prevalent. The almost four dozen needs were divided into seven categories: ministry difficulties, spiritual needs, mental challenges, personal life, self-care, people dynamics and areas of skill development.

Among the five needs classified as ministry difficulties, two resonate with pastors more than the others. More than 3 in 4 pastors say developing leaders and volunteers (77%) and fostering connections with unchurched people (76%) are among their greatest needs.

A majority of U.S. Protestant pastors also say training current leaders and volunteers (68%) and challenging people where they lack obedience (55%) are challenges they face. Slightly fewer (45%) say they need to establish a compelling vision for their congregation. Around 1 in 20 pastors say they did not need to give specific attention to any of these issues right now (6%).

“Pastors are personally burdened with the need for their churches to share the good news of Jesus Christ with their community,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. “This makes their personal priority list because their church is often less effective than it used to be. In addition, many don’t even know where to start in helping their congregations connect with non-believers outside the church.”

White pastors (77%) are more likely than African American pastors (63%) to say they are finding it challenging to foster connections with the unchurched. African American pastors (68%) are the least likely to say they need to give attention to developing leaders and volunteers.

The youngest pastors, those 18 to 44, (82%) are more likely than the oldest pastors, those 65 and older, (71%) to find forming connections with the unchurched an area in which they need to invest more time. Similarly, younger pastors (82%) are more likely than older pastors (70%) to feel the need to give attention to developing leaders and volunteers, as well as training current leaders and volunteers (74% to 62%).

Aussie Worshipers Shocked as Police Interrupt Church for a Mask Check

By

Stephanie Martin

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February 8, 2022

Police in Western Australia are facing backlash after an officer interrupted mass to check that people were wearing masks in church and enforce compliance with the local mask mandate.

Following a tip about mask-less worshipers, police entered St. Bernadette’s Glendalough Catholic Church in the Perth suburb of Mount Hawthorn last Thursday evening. The priest, who was in the middle of the liturgy, watched as the officer instructed four parishioners to put on face coverings. A fifth person without a mask showed an exemption letter.

Masks in Church: ‘Everyone Was Pretty Stunned’

On social media, shocked worshipers shared photos and videos, expressing dismay at what they call an unfair intrusion. One writes: “A policeman allowed himself in, strutting up the aisle demanding correct mask behavior and checking exemptions. Where have we seen this behavior before in history?” Another writes: “This is an appalling abuse of power.”

Another Facebook post reads: “ISNT IT SACRILEGIOUS TO INTERRUPT A HOLY MASS just to ask worshippers to wear masks? This happened at our very own parish last night… A police officer just budged in and interrupted the service without asking permission from officiating priests to tell a few people to wear masks! Purely no respect for an ongoing service and for our parish priests!”

It continues: “Our dear [Father] Doug had to rushed to the presbytery to get a box of masks to allow a few worshippers to stay otherwise the policeman said they have to leave! What’s the fuss with masks anyway when they don’t work? The signs of times…happening as we speak!”

Speaking to a local news station, a parishioner named Matthew says congregants were “left a bit shaken.” Describing the scene, he says, “Everyone was pretty stunned. It was confronting. It’s troubling to see the liturgy you love stopped by police.”

In a statement, the police department indicates it was responding “to a report from a member of the public” about mask-wearing violations at the church. Throughout Western Australia, masks are required at all public indoor settings. About 93% of Perth’s population ages 12 and up have received at least two shots of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Actor Tyrese Gibson Calls on ‘Prayer Warriors’ as His Mother Fights COVID Pneumonia in ICU

By

Dale Chamberlain

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February 8, 2022

“Fast and Furious” star Tyrese Gibson has taken to Instagram to ask fans to pray for his mother, who is currently in the ICU battling COVID pneumonia. Gibson is also providing regular updates about his mother’s condition.

Over the weekend, Gibson posted to Instagram, telling fans that he had received a phone call while on the set of his upcoming movie “Dangerous” that his mother had been put in a medically induced coma after being in the hospital for a week with COVID pneumonia.

Calling it “the worst phone call I’ve ever gotten,” Gibson wrote, “I just had to ask the director [to] let me pause for a second, close my eyes and pray.”

“This has been going on all week. I haven’t posted…I’m doing it [at] this time cause I feel helpless, this is my cry for help,” Gibson went on to write. “I need prayers, the most sincere prayers from you prayer warriors.”

Gibson then asked prayer warriors to write out their prayers in the comment section, expressing that his family needed encouragement. “I never ever ask…#PrayerWarriors we need you now more than ever…Her name is Pricilla Murray,” Gibson wrote.

The next day, Gibson shared that he was flying to see his mother, thanking his director for rearranging a busy filming schedule to allow him to leave. He soon needed to return to set to complete the final two days of filming, after spending just 10 hours with his mother. Gibson expressed that he was anxious to return to the hospital.

During that 10 hours at the hospital, Gibson gave fans a video update on his mother’s condition. In that update, he again asked fans to pray, saying that many other families are experiencing similar battles and that some are even worse off—even in the ICU where he was sitting, looking at his mother from behind a glass door.

“As I’m sitting here, what I want to tell you guys is that the Lord Jesus Christ is responsible for every breath that I see entering into my mom’s body right now. We’ve had our share of issues over the years, but as I sit here, I’m thanking God for every breath—for every breath,” Gibson said. “The machines are helping her to breathe, but there are some machines that stopped helping people to breathe.”

“I’m so grateful. She’s right here,” Gibson said as he looked toward his mother. “So grateful for every breath. All of a sudden, every issue, every misunderstanding, the way my childhood was, the way I was raised, and all of these different issues I find myself holding on to—God as a way of getting rid of everything that you’re carrying.”

“I’m also praying for everyone in this hospital,” Gibson went on to say. “Every nurse, every doctor, every professional that has created an assessment and dialed it in to keep people alive—everybody wants their loved ones to come home, but we know that that’s not going to be possible for everybody.”

Strongman Pastor Risks Being Torn in Half on ‘Go Big Show’ While Giving God Glory

By

Jesse T. Jackson

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February 8, 2022

Pastor Jon “Divine Strength” Bruney of the Zion Missionary Church in Fremont, Ind., was recently featured on TBS’s “Go Big Show” for an eye-popping stunt.

Bruney has been a pastor for over twenty-five years, but he doesn’t spend all of his time behind a pulpit. Bruney is a Guinness World Record-holding strongman who uses his feats of strength to spread the name of Jesus with people all over the world.

The husband and father of two has his wife, Amy, assist him in some of the strength demonstrations he performs on stage. In addition to the “Go Big Show,” Bruney has also appeared and competed on NBC’s America’s Got Talent, TruTv’s Guinness World Records Unleashed, The Today Show, just to name a few. Bruney is also a best-selling author who has worked with Olympians and NFL players.

On Episode Three of the “Go Big Show’s” second season, Bruney took on French bull leaper Manu Lataste to see who had the “biggest” talent.

During Bruney’s introduction, the pastor said, “When you are pushing your personal absolute limit, there’s nothing better for the glory of God.”

“I perform feats of strength to inspire others,” Bruney told viewers. “I didn’t expect to become a minister. I’m a guy who likes to wear shorts and listen to rock-and-roll. [But] I felt like God was calling me to help people. Feats of strength were a great metaphor. Each thing that we do, there’s always a message behind it.”

Bruney shared that he feels blessed to be able to entertain people on the “Go Big Show” and hopes to motivate others to change their lives. “God gave me the gift of strength and tonight I want to use it for His glory,” he said.

Before performing his stunt, Bruney told the judges, “This past year, our strength has been tested in many different ways—tonight I want to demonstrate for you that in the face of adversity, you can still stand strong.”

The pastor stood between two motorcycles, one weighing 500lbs and the other 700lbs, facing in opposite directions. A strap was attached to each of the motorcycles’ rear frame and looped around Bruney’s massive arms.

Retired Pope Asks Pardon for Abuse, but Admits No Wrongdoing

By

Nicole Winfield

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February 8, 2022

ROME (AP) — Retired Pope Benedict XVI asked forgiveness Tuesday for any “grievous faults” in his handling of clergy sex abuse cases, but denied any personal or specific wrongdoing after an independent report criticized his actions in four cases while he was archbishop of Munich, Germany.

“I have had great responsibilities in the Catholic Church. All the greater is my pain for the abuses and the errors that occurred in those different places during the time of my mandate,” the retired pope said.

But Benedict’s lack of a personal apology or any admission of guilt was likely to rile survivors and further complicate efforts by German bishops re-establish credibility with the faithful. Demands for accountability have only increased as the church has come to terms with decades of sexual abuse by priests and cover-up by their bishops.

Benedict, 94, was responding to a Jan. 20 report from a German law firm that had been commissioned by the German Catholic Church to look into how cases of sexual abuse were handled in the Munich archdiocese between 1945 and 2019. Benedict, the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, headed the archdiocese from 1977 to 1982.

The report faulted Benedict’s handling of four cases during his time as archbishop, accusing him of misconduct for having failed to restrict the ministry of the priests in the cases even after they had been convicted criminally. The report also faulted his predecessors and successors, estimating there had been at least 497 abuse victims over the decades and at least 235 suspected perpetrators.

The Vatican on Tuesday released a letter that Benedict wrote to respond to the allegations, alongside a more technical reply from his lawyers who had provided an initial 82-page response to the law firm about his nearly five-year tenure in Munich.

The conclusion of Benedict’s lawyers was resolute: “As an archbishop, Cardinal Ratzinger was not involved in any cover-up of acts of abuse,” they wrote. They criticized the report’s authors for misinterpreting their submission, and asserted that they provided no evidence that Benedict was aware of the criminal history of any of the four priests in question.

Benedict’s response was far more nuanced and spiritual, though he went on at length to thank his legal team before even addressing the allegations or the victims of abuse.

In the letter, Benedict issued what he called a “confession,” recalling that daily Mass begins with believers confessing their sins and asking forgiveness for their faults and even their “grievous faults.” Benedict noted that in his meetings with abuse victims while he was pope, “I have seen at first hand the effects of a most grievous fault.

“And I have come to understand that we ourselves are drawn into this grievous fault whenever we neglect it or fail to confront it with the necessary decisiveness and responsibility, as too often happened and continues to happen,” he wrote. “As in those meetings, once again I can only express to all the victims of sexual abuse my profound shame, my deep sorrow and my heartfelt request for forgiveness.”

His response drew swift criticism from the progressive reform group Wir sind Kirche (We are Church), which said he offered nothing new and confirmed that the retired pope “still sees himself as a victim.”

Woke War: How Social Justice and CRT Became Heresy for Evangelicals

By

Bob Smietana

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February 8, 2022

(RNS) — Owen Strachan has a message for his fellow evangelicals.

They can follow Jesus, or they can be woke. But they can’t do both.

Using traditional media and on Twitter, Strachan, a seminary professor in Conway, Arkansas, has become a leading evangelical Christian voice in the “woke wars” that have been turning school boards, television screens and church pews into political battlefields. In conservative circles “wokeness,” a term invented by Black activists to refer to social injustice awareness, is now shorthand for “liberals ruining America.”

The 40-year-old Strachan maintains that being woke is worse: It is heretical.

In “Christianity and Wokeness: How the Social Justice Movement Is Hijacking the Gospel — and the Way to Stop It,“ a book Strachan published last year, he recommended excommunication for those who “do not repent of teaching CRT, wokeness, and intersectionality.”

Since at least the George Floyd summer of marches and demonstrations against police killings of unarmed Black men, evangelical leaders have been echoing the broader alarm heard in last fall’s political campaigns about the divisions they say that wokeness, critical race theory and other social justice ideas visit on American society.

But the threat to conservative Christians, these leaders say, cuts deeper: Wokeness and its underlying theories deny evangelical theology, which holds that personal sin leads to evil and that repentance and acceptance of Jesus’ grace is the way out.

Owen Strachan. Photo courtesy of GBTS

Owen Strachan. Photo courtesy of Grace Bible Theological Seminary

In an interview with Religion News Service, Strachan explained further that wokeness undermines the unity of churches by emphasizing racial and ethnic differences. The gospel, he said, erases such distinctions, while wokeness pits people against each other.

“When you embrace a system like critical race theory or intersectionality that teaches you that people who are in the majority basically are in the wrong — so, for example, that white people by virtue of being part of the white power bloc have privilege, have responsibility, honestly, when we’re not speaking politely, have complicity in oppression — that warps the gospel,” he said.

“That is not a gospel conviction. That’s not taught in Scripture. People who are from the upper tiers of society in the Book of Acts are not condemned for being part of the upper tier of society.”

Strachan also dismissed the idea of systemic racism, or any claim that race plays a role in the inequities present in American culture. He also dismissed the idea of reparations for past racism and took issue with use of the word “repent” in discussions about America’s racial history, saying the Bible does not hold people accountable for sins of the past.

Air Force Ordered to Pay More Than $230M in Church Shooting

By

Terry Wallace

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February 8, 2022

First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs — FILE - In this Nov. 10, 2017, file photo, crosses for members of the Holcombe family are part of a makeshift memorial for those who were killed in the Sutherland Springs Baptist Church shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas. The U.S. Air Force must pay more than $230 million in damages to survivors and victims’ families of a 2017 Texas church massacre for failing to flag a conviction that might have kept the gunman from legally buying the weapon used in the shooting, a federal judge ruled, Monday, Feb. 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)

(AP) — The U.S. Air Force must pay more than $230 million in damages to survivors and victims’ families of a 2017 Texas church massacre for failing to flag a conviction that might have kept the gunman from legally buying the weapon used in the shooting, a federal judge ruled in San Antonio on Monday.

More than two dozen people were killed, including eight children, when Devin Patrick Kelley opened fire during a Sunday service at First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs. Kelley, who died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound after being shot and chased by two men who heard the gunfire at the church, had served in the Air Force before the attack.

U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez had ruled in July that the Air Force was “60% liable” for the attack because it failed to submit Kelley’s assault conviction during his time in the Air Force to a national database.

An Air Force record of the Kelley court-martial says he pleaded guilty to multiple specifications of assault, including striking his wife, choking her with his hands and kicking her. He also was convicted of striking his stepson on the head and body “with a force likely to produce death or grievous bodily harm.”

In 2012, several months before his conviction in the domestic violence case, Kelley briefly escaped from a mental health center in New Mexico and got in trouble for bringing guns onto a military base and threatening his superiors there, police reports indicate.

Deputies were called to Kelley’s home in New Braunfels in June 2013 about the rape case and investigated for three months, Comal County Sheriff Mark Reynolds said. But it appeared that they stopped investigating after they believed Kelley left Texas and moved to Colorado. Reynolds said the case was then listed as inactive.

Under Pentagon rules, information about convictions of military personnel in crimes like assault is supposed to be submitted to the FBI’s Criminal Justice Investigation Services Division for inclusion in the National Criminal Information Center database.

For unspecified reasons, the Air Force did not provide the information about Kelley as required.

Lawyers for survivors and relatives of those killed had asked for $418 million, while the Justice Department proposed $31.8 million. Jamal Alsaffar, the Austin lawyer who led the plaintiffs’ legal team, was pleased with the judge’s award.

“These families are the heroes here. While no amount can bring back the many lives lost or destroyed at the hands of the government’s negligence, their bravery in obtaining this verdict will make this country safer by helping ensure that this type of governmental failure does not happen in our country again,” he said.

Messages left Monday by The Associated Press with the Justice Department and Air Force were not immediately returned.

The approximately 80 claimants include relatives of those killed and 21 survivors and their families. Authorities put the official death toll at 26 because one of the 25 people killed was pregnant.

This article originally appeared here.

5 Warning Signs a Leader is Leading at “Too High” a Level

By

Eric Geiger

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February 8, 2022

Leaders are often encouraged to be leading at a higher level. “Lead higher” is a helpful way to describe rising above the details and the day-to-day operations so a leader can look to the future. By “leading higher,” a leader is able to set direction, remind people of the why beneath the work, clarify mission and values, and develop others. While leaders are encouraged to “leader at higher levels,” there is such a thing as leading too far above reality and too far removed from people and the work.

Actually, leading at too high a level is a common occurrence.

When a leader “flies too high,” the leader can lose passion for the ministry or organization. When a leader is removed from others, the leader is much more likely to make foolish decisions and to live without accountability. The ministry or organization also suffers, as a leader who is not connected to the reality of the organization inevitably stops leading in ways that are helpful and practical for the day.

5 indications when leading at a higher level becomes too much:

1. Daily action is disconnected from his/her thinking

A leader that is “leading at too high a level” is unable to put into action all the grand ideas, philosophies, and white boarding sessions. So, six months later there is yet another grand idea, philosophy, and white boarding session. Ideas are continually disconnected from action.

2. Unable to answer basic questions about his/her area of responsibility

A leader who is unable to answer basic questions related to the role and to priorities is likely disconnected from the current reality and context.

3. Acts “above the work”

A leader is who “flying too high” acts like the work is beneath him or her. Someone wisely quipped, “You can’t be a leader if you can’t setup chairs.” The heart behind the quote is that leaders must always be servants.

4. Sloppy with delegation

Sloppy delegation is when a leader hands responsibility to others but does not provide resources, training, accountability, or follow-up. Sloppy delegation often occurs when a leader just wants something off his/her plate and is no longer invested.

5. Low on passion for what is happening now

A disconnected-from-today leader can only speak with passion about something in the distant future. There is low passion and low intensity for today.

Do I agree with the coaching and encouragement to “leading at a higher level?” I do. But not too high. When the Lord gave Adam and Eve responsibility and stewardship over the Garden of Eden, the Lord instructed them to “work it and watch over it” (Genesis 2:15). “Watching over” does cause one to pull up from the details, to think further, and to lead higher. But “working” requires a leader to still be connected to the garden the Lord has given.

This article originally appeared here.

Ideas on How to Create Your Own Small Group Curriculum

By

Small Group Network

-

February 8, 2022

“How can I prepare, write, and publish small group curriculum?” I saw this question raised on the Small Group Network Facebook page the other day. I thought to myself, “This is the one topic I actually know something about.” I began writing curriculum when I was a small group pastor, and it has evolved into a career for me. I have nearly 500 studies on Amazon. I’d like to share some ideas on how I prepare, write and publish small group curriculum so that you can begin to do the same for your small group ministry.

But first, why do we need more small group curriculum in the first place? Good small group curriculum is written to the needs of a particular group. It causes that group to grow. It causes that group to stretch. It causes that group to think. It makes that group a little more like Jesus. Did you notice the emphasis on, “that group”?

My wife teaches 5^th graders. One of the problems she is having this year—the year after covid—is that the kids are at all different levels. Some of the kids are advancing, but many of the kids are falling behind. Consequently, there is a huge gap with the kids this year. There are some that are at each grade level from 1^st to 5^th. How do you teach kids who are at 1^st to 5^th grade level in the same room? Not very well.

How does a curriculum meet the needs of mature Christians and baby Christians in the same room? Not very well. (One way I deal with this is to provide about twice as many questions as I think a group will need. Easier to throw out than create more.) Thus, we need curriculum that is targeted to the particular needs of the particular group. So, let’s talk about how to prepare, write, and publish small group curriculum.

Ideas on How to Prepare

The best preparation for writing small group curriculum is sitting in a small group every week. Before long you just get a sense for what will work and what will not.

People like to answer questions that are on the edge of their knowledge. People don’t like to answer questions that are too easy, and they can’t answer questions that are too hard. Good Questions are pitched at the edge of people’s knowledge. People like to answer questions when they think they might be the only person in the room that knows the answer. People like to sound smart. Sitting in a group every week will give you a sense of this. It is the best preparation I know for writing curriculum.

Think about a time when you sat in a group as a participant. The leader asked a question and you wanted to jump out of your chair. Perhaps your arm spontaneously raised or you just blurted out the answer. Maybe you interrupted someone else even though you are pretty good about not doing that. You couldn’t help yourself. You had to speak up. What was it about that question that created such a volcanic eruption from you? It is likely you thought you had an answer that no one else knew. That is when people cannot help but speak out—when they know the answer and they think they might be the only one.

You have probably had the experience—as I have—of reading curriculum and thinking, “This will never work; no one will want to answer this question.” It was probably written by a preacher who never sits in a group.

Ideas on How to Write Curriculum

The curriculum I write is all question-based. I think it is the best way to teach. I could argue that Jesus did a lot of question and answer when he taught.

Over time, you will develop some go-to questions. Some of my favorites are:

What does the text say? Let’s read and then summarize this passage. What would you say is the big idea? There is more to Christian discipleship than teaching facts. We don’t just want people to be smarter sinners. On the other hand, I do want people to know the facts of the Bible. When it comes to the Bible, ignorance is not bliss. I’d like them to know that Abraham lived around 2000 B.C. and David around 1000 B.C. I’d like them to know that there is a difference between the Joseph in the Old Testament and the Joseph who helped raise Jesus.

10 Minute Worship Ideas Add Variety to Your Middle School Ministry

By

Katy Langley

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February 7, 2022

I think God downloaded into my mind the concept of 10 minute worship ideas to keep me sane. You know the feeling: You’re in Mexico and haven’t slept in several days. Caffeine holds no effect anymore, and you hate the sound of your own name. If one more person calls for me…. Every shirt you packed is stained with teens’ tears and the dirt of the tent you’re sleeping in. Can no one remember to take their shoes off outside?!

All those lofty ideals and theories you had for moments of spiritual transformation feel as far away as—soap. Then you’re bumping down a dirt road in a 12-passenger van, avoiding potholes and perritos. No, you cannot bring that dog back across the border. Yes, that does make me a monster. No, I don’t care.

You’re breaking up a backseat argument for the tenth time that morning. Surely I didn’t fight this much when I was 12…right? So you try something desperate (er… creative?). Then suddenly eighth-graders are excited about a Bible passage.

Let me just say that last bit again. Eighth-graders were actively dialoguing about a Bible passage. Praying. And loving it. And you start to mentally backspace the resignation letter you were writing. During drives the rest of that week, we had a ton of fun with 10 minute worship ideas. Read on to learn more.

Here’s an overview of 10 minute worship ideas:

Designate 10 minutes for this prayer experience.
Pick one passage of Scripture. Have a student read it aloud.
You give the group a really brief overview of relevant context and information about the passage.
Then you turn the conversation over to students. They drive the questions, application ideas, confusion, excitement, and commentary.
Next, give the group 60-90 seconds of total silence. Have every student write a 10-word prayer based on what they learned, asking Jesus for help living it out.
Every student then shares their 10-word prayer and BAM! You’ve completed the 10 minute worship and prayer experience.

Middle school students often thrive on competition and social atmospheres. So the challenge of 10 minute worship ideas goes over really well. I put one student in charge of the timer, adding to the dialogue’s excitement. Quick! We have only one minute left before the silence! Any other thoughts?

This exercise also gave me freedom to pick Bible passages relevant to subjects the group needed to discuss. Kids caught on and even began requesting certain topics.

Plus, 10 word prayers are hilarious. Grammar becomes optional, talking to Jesus becomes fun, and content comes directly from what we all just collectively learned. I’ve never heard so much giggling during a prayer time.

Two Pastors Shot During Friday Church Event in CO; A Mother Shot and Killed

By

Jesse T. Jackson

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February 7, 2022

On Friday night (February 4, 2022), Jose de Jesus Montoya Villa entered Iglesia Faro De Luz Church in Aurora, Colorado and opened fire—killing a mother of two and wounding two others.

According to police, there were an estimated 15-20 people in attendance at the church when 32-year-old de Jesus Montoya Villa shot and killed Adela Madrid (36). Her family has identified the killer as Madrid’s ex-boyfriend, who is on the run after the fleeing the scene.

Madrid was pronounced dead at the scene from a gunshot wound. The incident took place around 8:24 p.m.

The two others whom de Jesus Montoya Villa wounded are pastors at the church, ages 40 and 42. Both were taken to the hospital and are expected to survive.

Another adult from the church, who was not shot, was also taken to the hospital for other medical reasons.

Madrid was an active member of Iglesia Faro De Luz Church, a graduate from the University of Colorado-Boulder, and a frontline healthcare worker.

Adeya Vidales-Madrid, the 16-year-old daughter of the victim, pleaded for anyone who has information regarding her mother’s killer to please share it with authorities.

Accompanied by her uncles, Adeya gave Fox31 an emotional interview.

“I want them to know that I want him to turn himself in,” she said, “or for somebody to give information about him, because he took my mom in a very cruel way that she did not deserve to go through.”

The Aurora police have issued a first-degree murder arrest warrant for de Jesus Montoya Villa, and Metro Denver Crime Stoppers is offering up to $2,000 for any information that will lead to his arrest.

Hillsong Pastors Step Down From Leadership at Central London Campus

By

Jessica Lea

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February 7, 2022

Robby and Jenny Lewis have stepped down as pastors of Hillsong Church UK’s Central London campus. The couple thanked the congregation at the end of a service on Sunday, Jan. 30, when their departure was announced, but gave no indication as to why they are leaving.

“I just want to say thank you to every single one of you for the last 12 ½ years, everything that you have poured into me,” said Robby Lewis to the congregation. “All the encouragement, the love, allowing me to be part of your life. A number of years ago, I said, ‘I am who I am today because of all of you,’ and I absolutely mean that. We’re standing here because of you, because of all the encouragement, because of who you are that’s rubbed off on us, and we couldn’t be more grateful.”

Robby and Jenny Lewis Step Down From Leadership

Hillsong Church is a global megachurch founded by Brian and Bobbie Houston in in 1983 in Sydney, Australia. The church has multiple locations in at least 29 countries. According to Hillsong’s website, Australia has 38 locations and the U.S. has 14. The site for Hillsong Church UK lists 12 campuses.

The announcement about Robby and Jenny Lewis was made by Tim Douglass, who simply said that Robby Lewis would be “moving on.” Tim and Nicola Douglass took over as lead pastors of Hillsong UK last March when then-pastors Gary and Cathy Clarke transitioned to different roles overseeing Hillsong globally.

The congregation welcomed the Lewises onstage with a standing ovation. “Two wonderful, beautiful people,” said Tim, “hand of God on their lives…I know that you are well-loved, and I know we’ve been talking about this for while, but it was the right time, and I think that even in the midst of it all, God’s amongst it all.”

Tim Douglass then announced Dan and Jo Watson as the new pastors of Hillsong Central London. Dan Watson is a former youth pastor and when Tim asked how he felt about leading the church in 2022, Dan answered, “We are extremely, extremely excited, and we are extremely humbled to be able to be given this honor, and following you guys,” he said, indicating Robby and Jenny. “We are thankful for everything that you’ve done and the foundations that you’ve laid, and we’re excited to carry on and build church, to be able to serve you, serve with you, and reach the people of this city. Man, I’m expecting for what God is going to do in and through every single one of us.”

Timothy Keller Responds to Criticism for Praising Stephen Colbert Clip About Faith and Comedy

By

Dale Chamberlain

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February 7, 2022

timothy keller stephen colbert — Pictured (left): Stephen Colbert, Screengrab from YouTube; (right): Timothy Keller, Frank Licorice, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Last week, a clip from CBS’s The Late Show with Stephen Colbert began circulating online, and it quickly became a point of controversy within evangelical circles. In the clip, Colbert, who is a Roman Catholic, explained the connection between his faith and his comedy. Some, including theologian and author Timothy Keller, praised Colbert’s remarks as winsome, while others accused the clip of being devoid of the gospel.

While interviewing Grammy Award winning singer Dua Lipa, the two discussed Lipa’s new podcast, and Colbert asked how she was enjoying the experience of interviewing guests. Colbert then asked if Lipa wanted to interview him, at which point Lipa asked, “Does your faith and your comedy ever overlap, and does one ever win out?”

“I think, ultimately, us all being mortal, the faith will win out in the end. But I certainly hope when I get to heaven, Jesus has a sense of humor,” Colbert joked.

Colbert went on to explain that he believes that death is not a defeat, and that this belief informs his comedy, saying, “In the same way…sadness is like a little bit of an emotional death, but not a defeat if you can find a way to laugh about it. Because that laughter keeps you from having fear of it. And fear is the thing that [causes you to turn] to evil devices to save you from the sadness.”

“So if there’s some relationship between my faith and my comedy, it’s that no matter what happens, you are never defeated,” Colbert went on to say. “You must understand this and see it in the light of eternity, and find some way to love and laugh with each other.”

Anthony B. Bradley, who serves as Professor of Religious Studies at The King’s College and as Theologian-In-Residence for Redeemer Presbyterian Church’s Lincoln Square location, tweeted the video, saying, “It just shows how intellectually superior Catholics are at articulating their faith. A Protestant would not have been able to do that. Anglicans could. Most evangelicals would say, ‘there’s no gospel in his answer.’”

Timothy Keller also tweeted the clip, saying, “This is a brilliant example of how to be a Christian in the public square. Notice the witness, but in a form the culture can handle. We should desire to have more Christians in these spaces and give them grace as they operate.”

While Bradley, Keller, and others found Colbert’s answer compelling, others were critical of Colbert’s words as not being Gospel-centered enough.

“Christ was not presented. Faith barely mentioned and repentance non-existent,” one said. “Christ’s defeat of death through the resurrection is why we do not fear death; not because of some nebulous sense of laughter. The gospel was not presented and the faith was not represented.”

Others criticized any support for Colbert, as he is someone who has been a vocal (and sometimes vulgarly so) critic of former president Donald Trump.

“The way this guy used his comedy to denigrate, try to embarrass, flat out lied, and said just about every hateful thing he could about Trump on a daily basis,” one commented. “And this guy thinks he’s a Christian.”

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5 indications when leading at a higher level becomes too much:

1. Daily action is disconnected from his/her thinking

2. Unable to answer basic questions about his/her area of responsibility

3. Acts “above the work”

4. Sloppy with delegation

5. Low on passion for what is happening now

Ideas on How to Prepare

Ideas on How to Write Curriculum

Here’s an overview of 10 minute worship ideas:

Robby and Jenny Lewis Step Down From Leadership

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