Family of Ravi Zacharias Uses Old Image of Disgraced Apologist to Promote New Humanitarian Org

December 31, 2021

In February 2020, three months before apologist Ravi Zacharias died from cancer at age 74, a post on his Facebook account urged Christians to help end slavery and rescue the 40 million people trapped in it worldwide.

This week, family members highlighted that post, using it as a springboard to encourage donations to Third Ladder. That new humanitarian organization launched after the closure of Wellspring International, an arm of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM) spearheaded by the apologist’s daughter Naomi Zacharias.

Third Ladder Aims to Meet Humanitarian Needs

The older post about ending slavery features a photo of Ravi Zacharias with a red X on his hand, symbolizing the #EndItMovement. “Together we must SHINE A LIGHT ON SLAVERY until all people are free,” reads the caption. “Let us all commit to taking action and sharing light in our dark world.”

On Thursday, a new comment from the account appeared, stating: “The importance of helping those in need was always close to my Dad’s heart.” It includes a link to a post at Defending Ravi, the blog Nathan Zacharias launched in an effort to clear his father’s name. Ravi Zacharias had been embroiled in allegations of sexual misconduct, and after he died, an independent report found “significant, credible evidence” of wrongdoing.

In the new post, dated December 29, Nathan Zacharias writes, “I believe that one day my Dad’s actual legacy will be restored. One piece of that—a huge piece—is his vision for humanitarian aid, and he entrusted it to my sister Naomi.” Apologetics, he adds, involves the heart as well as the brain because “our physical needs also matter to [Jesus].”

After Wellspring closed, he writes, “Naomi and her team…decided to rebuild,” and the result is Third Ladder. Because the donor base is starting from scratch, Nathan Zacharias indicates there are unknowns but also opportunities. He encourages people to make year-end donations to Third Ladder, which “a generous match grant” will double up to $60,000 total.

Some People Note the Irony of a Slavery Post

Many comments about the new post are positive. “Ravi had an incredible ministry and led so many to the Lord,” writes one Facebook user, adding, “Let’s remember that we are all sinners saved by grace and grace alone.” Others point out RZIM’s positive impact and urge people to stop “judging” a man who is dead.

SBC Pastor Attacks VeggieTales, Deletes Post After Backlash; Says He and Phil Vischer ‘Are Talking’

Dale Chamberlain

December 31, 2021

Phil Vischer on the latest episode of the Holy Post podcast. (Screengrab from YouTube.)

Adam Page, one of the pastors of the SBC-affiliated Amelia Baptist Church in Fernandina Beach, FL, made waves on Twitter this week after sharply criticizing VeggieTales creator Phil Vischer. Having deleted the original tweet, Page now says that he has been in conversation with Vischer.

“I’m going to say this once more. Veggietales NEVER taught the Gospel. It gave us the Cheeseburger song, which was stellar. Other than that, it’s as Christian as Mormonism,” Page said on December 30 in his now deleted tweet. “Why are we still platforming its creator like he’s a leading evangelical voice? God, grant us discernment.”

Though Vischer’s Big Idea Productions filed for bankruptcy in 2003, which led to Vischer losing control of the company and the VeggieTales characters, he has gone on to other successes including the “What’s in the Bible?” instructional DVD series for families and the popular Holy Post Podcast, which he co-hosts with Skye Jethani.

Nevertheless, Vischer has come under fire on a number of occasions in recent years for, among other things, his vocal advocacy of racial justice and warnings against evangelicals being too closely aligned with the Republican party.

In addition to the weekly Holy Post podcast, Vischer has also periodically released explainer videos exploring topics of race in America, social welfare programs, and the relationship between race and voting patterns, often raising the ire of some evangelical conservatives who see him as too “woke.”

Earlier in the day on December 30, Page had retweeted a statement Vischer made about how nationalism often leads to harm of one’s neighbor. In that retweet, Page suggested that Vischer has “been talking to tomatoes for too long.”

Though VeggieTales is widely beloved among a certain generation of American evangelicals, Page’s deleted tweet argued that the program was not distinctly Christian enough, and, by extension, seemed to imply that neither was Vischer.

After deleting his original tweet, Page explained why he chose to do so.

“I deleted the VeggieTales take. Couldn’t care less it was popular. I’m sick of critical comments getting mega traction on this Jerry Springer social network which immediately kills conversation,” Page said. “@philvischer & I have been talking for an hour & man do we disagree but we’re talking.”

Nancy Pelosi Unveils January 6 Commemoration Events at U.S. Capitol, Including Prayer Vigil

Dale Chamberlain

December 31, 2021

January 6 — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

On Thursday (December 30), Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi announced that “a full program of events” would be held at the U.S. Capitol Building on January 6 to commemorate the one year anniversary of the Capitol insurrection. The commemoration plan includes a prayer vigil.

In a letter to her fellow members of Congress, Pelosi said, “These events are intended as an observance of reflection, remembrance and recommitment, in a spirit of unity, patriotism and prayerfulness.” While the House will not be in session, the commemorative events will begin at 12pm Eastern Time on Thursday, January 6 and will be live streamed.

The events include a moment of silence, a moderated conversation with Librarian of Congress Dr. Carla Hayden and historians Doris Keams Goodwin and Jon Meacham to “establish and preserve the narrative of January 6th,” and testimonials from members of Congress who will reflect on the events of January 6, 2021.

The day’s events will be capped off with a prayer vigil on the steps of the U.S. Capitol Building, where members of the House and Senate will “join in an observance of the day in prayer and music.”

Tweeting Pelosi’s announcement of the events, National Reporter for Religion News Service Jack Jenkins said, “[For what it’s worth], religious expression was a constant on January 6.”

“Those protesting Trump supporters as they arrived on Jan 6? Praying clergy. Insurrectionists who barged into the Senate chamber? They prayed after they arrived. Members of Congress? They prayed together during the attack, and prayed more after reconvening,” Jenkins continued. “Obviously not *everyone* prayed, but worth noting the ubiquity of religious expression that day.”

In response to Jenkins’ thread, some expressed gratitude for the events planned for January 6, while others raised concerns about the separation of church and state.

“On January 6 our country saw the harmful effects of #ChristianNationalism,” tweeted the Secular Coalition for America. “More government prayer and more invoking of religion by our secular institutions is not needed nor is it productive.”

Others expressed that they felt indictments for those responsible for the riot are more important than commemoration. One Twitter user said, “We do not need prayerfulness. We need indictments, arrests, accountability.”

Observers, Detractors and Preachers of Religion Who Died in 2021

Adelle M Banks

December 31, 2021

died in 2021 — Photo by Dave Hoefler/Unsplash/Creative Commons

(RNS) — They preached sermons, wrote books and served as spiritual role models.

From Christian evangelists to atheism advocates to towering figures in the fight for racial justice, in 2021 we lost influencers who helped us understand, adopt or question religion.

Some notable figures who died this year were not generally known for their faith but nevertheless were privately religious, from Colin Powell, who was described at his funeral as someone who “loved the high hymns” of the Episcopal Church, to Rush Limbaugh, who appealed to Christian conservatives on his popular radio show.

Others worked as journalists of religion for newspapers and television. Rachel Zoll, The Associated Press’ longtime religion reporter, died in May after a career of breaking news, in-depth stories and a feature about a Bible study class called “Finding the Way Back to Mayberry.” Veteran broadcast journalist Bob Abernethy, who also died in May, moved from covering the fledging U.S. space program and the Soviet Union’s collapse to founding the program “Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly” that aired on PBS for almost 20 years.

Here are other prominent figures in the world of religion who died in 2021:

Walter Plywaski

The Polish immigrant who refused to say “so help me God” as part of his oath as a new U.S. citizen advanced religious freedom for atheists wanting to become Americans.

Plywaski died Jan. 28 at 91.

Walter Plywaski fought for atheists to be given citizenship rights. (Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

During World War II, he spent five years in Nazi concentration camps, The Conversation reported. After the liberation of Dachau, a camp in southern Germany, he was employed as an interpreter before he immigrated to the U.S. in 1947.

As a result of his court battle over not reciting the traditional oath, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services policy manual now includes oath modifications.

A member of Boulder Atheists, he also was known for educating people about the Holocaust and for speaking out against hate prior to the 2020 election.

Frederick K.C. Price

The Rev. Frederick K.C. “Fred” Price. Photo via Crenshaw Christian Center

The prominent Los Angeles pastor built one of the largest church buildings in the nation.

Price died on Feb. 12 at 89.

He was the founder and longtime pastor of Crenshaw Christian Center, which opened in 1973 and grew to claim 28,000 members. Its building, known as the “FaithDome,” opened in 1989 and seats 10,145 people.

“Multiple services are horrendous,” Price told the Los Angeles Times in 1989. “The purpose of the building is to have one service. And if I can get 10,100 people into one service, that’s more than we’re doing now.”

The charismatic preacher, who was known for his prosperity gospel message, was featured on “Ever Increasing Faith,” his long-running television show.

After his retirement as Crenshaw Christian Center’s pastor, Price turned the pulpit over to his son, Frederick K. Price Jr.

QB Nick Foles Praises Jesus After Comeback Win in First Start With Bears Since 2020

Cole Claybourn

December 31, 2021

This article originally appeared at Sports Spectrum.

It had been 364 days since his last appearance, and more than a year since his last start, but Chicago Bears quarterback Nick Foles made the most of his opportunity on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks.

With starter Justin Fields and backup Andy Dalton out due to injuries, Foles’ name was called.

And Foles — who first rose to fame by leading the Philadelphia Eagles to an incredible win in Super Bowl LII after replacing injured starter Carson Wentz late in the season — led the Bears to a 25-24 comeback win on Sunday in the snow. The victory, Chicago’s fifth this season, was capped off by a 15-yard touchdown pass to Jimmy Graham and a successful two-point conversion pass to Damiere Byrd with 1:01 remaining.

Clutch. @NickFoles hits @TheJimmyGraham for the TD!#WPMOYChallenge | #CHIvsSEA pic.twitter.com/yUX0ZXC4al

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) December 27, 2021

What a grab for the 2-point conversion. 😱@LookIn_Da_Miere | #CHIvsSEA pic.twitter.com/tF6GctecH5

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) December 27, 2021

Foles has served as the third-string quarterback all season, and he said when he got the call to start on Sunday, he simply wanted to do his job. He certainly did that, throwing for 250 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions.

“I said it a couple years ago in a press conference … it doesn’t matter if you’re the first-string, second-string, third-string, you’ve got to know who you are as a human being and what your identity is,” Foles said in his postgame press conference. “It can’t be in this game. It’s got to be in something greater, and I’ve always said mine’s in Jesus Christ. I was a third-string quarterback tonight. I was just a third-string — that’s my label. But at the end of the day, that’s not who I am. I’m just Nick Foles. I just go out there and I play. I lean on my teammates. I go to work.”

“It doesn’t matter if you’re the first-string, second-string, third-string, you’ve got to know who you are as a human being and what your identity is…It’s got to be in something greater, and I’ve always said mine’s in Jesus Christ.”@NickFoles https://t.co/3uKTH0S2Jc pic.twitter.com/QIFwgB3Z0p

— Sports Spectrum (@Sports_Spectrum) December 27, 2021

Last season, Foles replaced starting quarterback Mitch Trubisky in Week 3 against the Atlanta Falcons with the Bears trailing 26-10, and he threw three touchdown passes in the final 6:20 to lead Chicago to a miraculous 30-26 win. He started from then on until he was carted off the field with a hip injury in Week 10 against the Minnesota Vikings.

Former ACNA Lay Pastor Charged With Additional Sexual Assault Felonies

Kathryn Post

December 31, 2021

Kane County, Illinois, booking information for Mark Rivera. Screengrab.

(RNS) — A former lay pastor in a conservative Anglican denomination was charged Wednesday (Dec. 29) with two felony counts of criminal sexual assault in the Kane County, Illinois, circuit court. The charges come a year after Joanna Rudenborg reported Mark Rivera, her former neighbor, to Kane County police, accusing him of raping her in 2018 and again in 2020.

According to Pat Gengler, undersheriff at Kane County, bail was set at $50,000 and Rivera was released after posting a bail bond. “He’s on home monitoring, so he does have a GPS bracelet which greatly restricts his movements,” said Gengler.

Rivera’s lawyer did not respond to a request for comment. The next court date in the case is set for Jan. 19.

“I’m glad he was finally charged and the prosecution is happening,” said Rudenborg. “It’s certainly validating that the state looked at the evidence and said, this is a strong case worth pursuing. … I hope that my story being taken seriously by the authorities will help other people take other victims’ stories more seriously.”

The Anglican Church in North America is a relatively young denomination that split from the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada in 2009 over the two denominations’ acceptance of LGBTQ clergy and same-sex marriages. Over the last year, the denomination’s Upper Midwest Diocese has been grappling with allegations of sexual abuse by Rivera and a broader pattern of spiritual hazing within the diocese. In July, accusations of mishandling the allegations led the diocese’s bishop to take a leave of absence.

Rivera is also being prosecuted on charges of felony sexual assault and predatory abuse of a victim under 13 years of age, and at least eight others have made allegations of abuse by Rivera, including child sexual abuse, grooming, rape and assault.

Rivera was a lay minister at Christ Our Light Anglican, an ACNA church plant in Big Rock, Illinois, from 2013 to 2019. He was also a volunteer leader at Church of the Resurrection — the headquarters of the Upper Midwest Diocese — in Wheaton, Illinois, from the mid-1990s until 2013.

On Aug. 28, ACNA announced the members of a Provincial Response Team that would oversee an investigation into the diocese’s handling of the allegations. The denomination was not able to respond to a request for comment by the time of publication, but according to an email sent from the Provincial Response Team to Rudenborg on Nov. 30 and shown to Religion News Service, the group was “ready to begin the initial vetting process to narrow down the list” of investigative firms. That list would then be voted on by both survivors and members of the Provincial Response Team. On Twitter, Rudenborg expressed frustration at the team’s lack of action.

“At this point, I’m safe from Mark, I’m not in any direct danger, so really what I want is for him to not be able to harm anyone else,” Rudenborg told RNS. “The only way we can be sure that that’s going to happen is if he goes back into custody. So it’s kind of still a waiting game.”

This article originally appeared here.

2022 Ministry Forecast: Are You Ready?

Allen White

December 31, 2021

Let’s face it: it’s been hard to predict anything in the last two years. I certainly don’t claim to be a prophet, but I am seeing and learning some emerging trends when it comes to ministry during Coronavirus Year Three. You might be noticing some of these things too.

Digital Ministry is the Church’s New Front Door

You’ve known for a while that people were checking out your church website before they were entering the physical front door. Now, digital ministry has become the church’s new front door. When people show up in-person for the first time, they are no longer “first time guests.” They’ve been watching online for a while. When they show up, they are ready in engage in small groups and serving.

Many pastors are frustrated that people aren’t “back” and are worshipping at home. I believe there are three reasons why people are still worshipping online. First, some are COVID Cautious. They’re just not sure if they’re ready to worship in-person, so they stay away. Second, some are COVID Convenient. (I used to call this “COVID Lazy,” but someone accused me of being judgmental.) They enjoy the convenience of worshipping at home and not having to pile everyone in the car to go to church. The third group is new attenders. They discovered your church during the pandemic. They are watching as regularly or more regularly than your in-person attenders are showing up. A church in Texas recently baptized an online attender who flew in from England. My friends at Community Bible Church, Stockbridge, Georgia, baptized a police officer from New York City who came to Christ while watching online. This is more than a novelty. Digitial Ministry is a mission field.

Insight: Make your online worship service equivalent to your in-person worship service. It’s not the same (not even close). But, expect just as much from your online attenders as you do your in-person attenders when it comes to your growth track, small groups, giving, and serving. Specifically invite them to follow next steps. Give them a digital way to respond. For more on digital ministry, go here.

The Church You Have is the Church You’ve Got

Waiting for your pre-COVID worship attenders to return is like waiting for your old Blockbuster to reopen. It’s not going to happen. The church you have is your church, so lead it. As I wrote a few months ago, “Everyone gathered is united in mission with you. It’s too easy to go someplace else right now. If they are gathering with you, they are with you! They are just as shell shocked as you are, but they are there. Embrace Gideon’s army. Cast vision. Empower your people to serve. Repurpose serving in your church. “Right size” your serving teams and encourage more people to serve their neighbors, lead small groups, and make disciples. Lead the people you have.

“The regular, consistent givers are there. This is a tangible expression of the last point. Rather than lamenting all of the non-givers who have left, embrace the people you have. Call them regularly to see how they’re doing. Encourage them to serve and take next steps. Lead the people you have.” To read the entire post, go here.

People are Choosier in Committing Their Time

During the pandemic your people divested themselves of every type of involvement. They wiped the slate complete clean. And, as you’ve seen, they haven’t immediately brought back everything they were doing before. They will form groups. They will serve. But, the motivation is more aligned with their personal mission than with being told they “ought” to.

When it comes to serving, help people discover their spiritual gifts and see how they align with their personal passions. Use a course like Network by Bruce Bugbee, SHAPE from Saddleback or Find Your Place by Rob Wegner and Brian Phipps. Start new ministries from your people’s passions rather than from the top down.

Give your people permission and opportunity to start small groups on their terms. Let them invite their friends. Let them meet in-person or online with any format that suits them. Small groups can grow if you let people meet anywhere at any time with anyone.

Insight: If your church parking lot is half empty, then encourage your parking team to start small groups. Everybody can find a parking place on their own.

The Cult You’ve All Fallen For

Ethan Renoe

December 31, 2021

We’ve all looked at people who join a cult and looked down at them from some superior plane of knowledge.

“How could they fall for that?
Don’t they know better?
Can’t they see through this guy’s lies?”

You watch the Netflix series Waco, or a documentary on Scientology and begin to see consistent themes. Why do people join cults? The answer is multifaceted but consistent:

Something is lacking in their lives
The leader promises them some sort of fulfillment
They want to better themselves
They feel some inherent lack in themselves and this offers wholeness
They feel cut off from other people and want community

The list goes on. None of these things are terribly surprising.

Last night, I was in the shower—the place I do some of my best thinking—when I realized that there is a gigantic cult we have all fallen for.

You and me. Everyone we know.
And very few people have woken up to it.

Because when you fall for a cult, you become brainwashed. You lose touch with reality. People try to talk you out of it, to show you the light, to wake you up, but it’s incredibly difficult to undo the brainwashing.

It’s global. It pulls on Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, and atheists alike.

We all are told that our lives could be better and we can finally be fulfilled IF…

But everyone who has joined; everyone who has gone all-in with this cult has come up lacking. Many people make it to the highest ranks of this cult and regret it. No one has ever looked back and said, “Yah, I’m glad I spent my life pursuing this.”

It’s commercialism. Capitalism.

It’s every commercial we’ve ever seen, working together to promise us a better life and fill the holes inside of us.

Are you lacking community? Buy this fitness program or these clothes and YOU could looks as happy as these models who are paid to smile and hug each other.

Feel like your life is too difficult when you’re home? Maybe you just need this new and improved Swiffer, or this new hi-tech gadget that completes your home once and for all…

There is no single great leader heading up this cult, but many. It’s more of a spirit than a man. The spirit of higher profits, salesmanship, fooling people into buying what you’re hocking. And why do they buy? Because this spirit of MORE has promised that ‘it’ will solve their problems.

“It” can be a new car which will make you suave like Matthew McConaughey in a Lincoln.

“It” is whatever new protein powder will carve up your body like Adonis so you can finally feel at home in it.

Craig Groeschel: How to Have Your Most Focused Year Yet

Jessica Lea

December 31, 2021

This year could be your most focused and productive year yet as a leader, says Life.Church pastor Craig Groeschel. For that to be the case, however, it is crucial you recognize that what has been making you unproductive is not a lack of time, but how you are using the time you have.

“My guess is that many of you feel scattered, overwhelmed or unproductive,” said Groeschel in his leadership podcast last January. “With so many things to do, you tend to think, ‘I just don’t have enough time.’ For many leaders, the problem isn’t a lack of time. The problem is a lack of focus.”

One of a leader’s most important responsibilities is to be able to direct the attention of his or her team. But what if you have trouble directing your own attention? If this is the case, there are several strategies you can implement to dramatically increase your level of productivity and success this year.

How Leaders Can Stay Focused in 2022

Groeschel gave three steps for leaders to work through in order to stay focused on their goals this year. The first is, “Clearly define your wins.” Perhaps one of your goals is to have a better marriage or to get in shape. Unless you phrase those objectives differently (that is, more specifically), all you have are “wishes,” not “wins.” In order to pursue a win this year, you must be “crystal clear what you want to do and by when,” said Groeschel. “You cannot do what you don’t define.”

For example, “I want to get in better shape” is vague, but “I want to walk three miles every week” is specific. So go through the areas of your life where you want to have a win and make your wins as specific as possible while setting deadlines for when you want to complete them.

Then write your wins down and tell someone else about them. Research shows, said Groeschel, that people who write down their goals are 42 percent more likely to achieve them. People who also tell a friend about their goals are 78 percent more likely to achieve them.

After you clearly define your wins, the second step is, “Distance the distractions.” Said Groeschel, “Distractions divide your heart. They disengage your mind. They distort your perspective. They discourage your soul. They disrupt your priorities. And eventually, distractions will destroy your leadership.”

There are two types of distractions, according to Groeschel. There are cognitive distractions, which impact our minds, and opportunity distractions, which affect our missions. One of the most significant sources of cognitive distractions in modern life is our cell phones. A 2016 study found that the average cell phone user touches his or her phone 2,617 times per day and spends 145 minutes on it. The heaviest users touch their phones 5,427 times per day and spend 225 minutes on them. “That’s gross,” said Groeschel. “That’s obsessive. That’s crazy.”

“As a leader, you will never make a big difference if you are constantly distracted by small things,” he said. For example, when Groeschel prepares for one of his leadership podcasts, he starts working on it at 4 a.m. because he knows he is most productive early in the morning. He prepares the night before by setting out his clothes, breakfast, and snacks. When he begins his work, he makes sure that no notifications will interrupt him, and he is in his office with ambient music on and no people around. “I can in about a four- or a five-hour period produce what takes many people much, much longer,” said the pastor, “because I’ve intentionally created an environment that helps me be productive. It’s not accidental.”

The second type of distractions are opportunities that seem good, but which sidetrack leaders from having their “best and greatest impact.” The more successful you become as a leader, the more opportunities will come your way, said Groeschel, and it will be tempting to pursue them because they are legitimately good ideas that weren’t available to you before. “As a leader,” he said, “I beg you, refuse to be seduced by the good. Just because you could do something doesn’t mean that you should do something.”

Rick Warren: 5 Big Church Ministry Goals

Rick Warren

December 31, 2021

church ministry goals — Screengrab YouTube @Pastor Rick

For 35+ years, Saddleback Church has been making disciples through a very intentional, purpose-driven process. And we’ve helped train tens of thousands of other churches to do the same. We’ve always been concerned with five big church ministry goals, and as we face another new year of ministry, we’re working toward these same five goals again.

As you plan your preaching, prepare your budget and arrange your calendar, I’m convinced the following questions will help you to make more disciples, more effectively.

5 Big Church Ministry Goals

Ministry GOAL #1: Increase our weekend service attendance.

The first step in our disciple-making process is drawing our surrounding community together on Sunday to be part of our crowd. Jesus drew large crowds and then challenged them to commit. Peter challenged the enormous crowd to follow the resurrected Jesus on the Day of Pentecost, and 3,000 did so.

We want as many people as possible to be brought into close proximity to the gospel so that they will hear about Jesus. That’s the starting point, for most people, on the journey to spiritual maturity. So what will you do in the upcoming year to increase your primary weekend worship attendance?

• How will you use social media?

• How will you utilize local media outlets?

• How can you leverage local events or host special events?

• What invite tools will you put in the hands of your members?

• What major campaigns will you use as an entry point for new people?

Ministry GOAL #2: We will help attenders to get better connected.

You can only make disciples when people who join the crowd stick around. It’s actually easy to get a bunch of people to come. What’s difficult is getting people to stick, to keep coming back and to feel that they are truly part of the family.

The real issue is, how do we help people see that they really belong, and that the best way to grow spiritually is to be a committed part of the body. As we face another year, we’re wrestling with questions such as:

• How can you get every member into a small group?

• How can you give every member a job, a role serving the body?

• How can you best challenge more people to commit to membership?

• How do you get people to take ownership of the mission of your church?

• How do you reward long-term faithfulness?

See page two for more church ministry goals . . .

Questions About Faith: 30 Important Ways to Connect With Your Teens

Stephanie Martin

December 30, 2021

Asking questions about faith and spiritual topics can feel intimidating. But if you’re a youth leader or parent, that’s part of your job description! Talking about faith shouldn’t be a challenge. Instead, make it part of everyday conversations, ideally beginning when kids are young.

To assist with this essential task, we’ve compiled a bunch of questions about faith to ask youth. Adapt these questions for your teens and for specific situations. The questions work for youth group gatherings, small-group meetings, icebreakers, teen retreats, one-on-one discussions, car rides, mealtime, and much more.

Check out all these questions about faith. Then be sure to add more suggestions in the comments below!

30 Questions About Faith for Teens

What adjectives would you use to describe God? to describe God’s love?

2. How has God recently answered one of your prayers?

3. During the past month, what Bible verse (or story) has meant the most to you, and why?

4. When did God become more than a word to you?

5. How will you continue to pursue God after you graduate from youth group?

6. How would you respond to someone who insists that all religions are the same?

7. What bugs you the most about sin? What are you doing in response to that?

8. What aspect of your faith—or which Christian belief—do you struggle with the most, and why?

9. In the future, what part of your faith or faith life do you most want to pass on to your own kids or loved ones?

10. Of all the gifts God has given you, which do you appreciate the most? How do you show your appreciation for it?

11. Which three words would you use to describe your current relationship with God? Why?

12. How do you expect your relationship with God to mature or change in the future?

13. Faith-wise, what are you looking for in a spouse? Would you consider marrying someone who doesn’t yet know Jesus?

14. If you could have dinner with three people from the Bible, who would you invite? What would you ask them?

15. What do you think heaven will be like?

Christian Student in Pakistan Drops out of College Fearing False Blasphemy Allegation

International Christian Concern

December 30, 2021

Pakistan (International Christian Concern) – Earlier this month, a Christian student at a medical college in Lahore, Pakistan was forced to drop out after she experienced intense harassment from her Muslim classmates.

Ayesha Masih was studying at a medical college in Lahore when she started facing intense harassment from her Muslim classmates in late November. The harassment started when Masih was confronted by Muslim classmates while attending an Islamic studies course.

“A Muslim girl sitting behind me asked about my faith background,” Masih told International Christian Concern (ICC). “I proudly told her that I am a Christian.”

“The Muslim girl did not like my response and objected to me studying Islamic studies because I am not a Muslim,” Masih continued. “I made it clear that I have been studying this subject since grade nine and ten and have always received excellent results.”

“The next day, she refused to shake my hand in the morning,” Masih said. “The girl said she did not want to touch a non-Muslim. Her attitude scared me a bit, however, I ignored it as I just wanted to focus on my studies.”

Weeks later, in December, the harassment Masih faced became more serious. It got to a point where she feared for her personal safety.

“I had to leave the medical college because I was afraid my Muslim classmates would accuse me of insulating Islamic books,” Masih explained. “One day, I left the classroom for the cafeteria and retuned to see a group of girls gathered around my desk. They started abusing me for allegedly insulting the Islamic textbooks by putting my backpack on the ground.”

“I refused this allegation as I did not put my backpack on the ground,” Masih continued. “However, none of them listened and they started beating me.”

Masih’s parents made a complaint with the administration of the medical college, but the administration did little to investigate the situation. Fearing Masih could be falsely accused of blasphemy by a Muslim classmate, Masih and her family decided dropping out of the medical college was the safest option.

In Pakistan, false accusations of blasphemy are widespread and often motivated by personal vendettas or religious hatred. Accusations are highly inflammatory and have the potential to spark mob lynchings, vigilante murders, and mass protests.

This article originally appeared here.

Televangelist Perry Stone Admits He’s Not Perfect But Calls Abuse Accusations ‘Demonic’

Stephanie Martin

December 30, 2021

Pastor and author Perry Stone, a Tennessee-based televangelist who often describes prophetic visions, is pushing back against allegations of sexual misconduct. On Christmas Day, the Chattanooga Times Free Press published an exposé of Stone and his ministries, revealing that an FBI investigation is now underway.

A spokesman for Stone’s Voice of Evangelism says its board of directors has no knowledge of such an investigation. Stone, a pro-Trump pastor with a large online following, is accusing secular media of twisting information.

Allegations Surfaced in Spring 2020

Back in April of 2020, the Voice of Evangelism board directors (all of whom are male) received 11 letters describing inappropriate sexual behavior by Stone, who is 62. Nine letters were from women who had worked for Stone and alleged that he touched, kissed, and messaged them in sexual ways.

One person claimed the pastor locked doors to be alone with women. Others said he described dreams in which God gave him the okay to pursue other sexual partners besides his wife. Most interviewees requested anonymity, notes the Times Free Press, saying they fear retribution and have been the targets of threatening texts and vandalism.

The newspaper reports that after allegations surfaced against Stone, several people broke ties with his ministries. Some accuse board members of not holding the pastor accountable, potentially putting others at risk.

Board Had Mandated a Break for Perry Stone

After allegations came to light, the Voice of Evangelism board set forth a “restoration plan,” according to spokesman John Rodriguez. Conditions included counseling, medical attention, and a break from social media, plus six to 12 months away from public ministry. The Times Free Press, however, says Stone was still active online and in ministry during that time.

Rodriguez calls the board’s steps “appropriate and intensive,” as well as “in the best interests of Voice of Evangelism, its supporters, and even its detractors.” At the time, the board described Stone’s potential misconduct as “civil in nature and not criminal.”

But Bryan Cromer, a former IT employee with Stone’s ministry, characterizes the board’s actions as mere window dressing. He describes attending an employee meeting in spring 2020 where the message was essentially, “Some things have been accused, we think Perry’s unwell, we’re gonna send him off for more or less a type of rehab or recovery. And that was about it. And then, you know, two weeks later Perry shows back up.”

The board dropped the ball, says Cromer. “Their responsibility was to ensure Perry was, No. 1, walking the path that God would have him to walk on, more or less, and that the ministry is heading that direction. And, No. 2, to correct the ship when it’s going the wrong way.” He adds, “That’s not what they did, though.”

Perry Stone Points to Stress, Cultural Background

At a private event in July 2020, Stone attributed misconduct to ministry stressors and health problems. “I confess at times I’ve been inappropriate in all this weariness of just non-stop ministry,” he said. “I let my guard down and I’ve asked, of course, God to forgive me for that. I sat down with my family, with my beautiful, precious wife Pam, the love of my life. I asked her to forgive me. And I very humbly and very sincerely ask those who have been hurt or offended by my actions to, please, also forgive me for those things.”

Franklin Graham Doesn’t Believe COVID-19 Vaccine Passport Microchip Is the Mark of the Beast

Jesse T. Jackson

December 30, 2021

Franklin Graham posted on Facebook yesterday saying that COVID-19 is here to stay, but also that he doesn’t believe that COVID-19 vaccine passport microchips are the mark of the beast.

A few days before Christmas, ChurchLeaders released an article detailing how a Swedish company has developed a rice-sized microchip containing vaccine information that can be implanted into a person’s hand or arm just below the skin.

The vaccine microchip would be used as a passport of sorts, allowing people to be scanned to prove that they’ve been vaccinated in order to attend mass gatherings, eat at restaurants, or travel to places where governments have placed COVID-19 restrictions on citizens and tourists.

Conspiracy theorists have speculated that this type of microchip could be the mark of the beast the Apostle John describes in Revelation 13:15-17.

Graham doesn’t believe this is the case. The world-renown evangelist explained that although there will be a one world system in the end-times, as prophesied about in Scripture and which could usher in a time where people will have to choose to take a mark in order to buy and sell, he doesn’t believe this vaccine passport microchip is that mark.

“I personally do not think this particular chip is the mark the Bible talks about,” Graham said. “But it does make you think how close we may be. Christians around the world are wondering if COVID-19 is being used as a way to condition the world population to accept a mark like this, whatever form it may take.”

The son of Billy Graham said he has witnessed a lot in his 69 years of life, and, despite the fact Graham doesn’t believe this microchip is the mark of the beast, this type of technology could make it just a few short steps away.

Nevertheless, Graham encouraged those who have put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ that they have no need to be afraid. Yes, the news of this microchip and what it could lead to “may sound frightening,” he said but continued, “We should not live in fear. God told us what was coming in His Word. Make sure that your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life by repenting of your sins and putting your faith and trust in Jesus Christ.”

Samaritan’s Purse’s President and CEO has been a strong proponent for the the COVID-19 vaccines and applauded former President Trump’s Operation Warp Speed, which accelerated the development, manufacturing, and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.

Christian Leaders Respond to Ghislaine Maxwell’s Guilty Verdict; Express More Work to Be Done

Jesse T. Jackson

December 30, 2021

On Wednesday (December 29), Ghislaine Maxwell (60), the former British socialite connected to the charged sex trafficking offender and successful multi-millionaire financier Jeffery Epstein, was found guilty of luring teenage girls to Epstein to be sexually abused.

Epstein died by suicide in his jail cell in 2019, a month after he was indicted on federal sex trafficking charges.

The jury found Maxwell guilty on five of the six counts she was charged with. The charges included sex trafficking minors, transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, and the three counts of conspiracy, and bring a maximum prison sentence of 65 years.

Annie Farmer was one of four accusers who testified against Maxwell. All four of Maxwell’s accusers were under the age of 18, with some being as young as 14 when they were groomed by Maxwell. Farmer told “Good Morning America” that Maxwell’s guilty verdict was “a tremendous relief,” expressing that she wasn’t sure “that this day would ever come.”

“I am so relieved and grateful that the jury recognized the pattern of predatory behavior that Maxwell engaged in for years and found her guilty of these crimes,” Farmer said. “I hope that this verdict brings solace to all who need it and demonstrates that no one is above the law. Even those with great power and privilege will be held accountable when they sexually abuse and exploit the young.”

Farmer was 16 years old when she was groomed by Maxwell and brought to Epstein. As a psychologist, Farmer now helps others who have experienced similar circumstances.

Activist, abuse survivor, and attorney Rachael Denhollander said, “This is a critical step in the fight for justice and cultural change around the issue of sexual assault.” Denhollander is a former gymnast and was the first woman to step forward publicly and accuse former USA Gymnastic doctor Larry Nassar of sexual abuse. Her courage led to hundreds of other abuse survivors coming forward and testifying against Nassar in 2018. Although the former doctor denied the allegations, he later pleaded guilty under a plea agreement which has put him behind bars for the rest of his life.

“What was on display in this trial was the rebuttal, yet again, of the most common rape myths that cripple our societal response to abuse,” Denhollander wrote on Twitter. “1. The idea that memories of abuse are easy to implant and frequently inaccurate or manufactured. 2. The oft-repeated trope that survivors come forward because they are motivated by money and fame. 3. An in-depth portrayal of how grooming and trafficking really happens, and why so many survivors don’t ‘just fight back.’ This is a critical reality we need to understand. 4. And yet again, a painful reminder of what survivors face when they do speak up.”

Actor Chris Tucker Turned Down $12 Million to Return for ‘Friday’ Sequel Due to His Christian Convictions

Dale Chamberlain

December 30, 2021

Once the highest paid actor in Hollywood, Chris Tucker is well known for his roles in movies like “The Fifth Element” and the Rush Hour franchise. Yet while Tucker portrayed the character “Smokey” in the popular 1995 film “Friday,” he was notably absent from the sequels in 2000 and 2002.

Earlier this week, “Friday” co-star Ice Cube revealed a little known fact as to why Tucker did not return for the sequel: his Christian convictions.

In a tweet thread on Wednesday, Ice Cube responded to accusations that members of the “Friday” cast were underpaid and that Tucker quit the franchise because of money. Ice Cube said that Tucker didn’t return for the sequel because he didn’t want to portray a character known for cussing and smoking weed.

Set in South Central Los Angeles, a main plot point of “Friday” centers on a pair of unemployed friends coming up with money for a drug supplier who demanded payment by the end of the day, or else he was taking his product back—product which Tucker’s character had already smoked.

“We were ready to pay Chris Tucker $10-12m to do Next Friday but he turned us down for religious reasons,” Ice Cube said. “He didn’t want to cuss or smoke weed on camera anymore.”

While Tucker does not speak about his faith publicly very often, he did confirm in a 2014 interview that he is a Christian.

“Being a Christian helps me in comedy. I have to talk about other stuff. Normally, most comics talk about stuff that’s easy—maybe cussing or saying something raunchy,” Tucker told the Georgia Straight. “I have to dig deeper to find something that’s still funny and not raunchy. It’s harder. I like the challenge.”

“Everybody’s doing raunchy comedy,” Tucker went on to say. “I go to comedy clubs and it’s like, ‘All right, how raunchy can you get?’ And it’s really not that funny to me. What’s funny to me is being creative and talking about stuff that I wouldn’t have thought about.”

In November, Tucker confirmed to All Urban Central that his decision not to return to the Friday franchise had nothing to do with money. Tucker, who earned $25 million to portray Detective James Carter in “Rush Hour 3,” expressed gratitude for the opportunity to play a role in “Friday,” which helped increase his popularity. Nevertheless, he was ready to move on from the character.

Alabama Pastor’s Wife Shot and Killed During Bible Study

Dale Chamberlain

December 30, 2021

Grace Carter was killed by a stray bullet during a Tuesday night Bible study at Everlasting Life Holiness Church in Prichard, Alabama. Carter’s homicide is the third in Prichard since Christmas.

Prichard Police told a local CBS affiliate that they arrived on the scene shortly after 7 p.m. and began performing CPR on Carter. After an investigator noticed a bullet hole in the door of the church, the emergency medical services personnel began searching Carter for a bullet wound and discovered that she had been shot in the upper right chest.

Carter and her husband, Cecil Carter Sr., were longtime members of Everlasting Life Holiness Church, and Cecil is set to begin a pastorate at another church next month. According to Cecil, the Bible study group heard a loud pop, which the pastor of Everlasting Life, Joseph Simmons, thought came from a speaker. When Simmons looked toward Grace Carter, she was bleeding from the mouth. It was then that Simmons called 911.

Grace Carter was 65 years old. Cecil and Grace had been married for 35 years.

“It’s not safe in the church no more. People running around with guns and just shooting and carrying on with no regards. Stray bullet don’t know anybody,” Cecil told WPMI.

Speaking about his wife, Cecil said, “She would do anything she could for anyone. She’s a kind woman, and I believe she’s gone home to live with the Lord. I miss her. I love her.”

Prichard Police do not believe the shooter directly targeted Carter, but the investigation is ongoing. Mobile County Sheriff’s Office is assisting in the investigation.

Four days earlier on Christmas Eve, 40-year-old Quincy Kemp was shot and killed in Prichard, and his girlfriend, Shanda Sashington, remains in critical condition from several gunshot wounds. A trumpet player for the Olympia and Port City brass bands, Kemp’s family described him as non-confrontational, saying, “If anyone tried to confront him or try to fight, he was always the type of guy to talk you out of it. He was just a great guy. He really was.”

Kemp’s family has expressed frustration with the investigative team, urging the police to release more information about the case.

The Redemptive-Historical, Patriarchal Blessing

Nicholas Batzig

December 30, 2021

Christians sometimes struggle to discern whether some aspect of an Old Testament narrative is merely descriptive of a historical event in the life of the biblical character or whether it has theological meaning for us today. Such has been the case with the patriarchal blessings in Genesis 27:26–29 and 48:1–49:28.

Some religious groups have perverted the meaning of these unique redemptive-historical events. For instance, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints adheres to a ritual of patriarchal blessing that is equivalent to fortune telling. Each Mormon receives a blessing from his or her bishop that “contains personal revelation and instructions from Heavenly Father.” Mormon “patriarchal blessings” are deeply legalistic and superstitious. Sadly, many Mormons have lamented making major life decisions based on the personal “blessing” they received.

Unlike such self-referential and superstitious incantations, the patriarchal blessings in the book of Genesis are covenant blessings in redemptive history; therefore, they anticipate the fulfillment of the spiritual blessings in the coming of the promised Redeemer, Jesus Christ. A consideration of the New Testament’s teaching about them will help us understand their place in redemptive history.

As Isaac and Jacob came to the end of their lives, they pronounced blessings over their children. In Genesis 27:27–29, Isaac pronounced a divine blessing on Jacob with language reminiscent of the language of the blessing God proclaimed to Abraham (Gen. 12:1–3). Jacob, in turn, pronounced divine blessings on each of his grandsons (Gen. 48) and sons (Gen. 49:1–28). The dying blessings of Isaac and Jacob find their way into the pages of the New Testament, when the writer of Hebrews explains: “By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff” (Heb. 11:20–21). The writer of Hebrews sees in the patriarchal blessings an act of faith.

Every act of faith is built on the previous word and promises of God. Isaac and Jacob were pronouncing covenant blessings in light of the previous promises God made to Abraham. Jacob’s blessing his sons and the sons of Joseph “by faith” is particularly instructive. Here, at the end of a difficult and challenging life, Jacob continues to cling to the covenant promises of God. As John Owen explained, “Notwithstanding all the trials and conflicts which he had met withal, with the weaknesses and disconsolations of old age, he abode firm in faith.” What enabled Jacob to hold on to the promises despite the trials and tribulations he experienced throughout his life was his expectation of God’s fulfillment of the promises He gave to Abraham.

The gospel is the foundation of the patriarchal blessings. Isaac and Jacob believed the promises of God regarding the coming Redeemer and His redemptive blessings when they pronounced their blessings on their children. There would be no way to make sense of these patriarchal blessings if we detached them from the person and saving work of Jesus Christ. Interestingly, Jesus pronounced the ultimate patriarchal blessing on His disciples as He went to lay down His life for His people. In his Notes on Scripture, Jonathan Edwards tied the dying blessings of Isaac and Jacob to Christ’s promise to send the Holy Spirit to His people as He also approached His death. Edwards wrote:

Isaac’s and Jacob’s blessing their children before their death, and, as it were, making over to them their future inheritance, may probably be typical of our receiving the blessings of the Covenant of Grace from Christ, as by His last will and testament, the final [administration of the] Covenant of Grace represented as His testament. Christ in the 14th, 15th and 16th chapters of John, does as it were make His will, and conveys to His people their inheritance before His death, [in] particular the Comforter, or the Holy Spirit, which is the sum of the purchased inheritance.

How to Make 2022 Your Best Children’s Ministry Year Ever

Dale Hudson

December 30, 2021

In just a few more turns of the clock, it will be a new year—2022.

Praise God for everything He did last year, amen! Think about all the victories He helped you accomplish. All the prayers He answered. For the many lives that were changed in your ministry.

But we can’t dwell there too long—because it’s about to be a new year and God has so much more for you in this coming year.

How would you like to have your best children’s ministry year ever in 2022? Here are some things you can do to see it come to fruition.

Take a hard look at what you are doing. Is there anything you are doing that you need to stop doing? Is there anything that needs to be tweaked or adjusted? Just because it worked in the past, doesn’t mean it will work in 2022. Hold everything with open hands. Change is a good thing when done properly.

Vision. Have a simple, powerful, engaging vision that you are pointing people toward. This will help them remember why they are serving. And don’t forget, vision leaks. It’s not a one and done. You have to constantly keep it in front of people.

Plan out your ministry year. If you haven’t done so yet, get 2022 planned out. Get your key dates on the church calendar. Work with other ministries and plan your calendars together. This will help you and the other ministries to not have conflicting events or programs.

Focus on building your volunteer team. This must be a top priority. 2022 will rise or fall on the strength of your volunteer team. Remember…your job is not to do the ministry. Rather it is to equip volunteers to effectively do the work of the ministry. It’s not about what you can do, it’s about what you can empower volunteers to do.

Make sure you have a board of directors. What do I mean by “board of directors?” I mean have 3-4 people that you will hold you accountable. People who you can bounce ideas off of. People that you can go to for advice in difficult situations. People who will challenge you. People who pray for you. People who have your back.

Do something that is outside of your comfort zone. What have you been thinking about trying, but you just haven’t gotten the courage yet to try it? Remember, nothing grows in your comfort zone. It’s when you think outside the box and push yourself, that you will see amazing things happen. Are you fearful about trying it? That’s okay. Try it, even if you are afraid. Have you gotten so comfortable that you have the ministry on “cruise control?”

Pro Church Website Tips For New Church Webmasters

Duke Taber

December 30, 2021

So you’ve been named your church’s new website master? Part of my work includes providing quality information on building church websites, so I’ve reached out to experts in the field of church websites and asked for some helpful church website tips for those that are new to being a webmaster. Here is a list of tips that I think you will find extremely helpful as you start your journey of being a church website webmaster.

7 Extremely Helpful Church Website Tips From The Pros

Rob Laughter – Churchly – specializes in a WordPress plugin to use with the Divi Theme. He shares these church website tips.

Have a written plan for keeping your site content up to date.
Few things about a church website reflect more poorly on your ministry than having outdated content.
As a general rule, try to minimize any time-sensitive content on your site, and consolidate the info that is necessary.
For example, rather than listing the staff that is involved in a ministry on that ministry’s page, have a single staff directory that lists all of your staff, including ministry area and position, so you only have a single place to update when staff transitions.
Same with events — rather than including lists of upcoming events all over your site, have a single events section that you maintain on a regular basis.

Steven Gliebe – ChurchThemes.com specializes in WordPress themes and plugins at Church Themes. Church Themes is one of the premier providers of WordPress themes for churches. He has these church website tips.

Make sure your church’s location and service times are immediately clear. People don’t hang around a website very long when they can’t find critical information.
Ideas: Show location and times on your homepage, in the header or footer, create a page with these details and link to it from your homepage and menu.
Create a prominent “What to Expect” or “I’m New Here” page to help make potential visitors comfortable about stepping through your door.
- What are services like?
- How long are they?
- What is your style of worship?
- What is a typical attire?
- How does childcare work?
Show a few Sunday morning photos. Bonus for creating a welcome tour video.

Andrew Peters – The Reach Company specializes in church website design at The Reach Company. He offers these church website tips to make your websites more effective.

The first few seconds REALLY matter. Focus on a call to action that engages visitors and funnels them to where you want them to be (whether it be a plan your visit page or a sermons page, whatever communicates best what you’re like) without using ‘ain’t we something’ undertones.
Get rid of sliders (because they stopped working like 4 years ago) and focus on accurate pictures/video and a headline that stirs the feelings you want stirred in website visitors.

Jason Alexis is the administrator of the Facebook group WordPress for Churches. He gives some great tips about church website security.

Fair or not, Internet surfers who find a website that ‘turns them off’ or is ‘turned off,’ almost never visit that website again.
So, it is obvious that all church websites need to take steps to reduce their chances of being hacked.
Here are some ways to do that with your existing website… Is Your Church’s ‘Underwear’ Dirty? Find Out in 30 Secs!

Michael Terndrup from the WordPress for Churches group on Facebook gives this church website tip.

A picture of the church must be on the front page do not make the website about the pastor. Also, make sure the menu bar has everything in the right order

Joe Campbell – Founder – PraiseOn, a Christian lifestyle website gives these tips about image optimization.

For most modern websites, images account for over 60% of a page file size. You can drastically improve your website performance by properly optimizing images (especially ginormous headers). Here are a number of tools and techniques to help make your church website load faster for desktop and mobile visitors:
Pro Tip: save original images at the highest quality (100%) before using a third-party tool for optimal optimization.

Dan Newman – DL Church Website Design gives these church website tips for beginning designers.

I think the number one question a new church webmaster should keep in mind is, does the website reflect your church? It is very important for the website visitors get a feel for what they will be experiencing when they physically visit the church.
Make sure as much as possible to include actual church pictures – not stock photos.
Are the things that are most important to your church prominent on the home page?

My Personal Tip For Church Websites

Whatever you do, don’t use a free website builder like WordPress.com, Blogger.com, Wix.com, or Weebly.com. These sites may be free, but the tradeoff is that they have control of what is put on your website.

They may put inappropriate ads on your web pages. They may decide at some point that your content does not comply with their “community standards” according to their terms of service. Your pro-life event might violate their so-called standards, and your website will be deleted without recourse.

So, don’t out cheap yourself. You paid for a yellow pages ad back in the day. Spend the money to have a great church website so that you have full control.

I hope that these church website tips have helped you have a more effective online ministry for your church. I suggest you read our other article on how to make your church website work for you.

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

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