Pastor Craig Groeschel Leads VR Church Service Where Two People Trust in Jesus

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December 17, 2021

There was something highly unusual about a recent church service where Pastor Craig Groeschel led two people to Jesus: The service was held in virtual reality.

“One church in multiple locations,” said Groeschel in an Instagram post published Monday, Dec. 13. “Now including #metaverse in @altspacevr! Celebrating those who attended and the two people who decided to follow Jesus! 🙏🏼 Swipe to see. #werejustgettingstarted.”

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A post shared by Craig Groeschel (@craiggroeschel)

Craig Groeschel’s Life.Church Has a New Location

Craig Groeschel is the pastor of Life.Church, a multisite megachurch based in Edmond, Okla. His Instagram post from earlier this week includes a video clip of part of a virtual church service where he invites people to follow Jesus.

As the clip begins, Groeschel mentions forgiveness and knowing God, saying, “Call on his name today. When you call on the name of Jesus, he hears your prayers, he forgives your sins, and by grace he makes you new. Those who say, ‘Yes, I need his forgiveness, today, I give my life to Jesus,’ if that’s your prayer, lift your hands high right now.” You can see at least one person in the back of the virtual auditorium raise his or her hand at that point, after which Groeschel leads the attendees in a prayer.

Carey Nieuwhof, founding pastor of Connexus Church in Barrie, Ontario, commented on Groeschel’s post, saying, “This is amazing. Of course you’re there.” Author and speaker Christian Caine, who founded Propel Women and The A21 Campaign, also commented: “Just wow!!!🔥🔥.”

Many people who responded to the post praised God and expressed how encouraging the news was. “This type of innovation is why we have the YouVersion app,” said one. “Talk about being ahead of the curve!” The YouVersion Bible app, which recently hit 500 million installs, was founded by Life.Church pastor Bobby Gruenewald. Another user suggested that by going to virtual reality, the church is fulfilling the Great Commission.

A spokesperson for Life.Church sent the following statement to ChurchLeaders on Dec. 17, 2021:

With recent emphasis on the metaverse, organizations around the globe are taking a closer look how to leverage virtual reality—including the local church.

Last weekend, Life.Church hosted its second-ever church service in Microsoft’s virtual reality platform called AltspaceVR. Nearly 100 people attended the service, and two people made the decision to follow Jesus.

‘Mary Did You Know’ Writer Mark Lowry Good-Natured Over Song’s Controversy

By

Bob Smietana

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December 17, 2021

(RNS) — For Mark Lowry, almost every day is Christmas.

Whenever the storyteller and singer takes the stage for a concert, he always closes the show with the same song — “Mary Did You Know?” — no matter what time of year it is.

“When you have one hit, you better end with it,” Lowry said in a recent phone interview.

Lowry co-wrote “Mary Did You Know?” with Buddy Greene, a well-respected songwriter and instrumentalist, in 1991, while both were on tour with famed gospel singers Bill and Gloria Gaither. Recorded first by Christian singer Michael English, the song has become a modern Christmas staple — covered by some of the biggest names in the business: Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers and Wynonna Judd, Mary J. Blige, Clay Aiken, Carrie Underwood and the a cappella vocal group Pentatonix.

The idea for the song dates back to conversations the 63-year-old had with his mother about Jesus and Mary. Most revolved around the question: What was it like to raise the son of God?

“Literally, what was it like teaching the Word of God to talk,” he said, referring to a title used for Jesus in the Gospel of John. “What was it like to give him a haircut? Did she ever walk into his room and say, ‘clean this mess up’?”

He added that most of the questions he had did not make their way into the song — only the ones that rhymed made it.

Those conversations also touched on spiritual topics, like the mystery of the incarnation, said Lowry — the Christian belief that God became human in the person of Jesus. They eventually inspired a series of short monologues Lowry wrote in 1984 for a Christmas concert at Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Virginia, then led by the Rev. Jerry Falwell. Those monologues were the glue that held the show together, serving as a transition from one Christmas song to another.

They stuck with Lowry, who thought they might work for a song if he could find the right music. Several musicians tried to come up with melodies, but none fit, said Lowry. Then, while on tour with the Gaithers, he showed the lyrics to Greene and asked him to have a go. Greene took them home and started working on some music. Lowry recalls that Greene, who could not be reached, had spent a day listening to Christmas carols written in minor keys, like “What Child is This?” and “We Three Kings” before composing the melody for “Mary Did You Know?”

“It was beautiful,” he said. “It was haunting, and it made the song work. It didn’t take away from the message — it elevated the message.”

While writing lyrics, Lowry said he imagined himself as an overly enthusiastic angel who showed up at the manger during the Christmas story and was filled with questions. He used the phrase, “Did you know” to express that enthusiasm — as if the angel was bubbling over with joy for what the birth of Jesus meant. The questions in the song are the questions Lowry would have asked if he had been there.

Justice Department Asks High Court to Allow Vaccine Mandate

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AP News

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December 17, 2021

vaccine mandate — FILE - The Supreme Court is seen on the first day of the new term, in Washington, Oct. 4, 2021 photo. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration late Thursday asked the Supreme Court to block lower court orders that are keeping President Joe Biden’s vaccine mandate for health care workers from going into effect in about half of the states.

The administration asked the justices to allow the “urgently needed health and safety measure to take effect before the winter spike in COVID-19 cases worsens further.”

It said the requirement “will save hundreds or even thousands of lives each month.”

The administration’s request comes a day after the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals lifted a nationwide ban on the mandate. The court instead allowed the mandate to remain blocked in 14 states that had collectively sued in federal court in Louisiana. That action altered a Nov. 30 ruling by U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty, who originally applied his order nationwide.

A different appeals court, the St. Louis-based 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, has declined to disturb a lower court order blocking the mandate in 10 other states.

The Biden administration asked the justices to allow the mandate to take effect in the 24 states covered by those two courts’ decisions. A federal judge in Texas granted an injunction Wednesday that applies only to that state.

One other appeals court, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, allowed the mandate to remain in place, saying Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra has the authority to require the vaccines.

At issue before the Supreme Court is a rule published Nov. 5 by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid that applies to a wide range of health care providers that receive federal Medicare or Medicaid funding. It required their workers to receive the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by Dec. 6 and be fully vaccinated by Jan. 4. It was projected to affect more than 17 million workers in about 76,000 health care facilities as well as home health care providers. The mandate has religious and medical exemptions.

Legal challenges to Biden’s vaccine mandate for private employers are also ongoing.

The high court in other cases has allowed vaccine mandates that are more stringent. The justices on Monday refused to halt a COVID-19 vaccine requirement for health care workers in New York that does not offer an exemption for religious reasons. And previously the court rejected an emergency appeal from health care workers in Maine to block a vaccine mandate that doesn’t have a religious exemption. In both cases, three conservative justices — Neil Gorsuch, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito — dissented.

This article originally appeared here.

Billie Eilish Says She Started Watching Porn at 11: ‘It Really Destroyed My Brain’

By

Bri Lamm

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December 17, 2021

Billie Eilish revealed in an interview this week that she started watching pornography at a young age, something she feels “incredibly devastated” about.

“As a woman, I think porn is a disgrace. I used to watch a lot of porn, to be honest. I started watching porn when I was like 11,” Eilish told Howard Stern on SiriusXM’s The Howard Stern Show. “I think it really destroyed my brain and I feel incredibly devastated that I was exposed to so much porn.”

The 19-year-old said she first began watching porn because it made her feel like “one of the guys.” Now she believes watching violent pornography caused her to suffer from sleep paralysis and night terrors.

She also said it distorted her view of sex and relationships.

“The first few times I, you know, had sex, I was not saying no to things that were not good. It was because I thought that’s what I was supposed to be attracted to,” Eilish said.

“Women’s bodies don’t look like that. We don’t come like that,” she added. “I’m so angry that porn is so loved, and I’m so angry at myself for thinking that it was OK.”

Billie Eilish Is the Statistic, Not the Exception.

Statistics suggest that the average age of exposure to pornography in the U.S. is 11 years old.

In a survey of hundreds of college students, 93 percent of boys and 62 percent of girls said they were exposed to pornography before they turned 18.

According to Covenant Eyes, 1 in 5 mobile searches are for pornography.

A 2014 survey by the National Union of Students found that 60 percent of students surveyed said they watch porn in order to learn more about sex and learn about gaps in their sexual education, even though 75 percent admitted porn creates unrealistic expectations.

And a 2021 Journal of Health Communication says that sexual aggression is now widely recognized as a public health crisis.

As parents, we don’t need statistics to prove that porn is wherever our children are. It’s a multi-billion dollar a year industry that seeks to capture young eyes.

NY Judge Delivers Legal Blow to Christian Photographer Who Will Not Serve Same-Sex Couples

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Stephanie Martin

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December 17, 2021

emilee carpenter — Screen grab from Facebook: @Alliance Defending Freedom

Attorneys for a Christian photographer in New York say they plan to appeal after a federal judge dismissed her case against the state’s attorney general. In her lawsuit, Emilee Carpenter, owner of an upstate photography business, maintains that New York’s nondiscrimination laws require her to either violate her religious beliefs or risk jail time and steep fines (up to $100,000).

Her legal team had argued: “Just as the government cannot compel a lesbian baker to create a cake condemning same-sex marriage or an atheist playwright to wax positively about God, New York cannot force Emilee to convey messages she objects to.”

Emilee Carpenter’s Case

Earlier this week, U.S. District Judge Frank Geraci Jr. dismissed the lawsuit, rejecting Emilee Carpenter’s request for a preliminary injunction against the nondiscrimination law. He writes that “an exemption for Plaintiff’s unique, non-fungible services would necessarily undermine, not serve, the State’s purpose, as it would ‘relegate [same-sex couples] to an inferior market’ than that enjoyed by the public at large.”

Judge Geraci, an appointee of President Obama, indicates that “New York’s public-accommodation laws are neutral.” He wasn’t persuaded by Carpenter, he adds, because she “raises no non-conclusory factual allegations that the laws were enacted with any kind of religious (or anti-religious) motivation.”

ADF Warns of ‘Dangerous Path’

The religious-liberty organization Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), which represents Emilee Carpenter, promptly indicated it will take her case to the U.S. Court of Appeals. About Judge Geraci’s ruling, ADF Senior Counsel Jonathan Scruggs says, “The court’s decision continues down a dangerous path of the government compelling artists to speak messages that violate their religious beliefs—or imposing steep fines, closing their businesses, or throwing them in jail.”

Scruggs compares Carpenter’s case to that of Colorado web designer Lorie Smith, another ADF client. “Artists like Emilee and Lorie…are protected under the Constitution to freely live and work according to their religious beliefs. … [They] happily serve all people; they just cannot promote messages which contradict their religious beliefs, including their views on marriage.”

Calling a July ruling in Smith’s case “Orwellian,” Scruggs adds, “We earnestly hope the Supreme Court will hear Lorie’s case and protect the constitutional freedoms for all Americans, including creative professionals like Lorie and Emilee.”

ADF also represents Colorado baker Jack Phillips, whose refusal to make cakes for same-sex weddings and gender transitions has led to almost a decade of court battles.

Donald Trump Set to Give ‘Christmas Greeting’ During Worship Services at First Baptist Dallas This Weekend

By

Dale Chamberlain

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December 17, 2021

Former president Donald Trump is set to celebrate Christmas with First Baptist Church in Dallas this weekend, where Robert Jeffress serves as pastor. Jeffress, who is also a Fox News Contributor, has been a vocal and consistent supporter of Trump.

In a statement to CBS DFW, Jeffress said, “We are blessed to have my friend and our 45th president to worship with us this Sunday morning at First Baptist Dallas. America has never had a more pro-life and pro-religious liberty president than Donald J. Trump. We owe President Trump a debt of gratitude for all he has done for our great nation.”

Trump’s visit to First Baptist Dallas will be his latest appearance during “The History Tour,” in which Trump has partnered with journalist Bill O’Reilly for a series of live conversations about the Trump Administration, discussing “exactly how things were accomplished, as well as challenges, both good and bad, during the four years of Mr. Trump’s presidency.”

Trump says that his conversations over the course of the tour will be “hard hitting.” In a statement to the Dallas Morning News, Trump said, “I will be focusing on greatness for our country, something seldom discussed in political dialogue. If we don’t make our country great again, we will soon no longer have a country!”

Evangelicals have been a major part of Trump’s support base throughout his campaigns and presidency. 82 percent of white evangelicals voted for him in the 2020 presidential election.

Further, Trump sees himself as something of a champion for the evangelical cause. During a recent appearance on VICTORY Channel’s “Flashpoint,” Trump told host Gene Bailey that “nobody has done more for Christianity, or for evangelicals, or for religion itself than I have.”

Nevertheless, despite Trump’s continued popularity among many Americans, his tour has struggled to gain traction. According to a Newsweek report, a considerable portion of tickets have gone unsold, leading to event organizers giving away tickets for free in order to pad attendance.

While Trump’s appearance at First Baptist Dallas is part of his speaking tour, as he will travel from Florida to Houston for a Saturday evening event, the church expressed in a statement on their website that the service will be focused on “the birth of Christ.”

“President Trump is known for his love for Christmas and what it represents. We are thrilled to have him join us for this Christmas worship experience this Sunday morning,” the statement said.

‘Enough Is Enough’: Mississippi Pastor Claims COVID-19 Will Only Go Away When Christians Stop Wearing Masks

By

Dale Chamberlain

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December 17, 2021

Pastor Shane Vaughn recently told the congregants at First Harvest Ministries in Waveland, Mississippi that the COVID-19 pandemic would not end until Christians stopped wearing masks and placed their faith in God rather than vaccines.

While the pastor of what appears to be a small congregation, Vaughn has a far reaching online presence, making headlines last year when he posted a video discussing what might happen if Donald Trump did not accept the results of the 2020 presidential election. That video earned him a fact check from USA Today.

First Harvest Ministries has an active YouTube channel, on which they post sermon and worship clips, as well as a recurring program called “Toto Tonight.” Vaughn refers to himself as “Professor Toto” in the videos, because he sees himself as pulling “back the curtain on all those liberal lies,” in the same way that the dog Toto revealed the true nature of the wizard in the classic film “The Wizard of Oz.”

In the most recent “Toto Tonight,” Vaughn, who makes reference to the fact that he is recovering from COVID-19 and is still short of breath, makes the claim that Hillary Clinton has more faith that Donald Trump will return to the presidency than most Christians do.

Centering his discussion on a video clip wherein Clinton mulls the possibility of a 2024 Trump candidacy with an interviewer, Vaughn boldly predicts that Donald Trump will not only run in 2024 but win. Employing language similar to that used by preachers when they describe the second coming of Christ, Vaughn encourages his viewers to have faith that it will come to pass.

While the full video of Vaughn’s recent sermon is not available on First Harvest’s website or YouTube page, the church did post a brief clip from the message. In the one minute clip, Vaughn gives an impassioned plea to his congregation to not live in fear of the pandemic.

“If God chooses to take me by COVID, y’all better shout in front of my casket. I’ve gone home to be with the Lord. Get fear out of your heart,” Vaughn said. “I don’t care how I die, as long as I die in faith. Hebrews 11 said, ‘These all died in faith,’ not in fear. The power of faith says nothing is impossible. Do you have that kind of faith tonight?”

“Until you get that faith, you’re not on the same page as God. And, therefore, COVID-19 is never leaving this earth,” Vaughn continued. “It is waiting on a church to come out of their isolation and to stand in faith and to declare, ‘Enough is enough!’”

Is Jesus Knocking at the Heart of the Unbeliever?

By

R.C. Sproul

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December 17, 2021

We have all heard evangelists quote from Revelation: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Rev. 3:20). Usually the evangelist applies this text as an appeal to the unconverted, saying: “Jesus is knocking at the door of your heart. If you open the door, then He will come in.” In the original saying, however, Jesus directed His remarks to the church. It was not an evangelistic appeal.

So what? The point is that seeking is something that unbelievers do not do on their own. The unbeliever will not seek. The unbeliever will not knock. Seeking is the business of believers. Jonathan Edwards said, “The seeking of the Kingdom of God is the chief business of the Christian life.” Seeking is the result of faith, not the cause of it.

When we are converted to Christ, we use language of discovery to express our conversion. We speak of finding Christ. We may have bumper stickers that read, “I Found It.” These statements are indeed true. The irony is this: Once we have found Christ it is not the end of our seeking but the beginning. Usually, when we find what we are looking for, it signals the end of our searching. But when we “find” Christ, it is the beginning of our search.

The Christian life begins at conversion; it does not end where it begins. It grows; it moves from faith to faith, from grace to grace, from life to life. This movement of growth is prodded by continual seeking after God.

In your spiritual walk, are you moving from faith to faith, from grace to grace, from life to life? Are you continually seeking after God?

This article originally appeared here and is used by permission.

9 Ways God Speaks Through Christmas Events

By

Ray Hollenbach

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December 17, 2021

Although schools around the world go on Christmas break, school is still in session for students of Jesus. The Christmas narratives are not merely traditional words; they are divinely inspired for our benefit. The Christmas story provides a tutorial on how God speaks to his people.

In the opening of Matthew and Luke’s gospels, the God of the heavens pulls out all the stops on the heavenly pipe organ and announces his kind intention by nearly every means possible. If the subject is “how to hear God’s voice,” get out your highlighters and take note of the many ways he speaks. I count at least nine:

9 Ways God Speaks Through Christmas Events

1. God speaks through angels:

Angels spoke to Mary, Joseph, Zechariah, and the shepherds. Our very word angel comes from the Greek, ángelos, meaning messenger. While the birth of Jesus was certainly unique in history, God’s use of angels is anything but unique–they exist to carry his messages and do his work. Are you open to the possibility of angelic visitation today? (see Hebrews 13:2)

2. God speaks through dreams:

God spoke to Joseph almost exclusively through dreams. What’s more, Joseph took these dreams seriously and made life-altering choices based on them. Would you marry a woman or move to a foreign country based on your dreams? Joseph did! In fact, we are in the habit of referring to “our dreams,” but what if they are God’s?

3. God speaks through nature:

Three pagan wise men were among those who bowed in worship before the infant Jesus. They were literally moved to action because of what they observed in nature. Who would pack up their treasures and travel over deserts based on the sights in the sky? People who heard the voice of God, that’s who.

4. God speaks through Scripture:

Matthew takes great care to point out the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy in his nativity story. The stars may have guided the wise men to Israel, but the words of the prophet Micah gave them the final steps to take. Even Mary’s spontaneous song of praise in Luke chapter two is based on words recorded in the Old Testament nearly a thousand years before. In our day, many people study the Bible, but how many hear his voice in it?

5. God speaks through worship:

When Zechariah encountered the angel Gabriel, he was fulfilling the office of priest by burning incense in the temple. That’s worship! So was the song sung by the “heavenly host” that night to the shepherds in the hillsides of Bethlehem. Included in the Christmas story is the revelation that worship is a two-way street: We offer praise and thanksgiving, and he speaks to us. When’s the last time you heard the voice of God in worship?

6. God speaks through governments:

The opening words of Luke’s second chapter mention the decree by Caesar Augustus that all the world be taxed. Grumbling taxpayers everywhere did not hear anything other than the greed of Rome, but behind the mechanics of politics and taxation, God was moving people from one city to the next in order to set his plan in motion. So the next time you read about a new tax, be sure to listen for God’s voice!

7. God speaks through the Holy Spirit:

Two “nobodies” named Simeon and Anna received a most unusual invitation to celebrate the birth of King Jesus–they had a hunch. Except in this case, it wasn’t actually a hunch; it was the voice of the Holy Spirit. Luke’s account makes clear that these two obscure temple-dwellers heard the still small voice of the Spirit, down to the time and place where the young parents of Jesus would come to the Temple to dedicate the baby Jesus. What if our lives–even specific days–could be guided like that? Scripture reveals they can.

8. God speaks through prophetic utterance:

When Zechariah opened his mouth after nine months of silence, he prophesied! When Mary met Elizabeth, the courtyard of a simple house became the gathering of saints, and both women spoke the words of God. The Christmas narrative is telling us that when God is at work, God’s people will speak inspired words of life. That should change the way we listen to one another, don’t you think?

9. (And still one more) God speaks through Jesus:

The Christ Child is the Word become flesh. John’s prologue reveals the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The opening of the book of Hebrews reveals that although God speaks in many times and in many ways, his ultimate word to us is a person: Jesus. The angels told the shepherds, “This shall be a sign for you: you will find a baby…” All of God’s words are contained in him. They were then. They are still.

So while we endure well-meaning Christmas carols and relentless cheerful music in retail stores, the question remains: will you hear God speak?

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

URGENT: All From US Missionary Group Freed in Haiti, Police Say

By

AP News

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December 16, 2021

Haiti missionary group freed — Unidentified people gather at the Christian Aid Ministries headquarters in Titanyen, north of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021. Twelve remaining members of a U.S.-based missionary group who were kidnapped two months ago have been freed, according to the group and Haitian police. (AP Photo/Odelyn Joseph)

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — The remaining members of a U.S. missionary group who were kidnapped two months ago in Haiti have been freed, Haitian police and the church group said Thursday.

The spokesman for Haiti’s National Police, Gary Desrosiers, confirmed to The Associated Press that the hostages had been released, but did not immediately provide additional details.

“We glorify God for answered prayer — the remaining 12 hostages are FREE!” Christian Aid Ministries said in a statement. “All 17 of our loved ones are now safe.”

The Ohio-based group said it hopes to provide more information later.

Late Thursday afternoon, a convoy of at least a dozen vehicles, including U.S. Embassy SUVs and Haitian National Police, brought the missionaries to the Port-au-Prince airport from the missionary group’s offices in Titanyen, north of Port-au-Prince.

Earlier, people at the Christian Aid Ministries campus could be seen hugging each other and smiling.

In Washington, White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre praised the law enforcement work and Haitian officials who helped get the hostages freed. “We welcomed reports that they are free and getting the care that they need after their ordeal,” she said.

The missionaries were kidnapped by the 400 Mawozo gang on Oct. 16. There were five children in the group of 16 U.S. citizens and one Canadian, including an 8-month-old. Their Haitian driver also was abducted, according to a local human rights organization.

The leader of the 400 Mawozo gang had threatened to kill the hostages unless his demands were met. Authorities have said the gang was demanding $1 million per person, although it wasn’t clear if that included the children.

It remained unclear whether any ransom was paid or what efforts led to the hostages’ freedom.

Carleton Horst, a member of Hart Dunkard Brethren Church in Hart, Michigan, whose members were among the hostages, said church members received a text message Thursday morning from “someone connected to the situation” that all of the hostages had been released.

A mother and four of her children who belong to the church were among the hostages. Horst, who is friends with the family, said the church is rejoicing and he’s “elated that that portion of things is finally over, just praise the Lord for that.”

“We’re feeling great,” said the Rev. Ron Marks, a minister at the church.

Two of the hostages were released in November, and three more earlier this month. They were not identified, but members of the Hart congregation told local media in Michigan that two were from Hart.

Tim Keller’s Advice on Doing Ministry in NY Is Valuable for All Church Leaders

By

Jessica Lea

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December 16, 2021

Tim Keller recently shared some thoughts on how to do ministry in New York City well, and while his insights are clearly pertinent to the culture of New York, they also have a great deal of relevance to the average church leader.

“I was recently asked what are the core element [sic] of doing ministry in New York today,” said Keller in a thread he tweeted Wednesday, Dec. 15. “I said we need to focus on: a) reordering the loves of the heart with the gospel, b) loving the city in word and deed, c) contextualizing and culturally engaging without compromise.”

I was recently asked what are the core element of doing ministry in New York today.

I said we need to focus on: a) reordering the loves of the heart with the gospel, b) loving the city in word and deed, c) contextualizing and culturally engaging without compromise,

— Timothy Keller (@timkellernyc) December 15, 2021

Tim Keller on Ministry in NYC

Tim Keller is the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City. In 2017, he stepped away from the pulpit, but continued to do ministry in the area. In June 2020, Keller announced he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He has since posted updates on his health, as well as on the spiritual lessons he has been learning throughout his cancer battle.

Several parts of Keller’s Twitter thread, which went all the way to point “n,” focused on the need for church leaders to be thoughtful in their demeanor and language as they present the truth. The pastor encouraged those in ministry to preach “to both Christians and non-Christians at the same time,” as well as to use “language that is accessible, not ‘insider’ pious-talk or unnecessary technical doctrinal-talk.”

It is also important, said Keller, to speak “about non-Christians when they are not present exactly the way we talk to non-Christians when they are present.” He pointed to Acts 17 and 1 Corinthians 1:22-23 as examples of how to reason with unbelievers and show them “that their best aspirations are idolatrous but their true needs can be fulfilled in Christ.”

Keller directed believers away from “constantly arguing about topics where Christians differ” and “being sectarian and separatist.” Those in ministry should rather be open to learning not only from other believers but also from non-Christians because all people are under God’s “common grace.”

Ministry in New York, said Keller, needs to prioritize “deeds of mercy and justice,” “surmounting racial barriers” and pursuing “a loving multi-ethnic community.” “Calls for justice,” said Keller, should go hand in hand with “vigorous, active evangelism.”

52-Week Kids Church Curriculum Bundle (Plus Christmas Activity Pack)

By

Rochelle Dorsey

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December 16, 2021

This 52-week bundle is the easiest way to teach God’s word to kids, all year long.

You get everything, ready-to-teach for big impact. Biblically-solid curriculum for all ages and any class size. No limits, no restrictions.

Buy today and get instant access to download all 12 modules. That’s 52 weeks of preschool, lower elementary, and upper elementary lessons for your kids church. Grab it in December and you’ll also get the Christmas Activity Pack: 20 Printables for your kids ministry.

52-Week Kids Church Curriculum Bundle (Plus Christmas Activity Pack)

$299.00 ($2,295.00)

YouVersion Shares Surprising Findings on Bible Engagement in 2021

By

Stephanie Martin

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December 16, 2021

In its annual review of usage trends, YouVersion reveals that people remain highly engaged with Scripture. The free Bible app, which last month reached 500 million unique installs, also announced its Verse of the Year for 2021. During the past 12 months, the Bible verse that users have highlighted and shared the most is Matthew 6:33. It reads: “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

YouVersion founder Bobby Gruenewald says, “We’re encouraged to see high levels of Bible engagement again this year because it means people are turning to God and the Bible for answers to their questions. Even our Verse of the Year points to the heart of the YouVersion Community to seek God and know him more.”

YouVersion Users Seek Community During the Pandemic

With pandemic-related shutdowns affecting churches during much of 2020, YouVersion usage spiked, especially on Sundays. Interestingly, despite a return to in-person worship in most locations now, the app reports increased engagement on Monday through Saturday during 2021. Usage is up 24 percent on those days compared to levels before the pandemic.

Another trend is the apparent desire of app users to seek community with other Christians. During lockdowns, YouVersion’s “Plans With Friends” feature was very popular—and this year, subscriptions to it remain 50 percent higher than pre-pandemic levels.

Gruenewald, who came up with the idea for the app while on staff at Craig Groeschel’s Life.Church, says, “Coming off a record year in 2020, we’re excited to see that so many people are continuing the daily Bible engagement habits they created last year. They’re engaging past that initial moment of need and digging deeper to strengthen their relationship with God.”

Other 2021 YouVersion Highlights: Guided Prayer, Global Expansion

Throughout the past year, YouVersion users read 55.8 billion chapters of the Bible and completed 1.4 billion “Bible Plan” days. A new Guided Prayer feature, added to the app in 2021, was completed more than 38 million times.

In Tornado’s Wake, a Church and Pastor Turn to God, Service

By

Holly Meyer

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December 16, 2021

MAYFIELD, Ky. (AP) — After riding out the violent tornado that devastated their town in a tunnel under their church, the Rev. Wes Fowler and his family emerged to devastation stretching for blocks: Crackling power lines, piles of rubble and calls for help they couldn’t pinpoint in the darkness.

Later, safe back at home, his daughter had a question that left him stumped: “My little girl asked me, ‘Why would God let this happen?’” said Fowler, senior pastor at First Baptist Church in Mayfield.

While he believes God did allow the tornado to happen, he had no answer as to why the western Kentucky community where he was baptized, grew up and chose to raise his family wasn’t spared from the Friday night storms that left dozens dead and communities reeling across at least five states. But he felt he knew what to do next: glorify God amid the suffering, and serve those in need.

“It’s easy to serve the Lord when things are good,” Fowler said. “It’s more challenging to serve him when times are bad, and I think that’s really when people are looking to see if our faith is genuine, if our faith is true.”

Despite suffering damage to their own church buildings, First Baptist staff and volunteers mobilized to provide whatever they can to help survivors cope with the disaster’s aftermath and stay afloat — gift cards, food, generators, water, a listening ear and more.

Blake Schuecraft, associate pastor, said church leadership formed three teams in the wake of the storm: One to help affected members of the congregation, which numbers around 350 on Sundays; a second to focus on patching up and cleaning the First Baptist campus; and a third to serve the broader community of about 10,000 people and coordinate offers of aid.

A Georgia ministry showed up with generators ready to serve coffee to the community, and first Baptist invited them to use their space, Schuecraft said. He has fielded offers of help from churches as far away as New York as well as individuals in Florida and Illinois: “Some people are just loading up what they have and bringing it here.”

The congregation, whose founding dates to before the Civil War, was about two months from moving into its newly remodeled, nearly century-old sanctuary when the tornado hit. Some of its stained-glass windows blew out and a wall was cracked, delaying its reopening. But it faired the best of the First Baptist structures.

Across the street in the church’s children’s building, the decorated Christmas tree in the foyer was miraculously untouched, but glass shards, soggy ceiling tiles and other debris were strewn across the floor as workers scrambled to cover holes in the roof of the congregation’s temporary worship space.

Outside and in front of one of the dust-covered entrances, coffee dispensers, creamers and sweeteners lined folding tables beneath a towering cross in a shattered second-story window.

Debbie Samples, a member of First Baptist for about 20 years, spent hours Monday brewing pot after pot of coffee that was handed out in Styrofoam cups to community cleanup crews and to neighbors through the rolled-down windows of cars creeping through the devastated downtown.

Kansas Camel Escapes Nativity Scene, Latest in Series of Camel Mishaps

By

Joseph Hammond

-

December 16, 2021

nativity camel — A camel used for a Nativity scene in Bonner Springs, Kansas, spent several days on the run before being captured. Photo courtesy of Bonner Springs Police Dept.

(RNS) — An escaped camel sent police scrambling in a Kansas City suburb this past weekend. The dromedary in question escaped a Nativity scene in Bonner Springs, Kansas. The incident is the latest chapter in the colorful and often chaotic history of camels in the United States.

The animal was part of a drive-thru Nativity scene at the National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame when its halter broke late Saturday night. Chased soon after on foot, the camel managed to avoid its pursuers.

The next day the animal traversed parts of the K-7 Highway, and despite being spotted by many motorists, it again eluded capture. Images and videos of the animal soon went viral. Police officials suggested on Facebook that the situation could “only be described as a scene out of another cop movie.”

At one point Bonner Springs Police Department pursued the camel on golf carts after it strayed onto a golf course. The camel visited several neighborhoods before being cornered and lassoed by an animal control officer. Its owner then arrived to take possession of the nomadic creature.

“The camel was reunited with its owners and will go back to doing camel things,” the Bonner Springs Police Department said in a statement posted on Facebook.

This isn’t the first time Kansas police officers have had to respond to an escaped camel over the holiday season. In December 2019, police in Goddard, Kansas, reported a traveling animal trio consisting of a camel, a cow and a donkey. Shortly thereafter the camel was reunited with its owners but not before viral photo comparisons to a real-life Nativity scene.

Similar incidents have not always ended so tamely. In 1997, a camel that escaped mid-performance from a Kent Island, Maryland, Nativity pageant was struck and killed by a passing automobile.

A 2010 dress rehearsal for a Nativity play at First Baptist Church in West Palm Beach went awry when a camel slipped and went crashing into the congregation. Neither the camel nor the actor portraying one of the wisemen was injured in the fall, though the camel, known as Lula Bell, was withdrawn from the actual performance “for safety reasons.”

Animal rights groups have long complained of the use of live animals in Nativity scenes, but, due to their size, camels have drawn particular concern. A two-humped Bactrian camel can weigh over 2,000 pounds.

“Camels aren’t even fully mature until 7 years of age,” said PETA in a 2020 statement condemning the use of all live animals in Nativity scenes. “But many are forced into performances well before that. In nature, these gentle, social animals, who softly blow in one another’s faces to say hello, would be traveling with their family herds.”

The long-legged animals have deep roots in America. Camels closely related to Old World camels and llamas were once native to North America. The last surviving species, known as camelops, went extinct 13,000 years ago.

This article originally appeared here.

At the Other Mars Hill Church, New Co-Pastors Hope to Build a Faithful Future

By

Bob Smietana

-

December 16, 2021

(RNS) — One of the biggest religion stories of 2021 has been the saga of the now-shuttered Mars Hill Church in Seattle and the downfall of its controversial celebrity pastor Mark Driscoll, detailed in a popular podcast that’s been downloaded more than 13 million times.

A lesser-known but noteworthy story has been playing out at Mars Hill Bible Church in Grandville, Michigan. Once also led by a celebrity pastor, the church is charting a different course forward, moving from a leader-centric model and installing instead this past summer two co-pastors: Ashlee Eiland and Troy Hatfield.

Eiland, who is Black, and Hatfield, who is white, are the first co-pastors in the church’s history, while Eiland is also the first woman to serve at Mars Hill as a senior pastor.

The two had been serving as part of an interim leadership team at the church since the departure of AJ Sherrill, the former senior pastor, in August 2020. Hatfield is a longtime staffer at Mars Hill, having joined the church as a worship leader in 2004 when it was one of the fastest-growing churches in the country under founding pastor Rob Bell. Eiland was called to the church in 2019 to launch a new campus of the church in nearby Grand Rapids.

For both, the role of senior leader came as a surprise. Eiland said in the churches she’d grown up in, women didn’t serve in top leadership roles. Hatfield said he’d never aspired to be a senior pastor. But after serving together on an interim basis, they embraced the invitation from the Mars Hill elder board to become co-pastors.

Co-pastors Ashlee Eiland, from left, and Troy Hatfield lead a service at Mars Hill Bible Church in Grandville, Michigan, in Sept. 2021. Courtesy photo

“I was really inspired by the idea,” said Eiland. “It felt well-discerned and prayed through — and we had the advantage of having done some co-leadership before.”

Having co-pastors at a church or other congregation is rare. The 2012 National Congregations Study found 94.5% of congregations have one person serving as senior leader. The 2020 Faith Communities Today Study found that 5% of congregations have two or more clergy who share leadership equally. That study also found only 10% of congregations overall have a woman serving in a senior role. If a woman leader is referred to as a co-pastor, it is often because they are married to the senior pastor.

Eiland and Hatfield said they are still fine-tuning what it means to lead as co-pastors. For now, they split preaching duties, while each oversees one of the two locations where Mars Hill worships, with Eiland in Grand Rapids and Hatfield in Grandville. They also team up on bigger-picture planning for the church.

As co-pastors, the two have been charged with helping Mars Hill find its way forward — a task made more complicated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The church was founded in the late 1990s, using what’s known as an attractional model of ministry, centered on Bell, a charismatic communicator who could draw huge crowds. By the time Hatfield had arrived on staff, the church had more than 10,000 people for weekend services.

Freedom From Religion Foundation Buys Full Page NY Times Ad for Their Own ‘Nativity’

By

Dale Chamberlain

-

December 16, 2021

The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), a nonprofit organization that seeks “to protect the constitutional principle of separation between state and church, and to educate the public on matters relating to nontheism,” has taken out a full page ad in the NY Times depicting their own version of the nativity scene.

FFRF tweeted in an announcement of the advertisement that ran on December 15, the 230th anniversary of the ratification of the Bill of Rights in the United States Constitution. FFRF referred to the illustrated ad as “whimsical” but carrying “an urgent message.”

The illustration, which was created by Jacob Fortin, depicts Lady Liberty and what appears to be American founding fathers Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison, standing over the newly “birthed” Bill of Rights document, which has been placed in a manger. Positioned in front of a shining star, the four embrace one another as they gaze down at the Bill of Rights.

The headline text reads, “Joy to the World, the Bill of Rights is Born.”

The advertisement also wishes readers greetings during “the Winter Solstice Season” and cites the Bill of Rights as “the real reason for the season,” in contrast to Christmas greetings and in reference to the oft repeated phrase “Jesus is the reason for the season.”

Below, the ad offers this warning: “The scales of justice have been alarmingly tipped in favor of a privileged status for religion in our country. The capture of the Supreme Court by Christian nationalist forces is complete. A third of our high court and almost a third of our federal judicary (sic) were appointed by Trump, and their influence and decisions are imperiling the precious American principle of separation between religion and government. All personal and civil rights—including the right to abortion—are in jeopardy.”

FFRF’s words are in reference to the three conservative Supreme Court Justices nominated by former president Donald Trump, as well as his other appointments to federal courts. Many believe that Trump’s appointments may result in pivotal wins for the pro-life movement, particularly as it relates to Supreme Court decisions.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation was founded as a 501(c)3 organization in 1978 and has chapters around the country. The honorary board includes, among others, Richard Dawkins and Ron Reagan, son of former president Ronald Reagan and “unabashed atheist, not afraid of burning in hell.” Both Christopher Hitchens and actor Ed Asner were on the honorary board until their deaths in 2011 and 2021, respectively.

In a press release regarding the ad, FFRF co-president Annie Laurie Gaylor said, “One of the biggest myths we have to surmount in this country is this misconception that the majority rules in matters of religion. The Bill of Rights places individual liberties and freedom of conscience above the fray of tyranny of the majority. And that is something to truly revere—and celebrate!”

FFRF is placing a whimsical ad with an urgent message in Wednesday ’s New York Times to honor the 230th anniversary of the ratification of the Bill of Rights Day on Dec. 15. The full-page ad appears in the main news section. https://t.co/wu8Rj6JTrX pic.twitter.com/bAFQyAEzdP

— FFRF (@FFRF) December 15, 2021

Christian Coach Urban Meyer Fired by Jacksonville Jaguars After Series of Controversies

By

Dale Chamberlain

-

December 16, 2021

Urban Meyer has been fired by the Jacksonville Jaguars after less than one full season as their head coach. The team’s record is 2-11. Meyer, who has been known off the field for his Christian faith, has also been at the center of a number of controversies this year. Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell will serve as the interim head coach for the remainder of the season.

“After deliberation over many weeks and a thorough analysis of the entirety of Urban’s tenure with our team, I am bitterly disappointed to arrive at the conclusion that an immediate change is imperative for everyone,” said Jaguars owner Shad Khan in a statement on Thursday. “I informed Urban of the change this evening. As I stated in October, regaining our trust and respect was essential. Regrettably, it did not happen.”

In October, a video surfaced of Meyer in a nightclub in Columbus, Ohio following a Jaguars loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. In the video, Meyer can be seen allowing an unknown woman to dance provocatively on his lap.

After the video became public, Meyer issued an apology to the team and staff, calling what he did “just stupid,” adding that he should not have put himself “in that kind of position.”

In addition to being found in a compromising situation with a woman other than his wife and the mother of his three children, Meyer was also criticized for opting not to travel back to Jacksonville with the rest of the team following the game.

Former NFL coach Tony Dungy said, “I played football for probably 16 years, total. I coached for 28 years. I never went to a game where the head coach didn’t come back with my team. Me and myself for 13 years as a head coach, 15 years as an assistant, 15 years playing.”

“When the head coach went to a game, when we returned, the head coach came back with us. I just don’t know how you do that,” Dungy continued. “What happened in the bar or whatever, that’s secondary. You go back with your team.”

“Giving Coach a chance to earn that respect back is something I want to do because of how much I love Coach and his family,” said Tim Tebow, who formerly played under Meyer’s leadership and is a personal friend. “But at the same time, not condoning those actions — [I want to be] someone that gives people a chance to change, to grow, to be able to earn back that trust and respect.”

Since October, Meyer’s distractions off the field have reportedly begun affecting the team on the field. According to ESPN, Jaguars wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. had to be coaxed into returning to the team facility after Meyer publicly criticized the team’s wide receivers. The two reportedly had a heated exchange upon Jones’ return, though Meyer denied that account.

Church Attendance During Christmastime: Stats on Christmas Outreach

By

Ed Stetzer

-

December 16, 2021

Most Americans attend church during the Christmas season, and many would come if invited.

Just how important is church attendance for Americans during the Christmas season? Is this really an important season to reach out to the unchurched? A few years ago, Lifeway Research conducted a study to learn more about church attendance patterns during Christmastime. Historically, pastors and church leaders know that Christmastime attracts more visitors than perhaps any other time of the year, outside of perhaps the Lenten and Easter season.

Carol Pipes, editor of Facts & Trends, wrote the story for Lifeway Research:

In a recent poll of 1,000 Americans, Lifeway Research found six out of 10 Americans typically attend church at Christmastime.

But among those who don’t attend church at Christmastime, a majority (57 percent) say they would likely attend if someone they knew invited them.

“Regular churchgoers may assume the rest of America has already made up their mind not to attend church,” said Scott McConnell, vice president of LifeWay Research. “In reality, many would welcome going to a Christmas service with someone they know.”

Americans living in the South (66 percent) and Midwest (64 percent) are more likely to attend church at Christmastime than those in the Northeast (57 percent) and West (53 percent). And throughout the U.S., more women than men are likely to attend Christmas church services (66 percent vs. 56 percent).

Those who attend church most frequently throughout the year (once a week or more) are the most likely (91 percent) to say they will attend church at Christmastime.

Younger Americans are less likely to participate in a service or Christmas mass than their elders. Fifty-three percent of those 18 to 24 say they attend church at Christmas, compared to 68 percent of those 65 and older and 67 percent of 35- to 44-year-olds.

You can see some festive graphics to depict some of the more fascinating data points below.

While Christians in America are not facing persecution, it is fair to say the Christian faith has fallen out of favor with American popular culture. As the nation gets more pluralistic and spiritually diverse, Christianity is losing the “privileged position” it once held in American culture.

However, that’s not stopping Americans from going to church at Christmastime:

Perhaps the most fascinating part of the study, for me, was seeing why people go to church during Christmastime. The answers we received are diverse, but the predominant answer was an encouraging one:

Why I Don’t Think Jesus Was Born in a Stable (and Why It Matters)

By

Dale Chamberlain

-

December 16, 2021

With the Christmas season upon us, it’s time to break out all our decorations. The tree. The stockings. The garland. And, yes, of course, the nativity scene.

I love my nativity scene. I got it in Bethlehem when I visited Israel a couple years ago. And I don’t only pull it out during Christmas. It stays on my mantle all year long.

But what if our nativity scene isn’t exactly accurate to how Jesus’ birth actually happened?

It’s no secret that we Christians treasure artistic imagery of Jesus that isn’t always historically accurate. After all, it’s not likely that Jesus had a Western European complexion and long, flowing hair.

But why pick on the classic nativity scene? We all love it! It’s an important part of our Christmas traditions.

I think if we don’t pause to reflect on our traditional conception and imagery of the nativity event, then we may miss something really important about the message of the story as told in Luke’s gospel.

Don’t Freak Out

Don’t worry. I’m not here to tell you that you need to throw out all the nativity decorations you’ve collected over the years. You’re not a heretic for loving and cherishing them.

With that being said, I don’t think Jesus was born in a stable. Or a cave for that matter.

I’ve been to Bethlehem and touched the rock that Jesus was supposedly laid on when he was born. But I wouldn’t stake my life on the fact that he was born there, in that precise spot. And it doesn’t actually matter that much.

While the precise location of Jesus’ birth is inconsequential (even though it’s very interesting), the conditions of Jesus’ birth are much more important.

When Luke describes the details of Jesus’ birth, he’s sending us an important message. Unfortunately, we don’t always pick up what he’s throwing down.

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5. God speaks through worship:

6. God speaks through governments:

7. God speaks through the Holy Spirit:

8. God speaks through prophetic utterance:

9. (And still one more) God speaks through Jesus:

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