The Author of Faith

November 16, 2021

My last contact with the late Professor John Murray — to whose writings and influence I, like many others, owe a lasting debt — was particularly memorable for me, partly because I asked him a question to which he gave the answer: “That is a difficult question!” As a somewhat diffident young person it was something of a relief to know that my question wasn’t totally stupid. It is a question on which I have continued to reflect.

So, what was the question? It may seem a rather recondite one. My question was about the translation and the theological significance of the word used both by Peter (Acts 5:31) and the author of Hebrews to describe our Lord Jesus: archegos. It appeared once before in our studies of Hebrews: Jesus is the author of our salvation who was made perfect through suffering and as such brings many sons to glory (Heb. 2:10). Now the same term reappears towards the end of the letter, in Hebrews 12:2, where our Lord is now described as “the author of our faith who brings it to perfection.”

This explains why, while we are encouraged to read about earlier heroes of the faith (Heb. 11), it is only on Jesus Himself that we are to fix our gaze. If our eyes should stop on anyone who came before Him we will have missed the whole point of the chapter. The Old Testament heroes of faith never received what was promised; they lived before the time of fulfillment. They exercised faith, but they were all trusting in the promise that would be fulfilled in Christ. By contrast, Jesus is the “author” of faith and He is also the one who experienced and expressed it to the full. It is wonderful to think about Jesus in this way. But how do we do so? What did this mean for Him?

Archegos describes an inaugurator, a trail-blazer, a pioneer — someone whose achievements make it possible for others to experience the benefits of what he has done. The school our two eldest sons attended held an annual “Founders’ Day” service at which the two brothers who had first begun the school centuries before were remembered and honored. They had begun something the benefits of which our children entered into and shared. They were archegoi.

But we might describe other religious leaders in these terms, as founders of great movements. Hebrews means more than that when it says Jesus is our archegos.

Think, if you will, of a lone reconnaissance officer who has moved ahead of his platoon, which is in great danger. He is looking for a way of escape. He cuts his way through a jungle, only to discover himself face to face with a gaping ravine. There seems no way forward, but unless he finds one all is lost. He throws a lasso-like rope to the other side of the ravine, and manages to catch it on a tree on the far side. He then risks all by clambering across to the other side, hand over hand, inch by nerve-racking inch. He secures the rope, and manages to create a rope bridge. Eventually he leads his whole platoon over the ravine on to the safety of the other side.

This is a better picture of Christ as our archegos! He is the divine Reconnaissance Officer who has crossed the deep and dangerous ravine between fallen man and holy God.

When this term archegos first appears in Hebrews, it is in a context in which the author has just cited the words of Psalm 8 with reference to Christ. Psalm 8, in turn, is in part a meditation on Genesis 1:26–28. It reflects on the way Adam was made as the image and likeness of God and was given dominion over the earth. He was called to live by faith and obey God’s commands. He was created to be the divinely appointed gardener who would turn the whole earth into a garden, and thus, as it were, extend the glory of God.

But Adam failed. Instead of exercising the privilege of reflecting God as his image and experiencing in his miniature what it meant for God to be Lord of all — Adam forfeited it.

The Arduous Journey of Being Married to a Non-Believing Man

Gary Thomas

November 16, 2021

Single women, take note: Every married Christian woman I’ve ever met who married a non-believing man has said, emphatically, they would tell every other woman not to do it. They wouldn’t wish away the children they’ve had, but as a general rule, I’ve yet to find a woman who thinks it’s worth the risk of being unequally yoked going in.

Living Unequally Yoked

Catherine found that out the hard way, and spent over two decades gradually wooing and praying her husband into the kingdom. As we finish off our series focusing on the content from my book Loving Him Well: Practical Advice on Influencing Your Husband, we’re going to explore the “takeaway” principles Catherine found helpful in being married to an unbelieving man (men, the same principles apply if you’re married to an unbelieving wife).

I hope you’ll check out the entire book, as this chapter in particular has a very touching story behind the teaching that makes it come alive even more. These lessons follow that story and include insights from John given after he was converted.

Building Bridges

Catherine often wondered how two unequally yoked people who shared so little in common could ever make it. Sometimes she even asked John, “Are we going to make it? We have so little in common. My faith is so important to me, but you don’t even share it!”

John would say, “Catherine, where our relationship is good, it’s very good. Let’s concentrate on that.” John wanted Catherine to concentrate on the good places in her marriage rather than become consumed by her disappointments.

Catherine honestly admits she endured a trying and difficult season that went on for decades. “Being unequally yoked is extremely lonely,” she says. “You’re guiding your children by yourself. You try to stave off resentment and build a good marriage—it’s just very, very difficult.”

Most women in such a situation will, like Catherine, find themselves tempted by self-pity. Philippians 2:14 gives some help here: “Do everything without grumbling or arguing.” The word everything includes marriage, even marriage to a nonbeliever. Resentment and bitterness will only keep us from being spiritually productive in that relationship.

Catherine realized that since she and her husband didn’t share a faith in Christ, she would have to work extra hard to find other things to share. Unfortunately, John was most excited about things in which Catherine had little or no interest—like riding bikes, for example.

“I had to make the decision,” she says. “Would I start riding bikes with him, or would I sit home by myself and let the gap between us widen?”

Catherine’s initial attempts didn’t encourage her. She says, “It was ridiculous. I was so out of shape. But you know what, a year and a half later, I loved it more than he did! We did ‘Ride the Rockies’ together—that was 400 miles through the Rocky Mountains, a seven-day bike ride with 2,000 other people. It was a blast, and we spent hundreds of hours together training for the ride.”

Catherine just kept focusing on the positive. “We didn’t have a family together at church,” she admits, “but we did have a family together on bicycles.”

Some wives might be tempted to punish their non-Christian husband by becoming even less accommodating, thinking, If you won’t share my faith, I won’t share any of your interests. But such pettiness, while understandable, does nothing except widen the gap. Catherine adamantly counsels other women married to nonbelievers, “You must find out what he loves doing and learn to do it with him.”

That’s not a bad lesson for spouses in general.

Gospel-Centered Communities or Christian Social Clubs?

Rob Bentz

November 15, 2021

Life in a small group community can be a fun, challenging, growing, difficult, and learning experience. These words provide a glimpse into the reason we keep showing up to our friend’s house on Sunday evenings, week-after-week, month-after-month, and possibly year-after-year. We desire to do life together with other believers. Consistently gathering together with others who are experiencing life at the same harried pace you are offers us comfort, a moment to catch our breath and realize that we’re not crazy, and a place we can be known and accepted. This is good! Yet the descriptive words that I tossed out a moment ago may be clear indicators that your small group experience is really, really good. Yet in the midst of something you and others enjoy, there is the potential that your group could be missing the most important aspect of community life—the gospel! Small groups should be something more than Christian social clubs.

I’ve recently been reading through the Book of Acts, and it’s caused me to wrestle with the question: What’s at the heart of a small group? I’ve come to realize that most small groups fit into one of two categories: either you’re in a gospel-centered community or you’re participating in Christian social clubs.

I’m sure that may seem a bit harsh at first, but the reality is that whenever believers gather together for a season of time, we gravitate to one side of the fence or the other. We either drift toward fun-loving fellowship or to gospel-centered intensity.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with having a great group of Christ-following friends. However, hanging out with Christian friends alone is not enough to produce consistent, fruit-bearing, spiritual growth.

Evaluating Christian Social Clubs

Your group is either seeking God’s truth together in the Bible, or it’s not.
Your group is either seeking to allow the person of Jesus to be at the center of your meeting, or it’s not.
Your group is either engaging with the work of Jesus on the cross to transform your hearts and minds, or it’s not
Your group is either inviting the Holy Spirit to work in your lives, or it’s not.

This is not some legalistic plea to make your group more religious. Instead it is submitting everything you are, everything you do, and everything you face—to the feet of Jesus.

A gospel-centered small group community is centered on what the name might suggest; the intentional practice of placing the gospel at the center of every small group gathering. It really is about Jesus in your friendships, in your decision making, in your parenting, in the stewardship of your talents and treasures, in your pursuit of biblical truth—in everything! Jesus and His transforming work are brought to bear on all of life—the good, the bad, even the seemingly indifferent.

Does this describe your typical small group meeting? Or do chips and salsa, fantasy football teams, and creative ideas from Pinterest take precedent? Is the gospel of Jesus Christ the reason you meet? Is it what fuels the week ahead? Or are social interaction, casual conversation, and friendship at the true heart of your small group?

Lest you think this some anti-friendship, anti-laughter, or anti-fun post, rather it is a challenge to consider what is truly at the center of your small group? Ultimately, we all desire and need genuine friendships and fun-loving interaction—but the world needs the gospel more than we need Christian social clubs!

Event at John Hagee’s Church Calls for One National Religion, Chants of ‘Let’s Go Brandon’

Jesse T. Jackson

November 15, 2021

Let's go Brandon michael flynn john hagee — Photo from Twitter: @patriottakes

A sold out ReAwaken America Tour event raised eyebrows after video clips from the event, which took place at John Hagee’s Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas, went viral. In one clip, the over 3,500 in attendance can be seen chanting “Let’s go Brandon” from the pews.

The event hosted by Clay Clark of the ThriveTimeShow Podcast featured pastors Greg Locke and Artur Pawlowski, as well as evangelist Nick Vujicic, “Let Us Worship” leader Sean Feucht, MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, and Trump’s former security advisor General Michael Flynn, who was pardon by the 45th President of the United States.

PatriotTakes tweeted the clip of the crowd chanting “Let’s go Brandon.” The saying, which originated at a NASCAR event when a reporter mistook what the fans were chanting while interviewing driver Brandon Brown, is a coded phrase for “F**k Joe Biden.”

The Q-Anon crowd is at televangelist John Hagee’s Cornerstone Church in San Antonio.

They are chanting, “Let’s Go Brandon” from the church pews. pic.twitter.com/pGqUmUXezn

— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) November 14, 2021

In another clip, a different angle of moment shows that the chant was not spontaneous, but rather led from the stage. “People over there. Come on now, people in the front row,” someone said from the stage while pointing the mic at the crowd.

More than 6,500 people have commented on PatriotTakes’ tweet, many of which calling for the church’s tax exempt status.

“That church should lose its tax exempt status. Not saying that for all churches but this one has violated the rules,” one person wrote. Another said, “Wasn’t there something about separation of Church & State in the Constitution? Does this violate that? Politics from the pulpit?”

Another clip from the event shows General Flynn’s speech. Flynn, who identifies as Catholic, told those in attendance, “There’s something shaking — the ground underneath us is shaking. And it’s shaking because there is a time [when] you have to believe that God Almighty is involved in this country, because this is it. This is the last place on Earth.”

“This is the shining city on a hill. [America] is the city on the hill. The city on the hill was mentioned in Matthew [5:14]. Then a guy by the name of [John] Winthrop mentioned it again in 1630 before the country was formed,” Flynn continued. “And he also coined the phrase New England, ‘Where going to go to this New England,’ this new world he was talking about. He talked to the people there about this thing called the city on a hill. And then Ronald Reagan, a couple hundred years later, again, talked about it as the shining city on the hill.”

“They’re talking about the United States of America. They’re talking about the United States of America, because when Matthew mentions it in the Bible, he wasn’t talking about the physical ground that he was on. He was talking about something in the distance,” Flynn said. “So if we are going to have one nation under God, which we must, we have to have one religion. One nation under God and one religion under God, right?”

“All of us together working together. I don’t care what your ecumenical service is or what you are. We have to believe that this is a moment in time that this is good versus evil,” Flynn concluded.

Amid COVID-19, Most Churches Provide Hybrid Worship, Half Stopped Picnics

Adelle M Banks

November 15, 2021

(RNS) — Eight in 10 U.S. churches now provide hybrid worship services, offering options for congregants to worship either in person or online during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new study from the Hartford Institute for Religion Research.

Almost a quarter of churches, the report said, have moderate to severe conflicts about pandemic restrictions.

Amid technological adjustments, decisions about government and their own denominations’ COVID-19 restrictions on gathering, and greater requests for food and financial assistance, 67% of clergy said 2020 was the hardest year of their ministry.

The new study, which surveyed 2,074 churches from 38 denominations online this summer, is the first look from the institute’s project on the state of churches in the wake of the ongoing pandemic.

“These findings from the summer clearly show that the pandemic has had a profound impact across the religious spectrum, and that some churches are faring better than others,” Scott Thumma, principal investigator, said in announcing the study. “The fact that 83% of churches had at least one member test positive shows that almost no congregation was spared, but over two-thirds feel they will emerge stronger than before implies these faith communities are a resilient bunch.”

“You have to wonder, OK, so what year of your ministry was harder than the past year?” he said.

“Overall, it really shows that, I think, there are a good many congregations that have survived in pretty decent form but then there’s also a large chunk of them that are in kind of still a very bad way.”

The vast majority of churches — 88% — suspended in-person worship for some period of time. Most of those churches — 93% — have now resumed gathering in person.

Despite the switch for so many congregations to a hybrid model, more than half of the churches in the survey (54%) reported that at the pandemic’s height they completely halted fellowship events, such as church suppers and picnics.

But more than 30% of congregations saw growth in requests for food assistance, counseling and spiritual guidance and a quarter received more requests for financial help.

The rise in demand for these community services came as the churches saw an overall decline in the volunteers who might help meet those needs.

Churches reported that just 15% of regular adult participants were volunteering, a significant drop from pre-pandemic times, when the Faith Communities Today survey reported 40% of participants volunteering.

“In the same way that supply chains have been drastically upended by the pandemic, so too have many congregational ministry systems been disrupted,” the study noted.

"Some Churches Are Struggling" Graphic courtesy of HIRR

“Some Churches Are Struggling” Graphic courtesy of HIRR

Pope Francis Praises Book Detailing LGBTQ Ministry During HIV/AIDS Pandemic

Claire Giangrave

November 15, 2021

Pope Francis LGBTQ — “Hidden Mercy” and Pope Francis. (Book jacket courtesy image; AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca)

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — In a letter to the author of a new book about the Catholic ministry to the LGBTQ community in the United States during the height of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, Pope Francis praised the ministry’s “discreet mercy,” despite stigma and opposition by the church.

The book “Hidden Mercy: AIDS, Catholics and the Untold Stories of Compassion in the Face of Fear,” written by journalist Michael O’Loughlin, addresses the reality of the LGBTQ community between 1982 and 1996 at the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis in the United States and portrays the stories of Catholics who stood beside the community despite the discrimination they faced from society and the church.

The book releases Nov. 30.

Pope Francis said he was “spontaneously struck” upon receiving the letter and book by O’Loughlin “by that through which we will one day be judged: ‘For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me’ (Mt 25:35-36).”

In the letter, dated Aug. 17, Francis praised the book for “bearing witness to the many priests, religious sisters and lay people, who opted to accompany, support and help their brothers and sisters who were sick from HIV and AIDS at great risk to their profession and reputation.

“Instead of indifference, alienation and even condemnation, these people let themselves be moved by the mercy of the Father and allowed that to become their own life’s work; a discreet mercy, silent and hidden, but still capable of sustaining and restoring the life and history of each one of us,” the pope wrote.

When, in 2013, Pope Francis uttered the now-famous phrase “who am I to judge?” in response to a question about homosexual clergy, it sent shockwaves through the Catholic Church. Since then, the pope has met in private with LGBTQ individuals and supported their community though charitable works and in interviews.

Pope Francis has also upheld traditional Catholic teaching on marriage and family, rejecting gender theory as a form of ideological colonization. In March, the pope approved a document issued by the Vatican’s doctrine department banning the blessing of same-sex couples.

O’Loughlin spent the last three years gathering information and conducting hundreds of interviews on the little-known stories of Catholics who ministered to the LGBTQ community during the deadly AIDS pandemic in the United States. He profiled priests and nuns who spent their lives helping those affected.

The Conference of Bishops in the United States issued a document in 1987 on “The Many Faces of AIDS: A Gospel Response,” which urged faithful to provide pastoral care to those suffering due to the AIDS pandemic. It also condemned discrimination against people with AIDS as “unjust and immoral.” The document stood alongside traditional Catholic teaching opposing same-sex relationships, sex outside of marriage and the use of contraception.This “hidden ministry” occurred at a time when the Catholic Church — and society at large — “cracked down on homosexuality,” O’Loughlin said in an interview with Religion News Service. At the height of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, some Catholic prelates used incendiary language against homosexuals, while the Vatican issued letters defining same-sex relationships as “intrinsically disordered.”

TGC Author Defends Controversial Article on Why People Deconstruct

Jessica Lea

November 15, 2021

An article published by The Gospel Coalition (TGC) outlining common reasons why people deconstruct from Christianity is being criticized as lacking empathy, misrepresenting people’s motives, and minimizing the impact of trauma on abuse survivors. Author Joshua Ryan Butler counters that his critics are misrepresenting what his article actually said.

What Does It Mean to ‘Deconstruct’?

In the context of evangelicalism, “deconstruct” is a word that generally refers to the process of critiquing and rejecting aspects of the Christian faith or even Christian culture. It is important to note that people use the word “deconstruct” differently. For some, deconstructing means they leave the Christian faith entirely. Others deconstruct from certain teachings, but still maintain faith in other Christian beliefs. What the process of deconstruction looks like differs depending on the individual.

High-profile people who have announced that they have deconstructed their faith in part or completely include author Joshua Harris, musician Marty Sampson, Hawk Nelson’s Jon Steingard, DC Talk’s Kevin Max, and former Desiring God contributor Paul Maxwell.

Joshua Ryan Butler on Why People Deconstruct

Joshua Ryan Butler is lead pastor at Redemption Church in Tempe, Ariz. In his article, “4 Causes of Deconstruction,” Butler says he has talked with “many wrestling with deconstruction,” and he lists what he sees as the four most common reasons why people deconstruct, noting that the list is “not exhaustive.” The reaons are:

Church hurt
Poor teaching
Desire to sin
Street cred

At the beginning of the section under his first point, Butler acknowledges, “Many who deconstruct have been wounded by abusive or manipulative church leaders, or generally unhealthy church cultures.” He mentions Ravi Zacharias, Mark Driscoll, and Carl Lentz as examples of leaders who betrayed the trust of people who looked up to them. Such betrayal “can be excruciating and disorienting.”

But deconstruction is a “false cure,” says Butler. “You don’t need to ignore the church’s problems to protect its reputation. Instead, bring the problems boldly to God—like David did—and encounter a deeper intimacy with him as you’re honest about your wounds. Deconstruction bypasses this deeper healing. It’s a shortcut that internalizes grief rather than bringing it before God.”

Butler implies that people who deconstruct because of church wounds fail to truly seek God in their pain and instead take the easy way out. “Much of deconstruction exists because it’s easier to move on than to be sad,” he says.

VA Pastor Arrested for Solicitation Was Previously Accused of Sexual Assault

Dale Chamberlain

November 15, 2021

John Blanchard, former pastor of Rock Church in Virginia Beach, was arraigned on Monday for charges of solicitation of prostitution of a minor. Blanchard was arrested on October 29 and appeared on stage at his church to play the shofar and lead congregational worship two days later. It has now been revealed that Blanchard had previously been accused of sexual assault.

According to a report by a local ABC News affiliate, Blanchard allegedly assaulted a former assistant in 2018. The assistant said that Blanchard had exhibited “unusual behavior,” but that these behaviors turned into unwanted sexual advances when Blanchard insisted on coming to her house one night to work on the church’s website.

The former assistant had been experiencing a sore shoulder, and Blanchard took the opportunity to insist on giving her a massage. “But then, you know, he made a move on me and totally disregarded my ‘no,’” the former assistant said, “and did really inappropriate things to me.”

The former assistant pressed charges in 2019, but Blanchard was later acquitted. During this time, Blanchard continued in his duties as pastor of Rock Church, and it is unclear how many people at the church were aware of his charges.

“He ended up getting found not guilty, but that doesn’t mean that that didn’t happen. It did happen to me. It was inappropriate,” the former assistant said. “Church leadership knew and decided not to remove him from his position.”

After hearing about Blanchard’s new charges, the former assistant felt that the time was right to begin speaking about her experience publicly. “I feel afraid, a little bit, for people who are coming forward but I think that there’s some power to that too,” the former assistant said, alluding to the fact that coming forward resulted not only in her leaving her job as an assistant, but ending her membership at the church altogether.

Blanchard was arrested on October 29 during a sting operation set up by the Chesterfield County Police Special Victims Unit. Blanchard thought that he was corresponding with a minor online to arrange a time to have sex for money, but he was met by police upon arriving to the agreed upon location.

After news of Blanchard’s arrest broke, Rock Church released a statement on their website announcing that Blanchard had “voluntarily stepped back as lead pastor and from all his ministerial duties until this present situation is totally resolved.”

TN Church Holds Worship Service One Week After Pastor Thwarts Gunman’s Violent Plans

Jesse T. Jackson

November 15, 2021

Ezekiel Ndikumana gunman — Screen grab from YouTube: @WKRN News 2: (L) Nzojibugami Noe and Ezekiel Ndikumana (R) Dezire Baganda

Last weekend (Nov. 7), pastor Ezekiel Ndikumana tackled a man with a loaded handgun who took the stage at Nashville Light Mission Pentecostal Church intent on shooting the congregants.

Nevertheless, the incident, which could have resulted in bloodshed and a tragic loss of life, didn’t stop the Nashville church from holding their worship gathering this past Sunday.

Ndikumana applauded those in attendance on Sunday, sharing that “God gave them the strength again to come back to our Sunday service this morning.”

Choir member Nzojibugami Noe shared with WKRN News what was going through his mind as the 26-year-old gunman, Dezire Beganda, began threatening the lives of his fellow congregants. Noe’s 911 call amid the commotion can be heard here.

“I was scared that if [the police] don’t get here as quick as they could, you know, he might get more strength and then get up and try to get the gun again,” Noe shared.

Recalling the traumatic experience, Noe continued, “That day, mostly I was thinking about all the people that were in here, which is why when I was talking to the 911, I was like, ‘We need you as soon as we can.’”

“Even if something happens, I still have more people in my church that are still [coming] together to be with me throughout any kind of situation,” Noe said, referring to the fact that the church gathered for worship just days after Beganda’s failed attack.

Explaining that it’s human-nature to be scared in situations like these, Nzojibugami said, “I was not scared or feeling fear at all, because I knew that it was where God protected me.”

In a police statement Beganda referred to himself as Jesus and said that all churches and schools need to be “shot up.”

Beganda has been ordered by a Judge to undergo a mental evaluation and will appear in court on December 7, 2021. His charges include 57 counts of felony aggravated assault.

Watch the WKRN News 2 interview with Noe and Nzojibugami below:

Laura Lentz, Wife of Former Hillsong Pastor Carl Lentz, Shares Her Experiences With Anxiety, PTSD

Dale Chamberlain

November 15, 2021

Laura Lentz Carl Lentz — Source: Instagram: @lauralentz

Laura Lentz took to Instagram to share about her emotional journey over the past year, revealing that she has experienced anxiety and PTSD in the wake of the scandals surrounding her husband Carl Lentz, who is the former pastor of Hillsong East Coast.

Carl was fired by Hillsong in November 2020 for “leadership issues and breaches of trust, plus a recent revelation of moral failures.” It was later revealed that Lentz had at least one extramarital affair, and he has since been accused by a former nanny of sexual abuse. Leona Kimes, who made the accusation, is now the co-pastor of Hillsong’s Boston location.

It was reported late last year that Laura would remain married to Carl despite his infidelity and that the couple was seeking counseling together. It was reported that Carl was also being treated for depression and pastoral burnout.

Laura recently posted pictures of herself with an art piece entitled “Beautiful Scars.” Laura shared that when she learned the name of the piece, it brought her to tears.

“It may not mean much to you but this past year was a doozy for our family,” Laura wrote. “I have dealt with so much personally, I have never experienced anxiety or PTSD until this year!”

Laura went on to say that while this isn’t the first time she’s experienced struggles with her mental health, this past year has been especially difficult, saying, “I have struggled with a mild depression for many years, but this year it got to be (sic) so bad that there were days I didn’t want to get out of bed.”

“Although I wouldn’t wish my journey on my worst enemy (I apparently have a few), I would not change my story,” Laura continued, alluding to the criticism she has received in the past year, which she discussed in a previous post. “I know as I continue on my journey of healing, learning to put myself first, focus on my family and grow in my marriage, I can use my story so far to help someone else!”

Laura admitted that while she is thankful for the growth in her life, it hasn’t been easy. “Don’t get me wrong it’s not easy, everyday I feel the trauma, the thoughts and memories. and geez am I grateful for my therapists,” she wrote. “We all have scars from many of life’s experiences, and I am choosing to see mine as ‘BEAUTIFUL’… this artwork is my reminder – the bumps, rips and rough parts!”

A Sure Hope for the Future

R.C. Sproul

November 15, 2021

I’ve spoken at more conferences than I can remember, and one of the highlights of these events is the book signing wherein attendees visit with the conference speakers and the speakers sign their books. These signings are a privilege because they give the speaker a glimpse at the impact his words have had on people. I’ve talked to seminarians, grandmothers, businessmen, and just about anyone else you can think of during these signings. On occasion, children have even given me pictures that they drew for me.

As enjoyable as these signings can be, there’s one phenomenon I haven’t been able to get used to fully, and that’s the request to sign one book that I didn’t write—the Bible. I’m happy to do it, however, and often the people who want me to sign their Bible ask me for my life’s verse. The first time someone asked me for such a verse, I was perplexed. “What’s a life verse?” I asked, never having heard of this tradition whereby people pick one verse from the Bible to base their lives upon. In any case, I chose Romans 12:12 the first time I was asked to provide a life verse during a book signing. This verse features one of Paul’s great summaries of the Christian life: “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”

When I think of what it means to be patient in tribulation, to be constant in prayer, and to find joy in our hope that lies ahead, I think of one person who embodies that triad of virtues more than almost anyone else in history. I’m talking about the most famous patient man of all time—Job. If ever a man was called upon to hang on to his faith and his devotion to God in the midst of travail, it was Job.

I’m sure we all know Job’s story well. It opens with a little glimpse into heaven. Satan challenged God and asserted with a perverse kind of glee that humanity had rebelled against its Creator and no longer stood on His side. The Lord responded by putting forth Job as an example of one man who still loved and served Him. But Satan countered that Job served God only because of what he could get from such service, so the Lord put Job to the test to show the Accuser that he was wrong. What happened was that Satan attacked Job more violently than he did anyone else in the history of the world except for Jesus.

To make matters worse, Job then had to deal with three “friends” who told him that he suffered because of his own sin. But Job patiently and repeatedly asserted his innocence, demanding to know the reasons for his suffering since he was a righteous man who hadn’t done anything to deserve such pain.

Job wasn’t patient in the sense that he had a plastic smile on his face and whistled through all of his misery and affliction. Instead, Job was patient in the sense that he did two things: he hung on and he refused to curse God. Job definitely complained—loudly—and he challenged God, asking Him many questions. But unlike his “friends,” Job always spoke rightly about God (Job 42:8). Moreover, in the midst of all his suffering, Job made what I believe is one of the most heroic statements a human being ever uttered. In the midst of abject misery he cried out, “Though he slay me, I will hope in him” (Job 13:15).

How to Be a Best Friend to a Pastor [7 Important Ways]

Ron Edmondson

November 15, 2021

When you know someone in a public leadership role like a pastor, it’s sometimes difficult on knowing how to be a best friend to them. Every pastor I know needs a best friend. Don’t we all?

Most likely the pastor has a best friend in a spouse. I hope so. I encourage it. My wife is that for me. My boys are also.

But I think there’s more. And more these days than ever.

And if “best” is too strong a word, pick your own word. Good. Close. Trusted. Every pastor needs a friend, besides a spouse—of the same gender—who knows them well and can encourage and challenge like no one else can.

Yet, in working with pastors as I do regularly, I would say more pastors live paranoid of who they can trust than have someone they would consider a close confidant. Some pastors believe not having one simply comes with the job. I’ve heard pastors say we can’t expect to have those type of relationships with people—that we are somehow, for some reason, “above that.”

Balderdash!

That’s dangerous talk. And many pastors have failed buying that lie—or never inviting people into a closer circle of friendship.

I equally know some people who want to be that type friend to the pastor. And the pastor has either been hard to get to know or the person doesn’t know how to relate to them. I appreciate those who have a sincere desire to befriend the pastor—which is the purpose of this post.

I can’t speak for all pastors—but I can speak for myself, and, I believe, I can speak for many pastors due to my coaching ministry among them. I’ve learned you can have “best” friends in the church, but certainly, if necessary because of the church size, outside the church where one pastors.

If you want to be this kind of friend to a pastor, I need to warn you the pastor may be skeptical at first. Every pastor has been burned a time or two. If your heart, however, is to be a friend—even a best friend—to your pastor, here are some suggestions that have worked to endear my friends to me.

(I used the male pronoun for ease of writing, and because I’m speaking from experience, but this surely goes for all who are in ministry.)

The Biggest Difference Between Churches That Are Raising Young Leaders and Those That Aren’t

Karl Vaters

November 13, 2021

There seems to be an absence of young people stepping up to take leadership roles in the church.

I say “seems to be…” because that’s what I keep hearing from so many of my contemporaries in ministry.

“It’s hard to find young leaders!”

“Why won’t youth step up and take their place in the church like we did when we were younger?”

“What’s wrong with (…here it comes…) Kids. These. Days!?”

Some of this leadership vacuum is due to factors beyond our control. Many small towns, for instance, are losing their youth to big cities at a record pace.

But aside from those situations, we can make the necessary adjustments to keep raising up new generations of young church leaders.

And there’s one factor that has a greater impact than all the others, if we have the will to practice it.

Humility.

The Place of Humility

In most denominations, the clergy are graying. And in most churches, so is the support staff, whether paid or volunteer. But not in all of them. There are many churches in which young leaders are stepping up big time, including the one I’m blessed to serve.

I’ve been in a lot of churches of all types and styles in the last few years, including those that are dying for youth (literally) and those that are driven by youth.

The dominant factor in churches where young people are stepping up and taking responsibility is that the current leadership is learning to let go, change their role and realize they don’t have all the answers.

In other words, practice some humility.

If you are an aging minister like me (late 50s and older), this message is for us.

We can’t just disciple potential young leaders, we have to release them.

Then we have stand back and let them do ministry the way God is leading them to do it.

(If you’re wondering how to attract youth so the church can be led by them, the answer is the same. Churches that are willing to let young people lead in the way God is calling them to lead will attract young people who want to step up. It doesn’t happen quickly—it took over a decade for our church to start seeing real results—but it’s the only way.)

Don’t Mock What You Don’t Understand

We cannot simultaneously mourn the absence of young church leaders while belittling the way they lead.

Certainly, some things never change.

Good theology matters. Integrity matters. Modesty matters. Humility matters. Wisdom matters. Respect matters (in both directions).

What doesn’t matter is the way they cut their hair, wear their clothes or play their music.

Sure, they may not do ministry the way we like it. That’s OK. The way we did it was probably not the way our parents or grandparents liked it, either. But mocking new church leaders for using styles we don’t understand is no way to encourage them to step up and take more responsibility.

Styles change. Methods adapt. New generations worship in ways that seem foreign to previous generations.

There is no link between skinny jeans and bad theology—or immature leadership.

As the older generation, we need to have the wisdom and discernment to tell the difference between the essentials that never change and the non-essentials that constantly need to be updated and adapted for new circumstances.

The Important Role of Elders

As elders in the church, we still have a role. An important one.

We need to be encouragers and guides. Not cynics and roadblocks.

We need to nudge the steering wheel when needed, not jam on the brakes at every new idea.

We need to lighten their load, not weigh them down with unnecessary rules.

We need to give them a foundation to build on, not be an anchor that drags them down.

Everyone Playing Their Part

A healthy church needs every part operating at its best capacity and in its strongest function.

Young and old. New and long-term. Energy and wisdom.

All with humility. All with unity. And all for the sake of Christ and his kingdom.

This article about young leaders originally appeared here.

Pope Francis Offers Hope to Poor in Visit to Namesake’s Assisi Home

Alessandra Tarantino and Nicole Winfield

November 12, 2021

ASSISI, Italy (AP) — Pope Francis traveled to the hilltop town of his namesake for the fifth time in his pontificate on Friday to honor the poorest and most marginal and urge that they be welcomed and cared for by the church.

In one of his first outings in Italy since the coronavirus pandemic, Francis took his time greeting schoolchildren and some of the 500 people brought by Catholic charity groups to Assisi to join Francis in marking the Catholic Church’s world day of the poor.

A refugee gave Francis a pilgrim’s walking stick and cloak outside the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, which hosts the famed Porziuncola chapel, birthplace of the Franciscan order of the pope’s namesake, St. Francis of Assisi.

Francis greeted disabled children in the basilica and prayed in the chapel before hearing testimony from a handful of people who offered heartwrenching testimony about their lives on the margins.

One former Spanish drug dealer recounted how he turned his life around after a priest smiled on him and offered him shelter. A Romanian woman wept as she told Francis that she suffers such chronic pain that she cannot work. Two Afghans recounted how they recently fled to Italy after the Taliban takeover of their country, only to feel their souls are still there.

Those offering their testimony choked up and wept openly as they spoke to the pope, who thanked them for their courage in telling their stories and “opening their hearts to give us their richness and heal our wounded hearts.”

“The presence of the poor is often seen as an annoyance and is put up with,” Francis said from the altar. “Sometimes we hear it said that those responsible for poverty are the poor! So as not to carry out a serious examination of conscience on one’s own actions, on the injustice of certain laws and economic measures, on the hypocrisy of those who want to enrich themselves excessively, blame is laid at the feet of those who are weakest.”

He said the faithful could learn from the example of Francis and those who offer shelter to the poor and marginalized. “Hospitality means opening the door, the door of our house and the door of our heart, and to allow the person who knocks to come in,” Francis said. “And that they might feel welcome, not ashamed.”

During an off-the-cuff remark, Francis also gave a shout-out to the retired archbishop of Lyon, France, Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, who attended the service. Barbarin stepped down after a French court convicted him of covering up for a pedophile priest, only to have his sentence overturned on appeal.

Francis said Barbarin knew well what it was like to “suffer with dignity the experience of poverty — of abandonment, distrust.”

100 Clergy Will Gather to Pray Over Ahmaud Arbery Killing Trial After Controversial ‘Black Pastors’ Comment

Stephanie Martin

November 12, 2021

A defense attorney sparked backlash by complaining about “Black pastors” attending the Georgia trial of three white men accused of killing Ahmaud Arbery, who was Black. In response, more than 100 African American pastors plan to gather Nov. 18 outside the Glynn County Superior Courthouse. Journalist April Ryan tweeted that news on Friday, indicating that church leaders will assemble to “be in prayer” for Arbery’s family.

Ahmaud Arbery, 25, was shot and killed in February 2020. The defendants—Greg McMichael, Travis McMichael, and William Bryan—say he was trespassing and they were trying to make a citizens arrest. Arbery’s family contends he was jogging and looking at electrical work, which interested him career-wise.

When footage of the shooting emerged months later, anger over the incident contributed to a summer of racial justice protests. The defendants, who have pleaded not guilty, could face life in prison without parole if convicted.

Ahmaud Arbery Murder Trial Controversy

The controversial comments came Thursday from Kevin Gough, a lawyer for Bryan. Referring to the Rev. Al Sharpton’s presence in the courtroom Wednesday, Gough told the judge, “I believe that’s intimidating, and it’s an attempt to pressure—could be consciously or unconsciously—an attempt to pressure or influence the jury.”

He added, “Obviously, there’s only so many pastors they can have. And if their pastor is Al Sharpton right now, that’s fine, then that’s it. We don’t want any more Black pastors coming in here…sitting with the victim’s family, trying to influence the jurors in this case.” Before the judge interrupted him, Gough started making a comparison involving Colonel Sanders and white masks.

Gough, who admitted he hadn’t been aware of Sharpton’s presence, told the judge a “precedent” of “high-profile” African American attendees “could be viewed as improper” because they have “no ties to this case other than political interest.” He also noted that Sharpton isn’t connected to a congregation and has previously run for political office.

In response, Judge Timothy Walmsley said all attendees are welcome in court as long as they don’t disrupt proceedings. “I’m not going to blanketly exclude members of the public,” he said. “I did not hear from anyone that there was any distraction whatsoever” from Sharpton’s presence, Walmsley added. “Let’s not overstate what’s going on here, Mr. Gough.”

How Human Genius Reveals Our Broken Relationship With God—Erwin McManus Explains

Jessica Lea

November 12, 2021

How Human Genius Reveals Our Broken Relationship With God—Erwin McManus Explains — Erwin McManus shares insights from his new book, "The Genius of Jesus," with the Stetzer ChurchLeaders Podcast

You don’t often hear people talk about the importance of “genius” to the Christian faith. But in a recent interview on the Stetzer ChurchLeaders Podcast, pastor and author Erwin McManus shared how understanding the quality of genius—especially the genius of Jesus—has more fully revealed the nature of God to him.

“If there’s any expression of genius in the world, it means it’s an expression of the image of God,” said McManus. “And in fact, what I would say is that genius is the aberration that reveals to us the capacities that have been lost to us because of our broken relationship with God.”

Erwin McManus’ newest book, released Sept. 14, is called “The Genius of Jesus: The Man Who Changed Everything.” You can listen to our interview with Erwin McManus by clicking on the link below:

Erwin McManus: Why Understanding the Genius of Jesus Will Change Your Life

Erwin McManus on the Genius of Jesus

Erwin McManus shared that he has faced some resistance for focusing on the genius of Jesus, instead of Jesus’ other qualities. “When I first posted a thought on the genius of Jesus,” said McManus, “one of the first responses I got was, ‘Jesus was not a genius. He was God.’ And I thought, what an interesting response, because if I had said Jesus was compassionate, no one would respond, ‘No, Jesus was not compassionate. He was God!’”

Most people, after considering the idea, would see that discussing the genius of Jesus makes perfect sense. McManus explained, “I don’t know how you could read the Bible and not think that God is inherently a genius. In fact, just take a moment and think how absurd it would be to say humans can be geniuses, but God is not.”

It seems like a no-brainer to discuss Jesus’ genius in terms of his divinity. But, said McManus, “I actually felt that talking about the genius of Jesus is a really important conversation about the humanity of Jesus.” And Jesus stands out from all other human geniuses because his brilliance is in changing people’s lives.

“What really struck me,” said McManus, “is the reason it’s so easy to overlook Jesus’ genius is that his canvas is the human spirit. That’s where Jesus’ genius is actually translated—in the transformation of individuals.”

No other human geniuses throughout history have been able to pass on their “genius” to those around them, said McManus. “You could spend your entire life with Monet and never learn how to paint. And you could spend your entire life with John Lennon and never learn how to write ‘Yesterday.’ I mean, the reality is that genius is not transferable—except when it comes to Jesus.”

Supply Chain Disruptions Challenge Holiday Food Giveaways

Diana Chandler

November 12, 2021

DALLAS (BP) – With food supplies falling as low as 11 percent below last year, church-based feeding programs are finding it more difficult to provide traditional Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners this holiday season.

“We have run from store to store to store to store trying to find (turkeys),” Chris Simmons, senior pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Dallas, said. “It’s just a supply chain issue. … But it’s been a challenge this year.

“We’re even sending word out to some of our partners to help us to purchase turkeys and bring them to us. I think we will meet our quota, but it’s just really going to take an all-hands-on-deck effort to make that happen. Whereas in the past, we’ve been able to just go out and purchase turkeys in bulk. This year because of the supply chain, we might have to get other partners to come alongside us and purchase those items in their own communities to help us out.”

Cornerstone will serve a holiday meal this weekend and on Thanksgiving Day, reaching about 1,500 people on Thanksgiving alone, Simmons said. The weekend preceding Thanksgiving, Cornerstone will give away 300-400 food baskets in partnership with other churches and community groups.Whole turkeys had only a 38.9 percent stock availability Oct. 31, market research firm IRI reported Nov. 9. On average, global supply chain disruptions cut food and household supplies by 4 percent to 11 percent through last month, compared to the same time last year, IRI said.

“We use a lot of turkeys this time of year. If we can’t get them, one alternative is to do ham or chicken, or something like that,” he said. Prices “have gone up tremendously. From our perspective, we just have to pay the price to bring the traditional turkey dinner to our homeless community, our families in need.”

An 8- to 16-pound turkey costs nearly 25 percent more than a year ago, Wells Fargo reported.

The supply chain crisis and inflated prices are impacting states differently, with IRI reporting Texas, Nebraska and Kansas among the hardest hit. In Florida, Michigan and Pennsylvania, supplies are more plentiful than the national average, exceeding it by 7 to 9 percentage points.

But some Florida churches are experiencing difficulties in securing adequate supplies for holiday meal programs, said Jeffery Singletary, Florida Baptist Convention central region catalyst, pointing out at least two churches that have requested help. Singletary will secure some of the needed supplies through a partnership with the One More Child (formerly Florida Baptist Children’s Home) food bank and provide dollars to purchase additional supplies if needed.

“They were citing costs to me,” he said of churches, “because at some level they want me to help.” Churches cited higher prices for such items as turkeys, chickens, rice, potatoes and cooking oil.“It’s costing us more to get less,” Singletary said. “We were looking at some of the prices last week, and they almost doubled. Some items have doubled. Some items have tripled, in terms of their cost. It’s supply and demand. The supply is down, the demand is up.

Jerry Haag, president/CEO of One More Child, said the organization, which serves children around the world, has worked with partnering grocers to meet the demand.

“We have all been facing challenges that have made it more difficult to provide essential food to a growing number of children and families in crisis who are hungry and need our support. Thankfully we have been able to pivot and find new ways to get food into the hands of hungry children and struggling families through our partnerships with companies like Publix and Kroger,” Haag said. “We have the processes and structure in place to remain nimble, and we thank God that we are still on track this year to provide more than 20 million meals in spite of the challenges we face. We are constantly establishing new partnerships and evaluating solutions to serve one more child.”

Donald Trump Defends Supporters’ Chants of ‘Hang Mike Pence’

Jesse T. Jackson

November 12, 2021

Former president Donald Trump was asked in a recent interview about his supporters chanting violent rhetoric towards former Vice President Mike Pence during the U.S. Capitol riot on January 6, 2021.

ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl interviewed Trump on March 18, 2021 for Karl’s new book “Betrayal: The Final Act of the Trump Show,” scheduled to be released on November 16, 2021. Karl shared an audio clip of their interview on Twitter.

Karl’s Interview and the Capitol Riot

Karl asked Trump if he was worried about the safety of his vice president during the Capitol attack, which stemmed from an earlier Trump rally as Congress was meeting to certify the November election results. At the rally, pastor Paula White led a prayer where she asked God to not only overturn “any spirit of fear, intimidation, worry, anxiety,” but also for those gathered to have “holy boldness.”

Trump told Pence from the stage of the rally, “I hope you’re going to stand up for the good of our Constitution and for the good of our country. And if you’re not, I’m going to be very disappointed in you.”

Trump then told his supporters, “Now it is up to Congress to confront this egregious assault on our democracy and after this we’re gonna walk down — and I’ll be there with you — we’re gonna walk down to the Capitol and we’re gonna cheer on our brace senators and congressmen and women.”

Later, a mob of people holding Trump signs and flags forced their way into the Capitol building, resulting in the death of five people and injuries for over 135 police officers.

Congress members barricaded themselves in the House chambers, and the Vice President was taken to a secured location. Trump told Karl he wasn’t worried about Pence’s safety saying, “No, I thought he was well-protected, and I had heard that he was in good shape. No. Because I had heard he was in very good shape.”

The former President then pointed out that the people were “very angry.”

Referring to the the rioters’ chants of “Hang Mike Pence” and shouts of “Traitor,” Karl called their actions “terrible.” In response, Trump said, “Because it’s common sense, Jon. It’s common sense that you’re supposed to protect. How can you — if you know a vote is fraudulent, right? — How can you pass on a fraudulent vote to Congress?”

Helping Your Small Group Deal With Grief

Josh Hunt

November 12, 2021

My dad died two days ago. I am sitting in the chair where I always sit when I come to visit. His chair sits across from me. His chair is empty. I though this would be a good time to reflect on grief and what small groups can do to comfort one another in times of grief.

As soon as I got the news I hopped in the car and started the 600-mile journey North to Colorado. I thought I would put on some Fernando Ortega music of old hymns with haunting melodies. I thought it would help in my grief. It didn’t. It was too much. The grief was too raw.

I went to another strategy—denial and distraction. I know I can’ stay there forever, but I thought I needed a little time before I processed the grief.

I found a Carey Nieuwhof Leadership podcast. He, along with David Kinnaman from the Barna Group were interviewing Rick Warren. All about the pandemic and the riots and racial tension and the church’s response. “This is great,” I thought, “something to distract me from my aching heart.”

For about an hour Rick talked about talked about church stuff. Then, he turned a corner. He started talking about the grief people will inevitably feel from missing so many things—missing the prom, missing being able to visit the hospital, missing gradation. David Kinnaman talked about his wife’s death only six months earlier. David asked Rick, “How do I keep going? What do I do? And to all of us as leaders who are going through a year of so much loss, how do we find our North star?”

From there, Rick went into the most detail description of his son’s death that I had heard. He tells how his small group supported him in the most difficult chapter of his life. There are lessons here about how your small group can help in times of grief. Here is an excerpt:

He’d [Rick’s son, Matthew] struggled with mental illness since a baby. He’d struggled with clinical depression since a young child and had been through… When he was 17 years old, he came to me in tears one day and said, “Dad, it’s real obvious. I’m not going to be healed. We’ve been to the best doctors. I’ve had the best therapist, the best counselors, the best prayer warriors praying for me. Dad, you’re a man of faith. Mom is a woman of faith. It’s real obvious. I’m not going to be healed. Why can’t I just go to heaven right now?” That’ll break your heart, as a dad to have your son say those kind of words to you and me in tears sobbing back said, “Matthew, I don’t think you really want to die. I just think you want to ease the pain.”

So anyway, he made it 10 more years. He was very courageous, but that night he went home and then we didn’t hear from him for 24 hours. And so Kay and I began to be worried because that was very rare. And we drove over to his house.

His car was in the driveway. The door was locked. We didn’t have a key to his house. And we’re standing there fearing that what we’d feared might happen someday and what we prayed would never happen someday. And we called the police to come and break down the door and we’re standing there sobbing, holding each other, my wife and I, sobbing and Kay was wearing a necklace that had two words on it that was the title of her most recent book at the time. And it said, Choose Joy. And I said, “How do you choose joy when your heart is breaking in a thousand pieces? How do you choose joy when your heart’s breaking in a thousand pieces?”

UPDATE: After Being Singled Out For Criticism, Texas Church Receives Over $21K In Donations

Dale Chamberlain

November 12, 2021

Beth Allison Barr CBMW — Source: Twitter: @bethallisonbarr

UPDATED November 12, 2021: Earlier this week, the Council for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (CBMW) singled out one Texas church for criticism as part of a fundraising push in their newsletter. Instead of giving to the CBMW, many donors opted to give to the church CBMW criticized instead.

That church was First Baptist Church of Elm Mott, where the husband of author and Christian historian Beth Allison Barr serves as lead pastor. Barr is the author of “The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth,” wherein Barr recasts a vision for gender roles in the evangelical church, making the case for an egalitarian view.

CBMW, which exists to promote the complementarian view of gender, is apparently very concerned with the success and influence of Barr’s book, making mention of it in their November newsletter alongside “Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation,” which was authored by historian Kristin Kobes Du Mez.

While Barr does not hold any official role at First Baptist Church, CBMW still singled out the church, with CBMW executive director Colin J. Smothers accusing it of challenging “God’s revelation.” Smothers used First Baptist as an example of why CBMW exists, then pointing to the organization’s need for donations.

As the newsletter began circulating online, many began donating to First Baptist in lieu of the donations that Smothers requested for CBMW, encouraging others to do the same. In an outpouring of support for Barr and her church, donations have flooded into First Baptist this week, along with offers from many to donate their time and skills to help with the church’s website.

This influx of donations came at a time when First Baptist needed it the most. In an interview with RNS, Barr said that First Baptist has been struggling financially as a result of the pandemic, as well as recently being embezzled for more than $150K by a former church secretary.

Despite her theological disagreements with CBMW, Barr has expressed that her real concerns were CBMW’s personal attack on her church, as well as the fact that they called into question the genuineness of her personal faith.

“I told the @CBMWorg not to go after my orthodoxy. They didn’t listen,” Barr tweeted. “You can be a faithful Christian and reject patriarchy as unbiblical because it isn’t gospel truth.” She later added, “There is a difference between civil disagreement and personal attacks. And if you do not know the difference, figure it out.”

Throughout the week, Barr has tweeted updates regarding incoming donations. “More than $6500 from 80 donors has been given to our church,” she tweeted on Wednesday. “That is close to paying for a month of our operating budget. We are overwhelmed, humbled, & in awe of you.”

Living Unequally Yoked

Building Bridges

Evaluating Christian Social Clubs

What Does It Mean to ‘Deconstruct’?

Joshua Ryan Butler on Why People Deconstruct

The Place of Humility

Don’t Mock What You Don’t Understand

The Important Role of Elders

Everyone Playing Their Part

Ahmaud Arbery Murder Trial Controversy

Erwin McManus on the Genius of Jesus

Karl’s Interview and the Capitol Riot

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