Elevation Worship, Cece Winans, and for King & Country Land Dove Award Nominations

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August 13, 2021

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — North Carolina-based Elevation Worship and singer-songwriter Brandon Lake are each nominated for seven awards at the Gospel Music Association’s Dove Awards, and Elevation’s lead singer and songwriter Chris Brown earned nine nominations.

The 52nd annual Dove Awards are planned for Oct. 19 in Nashville, Tennessee, where the leading voices in gospel and worship music will be honored.

Steven Furtick, the pastor of Elevation Church in North Carolina and songwriter for the worship group, also had 10 nominations, making him the top non-artist nominee. Other artists with several nominations include for KING & COUNTRY, CeCe Winans, Ed Cash and Zach Williams.

Artist of the year nominees include Elevation Worship, for KING & COUNTRY, Lauren Daigle, Phil Wickham and Zach Williams. Gospel artist of the year include CeCe Winans, Jonathan McReynolds, Kirk Franklin, Tasha Cobbs Leonard and Travis Greene.

This article originally appeared on AP News.

Film Series ‘The Chosen’ Explores Its Catholic Side in the Eternal City

By

Claire Giangrave

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August 13, 2021

the chosen — Director Dallas Jenkins, left, speaks with actor Jonathan Roumie, who portrays Jesus Christ, on the set of “The Chosen.” Photo courtesy of Angel Studios

VATICAN CITY (RNS) This week Pope Francis met none other than Jesus in St. Peter’s Square. While greeting faithful on Wednesday (Aug. 11), the pope spoke with Jonathan Roumie, who portrays Christ in the series The Chosen and was visiting Rome to promote the show.

“Meeting the pope was essentially having a childhood dream be realized,” Roumie told Religion News Service later that day at Rome’s Hotel Indigo St. George.

Roumie has often spoken about his journey of “total surrender” to Jesus, a journey that led him from being a broke aspiring actor to the star of “The Chosen,” a series recounting the stories of the Gospels and currently preparing to film its third season, in March 2022.

Roumie had written down a few lines in Spanish to tell the Argentine pontiff in the long-awaited encounter, where he thanked Francis and asked for his prayers as he faces the challenge of interpreting Jesus. The pope’s face lit up when he learned this, Roumie said, and Francis told him “that it’s important that I invite him, that I find him and that it make me very happy.”

“The Chosen” was released in 2019 and became a global success thanks in part to its crowdfunding efforts — the largest ever recorded for a media project. The show has garnered more than 300 million viewers worldwide. Furthering its popularity, the series is readily available for free through “The Chosen” app.

A Catholic, Roumie was able to meet the pope through recommendations written by Bishop Robert Barron, who serves as auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Los Angeles, and the Rev. James Martin, who is an adviser to the Vatican’s communication department.

This moment, with @Pontifex…. 😭🙌🏽🙏🏽💕🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/iIRhnGSH2I

— Jonathan (@JonathanRoumie) August 12, 2021

Roumie has been in Rome since last week and has visited the city and its historic sites, later accompanied by the creator, director and co-writer of the show, Dallas Jenkins, and Neal Harmon, the CEO of Angel Studios, the show’s distributor.

Rather than being attracted to the monuments, basilicas and artwork of the Eternal City, the cast and creators of “The Chosen” were drawn to its relics, the testaments of the historical reality of Jesus and his disciples.

“Jonathan and I had a reflective moment seeing the tomb of the remains of Philip and James,” Jenkins told RNS, referring to the tombs of the apostles kept in a basilica in Rome. “That was a profound moment for me, just to be reminded that we are portraying real people,” he added.

Roumie was moved by a much larger relic, the 28 marbled steps known as the Scala Sancta or “Holy Stair,” located near Rome’s Archbasilica of St. John Lateran and believed to be the same steps Jesus climbed in Jerusalem to undergo trial before the Roman Praetor Pontius Pilate.

Ed Stetzer: Feucht, Locke and the Like Are a Sideshow — Quit Letting Them Distract You

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Ed Stetzer

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August 13, 2021

(RNS) In April 1721, Boston endured one of its worst epidemics when a ship arrived in its harbor carrying smallpox. As the disease ravaged Boston, it was one of its leading ministers, Cotton Mather, who, despite fierce opposition culminating in an attempted bombing of his house, became the leading voice of inoculations.

Years later, when a smallpox outbreak hit New England, Jonathan Edwards modeled similar leadership in recognizing that the personal risks of a vaccine were far outweighed by the common good. Believing his example would spur on others, Edwards — though not in good health — received the vaccine. The inoculation ultimately took his life — even as it saved many others. He gave his life, in a pandemic, for the good of his neighbors.

As historian Douglas Sweeney observes, “before the rise of modern medicine, ministers usually had to take the lead in showing support for doctors (who were often fellow pastors).”

These stories have been at the forefront of my mind in recent months as I’ve watched the split among churches over how to lead in response to a pandemic that, while less deadly than smallpox, has nevertheless wrought unprecedented damage across the globe. In most cases the division has been a difference in conscience and perspective, but distressingly, an emerging number of voices have begun to express their dissent with threats of violence. Their outcries reflect the language of personal autonomy and security over the historic models of selflessness and sacrifice. Take for example:

“If you show up to impede our First Amendment rights, we’re going to show up at the door with our Second Amendment rights.”

Spoken during the Freedom Matters Tour, these words belong to pastor Greg Locke and received a standing ovation. The founder and lead pastor of Global Vision Bible Church in Mount Juliet, Tennessee, Locke has been one of several religious leaders who have gained a public platform for their vocal opposition to COVID-19 restrictions. As a pastor, Locke bases much of his opposition in religious language and belief, exemplified in an Aug. 7 tweet displaying a sign reading: “This is a MASK FREE Church. Kindly Remove Them or Stay in your car. We Celebrate FAITH over Fear.”

This weekend in Portland, Oregon, worship leader Sean Feucht issued a similar threat. Feucht posted a picture of himself on Twitter, kneeling with his guitar in front of a group of men outfitted in military style vests, and warned, “If you mess with them or our 1 amendment right to worship God – you’ll meet Jesus one way or another.”

In other words, they are willing to take the life of their neighbor.

Feucht links himself to the counterculture revivals of the 1960s-’70s in describing himself as the leader of a new Jesus Movement and has adopted a posture of provocateur against COVID-19 restrictions. His tactics were detailed in a recent RNS column:

“(He) is known for being opportunistic when it comes to marrying politics with worship leading. Feucht … (travels) to spots in the United States where horrific deaths at the hands of police have taken place or where long-term protests in support of Black Lives Matter are going on. He sings happy songs about God being on his side, the speakers turned up to full volume in order to literally drown out the protesters’ cries for justice.”

In justifying these tactics, Feucht regularly interweaves Christian and civic language. In the aforementioned tweet, he praised his “security team” as “ex-military, ex-police, private security & mostly importantly LOVERS OF JESUS & freedom.”

But here is the reality: Locke and Feucht are sideshows in the midst of a global pandemic and a time of Christian service and mission. Hungry for media attention and skilled at getting the headlines, both have given many non-Christians another reason to reject Christianity.

When I call them sideshows, I mean only that they distract attention. Just as drivers are compelled to stop and look at a car wreck along the road, we can’t help but watch their antics. But to faithful Christians discouraged by their platforms and to onlooking media, let me again say: This is only a distraction.

Why You Need to Rethink Small Groups and Small Group Leaders Today

By

WordGo

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August 13, 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced Christian leaders to think outside the box about everything, as buildings closed and services moved online. But now that churches are beginning to reopen their doors for in-person gatherings, pastors can see that previous ministry models were designed for a world that no longer exists. It’s a whole new world, especially when we consider small group leaders and small group makeup.

What should small groups look like now, in a society that has radically and irreversibly changed?

What should small groups look like now, in a society that has radically and irreversibly changed?

Of course, some things haven’t changed — and won’t ever change. Christian community is still the cure for isolation. Small groups are still the ideal context for deep discipleship. And studying the Bible regularly with other believers is still the best way to grow and mature in faith.

But Where Have All the Small Group Leaders Gone?

Here’s a post-COVID reality check: Small groups can’t grow and multiply if you don’t have the leaders to lead them. Volunteer leaders and volunteers are hard to come by these days. They always were, but now it’s even harder in a time when people are reevaluating their schedules and reconsidering their more cumbersome commitments. Various estimates show that up to 50% of volunteers and volunteer leaders don’t plan to return to their church position following the pandemic.

With fewer leaders available, recruiting and retaining volunteer small group leaders will require fresh creativity and a deeper look into your church pewsYou will also need to cultivate understanding and engagement in people who otherwise might never consider serving in this capacity. Just think how many caring, genuine Christians immediately disqualify themselves from the position of small group leaders, due only to the sheer level of commitment they believe will be required. Many people think:

Facilitating a small group is vastly more complicated than participating.
They must shoulder the responsibility for the group.
They must be trained in all things “leadership.”
They must have an impressive knowledge of the Bible.
They need to spend long periods each week preparing resources.
They are signing up for an indefinite commitment.

Followers of Christ aren’t less committed to discipleship today than they used to be; far from it! But there is a widespread lack of confidence and a reluctance to sign up for an undefined commitment that people feel ill-equipped for.

You can re-envision small group leaders and your approach to small groups.

When considering post-COVID realities, it’s important to remember that while some things have changed, others haven’t. These foundational keys to recruiting and retaining small group leaders still ring true — though how you execute them may look different in your setting.

People networks and personal relationships encourage natural leadership opportunities.

You may have potential leaders in mind who are either already part of a small group or with whom you have an existing relationship. When you think of a small group leader, don’t think of a hole to fill. Think of someone you’re ready to invest in and help grow, then communicate that in a personal way. And be specific: People need to know why you can see them taking on the role.

Overly difficult or involved processes will become barriers to service.

Take time to review what you’ve been asking of small group leaders up until now. Can you reduce the hoops they have to jump through? Are you expecting them to spend hours in preparation each week? Take a hard look at how much you’re requiring and see if there’s a way to streamline your process so it doesn’t become a barrier to people who might otherwise lead. Onboarding a new small group leader shouldn’t be cumbersome or overly time-consuming.

If you want others to serve, invest in them.

Invest in small group leaders. Lavishly. Provide training in ways that are convenient and effective. Plan in-person events that provide something of deep relational value. Stay organized and available so they can rely on you as a resource. Invest in their personal spiritual and leadership growth. Get to know them. Pray for them. Check in regularly. Don’t just say you care; act like it.

Be clear and consistent.

You can make this new adventure more rewarding for volunteers when you are very clear about expectations, goals for spiritual growth, and logistics. While COVID taught us the need for flexibility is ever-present, it’s also essential to remain as consistent as possible. Be emotionally present and supportive with your leaders, and encourage them to be faithful to their small groups. Consistency builds trust and confidence in leaders, when other parts of life may still feel out of control.

Equip and empower your leaders.

Perhaps the most important aspect of recruiting and retaining small group leaders is how you equip and empower them. Church strategies for multiplying small group structures can feel pretty complicated at times. Should groups be open or closed; missional or devotional; peer or intergenerational; topical or exegetical; online or in-person? When we get caught up in the complications, natural relational leadership can become challenging.

Maybe we can rethink how we approach small groups.

There are ways you can make small group leaders’ lives easier — often with the help of innovative technology. Suppose the burdensome aspects of running a group were taken care of. Would many more people be inspired to get into groups, get into Scripture, get into quality content, and get into transformative community? Would more be confidently inspired to lead? When your leaders are properly resourced, educated, and equipped, they will be more empowered to facilitate and their small group members will be more engaged.

What if starting and running small groups is all about posture, not pressure? Let’s think in terms of mutual rather than top-down discipleship. In mutual discipleship, he process doesn’t begin with formal positions or training prerequisites. Instead, it starts from a simple desire to learn from God’s Word and invite others to do the same. This leaves room for God to call upon even the most seemingly unqualified person to initiate and step out.

There is an easy way to make this mutual discipleship model happen. And here’s where it gets radical. You can equip small groups with a free, fully-resourced app that’s intelligently designed with small groups in mind and provides everything needed for a great group Bible study experience.

The WordGo app by Bible Study fellowship takes the tried, tested and trusted BSF content, training and in-depth Bible teaching and makes it fully accessible to everyone, regardless of location, schedule or life stage.

Here’s how it works.

When a person downloads the app and signs up to become a Group Guide, they can easily start a study with friends. The app provides all the tools, resources and training needed to run a Bible study — all in one place.

No more searching for the next sound Bible study resource to do with the group. Users simply pick one of a range of well-established, well-written, widely trusted studies. The commitment level is clearly defined, as WordGo courses range from one to six weeks in length.

No more racking one’s brain for discussion prompts. The app provides a variety of thoughtful questions and creative ways to use them to unlock deeper conversation.

No more time-consuming program planning. WordGo provides doable and repeatable gathering programs that pave the way for organic conversation. The intro-gathering feature guides the group through its first meeting. Other recent features provide members with a regular plan generated from their mid-week collaboration; for example, the group interacts around the questions during the week and votes on which to prioritize for discussion.

No more going it alone. One initiates, everyone participates. One invites, everyone contributes. We don’t do life alone; you shouldn’t have to lead or study alone. The group trains together to have biblical conversations and become more like Christ in the process.

The app provides all sorts of features and content to help each Group Member get into the Bible and stay in it. These include a daily personal rhythm of study and automated reminders about Group Gatherings. Everyone is free to grow in their gifts as other Group Members can also agree to co-Guide from the start.

What Could Small Groups Look Like?

Providing doable, high-quality content and low-pressure coaching — creatively and compassionately combined with in-app convenience — is a great way to give people in your church the confidence to take that brave step of starting a small group Bible study for the very first time.

Rethinking Small Group Leadership: What Does a Group Guide Do?

The requirements for a Group Guide are straightforward and doable. A Group Guide:

Initiates/co-facilitates The app covers practical aspects of small group leadership — gatherings, study resources, tools, training — which free Guides to co-facilitate, contribute and encourage discussion with other Group Members.
Follows This person is a believer who guides from the back and follows the Lord as He leads. He or she points away from self and toward Christ, surrendering personal plans and preferences to God’s agenda for the group.

Prepares The app provides daily notes, questions and teaching, allowing the Guide to focus on the gathered part of the study — selecting questions, kickstarting conversation, praying for the group, and so on.

Serves This person doesn’t need to know all the answers, but needs a willingness to serve others. They first serve by setting up the study and gathering friends. The app serves the group with insightful teaching and explanatory notes. Guides and Members alike are then released to serve the group in whatever ways come most naturally.

Supports Guides don’t need to be everyone’s best friend but they should be friendly, supportive, and pursue everyone’s best interests. In-app and web training resources provide Guides with a steady flow of on-the-go (optional) support for working toward authentic discussion and genuine community in their group.
Collaborates Guides create space for the growth of the gathered-in at the gathering. The app provides ways to enable other members to participate fully in gatherings. Guides recognize that successful Group Bible study relies on everyone spending time with the Lord, sharing their thoughts, and being eager to learn.

Includes Guides lead by example and don’t need to dominate discussion, making room for every voice to be heard, then empowering others to do the same. WordGo training offers Guides and Members alike tools for acquiring and practicing these skills.

Creates Guides set the atmosphere for good discussion. The app provides thoughtful questions that fuel conversation; Guides can then benefit from WordGo resources that will help them set the tone for deep connection, prayer and practical life application.

Anticipates Guides surrender authority, control and the future of their group to God. They don’t attempt to force conversation but anticipate God speaking. They expect transformation.

Celebrates Guides aren’t disappointed if someone leaves or wants to start a new group; instead, they commit their efforts to the growth God has planned, then rejoice when God multiplies and reaches more people with His Word.

What Are the Qualities of a Group?

Small groups, when rethought, should have all of these qualities.

Transformative

We read, He speaks, We are transformed. We believe the best Bible study is done with friends.

WordGo Groups are a safe place for regular biblical engagement, authentic community and transformative dialogue between God, His Word and all people involved. The app training funnel makes it as easy as possible for Guides and Members to sign up and set a regular time and space for this transformation to occur.

Collaborative

One starts, everyone contributes. We don’t do life alone, you shouldn’t have to lead or study alone. Train together to become more like Christ.

A Group should be distinctly collaborative; small groups of believers living and speaking into one another’s lives; growing in mutual accountability, friendship and support.

Members should be encouraged to participate alongside the Guide in various elements of the gathering, according to a model of mutual, rather than top-down discipleship.

Organic

Bible study shouldn’t be hard. It should be a natural path to growth.

Groups are places where everyone can grow to pursue God’s agenda, grow into individual and collective callings, grow as a community, and grow outward in welcome, service and multiplication.

WordGo content and training provides a trellis for supporting growth, maturity and flourishing. Training is available to Guides and Members alike, and is non-compulsory, so you can go as deep as you want, when you want to.

Want to know more?

If you think WordGo could be a good fit for your congregation, download the app, try one of the courses or contact our support team for more information.

WordGo provides churches with a platform that offers them trusted content; enables them to set up small groups through easy organizational tools; helps them identify and train new leaders, and fosters meaningful connections between church members.

Lifeway: Americans Want to Avoid Fear and Anxiety, Gain Freedom and Safety

By

LifeWay Resources

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August 13, 2021

After what was a scary year for many, more Americans say they want to avoid fear and gain freedom and safety. According to a study from Lifeway Research, when asked which feeling they seek to avoid the most, 4 in 10 U.S. adults (41%) say fear. Far fewer say shame (24%) or guilt (22%). Around 1 in 10 aren’t sure.

Fear topping the list is a marked change from a 2016 Lifeway Research study that found Americans more evenly divided, but with shame (38%) being the emotion people most wanted to avoid, followed by guilt (31%) and fear (30%).

“For many Americans, circumstances in 2020 led to an increased focus on their fears,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. “Many feared getting COVID; others feared social unrest during protests; and politicians played on people’s fears in ads and speeches.”

Adherents of non-Christian religions (57%), adults 65 and older (49%), and those with a high school diploma or less (46%) are among the Americans most likely to say they want to avoid fear most of all.

Whites (25%) and African Americans (30%) are more likely to try to avoid shame than Hispanics (18%). But whites (23%) and Hispanics (25%) are more likely to want to avoid feelings of guilt than African Americans (15%).

Sources of Hope

When thinking about the adversity they faced last year, Americans looked around, looked up and looked at their bank accounts to provide them with hope.

The top source of hope for U.S. adults through 2020 is the kindness people have shown (40%), followed closely by relationships (38%), their religious faith (36%), and their finances being stable (33%).

“About half as many Americans who identify with a religious faith credit that faith with giving them hope during 2020,” said McConnell. “The Christian faith points followers of Jesus to a more hopeful future, which should shine even brighter during dark times.”

R.C. Sproul: The Mystery of Iniquity

By

R.C. Sproul

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August 13, 2021

It has been called the Achilles’ heel of the Christian faith. Of course, I’m referring to the classical problem of the existence of evil. Philosophers such as John Stuart Mill have argued that the existence of evil demonstrates that God is either not omnipotent or not good and loving — the reasoning being that if evil exists apart from the sovereign power of God, then by resistless logic, God cannot be deemed omnipotent. On the other hand, if God does have the power to prevent evil but fails to do it, then this would reflect upon His character, indicating that He is neither good nor loving. Because of the persistence of this problem, the church has seen countless attempts at what is called theodicy. The term theodicy involves the combining of two Greek words: the word for God, theos, and the word for justification, dikaios. Hence, a theodicy is an attempt to justify God for the existence of evil (as seen, for instance, in John Milton’s Paradise Lost). Such theodicies have covered the gauntlet between a simple explanation that evil comes as a direct result of human free will or to more complex philosophical attempts such as that offered by the philosopher Leibniz. In his theodicy, which was satired by Voltaire’s Candide, Leibniz distinguished among three types of evil: natural evil, metaphysical evil, and moral evil. In this three-fold schema, Leibniz argued that moral evil is an inevitable and necessary consequence of finitude, which is a metaphysical lack of complete being. Because every creature falls short of infinite being, that shortfall must necessarily yield defects such as we see in moral evil. The problem with this theodicy is that it fails to take into account the biblical ideal of evil. If evil is a metaphysical necessity for creatures, then obviously Adam and Eve had to have been evil before the fall and would have to continue to be evil even after glorification in heaven. To this date, I have yet to find a satisfying explanation for what theologians call the mystery of iniquity.

Please don’t send me letters giving your explanations, usually focusing on some dimension of human free will. I’m afraid that many people fail to feel the serious weight of this burden of explanation. The simple presence of free will is not enough to explain the origin of evil, in as much as we still must ask how a good being would be inclined freely to choose evil. The inclination for the will to act in an immoral manner is already a signal of sin.

The Mystery of Iniquity

One of the most important approaches to the problem of evil is that set forth originally by Augustine and then later by Aquinas, in which they argued that evil has no independent being. Evil cannot be defined as a thing or as a substance or as some kind of being. Rather, evil is always defined as an action, an action that fails to meet a standard of goodness. In this regard, evil has been defined in terms of its being either a negation (negatio) of the good, or a privation (privatio) of the good. In both cases, the very definition of evil depends upon a prior understanding of the good. In this regard, as Augustine argued, evil is parasitic — that is, it depends upon the good for its very definition. We think of sin as something that is unrighteous, involving disobedience, immorality, and the like. All of these definitions depend upon the positive substance of the good for their very definition. Augustine argues that though Christians face the difficulty of explaining the presence of evil in the universe, the pagan has a problem that is twice as difficult. Before one can even have a problem of evil, one must first have an antecedent existence of the good. Those who complain about the problem of evil now also have the problem of defining the existence of the good. Without God there is no ultimate standard for the good.

In contemporary days, the mystery of inquity has been resolved by simply denying both evil and good. Such a problem, however, faces enormous difficulties, particularly when one suffers at the hands of someone who inflicts evil upon them. It is easy for us to deny the existence of evil until we ourselves are victims of someone’s wicked action.

However, though we end our quest to answer the origin of evil, one thing is certain: since God is both omnipotent and good, we must conclude that in His omnipotence and goodness there must be a place for the existence of evil. We know that God Himself never does that which is evil. Nevertheless, He also ordains whatsoever comes to pass. Though He does not do evil and does not create evil, He does ordain that evil exists. If it does exist, and if God is sovereign, then obviously He must have been able to prevent its existence. If He allowed evil to enter into this universe, it could only be by His sovereign decision. Since His sovereign decisions always follow the perfection of His being, we must conclude that His decision to allow evil to exist is a good decision.

Again, we must be careful here. We must never say that evil is good, or that good is evil. But that is not the same thing as saying, “It is good that there is evil.” Again, I repeat, it is good that there is evil, else evil could not exist. Even this theodicy does not explain the “how” of the entrance of evil into the world. It only reflects upon the “why” of the reality of evil. One thing we know for sure is that evil does exist. It exists, if nowhere else, in us and in our behavior. We know that the force of evil is extraordinary and brings great pain and suffering into the world. We also know that God is sovereign over it and in His sovereignty will not allow evil to have the last word. Evil always and ever serves the ultimate best interest of God Himself. It is God in His goodness and in His sovereignty who has ordained the final conquest over evil and its riddance from His universe. In this redemption we find our rest and our joy — and until that time, we live in a fallen world.

This article on the mystery of iniquity originally appeared here, and is used by permission.

Van Ministry: 10 Tips for Getting Your KidMin Bus Rolling

By

CGP Kids

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August 12, 2021

Why does your church need a bus or van ministry? This outreach program provides opportunities to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19-20). Through a van ministry, unchurched children can hear and respond to the Gospel. Plus, kids are able to participate in Sunday school, children’s worship and other activities. And they might even encourage their entire families to join them!

Through a bus or van ministry, the local church moves outside its walls to the streets of surrounding neighborhoods. Community members begin to know the church as not just as a building but as a group of caring people. In turn, the church gets to know the people and their needs—and can develop relevant ministries.

Finally, a van ministry provides a church with the potential for sustained growth. Effective transportation programs help a congregation grow in numbers and in these areas:

More people will become involved in ministry and use their gifts to serve.
More people will take on leadership roles and develop as leaders.
Children who ride the bus or van will grow up to serve in that church or elsewhere.

4 Key Components of a Successful Van Ministry

1. Prayer

Because you’ll need to consider many things when developing a bus or van ministry, first begin with prayer. Seek God’s direction about all these issues: What routes will we travel? How will we get buses? Who will volunteer to serve? How will we minister to the children? How will we connect with their families?

2. Pastoral Support

Don’t move ahead until you have the green light from your pastor and the support of the church leadership team. Keep their support by involving them as intercessors and by communicating regularly.

3. Committed team

A bus or van ministry will succeed only if everyone is onboard. This includes bus personnel as well as Sunday school teachers, children’s worship leaders, and anyone who serves in kidmin. Communicate with the team regularly. Build community by spending time together and affirming each member.

4. Relationships

People mistakenly believe that if they buy buses, determine routes, and pass out flyers, they’ll have a successful van or bus ministry. But this program is successful only when the bus ministry team is willing to spend time building relationships with children, parents and others along their routes. We can build relationships by being in the neighborhoods regularly, getting to know the children and their families by name, and, when possible, meeting their needs.

10 Steps to Starting a Bus or Van Ministry

1. Establish a purpose statement.

Will you run routes any time other than Sunday mornings? Some churches have a van ministry program on Saturday; is this an option your church might consider? If you don’t have a children’s worship service, will you start one or have the bus riders sit in the adult service?

2. Prepare the church.

Help church members understand what you’re trying to accomplish. Share the benefits of being involved in this outreach ministry. Also keep people aware of what problems may arise.

3. Obtain vehicles.

Do you have a bus or van you can use, or will you need to purchase vehicles? If you have to buy buses, is money in the budget, or will funds have to be raised? Who might be able to recommend a good place to buy a bus or van, if necessary? If you plan to use smaller vehicles, consider 15-passenger buses instead of vans.

Youth Bible Study Teaching: 20 Tips to Liven Up Your Lessons

By

Andy Blanks

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August 12, 2021

Let’s face it: At some point, youth Bible Study teaching gets a little…predictable. Leaders tend to fall into the habit of using the same basic teaching methods over and over. Even if those methods are good, constant repetition isn’t. We risk losing students’ attention (at best) or failing to capture it in the first place (at worst).

Because we’re talking about youth Bible study teaching and God’s Word, not math (sorry, math teachers), there’s an added importance to being as effective and engaging as possible. Browse through these ideas to help you spruce up your lessons.

20 Tips to Liven Up Your Youth Bible Study Teaching

1. Adjust the room set-up.

Switching your set-up is a super-easy way to liven things up. Who doesn’t appreciate a change in scenery?

2. Use an object lesson.

If a lesson plan needs a little life breathed into it, I find an object or image I can use as a metaphor. It really helps drive home the theme I’m teaching.

3. Encourage creative participation.

Let students create something. Tie in an activity where teens take pictures with their phones or write words on a giant sheet of paper. Paint is magical, for some reason. Have students use paint to draw or write.

4. Competition rules!

Don’t be afraid to craft some group games or competitions to use in your youth Bible study teaching.

5. Use video.

If you don’t use videos regularly, arrange to show one. Take the extra steps to borrow or otherwise finagle the necessary equipment to make it happen.

6. Don’t use video!

If you use a video or media clip each lesson, take a break for a lesson or two. Plug in another suggestion from this list instead.

7. Get kids moving.

With a little creativity, you can adapt pretty much any lesson plan to get students up out of their seats. Use stations. Ask yes-or-no questions of the group, where one response has students standing up or sitting down.

Ed Stetzer: 5 Attitudes to Have When You Are in an Unhealthy Place

By

Ed Stetzer

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August 12, 2021

In part one of “Moving Unhealthy Organizations Toward Health,” I shared six signs you may be working in an unhealthy Christian organization. Unfortunately those issues occur more often than any of us would like.

When I’ve talked or written about this previously I get interesting responses. Sometimes I will have more than one person from the same organization contact me to thank me for bringing attention to this. My exhortation to them, or to you if that is you, is simple — I’ve been there; hang in there but get out as fast as you can.

If you do find yourself in an unhealthy Christian organization, I encourage you to consider that God may want you to leave it. My own standard is this: will staying here hurt my walk with God or harm my family?

You might be able to handle it, but you have to ask how it will impact your family as well. You may notice that the leader often talks about the priority of family, but generally only gives priority to his or her own family — if even them. You are the only one who is advocating for your family. It is your calling to protect them.

Being at a place that “makes a difference” sounds good, but if you end up with a confused spiritual life or broken family, it is just not worth the price. You do not want to be a “great place” and have a broken life because you have become warped by the culture around you.

That is indeed what happens. You can often see the impact on those close to the leader. An unhealthy Christian organization tends to have two things going on at the top of the organizations:

First, many of the best leaders leave (and the leader finds a way to spin their departure).

Second, the leaders that stay take on the unhealthy characteristics of the organization and/or the leader, becoming part of the problem (even though they often bemoan the attributes of the leader). In a sense, we reproduce who we are––creating “mini-me” personalities of the leader.

Yet, that is what the unhealthy leader wants — no one to disagree or give another idea. So, in all likelihood, your best scenario is to leave.

If you believe you need to leave, start praying and looking for another ministry opportunity. This recognition of a different future will likely ease the daily pain and struggle, and help you to face each day. When you know you are going to leave, you can deal with staying a lot easier — and I know this from personal experience. When I have been in unhealthy situations, once I decided I was going to leave I did not worry so much about what was going on around me. Either way, trust your future to Christ and he gives peace that passes all understanding.

Amid Calls to #TaxTheChurches – What and How Much Do US Religious Organizations Not Pay the Taxman?

By

The Conversation

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August 12, 2021

(THE CONVERSATION) The hashtag #TaxTheChurches began trending on Twitter in mid-July.

The spark was allegations about the wealth of celebrity pastor Joel Osteen. But it wasn’t the first time that “tax the churches” has circulated. In fact it is slogan that long predates social media – Frank Zappa was singing it back in 1981 and Mark Twain expressed similar sentiments many decades before that.

As a sociologist of religion, I’ve long been interested in why religious institutions are exempt from certain taxes and what that means in potential lost revenue for the U.S. In 2012, I examined this issue and estimated that in total, churches in the U.S. get out of paying around US$71 billion in taxes annually.

Auditing the house of God

Most religious organizations are exempt from a variety of taxes that individuals and businesses are required to pay, like income and property taxes. These exemptions began formally in 1913 at the federal level, though there is a much longer history of exempting charitable, educational, scientific and religious institutions from taxation.

It is important to note that faith organizations can be exempt from paying taxes solely based on their religious work, not for any other charitable endeavors. Churches and religious organizations – which the IRS loosely defines as entities organized for “religious purposes” or for “advancing religion” – are listed separately from other tax-exempt entities and charities and can be subject to different rules. Some religious congregations do engage in relief efforts for the poor and needy, but many do not. And of the ones that do, many give a very small amount of their revenue for such charitable purposes.

Additionally, unlike charities, churches and other places of worship are not required to report any financial information to the IRS. The IRS encourages churches to do so, but they are not required to. And it can be an onerous process for the IRS to gain approval to audit places of worship, requiring prior evidence of abuse of tax exemptions reported by a high-level Treasury employee.

In many places in the U.S., income is taxed at the local, state and federal levels. Religious institutions do not pay any income tax at any level of government. Additionally, individuals and corporations that donate to religions can deduct those expenses – once they are above a specific amount – from their taxable income.

Heavenly bank accounts

Religious organizations also pay no taxes on their investments, whether it be interest they earn on their investments or in capital gains – the increased value of stock from when the stock was purchased. As such, they are able to invest excess revenue in the stock market or other investment instruments but pay no taxes on the corresponding earnings. One Fortune 500 company, Thrivent, originated as a financial services organizations for Missouri Synod Lutherans in 1902, and then for all Lutherans in the 1960s. It was called Thrivent Financial for Lutherans up to 2014, but it now manages the investments of members of many religious congregations as well.

Costi Hinn Weighs In on Mark Driscoll: ‘The Drug of Power Is Addicting’

By

Jessica Lea

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August 12, 2021

Costi Hinn weighed in yesterday on pastor Mark Driscoll, who has been in the news again recently due to allegations of toxic leadership. Hinn, himself a pastor and ministry leader, pulled no punches in his comments, using words like “tyrant” and “abusive” in his description of Driscoll’s behavior.

“The human ego has an appetite like nothing else,” said Hinn in a Twitter thread on Aug. 11. “It doesn’t matter what theological camp it’s fed in, it wants to believe that it is the ‘best’ or ‘most’ of anything. Sometimes it’s loud and aggressive like Driscoll, & sometimes it’s quiet and passive. But the monster must eat.”

Costi Hinn: Mark Driscoll Is Like a Mafia Boss

Costi Hinn is the president and founder of the ministry, For the Gospel, as well as executive pastor of discipleship at Redeemer Bible Church in Phoenix, Ariz. Hinn is also the nephew of Benny Hinn, a televangelist known for conducting faith healings and preaching a prosperity gospel. In 2019, Benny Hinn said he was repenting of his prosperity gospel teachings, although some at the time questioned his sincerity, noting he had “repented” in the past.

Costi Hinn grew up believing the prosperity gospel, but has since rejected it. He is now outspoken about the dangers of that false teaching, as well as about other concerning trends in American Christianity. Wednesday, Hinn stepped into the broader evangelical conversation on abusive leadership as it relates to Mark Driscoll, a conversation that has lately been fueled by Christianity Today’s podcast, “The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill.”

In 2014, Mark Driscoll stepped down as pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, Wash., amid allegations that he was an abusive leader, had lied, and had misappropriated funds. Less than a year-and-a-half later, Driscoll announced he was starting a new church in Arizona, and he launched The Trinity Church in Scottsdale, which is east of Phoenix, in 2016.

Within the past few months, reports from Trinity church members have surfaced that Driscoll is continuing the same toxic behavior at his new church that he displayed at Mars Hill. Members report controlling and cult-like behavior and say that Driscoll has set up the church with himself as the top authority with no accountability from elders or a board. In July 2021, former elders at Mars Hill released a statement pleading with Driscoll to resign as pastor of Trinity.

Costi Hinn reinforced these sentiments in his thread. “As a pastor in the Phoenix area,” he said, “in barely 2 years I have had a front row seat to Driscoll sinking his teeth into local pastors in the name of ‘leadership coaching.’ He’s still the same Mark—influencing leaders.”

1/ A thread on personal Driscoll lessons:

As a pastor in the Phoenix area, in barely 2 years I have had a front row seat to Driscoll sinking his teeth into local pastors in the name of “leadership coaching.”

He’s still the same Mark—influencing leaders.https://t.co/OfaSods5Ov

— Costi W. Hinn (@costiwhinn) August 12, 2021

Infrastructure Bill Includes Energy Efficiency Grants for Houses of Worship

By

Yonat Shimron

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August 12, 2021

(RNS) — Buried on Page 1,729 of the trillion-dollar infrastructure bill approved by the U.S. Senate on Tuesday (Aug. 10) in a bipartisan vote is a project titled “Energy efficiency materials pilot program.”

It would fund $50 million in grants to nonprofits, including religious congregations, so they can buy new energy efficient heating and cooling systems for their buildings. The program, to be administered by the Department of Energy, would provide grants of up to $200,000 each for nonprofits that want to purchase new HVAC units and popular generator brands or fund replacements of windows and doors to make them more energy efficient.

The relatively small item in the substantial infrastructure deal has been in the works for years. It was spearheaded almost a decade ago by the Orthodox Union Advocacy Center, a Jewish public policy arm representing one of the largest Orthodox Jewish group in the U.S., and supported by a coalition including the National Council of Churches, the National Association of Evangelicals and the YMCA of the USA.

“For synagogues, energy and utility costs can be the most expensive line item in their budget, especially if they have a small staff,” said Nathan Diament, executive director of the Orthodox Union Advocacy Center.

This project, he said, would allow congregations to “allocate greater funding to programs and services and less to energy bills, ultimately decreasing their energy footprints.”

Back in 2012, the Orthodox Union worked with Sens. Amy Klobuchar and John Hoeven to push for the Nonprofit Energy Efficiency Act, which was reintroduced in Congress twice since then.

Maintaining older sanctuaries has become an ever-increasing burden. Congregations of all faiths are aging and membership is declining, putting a greater financial strain for building upkeep on fewer people.

Given the overall size of the infrastructure bill, the project is tiny. If it awards maximum grants of $200,000 each, it would only help 250 nonprofits.

There are an estimated 350,000 religious congregations in the U.S.

Still, it’s an important measure, said Galen Carey, vice president of government relations for the National Association of Evangelicals, part of the coalition that pushed for the program.

“Anything we can do to help the energy efficiency in the nonprofit sector is good for mitigating climate change and the operating efficiency of nonprofits that play such important roles in our society, “ Carey said.

The main features of the $1 trillion infrastructure measure the Senate passed would mostly pay for roads, bridges, rail and water systems. The bill now goes to the House, where it may face a bumpy path. Some Democrats have suggested the measure falls short of what they seek.

Nonprofits have a much harder time accessing energy efficiency subsidies, which typically come in the form of tax credits. Since nonprofits don’t pay taxes, the tax credits aren’t useful to them.

At the same time, many religious congregations have deferred maintenance upgrades for years and are paying costly utility bills as a result.

Felipe Witchger, executive director of the Community Purchasing Alliance, a Washington, D.C.-based cooperative that helps struggling churches and nonprofits buy basic services, said 80% of religious congregations desperately need maintenance upgrades on such items as aging heating and air conditioning units, leaky roofs, drafty windows, cracks in the basement and crawl spaces.

“HVAC and building envelope improvements can reduce 20 to 30% in energy usage and cut carbon emissions,” said Witchger.

Recently his cooperative helped Mount Lebanon Baptist Church, a historically Black Washington, D.C., congregation, replace a $30,000 HVAC system for which the congregation took out a 20-year loan.

Funds awarded through the pilot project grants would not pay for labor, only materials, Diament said.

He was “pretty optimistic” the energy efficiency project would survive whatever changes the House makes to the bill. Assuming President Joe Biden signs the measure this fall, Diament said he hoped the Energy Department would be in a position to award the first grants in 2022.

This article originally appeared here.

Beth Moore Calls Out Unvaccinated, Unmasked Christians; Greg Locke and Sean Feucht Respond

By

Jesse T. Jackson

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August 12, 2021

Bestselling Christian author Beth Moore‘s tweet calling out Christians who politicize the COVID-19 virus has gone viral and received many reactions, including from outspoken pastor Greg Locke and “Let Us Worship” leader Sean Feucht.

Moore’s tweet began with: “If we are in Christ, it is unconscionable for us to in any way politicize this virus. What on earth are we doing???”

“Our sides are not more important than lives,” Moore wrote, adding that Jesus calls Christians to “serve sacrificially.” Her frustration evident, Moore added: “For the love of God, we gotta love our neighbors. Even our enemies!”

If we are in Christ, it is unconscionable for us to in any way politicize this virus. What on earth are we doing??? Our sides are not more important than lives. We are Jesus people called to serve sacrificially. For the love of God, we gotta love our neighbors. Even our enemies!

— Beth Moore (@BethMooreLPM) August 10, 2021

The Living Proof Ministries’ Bible teacher made it clear she wasn’t talking to non-Christians. “For all our Jesus-talk, where on the ever-loving earth is our Jesus-walk?” she asked. “Jesus wasn’t playing when He called us to a whole different ethic from the world. We’re not loud-mouth boasters. We’re servants. We SERVE.”

Moore equated unvaccinated, anti-mask Christians to saying, “My rights are more important than your life. Sorry, not sorry.” The former Southern Baptist wrote in all capital letters (which is widely understood to be yelling): “For the love of God, PUT ON A MASK IN PUBLIC PLACES WITH VULNERABLE PEOPLE.”

“Go ahead & unfollow me. I don’t care,” Moore told people who were offended by what she tweeted. Then she closed the tweet with: “FOLLOW JESUS.”

Stare in the face what some of you are saying:

MY RIGHTS ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOUR LIFE. SORRY, NOT SORRY.

If you’re not going to get vaccinated, for the love of God, PUT ON A MASK IN PUBLIC PLACES WITH VULNERABLE PEOPLE.

Go ahead & unfollow me. I don’t care. FOLLOW JESUS.

— Beth Moore (@BethMooreLPM) August 10, 2021

The next day, Moore expressed to her followers that she was all “worked up,” and said she cares about people. “As I live and breathe, it’s that I care and don’t want people to get sick and many die and leave loved ones devastated. I want to do right by people, protect people where possible, in Jesus’ name. Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy. Lord have mercy.”

7 Ways to Make the Most of Online Weekly Worship

By

Eric Geiger

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August 11, 2021

One of my favorite verses about our weekly worship gatherings is found in the Psalms:

Come, let us shout joyfully to the Lord, shout triumphantly to the rock of our salvation! Let us enter his presence with thanksgiving; let us shout triumphantly to him in song. For the Lord is a great God, a great King above all gods. (Psalm 95:1-3)

In the passage we see community – “us” coming together. We see intensity “shout triumphantly” and we see intentionality – as people are invited to come together and to “enter His presence.” In other words, gathering together should not be passive. And it should not be something we take for granted or something we mindlessly approach as if we are “just going through the motions.”

There have been, for many years, debates on the merit of “church online.” Admittedly, I fall in the middle of the two sides – of those who view “church online” as fully church and those who do not stream their services out of a theological conviction. I believe we should use all the tools at our disposal, including technology, to spread the gospel. Which practically means we stream our services at the church I serve as pastor. And at the same time, I believe people miss a lot when they do not gather physically. We don’t hear each other sing. We don’t get to interact with multiple generations and cultures. We don’t get to serve the body as a whole. Which practically means I don’t refer to our weekly worship online gatherings as one of our campuses or as the totality of a person’s church experience.

Online church is a shadow of a shadow. Our regular gatherings are a shadow of the eternal gathering, where we will one day worship with people from every tribe tongue and nation in glorious bodies set free from the presence of sin. And our online gatherings are a shadow of our physical gatherings, where we will one day gather together again and hear our brothers and sisters sing. Just as our physical gatherings should help us long for the eternal gathering, I pray our online gatherings will cause us to long for physical gatherings.

We are in a moment where the shadow of the shadow is the best we have. And we should make the most of it. As we are gathering online for weekly worship, I want to encourage us to approach the worship services actively – not passively. It will take you willfully choosing to be active because the television screen has trained us to be passive.

7 Ways to Make the Most of Online Weekly Worship

1. Be ready, where you will watch, before the service begins.

Don’t have the service passively playing in the background. Set the room and make the time of worship the focus of the hour. If you can’t make it on time to online church, you will likely never make it to church when it begins. Which means you miss so much!

2. Put away other electronic devices.

If you are multi-tasking, you won’t be able to fully engage.

3. Pray that the Lord will teach you and encourage you.

Take time before the service begins to ask the Lord to speak to you.

4. Sing aloud. Yes, it feels awkward at first. But go for it!

Some people don’t sing in church because they feel embarrassed by their singing. It is just you or you and people who love you. Go for it!

5. Follow along in your Bible. Take notes.

Don’t be lazy in hearing the message (Hebrews 4:11). Press in.

6. If you normally give in the giving boxes or offering plate, give online.

Your church will not be able to function as she is functioning without God’s people being generous.

7. Reflect on the message or discuss the message with others.

I believe God will use this season to develop in us a healthy longing for our weekly worship gatherings, a longing to participate with one another, to encourage one another. Perhaps God will use this time to develop some of our worship gathering muscles. Perhaps we will grow more comfortable in singing. Perhaps we will get in the habit of being present for the whole service. Perhaps our weekly gatherings will be sweeter on the other side of this chaos.

This article on weekly worship online originally appeared here, and is used by permission.

A Prayer for Man: Interceding for Guys Who Struggle With Despair

By

Paul Maxwell

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August 11, 2021

We men soothe ourselves with illusions of strength, with fantasies of control, with digital delusions. We daydream about becoming titans in our own world—respected, loved, honored, desired. But we’re often hurting…to the point that we’re destroying ourselves. Prayer for man has never been more important.

We men know we’re never going to have the physical strength of Superman. We’ll never be as debonair as Bruce Wayne. But most of us would choose to be an important villain instead of a sidelined extra and weak civilian. Part of us would choose to be Bane, or Lex Luther, who has a name, who has a role, whose purpose is forcibly impressed on the world, over a faceless innocent who needs to be rescued and whose story is never told.

We want to be the heroes of our own stories, and of the stories of others. For men in the 21st century—a time when heroism is measured by popularity and admiration, quantified publicly by social media followers—going viral is perceived as a more meaningful success than becoming virtuous; we gladly choose the fame that succeeds over the faith that needs.

The higher we climb this ladder—the deeper our devotion grows to this myth about being the beloved hero—the more devastating the consequences of failure. The more visceral and soul-destroying the consequences of remaining unrecognized. Body fat, minimum wage, no 401k, rejection by women, disapproval by older men, these are unbreakable shackles that chain us to our self-hatred.

Our wickedness breaks the illusion of our self-righteous control; our failures put boot to neck on our fantasies of strength. As men, we’re given every reason in the world to despise ourselves, and at the same time we’re supplied with every resource imaginable to distract ourselves from ourselves—distractions that ultimately push us deeper into our hatred.

Why We Need Prayer for Man

According to a recent large-scale study by the Centers for Disease Control, 78% of Americans who kill themselves are male. (Suicide is also the second-leading cause of death among Millennials.) Why are so many men killing themselves?

Peer-bullying is a leading cause of suicide among middle-school and high-school students. But we might assume that self-bullying is the leading cause of suicide among 20-something men. We’re slammed against a brick wall we have no idea how to handle: We feel like failures. Emotions take over. Despair sits like a stone in our stomachs, like concrete boots dragging us toward what feels like our inevitable end. “I’m not going to make it.” Dejection, laced with a fatal sense of our own wretchedness—of our own hate-worthiness: “Stupid.” “Ugly.” “Lazy.” “Idiot.”

Maybe God can save us from eternal damnation, but can he save us from ourselves now?

Say This Prayer for Man With Me Now

Men, allow me to speak to God for us. Approach his throne with me—as aspiring heroes, as failures, as those tempted with the idea that a bullet is a greater relief than any grace God can provide:

Lord, you tell us one of the hardest things we could possibly hear: that we’re never forced to pull any trigger. Death beckons us only by intruding on our memory of your goodness:

“You have not remembered the Rock of your refuge…in a day of grief and incurable pain” (Isaiah 17:10–11).

Incurable pain. How could you possibly make our failures as men any more palatable? How could you break us free from the entangling distractions that numb us to the pain of those failures?

Are you unfamiliar with our rejection? Do you know what it’s like to know that if people watched our daily lives, our secret moments, they would write about how we’re pathetic and immature “man-boys”?

“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not” (Isaiah 53:3).

Despised. Rejected. Men hid their faces from you. Hated. Ugly. Okay. Maybe you know a little. But you don’t know what it’s like to feel the weight of God’s rejection compounded on that rejection. You don’t know what it’s like for God to hate you.

“Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God and afflicted… Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief” (Isaiah 53:4, 10).

You know what it’s like. But can you end my suffering? I need this pain, this despair, to stop. Can you somehow make it bearable? If I’m going to survive, I need my life to be better. I need to be loved. I need to find some solace.

“Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied… He bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:11–12).

You’re talking to the Father about me? You’ve dealt with my guilt. You don’t count my failures as the final word on my identity. You want me to stay. You want me to be satisfied with you.

That feels so hard. Impossible, actually. Is that satisfaction you speak of real? Even if it’s real, is it attainable? Is there any defense against despair’s razor-sharp teeth quietly shredding my soul, draining my sense of purpose, telling me everyone would be better off without me? What could you possibly say? My realities are unresolved.

Continue

Prodigal Son Coloring Pages: Free Printables for Kids

By

Daniel So

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August 11, 2021

When your Sunday school class, children’s church or small group is learning about Jesus’ parable of the prodigal (or lost) son (Luke 15:11-32), use these free prodigal son coloring pages that kids will enjoy. Keep them handy as extra time-fillers at the end of a service or class. You also can send them home with students as take-home papers.

Prodigal son coloring pages will help children remember the parable and its key points. These include the fact that God our Father forgives us and runs to welcome us back home. Download and print them to reinforce these important lessons from God’s Word.

Louie Giglio says the Prodigal Son parable is all about the glory of God. “The glory of the story has never been the son,” he says. “The glory of the story is the father.” The Luke 15 parable, Giglio adds, “was always about the father who would not take no for an answer.” That father “with outrageous grace received his son back from the dead, celebrated him and reconnected him into a future story.”

By teaching the parable of the prodigal son, you’re conveying this lesson, according to Giglio: “God is a God of relentless grace and the outrageous pursuit. That God is a God who is unlike any other god.”

Download the Prodigal Son Coloring Pages Now

To download these free coloring pages, right-click on the link that says “download the printable PDF.” Then choose “Save As.” Print as many copies as you need for your church’s children and their friends.

The sequenced format of the coloring pages is ideal for helping children process the events that occur in Jesus’ parable. The main page has four panels that illustrate the events of Luke 15. Kids can even create a poster or story board by arranging and gluing the panels in order.

These prodigal son coloring pages are a resource provided by Ministry-to-children.com

UPDATE: Trans Pastor Seeks $200K in Damages for Being Fired After Coming Out

By

Megan Briggs

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August 11, 2021

UPDATED August 11, 2021: Rev. Junia Joplin, who was fired by her former church in Ontario, Canada, after coming out as transgender, has filed a lawsuit against the church for wrongful termination. Joplin pastored at Lorne Park Baptist Church in Mississauga and is seeking $200,000 in damages.

“Too often, religion is used as a sort of blanket excuse to justify all kinds of bad behaviour – including human rights violations,” said Joplin in a tweet about the suit. “That way of thinking needs to be challenged.”

Joplin’s suit alleges that Lorne Park Baptist Church broke the Human Rights Code by discriminating on the basis of gender identity and also posits that the church was “unfair” in how it went about deciding to terminate the pastor’s employment. This process included holding several town hall meetings, after which church members voted by a narrow margin to remove Joplin as pastor.

The church counters that this process was carried out in a “careful and thoughtful manner.” In a statement Wednesday, the chair of the church’s executive council, David Huctwith said, “In the end, the congregation voted to terminate her employment as lead pastor of the church, with the majority of the votes to terminate made for theological reasons. We offered her what we think was a fair severance.” The church also believes it complied with the Human Rights Code, which has an exemption for religious organizations.

ChurchLeaders original article written on July 23, 2020, below:

Just one month after their pastor announced she is transgender, a church in Ontario, Canada has voted to remove her from her position. Junia “June” Joplin told the members of Lorne Park Baptist Church she is transgender in a sermon streamed online on June 14, 2020.

For Joplin, coming out is an expression of her God-given identity: “I want to be the person that God created me to be,” she said in her sermon. “I want to experience the health and wholeness and abundance of life that Christ has been calling me to experience.”

Joplin was the pastor of Lorne Park Baptist Church in Mississauga, Ontario (a suburb of Toronto). Originally named Justin Joplin and from North Carolina in the United States, Joplin moved to Canada in 2014 to serve as the senior pastor of Lorne Park. Joplin has two children.

On July 21st, Joplin posted to her Twitter account stating that out of the 111 Lorne Park members who voted, 58 voted in favor of termination and 53 not in favor.

Speaking to CTV, Joplin said that when she heard how the vote went, she “had a cry but almost immediately started thinking about what comes next.”

Pastor Justin Becomes Pastor June

Joplin did not tell the congregation before the sermon on June 14th what she was planning to announce. Joplin said she was “anxious” and “nervous” that day in a way she hadn’t been prior to preaching.

Maine Faith Leaders Sign Letter Calling on Sen. Susan Collins to Back For the People Act

By

Jack Jenkins

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August 11, 2021

For the People Act — The Rev. Donna Dolham speaks during a press conference at the Allen Avenue Unitarian Universalist Church, Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2021, in Portland, Maine. RNS photo by Jack Jenkins

PORTLAND, Maine (RNS) — More than 125 religious leaders and people of faith in Maine have signed a letter calling on lawmakers to support the For the People Act, adding to substantial religious pressure on elected officials to pass the sweeping federal voting rights bill.

In a news conference unveiling the letter at Portland’s Allen Avenue Unitarian Universalist Church on Tuesday (Aug. 10), a trio of faith leaders championed various provisions of the For the People Act, which would overhaul federal election law in ways advocates say will help vulnerable Americans vote.

“Working for this legislation is a faithful response to the belief that all people have inherent worth and dignity,” said the Rev. Donna Dolham, minister at Allen Avenue.

Dolham and other speakers directed their remarks toward Sen. Angus King, an independent who typically caucuses with Democrats, as well as Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican who sometimes operates as a rare swing vote in an evenly divided Senate.

Speakers echoed faith leaders in Georgia, Texas and elsewhere who have expressed outrage at efforts by state-level lawmakers to pass legislation the faith leaders say would restrict voting rights — laws that would likely be challenged by the For the People Act.

“This is the nexus of public policy and faith for me: Members of Congress take an oath under God to protect and defend the Constitution. That also includes protecting the rights guaranteed to individuals under the Constitution,” said Marge Kilkelly, a former King staffer and state lawmaker who also serves on the board of directors of the Maine Council of Churches as a lay Episcopalian.

“Those rights are being stolen by state legislatures to benefit themselves. ‘Thou shall not steal’ is one of the Ten Commandments in both Hebrew and Christian traditions.”

Pious Ali, a Portland City Council member who also spoke at the news conference, invoked an Islamic prohibition against oppression when explaining his support for the For the People Act.

Vandals Steal College Ministry’s Pride Flags, Replace With Confederate Flags

By

Stephanie Martin

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August 11, 2021

An on-campus Methodist ministry at Virginia Tech (VT) called the Wesley Center has had its pride flags stolen before; in fact, it keeps extras handy for that reason. But until recently, vandals had never replaced those rainbow-colored signals of support for the LGBTQ community with something else.

On Saturday, the Wesley Center, a United Methodist ministry group located on VT’s Blacksburg, Va., campus, reported what it describes as a “hate crime”: Someone took down the pride flags and replaced them with Confederate flags, which many associate with racism and discrimination.

Wesley Center: Students Are Frightened

Last weekend, the Wesley Center posted about the incident on Facebook, showing blurred-out photos of the Confederate flags—including one hanging over a Black Lives Matter sign. “This active display of hate is unacceptable and malicious,” the post states. “Wesley will always work to be a safe and affirming place for everyone.”

Bret Gresham, the center’s campus minister, describes the incident as “an escalation” and says LGBTQ students are “hurt, saddened and scared” by it. “My number-one concern is the students and making sure they feel they have a safe environment to come, to live out their faith and be affirmed in who they are,” he adds.

Because “active hate can be traumatic and triggering,” the Wesley Center is encouraging people to “reach out if you need to process or talk about this event.”

The criminal investigations unit of the Blacksburg Police Department is handling the case and asking for tips. This is the third time in two weeks that the center’s pride flags have been stolen.

Community Is Supporting the Wesley Center

Comments on Facebook indicate that the Virginia Tech community is rallying around the campus ministry. “VT and the Wesley Foundation are special, sacred spaces for me and so very many students and alum over the years,” one person writes. “This is a place of grace and acceptance; it hurts deeply to see this kind of hate and desecration!”

“Please know that you have a community encircling you and praying for you,” reads another comment, which concludes with the words of Micah 6:8: “What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.”

According to news reports, the center is looking into setting up security cameras to deter future theft. Someone asks on Facebook, “Do you have a mechanism for donations to replace the flags and install security cameras?”

Gresham says, “This hate crime goes against all that we believe, and we want our LGBTQ+ community to know that we will always love, support, and embrace you with open arms.” The campus minister also says the vandalism requires a Christian response. “This is a call to continue to love all people and to pray for all people, even the people who have done this,” he says. “And that’s a hard thing, but something we are called to in our faith.”

As numerous denominations and the entire Christian church grapple with how to relate to the LGBTQ community, how can your congregation engage in loving, biblical discussions? For ideas and insights, listen to the ChurchLeaders podcast series “LGBTQ and the Church.”

Lecrae Reacting to Billy Graham Clip About Jesus’ Skin Color Goes Viral

By

Jesse T. Jackson

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August 11, 2021

lecrae billy graham — The not-so "churchy" Christian hip hop artist and Grammy award winner Lecrae posted a Billy Graham video on TikTok that has received over 477,000 views and 11,000 comments and continues to grow.

The not-so “churchy” Christian hip hop artist and Grammy award winner Lecrae posted a Billy Graham video on TikTok that has received over 477,000 views and 11,000 comments and continues to grow.

The video is a split screen of a vintage Billy Graham sermon on top and Lecrae’s reaction to the sermon on the bottom.

Lecrae doesn’t say a word during the entire 55 second video, yet uses facial expressions to speak his thoughts regarding Graham’s words to the crowd.

The clip of Graham’s sermon was taken from a 1971 crusade event in Chicago.

“And don’t you Black people ever forget one thing,” Graham said in his sermon. Lecrae can be seen raising his eye to indicate he was listening and not sure where this was going.

“The man that helped Jesus carry the cross was a Black man,” Graham stated to which Lecrae’s facial expression reacted in agreement, but still unsure where Graham’s point was headed.

Graham who was starting to make his main point told the audience, “And don’t ever forget another thing.” Lecrae then shows an anticipated “I’m listening” type of look in the camera.

“Jesus belongs to Africa as much as he does to Europe and Asia,” Graham preached and Lecrae again nodded in agreement. “He was born in that part of the world that touches Africa and Asia and Europe,” Graham continued.

Then Lecrae gave a look of surprise when the iconic evangelist told the crowd, “And Jesus was not a white man like me!”

As Graham continued he also said, “Nor was he as Black as some of you.” Because we have no physical picture of Jesus, other than what is depicted in Scripture Graham explained, “We don’t know what the color of his skin, but it must have been a dark color like the people of His day, because He was a man like them.”

Lecrae’s reaction showed astonishment that came from Graham’s lips; a white evangelical preacher.

“Don’t ever say it’s a white man’s religion or a Black man’s religion. It’s a world religion! He belongs to the world,” Graham said as the clip ends. The video shows thunderous applause to which Lecrae himself seems to also agree.

Watch the video below:

@_lecrae #duet with @jtoker1 #christian #jesus #fy

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Lecrae Says He No Longer Feels He Has To Be “Churchy.”

In a recent interview with NGEN Radio Lecrae shared that he went through a lot of “spiritual deconstruction” over the past few years and as he is “reconstructing” admits “I love Jesus, but I’m not ‘churchy.’” Something Lecrae said he used to be ashamed of.

Lecrae’s definition of “churchy” doesn’t mean disfellowshipping with believers but it’s a Christian culture that looks and talks a certain way.

His deconstruction was more about deconstructing from “America’s version of Christianity,” than Biblical absolutes found in Scripture. This seems to be something Billy Graham was helping to do in 1971 when he told thousands of people in that room that Jesus wasn’t a white man.

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