Two Vital Needs of Every Believer: Being and Making Disciples

June 22, 2021

Jesus calls us to follow him, and teaches us how to call others. I’m not talking about evangelism, I’m talking about making disciples. Real discipling is about making a way for others to approach the Father. If we’re only talking about Jesus, most of us are comfortable enough, but our comfort is not his first concern. He told the twelve, “I’ve discipled you, now go and do the same.” (Matthew 28:16-20)

As his followers, we are called into making disciples as well, teaching others to obey everything he commanded. There are two great problems as we attempt to live up to this commission today:

Being and Making Disciples

1. Being Disciples

First, many of us see discipleship only in terms of following Jesus–almost never in terms of leading others. How many of us receive the call to be his disciple as a personal call from God to become a leader? That’s right, he’s talking to you. We may come to him because we need a Savior, but if we choose to become a follower of Jesus we must also realize we are also choosing the responsibility to lead others. This is what it means to follow him: we act on his behalf in the lives of others. It’s more than “sharing our faith.” It’s taking responsibility for other people’s lives until they are mature followers of Jesus. He showed us–in very practical ways–exactly how it works.

2. Making Disciples

Second, if we try to lead others, we run the risk of demanding from other people obedience to Jesus without actually equipping them to obey him. Jesus gave his disciples the tools necessary to live a healthy life with God. He did more than demand, he empowered his followers. He did more than point the way, he was the way. He pointed to issues of the heart, he included his students as partners in ministry, giving them hands-on experience, and he introduced them to the Holy Spirit, effectively opening the resources of heaven to each of his disciples. What about us? As disciple makers, do we interact with those God has given us in the same way? Do we teach about heart-matters? Do we release our students into ministry? Do we introduce them to the Holy Spirit?

It starts with a paradigm shift: we cannot equip others until we believe we are called to lead others. It will not do to claim, “I have no one to lead.” Jesus is our model: he came in obedience to the Father and simultaneously became a leader of others. We must do the same. God has provided venues for our leadership: in our homes, among our friends, at work or school, or in our community. We were called to change the world by allowing God to change us–and by becoming change agents wherever he leads us.

Being and making disciples — both these challenges are critical to our personal development as students of Jesus. Our personal spiritual growth depends on coming to terms with these challenges, and the destiny of others depends on our response as well. Plenty of Evangelical churches encourage people to share the gospel. Few of them call their people to the task of making disciples. By disconnecting evangelism from discipleship our churches are effectively suggesting to believers that’s OK to have spiritual babies and abandon them.

Our Personal Growth Depends on Making Disciples

What if our spiritual growth depended upon making disciples, that is, raising others in the faith? In fact, our personal growth depends on that very thing. Any responsible parent can tell you that having a child–and raising it–changed their lives for the better. When we look after the development of another person our selfishness dies away. When our concern is for the spiritual success of another we are forced to determine what really works in the Christian life–and what doesn’t. Something is missing in us until we make disciples. Something is missing in the world around us when we fail to teach others how to obey everything he commanded us.

Who knew discipleship would require everything we have? I suspect the Jesus did.

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

Woman Donates Kidney to Hubby’s Ex-Wife Days After Wedding

Kelli Kennedy

June 22, 2021

woman donates kidney — CORRECTS ID TO JIM MERTHE NOT JIM STRICKLAND Two days after Debby-Neal Strickland, front left, and Jim Merthe were married in November, Debby donated a kidney to James' ex-wife Mylaen Merthe, center back, as the three get together Tuesday, May 25, 2021, at a restaurant in Ocala, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Ten years after their first date, Debby Neal-Strickland put on a cream-colored lace gown and married her longtime sweetheart at their Florida church. Two days later, she put on a hospital gown and donated a kidney to Mylaen Merthe — her new husband’s ex-wife.

An unusual story? Yes. But the tale of Jim Merthe and his two wives is a testament to how love and compassion can triumph over division.

Mylaen, 59, had long struggled with kidney disease. By last year, she was ghostly pale with dark circles under her eyes, dragging herself through the workday with no energy. By the time she was admitted to the hospital in November, her kidneys were only functioning at 8%.

Her brother offered to donate a kidney, but wasn’t a match so Debby volunteered.

Jim and Mylaen have been divorced nearly two decades, but they got along well as they raised their two children, and as Jim fell in love with 56-year-old Debby. The women were friendly at family gatherings, though not especially close.

And Debby knew that Mylaen was about to become a grandmother for the first time — her daughter was pregnant.

She imagined Mylaen’s daughter giving birth, “and her mom not being there. I just couldn’t not try to change that,” she said. “God told me, ‘You’re a match and you need to do this.’”

Giving is what Debby and Jim do. At their home in Ocala, they are raising six children — a 6-year-old girl with autism and five teenagers. Some are Debby’s biological grandchildren and some they are fostering.

But Debby’s desire to help Mylaen ran deeper. She spent years watching her brother die of cystic fibrosis while awaiting a double lung transplant. She offered one of her lungs, but she wasn’t a match and he needed two.

“When somebody needs an organ, if they don’t get it, they’re probably not going to make it. I know it’s something that you do quickly,” she said.

Debby passed the initial match for blood and tissue and began more complex testing while juggling a house full of kids — and at one point, toting a urine collection jug for 24 hours.

Mylaen tried desperately not to get her hopes up, focusing instead on her future as a grandmother.

Meghan McCain: Biden Is Doing ‘Grave Spiritual Harm’ to the US by Supporting Abortion

Jessica Lea

June 22, 2021

Meghan McCain, daughter of the late Senator John McCain, has called out President Joe Biden for supporting the federal funding of abortion. McCain, who is one of the co-hosts on The View, said that by taking this stance, Biden is doing “grave spiritual harm” to the U.S.

“He’s going to have to ultimately talk to his Creator when the time comes as we all do and reconcile his politics with his personal faith,” said McCain, “and I believe he’s doing grave spiritual harm to himself and to this country.”

Meghan McCain: I Don’t Get It

Meghan McCain is one of five co-hosts on The View, a talk show where women with a variety of perspectives discuss hot topics in the news. On June 21, the co-hosts had a conversation about a recent decision by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to move forward with drafting guidance that could prohibit Biden from receiving Communion due to his political support of abortion.

Actress and comedian Whoopi Goldberg asked McCain, the only pro-life co-host on The View, if she was suprised by the bishops’ decision. McCain responded that such a move was not unprecedented, giving as an example past calls for New York governor Andrew Cuomo to be denied Communion (in that case because Cuomo was living with his girlfriend).

McCain went on to say that she recognizes all people are on their own spiritual journeys, and she does not impose her views on others. However, she noted that these are “life and death” issues for Catholics and devout Christians and said, “If you are a devout Catholic, as President Biden claims to be, abortion is a cardinal sin that can do deep spiritual harm to you.”

McCain observed that at one point in his career, Biden supported the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits the federal funding of abortion except in the cases of rape, incest, and when the mother’s life is threatened. The president changed his stance after he announced his candidacy for president in 2019, and McCain pointed out that Biden’s budget proposal also shows this change in stance.

Prior to Biden reversing his position, in April 2019 McCain posted her support for the then-presidential candidate on Instagram. Biden was set to appear on The View for his first interview after announcing his candidacy, and McCain wrote, “It’s no secret of my love and friendship with Joe, and I can’t wait to talk to him tomorrow.”

McCain told Goldberg she knows her co-hosts disagree, but “as far as I’m concerned, abortion is murder, and that means the government funding of killing of the unborn.” She added that she does not understand Biden’s position that he personally opposes abortion, even though his policies support it. McCain compared this viewpoint to someone saying, “I’m personally opposed to murder, but if you want to murder a little bit, it’s fine, because it’s not my problem. It doesn’t register with me; I don’t get it.”

McCain’s fellow co-hosts expressed confusion over the U.S. bishops’ outspokenness on the issue of abortion when there are other politicians living inconsistently with other Catholic doctrines. Co-hosts Sunny Hostin and Joy Behrar mentioned support for the death penalty as one example of the incosistency they perceive. Hostin also brought up the fact the Catholic church defines divorce and adultery as sins, but prominent Catholic leaders have not seemed concerned about Newt Gingrich, a Catholic who divorced his second wife to marry a woman with whom he had an affair. Gingrich actually converted to Catholicism after marrying his third wife, Callista, but the fact remains that Callista Gingrich later became the U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican.

Meghan McCain later tweeted, “I do not care how much pressure or how uncool it makes me in media circles, I am ardently pro-life. I am proud to be and will always fight for the rights of the unborn. I wish the media would employ more than one woman on network tv instead of treating us like we’re fringe freaks.” Pro-life organization Live Action tweeted its support for McCain, saying, “Thank you, Meghan McCain, for courageously standing for life.”

Ben Zobrist, World Series Hero for the Cubs, Sues Former Pastor for Alleged Affair With His Wife

Bob Smietana

June 22, 2021

(RNS) — Ben Zobrist, who helped the Chicago Cubs break a century-old championship drought, has sued his former pastor for millions in damages.

In a complaint filed in Tennessee circuit court, Zobrist alleges his former pastor engaged in an “inappropriate sexual relationship” with Zobrist’s wife and betrayed the confidence placed in him.

The complaint alleges Byron Yawn, a Nashville businessman and former pastor of Community Bible Church, was offering pastoral care and friendship to the former major league baseball player while having an affair with Zobrist’s wife.

According to text messages included in the complaint, Zobrist confided in Yawn about troubles in his marriage. In a February 2019 text exchange, Zobrist told Yawn he was putting off reporting to spring training after learning his wife had spoken with a divorce lawyer.

He also told Yawn his wife had alleged “emotional, verbal, and spiritual abuse.”

“Can’t be 2,000 miles away from her and kids while she’s thinking that about me. I have owned every bit of my sin, but I will not own the abuse angle,” Zobrist said in the text message reproduced in the complaint.

“I am sure it’s like getting knocked off your feet and into your head,” Yawn replied, according to a text included in the complaint. “But I can’t imagine what it feels like in this moment. Your a husband and a father first. That’s who you are.”

Yawn also served as director of Zobrist’s charity.

By his actions, Zobrist alleges, Yawn “breached his fiduciary duty toward the Plaintiff as well as his duty of confidentiality and trust that existed by virtue of his pastoral relationship with the Plaintiff.”

The complaint also alleges Yawn proposed a budget for Zobrist’s charity that would pay him $36,000 a year and used his role at the charity to spend time with Zobrist’s wife.

The affair between Zobrist’s wife and Yawn was exposed after the pastor’s wife found a burner phone her husband had been using, the complaint alleges.

Due to his marital troubles, Zobrist took time off from the Cubs, a decision the complaint says cost him $8 million.

Yawn was quoted in a 2009 Baptist Press story about Zobrist, which detailed the former major leaguer’s outreach efforts to support pastors. Zobrist’s father is a pastor in Illinois and Zobrist said he gave tickets to pastors and tried to help them “in any way he can.”

“We know with the kind of stuff they’re dealing with on a regular basis, for them to get away and enjoy a game every once in a while is a special thing,” Zobrist told Baptist Press.

Yawn is quoted in that Baptist Press story, praising Zobrist for his commitment to his faith.

“He considers his word to another person to be his bond,” Yawn told Baptist Press. “His commitments are a very high priority. He has a very deep, sincere desire to love Christ more than he did the day before.”

Zobrist and his wife, Julianna, a Christian musician, co-authored the 2014 book “Double Play” about faith and family. The couple has three children.

Illinois’ Peoria Journal Star, which first broke the news of the suit, reported that Zobrist filed for divorce in Tennessee in 2019 and that Julianna Zobrist filed a countercomplaint for divorce in 2020. Neither Yawn nor Julianna Zobrist responded to requests for comments from the Journal Star, according to the newspaper.

Zobrist, a Peoria native, played college baseball at a pair of Christian schools — Olivet Nazarene Univerity and Dallas Baptist Universit y — and broke into the major leagues with the then-Tampa Bay Devil Rays. (The team is now known as the Rays.) A utility player, Zobrist played second base, shortstop, and in the outfield.

He played in three World Series, losing the series with Tampa in 2008 and winning championships with the Kansas City Royals in 2015 and the Cubs in 2016. He was named MVP of the 2016 World Series. He retired after the 2019 season.

This article originally appeared here.

Denying Communion: The Holy War Against President Biden

Jeffrey Salkin

June 22, 2021

(RNS) — “Not my circus, not my monkeys.”

Translation: This is not my area of concern or expertise, and I don’t have much to say about it.

In general, that has been my attitude toward other religious faiths. “Not my sacred circus, not my liturgical monkeys.” You do you; I do me.

Except, when it comes to how you deal with the Jewish people, the state of Israel — or, for that matter, how you deal with all people. That’s when I get involved, and that is when it becomes my circus and my monkeys.

Like, for example, now — when I learned American Roman Catholic bishops have overwhelmingly voted to draft a new document addressing the sacrament of the Eucharist, an effort many of the bishops themselves have connected to denying President Biden Communion because of his support of abortion rights. The vote was 73% in favor; 24% opposed. The conservative American bishops are doing this in flagrant violation of warnings from the Vatican.

This has happened to President Biden before. When he was a presidential candidate, he was denied Communion at a church in South Carolina.

In my honest opinion — truly, in my humble and decidedly un-Catholic opinion — this seems wrong, dangerously wrong.

First, we are talking about President Joseph Biden. The New York Times called him “the most religiously observant commander in chief since Jimmy Carter.”

This happens to be one of the things I like the most about President Biden — his love for his faith and its rituals. I will always cherish the memory of the show when he and Stephen Colbert talked about their personal losses and how their Catholic faith influenced and inspired them — and they both wept publicly.

I cannot and will not worm my way into canon law, no more than I would expect the local Catholic priest to weigh in on halacha.

But, from this Jewish vantage point, it seems foolish to deny access to the body of Christ to the most visible Catholic political leader in the world.

This is especially true because to deny him Communion is a blatantly political act.

From the Pew Research Center:

Second, this cannot be good for the church — not at a time when it has experienced profound losses.

Again, Pew:

Based on what some of my Catholic and lapsed-Catholic friends are saying, denying Communion to President Biden is not a good move. It only further alienates them from the church. It says to them American Catholicism would be happy to become the sole sanctuary of the politically and culturally conservative. This is hardly a growth strategy.

Finally — and again, from my outside-the-church vantage point — the denial of Communion to President Biden smacks of inconsistency at best and hypocrisy at worst.

Why hypocrisy?

Because I fail to see any references to the church denying Communion to, say, priests who have been found guilty of sexual abuse.

I write this column neither in anger nor in snark, but in sadness. I have great respect for Catholicism, even when I do not agree with its positions. I have great respect for Catholicism’s principled stances on war, its activism for the poor and its fight against hunger.

In short, I write this as a friend.

For the love of God — literally — let President Biden continue to receive Communion.

It is good for him, good for the church and good for those Catholics who are watching.

This article originally appeared here.

Caring About People: How to Shepherd the Invisible Church

Dan Reiland

June 22, 2021

OK, your congregation isn’t actually “invisible,” but at times, it can seem that way, at least for a large portion of the people.

How do you shepherd people you don’t see?
This is the new era of “invisible” congregation; it’s a new challenge to demonstrate that you care.
Should you chase people who’ve been gone for six months or a year?
Some people don’t want to be chased any longer. How do you know?
How do you show you care?
Everyone is different, so how do you know what they need?

Reaching new people is the vision of leadership; shepherding people is the soul of leadership. Both are essential.

It’s easy to get focused on one or the other, but both are vital to the expression of a healthy church.

It seems natural to lean into vision right now, and again that’s vital, but we can’t falter on shepherding and aspects of discipleship merely because they are currently more difficult.

One pastor said it this way. “It’s kind of like when my kids moved out. They don’t want me calling all the time, but they still want to know I care, and I’m there when they need me.” That’s not easy to navigate.”

The approach to shepherding will have some differences depending on the size of your church, but the essence is the same.

And it always starts with the leaders who set the example.

A Shepherd’s Heart

Caring about people means you are willing to climb into messy.

Be honest about what it means to care.

I’m sure you’ve experienced a boss, teacher, waiter, landscaper, or salesperson, or other person, where you thought, I don’t think they care.

Caring about people isn’t automatic, and it requires intentionality. Caring also carries with it the willingness to get involved in difficult or painful situations.

Transformation rarely comes without raw moments of truth, which are often a little messy.

If that kind of caring isn’t in you, ask God to give it to you, and He will.

It’s necessary to be healthy to help others become healthy.

It requires a degree of emotional and spiritual health to have the personal margin needed to care for others.

This does not suggest a flawless life, but one that is strong and secure enough to pour into someone else.

Part of remaining healthy is knowing your limitations and boundaries. You can’t help everyone, so focus on listening so you know who He wants you to personally shepherd.

Embrace the reality of the absence of a shepherd.

Without a shepherd, believers, especially younger Christians, are susceptible to the enemy.

This is not an indictment on any of us who lead; I fully understand it’s difficult to shepherd people who are not there, and it’s impossible to get to everyone.

(Phone calls and texts are helpful, but only go so far.)

It’s good to remember that there is an enemy who prowls about and seeks to destroy.

5 Guidelines to Shepherd Your People Well in a Time When the World Has Changed

Start with the people you can see.

It’s easy to inadvertently overlook those who are with you because of your passion for reaching those still not reconnected back in relationship with the larger body.

What Makes Hell, Hell?

Paul David Tripp

June 22, 2021

It is perhaps the most uncomfortable aspect of Christian theology to talk about, but if we have any tenderness in our hearts, it should make us passionate communicators.

What is it? The belief in the existence of hell, a place of eternal punishment for the wicked.

We cannot escape this doctrine in the Word of God. If you live a life of unrepentant spiritual adultery, denying God’s existence, breaking his wise commands, and forsaking his glory for your own, you will spend eternity in hell.

What is hell, and what makes hell hell? For at least three reasons, this sad and ominous reality should produce both grief and motivation.

1. Separation from God

Every person, believer or unbeliever, benefits from the existence, power, and grace of God. The Lord’s presence is what holds the world together and gives the universe its order, beauty, and regularity. Imagine what would happen if, for just one moment, God withdrew his presence. Everything around us would explode into utter chaos!

Now, imagine that chaos, with absolutely no end. It’s impossible to communicate the horror of this reality. Hell is an existence far beyond any darkness that any human being has ever experienced.

2. Inhumanity

Read Romans 1:29–31 and consider how far humanity has tumbled from the perfection that was the Garden of Eden: “They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.” (ESV)

The King James Version translates “heartless” as “without natural affection” – progressive loss of an individual’s humanity. Remember, the Apostle Paul was writing about his present society, where God was still exercising restraint. Imagine the inhumanity that would ensue if God allowed every wicked impulse free rein because he completely withdrew his presence.

3. Unending Torment

Jesus describes hell as a place where “the fire never goes out” and where “the worms that eat them do not die” (Mark 9:43, 48, NIV). God will say to some, “Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41, ESV). It truly is a place of torment forever and ever (see Luke 16:23 and Revelation 14:11).

You might be thinking, “Isn’t Wednesday’s Word supposed to be a weekly devotional of encouragement? Why write such an explicit piece about the horrors of hell?”

The fact that we think eternal punishment is harsh and makes God less than fair demonstrates how far we have strayed from the biblical understanding of how destructive evil is and how gloriously holy God is.

The biblical description of hell’s torment is a gift to us from God, a mechanism for us to weigh the magnitude of the sinfulness of our sin and to remember what is truly important in this temporary life.

So yes, be encouraged (and sobered) by the warning of hell. Celebrate that all who have put their trust in Jesus (by grace alone) will never see the dark side of eternity. Agonize over the eternal, God-separated torment that awaits those who have rejected that rescuing and forgiving grace.

And then act. The doctrine of hell must shake us out of complacency. You should not be able to read what I have just described with a nonchalant passivity. Any genuine follower of Jesus will wish that no one would ever experience eternal punishment and want to participate in communicating the message of eternal salvation.

Today, ask the Lord to free you from your claustrophobic bubble of temporary comforts. Pray that the Spirit prompts you to prioritize eternal destiny over physical pleasures. Love your neighbors by telling them about heaven and hell.

God bless,

Paul David Tripp

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. Do you believe, or have you believed in the past, that eternal punishment is too harsh and that God might be less than fair? What led you to believe such things?

2. How is the doctrine of hell, and the fact that God warns you about it, a comfort and a blessing? Be specific in your application to everyday life.

3. Where are you witnessing a progressive loss of humanity in your society today? How can you get involved and incarnate the righteousness, compassion, and justice of the Savior?

4. What temporary comforts and pleasures do you prioritize or idolize? How should the doctrine of hell change your relationship with those things?

5. Identify one or two people that God has placed in your life who do

This content was originally posted by Paul Tripp on www.paultripp.com

Creating Facebook Group for Church Members

Bryan Haley

June 21, 2021

When I was a teenager, the only Facebook groups I was a part of were some iteration of, “New phone, need contacts.” Anytime someone lost their phone, or got a new phone, they’d create a group with the intention that all of their friends would join the group and send them their phone number—and that was it. Today, Facebook groups are a completely different monster. I’m part of groups based on interests, life stage, culture, geography, family, skills, and work. We all need to learn how to utilize Facebook groups and get involved in creating facebook group for church members.

Groups on Facebook allow people to be a part of an online community with shared interests. Groups can feel more secure and relevant to users, and are a great way for churches to communicate with their congregation and actively engage the broader community.

Creating Facebook Group for Church Members

1. Fundamentals First

Let’s start with the fundamentals of Facebook. We won’t cover everything here (if you need a more comprehensive introduction, check out our free ebook, “Facebook for Churches”), but here’s a broad overview if you’re newer to social media and trying to figure out if Facebook groups are right for your church.

Facebook Page—this is an outward facing profile for your organization (business, charity, church, club, etc.). You can create ads from your Page so more people are exposed to your Page and the message you’re presenting. Anyone can see these posts.

Facebook group—There are three types of groups: public, closed, and private. Based on your group’s purpose, you may want to choose any one of these three privacy settings.

Often, the difference between a Page and a group is explained like this: a Facebook Page is outward facing, while a group is inward communication. That’s a generalization, but it may be helpful.

2. Congregational Communication

If we assume the axiom above is true, then it makes sense that what you post on your Facebook Page should be more outreach-oriented, community-minded material. Your Page should probably focus on more first impression or informational type posts, like the upcoming spring clean up at the neighborhood elementary school, not on letting Susie know she left her Bible in the sanctuary on Sunday morning

But Facebook groups provide a massive opportunity for your church to build community among the congregation. Groups can be established for the congregation as a whole, for individual ministries, and even for functional teams. Members can post needs, requests, recommendations, and more—and church leadership can communicate critical information—posting urgent information, communicating about cancellations, and more.

You can create as many Facebook groups as you’d like for your church. From all congregation groups to segmented groups—like parents of elementary children, women, moms, families on the north side, the co-ed softball team—the options are endless. The benefit of segmented groups is that you can communicate targeted messages to appropriate groups of people.

4. Outreach Opportunity

I’m sure your wheels are spinning now about all the different groups you could create for your internal church communications. That’s good. But don’t forget your community.

One thing I wish I saw more of is churches participating in community-based Facebook groups. There are tons of needs, interests, and events in your community and your church can be part of the conversation about them. Find community-based Facebook groups that are formed around the demographics, values, and the interests of your church. If you have an original group idea, or already have a physical group that’s meeting a new need for your congregation and community, create a Facebook group!

Creating groups based on interests, lifestage, or other elements can be an incredible way for your church to build a presence online and a rapport with people that you may otherwise never have the opportunity to reach. I’m talking about groups like:

Neighborhood Moms
Pick up Kickball at First Church
Families of the Neighborhood
City Business Recommendation/Exchange
Free Stuff (Get free stuff, and get rid of things you don’t need anymore).

That’s five ideas off the top of my head. Coming up with ideas is easy. But before you engage in creating facebook group for church members, confirm that that it doesn’t already exist in your community. Then, tie the group to the church’s Facebook Page, but don’t just use it as another place to publish things about your church. Be genuine. Post information that will be helpful to your community members. Build relationships with members. Create community. It may not be the way we’ve always done things, but it’s a great, new opportunity to expand beyond the doors of your building and do outreach in your community.

Facebook groups present a huge opportunity go build genuine community amongst not only your congregation, but the neighborhood or city around you as well. Start thinking outside the box—how could your church get involved in creating facebook group for church members to build community?

This article about creating facebook group for church members originally appeared here, and is used by permission.

Survivor Advocates Have Words of Warning About SBC’s Investigative Firm–‘Take Great Care’

Stephanie Martin

June 21, 2021

During last week’s annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), messengers determined that an independent task force would oversee Guidepost Solutions’ investigation into the denomination’s handling of sexual abuse allegations. Now some victim advocates are questioning how independent that pricey third-party firm really is—and whether it merely makes “delicate matters” go away.

Guidepost Solutions Investigated

Survivors of church-based sexual abuse claimed victory last week when the SBC, in a near-unanimous vote, decided to establish an independent task force to assess how it dealt with previous abuse claims. After the vote, the SBC’s Executive Committee indicated it is “confident” the investigation will result in the “ultimate blessing of removing all doubt in the minds of our community of Southern Baptists, allowing us to chart a more confident future together.”

But several people are raising questions about the chosen investigator, Guidepost Solutions, saying its background merits investigation itself. In a Twitter thread from last week, author and professor Wade Mullen—who has studied spiritual abuse extensively—lists numerous concerns about Guidepost and concludes: “Churches and ministries in need of independent investigations must take great care when making decisions because their next steps can either bring much needed light, and perhaps healing, or bring more darkness, and worsen the suffering.”

Mullen mentions several high-profile clients that have hired Guidepost to manage and respond to abuse allegations. These include Harvey Weinstein, a former movie mogul who was convicted of rape; Dominique Strauss-Kahn, a former head of the International Monetary Fund who was charged with but acquitted of sexual assault and prostitution; Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM), where whistleblowers were allegedly shunned; and The Summit Church in North Carolina, which was criticized for its vetting of Pastor Bryan Loritts, whose brother-in-law served jail time for sexual abuse.

In addition, Mullen notes that Bart Schwartz, founder of Guidepost, previously faced misconduct allegations from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. And prior to starting Guidepost, Schwartz “came under scrutiny in 1999 for using subterfuge to gain information,” Mullen tweets.

Is Guidepost Solutions Truly Independent?

Journalist Julie Roys, who applauds Mullen’s “excellent work,” tweets that Guidepost “is being upheld as the gold standard in SBC. Yet all one has to do is look at how they handled the [Summit] investigation to know something is wrong. They seem to specialize in exonerating the guilty.”

In an article titled “Red Flags Surface About Firm Hired to Investigate SBC’s Handling of Abuse,” Roys points to a 2014 interview with Andrew O’Connell, then-CEO of Guidepost. He told Private Wealth magazine his firm offered risk-mitigation services to high-profile clients who tend to be “in crisis mode and…just want their problem to go away.” Guidepost, said O’Connell, is “very good at making the problems go away with the least amount of repercussions for the client.”

On the Guidepost Solutions website, the bio for current CEO Schwartz notes that he’s “described by The New York Times as the person ‘often sought out in…thorny situations.’”

Boz Tchividjian, a prosecutor who founded GRACE (Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment), last week tweeted a decade-old exposé about Guidepost, writing: “This is a major problem if this is the same Guidepost Solutions hired by the @SBCExecComm to conduct an ‘independent review’ of their responses to sexual abuse disclosures.” The June 2011 article in Canadian newsmagazine Maclean’s calls Guidepost “the best snoops in the business” and says the firm reportedly charges $700 per hour per investigator.

Dee Parsons, editor of Wartburg Watch, tweeted on June 19: “One of my readers said that it appears that Guidepost Solutions does opposition research. So why are they using them for the SBC investigation into how sex abuse is handled? Victims…beware!”

Advocates Push for Thorough Research, Victim Support

Todd Benkert, the Indiana pastor who called for a system-wide audit of the SBC, tweeted today: “Southern Baptists, resist the urge to defend ourselves to survivors of SBC sexual abuse. Trust must be earned.” Last week, he wrote: “Guidepost will do whatever they are hired to do. That’s why it’s so important that @EdLitton choose the members of the task force carefully. I nominate @R_Denhollander who has both the knowledge of sexual abuse and legal expertise to help set the parameters of the investigation.”

Is Matthew West’s ‘Modest Is Hottest’ Video Really a ‘Lighthearted Take’ on Modesty?

Jessica Lea

June 21, 2021

Christian singer and songwriter Matthew West has said that the purpose of his new music video, “Modest is Hottest,” is to remind his daughters that their value does not depend on their outward appearance. However, many see the song as perpetuating damaging purity culture messages that shame women for men’s lust.

“My daughter’s [sic] might actually disown me after this one, “ West joked on Twitter. “It’s for all of the fathers out there whose daughters are joining TikTok and starting to date. The struggle is real.”

West described the song as a “light-hearted take on an age-old struggle” and added: “As a dad raising daughters, this song is my ridiculously silly way of reminding them that their appearance doesn’t define them. While the world might focus on the outward appearance, the Lord looks at the heart. Regardless, they are beautiful inside and out! (Even in turtlenecks).”

Matthew West’s ‘Modest Is Hottest’

Matthew West’s video, which features West, his wife, and his two daughters. is clearly intended to be cheesy and over-the-top. But it is not a satire.

West opens the song telling his daughters that he has tried to raise them well. But now “the boys are coming round ’cause you’re beautiful,” so he wants to give them some advice about the clothes that they’re wearing. The lyrics say:

Modest is hottest, the latest fashion trend
Is a little more Amish, a little less Kardashian
What the boys really love is a turtleneck and a sensible pair of slacks
Honey, modest is hottest, sincerely, your dad

If I catch you doing dances on TikTok
In a crop top, so help me God
You’ll be grounded till the world stops
I’m just kidding, no I’m not

The song seems to come from Matthew West’s genuine anxieties as a father over his daughters as they are growing up. He wants them to make good decisions about how they dress, so he decided to make a tongue-in-cheek song about his concerns. Many of the people who reacted to the video on Facebook took it that way.

“This is a sweet song and video,” said one. “It [is] hard for amazing fathers to see their little girls grow up. Keep pouring the values and God’s word into them.” Said another, “You deliver hilarious and creative lyrics with a heart behind them. Love watching your whole family having fun in this video. Great job again!”

However, other Facebook users were troubled by the song. One woman said, “Since we’re teaching girls about dressing modestly and I believe it’s important to teach them to ask themselves the question but isn’t it just as important to teach the boys as well….just a thought.”

“I am disgusted by this song and this ‘artist,’” said another, “and feel horrible for his daughters to have to grow up being told that what they wear defines them and that what they wear is responsible for the actions of the males around them. This is the type of man who claims a women [sic] was ‘asking’ to be raped because of what she was wearing.”

Another pointed out the song’s ties to purity culture: “Purity culture has messed up a bunch of us so maybe this is a little tone deaf.”

Michael W. Smith : ‘Six Principles I Learned From My Dad’s Life’

Religion News Service

June 21, 2021

(RNS) — My dad was an incredible baseball pitcher, taking his career all the way up to the minor leagues. Growing up, we spent many late afternoons out in the yard throwing a ball back and forth. Catching my dad’s pitches from his left-handed throws became second nature for me. But as the years went by, there’s a different kind of catch I began to field from my dad.

There’s an old saying that goes, “More is caught than taught.” I had a front-row seat to see how to live a life of integrity and honor by watching my dad’s life. Sure, he gave me plenty of sound advice and wisdom over the years, but we all know that seeing someone live out their beliefs carries far more weight than their words talking about it. Lessons are best learned from someone who leads by example more than from an expert who lectures.

I learned so many great principles from my dad by observing and “catching” his tireless work ethic, constant desire for excellence and service to people in every area of his life. I want to share six of those truths with you that I utilize every day in being a husband of 40-plus years, a dad with five adult children, and 16 (and counting?) grandkids. Oh, and just so you know, my grandkids call me G-daddy. As a musician, I’m grateful the name they gave me turned out to be more hip-hop than IHOP.

Principle #1 — Balancing quality and quantity time is crucial to grow in love and influence.

For quite a while, born out of a crazy-busy culture, we’ve been hearing that quality time is so important. But that can’t become an excuse for avoiding quantity. As my kids were growing up, my dad gave them both by rarely ever saying no. If they asked him to do anything, Dad was all in. No such thing as too hot or too cold to play outside. You could tell he never thought, “Is this something I want to do?” If the kids wanted to do it and involve him, his choice was to be with them. That decision created a principle in his life that offered his grandkids both quality and quantity time.

Principle #2 — Creating personalized and unique moments can form a continually deepening bond.

Another element of our busy lifestyles today is trying to figure out how our kids and grandkids can fit into our schedule. A vital principle I learned from Dad was to work hard to show interest in any and everything our kids and grandkids do so they will invite us into their worlds. Kids are so smart. They can tell if we are sincere or just patronizing them. Looking for and creating specific moments by asking questions, expressing interest and taking time with them is a literal investment in their lives as well as ours.

NC Governor Again Vetoes Gun-Rights Legislation for More Churches

Gary D. Robertson

June 21, 2021

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed gun-rights legislation on Friday that would allow parishioners at more churches to be armed, marking the second year in a row that he’s blocked the idea.

The legislation affirms that people going to religious services at a location where private schools or some charter schools also meet can carry handguns in full view or under clothing if they have a concealed weapons permit. There would be other limits.

The Democratic governor said the measure, which cleared the legislature last week, would endanger educators and children. State law otherwise prohibits guns on educational property for nearly everyone.

“For the safety of students and teachers, North Carolina should keep guns off school grounds,” Cooper wrote in his veto message.

The bill’s supporters contend these houses of worship where K-12 schools also are located are at a security disadvantage for their congregants compared to stand-alone churches. There are no such blanket prohibitions in these churches on carrying a pistol, provided the person has a purchase permit or concealed weapons permit.

The bill also contains another provision that allows additional law enforcement employees — such as a civilian front desk worker at a police station — to carry a concealed weapon on the job if the police chief or sheriff allows it and the person has a concealed permit.

Both items were contained in a broader 2020 gun bill that Cooper also vetoed. Like last year, several House and Senate Democrats joined Republicans in initially voting for the measure before the veto. During the GOP attempt to override the 2020 veto, Cooper managed to collect additional House Democratic votes to uphold his veto. He’ll have to do the same thing this year to stop the measure.

Ministers of several churches with affiliated schools spoke in committee this year to request the option to be armed in light of high-profile reports of shooters targeting congregations.

Paul Valone with the gun-rights group Grass Roots North Carolina said “there is no rational reason” for the veto, especially since concealed weapons holders have been able to carry in many churches for 25 years due to state law. He urged lawmakers to override it.

“I didn’t think after the violent attacks in churches across the nation that it would be controversial to allow our citizens to protect themselves in church on Sundays, but the governor’s blind opposition to the Second Amendment seems to outweigh common-sense legislation,” said the bill’s chief’s sponsor, GOP Sen. Danny Britt of Robeson County.

In response to concerns about student safety, the measure contains language stating permit holders can only carry a gun on the church campus outside operating and extracurricular hours at the school. Like standalone places of worship, the churches also could opt out and prohibit weapons by posting a sign.

Democratic opponents of the measure said these churches should hire private security, instead of encouraging shootouts. If the bill became law, people are unlikely to understand the distinction that guns must be left at home when school activities are happening, according to the North Carolinians Against Gun Violence Action Fund.

“We thank Gov. Cooper for vetoing this dangerous bill that circumvents state policy outlawing concealed carry of firearms on school grounds and would put school children at more risk of gun violence,” Action Fund executive director Becky Ceartas said in a news release.

Cooper’s action is just his second veto this year. He vetoed 25 bills during the previous two-year legislative session, none of which were overridden.

This article originally appeared here.

Conservative Activists Heckle Mike Pence at Conference in Florida

AP News

June 21, 2021

heckle Mike Pence — Former vice president Mike Pence speaks during the Road to Majority convention at Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Kissimmee, Fla., on Friday, June 18, 2021. (Stephen M. Dowell /Orlando Sentinel via AP)

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Some attendees at a conference in Florida for conservative activists heckled former Vice President Mike Pence on Friday during a speech.

A few attendees shouted, “Traitor!” as Pence spoke at the Faith and Freedom Coalition’s Road to Majority Policy Conference at a resort in Orlando. Pence ignored the shouts and plowed through his address.

“It’s great to be back with so many patriots, dedicated to faith and freedom and the road to the majority!” Pence said.

At least one of the hecklers was removed by security, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

Many supporters of former President Donald Trump have been angry with Pence after the former vice president said he did not have the power to overturn Democrat Joe Biden’s election victory. During the Jan. 6 storming of the Capitol, angry protesters chanted, “Hang Mike Pence!”

This article originally appeared here.

Church Autonomy: One of the Most Important Legal Doctrines You May Not Have Heard About

Scott Blakeman

June 21, 2021

For a church or house of worship to truly flourish, it needs to maintain independence from government control in certain fundamental areas. This is vital not only for its thriving but also for the flourishing of religious freedom throughout our country. There is a legal term for this idea: church autonomy.

But what exactly is church autonomy and why is it important? Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) recently released a helpful video discussing the topic.

A major component of religious freedom involves the idea that individuals aren’t the only ones who enjoy the right to exercise their faith, churches and other houses of worship do too. The Constitution explicitly protects these entities from government interference in their “ecclesiastical matters.” Because of the doctrine of church autonomy, a church is free to carry out its mission according to its deeply held religious beliefs and convictions.

It’s important for church leaders to understand the essence of church autonomy and the legal rights that stem from it. In conjunction with the video mentioned above, ADF also released a guide for church leaders on this topic to explore the contours of this important, longstanding legal doctrine.

The Scope of Church Autonomy

According to the church autonomy doctrine—which has been expanded, refined, and clarified over the years—there are four key areas where the government has no right to interfere. Let’s briefly take a look at these areas.

Issues of doctrine.

Places of worship can determine for themselves what they believe and how they apply those beliefs. The government does not have a right to get involved in these matters.

For instance, if a case is brought before a court and it involves matters of religious doctrine or the significance of church doctrine to issues of faith, the church autonomy doctrine prohibits courts from getting involved. America’s founders intentionally created a system of government that prevents government officials from entangling themselves in church matters, such as doctrinal disputes. When these issues arise, they are always left for houses of worship to determine for themselves, not the government.

Determination of church polity.

When a church determines its polity, this means the church can decide how it is governed and structured as an organization. Does a church have a deacon board? How many times during the year does the congregation gather to discuss church business as a group? Is there voting involved? These are the types of things the government is absolutely prohibited from interfering with.

Relationships with ministers.

The church autonomy doctrine also protects a house of worship’s ability to select, credential, promote, discipline, and appoint ministers (or any teachers and leaders of the faith). This means houses of worship have the right to not only hire or fire their own ministers, but also determine the employment policies that their ministers must abide by. Again, all of this is done without interference from the government.

There is a solid legal precedent upholding this principle which is referred to as the ministerial exception. This means that when a position is ministerial in nature —meaning the employee leads a religious organization, conducts worship services or important religious ceremonies or rituals, or serves as a messenger or teacher of its faith—religious organizations have the freedom to make employment decisions based on their beliefs.

Affiliation with church members.

The government can’t tell a church what church membership should or will entail. Houses of worship have the freedom to determine how someone can become a member and the standards members will be held to. This means it creates space for houses of worship to determine not only what admission to membership looks like, but also the freedom to define measures of discipline for its members.

Best Practices for Your Church

Churches enjoy ecclesiastical autonomy under the law, and this is something Americans should celebrate. Allowing houses of worship to abide by their convictions without undue interference from the government is good for both churches and for society. While a church’s ecclesiastical autonomy isn’t dependent on legal documents – such as bylaws, a constitution, employment documents, facility use policy, and others – having properly prepared documents can strengthen your church’s religious liberty protections.

Well-written governing documents that are consistently applied will help provide legal protection by clarifying your church’s sincerely held beliefs on important matters.

At Alliance Defending Freedom, we’re eager to help you navigate the religious freedom landscape. This includes the area of church autonomy. If you or your church has questions about church autonomy, governing documents, or First Amendment rights in general, you can obtain access to helpful resources and legal counsel through ADF Church Alliance, an affordable legal membership program Alliance Defending Freedom created to serve churches.

It’s apparent that church autonomy is vitally important for multiple reasons. Primarily because it secures freedom: freedom for churches to define for themselves what they believe, how they’ll be organized, who they hire for ministerial roles, and how to best engage with their congregations. When there’s freedom in these matters, the Church—and the Gospel it promotes and preaches—has a chance to thrive and transform lives.

And that is something we can all support.

UPDATE: Sesame Street, Disney+ Add Pride Month Episodes and Celebrations for Children

Jesse T. Jackson

June 21, 2021

UPDATED June 21, 2021: Popular children’s entertainment giants Disney and Sesame Street announced this past week that they will celebrate Pride month with children’s programming that includes a drag queen and a family with two gay fathers. (Following the precedent of recent U.S. administrations, President Biden officially proclaimed June as a month to recognize LGBTQ individuals across America. The Clinton and Obama administrations made official proclamations about Pride month while former President Trump proffered a less-formal acknowledgement by tweet in 2019, becoming the first Republican president to recognize it.)

Sesame Street

The 52-year-old iconic children’s educational television show introduced a family with two fathers during an episode titled “Family Day” on Friday June 18, 2021. The episode portrayed two gay fathers with a daughter. The producer said, “I am so honored and humbled to have co-directed this important and milestone episode. Love is love, and we are so happy to add this special family to our Sesame family. Happy Pride to all!”

During the “Family Day” episode, one of the gay dads named Frank says, “There are all kinds of different families, but what makes us a family is that we love each other.”

This isn’t the first time Sesame Street has featured LGBTQ themes and guests. Last year Satan Shoes-collaborator Lil Nas X appeared as a musical guest on the show. Ellen DeGeneres, Billy Eichner, and Billy Porter have also appeared on the iconic children’s show.

More Disney…

Disney+ announced it will throw a #DisneyPlusPride party by hosting a special event titled “This Is Me: Pride Celebration Spectacular” that will air on June 27, 2021, on Facebook and YouTube featuring the drag queen from the Nickelodeon’s Blue’s Clues LGBTQ song and parade, Nina West.

Muppets star Kermit the Frog will join the event, which aims to bring awareness to GLSEN, a non-profit organization founded by a group of teachers working to create bully-free school environments for LGBTQ students.

In response, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary’s Ethics and Public Theology professor Andrew T. Walker posted on Twitter: “Disney is in the business of catechizing your children.”

ChurchLeaders original article written on June 3, 2021, below:

President Joe Biden declared on Tuesday, June 1, 2021, that the month of June would be recognized as Pride Month. The tradition was halted during former President Trump’s administration, and observed during all of former President Obama’s presidency.

President Biden’s proclamation said, “Pride is both a jubilant communal celebration of visibility and a personal celebration of self-worth and dignity. This Pride Month, we recognize the valuable contributions of LGBTQ+ individuals across America, and we reaffirm our commitment to standing in solidarity with LGBTQ+ Americans in their ongoing struggle against discrimination and injustice.”

“This Pride Month, we affirm our obligation to uphold the dignity of all people, and dedicate ourselves to protecting the most vulnerable among us,” President Biden said.

Last month, President Biden reversed the Trump administration’s decision to not fly the Pride flag at U.S. Embassies, allowing diplomats to make the decision to fly it or not.

The History of Pride Month

June has been dubbed Pride Month, when the LGBTQ community remembers those who were involved in the Stonewall Riots (also known as the Stonewall Uprising), which took place June 28, 1969. The riots were a series of demonstrations by members of the LGBTQ community after police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay club in New York City. The riots took place for six days, resulting in violent clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement. A year after the riots, thousands of marchers took to the streets of Manhattan starting at the Stonewall Inn and ending at Central Park. This would be considered America’s first gay pride parade.

President Barack Obama declared Stonewall Inn, along with nearby streets and sidewalks, a National Monument in 2016, recognizing the area’s gay rights symbolic nature.

Pride Day is celebrated by many LGBT Q communities on June 28th, which is the same day in 1970 where the first gay pride parade took place. National Today, a website dedicated to “special holidays and moments from around the world” tells Pride participants to “don the colors of the rainbow, get glitter out, and be true to yourself during Pride Month every June.”

Children’s Entertainment and Toys Display Pride

Lego Toys

Lego toys launched an ‘Everyone Is Awesome’ set that celebrates diversity. The 346-piece model displays the rainbow flag and includes 11 monochrome mini-figures, each with an individual hairstyle and rainbow color. “I wanted to create a model that symbolizes inclusivity and celebrates everyone, no matter how they identify or who they love,” said Lego designer Matthew Ashton. He continued, “Everyone is unique, and with a little more love, acceptance and understanding in the world, we can all feel more free to be our true AWESOME selves! This model shows that we care, and that we truly believe ‘Everyone is awesome!’ ”

Blue’s Clues Series

Nickelodeon’s Blue’s Clues kids’ series released a music video that features a drag queen singing along with other animals who appear to be from all descriptions of the LGBTQ community while marching in a parade.

The description on their YouTube page reads, “It’s the Blue’s Clue’s And You Pride Parade and we need you to sing-along as the ‘Families Go Marching’ proudly!”

Rugrats Series

Nickelodeon announced the reboot of their popular Rugrats cartoon, which will now include a favorite character as openly gay. The cartoon mom has twins voiced by ‘Parks and Rec’s’ queer actor Natalie Morales. Morales said in an interview with The A.V. Club, “Cartoons were hugely influential for me as a kid, and if I’d been watching Rugrats and seen Betty casually talking about her ex-girlfriend, I think at least a part of me would have felt like things might be okay in the future.”

Disney

Disney has released products celebrating the June Pride month. Products include apparel from some of their iconic brands, including Mickey, Star Wars, and Pixar.

Disney recently announced the reboot of the favorite kids show ‘Proud Family‘ which will air on Disney+. The reboot will feature an interracial gay dad couple who have a daughter. The gay couple will be voiced by outspoken LGBTQ actors Zachary Quinto and Billy Porter.

Marvel

Marvel announced that their newest Captain America is openly gay. ‘The United States of Captain America’ will be first LGBTQ-identifying character in the 80-year history of the franchise. The character will be known as “Captain America of the Railways” who is known for protecting runaways and homeless youth.

What Christians Need To Learn From the Josh Duggar Situation

Catherine Parks

June 21, 2021

When the news broke that former reality TV star Josh Duggar had been arrested for possession of child pornography, the common response was disgust, and rightfully so. It’s hard to imagine how someone could engage in such horrifying behavior, downloading files that a special agent described as being “in the top five worst of the worst that I’ve ever had to examine.” The Duggar situation may seem extreme, but for many survivors of sexual abuse, the circumstances are all too familiar.

In 2019, a Sexual Abuse Advisory Group commissioned by Southern Baptist Convention President J.D. Greear released the Caring Well Study, the result of learning from hundreds of survivors of sexual abuse, church leaders, and national experts in this field. We helped write this report, and after spending months interviewing survivors of sexual abuse within Christian communities, we know that Josh Duggar’s situation is, sadly, not rare.

Adherents to a fundamentalist Christian tradition, the Duggars reportedly sought the help of elders in their church as they attempted to deal with Josh Duggar’s molestation of five younger women, including four of his sisters, when he was a teenager. In 2015, Duggar was linked to the Ashley Madison website scandal, after which he admitted to struggling with pornography and cheating on his wife. Now, six years later, Duggar has been arrested and charged with possession of child pornography, which he is accused of downloading in May of 2019.

Over the years, Duggar issued statements expressing regret for his conduct, using terms like confession, sin, and wrongdoing. He mentioned counseling, and his family said they received help from church leaders. Yet saying the right things does not indicate real change. Instead, far too often those who should protect victims instead protect perpetrators of abuse from real consequences, citing the perpetrator’s words of repentance as justification. In doing so, they not only neglect to care for the abused, they also set the abuser up for further opportunities to hurt the vulnerable around them.

Sadly, stories of repeated abuse happen too frequently in church contexts. Research cited in the Caring Well Report shows that sex offenders who were most committed to church throughout their lives accumulated the most and the youngest victims of all sex offenders, their involvement providing access to more victims. When churches do not have a plan to actively protect those within their community, sex offenders recognize the vulnerability and know how to exploit it. There are clear patterns to sexual abuse, and in our time listening to and counseling victims and churches we have learned that if an individual in your church is abusing someone, it is most likely not the first time they have done it. Without proper handling of the situation, it certainly will not be the last.

The good news is that the church doesn’t have to be a hiding place for abusers, but it will take courage and conviction to make necessary changes. Jesus modeled how to properly care for women, children, and the least of these (Matthew 18:6, John 4:26). How can we work to ensure that the vulnerable within our churches are able to hear the good news of our Savior while being protected from those seeking their harm?

Missionary Parents Teach ‘Active Christianity’ and Sacrifice to Kids

Myriah Snyder

June 21, 2021

Wesley and Emily Smyth are raising their four children to understand that the Christian life is supposed to be active, self-giving and about glorifying God and serving others.

“The children have an idea of purpose,” Emily explained. “We’re not saved to just absorb, be fed and have programs that cater to our needs. Being a Christian means serving the body of Christ and those without Him.”

The Smyths have taught their kids this truth by example. Now associate area directors for Send Relief in West Africa, the couple has spent their entire ministry pouring into people in various parts of West Africa.

In fact, each of their four children were born in different countries. John (almost 17) was born in the United States right as the couple finished up college. Immediately after college, they were called to serve in Niger, where Charlotte (15) was born. Ginny (13) was born in Senegal because of access to better medical care. Samuel (11) was born in Burkina Faso, the country where the family lived the longest.

Although God clearly called and prepared both Wesley and Emily for missions, neither grew up overseas. Choosing to bring their baby boy to the desert of Niger and continue growing their family while overseas was a scary decision, they explained.

“When we met in college, we were all about missions; I was just feeling really fearless,” Emily recounted. When Wesley suggested they try missions before seminary, “my heart sank. I’m about to have a baby. Why would I leave the country? Why would I leave my mom when I don’t know what I’m doing?”

“There was a moment you thought you had surrendered everything, but then you realize that you really haven’t.”

Even as the couple took baby John overseas, moments of doubt still lingered. Those moments turned into “time to just hit the floor and pray for help,” she shared.

Having three babies without the comforts of western medicine proved a challenge. Charlotte was delivered breech and not even six pounds. Emily had contracted malaria, leading to placental malaria, one of the leading causes of infant mortality in their area.

But six months into their time in Niger, they knew that’s where God had called them. As long as He’d let them stay, they were committed to the people of West Africa and the family they had made in their communities there.

Wesley had a memorable moment of surrender when little Ginny had the croup year after year.

“There are a couple of times I can remember holding her as she just went limp in my arms,” Wesley said. “Her lips and fingertips turned blue, and her breath started to fade. We’d done everything that we could. So we just prayed.”

“You just pray, ‘God help me to be faithful,’” he recounted with tears in his eyes. “’Whatever You choose to do in this moment, whether it’s to allow me to keep my child or You choose to take her, help me to be faithful.’”

“Learning to pray those prayers is not easy,” he added, but the couple agreed that God used opportunities like that to help them grow. They’re thankful God spared her life and she’s now an active 13-year-old with a palpable love for the Lord.

While Emily was at home in the heat with the kids, Wesley was “out saving the world,” Emily said of those first few years. That was a challenge for her, but God let the Smyths reap a lot of fruit while serving in Niger. It wasn’t until they moved to serve in Burkina Faso where they learned to “plow hard ground” in their ministry.

However, they’re thankful for their time in Burkina Faso and the opportunity they have now to equip national believers through Send Relief. In addition, they’re part of an international church in Senegal. It’s meeting in their living room right now, due to COVID-19.

Each Sunday the kids help prepare the house for church, set up, do sound check, run the presentation, and sometimes play instruments. Up to nine different nationalities gather for service. Then the kids help put everything back away.

Not only does this reinforce to the children the importance of serving God’s people, it also shows them the value of multiculturalism — another thing the Smyth children are learning at a young age from the willingness of their parents to sacrifice comfort to raise their family on the mission field.

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2. Making Disciples

Meghan McCain: I Don’t Get It

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Caring about people means you are willing to climb into messy.

It’s necessary to be healthy to help others become healthy.

Embrace the reality of the absence of a shepherd.

5 Guidelines to Shepherd Your People Well in a Time When the World Has Changed

Start with the people you can see.

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2. Inhumanity

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4. Outreach Opportunity

Guidepost Solutions Investigated

Is Guidepost Solutions Truly Independent?

Advocates Push for Thorough Research, Victim Support

Matthew West’s ‘Modest Is Hottest’

Principle #1 — Balancing quality and quantity time is crucial to grow in love and influence.

Principle #2 — Creating personalized and unique moments can form a continually deepening bond.

The Scope of Church Autonomy

Issues of doctrine.

Determination of church polity.

Relationships with ministers.

Affiliation with church members.

Best Practices for Your Church

Sesame Street

More Disney…

The History of Pride Month

Children’s Entertainment and Toys Display Pride

Lego Toys

Blue’s Clues Series

Rugrats Series

Disney

Marvel

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