Atheists Society Secretary Resigns After Finding Jesus

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June 3, 2021

Seth Mahiga is a former Atheists Society secretary in a Kenyan atheist organization. On Saturday May 29, 2021, he announced his resignation, saying he became a believer in Jesus Christ.

In a statement posted on Twitter, the Atheists in Kenya Society president Harrison Mumia wrote, “This evening, regretfully, our Secretary Mr. Seth Mahiga made the decision to resign from his position as Secretary of our society. Seth’s reason for resigning is that he has found Jesus Christ and is no longer interested in promoting atheism in Kenya.”

Mahiga worked for the organization for one and half years helping spread atheism throughout the country. Mumia was graceful in his comments toward Mahiga, wishing him “all the best in his newfound relationship with Jesus Christ.”

The Atheists in Kenya Society social media accounts also posted video of Mahiga at Life Church International Nairobi, testifying to the congregation, “I’ve been going through some difficult times in life. I’m so happy to be here.”

The video shows Mahiga kneeling and asserting his faith in Jesus Christ.

The atheist organization was founded in 2016 by Mumia, the first non-religious society to be registered in the country according to its website. Kenya has over 700,000 people who identify as atheists in a country that boats over 52 million residents. Over 85% of the population in Kenya identifies as Christian.

Others React to Mahiga’s Faith

The video Twitter post from Atheists in Kenya Society has received over 34k views and many comments. Here are encouraging comments found on the thread of the atheist organization’s social media page.

“It is the power of God. Stronger than anything else in the whole universe.”

“Every knee shall bow and very tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Amen!”

“Congratulations, Seth. All glory to God in the highest.”

“Encouraging in deed. May God deliver masses from deception of the devil.”

“Praise the Lord!”

“He has seen light.”

“Wonderful! God working wonders. Hope the rest of you find Jesus as well.”

“This is amazing news!!!”

Justin Bieber’s Wife, Hailey, Speaks Out About ‘Super-Judgmental’ Christians

By

Stephanie Martin

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June 3, 2021

In a new video posted to her YouTube channel, model Hailey Bieber discusses the challenges of being a Christian in the entertainment industry. During a conversation with actor Yvonne Orji, Bieber reveals, “I’ve met Christian people that are just super-judgmental and made me feel like I’m a bad person because I don’t live my life the way they think I should live my life.”

Hailey Bieber also shares that faith is “the most important part” of her marriage to pop singer Justin Bieber, who frequently leads worship.

Hailey Bieber Admits Questioning Her Decisions

Following Jesus as a public figure can get complicated, according to both Bieber and Orji. As a model, Bieber says she’s often expected to “show skin” but then hears that’s “not a good representation” of her Christian faith. When she receives flak for posting certain photos of herself online, Bieber says she wonders, “Am I doing something wrong? Am I setting a bad example [because] people in the church will see this? And the reality is—no.”

Bieber also exposes the hypocrisy of online “haters” who list Bible verses in their own online bios. “Your relationship with God is not going to be the same as mine,” she tells the people who judge her. “I believe that [Jesus] was about love and acceptance.”

Bieber admits she’s flawed and makes mistakes, saying that’s one reason she can’t “do the persuading” of people’s hearts; only Jesus can do that.

When fans ask Bieber about the secret to her happy marriage, she credits faith, saying she and Justin “wouldn’t even be together” without it. “Being able to share that with each other—to have that bond of faith and spirituality—is so [vital] for us,” she says. “It’s the most important part of our relationship, following Jesus together, being a part of the church community together. It’s everything.”

Actor Yvonne Orji Describes Being ‘Bamboozled by Jesus’

While starring on the HBO series Insecure, Orji says she’s been criticized because the show contains sex scenes and cursing. But she has stood firm in her faith—and in her commitment to wait for marriage to have sex.

Orji, a Nigerian immigrant who was expected to pursue a medical career, says God “tricked me into the life of my dreams” of becoming an actor and comedian. That’s the subtitle of her new book, “Bamboozled by Jesus,” in which she describes her faith journey in the public eye. “It cost me a lot of keep Jesus on the cover,” Orji tells Bieber of her book’s title. “It takes so much courage to be your authentic self, with so many people watching.”

Although Orji rejects the idea that “fun and faith should be oxymorons,” she says she does try to live in a way that attracts people to Jesus. “Your life is a ministry, whether you want it to be or not,” she tells Bieber, adding that when she notices a Christian living faithfully, she sees “a walking version of the Bible.”

What Is Speaking in Tongues?

By

Jesse T. Jackson

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June 3, 2021

The theological debate of speaking in tongues has been around longer than you and I have been on God’s beautiful planet that he created for us. What makes this spiritual gift from God so fascinating is all the unknowns that surround it or as the Apostle Paul calls it “mysteries by the Spirit.“ New Christians and old Christians alike usually ask the same questions when it comes to discussing speaking in tongues.

In an attempt to understand what the Bible says about speaking in tongues, I will attempt to briefly answer the reason, what happens, and what denominations speak in tongues. (As there are many different opinions on this, and I am not a theological scholar, please read this article with grace as I aim to answer surface questions that we at ChurchLeaders.com have seen people ask. Hopefully, this can give you a starting place as you search for a deeper understanding regarding the spiritual gift of speaking in tongues.

What the Bible Says About Speaking in Tongues

The Greek word γλώσσαισ (glossolia) means ‘language’ and is translated into our English language as the word tongue. The gift of speaking in tongues first appears in Acts 2 on the day of Pentecost when Luke cites that the Holy Spirit filled the Apostles and they began speaking in other tongues.

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.

This gift from the Holy Spirit that came upon the Apostles on the day of Pentecost was for the sole purpose of sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ in other people’s native languages they came in contact with (Acts 2:4-11). Former over-eas missionary, author, and notable speaker Paul Washer says he believes that every time speaking in tongues occurs in the book of Acts it is a “real phonetic language.” So in other words, when someone spoke in tongues they were speaking a dialect they previously did not know and the person hearing it would understand what they were saying because it would have been their native language (Acts 2:11-12).

Another place speaking in tongues can be found is in 1 Corinthians chapters 12 through 14 where the Apostle Paul explains spiritual gifts and similarly states the purpose of tongues. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 14:6 that he would be no good to them speaking in tongues if they couldn’t understand it and it wasn’t filled with the gospel.

For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified. Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction?

The type of tongues Paul is speaking of in his letter is different from the one we read about in Acts 2 where what is being spoken is a known dialect. Paul refers to this gift as “tongues of angels” in 1 Corinthians 13:1 and he instructs the church to use restraint and caution while speaking in tongues (1 Corinthians 14). Describing this type of speaking in tongues, Paul says the Holy Spirit may give the gift of speaking in “different kinds of tongues” and another may have “the interpretation of tongues” (1 Corinthians 12:10). Paul clearly states in his letter that this type of speaking of tongues must have an interpreter or it is not edifying to the body of Christ.

Judge Decides Who Will Pay $2M Church Legal Fees Over Virus Closures

By

Brian Melley

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June 3, 2021

church legal fees — FILE - In this Nov. 6, 2020, file photo, the Supreme Court is seen at sundown in Washington. The state of California has agreed to pay more than $2 million in legal fees in a settlement with churches that challenged coronavirus closure orders. Church lawyers who successfully took their appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court said Wednesday, June 2, 2021, that the state agreed not to impose restrictions on houses of worship that are greater than those on retail businesses. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The state of California has agreed not to impose greater coronavirus restrictions on church gatherings than it does on retail establishments in a pair of settlements that provide more than $2 million in fees to lawyers who challenged the rules as a violation of religious freedom.

A deal approved Tuesday by a federal judge comes after lawyers for a San Diego-area Pentecostal church took their challenge against the state to the U.S. Supreme Court three times and won.

The settlement includes a permanent injunction in line with Supreme Court rulings that found restrictions on houses of worship cannot exceed those on retail businesses, attorney Paul Jonna said.

“If they’re gonna restrict Costco to 50%, then they can do the same thing to churches,” Jonna said. “But what they were doing before, as you may remember, is they were keeping those places open and they were shutting down churches — at least in California — completely.”

The settlement has little practical impact after a Supreme Court ruling led the state in April to lift limits on indoor worship. As the state’s case rate of COVID-19 has plummeted since a deadly winter surge and vaccination rates rise, Gov. Gavin Newsom is poised to lift all restrictions on June 15.

Newsom’s office issued a statement saying he put the health of Californians first when he imposed closure orders. It said the settlements provide clarity on how public health standards can be applied to churches.

Newsom was the first governor to issue a statewide stay-home order at the start of the pandemic in March 2020. His various closure orders and modifications that allowed certain businesses to open at different capacities were challenged in state and federal courts.

The public health orders were generally upheld until religious groups won a string of victories after a change in the Supreme Court makeup last year when liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died and was replaced by conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett.

While the settlements only apply to restrictions issued for the COVID-19 pandemic, Jonna said he does not believe the state would impose harsher restrictions on churches in the future because of the Supreme Court rulings.

The settlements involve a federal lawsuits brought by South Bay United Pentecostal Church in Chula Vista and Father Trevor Burfitt, a Catholic priest in Bakersfield, who sued in Kern County Superior Court.

Lawyers for the Thomas More Society, a conservative public interest law firm, will receive $1.6 million in legal fees in the South Bay case and $550,000 in the Burfitt case.

UPDATE: High School Valedictorian Wins a Victory for Religious Rights

By

Jessica Lea

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June 3, 2021

UPDATED June 3, 2021: A high school in Hillsdale, Mich., that was preventing valedictorian Elizabeth Turner from mentioning her faith in Jesus in her graduation speech has backed off. Following a letter from law firm First Liberty Institute, officials with Hillsdale High School decided to allow Turner to mention her religious beliefs at her graduation ceremony.

“We are grateful to school officials for acting swiftly to ensure that religious students can freely exercise their right to express their faith in a graduation speech,” said Keisha Russell, Counsel for First Liberty Institute, in a news release on May 27. Russell, along with First Liberty’s Mike Berry, was responsible for sending a letter to Hillsdale Principal Amy Goldsmith, requesting that she stop limiting Turner’s religious expression.

“Elizabeth is thrilled that she’ll be able to celebrate her graduation without being censored,” said Russell. “We hope that future graduates will be free from religious censorship.”

“I’m grateful I will be able to share my faith with my classmates,” said Turner, “and I pray that God uses this situation to advance His kingdom.”

ChurchLeaders original article written on May 27, 2021, below.

High school valedictorian Elizabeth Turner has been told by her principal, Amy Goldsmith, that she cannot mention her faith in Jesus—or death—in her graduation speech, set to take place on June 6. First Liberty Institute has sent a letter to Goldsmith, informing the principal that she is violating federal law by limiting Turner’s religious expression.

“Too often, we have seen well-meaning school officials who think they are complying with the Establishment Clause mistakenly go too far and censor the private speech of students, violating students’ rights under the Free Speech and Free Exercise Clauses,” said First Liberty, which describes itself as “the largest legal organization in the nation dedicated exclusively to defending religious liberty for all Americans.”

Attorneys Mike Berry and Keisha Russell said, “We request that you allow Elizabeth Turner to express her private religious beliefs at the graduation ceremony on June 6, 2021. Please confirm that you agree to our request by Friday, May 28, 2021 at 5PM.

Elizabeth Turner: My Hope Is in Christ

Elizabeth Turner attends Hillsdale High School in Hillsdale, Mich. In a draft of her speech submitted to Goldsmith for review, Turner wrote:

For me, my future hope is found in my relationship with Christ. By trusting in him and choosing to live a life dedicated to bringing his kingdom glory, I can be confident that I am living a life with purpose and meaning. My identity is found by what God says and who I want to become is laid out in scripture.

Whether we want to admit it or not, not one of us can be certain of how our lives will unfold, but we do know that trials will come. The reality of this is that we face an unpredictable future, and while we are making all these plans to prepare, ultimately none of us are promised tomorrow, making it all the more important to make today count.

A valued author of mine Elisabeth Elliot once said this: There is nothing worth living for unless it’s worth dying for.”

We have one life to live, so make it a good one.

In a Google doc where she commented on the first two paragraphs above, Goldsmith wrote, “This is better and you fixed the language, but you are representing the school in the speech, not using the podium as your public forum. We need to be mindful about the inclusion of religious aspects. These are your strong beliefs, but they are not appropriate for a speech in a school public setting. I know this will frustrate you, but we have to be mindful of it.” Goldsmith also took issue with Turner mentioning the inevitability of death.

PTL! Andrew Garfield, Jessica Chastain to Star as Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker in Biopic

By

Emily McFarlan Miller

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June 3, 2021

(RNS) — Tammy Faye Bakker’s story has been told in countless television interviews, as the punchline in “Saturday Night Live” skits and in a number of musicals.

Now it’s one step closer to getting the Hollywood treatment.

People Magazine has released the first photos of Andrew Garfield and Jessica Chastain as famed TV evangelists Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker in the upcoming film “The Eyes of Tammy Faye.”

The photos, published Wednesday (June 2), show Chastain’s remarkable transformation into Tammy Faye Bakker, complete with her signature bright eye makeup and outrageous lashes.

One picture shows the actress, who won an Oscar for her role in “Zero Dark Thirty,” alongside Garfield in what appears to be a re-creation of the Bakkers’ 1987 interview with “Nightline.” The live interview was the couple’s first after leaving the PTL (Praise The Lord) television network amid a sex scandal involving Jim Bakker and another woman — what anchor Ted Koppel described at the time as a “national soap opera.”

Another shows her clutching a microphone, one hand raised, as Garfield, who also starred in the religious drama “Silence,” looks on, a longhaired cat in his lap.

“The Eyes of Tammy Faye” is produced by Chastain, who told People she was moved by Tammy Faye Bakker’s story after watching the 2000 documentary by the same name. Chastain spent a decade researching the televangelist, who became an unlikely gay icon.

“I just was so blown away by her and her story,” Chastain told the magazine.

“The thing I loved the most about Tammy is her capacity to love. She knew what it felt like to not feel important, and she didn’t want anyone to experience that.”

The caricature of Tammy Faye Bakker she had known — with mascara streaming down her face — didn’t necessarily fit who she actually was, Chastain said, “making her into a clown and punishing her for the mistakes of her husband, which all throughout history women have been the victim of, atoning for the sins of men.”

On Wednesday, the actress posted several of the photos on her Instagram page alongside a caption recalling a video she had seen of Tammy Faye Bakker. In the video, the televangelist sang a song, then turned to the camera and said, “God loves you just the way you are.”

“I’ve never been baptized. I didn’t grow up within a church, but I do believe in unconditional love,” Chastain wrote. “We are all part of this world, part of humanity and part of grace. No matter where you come from, you are perfect, and you are fully and unconditionally loved. And that’s what I hope people leave the theater knowing.”

The biopic also will depict a number of other evangelicals who were prominent during the 1980s, according to its IMDb page.

Vincent D’Onofrio, who starred in the TV show “Law and Order: Criminal Intent,” is set to appear in the film as Jerry Falwell Sr., who took over PTL after the Bakkers’ departure. The film also features Gabriel Olds as Pat Robertson and Jay Huguley as Jimmy Swaggart.

Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker were launched into stardom after creating PTL, a popular Christian news show and satellite network, in the 1970s. At the height of their fame, they also opened a Christian theme park called Heritage USA.

After Jim Bakker’s sex scandal, he was convicted of financial fraud and spent five years in federal prison. The couple divorced, and Jim Bakker, alongside his second wife, Lori Bakker, now hosts “The Jim Bakker Show.”

Tammy Faye Bakker, later Tammy Faye Messner, died of cancer in 2007.

“The Eyes of Tammy Faye” is scheduled for release on Sept. 17.

This article originally appeared here.

Leaked Russell Moore Letter Blasts SBC Conservatives, Sheds Light on His Resignation

By

Paul O'Donnell

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June 3, 2021

(RNS) — For years before his resignation last month as president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, the Rev. Russell Moore was considered the denomination’s most outspoken “Never Trumper,” and when he departed for a job at Christianity Today magazine, it was considered a victory for pro-Trump SBC forces.

But in a letter written more than a year before his resignation, Moore explained his troubles with the SBC’s leadership in bitterly frank terms, and Donald Trump hardly made an appearance.

The root of the friction was not his opposition to Trump, Moore said, but the stands Moore had been taking on the SBC’s race and sexual abuse issues, which had raised hackles with a “small minority” that Moore does not name but can be identified as key conservatives and members of the denomination’s governing Executive Committee.

The more than 4,000-word letter, which was leaked by an ERLC trustee on Saturday (May 29), sheds light on Moore’s reasons for resigning his position and outlines the personal pressure Moore had been under from SBC leaders.

“I have been attacked with the most vicious guerilla tactics on such matters and have been told to be quiet about this by others,” he wrote.

Moore did not respond to repeated requests for comment on the letter.

A week before Moore sent the letter, the Executive Committee had formed a task force to investigate how recent “ministry statements” by the ERLC had affected church giving to the denomination’s primary mission fund, called the Cooperative Program. The ERLC trustees had strongly objected to the task force’s creation and instructed ERLC staffers not to cooperate with it, and Moore’s letter is written in part to thank them.

It was the second time the Executive Committee had looked into how Moore’s leadership at the ERLC had affected giving by Southern Baptist churches.

The new task force’s report, which was delivered in February 2021, claimed the ERLC constituted a “significant distraction from the Great Commission work of Southern Baptists” and blamed the ERLC for the loss of more than a million dollars in church donations to the Cooperative Program.

Among the reasons for withholding funds, the report listed Moore’s opposition to Trump, his condemnation of attacks on the U.S. Capitol and a general “liberal drift” exemplified by the agency’s support for immigration reforms.

But in his letter to the trustees, Moore claimed most Trump supporters he met had “been nothing but kind and encouraging to me.” Instead, he argued, “the presenting issue here is that, first and foremost, of sexual abuse.”

“At the same time,” he wrote, “the other absolutely draining and unrelenting issue has been that of racial reconciliation.”

In February of 2019, Moore had supported SBC President J.D. Greear’s push to investigate 10 Southern Baptist churches where allegations of clergy sexual abuse had been made. The Executive Committee chose at the time to follow up on only three of the churches.

“This Executive Committee, through their bylaws workgroup, ‘exonerated’ churches, in a spur-of-the-moment meeting, from serious charges of sexual abuse cover-up,” Moore complained in his letter.

Are More Pastors Quitting Today?

By

Scott McConnell

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June 3, 2021

Recently my brother-in-law was in charge of getting the cake for his mom’s retirement party. The family was surprised when they saw the cake’s short message: “Quitter”

Having worked a couple years beyond her standard retirement age in the U.S., few would consider her a quitter in the normal, judgmental use of the word. But, the morsel of truth that she was walking away from her job, made the cake humorous for at least some of those present.

In the same way the cake was not immediately appreciated by his mom, talk of pastors quitting today is often not appreciated by other pastors. A pastor shouldn’t have to walk away from their job at a church for others to realize their job is hard.

When Michigan State Professor of Organizational Psychology, Rick DeShon, first studied the work of pastors, he agreed with earlier findings from Kuhne and Donaldson that “the pastor’s work activities are highly varied, taxing, fast-paced, unrelenting, and often fragmented.”

DeShon was no newcomer to analyzing jobs. This is his area of research expertise having analyzed the observable characteristics of countless jobs in diverse types of work. He concluded, “the breadth of tasks performed by local church pastors coupled with the rapid switching between task clusters and roles that appears prevalent in this position is unique. I have never encountered such a fast-paced job with such varied and impactful responsibilities.”

Consider for a moment the fact that almost every task a pastor has is by nature complex: studying for a sermon, giving marital advice, providing leadership to a volunteer organization, having budget responsibility, helping those who are grieving, etc. That diverse complexity alone is taxing.

But the demands on a pastor require them to quickly switch between different complex tasks that require completely different knowledge, skills, or abilities. Matt Bloom is Associate Professor at the University of Notre Dame where he leads the Wellbeing at Work Program. He describes the toll that this takes on a pastor. The switching, “is costly in terms of cognitive effort, behavioral control, and emotion regulation.”

And this list of tasks for a pastor never ends. There is always another complex task to switch to and to pour your all into.

A congregation’s needs, demands, and desires seem never-ending and are often ill-timed. Yet, few pastors quit.

Lifeway Research found about 1% of pastors leave the pastorate prior to retirement each year. To get this estimate, we surveyed 1,500 pastors. Each was asked who pastored their church 10 years ago and where was that pastor today—2% had left the ministry completely and 5% served in a role other than pastor in ministry. Among churches that existed and had a pastor 10 years ago, 13% are estimated to have left the pastorate for reasons other than death or retirement This is less than 250 a month.

Because information flows so quickly today, it is easy to string together a handful of crowd-sourced stories of pastors quitting and to assume you have a new trend or a new epidemic in the American church. In reality, even a list of 100 pastors is still a fraction of the normal range of pastors changing career direction in a typical month.

Why would pastors quit?

The same survey that identified a previous pastor of their church who quit also obtained the reasons. The largest group had a change in calling (37%) as evidenced by most of them still serving in ministry somewhere, though not as a lead pastor.

Two other common reasons are tied to the pastor’s interaction with their church: 26% left because of conflict in the church and 13% because they were a poor fit for that church.

Pastors also leave because of family issues (17%), moral or ethical issues (13%), burnout (10%), personal finances (8%), and illness (5%).

Considering the nature of the job, you would expect burnout to be at the top of the list. But there are ways pastors can prevent burnout and refill their tank.

Ron Edmondson: My Tribute to Small Group Ministry

By

Ron Edmondson

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June 2, 2021

The best life, community and spiritual growth happened at Grace Community Church within the context of our small group ministry. We had some amazing leaders of our small group ministry. I’ve always been encouraged by their willingness to sacrifice part of them to invest in other people. I know each of them would say, however, that they receive far more in return than they give up. Serving others is like that.

My Tribute to Small Group Ministry

Group life helps relationships become more authentic. It connects people who would otherwise never meet. It builds friendships for life. In the various groups we have led over the years since the church started we have found people we now consider family. I cannot imagine our life without small group ministry. In all my years working in ministry, as a layperson and as a pastor, there is no place where the Acts 2 model of church is displayed any better than within the small group ministry settings that meet in people’s homes.

Group leaders thank you for investing in, leading, loving, encouraging, shaping people to become growing disciples of Jesus Christ. You are true Kingdom-builders! Your time and energy helps to make us a better church. Grace Community Church would not be the church we are without you!

This article about small group ministry appeared here.

Ron Edmondson has served as a consultant and coach. For almost 20 years he has helped thousands of leaders and organizations get better. He served as CEO of Leadership Network and as a pastor. He revitalized two churches and planted two churches. He also have a long history in business, government and nonprofit work. For over 35 years, he has been in a leadership position; mostly as a senior leader. His education includes a seminary master’s and a master’s in organizational leadership. To sign up for these blogs on a reader or by email, click HERE.

Post COVID-19: Is the Church Collection Plate a Thing of the Past?

By

Phil Cooke

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June 2, 2021

Early during the pandemic church lockdown, I saw a desperate social media post from a local pastor: “I’ll be in front of the church with a basket from 3-5pm today, and if you’d like to drive by and drop off an offering check, we’d be very grateful.” I knew at that moment, that local church wasn’t going to last. Long before the pandemic hit, many churches in America had already shifted to online giving, so when the lockdown began, the lack of physical attendance had little impact on their donations. And generally speaking, for those churches who didn’t have online giving, the faster they implemented online platforms, the stronger they responded to the crisis. What is happening to the church collection plate?

Is The Church Collection Plate a Thing of the Past?

While filming at Museum of the Bible this past week, I asked Pastor Jack Graham at Prestonwood Church in Dallas if he would continue using the collection plate during services. His response?

“Absolutely not. Before the lockdown we started migrating toward offering receptacles in the back of the church, or giving kiosks in the lobby. So now that we’re returning to normal services, our traditional church collection plate is going into storage.”

The Religion News Service reported recently:

Online giving has become nearly universal among churches in recent years. In 2006, only about 1 in 4 congregations (27%) in the U.S. accepted donations by credit card or electronic funds transfers, according to the National Congregations Study. By 2018, 48% of congregations told the NCS that they accepted electronic donations. Churches that have websites were more likely to accept electronic donations. According to the NCS, 59% of churches with websites accepted online donations, compared to only 22% of churches without websites. Some churches without websites told NCS they could still accept electronic donations via an app, credit card or other electronic means.

The 2020 COVID-19 Congregational Study from the Lake Institute on Faith & Giving found almost all (94%) churches of more than 100 people could take online donations, the Lake Institute study found. By contrast, more than half (54%) of churches with fewer than 50 people in attendance said they had no online giving options.

I’m old enough to remember a time when major ministries used the option of taking donations via credit cards. They were roundly criticized at the time. But now, giving from cards, apps, or online sites, is routine. Can you envision a world where the church collection plate is no longer routine?

The world has changed.

This article appeared here.

Questions to Ask Your Kids: 30 Ways to Get to Know Their Heart

By

Erika Michelle

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June 2, 2021

Discussion starters are a great way to learn more about children, whether they’re our own or the kids God entrusts to our children’s ministry. Read one mom’s insights about discovering her son’s heart, and then download her list of questions to ask your kids at the bottom of this article.

Why Compile Questions to Ask Your Kids?

My son Asher is my pride and joy. Asher means “happy, fortunate, blessed,” and I can tell you he is all those things. He’s full of joy and always laughing. He has blessed my life.

Asher is in the superhero, Star Wars phase of life. He can talk your ear off about The Flash, Spider-Man, Yoda, and Kylo Ren. And I, in all my girly-goodness, listen patiently and try to fake interest. “But what is my son really thinking?” I often wonder. There must be more in that active mind than Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker.

Recently I took Asher on a date, determined to get to know my son even more than I already do. We got dressed up and went to a lovely lunch. On the way, he talked about Batman and Robin and asked me all about the Joker. Once we arrived, however, I told him we couldn’t talk about superheroes during lunch. We had to talk about what I wanted to talk about.

Questions: A Parent’s Own Superpower

Armed with my list of questions, I was determined to get past the superhero section of Asher’s brain and into what he’s really thinking about life at age 7. You see, I’m looking into the future when the teenage years are upon us and Mom isn’t as cool as she is now. I want to develop a strong relationship with my son now so that when he’s older, he’ll come to me with his questions, his problems, his failures, and his successes without worrying about how I’ll react.

As I asked Asher questions, the best thing happened: He answered each one with honesty and excitement and then turned around and asked them back to me. My Star Wars fanatic actually cared what I thought!

We talked for over an hour at our little lunch date, and afterward we did some shopping. I assumed Asher would jump right back into Superhero Land. He didn’t.

Hillsong Worship Offers Fresh Take on ‘Fresh Wind,’ Sets Streaming Record

By

Jessica Lea

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June 2, 2021

As of May 21, Hillsong Worship’s single “Fresh Wind” has set a new record with more than 8.2 million streams globally and 942,000 street week streams. “Fresh Wind” has garnered the highest U.S. audio streaming debut for any song from Hillsong so far—and it is also part of a newly released medley.

“My favourite part of this recording is that the world gets to hear my church family (@hillsong) sing this, pray this, declare this over THE Church and the earth,” said Hillsong Worship’s David Ware, who co-leads the medley, “Fresh Wind / What A Beautiful Name,” with Hillsong United’s Taya Gaukrodger (née Smith).

Speaking about “Fresh Wind” specifically, Ware told the Christian Post that the single “was born out of an urgency to see Christ’s Church rebuilt, restored and rescued. I believe that there comes a time and place in every generation where there is a significantly great outpouring of the Holy Spirit. A move of God that marks a whole generation of believers and welcomes a new generation of searching non-believers home — one so great that it is as unavoidable as the sound of an explosive gust of wind.”

‘Fresh Wind’ Gets a Fresh Take

Hillsong Worship released “Fresh Wind” in January 2021. The song’s lyrics plead for repentance and for the Holy Spirit to move among believers.

Spirit sound, rushing wind
Fire of God fall within
Holy Ghost
Breathe on us, we pray

As we repent, turn from sin
Revival embers smouldering
Breath of God
Fan us into flame

We need a fresh wind
The fragrance of Heaven
Pour Your Spirit out
Pour Your Spirit out

For hearts that burn with holy fear
Purified in faith and deed
Refiner’s fire
Strengthen what remains

The new medley combines “Fresh Wind” with Hillsong Worship’s popular song, “What a Beautiful Name,” the latter of which begins:

You were the Word at the beginning
One with God the Lord Most High
Your hidden glory in creation
Now revealed in You our Christ

What a beautiful Name it is
What a beautiful Name it is
The Name of Jesus Christ my King

The live version of the new release shows the congregation at Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia, worshipping to the medley along with the band. Said Ware, “I pray [the medley] fills homes, cars, hospital rooms, nurseries and university dorms – that wherever this is heard – God would minister to people and that we would all experience a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit! We need it.”

Hillsong Church was founded in 1983 by Brian and Bobbie Houston. The church has been dealing with controversy recently as a number of high profile pastors have left their positions. Some, such as Jess and Reed Bogard, have stepped down from church leadership. Carl Lentz, who has arguably received the most publicity, was fired.

Brian Houston has also announced that Hillsong is investigating financial abuse allegations, and he recently said that while he is confident that “Hillsong is a good church,” he is “100% committed” to eliminating any unhealthiness in the church’s culture.

Baptist Church in Indiana Ordains the First Trans Pastor in Its Denomination

By

Stephanie Martin

-

June 2, 2021

Not long after the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America elected its first transgender bishop, a transgender woman was ordained in a Baptist church. At a May 23 ceremony, Laura Bethany Buchleiter was ordained at University Baptist Church in Bloomington, Indiana. The congregation, which left the Southern Baptist Convention in 1999 after accepting a female pastor, is part of the Georgia-based Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF).

Although some reports identify this as a “first,” Buchleiter clarifies on Facebook: “I’m not the first transgender person to be ordained in a Baptist church, I may be just the second—and the first in a CBF church. I’m very grateful for those who have gone before me, and am also very aware that we are all still pioneers in this space.”

READ: LGBTQ and the Church Podcast Series: A Conversation We Need to Have

University Baptist Pastor Annette Briggs says, “We’re not ordaining Laura Beth because she is transgender. Our church self-identifies as a church that listens to the call of the people irrespective of gender or sexual orientation.” Briggs adds of Buchleiter’s ministry, “It’s a whole lot easier to tell the truth when you’re not hiding a truth.”

Who Is Laura Bethany Buchleiter?

Laura Bethany Buchleiter, 49, graduated from Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis the day before being ordained. While studying there, Buchleiter served as interim pastor at University Baptist, and up next is an interim pastorate at a United Church of Christ congregation in Wyoming.

Buchleiter, who grew up in a conservative family that moved frequently, says, “My desire is to continue to work with churches, mostly in the Midwest, as an interim pastor to help navigate change and transition.” The pastor describes knowing “in early childhood” that “something was different” but never being “allowed to develop a language for that.”

READ: Preston Sprinkle: Jesus Left the 99 to Pursue the One—And That Means Trans People

After feeling “a strong call to the ministry” in high school, Buchleiter attended Moody Bible Institute for three years and then worked in Christian industries in Nashville. Marriage and a family followed, landing Buchleiter in Dallas and Dallas Baptist University.

After being diagnosed with gender identity disorder, Buchleiter eventually came out as transgender. Only after discovering LGBTQ-friendly churches and the CBF did Buchleiter realize full-time pastoral work was still possibLe. “When I came out, I really believed I had to be done with church,” says the pastor. “I didn’t know any church spaces that would be okay with someone like me.”

Support at the Seminary and in the Pews

David Mellott, president of Christian Theological Seminary (CTS), says he doubts Laura Bethany Buchleiter is “the first transgender person to graduate from the seminary.” Instead, he points to a trend of more transgender seminarians, saying CTS “creates a space” where “LGBTQ people feel comfortable.” That, he adds, is “a sign of a critical understanding of the gospel that seeks the flourishing of everybody.”

CTS, which admits students of all faiths, is part of the Disciples of Christ. Mellott, previously an ordained Roman Catholic priest, says he’s one of only a few gay men helming a seminary.

Bloomington congregants say they’ll miss Buchleiter but are excited about the opportunities ahead. “One of her most powerful witnesses was just being herself,” says member David Underwood, “comfortable in her own skin, inviting to all, unpretentious, clear-thinking and joyful in sharing God’s love with us.” Member Deborah Ensmenger says Buchleiter “is a gifted minister of the gospel and has an incredible opportunity to reach people who often feel completely shut out of the family of God.”

Buchleiter’s plans include creating a media ministry, drawing attention to high suicide rates among transgender people, and advocating for justice for transgender youth. “People die every day for telling the truth,” says the pastor.

READ: Mark Yarhouse: How to Pastor Someone Who Has Gender Dysphoria

What Is the True Legacy of Marcus Whitman, the Pioneering Northwest Missionary?

By

Nicholas K. Geranios

-

June 2, 2021

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — For generations Marcus Whitman has been widely viewed as an iconic figure from early Pacific Northwest history, a venerated Protestant missionary who was among 13 people killed by the Cayuse tribe near modern-day Walla Walla, Washington, in 1847.

But this past year has seen a continued reappraisal of Whitman, whose actions have increasingly been viewed as imperialistic and destructive.

The Washington Legislature voted to strip his likeness from the U.S. Capitol. Students at Whitman College in Walla Walla demonstrated recently to demand another Whitman statue be removed from campus. A new book says a well-known story about Whitman’s efforts to save the Northwest from British rule was fabricated.

The developments come amid a nationwide movement, following George Floyd’s death last year, to shed Confederate monuments and depictions of historical figures who mistreated Native Americans. Statues of colonizers have been targeted in several states.

Marcus Whitman is known for leading a small group of missionaries in 1836 into what was then Oregon Country, a region about the size of Alaska. He established the Whitman Mission at Waiilatpu, near the Walla Walla River.

The mission was in the territory of the Cayuse Tribe, which was wary of the white settlers.

Whitman and his wife, Narcissa, were strict Calvinists who preached a demanding version of Christianity that proved unpopular with the tribe. In more than a decade of effort, they managed to convert only two members of the tribe, said Blaine Harden, an author and former New York Times and Washington Post reporter who wrote the newly published “Murder at the Mission” about the massacre.

“Whitman was a mediocre missionary,” Harden told The Associated Press.

But the mission became an important stop along the Oregon Trail from 1843 to 1847, and the Cayuse became suspicious that the white settlers were coming to take the land.

After a few years, the Whitmans lost interest in the Cayuse and spent their time trying to convert white settlers. Whitman eventually decided the Native Americans needed to give way to the settlers.

An 1847 measles outbreak killed half the local Cayuse. The illness also broke out in the mission, but more white settlers survived. Some of the Cayuse blamed the devastation on Whitman and his wife. The Cayuse had a tradition of killing failed medicine men, Harden said, and Whitman, a medical doctor, was warned to leave the area. The Cayuse attacked the mission and killed the Whitmans and 11 others.

The deaths shocked the nation.

Wilberforce University, AME Church School, Just Gave the Best Graduation Gift to 2020, 2021 Grads

By

Adelle M Banks

-

June 2, 2021

school debt — Rodman Allen hugs his mother after the 2021 Wilberforce University Commencement, Saturday, May 29, 2021, in Wilberforce, Ohio. Courtesy photo

(RNS) — There are usually lots of cheers and applause at university commencements.

But 2020 and 2021 graduates of Wilberforce University, a school affiliated with the African Methodist Episcopal Church, had an extra reason to celebrate during their ceremony on Saturday (May 29) in Wilberforce, Ohio.

Their president announced that any debts they still owed to the historically Black university had been forgiven.

“Because you have shown that you are capable of doing work under difficult circumstances, because you represent the best of your generation, we wish to give you a fresh start,” said President Elfred Anthony Pinkard. “So therefore the Wilberforce University board of trustees has authorized me to forgive any debt. Your accounts have been cleared and you don’t owe Wilberforce anything. Congratulations.”

As soon as Pinkard said the words “forgive any debt,” the masked students who generally live paycheck to paycheck and are always trying to figure out how to make 5000 fast, started screaming, shouting and jumping, prompting him to smile and laugh before he continued his surprise announcement, which was streamed live on Wilberforce’s YouTube channel.

When he added “accounts have been cleared” there were more cheers, jumps and hand-waving among the black-robed students wearing green and gold stoles.

In a statement on the university’s website, the school said the amount of debt forgiveness for both classes totals more than $375,000 for the 166 new alumni.

It said the “zero balance” was the result of scholarships from the United Negro College Fund Inc., Jack and Jill Inc. and other institutions that aided students in the spring and fall semesters of 2020 and the spring of 2021.

It noted all student also benefited from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund established through the CARES Act. In particular, that financial assistance had previously helped the students whose balances due to the school would have prevented them from registering for their fall classes in 2020.

One student spoke of the difference the debt forgiveness will make for him in the years ahead.

“I couldn’t believe it when he said it,” Rodman Allen, now a 2021 alumnus, said in a statement. ”It’s a blessing. I know God will be with me. I’m not worried. I can use that money and invest it into my future.”

During the ceremony the university also awarded posthumous doctorate degrees to civil rights leaders Fannie Lou Hamer and Medgar Evers.

Wilberforce, the oldest private historically Black school operated and owned by African Americans, was founded in 1856.

This article originally appeared here.

Exclusive: Sex Abuse Allegations by Carl Lentz’s Former Nanny Put Spotlight on Hillsong Culture

By

Roxanne Stone

-

June 2, 2021

Carl Lentz's former nanny — FILE - Carl Lentz appears during an interview on Oct. 23, 2017, in New York. Lentz, the pastor from global megachurch Hillsong, who once ministered to Justin Bieber and a bevy of other celebrities and sports stars, has been fired. He acknowledged on Instagram that he cheated on his wife. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews, File)

Leona Kimes, a former Hillsong NYC staff member and current co-pastor of Hillsong Boston, has come forward with allegations that Carl Lentz subjected her to bullying, abuse of power, and sexual abuse over seven years while she worked as a nanny in his home.

“I felt trapped and silenced. I also felt so ashamed and I had been told not to say anything or tell anyone,” Leona Kimes, 37, told Religion News Service via email Sunday (May 30).

In a statement published on Medium on Monday, Kimes, now a co-pastor of Hillsong’s Boston location, claimed Lentz abused her sexually on multiple occasions. “I was physically violated by his unwanted and repeated sexual touching of my intimate areas. I froze. Every time, I froze,” Kimes said in her statement.

A legal representative for Carl and his wife, Laura Lentz, responding to Kimes’ allegations, told RNS the Lentzes “vehemently deny the allegations and, in addition to that, have irrefutable proof the events did not happen as they are being described.”

Kimes’ allegations are the most recent chapter in a scandal that has caused turmoil in the global church founded in the 1980s by Brian and Bobbie Houston in Australia, now a multimedia empire with 130 locations around the world.

Lentz, 42, who had established Hillsong’s Manhattan church with the Houstons’ son Joel, was fired in November for “moral failings” and admitted to an adulterous affair. Soon after, Ranin Karim, a Brooklyn jewelry designer, discussed her relationship with Lentz on “Good Morning America.” The following month, comments from Brian Houston, in which he called Lentz “a narcissist,” suggested the affair was not Lentz’s only transgression.

One of several pastors GQ Magazine once described as “hypepriests” for their fashionable attire and celebrity congregants, Lentz was perhaps best known for baptizing Justin Bieber in NBA player Tyson Chandler’s bathtub. But since Lentz’s firing and subsequent move to California with his wife and children, he has been little heard from, and Hillsong has portrayed his pastorate as a one-time mistake.

In December, the New York law firm Zukerman Gore Brandeis & Crossman, hired to investigate Hillsong East Coast’s leadership, recommended protocols to prevent similar situations, and Brian Houston apologized “unreservedly” for his lack of oversight.

Leona Kimes Speaks Out Against Carl Lentz

Kimes’ statement paints a darker picture than what the church first made public after the law firm’s report, alleging unwanted sexual encounters with a subordinate whose husband was also employed by the church.

Kimes said she began working as the Lentzes’ nanny and housekeeper in 2011, spending as many as 19 hours a day at their home. Requests for foot rubs and massages escalated to Lentz sexually touching Kimes, according to her statement, including in a car and a movie theater while one or more of his children were with them. Kimes said the two never kissed and never had intercourse.

Laurence Koo: A Call for the American Church to Welcome Single (LGBTQ) Believers

By

Jason Daye

-

June 2, 2021

Laurence Koo was born and raised in the Netherlands and studied dentistry in Amsterdam. While in college, he met the Navigators and became involved as a student leader. After graduation, Laurence served on staff with the Dutch Navigators and in January 2017 moved to the U.S. to join the missions department of the U.S. Navigators in Colorado Springs, Colo. He now serves as the director of iEdge, a program that sends out teams of young adults into the nations to do cross-cultural discipleship ministry. Laurence is also an international speaker and consultant on the topic of sexuality.

Other Ways to Listen to This Podcast With Laurence Koo

► Listen on Apple
► Listen on GooglePlay
► Listen on Spotify
► Listen on Stitcher
► Listen on YouTube

Other Podcasts in the LGBTQ and the Church Series

Juli Slattery: This Is How the Church Can Begin the LGBTQ Conversation

Gregory Coles: It’s Possible to Be Same-Sex Attracted and Fully Surrendered to Jesus

Mark Yarhouse: How to Pastor Someone Who Has Gender Dysphoria

Ed Shaw: How God Has Used Same-Sex Attraction to Equip Me As a Pastor

Sean McDowell: Scripture Is Very Clear About God’s Design for Sexuality

Rachel Gilson: How Jesus Helps Me Say No to My Same-Sex Desires

Caleb Kaltenbach: Do You See the LGBTQ Community Through God’s Eyes?

Preston Sprinkle: Jesus Left the 99 to Pursue the One—And That Means Trans People

Key Questions for Laurence Koo

-What was your relationship with God like growing up, especially as you came to realize your were attracted to the same sex?

-Many single Christians feel that the gift of singleness is actually more of a curse. What would you say to that?

-How have you navigated having healthy relationships with both men and women?

-What advice would you offer to church leaders regarding ministering to people in the LGTBQ community?

Key Quotes from Laurence Koo

“I grew up in the Netherlands, born and raised, from parents who were immigrants from Indonesia.”

“This is one of my core struggles in my life, that I don’t belong. So I started to look at other people, and especially other men kind of like, what does it mean for me to belong?”

“During that same time [I had encountered porn for the first time], 11, 12 years old, I really took Jesus seriously. I wanted him in my life. I wanted to follow him, and I think the whole journey of my teenage years was seeing my spiritual life grow and pursuing Jesus and, at the same time, seeing my sexuality going a certain direction that I didn’t want to go.”

Life.Church Campus Pastor Danny Duran Dies Unexpectedly

By

Jesse T. Jackson

-

June 2, 2021

Overland Park, Kansas’ Life.Church campus pastor Danny Duran, 41, died unexpectedly on Tuesday June 1, 2021, after collapsing in his home. Medical teams are still working to determine the cause.

Duran leaves behind a wife and three children. The campus said in a statement, “As we all begin to grieve, we can find comfort in Danny’s wholehearted and total devotion to Jesus. It drove his passion for our mission, and it gives us peace in the assurance that he is in God’s presence.”

Craig Groeschel is the founder and senior pastor of Life.Church. The multisite megachurch averages a weekly attendance of over 85k people throughout their many campuses and online ministry.

Life.Church is also known for their development and ongoing ministry of the YouVersion Bible app created in 2008.

Duran Is Remembered

The church’s Facebook page has been flooded with comments remembering, praying, and expressing how much they loved pastor Danny Duran. Here are a few…

“We are praying for the Duran family and our campus in Overland Park. Pastor Danny will be missed greatly. The Overland Park community was impacted forever because of his passion for Jesus and love for people.”

“Danny loved people with a pure and enthusiastic heart. We are heartbroken over this loss. His legacy is one of love that we will endeavor to keep alive.”

“He was the first to greet us when we came to Life.Church. His contagious smile and enthusiasm made us feel instantly welcome. Prayers for his family. Such a loss.”

“Pastor Danny was such an impactful leader. He didn’t know a stranger and made us feel very welcomed. Many prayers for Emily and their children! He will be greatly missed!”

Life.Church Overland Park Campus Statement

On Monday Life.Church Overland Park campus released a statement regarding Duran’s passing, asking to lift up Duran’s entire family in prayer. Read the entire statement below:

Life.Church Family,

We have some very sad news to share with you. This morning, our dear friend and Campus Pastor, Danny Duran passed away unexpectedly. He collapsed at home and his medical team is still working to determine what happened. The shock of his sudden loss may be hard to bear, and we’re grieving alongside you.

As our extended staff team is surrounding his wife, Emily, and their three children with immediate support and care, would you join us in lifting up Danny’s entire family in prayer? We’re praying his family and everyone who loves them are surrounded by supernatural comfort and peace. We pray they would feel God’s sustaining presence in a mighty way in every moment ahead.

Danny is loved by so many, and it’s natural to want to respond and help his family in some way. Rest assured that our team is caring for his family’s immediate needs. The best way to help right now is to pray and give Danny’s family time and space to process this momentous loss. We’ll be sure to keep you posted on other ways to help as they arise.

As we all begin to grieve, we can find comfort in Danny’s wholehearted and total devotion to Jesus. It drove his passion for our mission, and it gives us peace in the assurance that he is in God’s presence. We know God is close to us as we are brokenhearted and will save us when we’re crushed in spirit. We join you in leaning on God’s grace and strength in the days ahead.

With love and care,
The Life.Church Overland Park Team

Please join ChurchLeaders.com as we pray for the Duran and Life.Church family.

Never Bend These 10 Children’s Ministry Guidelines

By

Dale Hudson

-

June 2, 2021

It’s important to have children’s ministry guidelines (that’s a nice way to say “rules”) for your ministry that will keep kids — and your team — safe, healthy, and happy.

Some of your guidelines can have a little wiggle room. An example is a new family who asks if their children (different ages) can be in the same room since it’s their first time there.

This would be a guideline that you could bend if needed.

But there are some guidelines that you should never, ever bend. Most of these are related to the safety of the children and volunteers.

10 Children’s Ministry Guidelines You Should Never Bend

#1 Never be alone with a child.

I was recently at a church where a child and an adult had been alone in a classroom. The adult molested the child, right there at church. Thankfully the church had a security camera system and they were able to give the police the footage. The adult is being prosecuted and hopefully the scumbag will spend the rest of his life behind bars.

All of this could have been avoided if they had simply enforced the guideline of never being alone with a child. This is a guideline that has zero room for compromise.

#2 Children should always wear a name tag.

This provides you with quick information if you need to get in touch with the child’s parents. It can also show you if the child is allergic to things like peanuts.

Sometimes you will have a child who doesn’t want to wear a name tag. But this cannot be compromised. Make them wear the name tag. And for younger children, you can put the name tag on their back.

#3 Parents and guardians must present a matching name tag when picking up their child.

No exceptions. Even if the pastor shows up, he cannot get a child if he can’t present a name tag. People who lose their tags need to go to guest services, show their I.D. and get the green light to pick up the child.

#4 Child molesters should never, ever be allowed to serve in children’s ministry.

No exceptions. In fact, they should not be allowed anywhere near the children’s area. Some churches even restrict child molesters from being on the church campus. They require them to stay off of church property and watch the service online.

#5 Do not allow someone who is involved in sexual sin to serve.

This means anyone who is having sex outside of a marriage between a man and woman. Someone who is actively committing adultery should not serve. Someone who is involved in a homosexual relationship should not serve. A couple that is living together should not serve.

Children’s Ministry Safety Guidelines for Older Buildings

By

Jenny Funderburke Smith

-

June 1, 2021

Today when a church builds children’s ministry space, safety and security are top priorities. Hallways have very limited access, rooms are designed with good sight lines, and emergency lockdowns are possible. For established spaces, children’s ministry safety guidelines are just as important but a bit more challenging.

In older buildings (which most of us probably inhabit), spaces were designed way before the days when we needed to have conversations about active shooters, abuse risks or any of the unfortunate realities of children’s ministry today.

My church, West Bradenton Baptist, has existed since 1957. Much of the children’s hallway is part of an original building. In fact, it was previously a stand-alone structure, unattached to everything else. There are literally five outside doors connected to classrooms.

Aside from that, there are four ways to access our hallway from either outside or another part of the church. Many of our classrooms are L-shaped, with lots of corners in which a child can hide. This wonderful building that has served generations of children is also a modern-day security nightmare.

To boost our children’s ministry safety guidelines in this environment, we’ve taken these simple and fairly inexpensive steps:

1. Limited access

We began by asking our congregation to use the children’s hallway only if they’re volunteering or picking up and dropping off kids. Honestly, this change took a lot of time for church members to fully understand and follow. The children’s hall had been a main thoroughfare for decades. We had to communicate over and over the why behind the switch, as well as the what. Additionally, we must periodically remind the congregation as new people join. We also purchased stanchions to place at each end of the hallway as visual reminders.

2. Intercoms

We purchased inexpensive intercom systems on Amazon. They’re not perfect, but the goal is to have an easy way for us to communicate to classrooms. Because we plan to renovate this building during the next few years, we chose not to spend high dollars at this time. But having a way for team members to communicate is essential.

3. Security Team

Following the church shooting in Texas, one of our church members who’s a police officer set up a team of volunteers who take turns hanging out in the children’s hall. The vision is to expand this to the rest of the church campus, but we began with the most vulnerable area. The volunteers’ entire job is to be a presence. These people wear volunteer shirts, just a different color from the rest of the team.

4. Monitor and cameras

We already have cameras in our children’s hallway and outside the building. We’re working on adding a monitor to our check-in area that shows all the camera angles. This addition will help us monitor, of course, but it also conveys to parents that we take security seriously.

5. Walkie-Talkies

Our security team leader suggested that we give a walkie-talkie to greeters at each entrance. Hopefully they won’t ever use them, but they can immediately contact our security team if they see something concerning.

What children’s ministry safety guidelines are you using in older buildings? I’d love to hear your recommendations in the comments.

This article originally appeared here.

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Actor Yvonne Orji Describes Being ‘Bamboozled by Jesus’

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Elizabeth Turner: My Hope Is in Christ

Why would pastors quit?

My Tribute to Small Group Ministry

Is The Church Collection Plate a Thing of the Past?

Why Compile Questions to Ask Your Kids?

Questions: A Parent’s Own Superpower

‘Fresh Wind’ Gets a Fresh Take

Who Is Laura Bethany Buchleiter?

Support at the Seminary and in the Pews

Leona Kimes Speaks Out Against Carl Lentz

Other Ways to Listen to This Podcast With Laurence Koo

Other Podcasts in the LGBTQ and the Church Series

Key Questions for Laurence Koo

Key Quotes from Laurence Koo

Duran Is Remembered

Life.Church Overland Park Campus Statement

10 Children’s Ministry Guidelines You Should Never Bend

#1 Never be alone with a child.

#2 Children should always wear a name tag.

#3 Parents and guardians must present a matching name tag when picking up their child.

#4 Child molesters should never, ever be allowed to serve in children’s ministry.

#5 Do not allow someone who is involved in sexual sin to serve.

To boost our children’s ministry safety guidelines in this environment, we’ve taken these simple and fairly inexpensive steps:

1. Limited access

2. Intercoms

3. Security Team

4. Monitor and cameras

5. Walkie-Talkies

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