Evangelism in the 2024 Seoul Statement

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October 4, 2024

Editor’s note: This article is part of forum discussing the fourth Lausanne Congress. It is not an official Lausanne Movement forum but an opportunity for Lausanne delegates to share their thoughts about the fourth Lausanne Congress, the Seoul Statement, and the future of the mission. You can read the entire series, from diverse voices around the world here.

What you are about to read is an honest criticism of the Lausanne Movement and the recent Seoul Statement, but I want to be upfront and clear that I love the Lausanne Movement and all that it represents. I’m not mad and only want to contribute a perspective. My greater ambition, like everyone else who will read this and agree or disagree, is that we continue to declare and display Christ together in 2024 just like they wanted to let the earth hear his voice back in 1974. What a great 4th Lausanne Congress, to God be the glory!

Speaking of the Lausanne Congress, it’s amazing how names get shorter for branding purposes, which totally makes sense. Initially, “Lausanne” was the “The Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization.” The word “Lausanne” by itself evokes all the right implications for those who are aware of the movement, but for the rest of the world it is nothing more than a town in Switzerland. The word “Congress” by itself has such political undertones that by putting together “Lausanne” and “Congress,” there seems to be a less helpful moniker than if this movement was just called “Lausanne.” In my opinion, the only world that makes the clearest sense is “Evangelization,” and it is even more clear when accompanied with the other word, “World Evangelization.” That is why Lausanne began. That is why Lausanne should exist. And that is why Lausanne should continue to exist – for the evangelization of the whole world because Christ said so.

After reading the Seoul Statement, however, I am concerned that the Lausanne Movement existing for World Evangelization may be the least clear document on world evangelization in the entirety of its existence.

Don’t get me wrong. The Seoul Statement is a decent statement. I will utilize it in my personal ministry and life in so many ways. However, I don’t think it’s a helpful statement regarding world evangelization. Let me explain.

A while back, I did my dissertation on the Lausanne Movement, specifically the role of the term “evangelism” in the light of all that we consider is Christian mission through the 1974 Lausanne Covenant, the 1989 Manila Manifesto, and the 2010 Cape Town Commitment. I used a method of rhetorical criticism called “cluster criticism” to define words based upon their associations and connections within the same document. In other words, I let the 1974 Lausanne Covenant define evangelism for itself based on how often the word appears together with its associated word clusters. I incorporated some variant cognates like, “evangelization,” “evangelizing,” “evangelistic,” and even to some extent, “evangelical” should it ever appear. Then I started to identify words associated with the primary term of “evangelism.”

I did the same for the 1989 Manila Manifesto, the 2010 Cape Town Commitment, and also applied the same methodology to the term “mission” and all its variants.

By identifying key terms (evangelism and mission) through key documents (‘74 Lausanne Covenant, ‘89 Manila Manifesto, and ‘10 Cape Town Commitment), I was able to describe those key terms based upon complementary and opposing word clusters.

I discovered 10 points of congruence between the three documents concerning evangelism and mission:

The Priority of Evangelism
The Centrality of Jesus Christ
The Indispensability of the Holy Spirit
The Credibility of the Bible
The Necessity for Humility
The Urgency of Worldwide Evangelization
The Equality of the Church
The Gravity of Partnership
The Dichotomy of Mission

My research, however, showed three emerging points of discontinuity between the three Lausanne documents at the time:

A Diminished Emphasis on Evangelism.
An Increased Focus on Missio Dei.
A Broadening Description of Mission.

I noted these discrepancies for several reasons: a decrease in frequency of a key term, a shift from explicit to implicit references regarding the key terms, and an increased number of associated word clusters. That third reason helped to provide greater clarity in the details regarding evangelism and mission, yet unfortunately it fed the missiological adage that “when everything is mission, then nothing is mission.”

Lausanne: In Need of a Plan

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S. Joshua Swamidass

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October 4, 2024

Editor’s note: This article is part of forum discussing the fourth Lausanne Congress. It is not an official Lausanne Movement forum but an opportunity for Lausanne delegates to share their thoughts about the fourth Lausanne Congress, the Seoul Statement, and the future of the mission. You can read the entire series, from diverse voices around the world here.

The fourth Lausanne Congress (L4) was the first major Lausanne gathering I ever attended. The trip was costly and something of a personal pilgrimage for me. But I will remember it for the rest of my life. I am truly honored to be one of its delegates.

In some ways, I am new to the movement. But at the congress itself I met a surprisingly large number of people who already knew me. There were some who knew me from almost every season of my life, and even some who knew my grandparents and parents in India, so many decades ago. I found my inheritance here, a good heritage I will one day pass to my children.

L4 also exposed that we are a family with many disagreements still. These disagreements troubled some, but they comforted me. It was as if I was coming home to a familiar, loving family, even as we argued intensely around the dinner table.

So, in these disagreements, I found that the Lausanne community truly reflects the beautiful and beloved community of differences into which Jesus calls us all. We can know, all the more, that He certainly is greater than all our disagreements.

The Lessons of L1′s Process

In the years leading up to L4, I studied the movement closely. Somehow, though I am mere scientist, not a historian, I was privileged to write an article for Christianity Today for the 50th anniversary of the Lausanne Covenant.

This history clarifies one of Lausanne’s distinct insights: missions is linked with good theology. Unlike other missions conferences, theological work is built into Lausanne’s structure and emphasized in its meetings. Every congress releases a theological document.

The towering legacy of the first congress left a profound mark on all of us. The Lausanne Covenant that delegates signed became one of the most important documents in modern evangelicalism.

But the covenant itself was forged in negotiated process of back-and-forth between a small drafting committee and 2,700 delegates. They worked with sheets of paper passed around in several languages, making multiple revisions to the covenant. This negotiate process itself, I found, to be a prophetic demonstration of the best version of evangelicalism.

For this reason, I was very curious to see how the Seoul Statement would be introduced, what it would contain, and how the congress would be engaged. This theological work, I am certain, is fundamental to Lausanne’s mission, and one of the reasons I wanted to attend the congress.

The Current Situation

As we all known now, the Seoul Statement was released the first day of L4 without a process to negotiate or debate its content. Currently, feedback is being collected, but there is no plan for what to do with it.

Christian Daily International, the Christian Post, and Christianity Today (CT) all report a chaotic and conflicted response to the Seoul Statement by delegates, the Lausanne leadership, and the Theology Working Group (TWG).

Heralds of Hope: Reclaiming the Power of Proclamation Evangelism for Today’s Global Church

By

Desmond Henry

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October 4, 2024

Lausanne evangelism — Adobestock #775884924

Editor’s note: This article is part of forum discussing the fourth Lausanne Congress. It is not an official Lausanne Movement forum but an opportunity for Lausanne delegates to share their thoughts about the fourth Lausanne Congress, the Seoul Statement, and the future of the mission. You can read the entire series, from diverse voices around the world here.

From Sept. 22-28, over 5,000 evangelical leaders from 200+ nations gathered in Incheon, South Korea, for the Fourth Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization. The gathering reaffirmed Lausanne’s enduring mission to display and declare the gospel amidst what seems like discontinuous change.

Congratulations to the Lausanne team on successfully convening leaders representing the global church to catalyze collaborative action toward shaping the realities impacting the church of 2050. Although there was an imbalance of representation numerically, I appreciate the efforts undertaken to ensure the global church’s presence and engagement.

I am grateful to have been involved as a Content Specialist for Gap 10, Proclamation Evangelism Catalyst, and as a volunteer leading the Plenary Content Publication Team. Additionally, during the congress, I helped record 15 sessions on “Elevating Evangelism” with leaders from over a dozen countries. I am sold on the vision and committed to being a “bee”—using Michael Oh’s metaphor—shaping the movement’s future! My time at the Fourth Congress was beautiful and richly engaging. I had the joy and privilege to observe the congress from multiple perspectives. I’d like to offer some missiological musing around the aspect of what it means to be a “herald” of the gospel in our movement.

Evangelism at the Core: Not Just Assumed but Prioritized

Much could be said about the congress, but I believe that it is not just the gathering itself that will shape the future realities of our movement but the outflow from the congress. However, throughout the gathering, I became increasingly aware that some of the missiological discourse was polarizing and inaccurate at times (as Timothy Tennent points out here) and even evangelistically anaemic. It appears that evangelism—central to the church’s mission—was often assumed rather than explicitly stated in a way that would catalyze a movement to take the gospel across cultural, digital, geographical, and language barriers.

The Seoul Statement, building on earlier foundational documents like the Lausanne Covenant, Manila Manifesto, and Cape Town Commitment, became an example of the assumed priority of evangelism rather than a stated one. It’s important to bring clarity to this as these documents consistently shape the culture of ministry training and form the basis of partnerships in evangelical circles for decades to come.

The Seoul Statement clearly serves as a complementary tool to the comprehensive “State of the Great Commission” report, offering theological and strategic guidance for collaborative mission efforts. This calls for clearer emphasis on evangelistic priority, especially in paragraph 45, to ensure that gospel proclamation remains at the core of Christian mission, not on the periphery. Much has already been written on this and I’d like to turn my focus to how the Seoul Statement calls the church back to Gospel proclamation and why that matters.

The Theological Foundation of Proclamation Evangelism

In today’s complex, polycentric, and integral mission landscape, the need for prioritized, innovative evangelism has never been more critical. The Seoul Statement underscores that God’s saving power must be declared where Christ is least known, in both word and deed. Michael Oh captured this dual calling well at the Lausanne Congress when he stated that the church must remain both vocal and visible, not competing but collaborating, and equipping all believers for the mission.

Oh’s call aligns with a deeper theological understanding that the evangelist holds a unique and vital role within the body of Christ. While evangelism now incorporates varied methods such as digital outreach, contextual preaching, and community service, the core role of the evangelist remains essential in mobilizing the global church to faithfully proclaim the Gospel. Where were the evangelists at Seoul? Why do they need to be emphasized in the global mission?

The Seoul Statement’s use of the term “herald” in paragraph 45 is significant and commendable: “By His Word and through His Spirit, the church displays God’s saving power of the gospel and sends heralds to declare His gospel where Christ is not known.”

Theologically, the New Testament often describes the evangelist as a kerux (herald)—a respected role in ancient times given to those who announced the decrees of kings and proclaimed important declarations to the public. Evangelists, as heralds of the ultimate King—Jesus Christ—are entrusted with the bold, public declaration of the gospel to the ends of the earth I was somewhat disappointed that we did not hear from many evangelists during the program, and it seems that the gift of the evangelist has become a shadow of the past rather than a central, active role in shaping strategy and equipping the church.

As we look to the future, it is essential that we revive and empower this role as an animating core of holistic mission. Evangelists are needed now more than ever to boldly proclaim the good news (in partnership with the church) in an increasingly secular and divided world. If we are to see the gospel advance into every culture and context, the voice of the evangelist must be heard and amplified, not side-lined or forgotten. It is time for the church to reclaim its heritage of proclamation and recommit to raising up a new generation of heralds who will declare the message of salvation with clarity, courage, and conviction across all boundaries and in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Videos Spread False Rumors About Death of Pastor John MacArthur

By

Stephanie Martin

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October 4, 2024

Despite videos circulating online, Pastor John MacArthur “is alive and recovering from his recent surgery.” That confirmation comes from Phil Johnson, executive director of MacArthur’s Grace to You ministry.

On Thursday (Oct. 3), Johnson wrote on X, “Someone sent me a link to a YouTube page with at least three videos (in official-sounding ‘breaking news’ style, replete with CNN’s logo) purporting to announce that John MacArthur has died. It’s a sinister lie.”

MacArthur, 85, had successful heart-valve replacement surgery on July 15. One month later, he shared a health update while speaking to students at the Master’s Seminary. The Bible teacher and longtime pastor of Grace Community Church (GCC) in Sun Valley, California, admitted feeling weak and having some difficulty breathing.

Although MacArthur admitted he didn’t know “how much time the Lord is going to give me” yet on earth, he said he’s “incredibly blessed” to remain. In January 2023, after falling ill during a New Year’s Day worship service, MacArthur had successful surgery to clear artery blockages.

Misleading Videos Imply John MacArthur Has Died

On Oct. 1, an account called “Celebrities Who Died Today” posted a four-minute video on YouTube headlined “Pastor John MacArthur Is Announced Dead At 85.” As of Oct. 4, the video has more than 11,500 views.

The narrator begins, “Just moments ago, news came out that has deeply upset the entire Christian community. The family of Pastor John MacArthur, a beloved figure and spiritual leader, has confirmed devastating news about his health.”

Only later does the video indicate the pastor is still alive, noting, “Today we face the possibility of losing this incredible man.” Although the clip promises “details of this heartbreaking announcement,” it later hedges, “the specifics are still being revealed.” The narrator recaps MacArthur’s faith, achievements, and legacy, saying the news about him “comes as a reminder of the fragility of life.”

In the comments section, some people are posting sincere condolences about MacArthur’s supposed passing. Others are debunking the false information. “While I hate to post a comment and bring more engagement to this, please people, look this up elsewhere,” someone wrote. “There are no other reports of John MacArthur passing away. So let’s wait and see, and continue to pray for his health.”

Pastor John MacArthur Has Experienced ‘Grace Upon Grace’

This morning (Oct. 4), the same YouTube account posted another video about MacArthur’s rumored death. Headlined “Pastor John MacArthur’s Sudden Passing Leaves Millions in Tears,” the 11-minute clip refers to the preacher’s “last message.”

‘It Was God’s Plan To Take Them Together’—Hurricane Helene Claims Lives of Married Couple Found Hugging Each Other

By

Jesse T. Jackson

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October 4, 2024

Jerry and Marcia Savage — Screengrab via Facebook / Second Baptist Church of Beech Island

Hurricane Helene winds claimed the lives of Jerry (78) and Marcia (74) Savage after a tree fell onto their one-story home in Beech Island, South Carolina, on the morning of Sept. 28. They had been married for over 50 years.

The Savage’s 22-year-old grandson, John, and his father had been living at grandparents’ house for the past few years and were there when Hurricane Helene hit.

According to reports, John checked on the couple around 4:00 a.m. after hearing the sound of branches snapping. John recalled they were lying in bed together with their small dog—shaken by the storm, but alive.

“We heard one snap and I remember going back there and checking on them,” John said. “They were both fine, the dog was fine.”

Moments later, John and his father heard what he described as a loud “boom.” The sound came from one of the largest trees on the property falling directly into Jerry and Marcia’s bedroom.

John said, “All you could see was ceiling and tree. I was just going through sheer panic at that point.”

Rescuers Found Jerry and Marcia Savage Hugging Each Other

When rescuers found Jerry and Marcia they were found hugging each other in their bed. John said that the “family thinks it was God’s plan to take them together, rather than one suffer without the other.”

“When they pulled them out of there, my grandpa apparently heard the tree snap beforehand and rolled over to try and protect my grandmother,” John said.

The Savages’ daughter, Tammy, told reporters, “My daddy was on top of my mama hugging her trying to protect her. The coroner had to pull them apart.”

Katherine, the Savages’ 27-year-old granddaughter, shared that her grandmother was “very active” at the couple’s church, adding that she had a “beautiful voice” and loved to sing gospel music. The Savages attended Second Baptist Church of Beech Island.

Christian Ethics Professor Arrested for Alleged Possession of Child Sex Abuse Material

By

Dale Chamberlain

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October 4, 2024

Charles Bellinger — Screen grab via Tarrant County Jail

A Texas seminary professor is facing charges of possession of child sex abuse material (CSAM) following his arrest on Wednesday (Oct. 2). Dr. Charles Bellinger has been fired from his role as theological librarian and professor of theology and ethics at Brite Divinity School in Fort Worth, Texas.

Editor’s note: This article refers to reports of child sex abuse that some readers might find triggering and/or disturbing.

Brite Divinity School, which describes itself as “one of the premier progressive theological institutions in the Southwest,” is located on the campus of Texas Christian University (TCU).

While the two schools share the same campus, they are separate institutions, according to Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Bellinger was not an employee of TCU.

At Brite, Bellinger had taught the history of Christian ethics, moral philosophy, and the theology of human rights.

“During my years in graduate school I studied both theology and ethics because the concept of narrow disciplinary boundaries separating the two fields never made sense to me,” Bellinger’s now-archived profile on Brite Divinity School’s website reads. “I also developed a strong interest in reflecting on human psychology from a theological point of view.”

Bellinger is the author of at least three books, including “The Tree of Good and Evil: Or, Violence by the Law and Against the Law,” which was published earlier this year.

Bellinger, 62, was taken into custody after Fort Worth Police Department Internet Crimes Against Children Unit detectives, TCU police officers, and United States Secret Service special agents served a search warrant at Bellinger’s home in Arlington, Texas, and at his university office on the TCU campus.

Dr. Stephen Cady, president of Brite Divinity School, released a statement on Thursday saying that upon being made aware of the allegations against Bellinger, the school “cooperated with law enforcement, shut down his access to school technology, personnel, and facilities, and placed him on immediate administrative leave before terminating his employment shortly thereafter.”

The Vital Role of Prayer for Hospital Chaplains: Bringing Comfort and Hope

By

Jamie Peplinski

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October 4, 2024

In the bustling, often overwhelming environment of a hospital, where the stakes are high and emotions run deep, hospital chaplains play a crucial role in providing spiritual support and comfort. These dedicated men and women are the hands and feet of Christ, offering prayer and guidance to patients, medical professionals and families during some of the most challenging moments of their lives.

Hospital chaplains are more than just spiritual caregivers; they are ministers of God’s grace in the midst of life’s most intense trials. Whether in the emergency room, at the bedside of a dying patient or in quiet moments of reflection, chaplains are called to serve as the compassionate presence of Christ. This calling requires deep spiritual strength, profound empathy, and unwavering faith.

For chaplains, prayer is not just a tool of ministry; it is the lifeline that sustains them. Through prayer, they draw strength from God to face the daily challenges of their work, seeking his wisdom and guidance as they navigate complex emotional and spiritual landscapes. They pray for the right words to comfort the grieving, the insight to understand the unspoken needs of the sick and the grace to bear the burdens they witness every day.

Prayer has long been recognized as a source of healing—both physically and spiritually. In the hospital setting, where science and medicine take center stage, prayer offers an essential complement, addressing the holistic needs of patients. While doctors and nurses focus on healing the body, chaplains focus on healing the soul.

Patients often turn to chaplains for prayer when they feel vulnerable, scared, or alone. A chaplain’s prayer can provide peace amid pain and hope in the face of uncertainty. For many, these moments of prayer are as crucial to their recovery as any medical treatment.

Research has shown that prayer can reduce stress, lower blood pressure and improve overall well being. But beyond the measurable benefits, prayer offers something even more profound: a deep, abiding sense of God’s presence.

The work of doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals is incredibly demanding, both physically and emotionally. They are often the first to witness suffering, the first to respond in emergencies and the first to provide care in life-threatening situations. The weight of these responsibilities can lead to burnout, compassion fatigue, and emotional exhaustion.

Hospital chaplains play a crucial role in supporting these caregivers through prayer. By offering prayers for strength, endurance, and peace, chaplains help medical professionals carry their burdens. These prayers remind them that they are not alone in their work.

When a loved one is seriously ill, families often experience a range of emotions—fear, helplessness, and sorrow. The uncertainty of the future can be overwhelming, and the waiting can feel endless. In these moments, hospital chaplains step in to offer comfort through prayer.

Chaplains listen to their concerns, offer words of encouragement and lift up prayers that express the hopes and needs of the family. These prayers often focus on trusting in God’s plan, seeking his comfort and finding his peace amid chaos.

Asking for a Raise – 10 Tips From an Executive Pastor

By

Rich Birch

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October 4, 2024

Asking for a raise soon? If you’re a staff member at a church, there may come a time when you wonder, how do I ask for a raise? For some reason, asking for a raise when you work for a church or nonprofit can bring up all kinds of uncomfortable feelings, ultimately leaving team members feeling isolated.

Most executive pastors realize that you need and want to be well remunerated for your work at the church, but how do you go about asking for a raise? What kind of approach should you take? Is there a better time for asking for a raise than another? How should you approach what could be a potentially sensitive subject?

Your Guide to Asking for a Raise

1. You need a raise.

You’re at the point where you’re seeing a gap between the amount of compensation and the amount you need to live, and your current salary isn’t cutting it. You’re wondering if the time to ask is now.

Before we move on with this conversation, remember that it’s just money. You need to step back from the anxiety you may be feeling about asking for a raise and try to be as objective as possible. Sounding stressed out or too powered up at the beginning of this conversation will only make it more difficult for both you and your executive pastor.

2. Your church doesn’t have unlimited resources.

In fact, there are limited resources at your church. During the budgeting process, your executive pastor and leadership team aren’t scheming up ways to squeeze maximum effort out of you for minimum remuneration. The truth is there are many factors they are considering as they figure out how much to pay you for the work you do. Leadership has to balance out the financial needs of various people, departments, building expenses and all the other things it takes to run a church.

Another element to consider is that once you engage in this conversation, your executive pastor will be thinking not only about you but also about others on the team who earn a similar salary. Your leaders understand that if they make a significant change in your salary, they’re going to need to make changes across the board. Your salary is part of a group of salaries at the church—a point worth acknowledging as you begin this conversation.

Easy Children’s Messages: 3 Ideas for Last-Minute Lessons

By

ChildrensMinistry.com

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October 3, 2024

Keeping some easy children’s messages handy is always a good idea. You never know when you’ll need solid material for Sunday school or children’s church. Read on for three easy children’s messages about God’s character!

Need quick and easy children’s messages? Look no further! Here are three simple children’s talks from Simply Loved curriculum to add to your ministry this week.

3 Easy Children’s Messages

1. God Guides and Provides

Supplies:

Bibles
paper
pencils
whiteboard
dry-erase markers

Say: The book of Psalms is filled with songs that people sang to remember God’s faithfulness. Let’s read part of a psalm that God’s people sang to remember how God guided and provided for them.

Distribute Bibles and help kids find Psalm 105. Glance over the whole psalm. Then read verses 1 and 40 together.

Say: God guides us. And I’ll guide us as we create our own psalm—Mad Lib style!

Distribute paper and pencils. Have everyone number their papers 1 to 9. Write the following prompts on a whiteboard, and have kids write responses on their papers. Be ready to assist younger kids. Then have kids shout out their answers as you read the psalm below.

Adjective that describes God
Favorite food
Favorite game to play
Least favorite chore
Positive adjective
Verb
Your nickname

“Oh God, you are so [1]. Thank you for all you’ve done for me. You give me [2]. You help me play [3]. Even when I have to [4], I know you’re with me. You’re [5]! I will [6] to tell everyone how you guide me so faithfully. Love, your friend [7].”

Jordan River Baptism: Why That Trend Irks One Pastor

By

Clint Archer

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October 3, 2024

Jordan River baptism is popular but warrants a closer look. Discover why one pastor has a pet peeve about people flocking to the Jordan to be baptized.

The Jordan River is an indispensable stop on any tour of Israel. Sadly, today the river runs at only about 2% of its erstwhile capacity. As I stood on the banks of the piddly stream, I had to use my mind’s eye to see why Joshua needed to miraculously part the waters when Israel crossed into the Promised Land (Joshua 3).

Of course, this river is most famous as the location where John baptized Jesus (Matthew 3:13-17). Visiting that remote area gives a sense of how determined people had to be to satisfy their curiosity about John. They flocked from great distances to be baptized.

Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. (Matthew 3:5-6)

The significance of Jesus’ Jordan River baptism makes the site a magnet for “tourist baptisms.” After all, it’s the very river Israel crossed to claim their kingdom. It’s where the Spirit descended and people heard the voice of God.

Thoughts on Jordan River Baptism

If you visit the river, you’ll likely find people being baptized at designated spots. There are special platforms, changing rooms, and T-shirts for sale. They declare “I was baptized in the Jordan River.” (I’m not making that up.)

These people tend to fall into two groups. Either they’re non-Christians being dunked by a tour guide as a re-enactment photo-op, complete with giggling, splashing, and selfie sticks. Or they’re believers who’ve already been baptized upon conversion (as the Bible says to) but are getting rebaptized.

Some get rebaptized as a sign of their recommitment or renewed desire to obey. Others just want the T-shirt or have a touristy reason. They want to say they were baptized in the same water as Jesus (which is not how rivers work).

I really wish they wouldn’t. Unbelievers have no right to take the mark of Christian commitment. It would be like a Taliban terrorist taking the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance on YouTube. It’s a mockery of the significance.

Baptism is such an important ordinance. Christ instituted it as the sign of a very important spiritual reality that can happen only once. It’s the moment you die to your old life and are born again to a new life in Christ. Going under the water unites you to Christ in his death and burial (which is why Baptist churches practice full immersion). Emerging symbolizes your inclusion in Christ’s resurrection and the commencement of your new holy life.

For an unbeliever to do that is inappropriate. And for a believer to do it again for a T-shirt or photo-op seems, at the very least, a monumental missing of the point.

The Art of Delighting in Your Relationships

By

Josh Spurlock

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October 3, 2024

In the whirlwind of daily life, it’s easy to overlook the profound impact that genuine, heartfelt interactions can have on our relationships. The act of delighting in someone’s presence—not for what they achieve but simply for who they are—can transform connections with friends and family, fostering a deeper sense of love, acceptance, and mutual joy. This article explores the art of delighting in others and offers practical tips for incorporating this powerful practice into your everyday life, enhancing your emotional connections.

Understanding Delighting

Delighting is the process of expressing joy and appreciation for someone’s presence in your life. It’s a moment of recognition that communicates, “You are valued and cherished exactly as you are.” This doesn’t require grand gestures; it’s about the sincere and thoughtful acknowledgment of someone’s inherent worth and uniqueness.

Why Delighting Matters

Every person has an intrinsic desire to feel loved and appreciated. When we delight in others, we meet this fundamental need, reinforcing their sense of self-worth and belonging. This nurturing of positive emotions contributes to stronger, more secure relationships built on a foundation of mutual respect and affection.

How To Practice Delighting in Your Daily Interactions

Engaging in the practice of delighting may feel daunting, especially if expressing emotions doesn’t come naturally. However, with a few simple strategies, anyone can begin to cultivate deeper emotional connections with their loved ones.

1. Pay Attention to the Details

Start by noticing the small, unique traits and behaviors that make each person in your life special. Maybe it’s your friend’s infectious laugh, a family member’s quirky hobby, or a partner’s way of showing care. Acknowledging these details shows that you see and appreciate them for who they are.

2. Use Affirming Language

Words are incredibly powerful. Make a habit of using affirming language that reflects what you value in others. Phrases like “I love how passionate you are about your interests” or “Your kindness really made my day better” are simple yet profoundly impactful ways to express delight.

3. Share Joyful Moments

Joy is contagious. Share moments of happiness and laughter with friends and family, and be open to participating in what brings them joy. Whether it’s watching a favorite show together, enjoying a hobby, or simply sharing funny stories, these shared experiences can deepen your bond.

4. Practice Active Listening

Showing genuine interest in what others say and feel is a fundamental aspect of delighting in them. Practice active listening by giving them your full attention, asking thoughtful questions, and responding in a way that validates their experiences and emotions.

5. Offer Non-Verbal Affirmation

Sometimes, delighting in someone doesn’t need words. A warm smile, a hug, or simply your presence can convey that you’re truly happy to be with them. Non-verbal cues can often speak volumes about your appreciation and affection.

Pastor Arrested, Charged, and Fired After Allegedly Stealing Nude Photos of Church Member During Life Group

By

Jesse T. Jackson

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October 3, 2024

Gabriel Mills (41) was terminated from his position as Guest Experience Pastor of Journey Church in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and arrested after he was accused of sending photos of a woman to himself without her consent from her husband’s phone. The victim and her family are members at the church.

Editor’s note: This article refers to reports that some readers might find triggering and/or disturbing.

Mills, a father of five who has been married to his wife, Serah, for over 20 years, was arrested on Sept. 23 after authorities obtained a warrant to search his phone.

The incident allegedly occurred during a life group meeting at Mills’ home. Mills asked to use the phone belonging to the victim’s husband during the meeting in order to download an audiobook application Mills wanted to share with the husband. The husband is an employee of the Racine Police Department.

According to the criminal complaint filed on Oct. 2, Mills searched for intimate photos of the church member’s wife on the phone and sent them to himself via AirDrop.

The victim stated that, after life group was over, she discovered Mills had sent himself the photos. She saw Mills holding his phone in a way that he didn’t want others to see it. After talking to Mills, the woman stated that “he lowered his hand and phone to his side and [she] could see displayed on the phone a picture of [herself] in thong style underwear where she was bent over at the waist posed for the camera.”

The victim recognized the photo as one she had sent to her husband.

The victim then “stated that she became furious as to how that private photo ended up on the [pastor’s] phone, and [she] was concerned what else [Mills] might have on his phone of her as she had sent other photos to her husband on previous occasions.”

The woman then said that she “tapped on [Mills’] phone which relit up the picture of her in the thong underwear and the [pastor] looked down at his phone and saw what [she] could see.” The victim stated that Mills “turned ‘white as a ghost’ and began to tremble and apologize to her repeatedly.”

Mills then reportedly became frantic and pleaded with the woman not to tell his wife. He even tried to block her exit to one of the stairways in his house and told her that the image was of his wife, not her.

Stan Wallace: How Understanding the Soul Impacts the Way We Serve

By

Jason Daye

-

October 3, 2024

As pastors and ministry leaders, why is a thorough understanding of the body, mind, and soul so vital as we minister in a rapidly shifting world? In this week’s conversation on FrontStage BackStage, host Jason Daye is joined by Dr. Stan Wallace. Stan is the president and CEO of Global Scholars. He travels the world, writing and speaking on issues of apologetics, ethics, and Christian thought. His most recent book is titled “Have We Lost Our Minds?: Neuroscience, Neurotheology, the Soul, and Human Flourishing.” Together, Stan and Jason explore concepts around the brain, the mind, and the soul. Stan shares the dangers of some of the extremes in these conversations and helps point us to a healthy middle way that resonates with biblical truth. Now, hang with us in this conversation because Stan has to explain some deep concepts, but in the second half of the conversation, Stan really helps us understand the implications of all of this when it comes to ministering and serving in the world we live in today.

FrontStage BackStage Podcast With Stan Wallace

View the entire podcast here.

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Looking to dig more deeply into this topic and conversation? Every week we go the extra mile and create a free toolkit so you and your ministry team can dive deeper into the topic that is discussed. Find your Weekly Toolkit here… Love well, Live well, Lead well!

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Top 3 Practices of Organized Pastors

By

Full Strength Network

-

October 3, 2024

Organized Pastors — Photo by Ken Tomita: https://www.pexels.com/photo/turned-off-laptop-computer-389818/

Moment of truth—pastors are not always known for being the most organized. In a highly relational career, other strengths take priority, and pastors can go years without really gaining a sense of an organized rhythm in their jobs. Pretty soon, all hope for a healthy rhythm can feel like it is lost.

What level of organization do you feel in your job? While it’s easy to joke about how “crazy” our work lives are when we go from meeting to meeting, sermon to sermon, week after week…it’s not healthy, and it’s not sustainable.

What action are you willing to take toward a healthier outcome?

We’d like to offer three practices you can strategize with your team to get to a place of health and organization. It will take some effort. It won’t be initially easy—because it’s fighting against the pace of our culture—but it will provide you with tools to prevent burnout.

Evaluate your organizational priorities. This is a crucial first step toward organization in your work life. Everyone has an idea of what the budget should go toward, what the theme is for Christmas, what outreach projects you’re spending time on, etc., etc. The rabbit trails lead far and wide! If you’re not grounded in an understanding of your priorities as a church or a team, you will get lost in all the good ideas. Pastors, you cannot accomplish every good idea. You need to prioritize what your mission is. This leads to an important reality in your job—saying no when even a good idea is not a part of the mission God is calling you to. Your leadership includes seeking God for wisdom and discernment in the focus He has for your church. Spreading your priorities too wide makes for an all-around weak ministry.
Key questions to ask in this practice:
– How much time have we spent praying for direction?
– Who can we meet with to narrow our priorities?
– Is anyone feeling burnt out? Why?
Make a plan. This is not a joke. It’s not a simplified step. It’s a key component of ministry that many pastors devalue when they either neglect to make a plan or have too many plans. Make one plan. And make sure your staff and key leaders are aware of the plan. Communication is integral throughout this practice. Much of the disorganization in churches comes from the leader not clearly communicating the plan! To be clear, this “plan” comes directly from your previous practice of clarifying your values and direction. The plan will help implement the practical ways your priorities come to fruition.
Examples of organizational plans:
– Revamping how and why you call meetings as a team.
– Sticking to a regular flow of communication with your staff.
– Allowing your assistant to set a practical schedule for you.
Stick to the plan. It needs to be said. When you think about it practically, a plan is nice, but it means nothing unless you act on it. It’s too easy to resort to the excuse of ministry being too this or too that for you to stick to the plan you’ve committed to. Pastors, it’s time to commit to a sustainable way of ministry. While you may feel heroic in the moment of meeting all needs at any time of day in ways that leave you feeling like “work is crazy,” you’re actually setting yourself up for a short sprint in ministry. Prepare like you would for a marathon instead.
Key reminders for sticking to your plan:
– Empower someone to keep you accountable to the plan you’ve made.
– Check your attitude before beginning.
– You have a chance to set a healthy precedent in your workplace, and for your team.

Don’t settle for disorganization within your ministry. It’s not doing anyone any good. And it’s not setting the tone for healthy outcomes. Try these steps and see if you can break the cycle of “crazy.” Maybe the next time someone asks you “how work is,” you can answer honestly by saying, “It’s refreshing! I’m setting my team up for a manageable pace!”

This article originally appeared here.

Lysa TerKeurst and Her New Husband, Chaz Adams, Have a ‘Behind the Scenes Conversation’ About Their Relationship

By

Jessica Lea

-

October 3, 2024

Lysa TerKeurst sat down with her husband, Chaz Adams, Wednesday night for a “behind the scenes conversation” about their relationship. In the livestream, the couple revealed how they met, how they have built trust in their relationship, and that they continue to navigate past griefs even in the mist of their “redemption story.”

“I am so grateful to have found you, and I know you’re grateful to have found me,” TerKeurst told Adams. “And there are still moments that, because the previous relationship that you had in marriage and the previous relationship I had in marriage, because those didn’t work out and they ended in such hard ways, there are still ramifications of grief that happened.”

“But I love the fact that you and I are able to talk about those things as well. And I think conversation’s really important,” she continued. “I think more relationships die, not because you attempt to have hard conversations, but because there are conversations that are desperately needed but just never had.”

Lysa TerKeurst and Chaz Adams Discuss Their ‘Redemption Story’

Lysa TerKeurst is the president and chief visionary officer of Proverbs 31 Ministries and the author of several New York Times bestsellers. Throughout Wednesday’s conversation, she related her and her husband’s story to concepts in her new book, “I Want to Trust You, but I Don’t: Moving Forward When You’re Skeptical of Others, Afraid of What God Will Allow, and Doubtful of Your Own Discernment.”

At the end of the stream, TerKeurst announced that people can buy a copy of the book and get one free for as long as supplies last starting then until the book is published on Oct. 8.

TerKeurst also recently had a conversation about trust with Dr. Ed Stetzer and Daniel Yang on “The Stetzer ChurchLeaders Podcast.” That interview will be released Oct. 9.

“We’ve been together for a long time and lots of people have asked so many questions,” said TerKeurst as her conversation with Adams began. “I am excited we’re going to get to tell a little bit of our story tonight.”

Navigating Past Grief and Building Trust

Part of TerKeurst and Adams’ story is how they have developed a new relationship with each other given the pain of their pasts. In 2017, TerKeurst announced that after 25 years of marriage, she was getting divorced because of her then-husband’s infidelity.

However, a year later, the couple was still together. In December 2018, the two renewed their vows, celebrating the restoration of their union. Sadly, on Jan. 1, 2022, TerKeurst revealed that she was ending her marriage to Art TerKeurst for good, as he had continued to be unfaithful.

In June 2023, TerKeurst shared that she had a new love interest, and in January of this year, she and Adams married in a romantic ceremony in the French Alps.

Meeting Each Other: A Chance Encounter on a Dating App

By far the most asked question Adams and TerKeurst receive is how they met—which was on a dating app. “I don’t particularly love our story being that we met on a dating app because I always said I will never go on dating apps,” said TerKeurst. However, she picked one she believed was “pretty safe,” and she made sure to involve her girlfriends throughout the dating process.

AL Pastor Arrested While Watering Neighbors’ Flowers Can Proceed With Lawsuit

By

Stephanie Martin

-

October 3, 2024

Michael Jennings, a pastor arrested while tending his out-of-town neighbors’ yard, can sue the city of Childersburg, Alabama, and three police officers involved in the case.

On Friday (Sept. 27), a three-judge panel of the U.S. 11^th Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously reversed a lower-court ruling that had dismissed Jennings’ lawsuit. The officers aren’t protected by qualified immunity, the panel said, because they had no probable cause to arrest Jennings.

Jennings, who is Black, was confronted by police in May 2022, after a white woman called 911 to report a “suspicious individual” in a neighboring yard. The pastor, who identified himself verbally but refused to show his ID, said friends had asked him to water their flowers while they were away.

Body camera footage released a few months later shows Jennings being handcuffed and placed in a police vehicle. “Y’all racially profiled me,” he told the officers after they arrested him. A charge of obstructing government operations was dismissed days later.

Attorney Calls Ruling ‘A Win for Justice’

Alabama’s “stop and identify” law, which permits officers to demand identification, applies when police have “reasonable suspicion” that someone is committing a crime, the 11^th Circuit Court ruled.

“While it is always advisable to cooperate with law enforcement officers, Jennings was under no legal obligation to provide his ID,” said the court. “Therefore, officers lacked probable cause for Jennings’ arrest…because Jennings did not commit an independent unlawful act by refusing to give ID.”

Jennings, pastor of Vision of Abundant Life Church in Sylacauga, Alabama, said the officers “dehumanized” him and violated his constitutional and civil rights. Jennings’ lawsuit claims he suffers from “ongoing emotional distress,” including PTSD-like symptoms, nightmares, and flashbacks.

Harry Daniels, the lead attorney for Jennings, said Friday’s ruling was “a win for Pastor Jennings and a win for justice.” Daniels claimed the body-cam video showed that officers were intent on arresting the pastor but “then tried to rewrite history claiming he hadn’t identified himself, when that was the first thing he did.”

Daniels added, “Finally, Pastor Jennings will have his day in court and prove that wearing a badge does not give you the right to break the law.” The ruling could impact other civil rights cases throughout Alabama, according to the attorney.

Pastor Michael Jennings Thanked God for Sparing Him

As ChurchLeaders has reported, Jennings said he holds no grudge against the neighbor who called police on him. “I don’t hold anything against my neighbors. I still speak to them,” he said in 2022. “Matter of fact, I’ve talked to [the woman’s] husband since the incident, and he was telling me how bad she feels about it.”

“I love that neighbor just as well as I love the one where I was watering their flowers,” said the pastor. “May not have to like them all the time, but we have to love them anyway.”

Former Hillsong Pastor Carl Lentz Defends Hillsong From Accusations of Being a Cult

By

Dale Chamberlain

-

October 3, 2024

On a recent episode of the “Lights On” show, Carl Lentz responded to viewer questions alongside his wife, Laura, including one question Lentz said he is asked frequently: Is Hillsong Church a cult?

The Rise and Fall of Carl Lentz at Hillsong NYC

Lentz was once one of Hillsong’s most promising pastors, launching Hillsong NYC in 2010. Under his leadership, the church grew to become a multisite congregation, and Lentz served as pastor to a number of star athletes and musicians.

However, in 2020, Lentz was dismissed from the church after admitting to an extramarital affair. Later, Lentz was accused of spiritual and sexual abuse, allegations he has vehemently denied.

Hillsong’s Widespread Scandals and Leadership Fallout

The scandal surrounding Lentz’s leadership and conduct was one among many that plagued Hillsong in a span of just a few years. These scandals spanned several Hillsong churches, as well as its college. In 2022, Brian Houston, who founded the church in 1983, resigned in disgrace amid allegations of sexual misconduct and substance abuse.

As such, the global megachurch, which produces worship music used by congregations of diverse theological stripes around the world, has come under scrutiny from legal professionals and journalists alike. The church is even the subject of at least two investigative docuseries, “Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed” and “Secrets of Hillsong.”

Carl Lentz Responds: ‘Is Hillsong Church a Cult?’

“Is Hillsong Church a cult?” Lentz read from a list of questions in a video published Wednesday. Smiling, he said, “I mean, the question is tossed to us a lot.”

“Easy answer is of course it’s not a cult,” Lentz said. “And this is my perspective. And my perspective is probably different than anybody else’s. But first of all, we gotta talk about, ‘What is a cult?’ Everyone has their own definitions now.”

Lentz defined a cult as a religious community a person cannot leave “without fear of death or ridicule or extraordinary manipulation.”

“A cult is known for its welcoming arms in and closed doors when you wanna get out,” Lentz said. “That’s a very, very layman’s definition of ‘cult.’”

“I think why our church—our former church—got hit with that so much is just because it’s influential,” he continued. “And our Taylor Swift fans—are they in a cult? They are way cultier than any church I’ve ever seen. Beyoncé’s fans? Way cultier.”

A Sri Lankan’s Reflections on L4 and Integral Mission

By

Nathanael Somanathan

-

October 3, 2024

Editor’s note: This article is part of forum discussing the fourth Lausanne Congress. It is not an official Lausanne Movement forum but an opportunity for Lausanne delegates to share their thoughts about the fourth Lausanne Congress, the Seoul Statement, and the future of the mission. You can read the entire series, from diverse voices around the world here.

For many of us from the majority world who regularly attend regional or international conferences, the experience is marked by excitement and gratitude. We are part of something larger than our realities back home, and we are deeply thankful, as most (if not all) of our expenses are typically covered.

What we do not usually do is question or criticize our hosts who have been very generous. This does not mean we are naïve or uncritical, just that there are many psychological and cultural layers to overcome before we feel comfortable speaking up. I cannot speak for all majority world participants—we are far from a monolith—but this is certainly true for many South Asians. We are conditioned to be compliant and submissive to our patrons.

So, you can imagine even the present strain that I feel to vocalize my own concerns about the Lausanne Congress held in Seoul, which was embroiled in several controversies. But I am thankful to Ed Stetzer for his willingness to invite young majority world participants to share their reflections and even disagree with him. While some participants were able to ignore the murmurs and agitations brewing in the corridors, I and many others could not overlook some of the red flags. So, with some trepidation, let me speak to one controversy in particular: the issue of “integral mission.”

The Lausanne movement, since its inception in 1974, has been about world evangelization. However, evangelization understood as one mode of mission, was not to be separated from social action. This is clear in the The Lausanne Covenant—a statement produced during the first congress that has since been a key reference for evangelical theological reflection globally. The statement claims the following about what inspired it: “We are deeply stirred by what God is doing in our day, moved to penitence by our failures and challenged by the unfinished task of evangelization.”

There is an implicit recognition in this document that the task of evangelization can be hindered by the failures of the church, the evangelizers. One of the failures that is acknowledged is found in Article 5 on Christian Social Responsibility: “Here too we express penitence both for our neglect and for having sometimes regarded evangelism and social concern as mutually exclusive.” However, the document maintains in the very next section that “[in] the Church’s mission of sacrificial service, evangelism is primary.”

I believe the context of these statements is just as important as the quotes themselves. The Congress of 1974 has been recounted as somewhat contentious and painful for many in attendance. René Padilla’s address at the congress, which has been dubbed as “the speech that shook the world,” sheds some light on what evangelicalism as a diverse movement was grappling with at the time. An alternative was being sought between the progressives of the likes of WCC and the fundamentalists who were reacting strongly to the social gospel. For his part, Padilla contends in his talk that:

[on] the one hand, the Gospel cannot be reduced to social, economic and political categories, nor the church to an agency for human improvement… On the other hand, there is no biblical warrant to view the church as an other-worldly community dedicated to the salvation of souls, or to limit its mission to the preaching of man’s reconciliation to God through Jesus Christ.

Padilla charged the audience to embrace the “full gospel” that does not dichotomize evangelism and social action. Along with figures like Samuel Escobar and John Stott, he helped forge a path for evangelicals that integrated both proclamation and social action, without compromising the truth of Christ as the only way of salvation by the Holy Spirit.

The congress at Cape Town in 2010 continued in this tradition. The Cape Town Commitment declares: “All our mission must…reflect the integration of evangelism and committed engagement in the world, both being ordered and driven by the whole biblical revelation of the gospel of God.” Notably, however, the drafters do slightly diverge from the language of “primacy” to “centre” in describing the evangelism’s place in the church’s mission. They attempt to bypass the debate of “what comes first” and therefore “what is most important” by placing evangelism at the “centre of the fully-integrated scope of all our mission, inasmuch as the gospel itself is the source, content and authority of all biblically-valid mission.”

In the very next line, comes a glimpse into the crucial understanding that sets “integral mission” apart from other truncated models of gospel witness. It exhorts us, the readers, that “[all] we do should be both an embodiment and a declaration of the love and grace of God and his saving work through Jesus Christ.” The gospel in this framing is not merely a propositional set of statements or a formula, it is a testimony and a witness to the transformation one has received in Christ. The message of Christ is embodied in and extended by the body of Christ to the world through the empowerment of the Spirit. As Padilla remarked in his 1974 address, “Our greatest need is a more biblical Gospel and a more faithful church” (italics added).

All of this came to a head at the congress held in Seoul last week, marking the 50-year anniversary of the Lausanne movement. The theme was “Let the Church Declare and Display Christ Together.” One might expect, in line with previous developments, a continued focus on the church as both the herald and embodiment of the Christian gospel, would only be the natural next step in the prophetic trajectory set by the congresses of 1974 and thereon.

Instead, what transpired was a disheartening paragraph in the introduction to Section V in the Seoul Statement that both applauds Lausanne’s history of emphasizing evangelism and social concern but also critiques “integral mission,” suggesting it has not “always fully integrated the command of our Lord to be disciples and his commission to make disciples.” The statement further claimed that this failure has contributed to “a steady stream of reports of financial mismanagement, of sexual misconduct and abuse, of abuse of power among leaders, of efforts to cover-up these failures while ignoring the pain of those who have suffered because of them, and of spiritual anaemia and immaturity in evangelical churches around the world.”

In a New Film, 12 Pastors Take a Leap of Faith—Hoping Friendship Can Overcome Their Divides

By

Bob Smietana

-

October 3, 2024

A still from the documentary “Leap of Faith." (Photo © Picturehouse 2024)

(RNS) — In the summer of 2022, a dozen pastors from different backgrounds and traditions gathered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to answer one simple question.

Won’t you be my neighbor?

The question was inspired by the teachings of Jesus and one of his most well-known modern followers — Fred Rogers, who greeted millions of children for decades with that simple but profound question. Over the next year, the group of pastors — conservative and progressive, men and women, gay and straight, Black, white and Asian American — gathered to see if they could disagree and still stay together.

Would friendship and shared faith prove stronger than polarization? The answer, at least at the beginning, was: “I don’t know.”

“If I don’t know the answer, that makes an interesting story,” said Nicholas Ma, a filmmaker who followed the pastors on their journey.

The result was “Leap of Faith,” a new documentary that debuts Friday (Oct. 4) in Grand Rapids, Nashville, Phoenix, and a handful of other cities before expanding to wider release later in the month. The film was inspired in large part by a 2018 documentary about Rogers, which Ma produced. During screenings of that earlier film, Ma — who appeared on “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” the long-running children’s program, with his father, the famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma — recalled that people would often ask, “Where are the Fred Rogers of today?”

Pastors in the “Leap Of Faith” documentary answer questions in a line exercise by going to different areas based on their answers. (Photo © Picturehouse 2024)

“It felt like a question that needed to be answered,” said Ma, especially in the days after the 2020 election, when it seemed like the county was coming apart at the seams.

Around that time, Ma came across an article in The Wall Street Journal about a church in Michigan trying to bridge some of the culture’s divides. Helping them was the Rev. Michael Gulker, leader of the Colossian Forum, a Grand Rapids-based nonprofit specializing in conflict resolution.

Ma called Gulker and the two started talking about collaborating. One option was gathering leaders from different parts of the country. But Gulker felt that might lead to good feelings but no lasting change.

“When you are not sharing a backyard, this kind of work becomes abstract — and ends up like a group hug,” he said. “When you’re dealing with the same people in the same city with the same local politics, it has a different kind of feel.”

The film follows the pastors through a series of retreats — as they first get to know each other and talk about their hopes and aspirations, and then as they deal with the reality that friendship won’t erase their differences.

At one point, the pastors gather in the center of a room and answer a series of questions. Those who answer “Yes” go to one side, while the “No’s” go to the other. The questions start out lighthearted. For example, the Rev. Molly Bosscher, an Episcopal priest, is the only person to have memorized the names of the books of the Bible in order.

Then the questions get more serious. When asked if they would officiate a same-sex marriage, the group is split in half.

The discussions that follow reveal the pain that theological divides cause. The Rev. Joan VanDessel, a married lesbian United Methodist minister, says she hoped the growing friendships would change her fellow pastors’ minds about the topic. When that did not happen, there was a sense of betrayal and pain.

“The response to that was a lot more painful than I expected,” VanDessel tells the group. That leads to a discussion where the pastors see the human cost of the divide on that issue and how they don’t want that disagreement to tear them apart.

A key part of that discussion was vulnerability and accepting differences.

“Why can’t we be who we are and that be OK to the next person?” asks Chase Stancle, pastor of Unison Christian Church, at one point. “Why do we try to make everybody believe and feel the same way?”

Through the discussion, the pastors formed a sense of belonging that was stronger than their differences and wanted to build a Christian community that made room for all of them.

In North Carolina, Sound of Chainsaws Brings Hope as Faith-Based Workers Clear Roads

By

Bob Smietana

-

October 3, 2024

(RNS) — In the days since Hurricane Helene swept through mostly rural areas of nine states, Kevin King, executive director of Mennonite Disaster Service, has been working to make plans for how to best respond, despite spotty phone service due to downed cell towers and roads and bridges that have been washed out or blocked by fallen trees.

On Tuesday (Oct. 1), King was cheered as disaster relief workers from Mennonite communities around Ohio and Pennsylvania arrived outside Asheville, North Carolina, with chainsaws and earth-moving equipment to help clear the back roads as government services focus on main thoroughfares as well as search and rescue. “It’s good to hear sounds of chainsaws bringing hope,” he said.

Six more Mennonite heavy equipment operators are expected to start work Wednesday, bringing the total volunteers on site to about 30, said King.

“It’s hard to say how long this will continue,” he said. “A disaster this complex, with roads and bridges washed out, there’s still communities that are hard to get to.”

While the Mennonite efforts are most immediately aimed at helping stranded households get out of their neighborhoods to seek supplies, King suspects that a full recovery will take years, given the scope of damage. He compares the devastation of Helene to that of Hurricane Katrina, which hit New Orleans in 2005.

The group is currently based in Fairview, North Carolina, but one of King’s tasks this week is to locate a long-term site where Mennonite disaster volunteers can be housed as they help with cleanup and rebuilding over the long haul.

“What we will be looking for is a place we can set up for three to four years,” King said.

Workers with Mennonite Disaster Service survey damage from Hurricane Helene near Asheville, N.C., Oct. 1, 2024. (Photo courtesy of Mennonite Disaster Service)

He said other groups, such as Southern Baptist Disaster Relief and Samaritan’s Purse, have also been active in North Carolina, but so far, the Mennonites have not run into them, as the devastation from the storm covers such a wide area.

Tom Beam, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief’s director for North Carolina, reported that volunteers are working in eight counties in that state.

“We have experienced, in some areas, total destruction from the storm,” Beam told Baptist Press, an official SBC publication. “We have people who are hungry. We’re trying to get meals to them as fast as we can. We’ve got people in communities that we don’t know yet if they’re OK because we can’t get to them.”

Helene left many rural communities without power — which knocked out the pumps that supply well water to homes in those communities. The storm also damaged water mains in Asheville, some of which were washed away in the storm, leading to a shortage of drinking water.

Water Mission, a South Carolina-based engineering nonprofit that helps supply clear water around the world, has staff that live in storm-affected areas. In response, the nonprofit, which has recently begun doing disaster relief in the U.S., sent six water filtration systems and 175 generators to affected areas.

Water Mission workers load supplies onto a helicopter to be delivered to a remote North Carolina mountain community after it was cut off by Hurricane Helene. (Photo courtesy of Water Mission)

“We emptied our warehouse of all the generators we had, we put safe waters systems on a truck and drove up here within 24 hours,” said Brock Kreitzburg, head of disaster response for Water Mission. “We just want to help.”

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Pastor John MacArthur Has Experienced ‘Grace Upon Grace’

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Your Guide to Asking for a Raise

1. You need a raise.

2. Your church doesn’t have unlimited resources.

3 Easy Children’s Messages

1. God Guides and Provides

Thoughts on Jordan River Baptism

Understanding Delighting

Why Delighting Matters

How To Practice Delighting in Your Daily Interactions

1. Pay Attention to the Details

2. Use Affirming Language

3. Share Joyful Moments

4. Practice Active Listening

5. Offer Non-Verbal Affirmation

FrontStage BackStage Podcast With Stan Wallace

Keep Learning

Podcast Links

Lysa TerKeurst and Chaz Adams Discuss Their ‘Redemption Story’

Navigating Past Grief and Building Trust

Meeting Each Other: A Chance Encounter on a Dating App

Attorney Calls Ruling ‘A Win for Justice’

Pastor Michael Jennings Thanked God for Sparing Him

The Rise and Fall of Carl Lentz at Hillsong NYC

Hillsong’s Widespread Scandals and Leadership Fallout

Carl Lentz Responds: ‘Is Hillsong Church a Cult?’

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