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How to Lead 3 Different Groups Back to Church

By
Dan Reiland
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Father’s Day program ideas for church

Will you lead your people back to church? Who is coming back to church, and when?

Then again, is it really about “coming back?”

In principle no.

Most of your congregation never left. Most are with you online. And the church is not about a building; it’s about the impact of Jesus in the community.

In practice, yes.

We all know what we’re talking about.

The return of the church to physical buildings post COVID, and we are very much in uncharted waters.

People will come back; that we can know with confidence.
What we don’t know is who, how many, and when.

So, let’s be candid. There is more we don’t know than we do.

But isn’t that what we as leaders are called to do —  lead into the unknown?

If you are truly leading, that means you are guiding those you lead somewhere that you and they together have not been before. That “place” is a better life through Christ.

The foundation of that premise never changes, but culture has changed, so we must adapt as needed.

The purpose is that people may continue to say yes to the person and message of Christ and mature in their faith.

So, why do you need to lead people back to church?

The world has changed. Social norms have changed. People disagree on what is safe and not safe. The economy has changed. We have to lead.

Perhaps you prefer the word invite or encourage… that’s obviously fine. But it’s good to think within the bigger picture of leadership.

3 ways to lead different groups of people back to church:

Important note: None of these three groups indicate a level of spiritual maturity or is better than another.

They are merely an indication of personal wiring, health concerns, and social preferences. For example, you will find that your volunteers are among all three groups, and don’t be surprised that even your staff may be in all three groups.

1) I’m running back.

This is the group that can’t wait. They have their running shoes on and are ready to sprint.

Many would have never left had you not closed the doors. They don’t need or want masks, and some would hug you if you let them.

Some in this group are excited about the date the doors will reopen, and some are frustrated that you have not opened already.

Let’s estimate that this group comprises about 25% of your congregation.

You don’t need to encourage them to come back, right? But they need your leadership to know how to come back.

The keyword is PACE.

Help those who want to run back to church as soon as the doors open, pace their zeal, and engage others who feel and think differently with honor and respect.

They need to embrace that while they are comfortable about being close to others, many in your church are not yet ready.

And of course, this wonderfully eager group needs to be sensitive to the reality that while they are running, others are walking. It’s not about spiritual maturity or bravery; it’s how each of us sees life during and post COVID.

We must be careful to not even unknowingly pressure anyone to come back to a physical church building before they are ready.

2) I’m walking back.

If the “I’m running back” group carries great zeal, the “I’m walking back” group carries sincere caution.

The “I’m walking back” group wants to carefully process what they see and experience before they return to a church building.

This is likely the largest group, let’s estimate that this group is about 60%.

The overall concept is that this will be the largest of the three groups, regardless of the percentage you estimate.

The keyword is PEACE.

Those who choose to “walk back” will be listening carefully to what you say, watching how you open, and connecting that to their own personal perceptions of the new normal. (Post COVID)

Those who come back to church more cautiously will return when they have an internal peace, and as a leader, you can greatly help in that process.

First, how you prepare and communicate will help elevate their level of peace. If they sense a thoughtful, well prepared, and clearly communicated process that will enhance their level of trust and comfort.

Second, take the “I’m walking back” group seriously. Treat their concerns with respect but keep the tone light.

That means while you treat people with honor, you don’t have to dampen your own enthusiasm.

Lead with confidence while you honor other’s points of view.

3) I might not come back.

Don’t panic about this group. Their delay, even indefinite delay, is not necessarily a bad thing.

You may have done such an excellent job with online ministry that they discovered they really like it. That’s good!

If you communicate the freedom to attend online as a regular place of worship rather than subtly pressuring someone to come back, they are much more likely to return in time.

(I know that church leaders will not intentionally pressure anyone, but in our enthusiasm, it might seem that way.)

Keep in mind that some may have some degree of compromised health conditions or a combination of age and health issues that suggest they hold back for a season.

If you go with the estimates I’m offering as an example; this group might represent about 15%.

The keyword is PAUSE.

Many are fully with you in heart and spirit, but they have simply pushed the pause button for their church attendance in a physical building.

Here are a couple of thoughts on how you can encourage this group.

Intentionally design ways for those who have “pushed pause” on coming back to church to stay very connected beyond watching the service online.

One great example is small groups.

Those in the “pause” group may be very comfortable with a six or even eight-person small group. If not, you can build and offer online small groups. There are many possibilities.

Another way is to reach out, making personal connections focused on engagement.

Lead with genuine love, concern, and sincere shepherding.

Communicate how your ministries can serve those who have pushed pause on physical attendance to continue to move forward in their faith by connecting and serving with others.

Explain your options of how they can engage and be involved that do not require large groups of people.

Our founding and senior pastor Kevin Myers delivered an outstanding message on this topic using a creative metaphor of a Traffic Signal Light!

Check out how you can use “Green, Yellow and Red” to communicate to your congregation about returning to church.  You can watch it here.

This article about leading people back to church originally appeared here.

SBC Sees Largest Decrease in Numbers in a Hundred Years

By
Stephanie Martin
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Father’s Day program ideas for church

For the 13th year in a row, America’s largest Protestant denomination has experienced a membership decline. Data compiled for the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) by Lifeway Research reveals a two-percent decrease in U.S. church membership from 2018 to 2019, the largest single-year decrease in more than 100 years. Attendance, baptisms, and giving also were down during that period.

Denominational leaders say evangelism must be a priority for Southern Baptists, while adding that the Annual Church Profile (ACP) data-collection process needs overhauling.

What the Lifeway Research Numbers Reveal

From 2018 to 2019, SBC membership fell to just more than 14.5 million, though the number of churches increased by 74, to 47,530. Average attendance at weekly worship and Sunday school or small groups each decreased by less than one percent. Baptisms, meanwhile, fell by more than four percent, with 10,694 fewer reported in 2019 than the previous year. Last year, one baptism occurred for every 62 Southern Baptists.

“These numbers are not able to tell the story of all the evangelistic efforts that many individuals and churches have put in this past year,” says Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. “They do indicate, however, that the efforts of the same number of people in a congregation on average are seeing fewer people come to Christ and being baptized. The Southern Baptist Convention is not immune to the increasing secularization among Americans that is seen in more of our children and our neighbors not having an interest in coming to Jesus.”

After two years of increases, both total church receipts and undesignated receipts fell slightly in 2019. Total church receipts were down 1.44 percent, to $11.6 billion.

Some bright spots appeared in the data, however. Several state conventions outside the traditional Bible belt (including Colorado, Iowa, the Northwest, and Utah-Idaho) experienced membership growth and significant baptism increases last year. And multisite congregations added 505 more campuses to their ministries.

SBC’s Greear: We must ‘point people to Jesus’

“I grieve at the news that our reported baptism numbers fell again this year, continuing our 50-year decline,” writes SBC President J.D. Greear at Baptist Press. “Too many of us care more about whether our side is winning in the news cycle than we do the souls of our neighbors, sow division on secondary issues more than we point people to Jesus, and focus more on preserving our traditions than reaching our grandchildren.”

SBC membership peaked at 16.3 million in 2006. Recently, the denomination has dealt with clergy sex-abuse, debate about women’s roles, and controversy surrounding VP Mike Pence’s speech at the 2018 annual meeting. This year’s annual meeting was canceled because of the pandemic.

Ronnie Floyd, president and CEO of the SBC’s Executive Committee, cites several problems with the ACP: Data collection is labor-intensive, involves significant lag time, and lacks uniformity. “It simply cannot take this long and be this complicated,” says Floyd. “It is past time for us to rethink and re-innovate” the process. Participation by state conventions and individual congregations also varies. For the 2019 ACP, about 12,000 SBC churches didn’t participate, Floyd says, which “definitely impacts our statistical data.”

Tony Evans: How to Be a Part of the Solution, Not Just the Complaint

By
Megan Briggs
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Father’s Day program ideas for church

Dr. Tony Evans of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, Texas posted a video in which he shared his thoughts about the current cultural discussion about racial inequity, stirred up by the horrific killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police. While the U.S. is witnessing peaceful protests and even riots in some cities, Evans believes now is the time to address the underlying issues causing all the upheaval. “I encourage you to righteously protest unrighteousness, wherever you find it,” Evans says in his video. However, his advice comes with a caveat: It’s not enough to protest. We also need to act in order to be a part of the solution.

“Be a part of the solution, not just part of the complaint,” Evans told his viewers. “Build a bridge with someone different than you. Then the two of you together go help someone worse off than the two of you.”

Tony Evans on the Ongoing Racial Problem in America

Addressing the horrific death of George Floyd, Evans said “It’s not a single, individual situation. There is life after life after life—over years—that have been unjustly and unrighteously taken, endemic of a problem that really needs deep fixing.”

Referencing Psalm 89:14, Evans said from God’s throne comes righteousness and justice. These two things are “twins” that operate in tandem with one another. Righteousness is “the moral standard of right and wrong to which God holds men accountable based on his divine standard.” And justice “is the equitable and impartial application of God’s moral law in society.” Evans said, “God wants both.”

Evans alludes to the criticism some have voiced about the evangelical church’s seeming preoccupation with abortion juxtaposed with their seemingly blind eye toward things like unjust or unequal incarceration. “Yes,” Evans says, “God wants to protect the life of the unborn in the womb, but he wants to see justice of the life once born to the tomb. In other words, God wants a whole-life agenda, not an interim agenda.”

Unfortunately, however, Evans says “all lives aren’t valued the same way.”

Evans gave an example of what it’s like raising black children in America. He said he’s had to have “the talk” with his sons and grandsons about what to do in the event they are pulled over by a police officer. “You go the extra mile because you don’t know where this policeman is coming from.” Evans also instructed viewers to teach their children the character necessary to “judge people rightly by their character and not their color.” 

We Need to Reset Ourselves and Now Is the Time to Do It

Now is the time, Evans said, to “reset” ourselves, both on a “personal level and a systemic level.” What we need to do, Evans believes, is reverse the course of history on four different levels or spheres. 

The Kingdom Agenda as Evans calls it, are four levels on which life (designed by God) is meant to be lived and on which change needs to be made.

The first level is the individual. Evans says it’s foolish for us to “try to change the nation if God can’t even change your heart.” We have to develop a heart that cares for our fellow man, Evans explained.

The second level is the family. Evans said we must be transferring values to our children. We shouldn’t expect children to think differently and act differently if they aren’t hearing differently from their parents, if they’re not getting a righteous value system at home. Evans suggested this means showing your children how to connect with people different than yourself by connecting with families different than you. Evans suggested finding another family different than your own and joining with that family to help a third family that’s worse off than you. Evans explains this action step is important because “reconciliation doesn’t happen in seminars—that’s information. Reconciliation happens in service.”

TobyMac Playing Live Shows Again on Drive-In Theater Tour

By
Jesse T. Jackson
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Father’s Day program ideas for church

On May 21, Toby McKeehan, who is more widely known as TobyMac, announced a twelve show multi-city Drive-In Theater Tour, that will start June 22nd in South Carolina and end in Missouri on July 12th. This tour will take place at drive-in theaters to assure that social distancing measures stay in place.

The live show will feature TobyMac and the Diversity City Band. Tickets are per car load (max of 6 people due to social distancing measures) and they start at $175 for gold parking, $100 for general admission parking, and $75 for general admission screen 2 parking (which doesn’t include a live stage). The sound will be just like seeing an outdoor live concert, but will also be broadcast on FM radio (just like current drive-in theaters do). People will be permitted to sit outside of cars with the designated parking spot to watch the show.

On March 13th, TobyMac had posted on Instagram that he and the Diverse City Band had to postpone their remaining ten shows because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This was the second time in less than a year that TobyMac had to reschedule The Hits Deep Tour. Last October, he had to postpone his tour because of the unexpected passing of his oldest son Truett.

TobyMac has been one of the most successful Christian artists for over the past 30 years. Whether it was with Michael Tait and Kevin Max of DC Talk or with his solo career with the Diverse City Band, TobyMac has continued to take the gospel wherever the Lord gives him an opportunity to play.

The Coronavirus put a complete halt to all live concerts since mid-March. Most musicians make the majority of their income to support their families and careers from their tours. The tours provide not only income through the ticket sales, but also from sold merchandise at the individual shows. The summer is a time when a lot bands take brief a hiatus from current tours to play festivals and prepare to release their fall albums and begin touring, but the current pandemic has put many musicians in positions they have never had navigate, let alone prepare for.

Go support TobyMac and the Diverse City Band and experience a once in a lifetime concert experience during this unpredictable year we call 2020.

Tour dates for the Drive-In Theater Tour can be found here.

3 Reasons Leaders Are Made, Not Born

By
Eric Geiger
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Father’s Day program ideas for church

People have often asked, “Which is true: leaders are made or leaders are born?”

This is not a new debate, not a new opening discussion question, and not a new title for an article or section in a book. Wise writers often hedge with a “surely both” response, noting that there are certainly God-given qualities in leaders and yet also noting that there has been development and maturing along the way.

Perhaps the debate began when Thomas Carlyle formulated the “great man theory” to describe leaders who radically shaped and impacted society. He argued that leaders with incredible leadership prowess and qualities rise to the top and impact others around them. The theory, developed in the 1840s, gave the sense that great leaders are born and society is formed around them. If you ascribe to the “great man theory,” then one is either born a great leader or not. Critics responded that there is no real data to support the “great man theory” and that leaders are made by societies more than leaders form societies. Leaders are products of their environments, of the people surrounding them and nurturing them.

So some believe leadership is primarily about nature, and others primarily about nurture. While I also hedge and say both when asked the question, if I am pressed to choose between the two, I believe leaders are made and not born.

Here are three reasons leaders are made and not born:

1. There is not one type of leader.

If leadership is primarily about nature, then researchers could plot out the right mix of communication skills, intellect, strategic thinking, and exact spot on the chart between introversion and extroversion to identify the next “great man” or “great woman.” But we don’t do that because we all have seen effective leaders that are very different from each other. Effective leaders have different personalities and skills. While all great leaders influence people with effectiveness, how they influence people varies greatly.

Some great leaders are extroverts, while others are introverts. Some great leaders are administrative and obsessed with maximizing value through managing details, while others are more strategic and maximize value by leveraging people toward great opportunities.

The characteristics given at birth impact the type of leader someone is, whether relational, strategic, or administrative. But it is the development of a leader that impacts his or her effectiveness. While nature impacts how one leads, nurture impacts the effectiveness of one’s leadership.

2. Leadership characteristics are one.

Most leaders receive too much credit for the good things that take place during their tenure and too much blame for the bad. A leader’s qualities surely impact the effectiveness of his or her tenure, but so does the context of leadership and the people within the context. Leaders lead within a specific context, and the context impacts the perceived effectiveness of their leadership. And a great leader is not a great leader alone. Leaders who are recognized for “great leadership” are always surrounded by teams of competent and committed people.

3. Development is powerful.

I have seen the impact of leadership development. I have seen how leaders are developed when they put themselves in overwhelming situations, humbly seek feedback, read and learn, and practice and seek instruction. I have also seen very “talented people” who are lazy and lack passion and conviction. Over time, those who develop themselves are the ones people look to as their leaders.

This article about leaders are made originally appeared here.

7 Reasons to Put More Introverts on Stage

By
Dan Scott
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Father’s Day program ideas for church

Despite the recent buzz about the power of introverts, they aren’t the obvious choice when looking for a storyteller but we need more introverts on stage.

Typical conversation I’ve had a lot recently:

Leader: I’m having a hard time finding storytellers. There aren’t enough extroverts interested on being on stage.
Me: Good thing that being an extrovert isn’t a prerequisite for being a great storyteller!
<crickets>
Leader: Wait…what?

Hi, my name’s Dan, and I’M VERY EXTROVERTED. I get LOTS of energy from being on stage in front of crowds of people. But let me tell you a secret.

That’s NOT what makes me a great storyteller!

Being an extrovert might make it easier for me to get up in front of people, but at the end of the day…being a good storyteller is about how you connect with your audience.

And when it comes down to it, it seems that introverts have the upper hand at reading the crowd and adjusting their delivery accordingly:

“…introverts reacted strongly to the sensory stimuli coming their way, more so than did the extraverts. The researchers believed that this finding showed introverts to be more sensitive to incoming information, and also to expend more mental effort by analyzing those stimuli more deeply and carefully.”

However, in spite of the potential that introverts have for connecting deeply with an audience, many feel unqualified (or scared to death) to take the stage and communicate.

Yet, introverts on stage are unexpected powerhouses. Good thing they’re highly logical creatures, and their love for people can supersede their fear of being in the spotlight. IF you can convince them that their voice is needed. (And trust me, it is!)

Seven Reasons Why You Need More Introverts on Stage:

1. When an introvert speaks, people listen. Use them sparingly and save them for a particularly powerful or important week. Bonus: They won’t go over on time!

2. Introverts don’t waste words. They don’t want to be on stage any longer than they have to, so they’ll cut the fluff and meticulously craft the words they’re going to use with their audience in mind. Bonus: They won’t go over on time!

3. Introverts have a deep understanding of people and know how to make great connections. They think deeply about what they’re saying, how they’re saying it and—most importantly—how it will be received. Bonus: The kids stay engaged!

4. People are wired to root for the underdog. So when an introvert overcomes their fear or discomfort of being in front of people, you automatically lean forward and lean in to make sure you don’t miss what they’ve taken the risk to share. Bonus: Everyone is rooting for them to get up and succeed!

5. Introverts rehearse relentlessly—even if it’s just inside their heads. There’s no way they’re going to get on stage unprepared, so you KNOW they’ll stand and deliver. Bonus: You can count on them!

6. Introverts are steady, stable, sturdy and won’t lose their heads. You don’t have to worry about them going off script, babbling, ad-libbing or saying something they shouldn’t. Bonus: You can leave the room!

7. The introverts in the room will rejoice (albeit silently and to themselves) at the quiet, thoughtful delivery by one of their own. And likely be inspired to someday get on stage themselves. Bonus: Since introverts make up 1/3-1/2 of the people in the room, you’re connecting with the “other half.”

Susan Cain, introvert and author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, delivered a rousing speech on one of the most intimidating stages of all—a Ted Talk. Afterward in a New York Times article, she said:

“I believe it’s healthy for all of us (extroverts included) to stretch occasionally beyond our temperaments.”

I’ve said it before: Everyone you meet is a storyteller.

Some are better than others. But everyone has the potential to tell a great story. Some can’t wait to hop on stage, others (even some of those extroverts) might need a little nudge of encouragement to get started. Put in the time and effort to get the right people—extroverts and introverts—to connect God’s story to the kids in your church.

This article about more introverts on stage originally appeared here.

When Your Faith Goes Down the Drain

By
Mike Leake
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Father’s Day program ideas for church

The cold tile splashed with my hot tears. I was becoming undone. I don’t believe it was shame which plummeted my desires into such an abyss. It was my dreams and my hopes dashed against the rocks. It was my faith. Truth be told, I wanted to somehow escape down the drain in the tub. I couldn’t, my person couldn’t, so instead my faith did.

I can hold this up. I can make my future bright. If I do right things, say true things, and attempt to compellingly love and persuade folks then the power of God’s Word can and will create lasting change. If I speak truth then everything is going to be okay.

That was my faith. And that faith escaped from my heart and flushed down the drain that day. That was the beginning of my rescue.

I think one of the greatest disservices that fundamentalism gave to us is the inability to lose our faith. Losing your faith—faith in a false god of your own perception—is a necessary component to growth. God always challenges our perceptions of who we think He is.

“Never question”, we are told. But what that does is keep you stuck worshipping the same god you knew 25 years ago. That wasn’t a God-belittling typo. It was intentional. Our coming to and embracing the living God is real and a very real encounter with who God truly is. But within that is also a good amount of coming to a god of our own making. It takes years for God to put down the gods of our own creation.

And I’m convinced that much of fundamentalism, evangelicalism, liberalism, whatever ‘ism’ you want to blame actually cooperates with our idols in keeping our faith in gods alive. But I’m also convinced that God isn’t satisfied with such half-hearted devotion and he is dedicated to exalting Himself in our lives at our idols expense. So he’ll take us to a place with hot tears and cold bathroom tiles and let our faith escape down the drain.

Yes, there are some things which we should not be questioning. Spurgeon is correct and there are some things which we don’t need to “have a conversation about.” There really isn’t much benefit in questioning something which is already settled.

But there are also relational questions and character type questions that we must always be asking. It’s part of learning and relating to a living God.

As an example, if I asked my wife 10 years ago if she wanted to decorate something with barn wood, she’d likely have given an affirmative. But that’s not true today. I’ve had to learn this by continually relating to her. Now, you cannot take that illustration too far. God is unchanging. If he liked barn wood ten years ago he’d still like it today. But there are questions we need to ask about the things we’ve assumed about God.

Perhaps a better analogy would be to say that ten years ago my wife liked a particular piece of art that just so happened to have a frame made of barn wood. And I assumed she liked the barn wood—but in reality she was tolerating it because she loved the art so much. I couldn’t figure out why all of my purchases of barn wood weren’t making her as happy as I thought they would*. In the same way, we’ve made many assumptions about the character and purpose of God.

Your worldview is always going to collapse when a god is at the center of it. The God of truth is driving out all rivals. But what happens if you’re entrenched in a culture which doesn’t allow questions? You will likely be forced into the binary choice of continuing to fake believing in a god you no longer believe in OR you’ll have to leave the whole thing. A more biblical option is to pursue God as He actually is. It’s far better to walk away from a god you assumed was real but isn’t, than to tenaciously cling to one who isn’t. Even better is to embrace the I Am. The never changing God who is always transforming us.

This article about my faith originally appeared here.

Free Printable: Adam and Eve Crossword Puzzle

By
Daniel So
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Screenshot from Ministry-to-children.com

Free Printable

Download and print this crossword puzzle to use in your Sunday School ministry.

From Ministry to Children, “This crossword contains key words from the stories of Adam and Eve and their sons. You will need one copy of the first page for each student. The second page is an answer key for the teacher.”

Get Download Now

Resource provided by Ministry-to-children.com

Download Instructions: To download this resource, right-click on the link that says “Click here to download” and choose “Save As.”

6 Ways to Lose BAD Staff Members

By
Jason Autry
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Father’s Day program ideas for church

Not too long ago, I read an article by the Vanderbloemen Search Group titled 10 Ways to Lose Great Staff Members. It was informative and revealed some helpful approaches to retaining quality leaders. Vanderbloemen’s piece inspired me to write a similar post with a little different spin.

While misguided standards and practices are detrimental to keeping great staff members, the inverse is also true. Sound approaches and values can weed out and protect an organization from bad personnel.

Unhealthy staff members just can’t function, hide their toxicity or survive in a healthy environment.

I’ve been around leadership my whole life. My dad was a senior pastor and I’ve been in the crucible of full-time vocational ministry for the last 15 years. I’m currently the lead pastor of a local church and fully understand the importance of keeping a great staff member and the blessing of losing a bad one.

So, if you want to lose a bad staff member (and you may not even know you need to), here are six ways to do it:

1. Don’t say “yes” all the time.

Lazy, inefficient leaders require instant gratification. But not every request warrants or deserves an affirmative response. Some things need to wait, and some probably don’t need to happen at all.

Great staff members accept and understand that hearing “no” is part of the leadership journey and can open the door for a bigger “yes” later.

2. Set high goals and motivate them to achieve.

Poor leaders are naysayers. Health care expert Tricia Cunningham once proclaimed, “The individual who says it is not possible should move out of the way of those doing it.”

People that want to excel are not contrarians to possibility and potential. They can take coaching and motivation that will help them achieve great things. If your goals don’t scare you a little, it’s time to adjust them upward.

3. Embrace challenging times.

Difficult circumstances, especially those of the traumatic kind, reveal character, depth and endurance in team members.

Poor leaders are overwhelmed by life and just can’t get going when it takes a demanding turn.

Podcasting? These Two Mics Are The Bomb

By
Duke Taber
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Father’s Day program ideas for church

Every podcaster or musician needs a way to help record their thoughts or their latest song, and using a small and powerful microphone that plugs into the computer to allow them to record is the best way to do this. Instead of having to rent out a recording studio or worry about feedback or background noise lowering the quality of the recording, using an external USB microphone improves the sound quality while making it much easier to produce the podcasts and recordings you desire.

No matter if you are in your room at home or out on the road when inspiration hits, being able to plug your microphone into the USB port on your computer makes recording fast and easy.

Beginning songwriters and podcasters can benefit from this equipment, as can seasoned artists. When you choose a quality external USB microphone, you can rest easy that your ultimate product, the sound recording, will impress your listeners.

To help you accomplish your goal, we have placed the Rode Podcaster head-to-head with the Rode NT USB so you can more easily compare the Rode Podcaster vs. Rode NT USB.

It can be tough to judge an external USB microphone, especially when you are new to choosing the right equipment for your needs. Using a point system that ranges from 1-100 makes it very simple to select the right microphone. By comparing three main features, it’s quite simple to make an informed decision. The external USB microphone that has the best average score from the three categories will be the clear winner and is the microphone that will best meet your needs.

Microphone Type

The two most common types of USB microphones that you’re going to be able to buy are condenser and dynamic. While they may look the same, they operate very differently.

Dynamic microphones are great for use in live situations as they are not as sensitive as condenser mics so that they won’t pick up as much background noise. They do a great job recording percussive sounds and instruments due to their narrow frequency response.

Condenser microphones, on the other hand, are great for vocals and acoustic instruments. They have a broader frequency response range but are a lot more sensitive to louder noises.

Rode Podcaster

The dynamic external USB microphone in the comparison, the Road Podcaster offers a broadcast-quality sound that, while it is ideal for individual singers and podcasters, also works great for recording larger groups and bands at the same time.

There’s no concern about compromising sound quality with the Rode Podcaster, and although many people worry about choosing a dynamic microphone over a condenser, this is a compelling option that can easily record any loud sounds that you want while at the same time is sensitive enough to pick up quieter noises.

Rode NT USB

Another condenser external USB microphone, the Rode NT USB ensures good sound because of how sensitive the microphone is and how quickly it can pick up the softest singing or the quietest acoustic guitar.

While this microphone won’t do a perfect job recording live music or multiple sound sources, the condenser is strong enough to give you good quality audio from a single source.

Score
Rode Podcaster – 85
Rode NT USB – 80

Deciding between a condenser and dynamic microphone is essential but is generally a personal decision that you will have to make based on what kind of recording you’re going to be doing. Even so, choosing a microphone that is high-quality is best, as you want to get the most out of your recording time.

If you want a microphone that will be able to easily record any music, singing, or podcast that you want to make, you should consider a Blue Yeti Pro.

However, if you are OK with just podcasting or recording a single voice or instrument, then either one of these microphones will do an excellent job for you.

Recording Resolution

CD-quality recording is 44.1 kHz and 16-Bit. Most USB microphones are going to record at this rate, which is just fine for quality home recordings, but if you want something that will sound a little more professional, then you will want to make sure that the microphone you choose has a higher recording resolution.

In this case, you may have to opt for a professional microphone, but with careful consideration, you can still choose a basic one that will sound more professional.

Rode Podcaster

The Rode Podcaster’s resolution is 18-bit, with a sampling of 8-48 kHz. This is not nearly as high as some other microphone we have compared, but it’s important to remember that this is a dynamic microphone, and that is going to have some effect on the overall sound recording quality.

This mic won’t work as well if you want to record a single source and have it be the highest quality but is great for recording at a venue.

Rode NT USB

Able to produce sample rates of 16-bit and 48kHz, the Rode NT USB is has a little less recording resolution than the Rode Podcaster.

This means that it will create lesser quality sound and recordings. Depending on your use, this will work well for podcasts and other less strenuous recording jobs, but it will not be as professional in quality.

Score
Rode Podcaster – 65
Rode NT USB – 50

The Rode Podcaster is the winner in this regard by having a better recording resolution than the Rode NT USB.

This means that you will produce the highest-quality sound recordings that you can in your home and you won’t have to wonder if you sacrificed quality when opting for this microphone. You can rely on it to do a great job picking up nuances in speech and recording single instruments so that your listeners get the full experience when they are listening to you.

With the Rode Podcaster, you’ll be blown away by how professional you can sound.

Polar Pattern

You have to consider how your microphone is going to pick up the sound before you buy one, as some microphones will do a much better job picking up sounds from specific directions than others will.

Being able to choose between different polar patterns when recording allows you to cancel out noises that you don’t want to be included in your recording and improve the overall sound of your final recording.

This means that you will have a more professional final product that is focused on the speaker or musician without very much unwanted ambient noise.

Rode Podcaster

With a cardioid polar pattern, this powerful microphone ensures that you get the perfect sound from one location, but doesn’t offer other patterns to pick up different sound patterns.

This can be frustrating when you want to include ambient noise from a live show, especially as this is a dynamic microphone and in general more able to handle louder and more robust sounds.

Rode NT USB

The Rode NT USB is very easy to plug in and use, and part of the ease of use is that it only records in a cardioid polar pattern. When using this pattern, you will enjoy the precise quality of your vocals or music, but it can be challenging to get a full, rich feeling, especially if you are playing with other people.

If you are going to share the microphone with another user, you will need to be side by side for the best possible result.

Score
Rode Podcaster – 50
Rode NT USB – 50

To ensure that you get the best possible sound no matter what or where you are recording, you will want to make sure that you have different polar patterns to choose from.

Both of these microphones have only a single cardioid polar pattern. They will do an excellent job for what they are designed to do. But don’t try to record multiple sources. You will be disappointed.

Final Score

Rode Podcaster = 200 points.

Rode NT USB = 180 points.

Overall, the microphone that is going to give you the best recording possible when comparing the Rode Podcaster VS Rode NT USB is the Rode Podcaster by a hair. There is no doubt this is a superior microphone with more features

When you compare microphone type, recording resolution, and polar patterns, it is evident that the Rode Podcaster is incredibly powerful and able to complete any task that you need.

From single recording instruments to podcasting, when you opt for the Rode Podcaster, you can be sure that it will exceed your expectations each time you use it.

Our Choice:

As people who love great-sounding music and podcasts, we choose the Rode Podcaster as our choice when choosing between the Rode Podcaster VS Rode NT USB.

 

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

Christian Couple to Appeal Blasphemy Death Sentence at Lahore High Court

By
Megan Briggs
-
Father’s Day program ideas for church

A Christian couple in Pakistan have spent the last six years in prison on a charge of blasphemy. According to the couple’s lawyer, the evidence used to convict them was “flawed” and many have likened their case to that of Asia Bibi. Now, the couple’s ordeal may be coming to an end via a trial in the Lahore high court. 

“Kausar is lodged in the same death cell, where Bibi was imprisoned before her acquittal in the blasphemy case by the Supreme Court late last year,” the couple’s lawyer, Saif ul Malook, told the Express Tribune.

Malook is the same lawyer that managed to procure justice for Asia Bibi after a years-long battle. Malook believes the case against the couple is even more flimsy than that of the one seeking to incriminate Asia Bibi. 

As ChurchLeaders reported last year, Shagufta Kausar and her husband, Shafqat Emmanuel, were accused of sending text messages blaspheming the prophet Muhammad to a Muslim cleric in 2014. The couple’s accusers say the text messages came from a phone registered under Shagufta’s name. However, Shagufta’s brother, Joseph, claims the couple is barely literate—certainly not literate enough to be able to send the messages, which were written in English. 

Speaking to the BBC, Joseph indicated the couple suffered abuse after they were arrested. Shafqat, who is partially paralyzed, told Joseph that he was beaten so badly by policemen that his leg was broken. This tactic was used to coerce Shafqat into a false confession, Joseph believes. 

The couple have offered a theory for how the phone registered under their name came into play. Apparently the couple’s children had gotten into an argument with the Muslim cleric’s children some six to eight months prior to the texts being sent. Unfortunately, they also had a disagreement with their neighbor, who is also a Christian and with whom Shagufta worked. They think the neighbor could have gotten a copy of Shagufta’s identity card at work and bought the phone using her name, then colluded with the cleric to frame the couple with the blasphemous texts.

Indeed, human rights advocates, including Malook, believe that most blasphemy charges in Pakistan are the result of personal disputes or religious persecution. As the crime of blasphemy is punishable by death in Pakistan, it represents a particular threat to religious minorities and a temptation to those looking to settle a personal score.

While the couple will hopefully receive a fair trial later this month, they will by no means be out of harm’s way, even if they are acquitted of the charge. Malook explained to the BBC that while no one has been executed by the justice system in Pakistan for a blasphemy conviction, many of the accused have died at the hands of angry mobs and vigilantes. In fact, when Asia Bibi was first acquitted by Pakistan’s Supreme Court in 2018, hardline Muslim groups organized massive riots and offered a bounty for her death, by whatever means possible. The riots were so intense and widely supported that they managed to block the road linking Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, with the city of Rawalpindi, a major thorough-fare. 

These hardline Muslims hold so much sway in the country that the Supreme Court was forced to reconsider their acquittal of Bibi. Asia Bibi went to trial again in January 2019, and the court decided to uphold their decision. However, the Christian mother spent even more time in seclusion and hiding even after the second acquittal as authorities feared for her safety should she be released to go home. She and her family were offered asylum in a number of countries. They eventually made it to Canada some time last year. 

The initiative to free Asia Bibi and rejoin her to her family also cost lives. Salmaan Taseer, the governor of Punjab, was assassinated after saying he would fight for her acquittal and release. Additionally, Minority Affairs Minister Shahbaz Bhatti, a Christian himself, was murdered after he indicated he would work to reform the blasphemy laws. Malook himself went into hiding at one point during her trials as multiple threats were levied against him as he fought for her freedom. Additionally, the Pakistani Supreme Court judges who ruled in Bibi’s favor were also threatened. 

It is likely anyone siding with Shagufta and Shafqat will face similar persecution from extremist groups. The couple’s final trial in a Lahore high court was originally scheduled for Wednesday, but has been moved to June 25, 2020. Shagufta worked as a caretaker in a Christian school before being arrested. She and Shafqat have four children who, according to Joseph, are traumatized by their parents’ arrest and prolonged absence. 

How to Plan a Sunday Morning Service Outdoor Gathering

By
Dave Russell
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Father’s Day program ideas for church

In recent days, Christians have longed not for the return to a sacred space, but the return to a sacred assembly. We long to assemble with our church family and worship God together on the Lord’s Day (Heb. 10:24–25) even if that is an outdoor gathering.

In my state (North Carolina), our governor recently gave orders for Phase One of reopening. This allowed for outdoor worship services on the condition that all people remained socially distanced.

Our elders decided to move forward with an outdoor gathering on the first Sunday we were allowed. Obviously, we didn’t know how to do this at first. But the Lord gave us wisdom along the way.

If you are planning an outdoor gathering, here are ten things to consider.

1. Prepare now.

We were able to quickly decide to conduct an outdoor service because we had already thought through this option weeks before it was announced. We had already compared an outdoor service to an indoor service, and we realized an outdoor service had several advantages. First and foremost, it didn’t restrict our capacity, so we could maintain one assembly. Furthermore, an outdoor service didn’t require cleaning surfaces; it didn’t require our members to avoid each other in otherwise constrained indoor spaces (hallways, staircases, aisles, etc.).

We considered the basics of what it would take to have church out doors and began purchasing additional audio equipment we needed. (For an exhaustive and quite technical list of everything we purchased to be able to pull this off, click here. If you have questions about any of this, feel free to email James at the address listed.)

2. Think through every way you can make the service “no contact.”

Our state required social distancing at all times, and we happily complied. To do so, we had to consider how to minimize any and all contact.

From the time our people arrived in the parking lot until the time they left, we wanted to plan for there to be no contact with people outside of their household—as well as any surfaces or materials. So we asked everyone to bring their own chairs. We emailed the bulletins with song lyrics; some printed them at home, while others followed along on their phone. We also purchased a text messaging service that enabled our people to receive a text that provided a link for a digital bulletin; this enabled them to give an offering through text.

We realized that some would show up to our service without chairs or a phone. To prepare for this, we had some chairs available. We also provided some printed bulletins that were available without contact.

3. Figure out the question of masks.

We didn’t require more than our state government required. Our state orders didn’t require masks but encouraged them—except for times you are outside and able to stay six feet from others.

We did the same for our service. We required all of our staff and volunteers to wear masks before and after the service. We wanted to follow what our state officials encouraged, and we wanted to show consideration toward those attending. But we didn’t require all attendees to wear masks.

You will need to decide what you will require, and then clearly communicate what you decide.

4. Figure out what to do with children.

We required children to remain with their parents at all times. We understood the challenge of having a small child sit in one place for a long time. We prepared our people to understand that this service would be reverent in worship but casual in atmosphere. In light of that, we help them with finding the right lightweight stroller, encourage our families to feel free to bring blankets, toys, snacks, books, or whatever they needed to make it a more comfortable experience.

5. Plan for guests.

We had a number of guests in attendance. Normally, we have a “Welcome Card” for guests to fill out and hand in. In keeping with our “no contact” plan, we created a digital welcome card that could be accessed through our text messaging service. During our normal announcements, we instructed our guests to text our number to receive a link for a digital welcome card that they could submit on their phone. This resulted in us receiving several cards from guests that we can follow up with.

6. Consider what you will do with restrooms.

I know of some churches who kept their restrooms closed for their outdoor service. We decided to ask our people to plan on not going to the restroom but we informed them we would open up one restroom in case it was needed. A volunteer was positioned outside of the entrance to the building and allowed one individual or family unit in the building at a time.

7. Plan a service that’s both normal and different.

Our service was normal. We sang, read Scripture, prayed, and had a sermon. Our service was also different. We were outdoors, and our children were trying to sit through the entire service. So we shortened the length of our service to around an hour. We sang two fewer songs, one less Scripture reading, and a sermon that was 15 minutes shorter than usual.

8. Aim for people over production.

It will be difficult for many churches to replicate outdoors what they normally do indoors. But don’t let that keep you from planning an outdoor gathering! It was too bright for us to display song lyrics on a screen. Our makeshift stage was too small. Our new, outdoor-friendly sound system couldn’t accommodate the amount of musicians we normally have.

But we made the necessary adjustments to adapt. The most important aspect of a worship service is that God is glorified and the gospel of Jesus Christ is preached! So seek to be excellent in planning the details of this service, but keep your primary focus the same.

9. Communicate your plans through numerous channels.

This will likely be your first outdoor worship service. So people will not know what’s going on, or what to expect. This means you probably need to over-communicate.

Consider the various channels you can use. We gave directions through email, a Zoom call, an “FAQ” link on our website, and a recorded video announcement through another email we sent out. We also spent several minutes at the beginning of the service reminding everyone of the safety protocol.

People need to be aware of the requirements;  they need to be told how to maintain a social distance for the entire time. So inform them of everything you’re doing for their safety and for compliance to the state.

Meanwhile, don’t forget those who are high-risk or not yet comfortable with meeting in large gatherings. Give them instructions for accessing the livestream of the service.

10. What about larger churches?

Our church was averaging 350+ in attendance before the stay-at-home order. I realize that a church of 1,000 will have more to consider. But this option is not only for smaller churches. Larger churches usually have more staff, equipment, resources, and volunteers. Use those resources to consider how you could get your people together. Consider renting a high school football stadium or local athletic fields.

I’d encourage every church to at least consider an outdoor gathering as soon as it’s allowed by their local governments. The assembly of God’s people on the Lord’s Day is the most important gathering on Earth. Whether we meet in our normal facilities or at a field on a hot day, we long not for a sacred place but for a sacred assembly with a sacred people in which we worship God and exalt the Lord Jesus Christ together.

This article about how to plan an outdoor gathering originally appeared here.

8 Thoughts About Discipling Remotely

By
Chuck Lawless
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Father’s Day program ideas for church

I noted in my post yesterday that many believers who want to continue to grow in Christ are looking forward to gathering face-to-face with others again. I pray that conclusion did not imply that I’m opposed to remote discipleship, as I’m not. In fact, I disciple more men outside of Wake Forest, NC (where I live and teach) than I do in Wake Forest. Here are some of my reflections about those experiences.

  1. Many of us who disciple will be forced by our mobile society to consider discipling remotely at some point. Mentees move. They get distant jobs. God calls them to other places. For many folks, long gone are the days when they stayed in one area their entire lives. We must be ready to disciple from a distance.
  2. Almost all of my remote discipling relationships began with at least one face-to-face, in-person meeting. Some of my mentees were my students. I met others while speaking briefly in collegiate conferences. Geographic distance now makes it hard for us to meet in person, but we still meet regularly.
  3. Almost all of my remote mentees also have someone closer to home who walks beside them. Most of the time, it’s somebody who attends their local church with them. It’s often a pastor or campus ministry director. In any case, I’m not their only discipler—and I think this is ideal.
  4. Frankly, it’s sometimes easier to catch up with someone via phone than it is to meet in person. That’s especially the case these pandemic days, but it’s most often the case other days, too. You can accomplish a lot via a short phone call (in my estimation, more than you can with a text).
  5. We still have honest, hard, needed conversations virtually. I echo my concern raised yesterday that it’s probably easier to avoid honesty over the Internet, but that doesn’t mean hard conversations never work. A genuine relationship allows for honesty, no matter the medium.
  6. We can still talk about Bible passages, discuss sermons, pray, and consider life together. It’s different when we’re not in church together or hiking in the woods together, but we still have the same kinds of conversations.
  7. What I most miss are the times of doing ministry together in a way that models and encourages others. I miss it because I enjoy my ministry time with these men, but they are getting ministry opportunities where they live. I serve now more as a resource than a guide for them.
  8. I have the blessing of a ministry that allows me to visit some of my mentees when I’m on the road. I’m grateful, for those times are sweet, indeed – but it’s the remote discipling the rest of the time that keeps the discipleship relationship current.

What are your thoughts?

This article originally appeared here.

5 Incredible Steps to Closing the Back Door in Your Congregation

By
Thom Rainer
-

If you want to close the back door in your church, read these five incredible steps.

By “closing the back door,” I am referring to assimilating newcomers and keeping those who have become a part of the church involved. The sad reality is that many churches have less than one-half of their members showing up at any one point. They are “walking out the back door.”

Why they are incredible

Words have meaning. We are always in danger of miscommunicating, misleading or overstating. When I use the word “incredible,” I do so for a specific reason. In this case, I am simply saying I know that these steps are working in real life. They are not merely the theory of one guy behind a keyboard.

In fact, I had a conversation recently with a pastor who told me the assimilation rate in his church for the previous two years was more than 90 percent. Did you read that statement carefully? Nine out of 10 of those who connected with the church the past two years are still active.

The five steps

The process is not difficult. It just requires execution and persistence. Once initiated, these five steps become a natural flow of the church’s ministry.

1. Adopt a mission statement that includes the importance of members getting involved in a group. For example, if the mission statement is “Love God, Connect with Others, Serve Others and Give Abundantly,” the second part of the mission statement (“Connect with Others”) would refer to the importance of a church member getting involved in a small group, Sunday school class or some other group.

2. Communicate the importance of groups in your new members’ class. In fact, some churches require the prospective member to connect with a group as a requisite for membership. This statement obviously assumes that the church has a new members’ class in place.

3. Make certain the church is intentional about starting new groups. This step is a key if you are diligently moving new members to groups. New groups in particular will be attractive to these new members. They will not have to break into existing relationship patterns.

4. Have a leadership group review the status of new members at least once a quarter. In the church I mentioned earlier, the ministry staff takes that initiative. Some church leaders do this review once a month; others do so once a quarter. One of the primary purposes of this review is to determine if new church members have become active in a group.

5. Follow-up persistently if a church member is not in a group. Another church I know has a “meal plan” follow-up. They make certain an existing member of a group takes the new member out to eat and invites him or her to join the group. The success rate has been very high.

Why these steps are important

Church members in a group are more likely to read their Bibles regularly. They are more likely to share their faith. They give more abundantly to the church. And they are much more likely to “stick” with the church over time. In fact, in earlier studies, I learned that a member who was in a group was five times more likely to stick with a church than a member who was not.

So, these five steps are not some new entrepreneurial discovery. They are basic. They get people in the Word studying with others. They engender new relational connections. They create an implicit system of accountability.

And they also get members to stick.

The back door is closed.  

 

 

Rethink Outreach: 5 Tips to Share the Gospel Like Jesus

By
Frank Viola
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Father’s Day program ideas for church

The gospel of Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

In Rethinking the Gospel, I shared briefly on the content of the gospel…as envisioned in the New Testament.

However, I believe the way that the gospel is presented should differ depending on the people with whom we share it.

This requires sensitivity to the Spirit and attention to the person’s heart. Jesus Christ didn’t present Himself the same way to everyone.

To some, He warned. To others, He rebuked. To some, He showed compassion and mercy. To some, He asked questions or told parables, etc.

Don’t Miss

Just examine the way He interacted with various people, and you’ll see monumental differences. In a much-overlooked text, Jude describes it like this:

And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh. (Jude 22-23 NKJV)

You have the same thing in Paul.

Sometimes, Paul says things like, “It’s the kindness and mercy of God that leads us to repentance.” In other places, he says things like, “Knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade men.”

Forgive the personal reference, but as I think back on all the times I’ve shared Christ in one-on-one settings over the years (which includes many miserable failures at trying), I’ve noticed a few interesting things.

With some, I never mentioned the afterlife and focused only on the mercy and love of God for the moment. And I watched people repent and believe on Christ.

10 Amazingly Easy Ways to Live Out Your Faith on Pinterest

By
Tami Heim
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Father’s Day program ideas for church

Social media enthusiasts are enamored with the momentum of Pinterest. The number of men jumping on ‘boards’ is growing. Brand marketers are quickly and strategically infiltrating this network wherever they can. Big brands, intent on converting images into new revenue and profits streams, populate the daily flow of images.

Meanwhile, for those of us on the lookout for every opportunity to #LiveSticky, Pinterest is yet another place to share and live out our faith. On this platform, every board holds the possibility of becoming a glorious reflection of the God we serve.

Captivating images create conversations, and conversations birth more shared experiences. Community happens, relationships form, inspiration abounds, and with a dose of intentionality, Pinterest creations introduce others to the One true Creator. Spirit filled faith cannot be contained. It seeks to flow directly from our lives into the lives of others. On this rapidly growing social media platform, the current is strong.

10 Amazingly Easy Ways to Live Out Your Faith on Pinterest

1.  Your Profile

Profiles are part of the first impression you make on any social media platform. On Pinterest, your profile stands out like a downtown theater marquee. It’s bold, easy to read, and waiting for you to take a stand on who you are and what matters most to you.

2.  Your Boards

Each board you create is like a page in the story of you. Here you visually share your heart, mind, and soul. Every board you design becomes a window into the essence of you in a way not possible on any other platform. There is more than enough content available for you to theme boards around the elements of your faith and relationship with God.

3.   Board Titles

You have the freedom to title every board (As well as every single image you PIN). Your creativity and imagination invite others to come inside. A title is a simple means to showcase your uniqueness and communicate Who holds your heart.

4.  Board Descriptions

Every board carries with it the option to describe it. Favorite scriptures, quotes, or song lyrics can bring an emotive quality to the stories you want to tell with the images you collect.

5.  Board Covers

You have the ability to freeze the cover image featured on each board. Thoughtful execution of the functionality highlights significant posts, your core message, and elegantly connects one board to the next.

6.  Board Arrangements

The arrange feature on your wall enables you to change-up the order in which your boards appear. With this tool you can put first things first on your wall and cast a bigger vision by the way you sequence or cluster your boards. The synergy of how it comes together has the potential to powerfully impact someone visiting your wall.

7.  Common Ground

It’s always fun to find pins in unexpected places, but common ground surfaces fast when you ‘like’ or ‘repin’ the images of those already in your community. You discover what people value and where interests intersect. The notification system works fast. You can gauge who is responding and what exactly they liked about your posts. Common ground is where relationships manifest, trust develops, and doors to Truth open.

8.  Multimedia

Pinning isn’t limited to static images. You can pin videos and blogs as well. Now you have another highly interactive way for others to learn more about you and for you to learn about them. Christian blogs and videos serve to enrich your story while adding texture to the other content pinned on a board.

9.  Outreach

And if you are wondering about ‘outreach’ possibilities, well, that’s easy, too. Use the main search function to discover content outside of your follower mix. There you’ll find fresh images and brand new people to add to your community. Make comments on posts when you repin something from someone’s collection for the first time. It a gracious way to quickly engage a new friend.

10. Celebration

Boards are often used to plan the celebrations to come or to document ones that have passed. Every board is a gateway to discovery. A joy filled occasion connects people intensely around life’s most profound hopes, dreams, delights, and desires. Comment, celebrate, and bless those events as you see them unfold in the lives of others.

What do you enjoy most about Pinterest? What are some of the ways you see faith being expressed and shared there?

Faith Leaders, Police Pause to Pray Amid Protests

By
Jessica Lea
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Father’s Day program ideas for church

The death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer has sparked both peaceful protests and violence throughout the country, with some taking out their anger on the police. Many faith leaders are doing what they can to mitigate the tension and to support law enforcement as well as peaceful protesters—and in many cases, the police are responding in kind. 

“Healing starts today…This is what happens when you have pastors come together, when you have religious leaders come together,” said Calvin Sparks, who was among 100 African American faith leaders present at a rally in downtown Los Angeles Tuesday morning. 

One of the organizers of the event was Rev. K.W. Tullos, the president of the Baptist Ministers Conference. At one point during the rally, Tullos asked the 500 people in attendance to kneel in honor of George Floyd, and many members of the LAPD joined. “It touched my heart to see those police officers, not only kneel but for them to drop their riot gear,” said Sparks, who is the pastor of Life Pavilion Church of God in Christ in Carson, California. “That’s the first step to healing, that’s the first step to unity, that’s the first step to love.”

Sparks observed that love covers a multitude of sins and noted that police officers sometimes simply need to hear someone say, “Thank you.” There are many officers who do not abuse their authority, and it is important to remember that. 

Religious Leaders Support Law Enforcement Through Prayer

In other places throughout the country, faith leaders are collaborating with local police to alleviate unrest in their communities and are also doing their best to support law enforcement by praying for them. 

Church leaders in Fayetteville, Arkansas prayed for police officers ahead of a protest that took place Tuesday night. 

Around 4,000 people turned up for that protest, reports 40/29 News, during which police officers joined the participants in kneeling in remembrance of George Floyd. Later in the evening, some of the protesters threw objects at the officers, but other protesters stood in the way to protect them.

The Modesto Police Department in Modesto, California, posted this picture of the city’s clergy council praying with city leaders and community members, saying, “The community support in Modesto is second to none!”

Ministry leaders in Houston, Texas, are organizing what they are calling “praytests,” which are essentially prayer walks throughout the community where participants stop at different locations and pray. During one of these events last weekend, one of the members led a group in prayer for two police officers. 

“Lord Jesus, I just thank you so much for these two officers,” said the man, who understood the need to support law enforcement as he himself was the son of an officer. “I know the tension, I know what it’s like to pray and wish your daddy would come home tonight. I just thank you that your perfect love casts out fear.” The man said that while the role of the officers is risky, it is important, and he prayed that God would give them “incredible eyes of compassion and justice.” 

After riots took place in Greenville, North Carolina, on Sunday evening, faith leaders gathered the next day to pray for police officers and protesters, asking that God would protect everyone from further violence. Richard Hagans with Temple of Zion International Ministries said that violence is not the way to combat systemic injustice. 

“I’m getting ready to turn 71 years old in September, and I have seen a lot of this back in the 60’s,” he said. “We went through the same thing, but one thing about those leaders back then—Martin Luther King and the other leaders, they taught us to do things peacefully.” Greenville Police Chief Mark Holzman said he was grateful for the community’s support and took comfort from the prayers.

Something similar happened in Arlington, Texas, after a June 1 protest turned violent and looters vandalized several businesses in the area. Vandals also damaged the Arlington police station by setting fire to several American flags and throwing them at the building. Following those incidents, clergy and police officers met on Tuesday to pray for their community, a gathering organized by the Arlington Clergy and Police Partnership. 

On Monday in Brockton, Massachusetts, Police Chief Emanuel Gomes joined the mayor and various faith leaders at a prayer vigil, where the police chief said he supported the rally that was planned for Tuesday. Religious leaders expressed the importance of keeping the gathering peaceful and also prayed for police officers. 

“Thy kingdom come, oh God, in the hearts of the policemen who need to see everyone as your child,” said Abraham Waya of the Central United Methodist Church. “Thy kingdom come, oh God, in the heart of the chief of police here in Brockton, and all those who work with him, that they too might see in everyone here a reflection of your beauty.”

Lauren Daigle Called Out for Staying Silent About George Floyd, Responds With Tearful Instagram Video

By
Kelsey Straeter
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Lauren Daigle instagram
Screengrab Instagram @lauren_daigle

Grammy-award-winning artist Lauren Daigle broke her silence regarding George Floyd after receiving some flack and questions from friends for not speaking on the issue.

“I received a lot of text messages yesterday about my silence regarding the George Floyd issue,” Daigle said, in opening her 53-minute Instagram video posted on Monday.

Lauren Daigle Instagram Response

“In pondering this time, my friend, my sweet friend reached out to me and she said, ‘Lauren, There are people of color that follow you and your silence could be hurting them,’” Daigle recounted of one text exchange. “And I was like, ‘Oh, that’s the exact opposite of the message that I’m trying to deliver. I have just been waiting to get still enough.’”

She assured her 1.9 million fans that neither her silence nor decision to guard her eyes from watching the entire video had to do with her lack of concern for the matter of racial injustice that has rattled the nation.

“Let me assure everybody that silence has nothing to do with a lack of concern because I haven’t had a moment to pray and reflect and ask God where to stand with my words,” Daigle explained. “I know where I stand, but with my words, how do I speak?”

The 28-year-old referenced the violence in video games that disgusts her and shared that she didn’t watch the whole video because she doesn’t ever want to become “desensitized” or “get used to this”:

“I think what happened to George Floyd is absolutely infuriating. I’m shaking just talking about it. I didn’t watch the full video because I don’t want my eyes to become accustomed to things that are hellacious and wrong.”

The Louisiana-born singer was brought to tears as she questioned the hearts of the police officers involved—both the one who stole Floyd’s last breath under the crippling weight of his body, and the ones who stood there and did nothing about it:

“How can the heart of man be like that? I don’t understand. I’m shaking with anger. And no officer said anything. I have no idea what it’s like to be a police officer. I’m not even going to begin the barrage of thoughts on how to handle situations. But my gosh, I don’t know how much more evidence you need to say, ‘Hey, maybe you should let up bro.’ This is wrong!”

Daigle said that when she thinks about George Floyd, she thinks about his family, friends, and the ‘remnants of his life that are still being sprinkled and scattered all over this world.’

“My jaw just gets tight even thinking about living my last moments like that,” she reflected. “Wrong!”

 

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A post shared by Lauren Daigle (@lauren_daigle) on

The Christian singer sent a heartfelt message to the African American community who is devastated by this heinous act of murder:

“For the people of color who are struggling and mourning and are sad today, my heart is with you. And to say that I get it and I understand that that’s wrong. I did not grow up a color other than this. I will not be able to walk a mile in your shoes. I’m not going to sit here and fake like I can. But that does not mean that my compassion for you and my love for you isn’t fully present…

“I care about the black community and I care about the people of color. And I care about what goes on in the world and I care about when the world is moaning, when the heart of man is groaning. I care about those things.”

Taking a wider look at humanity, the artist maintained that ‘what we have here is a need to look into the eyes of people.’

“When we are at the grocery store checking out our groceries, not to rush past, but to be available,” she continued. “Honor your neighbor as yourself, to love your neighbor as yourself.”

Daigle concluded her message with a prayer for the Lord’s “comfort,” while pleading Him to “wake up” the world, that they may “turn from evil.”

Christian artist Jamie Grace left a powerful reply for Daigle in the comment section, asking her to take a few further ideas into consideration:

“Thank you for posting this, Lauren. I know we haven’t talked in a while but I hope you know that I support you and know that your voice is beautifully influential. I know that you said this is difficult to process and you didn’t watch the video in its entirety as you don’t want this to feel normal, but might I ask, whether you watch it or not – please don’t withhold from feeling it ALL. Allow yourself to feel it all. As black people, this IS normal to us. And we don’t have the privilege of to not acknowledge the normalcy.

This is not a killing movie or violent video game, this is potentially my reality every time my husband goes to Chick-fil-A or the gas station. This is the conversation that our sons and brothers have as young as 8, learning to seem less ‘scary’ so they can come home from school,” she said. “This is ‘n***er’ shouted from the very churches I am booked to lead worship. And whatever our white peers need to do to feel what we feel – we need you to press into it and feel it. We want change. And I genuinely believe in my heart that you do too. But that change begins with empathy, so that the change is not FOR us, but WITH us.”

Joel Osteen: Floyd Death Not in Vain, Joins Houston March

By
Megan Briggs
-
Father’s Day program ideas for church

Some 60,000 people took to the streets of Houston, Texas yesterday to honor the life of the late George Floyd who died while being detained by Minneapolis police. Sixteen of Floyd’s family members attended the Houston march, along with other high-profile professional athletes, musicians, and faith leaders. One such faith leader was Joel Osteen, pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston. 

“I don’t believe George Floyd’s death will be in vain. God knows how to take what was meant for harm and somehow bring good out of it,” Osteen told a reporter. The megachurch pastor added, “This can be a turning point in our city and in our nation. We can learn to love and accept each other in spite of our differences.” 

Osteen said he “came out here to support the Floyd family, tell them that we love them, we grieve with them, we care about them,” and that he stands with “black brothers and sisters” because “we are all made in the image of God.”

 

 

Floyd Family Calls for Peaceful Houston March

According to ABC News 13, Osteen actually walked with Floyd’s family members during the march. March leaders included rappers and activists Bun B and Trae tha Truth. Members of Floyd’s family spoke to the crowd, appealing to them to keep the demonstration peaceful out of respect for their late family member. 

“I just want to say thank you to everyone for coming out. We really appreciate all the support Houston has shown us. And we know that we’re just beginning the fight, it’s going to be more like a marathon, and we hope that you’ll continue to support us as we seek justice for our cousin and our brother,” one female family member told the crowd.

A male family member pleaded with the crowd to remain peaceful by saying, “They’re expecting you to behave unbecoming; they’re expecting you to behave like a fool. But we don’t have to do that.”

Another male family member said “We’ve got to do this the right way. The violence isn’t going to help him. Help my brother rest in peace.” 

Pastor John Gray also joined the march and prayed over the group of marchers, asking God to give them wisdom. 

The Houston march started at Discovery Green and ended at City Hall. It lasted into the evening, eventually dying out around 11 pm local time. According to local news station Click 2 Houston, “Some people in the crowd started throwing items like water bottles but were quickly thwarted by other protesters as they tried to maintain the peace.” While some 200 people were arrested during the march, the police department of Houston commented this is an “extremely low” number considering the amount of people that participated in the march. The department also said they hadn’t received reports of any major property damage or injuries. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Houston mayor Sylvester Turner also commented on the overall peacefulness of the march.

MOPS’ Unprecedented Ministry During Covid-19

By
Emma Turnbull
-
Father’s Day program ideas for church

MOPS has led with unprecedented ministry.

We’ve all heard it. During the spring of 2020 more than ever. Unprecedented.

This word doesn’t roll off the tongue; it’s easy to misspell, and it has nearly as many syllables as required feet for safe social distancing. COVID-19 has proven that, up until now, all previous uses of the word “unprecedented” have been severe exaggerations. Between the stay-at-home orders, quarantine mandates, qualifications for “essential” versus “non-essential,” and face-mask requirements, no one has experienced anything quite like this before, and nothing is unscathed from its effects.

But you already know this.

What’s interesting, and inextricably linked to these unprecedented safety restrictions, is the response of different institutions around the world: governments, brands, businesses, and particularly the local church. Now, we’ve all heard the proverbial “capital-C church” described as a people, not a place. This is true. But what happens when, at a moment’s notice, church can no longer take place in a building? 

Over the last two months, we have witnessed Sunday mornings become entirely virtual, alas settling into its two-dimensional groove. The thing is, the ministry that happens in the six days between Sabbaths is equally important to the hour spent together each Sunday. But you already know this, too.

So here is the new and necessary normal: youth group, young adult ministry, worship and prayer nights, home groups, and small group ministry have largely been placed into the category of cancelled until further notice. Unlike Sunday morning services, mid-week ministries have often not found an online alternative for gathering (undoubtedly due to the excessive resources it takes to pull off such a thing). It appeared MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) meetings fell into the cancelled until further notice category as well, at least for the time being.

Or so we thought. But almost immediately, something incredible started happening.

As soon as stay-at-home orders began to sweep across nations, MOPS leaders were the first to spring into action. Within a matter of days, MOPS meetings were transformed into online gatherings via Zoom, Google hangouts, and other video call platforms. MOPS groups celebrated birthdays, childbirths, sobriety milestones, graduations, and overall life To the Full with drive-by celebrations…

front porch deliveries…

and virtual dance parties…

 

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MOPS is still fun, even if we can’t be together! 🎶 @mops_international @lfc_mops

A post shared by Candice M (@measurements_of_merriment) on

This was not a couple hundred women – we’re talking tens of thousands of moms and their families. More importantly, we have witnessed the Gospel shared and darkness defeated “… by the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony.” (Who knew Zoom calls would be the third component to this equation in Revelation 12:11.)

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