7 Ways to Earn and Keep Trust

By

-

September 23, 2024

People follow leaders they trust. So, building and maintaining trust is critical to good leadership. Thankfully, there are ways to earn and keep trust as a leader.

I’ve found trust develops over time and experience – as we witness trustworthy behavior. Honestly, as a leader, I’ve felt a delicate tension in maintaining trust. People look for a leader to be strong, independent and confident. Yet, we trust people who are approachable, inclusive and humble.

Jesus is the perfect model of this type of trusted leader. How do we combine those traits to be trusted leaders?

7 Ways to Earn and Keep Trust

1. Display confidence, but never cockiness.

People will trust a competent leader, but one who is arrogant will be dismissed quickly.

2. Follow through, which means you never over-commit.

When a leader does what they say they will, people gain trust. When the leader always bails on responsibility – when they have a new idea every day, but nothing ever comes to reality – people begin to doubt everything the leader says.

3. To Earn and Keep Trust – Put trust in others.

Trust is a mutually exclusive commodity. People won’t extend you trust they don’t feel they receive from you. This means you must not be controlling, micro-managing, or negative towards every new idea they bring to the table. It means you must empower, delegate, and give authority to people.

Why We Need to Start Preaching and Teaching the Basics of Christianity

By

Phil Cooke

-

September 23, 2024

Pastors, we must do a better job preaching and teaching. In 2016, Lifeway Research revealed a study which indicated that the ignorance of American Christians has grown to the point that the majority could actually be considered heretics. As the study put it:

Although Americans still overwhelmingly identify as “Christian,” startling percentages of the nation embrace ancient errors condemned by all major Christian traditions. These are not minor points of doctrine, but core ideas that define Christianity itself. The really sad part? Even when we’re denying the divinity of Christ, we can’t keep our story straight. Americans talking about theology sound about as competent as country singers rapping.

Jonathan Bock and I discussed the implications of this in our book “The Way Back: How Christians Blew Our Credibility and How We Get It Back.” The ramifications for preaching and teaching are enormous. False teaching and wrong believing create Christians who aren’t just weak, they’re actually damaging to the cause of Christ.

Pastors and church leaders: I would encourage you to read this summary of the study, and then consider changing whatever your preaching and teaching plans are for the next year. Start focusing on teaching the historic theology and doctrines of the faith. Because whatever it is that pastors have been preaching, for the majority of Christians it’s not helping.

The Next Worship Leaders

By

Dan Wilt

-

September 23, 2024

next worship leaders — Adobe Stock #357680542

At the age of 10, I had the privilege of serving as an acolyte in my family’s small United Methodist Church. The acolyte is the cherubic little boy or girl that lights the candles on the altar with a long, arched, golden pole, symbolically declaring at the appointed time that “Gathered worship has now begun.” As a worship leader of over 20 years, that sense of vocation has never left me. People gather in homes, churches and pubs saying “Where, when can I go and meet with God?” The next worship leader (of every age) says “What about here, what about now?” and lights the candles of music, visual art, design, architecture, sacramental actions and other languages of worship for the gathered community of faith.

Through these acts of worship leadership in local faith groups, a number of vital, formational dynamics can occur in the Christian’s life:

the biblical story is remembered and reclaimed,
personal and corporate devotion are renewed,
relational accountabilities are established,
shared resources are gathered,
fresh visions of faith are taught,
missional communities are galvanized in worldview and action, and
transcendant encounters with God are given a weekly arena in which to occur.

I have had a unique and diverse vantage point on the worship trajectories of the past 20 years. I have been involved as a pastor and worship leader (the local church), worked creating training resources for various record labels (the worship industry), taught in a Christian college (the faith-based university world), spoken about worship on radio (the Christian radio industry), written songs and made CDs (as a worship artist), and engaged in gathered worship experiences in many denominations (as a worshiper). As far as contemporary worship expressions go, you might say I’ve “seen it all,” at least to some degree.

From these vantage points, I’ve watched the gifts and fads of gathered worship come and go, and worship leaders bob up and down on the waves of a fickle consumer market. My years of work in all of the above roles has exposed me to both the glory and gory stories of the Christian worship subculture over the past decades. Through it all, I am more committed than ever to celebrating, and reinforcing, the vocation of the worship leader in the ever-emerging world.

Worship Leaders Are Being Compelled To Grow

I see, like many, that a page is now turning, and the gifts given to the 20th century church, particularly in music and the gathered worship experience, are compelling us to mature with them like teenagers bumbling into young adulthood. The worship leader of yesterday could get away with some “fast and loose” approaches to theological and missional thinking. The worship leader of today simply must think through, and live out, their views on worship in a way that is under more scrutiny (a good word, in this case). The expectations for passionate leadership, creative innovation, theological reflection and missional engagement are simply much higher today than they were even ten years ago.

The worship leader of today is being shaped by God to be part artist, part pastor, part theologian, part cultural visionary, part historian, part storyteller and part technical wizard.

It is clear that a new kind of worship leader must rise to the challenge of navigating the gathered worship needs of the 21st century worshiper – and the 21st century human being. In fact, it is clear to me that a new kind of worship leader is already showing up across the world, prepared by God to be present to this multi-faceted call. I call this next worship leader a “worship artisan” – but that is for another article.

Ten Defining Marks Of The Next Worship Leaders

The following is a list of ten ways the next worship leaders will be set apart from those of the last 50 years. The next worship leaders will:

1. Artfully Narrate Human Origins
Through the media of music, visual art, literature, movement and oratory the next worship leaders will understand that human beings have greatness in them, and that greatness has a part to play in healing and beautifying the world. They will enlist the energies of artful storytelling to help those gathered to worship understand the human’s role in the cosmic narrative of restoration.

2. Create Spaces For Transcendent Encounters
The most effective worship leaders understand that a song is a place to which we go; it is a transcendent space in which a living encounter can occur. Popular worship music will continue to have it’s place as the shapes of church worship shift, but it will now run alongside of instrumental music, liturgies ancient and fresh, highly artistic music with more nuanced lyrics and many other (even esoteric) creative ways for a soul-in-process to engage with God.

3. Reinforce Biblical Worldview
To be truly human, the whole counsel of the scriptures lays out a worldview in which the Personality standing at the center of the cosmos interacts with the people created in His image. In response, these people are being transformed by the Spirit’s art of personal healing (a theme we have majored on in corporate worship), and yet are also reflecting the revitalizing themes of justice, the hope of new life, and the inexhaustible resources of the New Creation into today’s world. It is worship as we know it, but now using its whole brain.

4. Welcome The Holy Spirit As God
The next worship leaders understand that neither dry orthodoxy nor rampant emotionalism serve a well-thinking, spiritually formed, missional body of committed followers of Jesus Christ. They understand that without an ongoing encounter with the Person of the Holy Spirit (who is God, and not a force or plasma as some are wont to describe Him) the Church will not be empowered to bring cultural restoration in a lasting way. They know that both a strong pneumatology and a fully functional vision of the Trinity, are essentials ingredients in a church built for speed.

5. Affirm Both Creational And Redemptive Stories
This next idea will take more time to express, but for the next worship leaders, it is pivotal in shaping the way they think about the meaning of worship in today’s church.

There are two stories at work in the world today, and they come together as one in Jesus’ re-telling of the world. The creational story is a story shared by many human beings (both Christians and others) – love should win, we should not rape the planet, creativity is a beautiful gift flowing uniquely from every person, the vulnerable should be protected, wholeness is possible, relationships are precious, peace is closer to the way it “ought” to be than war, people have intrinsic dignity and the sex slave trade is horribly, horribly wrong.

Many Christians, taking a fresh hold of this creational story and seeing it as biblical, have realized just how similar a Christian is to other valiant human beings embracing these same ideals. However, some have assumed the creational story is the same as the redemptive story.

Will Our Relationships With Others in Heaven Be Part of Our Eternal Rewards?

By

Randy Alcorn

-

September 22, 2024

Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). So what is our treasure? A. W. Tozer suggested we may discover the answer by responding to four basic questions:

What do we value most?

What would we most hate to lose?

What do our thoughts turn to most frequently when we are free to think of what we will?

What affords us the greatest pleasure?

Based on your answers to these four questions, what’s your treasure?

Many would list people and relationships as their treasures. Other than Jesus, the greatest treasure I’ve ever had on Earth is Nanci. Because Jesus is in Heaven, and He is my greatest treasure, my heart has long been there. But with Nanci also there, my heart and mind are often in that other place. I’m encouraged by the command, “Set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 3:1-2).

I often think of all the people from all over the world Nanci has been meeting and getting to know and love—those we had the privilege of helping through our giving, and who thereby received the gospel, food, clothes, clean water, medicines, Bibles, and good books. Sometimes I feel like part of me went to Heaven with Nanci. That’s not only because of our deep love for each other, but because she and I partnered together to invest in people for eternity. I so look forward not only to seeing old friends but to having Nanci introduce me to these new friends we invested in before we ever met them!

In this clip from my interview on the Finish Line Podcast, I discuss how relationships with others that result from our giving are part of our reward, both now and in Heaven:

Here are some thoughts related to Luke 16 and what I shared in the audio clip:

Christ’s parable of the shrewd manager, often called the “unrighteous steward,” is a powerful revelation about the eternal consequences of what we do with our money while on Earth. The parable concerns a wealthy owner who fires his business manager for wasting his assets (see Luke 16:1-13). During the brief period before his termination is effective, the steward goes to his master’s debtors and reduces their debt, thereby engendering their friendship and qualifying for their hospitality.

Apostasy and the Rise of the Nones

By

James Emery White

-

September 21, 2024

Can someone commit apostasy?

It’s an important question facing the church in light of our entry into a post-Christian world, one where increasing numbers are claiming to have once been Christians and now claim to be “nothing.” This rise of the nones raises not only cultural questions, but also theological ones. How should we view a newly minted “none”?

There are real divisions within the Christian faith on the matter. Some Christians will say: “Never! You can’t commit apostasy. Once saved, always saved.”

Others will say, “Well, it kind of happened in the Bible.”

Then others will chime in and say: “That’s right—and I know of people who have done it. You should meet my uncle Fred!”

First, let’s define apostasy. Apostasy is when someone knowingly refutes something they previously believed in, were committed to and were involved with. In regard to the Christian faith, it’s coming to Christ as Leader and Forgiver, and then later, abandoning and denying that faith.

And yes, it’s recorded as happening in the Bible. For example, this is from Paul’s first mentoring letter to Timothy in the New Testament: “For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked. Hymenaeus and Alexander are two examples” (I Timothy 1:19-20, NLT).

That’s pretty straight up. They purposefully shipwrecked their faith. And the reality of doing this was so strong that there are repeated warnings against it in the Bible. Such as: “Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God” (Hebrews 3:12, NLT). And: “But you, friends, are well warned. Be on guard lest you lose your footing and get swept off your feet by these lawless and loose-talking teachers” (II Peter 3:17, NLT).

And then there’s this warning, the direst of all:

For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened—those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come—and who then turn away from God. It is impossible to bring such people back to repentance; by rejecting the Son of God, they themselves are nailing him to the cross once again and holding him up to public shame. (Hebrews 6:4-6, NLT)

Intriguingly, Jesus said apostasy is going to become more and more common as the end of time nears:

Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives. His disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?”

Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.

“Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. And many will turn away from me.”

(Matthew 24:3-10, NLT)

So can someone commit apostasy? The answer, biblically, would seem to be “yes.” Now some may want to push back on that and say, “Well, they never really believed.”

Okay…but they said they did.

But what about election? How can someone God elected reject that election? Wouldn’t that go against the sovereignty of God? Yes, it would, if that is how you define election. If you believe election is the idea that God decreed on the front end of things, “Bob is in, and Mary is out,” then yes, true apostasy would be impossible.

Yet anyone versed in theology knows that this is far from the only understanding of election. Outside of Calvinist thinking, there is the idea that election is more corporate in nature. It’s about whether Bob and Mary accepted the predetermined means of salvation through Christ and became part of what God has elected for salvation, which is a people saved through Christ. If Bob and Mary do, then they become part of what God predestined. So God has predestined that a specific group of people will be saved—but it’s a people, it’s a grouping. The identity of that group is simply those who believe in Jesus.

What Really Happened with the Last Supper and the Olympics—Between American Evangelicals

By

Ed Stetzer

-

September 20, 2024

The Olympics are over, but we have a bit of unfinished business.

I recently wrote about the offense Christians took at the Olympics Opening Ceremony in Paris. The ceremony recreated the famous painting The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci, with transgender and drag queen participants. I explained that offensive things should offend us. But some Christians have pushed back—not against the offensive scene, but against the outcry of Christians who were offended.

I want to talk again about what really happened at the ceremony, along with what really happened with the backlash and a better way forward in the future.

What Really Happened at the Ceremony?

The Opening Ceremony clearly intended to recreate da Vinci’s painting of The Last Supper. The facts are not up for debate at this point. The Paris Olympics’ media relations sent an email that has been preserved in full by Valerie Richardson of The Washington Times.

As you can see, the email specifies that the ceremony’s director Thomas Jolly “took inspiration from Leonardo da Vinci’s famous painting to create the scene.” The actress in the center of the scene, Barbara Butch, has no problems connecting the presentation to da Vinci’s painting. Not long after, she deleted the photo and reposted it as “the feast of the gods.”

The story about the meaning of the scene was clear, and it still is clear. The organizers and actors started backpedaling when a loud and diverse set of global complaints came flooding in.

Which is more likely—that all of those who were involved were mistaken by calling it The Last Supper or that it actually was portraying the painting and the story changed when the offense was called out?

The New York Post—not my first go-to on art news!—did get it right when its headline noted, “Paris Olympics admitted opening ceremony drag show was based on ‘Last Supper’—then tried to walk it back.“

What Really Happened With the Backlash?

While I expected pushback from secular leaders, I was disappointed (though no longer surprised) by the criticism of some Christians, particularly those who blamed “triggered” American evangelicals.

Even though the earliest and strongest reactions against the display were global Christians—the first rebukes coming from a French bishop in attendance and the archbishop of Malta—some American evangelicals saw this as yet another episode of our movement’s obsessive delusion of persecution.

In reality, offended American evangelicals joined a diverse global outcry of hundreds of millions of Christians who were offended by the mocking display. Those who criticized these offended Christians were themselves on the wrong side of the facts of the situation. They were more offended by their brothers and sisters in Christ than the display itself.

Emblematic of this critique is a piece at the Anxious Bench by historian Joey Cochran. In the article, Cochran objects to the “old guard evangelical outrage” that pounced upon the Olympics display as further evidence of their oppression. In his opening salvo, Cochran writes:

Sober-minded Christians or, for the sake of it, just reasonable, decent human beings ought to wonder why conservative Christians are passing what they believe to be “disturbing” and “offensive” content around to one another in voyeuristic fashion.

Cochran misses the mark here for two reasons. First, something being offensive does not necessarily mean that it is graphic. As a scholar, Cochran should know better than to mix the meanings of words in this way. Second, accusing evangelicals of voyeurism, implying that they derive joy in a voyeuristic image, is both childish and inaccurate.

In addition, being offended by something does not create a direct line from offense to persecution. I don’t feel persecuted as a Christian for the mockery of the Last Supper painting, but I am offended, because the content is offensive.

According to Cochran, evangelicals should be better global neighbors by listening to other voices. Unfortunately, nearly every leader he cites is an American, and everyone is based in North American ministries. Ironically, in calling evangelicals to listen to the global church Cochran ignores his own counsel.

Mentally Ill Man Found Guilty of Capital Murder for Killing TX Pastor

By

Stephanie Martin

-

September 20, 2024

Following a trial this week, a jury found 25-year-old Mytrez Woolen guilty of capital murder in the January 2021 shooting death of Pastor Mark McWilliams. The verdict resulted in an automatic life sentence, with no possibility of parole.

State prosecutors had said they didn’t seek the death penalty because Woolen has a “verified mental illness.” In December 2021, the defendant was deemed mentally incompetent to stand trial and was treated at a hospital.

In her victim-impact statement, Rosemary McWilliams, the pastor’s widow, urged Woolen to use his time in prison to seek God. “I ask the Lord to bless you,” she added.

Pastor Encountered Intruder at Church

On the first Sunday morning of 2021, Pastor McWilliams, 62, arrived at Starrville Methodist Church in Winona, Texas, and found Woolen inside. The previous night, Woolen had led police on a high-speed chase in a stolen car, but the search for him had been called off.

According to prosecutors, the pastor encountered Woolen in a bathroom, holding the church’s money bag. McWilliams told Woolen to leave and then pulled out his own gun. During a scuffle on the ground, authorities said, Woolen shot the pastor in the chest, fatally wounding him.

Woolen also shot church deacon Mike Sellars, who survived his injuries. Woolen shot at but missed Rosemary McWilliams, who was injured in a fall.

When he took the stand, Woolen claimed self-defense. He said he was sleeping in the church and tried to leave when asked. Woolen said he grabbed the pastor’s weapon, “trying to separate him from the gun.” The gun discharged during the scuffle, the defendant added. “[McWilliams] was trying to choke me, and I shot him again.” As for why he fled afterward, Woolen responded, “I knew I had done something wrong.”

To charge Woolen with capital murder, prosecutors had to link another felony—in this case, aggravated burglary. Defense attorney Jeff Haas contested that, saying the killing wasn’t done “in order to maintain the control of that moneybag.”

Haas also noted that Woolen had several mental illnesses, including schizophrenia, and should have been on medication. “His actions were justified in his mind,” the attorney said of his client.

Survivor: ‘The Lord Wasn’t Through With Me Yet’

During the three-day trial, deacon Sellars testified that he arrived at the church that morning to sounds of screaming. Pastor McWilliams, who was holding a man at gunpoint, told Sellars to call 911. A gunshot could be heard on that call.

Sellars, who was shot six times, said, “As I was running away, I could feel the bullets hit me.” The deacon added, “It’s a miracle that I’m here today. As it says in Psalm 118:17, ‘I will not die, but live, and I will tell of the works of the Lord.’”

Dr. Steven Lawson Resigns From All OnePassion Ministry Duties Following Moral Failure

By

Jesse T. Jackson

-

September 20, 2024

OnePassion Ministries, which was founded by Dr. Steven Lawson, has released a statement saying that Lawson has “resigned from all his duties” at the ministry, which includes his role as president.

The news of Lawson’s resignation came after Trinity Bible Church of Dallas announced yesterday (Sept. 19) that Lawson had “been removed indefinitely from all ministry activities” in light of an “inappropriate relationship.”

OnePassion Ministries Release Statement

OnePassion said that the “board of OnePassion Ministries mournfully announces that just recently Steven J. Lawson confessed to the board that he has had an inappropriate relationship with a woman, a sin that has disqualified him from ministry.”

“In response,” the board said, “Steve has resigned from all his duties at OnePassion Ministries” and that “all scheduled events and engagements have been canceled.”

The statement continued, “Steve has confessed and regrets the damage he has caused to his family, the church, the reputation of OnePassion Ministries and most of all Jesus Christ.”

OnePassion Ministries’ board said its members are “saddened for the glory of Christ in this matter” but encouraged supporters that “the truth of the gospel will continue go out to the lost world as it is empowered by the Holy Spirit and not by men.”

The statement added that Lawson’s moral failure is a “reminder that we have been warned of the craftiness of the enemy,” citing 1 Peter 5:8: “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

OnePassion Ministries’ website currently only displays the board’s statement and has, at least for the time being, removed all of the ministry’s content. The ministry has provided a link for current supporters to stop or adjust any “recurring giving” in light of Lawson’s moral failure.

MO Pastor Charged With 2 Counts of Promoting Child Sex Abuse Material

By

Dale Chamberlain

-

September 20, 2024

A pastor has been arrested and charged with two counts of promoting child sex abuse material (CSAM). Andrew Lovisone, an associate pastor at First Baptist Church (FBC) in Peculiar, Missouri, was arrested on Tuesday (Sept. 17).

The charges against Lovisone stem from incidents alleged to have occurred on July 3.

During an interview with detectives, Lovisone, 29, admitted to downloading and uploading multiple CSAM images both from his home and from the church facility. He also told investigators that they would find further incriminating evidence on his phone, including CSAM images with children as young as 12 years old.

Authorities believe Lovisone used Reddit and Kik to download and share the material.

Law enforcement officials said that they received five separate tips from the National Centers for Missing and Exploited Children regarding emails belonging to Lovisone.

The Cass County Sheriff told KCTV5 that FBC Peculiar has been cooperative in the investigation.

Nic Wilson, who serves as lead pastor of FBC Peculiar, released a joint statement with his board of deacons, which said, “We are aware that Andy Lovisone has been charged with two counts of promoting [CSAM]. We are deeply concerned by these charges that are not condoned by our church and are strongly contrary to our beliefs.”

“The church has been in communication with law enforcement and will continue to fully aid the investigation,” the statement continued. “Andy Lovisone has been suspended from his duties at the church at this time.”

Jeff Weber, the co-sheriff for Cass County, said, “We appreciate the diligent work of the Cass County detectives assigned to the Western Missouri Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.”

Vatican Greenlights Devotion to Marian Shrine at Medjugorje

By

Claire Giangrave

-

September 20, 2024

Vatican New Marion Shrine — Pilgrims pray inside St. James Church in Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Sept. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — After 40 years of studies, commissions and contradictions, the Vatican finally approved the spiritual devotion of the faithful at the Marian site at Medjugorje, in Bosnia-Herzegovina, in a document issued on Thursday (Sept. 19).

“The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, with the assent of Pope Francis, grants approval for devotion linked to Medjugorje, recognizing the abundant spiritual fruits received at the Sanctuary of the Queen of Peace without making a declaration on the alleged supernatural character of Marian apparitions,” the document read.

On June 24, 1981, a young girl called Ivanka Ivanković claimed to have a vision of the Madonna at the foot of a hill near the parish of St. James in Medjugorje. On that same day, six children reported having seen Mary holding an infant. The visions stirred a deep astonishment among believers from all over the world and began a long series of pronouncements regarding the credibility of the event.

The young people claimed to receive messages from Mary and, in time, the messages became more frequent. Pope Francis warned the faithful not to be fooled by false claims of apparitions and voiced skepticism about “the mailwoman Mary” during a news conference returning from his visit to the Marian Shrine of Fatima in Portugal in 2017.

Despite the pope’s doubt, the devotion to “The Queen of Peace” in Medjugorje is undeniable. Estimates count over 1 million pilgrims a year, and 3 million before the COVID-19 pandemic. A study by the sociologist Luca Presenti from the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan found that most people who visit the site are inspired by spiritual motives, including spiritual comfort (38%), requesting help for themselves or others (23%) and the need to be connected to the divine (17.7%).

Pilgrims who visited Medjugorje said that their lives were changed by the experience (48.8%), some very much (30.4%) and others radically (14.5%), according to the study, which also found that the site led to an increase in religious practice, receiving the sacraments and prayer.

“There is a spiritual vitality, faith, conversion and positive fruits that lead us to believe that God is doing positive things there,” said Cardinal Victor Fernandez, the Vatican’s doctrine czar, speaking at the news conference Thursday.

The new Vatican document abstains from deciding whether the visions were real. In May of last year, the Vatican’s doctrinal department issued new norms to help discern supernatural phenomena. The major change was that the Vatican or local bishops will only have to issue a “nihil obstat,” which in English translates to “nothing impedes,” and allows faithful to show devotion but doesn’t comment on the miraculous nature of a phenomenon.

The new norms also stated that the Vatican can revoke the “nihil obstat” at any moment.

Previously, bishops would have to make an initial evaluation of the supernatural phenomenon, which sometimes resulted in confusion among believers. After the alleged vision at Medjugorje, Bishop Pavao Žanić of Mostar-Duvno expressed “strong doubts” on the events in a report sent to the Vatican. The Episcopal Conference of Yugoslavia also deemed that the events were not of a supernatural nature in a document known as “The Zara Declaration.”

The number of pilgrims visiting the site grew regardless, and in October 1994 the new ordinary at Medjugorje, Bishop Ratko Perić, asked then-Pope John Paul II to issue a final pronouncement on the site. The Vatican’s doctrine department finally stated that pilgrims were allowed to visit the site, without declaring that the visions were authentic. In 2008, Pope Benedict XVI called for the creation of an international commission of theologians and experts led by Cardinal Camillo Ruini, which found that “the youths, who were mentally sound, were not influenced in any way by anyone” and that “the devotion born in Medjugorje has a supernatural origin, it’s authentic.”

Seminaries Prompt Students To Ask: Can AI Write a Sermon?

By

Genevieve Charles

-

September 20, 2024

ChatGPT sermons — (Photo by cottonbro studio/Pexels/Creative Commons)

(RNS) — This summer, Mark Andrew Jefferson, who was leading a teaching workshop at Princeton Theological Seminary, prompted ChatGPT to write a homily based on the Gospel of Luke’s parable of the good Samaritan. For good measure, he ordered the artificial intelligence engine to mimic the style of the late, legendary evangelist Billy Graham.

When Jefferson showed the results to the students in his workshop, they were split on the possibilities of AI-generated sermons. Some were enthusiastic, others ambivalent but curious. Yet others were concerned about what it might spell for their future livelihood as preachers: As do many people in any number of vocations, they feared that AI will render humans dispensable.

“Students were excited because we helped them to do some of the work necessary, but also some of them were dismayed because some of them felt like technology was going to do their job for them,” said Jefferson, who teaches homiletics — the art of preaching — at Howard University’s School of Divinity and is CEO of a preaching and leadership consultancy called Maleko Global.

Across the United States, seminaries are contending with the possibilities of AI for clergy and churches. Many, such as United Lutheran Seminary in Philadelphia and Howard’s School of Divinity, are in the beginning stages of discussing how AI will factor into their curricula and crafting policies for their students’ educations. From divinity school hallways to organized seminars to governing bodies such as the Association of Theological Schools and the Academy of Homiletics, professors are chatting about what AI means their students.

AI’s success in religious contexts so far has been mixed. In April of this year, Catholic Answers, an advocacy group, launched “Father Justin,” an AI-driven chatbot designed to explain church doctrine to curious users. The bot has since been “defrocked” after suggesting that babies could be baptized in Gatorade, among other gaffes. AskCathy, created by the Episcopal Church in partnership with TryTank Research Institute, sticks to basic questions about that denomination and helps users find digital resources.

But most seminary professors acknowledge that their students’ toolboxes will inevitably include AI. The Rev. Shauna Hannan, a professor at the graduate school of California Lutheran University, dismisses “the fear is that technology will sort of take over the need for humans,” pointing out that there are many duties of clergy that can’t be replicated by AI. “I don’t think, in a kind of relationship-centered vocation like ministry, that technology will replace the human-to-human interaction,” she said.

Hannan looks at AI as “a tool, in the way that you might mention Gutenberg printing press in the 16th century that Martin Luther used.” In that spirit, she said, “I would love to hear from my students ways that they would like to use ChatGPT to help that creative process as a kind of collaborative one.”

At the Academy for Jewish Religion, in Yonkers, New York, rabbinical students taking a required Jewish law and science course will discuss AI and other new technologies, according to Rabbi Matthew Goldstone. However, Goldstone said, “While the productive use of AI for sermon writing (and) locating answers to Jewish questions can enhance what students are able to achieve, the fundamentally personal nature of translating the teachings for those communities is still really essential,” said Goldstone.

When it comes to sitting down to write a sermon, said the Rev. Karyn Wiseman, who is on the education and technology committee at United Lutheran Seminary, generative AI can be a brainstorming partner, but beyond that, the nuances get tricky. Since the source of AI’s output is the work of other authors, she noted, plagiarism is a major concern.

“Do I cut and paste? Is it an inspiration? It all gets so fuzzy,” Wiseman said. “How do we say that the integrity of your work is your own? It’s an amazing resource, but it can’t be the bulk of your work.”

Students of Frederick Ware, at Howard’s School of Divinity, will be reading a textbook this semester that will help them think through the capabilities of AI from a theological perspective. Then, Ware said, they will experiment with AI for themselves. “What does it produce? What are its capabilities?” said Ware.

3 Reasons Why God Doesn’t Give You a Map

By

Michael Kelley

-

September 20, 2024

My children have never had to read a map. Oh, they’ve seen them, but they’ve looked at them like relics in a museum. These are things that have gone the way of 8-tracks, lava lamps, and backward facing bench seats in the station wagon. They are tools from a bygone day that look good when framed on a wall but aren’t much use when you have an iPhone.

They’ve got a point, of course. It’s really an exercise in stubbornness to use a paper map when you can have turn by turn navigation to anywhere in the world at your fingertips. And yet there is something nice—if a bit nostalgic—about holding a map, isn’t there? It’s nice to not just see the next turn but instead see the whole journey plotted out in front of you? I think so. And In looking at a map like that, it might also make you wish that God operated in maps.

Surely you’ve had the same moment that I have, when thinking about the future, of wishing that God would simply give us a map.

In so doing, we would know all the twists and turns we will eventually have to take during life. That we could be prepared for this or that thing that was coming, to know in advance what lies before us, and to operate with a sense of certainty as we make our way through the years.

But God doesn’t do that. He does not give us a map. And there are some good reasons why he doesn’t. Here are three of them:

1. God Is More Interested in Who You’re Becoming Than Where You’re Going.

We are destination oriented people. We move through life from place to place, person to person, job to job. One destination to another, always looking for what’s next. But God doesn’t work like that. His highest aspiration for us is not to get us to a specific job, a specific city, or a specific home, but instead for us to conformed to the image of Christ.

As such, all of these jobs, cities, and neighborhoods we live in all serve a greater purpose. Even as God uses us in these specific destinations to extend his kingdom, he is also working in us at the same time. Each of these experiences move us, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to think, feel, and act more like Jesus.

That’s one of the reasons God doesn’t give us a map—it’s because He is in the formation business. And often these twists and turns are precisely the things that form our character.

2. Faith Is More Valuable to God Than Absolute Certainty.

Faith is what God prizes the most. This is the attribute God values more than anything else. Indeed, anything we claim to do for the sake of Jesus and his kingdom must be grounded in and fueled by faith.

The fact that we do not have a map means we must operate by faith because we don’t have any other option.

Now, you might argue that faith is actually certainty. In the same chapter of Hebrews, the writer says as much, that faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see (Heb. 11:1). That is absolutely true. But what exactly are we sure of? What exactly are we certain of? It’s not that we know the way, as we would if we had a map. No, our certainty is not in our destination, but instead in the One leading us. Which leads us to the third reason God doesn’t operate in maps:

Only You Can Stop Boring Preaching

By

Joe McKeever

-

September 20, 2024

boring preaching — Adobe Stock #423739485

Holly, a 7-year-old in a church I pastored, turned to her mother in the middle of my sermon and said, “Mother, why does Doctor Joe think we need this information?” Every preacher should have such a child listening to every sermon and giving such feedback. What boring preaching does–without exception–is answer questions which no one is asking.

It may do more things than this–dead oratory violates a thousand sound principles–but put it down in huge letters, pastor: the sermon which is sedating your congregation is seen as completely irrelevant to them.

Whether it is or not is another matter.

How Preachers Can Stop Boring Preaching

“Then an expert in the law stood up to test Him, saying, ‘Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’” (Luke 10:25) My job as the pastor may mean making my audience see that this subject is one they should be dealing with and asking questions about.

On an airline flight, passengers ignore the instructions of the attendant as she talks about the use of the seat cushion as flotation device or how to inflate the life vests. If however, at 30,000 feet the pilot announces the loss of an engine and the attendant begins to give instructions, she will have the clear and undivided attention of her audience.

One reason for the pastor previewing the sermon with his spouse and/or children is that invariably one among them can be counted on to ask, “What is your point?” “What is this about?” Or, as Holly put it, “Why do we need to know this?”

In Scripture, we get the impression that Jesus’ best preaching was done on the spur of the moment as a result of questions.

–“Who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29) From this, we have the unforgettable story of the good Samaritan.

– “Why do you receive sinners and eat with them?” (Luke 15:1ff) This charge gave the Lord an audience for His parables of the lost sheep, lost coin, and lost boy (Prodigal Son).

– “Lord, will you now restore the kingdom to Israel? What will be the sign of your coming and of the end?” (Matthew 24:1ff.) As a result of these questions, we have lengthy explanations as to the coming destruction of Jerusalem and the Lord’s return.

– “Why do your disciples not fast?” (Matthew 9:14) This gave us the teachings of new-patches-on-old-garments and new-wine-in-old-wineskins.

The Epic Formula to Make Your Band Sound Great

By

Dan Wilt

-

September 20, 2024

No matter our sound – whether we have a hard rock, a soft rock, a gospel or a liturgical type of sound – we have to start with some basic principles when we’re thinking about arranging a large band. You can make your band sound great!

Using these 5 ingredients, you’ll have an epic formula for to make your band sound great.

1. Establish your sound.
2. Layer from the ground up.
3. Communicate roles.
4. Start from rhythm.
5. Build with taste.

The Epic Formula to Make Your Band Sound Great

INGREDIENT 1 – ESTABLISH YOUR SOUND

Establish your sound.

What sound are you after? What are you looking to be able to create? You have to start with basic principles when it comes to making this sound work.

Some congregations want the ability to create different types of sounds to serve their diverse community. These sounds can be expressed with different instruments, different singers, or different kinds of bands.

These are all elements that need to be in place for you to achieve varieties of sound.

Understanding what instrumentation and abilities you have available to you is the first step in making your band sound great.

INGREDIENT 2 – LAYER FROM THE GROUND UP

Layer from the ground up.

All arrangements start with ‘the groove’ – the bass drum and the bass guitar. These instruments interact, lock together a rhythmic foundation, and bring the groove to life.

Everything else can be layered on top. If this is “off,” then the whole band will be off. Take the time to make sure the groove is solid with the bass and drums.
Once the ground level is strong, you can work on inside rhythms.

These sounds fill gaps with more frequent repetitions, and are brought to life by instruments like the hi-hat and acoustic guitar. Next, add in other instrumentation, like a keyboard.

Watch out for similar patterns of rhythm among the instruments – everyone must stick to their roles to create breathing room in the music.

All instrumentation, whether you’re in a musical trio or an orchestra of 50, must add up to one –this is the Fraction Principle.

For example, If you’ve got 7 instruments, each player can only have 1/7 of the sound. If your musicians take on more than their designated amount, the music becomes irritating and overbearing.

Three Tests of Wicked Wealth

By

J.D. Greear

-

September 20, 2024

A couple of years ago, my wife and I visited some missionaries in Germany. One family we saw lived in a small, rural village in the countryside. When we arrived in their village, it was dark and difficult to see our surroundings. But the next morning, as I looked outside my window, I thought I had been transported to a poem. It was the most idyllic German hillside you could imagine. Sheep were grazing on the green, rolling hills. A windmill spun in the distance. Even the sky seemed a little bluer. But our hosts ruined the beauty of the scene during breakfast. They told us that just beyond the picturesque scene was a slaughterhouse. All those tranquil sheep, living their best lives, were simply being prepared for slaughter. It was a picture of wicked wealth.

Stunningly, the book of James says this is what the lives of the rich are like (James 5:5). Their boastful posture toward wealth breeds a God-like confidence of expecting tomorrow and fulfilling their own destiny (James 4:14–16). Our lives, when viewed from God’s vantage point, are as fleeting and fragile as the mist. Those with wicked wealth, like the sheep on that German hillside, have a hard time remembering this.

Money, in and of itself, is not sinful. Being wealthy isn’t synonymous with being evil. But James puts his finger on something deeply disturbing: When untethered from devotion to God, our wealth can store up judgment for us.

What is Wicked Wealth?

So how do we know what makes for wicked weath? Here are three tests:

1. Hoarding

Saving up money can be wise, as the book of Proverbs says. But when it becomes our mission to pile up wealth on earth, especially at the expense of generosity or in a way that ignores the needs of those around us, that’s evil (James 5:1–3).

Does that mean there’s a magic number, above which any wealth automatically becomes evil? I don’t think so. But our society gets this completely backwards, so we need to be incredibly cautious. Our culture says, “Give sufficiently and live extravagantly.” A heart touched by the gospel says, “Live sufficiently and give extravagantly.”

Sex Before Marriage in the Bible: Why Christians Should Wait

By

Clint Archer

-

September 19, 2024

Teens may wonder what it says about sex before marriage in the Bible. Take a look at Scripture, with insights from pastor and author Clint Archer.

When I was in college and a brand-new believer, a question caught me off guard. Someone asked where in the Bible it says Christians should wait until marriage to have sex.

It stumped me because a.) I didn’t know my Bible at all. And b.) even as an unbeliever, I took for granted that Christians did not have premarital sex. I never thought anyone would challenge that assumption. I was wrong.

Recently someone asked me again what it says about sex before marriage in the Bible. So I compiled an answer for others to use. Here’s my condensed offering…

What It Says About Sex Before Marriage in the Bible

In his letter to the Thessalonian Christians, Paul reveals God’s will on sex before marriage to “you in the Lord” (i.e. Christians). It’s important to realize that God doesn’t limit this to a particular culture or period. God, who inspired the writing of Scripture, gave Paul these teachings on “how you ought to walk and to please God” (1 Thessalonians 4:1).

If you don’t live this way, you’re living like the people “who do not know God” (v. 5), i.e. unbelievers. So if a person lives this way, he shouldn’t call himself a Christian.

Here’s the passage:

Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. 1 Thessalonians 4:1-7

More Scriptural Teachings About Purity

For the Corinthians, Paul lists people who will not inherit the kingdom of God, i.e. go to hell. On his list are the “sexually immoral” or “fornicators,” which means people who have premarital sex! (1 Corinthians 6:9)

This applies to anyone in any era and culture who engages in sexual activity outside the marriage covenant. First Corinthians 5:8 is also a pithy injunction to abstain from all sexual immorality.

The writer to the Hebrews reminds them that sex belongs only in marriage. He believed that sex was only for marriage, so he’s writing not to promiscuous pagans but to legalistic Jewish converts.

Let marriage be held in honor among all. And let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. Hebrews 13:4

Then, of course, Jesus taught clearly on this topic. He said having sexual desire in your heart (lust) for a woman who’s not your wife is the same degree of sin as adultery in God’s eyes. If thinking about a woman sexually is sin, then obviously having sex with her is sin.

Positive Culture: 4 Tips To Build a Strong KidMin Brand

By

ChildrensMinistry.com

-

September 19, 2024

Do you have a positive culture in your children’s ministry? Want to improve your brand and reputation in the church and community? Then read on for 4 essential tips for kidmin leaders.

Culture is your brand. The way your team greets people, deals with challenges, ministers to kids and families, and even says goodbye. The look and feel of your ministry comes from the brand you create. So you can’t leave it up to chance.

Here are four key ways to develop the culture you want.

4 Ways to Develop a Positive Culture at Church

1. Recruit well with your culture.

You can’t make people be who they aren’t. If you want “high-energy, motivated, upbeat” as values in your ministry, recruit those kinds of people. People who are more reserved may be drawn to roles behind the scenes. But recruit what you want to project in your ministry. Then put those people out front.

2. Train thoroughly.

Engage your staff over and over in the why of what they do—not only what they do. Coach people to say and do things in ways that represent your ministry’s values. For example, if you want people to greet guests a certain way, give them the exact wording. Focus on the details because it’s the details that convey positive culture.

3. Create a culture of overcommunication.

Ensure that everyone on the team knows your values and the positive culture you’re trying to create. Communication is especially critical when you’re building a new ministry and with new people joining your team. Take time to share your story, dreams, goals, and values with every single person. Give them specific examples of how you’ve seen the culture you desire lived out.

Transform Pain Into Growth: A Healing Guide

By

Josh Spurlock

-

September 19, 2024

In the journey of life, encountering pain—whether through loss, failure, betrayal, or any form of emotional hurt—is an inevitability. However, the manner in which we process and metabolize these painful experiences can profoundly influence our emotional and psychological well-being. Without effective processing, pain can solidify into trauma, leaving deep scars that affect our ability to live fully. But with the right approach, these experiences can become catalysts for personal growth, wisdom, and emotional resilience. This article explores strategies for metabolizing painful experiences, drawing upon the principles of dyadic regulation and the transformative role of a “wise other” in preventing pain from evolving into trauma.

Acknowledging and Accepting the Pain

The first step in metabolizing pain is to acknowledge its presence fully. This involves giving yourself permission to feel hurt, sad, angry, or whatever emotions arise, without judgment. Recognizing that pain is a part of the human experience can help reduce feelings of isolation and shame that often accompany difficult times.

Seeking a Wise Other

A “wise other” can be anyone who provides empathy, understanding, and guidance—be it a friend, family member, therapist, or mentor. The process of dyadic regulation, where emotional states are co-regulated in the presence of a supportive other, is crucial. This person can help you navigate your emotions, offer a different perspective, and provide the comfort of knowing you’re not alone in your experience.

Expressing and Sharing Your Experience

Verbalizing or expressing your pain in some form is a vital part of the healing process. This could mean talking to someone you trust, writing in a journal, or engaging in creative expression like painting or music. Sharing your experience helps to externalize the pain, making it easier to process and understand.

Constructing a Narrative and Making Meaning

One of the most powerful aspects of metabolizing pain involves constructing a narrative of the experience and making meaning from it. This doesn’t mean forcing a positive spin on painful events, but rather understanding their place in your life’s story. Ask yourself what you’ve learned, how you’ve grown, or how your perspective has shifted. Engaging in this reflective process can transform the experience from a source of trauma to a source of wisdom and growth.

Integrating the Experience Into Your Life

The final step in metabolizing pain is integrating the experience into your life. This means accepting that the painful event is a part of your story but does not define you. It involves recognizing the strength you’ve gained, the resilience you’ve developed, and the wisdom you’ve acquired. Integration allows you to move forward, carrying these lessons into the future.

Embracing Post-Traumatic Growth

Successfully metabolizing pain can lead to post-traumatic growth, a concept that refers to the positive psychological change experienced as a result of struggling with highly challenging life circumstances. This growth can manifest as improved relationships, a greater appreciation for life, increased personal strength, and a deepened sense of spirituality.

Dr. Steven Lawson Removed as Lead Pastor of Trinity Bible Church in Dallas Due to ‘Inappropriate Relationship’

By

Jesse T. Jackson

-

September 19, 2024

Dr. Steven Lawson has been removed as the lead pastor of Trinity Bible Church of Dallas following news of “an inappropriate relationship that he has had with a woman.”

Lawson (73), who is also the professor of preaching and dean of D.Min. studies at John MacArthur’s The Master’s Seminary (TMS) and the president and founder of OnePassion Ministries, has been married to his wife, Anne, for over 40 years. Together, they have four adult children.

In addition to his pastoring and TMS roles, Lawson has authored over 25 books.

Lawson Removed ‘Indefinitely From All Ministry Activities’

In a statement published on Trinity Bible Church’s website, the elders said that they “regretfully announce that effective immediately, Steven J. Lawson has been removed indefinitely from all ministry activities at Trinity Bible Church of Dallas.”

“Several days ago, the elders at Trinity Bible Church of Dallas were informed by Steve Lawson of an inappropriate relationship that he has had with a woman,” the statement continued. “The elders have met with Steve and will continue to come alongside him and pray for him with the ultimate goal of his personal repentance. Steve will no longer be compensated by Trinity Bible Church of Dallas.”

The elders reminded the congregation that “in light of this, may we be reminded that we are ALL sinners, and Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners—and Christ remains Head of His Church, which is bigger than any fallen man.”

“In fact,” the statement continued, “Jesus Christ will continue to lead His Church, including Trinity Bible Church here in Dallas, just like He has from the start of this work on January 5, 2018,” when the church was founded.

“Since that time, the elders have focused on the primacy of biblical exposition knit together by various men filling the pulpit each week,” the elders said.

The elders expressed confidence that God will continue building Trinity Bible Church, just as he had been doing “well before Steve became [the] Lead Preacher.” The statement concluded by asking for prayer for all who are involved, quoting 1 Corinthians 10:12, which says, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.”

Jerry Falwell Jr., Wife Return To Liberty Campus After Years-Long Ban From Premises Is Lifted

By

Stephanie Martin

-

September 19, 2024

Following his recent settlement with the school, former Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr. returned to campus Sept. 14 to attend the homecoming football game with his wife, Becki Falwell. For more than three years, the couple had been banned from campus while engaged in back-and-forth lawsuits with the school.

At Saturday’s event, Falwell told reporters, “It’s so wonderful, after spending the better part of 40 years imagining and building what’s here, to be able to come and enjoy it without all of the responsibility on my shoulders.”

Falwell, who served as Liberty president from 2007 to 2020, resigned amid allegations of misconduct and breach of contract. As ChurchLeaders has reported, Falwell and his wife were involved in an extramarital sex scandal.

After he was forced to resign, Falwell sued Liberty, aiming “to restore my reputation and hopefully help repair the damage to the Liberty University brand in the process.” Falwell’s father, the Rev. Jerry Falwell Sr., founded the evangelical institution in 1971. Last year, the elder Falwell’s trust sued Liberty, claiming the school had exploited the late conservative figure’s name, likeness, and image (NIL).

Jerry Falwell Jr.: ‘Wonderful’ To Be Back at Liberty

At the homecoming game, Liberty students warmly welcomed the Falwells back. “We see [students] in town,” said Jerry Falwell. “They come up to us and talk to us and want to get pictures, and that was always happening the whole time.”

Becki Falwell said it “feels like we’re back home.” The couple always loved attending football games, with the “great family-friendly environment,” she said. The Liberty Flames beat University of Texas at El Paso 28-10.

About his time away, Jerry Falwell Jr. said:

I was so sick for over a year-and-a-half after I left, with this rare genetic thing that took [doctors] a while to figure out. Once I got that behind me, I went to work resolving all the lies that had been told about me, and that was a lot of work for a couple of years. I really was just 100% focused on that 24/7, so I really didn’t have time to come back [to Liberty] before now.

Jerry Falwell Jr. Can Now Enjoy ‘Finished Product’ at Liberty

In August, after his ban at Liberty was lifted, Falwell said, “I was too focused on clearing my name over the last few years to have much reason to go on campus.”

“Ever since 2020, students and local folks have been super supportive when I see them in town, and I’ve enjoyed incredible support from alumni all over the country by phone and email,” Falwell added.

7 Ways to Earn and Keep Trust

1. Display confidence, but never cockiness.

2. Follow through, which means you never over-commit.

3. To Earn and Keep Trust – Put trust in others.

Worship Leaders Are Being Compelled To Grow

Ten Defining Marks Of The Next Worship Leaders

What Really Happened at the Ceremony?

What Really Happened With the Backlash?

Pastor Encountered Intruder at Church

Survivor: ‘The Lord Wasn’t Through With Me Yet’

OnePassion Ministries Release Statement

1. God Is More Interested in Who You’re Becoming Than Where You’re Going.

2. Faith Is More Valuable to God Than Absolute Certainty.

How Preachers Can Stop Boring Preaching

The Epic Formula to Make Your Band Sound Great

What is Wicked Wealth?

1. Hoarding

What It Says About Sex Before Marriage in the Bible

More Scriptural Teachings About Purity

4 Ways to Develop a Positive Culture at Church

1. Recruit well with your culture.

2. Train thoroughly.

3. Create a culture of overcommunication.

Acknowledging and Accepting the Pain

Seeking a Wise Other

Expressing and Sharing Your Experience

Constructing a Narrative and Making Meaning

Integrating the Experience Into Your Life

Embracing Post-Traumatic Growth

Lawson Removed ‘Indefinitely From All Ministry Activities’

Jerry Falwell Jr.: ‘Wonderful’ To Be Back at Liberty

Jerry Falwell Jr. Can Now Enjoy ‘Finished Product’ at Liberty

New Articles

New Podcasts