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Why Older Women Must Invest in Younger Women in Your Church

By
Chuck Lawless
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Father’s Day program ideas for church

Two months ago, I wrote a post about ways to minister to young men in your church. The same ideas can easily be applied as women minister to younger women in your local church body. With my goal to encourage older women to accept this responsibility, here are some reasons for them to reach out to the next generation and minister to younger women.

  1. The Bible requires it. Titus 2:3-5 expects that young women will learn from older women who have lived out their faith in the Lord. If our churches ignore this calling, the next generation suffers.
  2. Many younger women have had few or no healthy female role models in their life. Mothers have a unique bond with their children, but not every mother is a model of godliness. Some young women are still waiting to become close friends with a godly female.
  3. They will be spouses and moms in a culture ever turning from God’s standards. It’s no secret that young women will be called to live their faith in a world increasingly opposed to Christianity. They shouldn’t be expected to walk that path without an older role model.
  4. They are future leaders of church ministries. Churches differ in what roles women can play in a congregation, but younger women will lead some types of ministries in the future. What they see modeled now will help them in the days to come.
  5. Younger women are longing for mentors in the faith. Many of us tend to think about young men wanting mentors, but men have no monopoly on this need. Younger women are equally seeking older women who will give them time.
  6. Even young women face such temptations as pornography. As morals are dropped and sin becomes more acceptable, even young women face issues we once assumed were limited to men. Many women, though, have no place to turn for support and guidance.
  7. Woman-to-woman discipling can prepare younger women for the mission field. In some places of the world, only women have access to minister to other women. Being a disciple now will help younger women prepare for this role.
  8. Even a few minutes of godly attention can change a younger woman’s life. That is to say, investing in a younger woman does not require a seminary degree or a ministry calling. All it requires is an older woman who walks with God – and a younger woman’s life may then never be the same.

What would you add to this list? 

This article originally appeared here.

Every Generation of Christians Thinks It Might Be the Last

By
Todd Wilson
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Father’s Day program ideas for church

Every generation of Christians thinks it might be the last. Here’s why.

Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

Matthew 25:1-13

If you grew up in the 1970’s or 80’s like me and were part of an evangelical church then you were almost certainly exposed to plenty of speculations about the timing of Jesus’ return. Prophecy “experts” filled the auditoriums of our largest churches with their lectures and slide presentations. The number one bestselling non-fiction book of the 1970’s was Hal Lindsey’s apocalyptic The Late Great Planet Earth.

Perhaps you remember the little book 88 Reasons Jesus Will Return in 1988. I remember otherwise thoughtful people saying things like, “You know, he makes a solid case.” And then when it didn’t happen the author released 89 Reasons Jesus Will Return in 1989. No word if the author will give it another try.

In those days, people seemed to be constantly interpreting the Bible through the newspaper and vice versa. In the 1930’s many Christians were convinced that Hitler was the beast of Revelation. When I was a kid the Soviet Union was the key player in the devil’s plans. And then when Gorbachev came along with that birth mark on his forehead we knew! He was the anti-Christ. Of course the Left Behind series of books trained the 1990’s generation of Christians to hold to those same end-times theories.

The fact is, every generation of Christians sees the rise of voices who claim to know that they are the terminal generation; the generation of Christians which will see the return of Christ. We saw a spike in this at the turn of the millennium. People sold their businesses, left their homes and retreated to churches and hillsides or other secluded locations convinced that there would be a Y2K disaster ushering in the last days. No doubt there will be others come along who whip undiscerning Christians into a fury of misguided expectations.

Jesus’ parable of the Ten Virgins is part of a sermon he delivered on the Mount of Olives often times referred to as the Olivet Discourse. It is recorded in chapters 24 and 25 of Matthew’s Gospel. The first section of Jesus’ sermon covers most of chapter 24 and concludes with a very clear statement: “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only” (vs. 36).

Jesus therefore warns against those deceivers and false prophets who come along and say that they have discerned when the end will come. We simply do not know, nor do we have any way to know when Jesus will return and usher in the age to come. However, we are to keep watch. We are to be prepared for Jesus to return.

That doesn’t mean that we try to correlate current events with passages from Daniel or Revelation. It means that we are to be careful in how we live. We are to attend to those things that truly matter. We are to examine our hearts to, as the apostle says, “make our calling and election sure.” We are to attend to our most holy vocation to love God and love our neighbor. We are to live our lives with the sort of love and witness and prayerfulness and righteousness that befits men and women who know that Jesus could come back at any moment.

Christianity is an eschatological faith. That is, it rests upon promises which will be fulfilled in an age yet to come. Because of the dying and rising of Jesus what has been corrupted by sin will be made incorruptible. The wicked will be judged and the righteous will be fully redeemed. The dawning of this new age where sin and death are no more will be inaugurated at the return of Jesus.

The Parable of the Ten Virgins is about perceived delay. The setting is a man who is on his way to marry his betrothed. On the way to the festivities he will be joined by a company of ten young women. This festal gathering complete with torches will accompany the bridegroom to the wedding. Since the ten virgins do not know the exact time of the bridegroom’s arrival they must be ready with enough oil for their torches to account for a long wait. Five of the ten failed to prepare for a long wait. The other five had equipped themselves with enough oil should the bridegroom’s arrival take longer than they expected. The bridegroom would arrive just when he intended. But it would likely be perceived by some as a late arrival.

In this parable Jesus built upon that which is recorded in Matthew 24. He knew that following his resurrection and ascension the first generation of Christians would have no shortage of those predicting his immediate return. Jesus called them deceivers and false prophets. But those deceivers were persuasive. Many first generation Christians fully expected Jesus to return in their lifetime. By denying the possibility of a long wait they were in danger of being caught unprepared.

Throughout this body of teaching Jesus is speaking to covenant insiders. That is, he is speaking to those in the house of Israel, God’s visible people. They had received the sign of the covenant, learned God’s law, and tasted many of the benefits of God’s covenant promises. But among them were those who nevertheless remained strangers to the Lord and were therefore entirely unprepared for his return. The same is true for God’s new covenant people, the church. It is possible to be counted among God’s visible people but to be among those to whom the Lord will say, “I do not know you” (25:12). Readiness, therefore, begins with repentance and faith. It begins with looking to Jesus in faith as Lord and Savior. And readiness continues in the same way. It continues by a lifestyle of putting sin to death, of daily trusting Jesus, and going about faithfully loving God and neighbor.

This article originally appeared here.

3 Online Church Tools Every Pastor (and Worship Leader) Needs Yesterday

By
Mike O’Brien
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Father’s Day program ideas for church

Welcome to the new reality of the online church, online small group and ZOOM video conferences galore. These 3 in-stock items (at the time of this writing!) from Amazon will up your video game immediately.

You might not care what you look like, but if what you are communicating is important, then you might as well have it look as good as possible. With these three items, your online church will be able to FRAME your face is a variety of ways, both standing, and sitting. Things will look and sound better.

A nice HEAVY BOOM STAND to hold your phone. A microphone stand is 100 times more adjustable and easy to use than a typical camera stand. 

A nice METAL ADAPTER thingy to affix the adapter.

A nice PLASTIC ADAPTER to cradle your phone.

Bonus Tips:

Up your lighting: Like Kim Kardashian, buy THIS SELFIE LIGHT – it really helps.

Up your audio: FREE: Talk louder, get closer, close the door or get into a more acoustically dead space. If you want to spend money, try this highly rated microphone for iPhone and here is an option for Andriod.

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

Helping your worship leaders and teams tell the story of God in worship. My name is Mike O’Brien and I am passionate about teaching and mentoring worship leaders and teams. My calling is to use my experience as a producer, worship leader, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist to come alongside musicians, helping them more fully worship God with their instrument and lives. Find out more about how I can help your worship leaders and teams HERE.

Free eBook: The Sermons of John Owen

By
Daniel So
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Father’s Day program ideas for church

Free eBook

Download and share this eBook of John Owen’s sermons with your staff.

From CCEL, “This particular volume brings together not only sermons Owen delivered during his life, but a series of posthumously published sermons as well. John Owen’s Sermons should reestablish Owen as an impressive preacher; they will not disappoint!”

Get Download Now

Resource provided by Christian Classics Ethereal Library

Download Instructions: To download this resource, right-click on the approrpriate link (e.g., “Adobe Acrobat PDF” or “Plain text (UTF-8)”) and choose “Save As.”

Free Printable: "Armor of God" Game

By
Daniel So
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image

Free Printable

Download and print this game to help teach your children about the full armor of God passage from Ephesians 6:10-18.

The download site also includes links to free lessons and coloring pages based on the same passage.

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 the printable” and choose “Save As.”

Can We Talk About Biblical Illiteracy in the Church?

By
Jayson Bradley
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“Mystics without study are only spiritual romantics who want relationship without effort.” —Calvin Miller

I live in a quaint American town—a Norman Rockwellian picture of small-town USA. There’s a church on almost every corner and a palpable sense of nostalgia down every street.

It’s a farm town full of old Dutch families who still resort to their mother tongue when certain feelings need expression. Inevitably, someone is going to tell you that they’re “benouwd” when they’re feeling anxious, depressed, crammed into an stuffy room.

A proudly devout and principled people, they’re generally disciplined in practice, conservative in perspective and uncompromising in posture.

They’re wonderful despite their love of terrible treats like double-salted licorice. Seriously … that stuff is beyond nasty.

The downward trajectory of biblical literacy

One thing I find interesting is how values have been passed down and received in this close-knit community. It’s an interesting look at what happens to Christianity when it becomes part of a community’s identity.

If you stop nearly anyone on the sidewalk, they’ll tell you that Christianity is one of their most important and primary identifiers. You’ll find the streets are packed on Sunday morning as nearly everyone, en masse, floods the town’s churches.

But I’ve noticed a serious generational downturn in biblical literacy.

There are quite a few people in their 70s whom I’ve had the most interesting scriptural discussions with and, peppered throughout normal, run-of-the-mill conversations, they’ll drop nuggets that reveal how they draw on a deep, treasured reservoir of Scripture in their everyday lives. But I meet more and more 20- and 30-somethings who, although they were raised in the church and have a generally high view of Christianity, are unfamiliar with the much of the Scriptures.

On a sociological level, it’s fascinating to see this generational devolution of scriptural literacy happen. It’s curious because there hasn’t really been a loss of Christianity as a cultural identity. Younger generations still value church attendance, as well as Christian literature, music and radio. While there are many of the trappings of Christianity, there is a loss of depth and breadth of biblical understanding.

But don’t get me wrong; I don’t think this is a problem specific to my town—and it’s definitely not universal. But it’s representative of a growing problem with Christians everywhere. It’s just particularly telling to find it in towns with such a strong “Christian” identity.

Trump Slams Evangelical Leader Russell Moore on Twitter

By
Daily Buzz
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L: Michael Vadon, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. R: Theology147, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Early this morning, Donald Trump tweeted an attack tweet against Dr. Russell Moore, the President of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, the moral concerns and public policy entity of the nation’s largest Protestant denomination.

In response to the tweets, Dr. Moore tweeted, “Sad!”

Then he tweeted “1 Kings 18:17-19“:

1 Kings 18:17-19 says:

When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is it you, you troubler of Israel?” And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father’s house, because you have abandoned the commandments of the LORD and followed the Baals. Now therefore send and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel, and the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”

 

Many supporters quickly came to Dr. Moore’s defense,

Dr. Moore was our guest on last week’s episode of the ChurchLeaders podcast, discussing how evangelicals should engage politically during this election season. You can listen to that episode here.

Ravi Zacharias Doesn’t Have Much Time Left on Earth

By
Megan Briggs
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RZIM
Instagram @ravizacharias

Editor’s Note: After the publishing of this article, an independent investigation found allegations implicating Ravi Zacharias of sexual abuse to be credible. Prior to this report, ChurchLeaders had published multiple articles about Ravi Zacharias and his ministry. Although our editorial team believes his work still has value since it involved articulating the truths of God’s Word, we would be remiss not to disclose the painful truth of Mr. Zacharias’ personal actions that have come to light following his death. For further reading, please see:
Sexting, Spiritual Abuse, Rape: Devastating Full Report on Ravi Zacharias Released
The Story Behind the Ravi Zacharias Allegations (Part 1): Lawsuits, NDAs, and Email Threads
The Story Behind the Ravi Zacharias Allegations (Part 2): ‘Cursory’ Investigations and More Accusations

Apologist and ministry leader Ravi Zacharias is currently battling a rare form of cancer. Yesterday, Zacharias’ daughter, Sarah Davis, shared a sobering update on her father’s health: The doctors have done all they can but are out of options for treatment. Zacharias has traveled home from Houston, where he was seeking treatment, to Atlanta to be with his family as they utilize “whatever time the Lord gives us.”

“We have just learned that while the tumor in my dad’s sacrum has been responding to the chemotherapy, the area where the cancer metastasized has actually worsened,” Davis, the CEO of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM), wrote in an update posted to the apologist’s Facebook page. “His oncologist informed us that this cancer is very rare in its aggression and that no options for further treatment remain. Medically speaking, they have done all they are able.”

Early in the year, the 74-year-old Zacharias told followers he had undergone an emergency back surgery in an effort to correct recurring back problems. His wife, Margie, took to Zacharias’ Facebook page to ask followers for prayers as Zacharias was in “extreme” pain following the surgery. A short while later, the apologist announced that during the procedure, doctors discovered a rare form of cancer. “While we have assumed this pain was a natural consequence of the surgery, we have learned in the past week that a biopsy taken during the procedure revealed that I have a malignant tumor on my sacrum—a very rare cancer called Sarcoma,” Zacharias wrote in an update. 

Despite the freeze on most medical procedures due to the coronavirus, Zacharias was able to travel to Houston’s MD Anderson Cancer Center and undergo treatment in April. He shared an update with a picture of himself and Margie while in Houston. The couple celebrated their 48th wedding anniversary on May 6th. 

During treatment, Zacharias also took the time to write a brief tribute to his late friend and colleague Nabeel Qureshi, who died of stomach cancer in 2017. 

Now, the update from Davis indicates the apologist doesn’t have much time left. Davis, whose update was addressed to RZIM’s global staff writes: “One day, likely sooner than later, we will be serving without our beloved founder, though I know his love and legacy will convict and inspire us to service of his Lord even greater than we have seen before.” Despite this sobering reality, though, Davis says “While we are full of so many emotions, we are also at peace, resting in the truth that God knows all and sees all and is sovereign and good. I think of the great joy my dad will have, and I am comforted.”

Her update in its entirety is included below:

Dear Friends,

Thank you so much for your faithful prayers for my dad and for my family in recent months as he has undergone back surgery and treatment for cancer. Truly, words fail to convey the depths of our gratitude for your many expressions of love.

We have just learned that while the tumor in my dad’s sacrum has been responding to the chemotherapy, the area where the cancer metastasized has actually worsened. His oncologist informed us that this cancer is very rare in its aggression and that no options for further treatment remain. Medically speaking, they have done all they are able.

Ravi, Margie, and Naomi are returning from Houston and will remain at home in Atlanta, where our family can be together for whatever time the Lord gives us.

We are so grateful to God for His goodness and His love that we have seen evidenced in so many ways. The love and care that you have given to us is one of the most beautiful expressions of God’s kindness. We are deeply grateful for the care of the medical teams at MD Anderson Cancer Center, and the friendship and love of those who served and cared so faithfully and came alongside in many generous and unexpected ways.

After many weeks of separation, our family is anxious to spend time together. You are also our family. We love you and are grateful to share these thin places with you. Thank you for what each of you do to faithfully support my dad’s work and calling, and to advance the cause of evangelism around the world.

We know that God has purposed and numbered each of our days, and only He knows how many more Ravi will experience on this earth. One day, likely sooner than later, we will be serving without our beloved founder, though I know his love and legacy will convict and inspire us to service of his Lord even greater than we have seen before. While we are full of so many emotions, we are also at peace, resting in the truth that God knows all and sees all and is sovereign and good. I think of the great joy my dad will have, and I am comforted.

Thank you for taking this journey with us, and as always, for your faithful prayers.

With much love and on behalf of Ravi, Margie, Naomi, and Nathan,

Sarah Davis
CEO of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries

How to Find the Ideal Ministry Spouse: 7 Key Indicators

By
Paul Alexander
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Father’s Day program ideas for church

In ministry your spouse can make you or break you. It may be cliché but it’s true, behind every great Ministry Staff Member is an ideal ministry spouse … and you can’t have one without the other. So whether you’re already married or you’re still searching for the right person…

Here are a couple traits you should be looking for in the ideal ministry spouse.

1. They’re Flexible

When you’re in ministry, you’re constantly “on.” Ministry doesn’t always abide by the family schedule. Crisis doesn’t always happen in people’s lives and the church according to plan.

2. They’re Comfortable Being Independent

Ministry is a calling (profession) that requires long hours at times, especially during holidays that are traditionally family moments. Finding someone that understands the importance of having you around the kids and the family but is also able to run the household while you’re not available is essential.

3. They Embrace the Church You Work At

An ideal ministry spouse believes in you and they believe in what you’re doing. It’s more than a job to them too. They don’t want to just see you succeed, they want to see the church you’re leading succeed. They find creative ways to be involved in the church you’re leading that fit their personality and reach out to the staff and volunteers. They’re an extension of you.

4. They’re Your Biggest Fan

Ministry can really knock the wind out of you at times. An ideal ministry spouse knows how to shoulder your burdens and comfort you in the low moments, and they’re the first ones to celebrate you in the good moments.

5. They’re Assertive With Boundaries

While being supportive they also have the ability to be firm, be honest and clear about what they need from you, and know when it’s time to call an audible for a date night or vacation. They make you want to be “better,” they bring out the best in you and call you on your stuff.

6. They’re Safe

Even though you’re not going to share everything with them about your job, you’re going to share most things with them. An ideal ministry spouse is trustworthy, holds sensitive information to themselves well, and acts as a stabilizing voice in your life.

7. They Understand the Pressure of Ministry

Ministry carries with it unique spiritual, emotional, time and social pressures. An ideal ministry spouse “gets it.” They help you carry and even diffuse that pressure.

This article originally appeared here.

Satan’s Lie About God

By
D. Patrick Ramsey
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Father’s Day program ideas for church

God is slandered daily. Satan, who is a liar and the father of lies, makes sure of it. Satan’s lie about God is pervasive. One of his favorite lies to spread about God is that he doesn’t love us, that he wants nothing more than for us to suffer and die.

Satan’s Lie About God

Satan wants us to think that God is more like the elder brother than the father of the parable of the prodigal son. As Thomas Merton said,

“It is the grand design of Satan to lessen our opinion of God’s goodness… He seeks to hide God’s goodness, and to represent him as a God that delights in our destruction and damnation, rather than in our salvation.”

Regrettably, we are easily deceived by this pernicious lie. We are susceptible to it when we are made aware of our own sinfulness or drowning in a sea of our own guilt. We sense that God will not forgive us because of who we are; or because of what we have done; or because we have committed the same sin countless times. The puritan John Ball noted that Satan…

“…will not spare to suggest to the contrite and humbled soul, that God cannot or will not forgive his transgressions, which have been most heinous for quality, many for number, and in which he has long lived and continued.”

We may also be prone to believe Satan’s lie when we reap what we have sown. We may be incarcerated, divorced, sick or unemployed solely due to what we have done.  Experiencing God’s providential retribution not only increases our sense of guilt and shame, but may create doubt regarding the mercy and kindness of God.  We might wonder: “How could God forgive me, when I cannot even forgive myself?”

Still further, we may be inclined to believe Satan’s lie when we witness or experience God’s wrath upon this rebellious world. The Westminster Shorter Catechism rightly teaches that all the miseries in this life and death itself are part of God’s wrath and curse for sin. The undeniable fact that we will all suffer—to one degree or another—and then die seems to suggest that God is not for us, but against us. How can God be kind, loving and forgiving towards sinners when they all experience his wrath and curse for sin?

Thus, we easily believe Satan’s lie about God, because it appears to be so plausible in this fallen world. It makes sense to us. It seems to fit with the facts. Indeed, it feels right. This is why it is so important to know and believe what God has said about himself and his promises of salvation.

The Bible is quite clear that God is love, and that he will forgive all who call upon him (Ex. 34:6-7; Ps. 86:5; Joel 2:13, 32; John 3:16; Rom. 10:9-13). Psalm 130 says that with God there is forgiveness, steadfast love, and plentiful redemption. Verse 8 says that God will redeem from all iniquities. The promise is not to forgive some sins, or just the small sins, or just the sins you commit once or twice; it is to save from all sins. John Ball rightly said that “the promise of pardon is made to repentant sinners without limitation to any time, person, quality, or number of offences.”

God fulfills his promise to redeem from all iniquities through his Son, our Lord Jesus. He sent his Son, not to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him (John 3:17). In Jesus, there is redemption, the forgiveness of sins (Col. 1:14). Therefore, whoever believes in Jesus and calls upon his name is forgiven and given eternal life.

Do you believe God or Satan? That is the question, particularly when we feel like God does not love us and when the facts seem to contradict God’s promises. John Calvin astutely observed that…

“…all things around us are in opposition to the promises of God: He promises immortality; we are surrounded with mortality and corruption: He declares that he counts us just; we are covered with sins: He testifies that he is propitious and kind to us; outward judgments threaten his wrath.”

What are we to do?

We are to believe God, regardless of what our feelings or the facts tell us. “Let God be true though every one were a liar (Rom. 3:4).” As Ball wrote:

“…faith is not grounded upon sense and feeling: but upon God’s gracious promises, immutable goodness, and infallible truth… Experience and sense is a stay or prop for our better ease, not the ground upon which our faith leans; and though it be shaken, faith continues firm. If therefore at any time our sense and feeling tell us one thing (namely, that God has cast us off forever, and will never look graciously upon us) and the Word of God assures us of another, to wit, that God does love us, and will never forsake us utterly; we are not to give credit to our own feeling, but to God’s Word.”

What is true of our feelings is also true of the facts. One of the remarkable features of Abraham’s faith was that he believed God despite the presence of profound contrary evidence. God had promised Abraham numerous descendants, as many as the stars in heaven. Yet, Abraham couldn’t have any children because his wife Sarah was old and infertile. Everything in his life seemed to say that God’s promise would not come true. Nevertheless, he trusted God. Paul says that in hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, for he was fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised (Rom. 4).

We are, as Calvin says, in the same condition as Abraham. Although we are forgiven in Christ, we have yet to experience the fullness of our redemption. We still have to wait “for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies (Rom. 8:23), and “for the hope of righteousness (Gal. 5:5).” As we wait on God, our feelings and the facts may suggest to us that Satan’s lie is right about God. If they do, we must not listen to them. We need to resist the devil, not by putting our faith in our feelings or in our ability to understand our situation, but by putting our faith in God and in his promises: “in his word I hope (Ps. 130:5).”

We need to trust God who so loved us that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16).

This article about Satan’s lie about God originally appeared here.

Discouraged in Ministry? Here’s How to Get Your Joy Back

By
Dale Hudson
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Father’s Day program ideas for church

Are you discouraged in ministry?  If the answer is yes, don’t worry … you’re in good company. Most great leaders in ministry have had bouts with discouragement. One of them was the prophet Elijah. I was recently reading his story in I Kings 19 and gained some insight about overcoming discouragement.

So … if you’re discouraged in ministry … check out these steps that will help you get your joy back.

 Realize that ministry is a series of highs and lows. Do you sometimes find yourself discouraged after a big event? Or do you ever get the Monday morning blues after a great weekend of ministry? At a time when you should be bursting with joy, you find yourself dragging?

No … you’re not crazy. In fact, it’s perfectly normal. It happened to Elijah too. At a time when you’d think he would be happy, he’s discouraged. He’s just defeated over 800 false prophets of Baal. He’s just prayed and seen God bring down fire from heaven … he’s just experienced a major victory … and now he’s ready to quit.

Looks what he says…

“I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.”  
1 Kings 19:4

He’s being attacked by Jezebel the queen and is running for his life. He feels defeated, discouraged and depressed to the point where he wants to die. An extreme high in ministry followed by an extreme low.

That’s how it works. You have the best VBS ever and then a parent complains about something. You sign up a new volunteer and the next day two of your faithful volunteers quit. You spend hours preparing a lesson and then the kids say it’s boring. You spend weeks preparing for an event and then someone complains about the one detail you forgot to take care of. You work hard to improve the ministry and instead of hearing “thanks” you get told about what’s not working.

When this happens, realize that the lows normally follow the highs. It’s part of the ebb and flow of ministry. This will help you keep things in perspective. It’s also wise not to make any rash decisions when you’re going through a low time. Low times tend to muddy your thinking and cloud your judgment.

 Pay attention to your physical needs. Discouragement can come from simply being physically exhausted. Elijah had been through a major event and was physically drained.  ou can give and give and give until your tank is on E. A big part of beating discouragement is knowing when it’s time to re-coup physically. Notice what Elijah did.

What Your Phone Reveals About Your Marriage

By
Dave Willis
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Father’s Day program ideas for church

I recently received a message through my Facebook page from a wife struggling with a very common issue in modern marriages. To paraphrase her message, she said, “My husband always has his cell phone with him. Sometimes, he even sleeps with it in his pocket. He never wants me looking at it. I’m afraid he’s communicating with other women or hiding something else, but I don’t want to snoop or make things awkward by demanding to look at his phone. He gets so defensive when I mention it. I’m heartbroken, but I feel stuck, and I don’t know what I’m supposed to do to make the situation better. Am I being overly sensitive or is he the one who is out of bounds?”

Over the years, my wife Ashley and I have interacted with countless married couples, and a trend we’ve discovered is that the way a couple handles their cell phones reveals a great deal about the overall health of their marriage. Let me explain…

When a spouse is defensive or secretive about his/her phone, it’s usually a symptom of some kind of unhealthy behavior. It’s not always infidelity, though inappropriate interactions with the opposite sex are certainly common among people who keep passwords from their spouse. When you don’t give your spouse full access to your phone, you’re essentially saying, “I’m not giving you full access to myself. There are secrets I don’t want to tell you, behaviors I don’t want to reveal to you or activities I don’t want to share with you.”

You might pridefully believe that you have the right to keep secrets from your spouse, but any form of deception or secrecy in a marriage is toxic. The healthiest couples value transparency over personal privacy. When a spouse operates in secrecy, it creates distrust and disunity in the marriage. This goes against the very definition of marriage. As a Christian, I believe that marriage was God’s idea and His timeless instructions for the sacred covenant is still the best plan. The Bible tells us that the first married couple was “naked and they felt no shame.”

This simple verse in Genesis reveals the power of a “Naked Marriage.” It’s a bond of complete transparency and trust with nakedness (physically, emotionally and spiritually) with nothing to hide from each other. It’s the kind of intimacy we all long for, but it takes courage and vulnerability to achieve it. Secrecy is the enemy of intimacy. Every healthy relationship is built on a foundation of honesty and trust.

As it relates to your smart phone, you can start building this kind of intimacy and transparency by taking the “Secret Free Guarantee” in your marriage. It’s a pledge of total transparency including shared passwords and nothing to hide from each other. My wife knows the passwords to every device and account I own, because if it’s “mine,” she owns it too! Giving her total access to my phone is one of seven “rules” I follow to promote transparency and prevent infidelity in my marriage.

So, if you’ve truly got nothing to hide from your spouse, give him/her the security and comfort of knowing that they have full access to your phone (and everything else). Don’t make him/her have to ask. Be proactive about promoting transparency in your marriage. If you’re hiding something, get it out in the open. A painful truth is always better than a hidden lie. Your marriage is more important than your phone.

For more tools to help you build a rock-solid marriage, check out my bestselling book “The Seven Laws of Love” by clicking here.

This article originally appeared here.

The Unshakable Love of a Godly Husband

By
John MacArthur
-
godly husband
Lightstock #146109

The unshakable love of a godly husband is what all Christian husbands can aspire to. This is sound marriage advice for every married man.

Imagine how precarious your relationship with Christ would be if He only loved you when it was convenient for Him, or only when you were most attractive to Him. Everyone knows what it’s like to be loved imperfectly—and, if we’re honest, what it’s like to love someone else imperfectly.

Believers ought to be perpetually grateful that God’s love for us isn’t conditional, and that He loved us even while we rejected Him (Romans 5:8). In Ephesians 2, Paul wrote about God’s transcendent love for us in the midst of our rebellion.

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins. … Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:1-6)

So moments later, when Paul penned the instruction for husbands to love their wives “just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25), he was not speaking about God’s love in vague terms. His original audience understood that he was not telling husbands to love their wives if the wives deserved it, or if the husbands felt like it.

He gave an absolute command. Biblical love is a willful commitment to self-sacrifice, and it is not at all based on how we might “feel” at any point about the object of our love.

A Godly Husband Shows Sacrificial Love

A husband who is unwilling to sacrifice for his wife does not even know what true love is. Those who regard their wives as servants under their sovereign headship haven’t begun to appreciate the true biblical pattern for marriage and family. Selfish husbands therefore will never know what it is to have a fulfilled marriage and family. True happiness in marriage is possible only to those who follow the divine pattern.

Properly understood, Ephesians 5:25 demands that the husband die to self. In effect, he is called to crucify himself for the sake of his wife. It’s not talking about some petty sacrifice, such as helping with the dishes now and then. It means the husband must devote his entire life—and quite literally even be willing to die—for the good of his wife.

Remember, genuine love “does not seek its own” (1 Corinthians 13:5). The man who is concerned only with getting what he can from marriage is sowing the seeds of destruction in his family. To love your wife as Christ loved the church is to be preoccupied with what you can do for her, not vice versa. After all, Christ loves us not for selfish gain, but because He is a gracious Lord who delights to bestow His favor on us.

Spurgeon Almost Quit

By
Christian George
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Father’s Day program ideas for church

At the age of 22, Charles Spurgeon almost quit the ministry.

He and his wife, Susannah, had been married less than one year. Their sons, Charles and Thomas, were infants. After three years in the big city, Spurgeon’s ministry had solicited envy from his opponents, admiration from the evangelicals and criticism from the press. Susannah often hid the morning newspaper to prevent Charles from reading its headlines.

The evening of October 19, 1856, commenced a season of unusual suffering for Spurgeon. His popularity had forced the rental of the Surrey Garden Music Hall to hold the 12,000 people congregated inside. Ten thousand eager listeners stood outside the building, scrambling to hear his sermon. The event constituted one of the largest crowds gathered to hear a nonconformist preacher—a throwback to the days of George Whitefield.

A few minutes after 6 o’clock, someone in the audience shouted, “Fire! The galleries are giving way! The place is falling!” Pandemonium ensued as a balcony collapsed. Those trying to get into the building blocked the exit of those fighting to escape. Spurgeon attempted to quell the commotion, but to no avail. His text for the day was Proverbs 3:33, “The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked”—a verse he would never preach again.

An eyewitness recorded, “The cries and shrieks at this period were truly terrific. … They pressed on, treading furiously over the dead and dying, tearing frantically at each other.” Spurgeon nearly lost consciousness. He was rushed from the platform and “taken home more dead than alive.” After the crowds dissipated, seven corpses were lying in the grass. Twenty-eight people were seriously injured.

The depression that resulted from this disaster left Spurgeon prostrate for days. “Even the sight of the Bible brought from me a flood of tears and utter distraction of mind.” The newspapers added to his emotional deterioration. “Mr. Spurgeon is a preacher who hurls damnation at the heads of his sinful hearers … a ranting charlatan.” By all accounts, it looked as if his ministry was over. “It might well seem that the ministry which promised to be so largely influential,” Spurgeon said, “was silenced for ever.”

A Radical Joy

When Spurgeon ascended the pulpit on November 2, two weeks later, he opened with a prayer. “We are assembled here, O Lord, this day, with mingled feelings of joy and sorrow. … Thy servant feared that he should never be able to meet this congregation again.”

Although he would never fully recover from this disaster, Spurgeon’s ministry did not end on October 19, 1856. He later said, “I have gone to the very bottoms of the mountains, as some of you know, in a night that never can be erased from my memory … but, as far as my witness goes, I can say that the Lord is able to save unto the uttermost and in the last extremity, and he has been a good God to me.”

Jackie Hill-Perry Testimony: My Journey Out of Lesbianism

By
Megan Briggs
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IL Churches Could Wait More Than a Year to Meet Again

By
Jessica Lea
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illinois governor
Screenshot Facebook @Governor JB Pritzker

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has unveiled a five-phase plan for reopening the state. Based on the plan’s guidelines, it could be over a year before churches are able to meet again at full capacity. 

“You know that in phase three, there can be gatherings, church gatherings, of 10 or fewer. In phase four, 50 or fewer,” said Pritkzer in a press briefing on May 6. “So that’s the guidance that’s been given to me. I’m not the one providing that guidance. It really is what the scientists and epidemiologists are recommending.”

It is only in Phase 5 of the governor’s plan that gatherings of more than 50 people will be able to meet once again. Pritzker made it clear that the state will not be able to move into that final phase until a vaccine or otherwise effective treatment for COVID-19 is available. 

Illinois Governor Unveils Data-Driven Plan to Reopen

Governor Pritzker unveiled his “Restore Illinois” plan Tuesday, the same day the state saw its highest number of deaths yet from COVID-19. The plan divides Illinois into four separate regions, with the understanding that the regions will move through the five phases independently as they meet the plan’s criteria. 

illinois governor

Phase 1-Rapid Spread is a phase that the entire state has already experienced. In this phase, residents must follow strict shelter-at-home and social distancing guidelines, and only essential businesses can remain open. While all of Illinois’ regions are currently out of Phase 1, the plan says they could return to it “if mitigation efforts are unsuccessful.”

Phase 2-Flattening is the phase that the four regions are currently in. In the Flattening phase, non-essential businesses can open with limitations. Residents can participate in some outdoor activities, as long as they practice social distancing and wear face masks.

In Phase 3-Recovery, social distancing and face masks are still required, but people will be allowed to gather in groups of 10 or fewer. Businesses such as salons and offices will be able to open as long as they follow safety precautions.

Phase 4-Revitalization maintains the requirement for face masks and social distancing, but expands the limit on gatherings to 50 or fewer. Schools, restaurants, and child care facilities will be able to reopen and travel will resume, all under guidance from the Illinois Department of Public Health. 

In Phase 5-Illinois Restored, the economy will fully reopen and large gatherings of people will once more be allowed, albeit with “new safety guidance and procedures.” 

Illinois governor

Phase 2 is currently in effect until May 29, although the Illinois governor’s plan does not depend on dates, but rather data showing the disease is decreasing. There are several requirements for regions to move into Phase 3. One is that they must demonstrate a positivity rate of 20 percent or less. Another is that hospitals must have a surge capacity of at least 14 percent of ICU beds, medical and surgical beds, and ventilators. You can read the Illinois governor’s plan in detail here.

Pritzker made it clear that the economy will not fully reopen, with churches, businesses, and schools operating at normal capacity, until the pandemic is effectively suppressed. He said, “Until we have a vaccine or an effective treatment or enough widespread immunity that new cases fail to materialize, the option of returning to normalcy doesn’t exist.” According to Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, a vaccine is not expected for 12 to 18 months.

Several churches in Illinois have pushed back on or ignored the governor’s restrictions. Dozens of people from the congregation of the Beloved Church in Lena met for worship last Sunday. The rural church has sued Pritzker in federal court and has asked for a temporary restraining order to protect them from the consequences of his restrictions. That request was denied. The church has since brought its case to the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Two other Illinois churches, one in Chicago and one in Niles, have also asked for temporary restraining orders so they can gather for worship. These two churches can seat hundreds of people and have suggested ways to modify their seating and observe safety precautions.

On the other hand, Reverend Marshall Hatch, pastor of New Mount Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago, does not plan to fully reopen his church until people can come back to work and fans can attend sporting events again. Hatch has lost his best friend and his older sister to COVID-19.

Teaching Pastor and Author Darrin Patrick Dies Unexpectedly

By
Christine Yount Jones
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Father’s Day program ideas for church

Darrin Patrick who was a teaching pastor at Seacoast Church in South Carolina, died unexpectedly on May 7, 2020. Seacoast Church is a multisite megachurch in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.

The Seacoast Church issued this statement regarding Darrin Patrick’s death:

“We are saddened to announce the sudden passing of Pastor Darrin Patrick. Darrin was a loved member of the Seacoast family, the teaching team, and pastoral staff and we are mourning his loss. Darrin had a gift for teaching the Word and a heart for encouraging other pastors. God allowed Seacoast to be a part of Darrin’s story in a time when he needed a family. He was a gift to us and we are thankful for the time the Lord gave him to us. His influence and impact cannot be measured. We are surrounding the Patrick family with our prayers and support during this time.”

Patrick’s tweet on May 5 reminds us that as our caregivers provide care for others, they themselves need our care.

Darrin Patrick served as a teaching pastor at Seacoast Church, and was also the founding pastor of The Journey Church in St. Louis, MO. He is a founding member of the Pastor’s Collective and the author of multiple books including the Dude’s Guide to Marriage.

Patrick’s story was one of redemption. And friends and colleagues today are reeling from his sudden death. The Pastors Collective podcast tells the story of Patrick’s “fall from grace” and restoration. The podcast description: “Confronted for having an emotional affair with a member of his congregation, Darrin Patrick found himself in a crisis. Frightened, Darrin questioned his passion and had thoughts of quitting. With close friends, counselors, and elder pastors, Darrin recognized his behavior, made amends with those he’d hurt, and healed the wounds that caused him to change. Now, Darrin knows he was called to serve. He uses this re-found passion to encourage those who are struggling and to help the next generation.”

Patrick’s friends and colleagues today are reeling from his sudden death.

 

Additional information on memorial services will be shared on seacoast.org as plans are formalized. Our prayers are with Patrick’s family and church.

Religious Liberties Stand ‘even in the midst of a national emergency’, Says Pence

By
Stephanie Martin
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Father’s Day program ideas for church

A pastor who claims Virginia’s governor violated his congregation’s religious liberties now has the backing of Vice President Mike Pence and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). Pastor Kevin Wilson of Lighthouse Fellowship Church of Chincoteague, on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, faces a misdemeanor charge for violating Gov. Ralph Northam’s executive order that limits in-person gatherings to no more than 10 people.

Palm Sunday Service Had 16 Worshipers

On April 5, Lighthouse held a Palm Sunday service, with 16 people inside its 225-seat facility. Church representatives say building surfaces had been cleaned, and attendees practiced social distancing and applied hand sanitizer.

Before the service, a police officer informed a church official about the 10-person limit. Afterward, two officers served Pastor Wilson with a summons. His case is scheduled to be heard in July, and he could face up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $2,500. According to the church’s complaint, an officer also told Wilson that if more than 10 people attended Easter worship, everyone there would face charges.

In its federal lawsuit against the governor, Lighthouse says most of its congregants are “socioeconomically disadvantaged” people who are “trying to put their lives together.” For many of them, the church notes, “Lighthouse is their only family, and assembling with their church family is everything.” Many of them also lack or can’t afford internet access.

VP Pence Calls Sanction ‘beyond the pale’

Addressing the controversy this week on Brian Kilmeade’s radio program, Pence said, “The very idea that the Commonwealth of Virginia would sanction a church for having 16 people come to a Palm Sunday service, when I think the church actually seats about 250, was just beyond the pale.” The vice president added that Americans enjoy religious liberties “even in the midst of a national emergency” and the Trump administration will “stand by men and women of faith of every religion in this country and protect…their freedom of religion.”

In its court filing in support of Lighthouse, the DOJ argues that Virginia “cannot treat religious gatherings less favorably than other similar, secular gatherings.” It also maintains that the church’s case shows that Northam’s order “impermissibly interfered with the church’s free exercise of religion.” The DOJ’s Statement of Interest continues: “It thus becomes the Commonwealth’s burden to demonstrate that it has compelling reasons to treat Plaintiff differently than similar nonreligious businesses, and that it has pursued its objectives through the least restrictive means.”

Lighthouse and Wilson are being represented by Liberty Counsel, a Florida-based religious-liberty law firm. In the church’s complaint, attorneys included photos of crowded parking lots at big-box stores plus a photo of 20 people attending Northam’s April 8 news conference. The complaint also notes that staff members count in the 10-person limit for churches but not for nonessential retailers.

Attorney Matt Staver of Liberty says Virginia’s governor “clearly discriminated against Lighthouse Fellowship Church, which provides essential physical, emotional, and spiritual services to the community. We must balance the First Amendment with protecting the health and welfare of people, but picking an arbitrary number of 10 people for every church is not the answer.” 

Quarantine’s Psychological Toll: 3 Disorders to Watch Out For

By
Eliza Huie
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Father’s Day program ideas for church

Eliza Huie is is the director of counseling at McLean Bible Church in the DC Metro area. As a Christian counselor, she has an educated perspective on how isolation due to quarantine may be affecting your congregation—even as you gather together once again.

“Is it almost over?”

This question is what I heard every week from my little boy after he refused to go to children’s ministry. Why he wanted to stay with mom and dad rather than eat snacks, hear stories and color robed Bible characters is beyond me. But each week he joined us in “big church,” and about halfway through the service the inevitable question was whispered: “Is it almost over?”

Today many people can relate to this question. Though the COVID-19 isolation has brought some unique enjoyments (a freer schedule, working from our couch and worshiping in our pj’s), for most it has brought challenges, and we all are beginning to ask if it is almost over.

It is actually a question the church must take seriously. When the lifting of stay-at-home regulations will happen is not yet known, and it will likely vary from state to state. The church must consider now the many steps for reopening. Logistics on how to reopen are going to be almost as tricky as it was to move everything online. There will need to be a plan, maybe multiple plans. And while transitioning back to church will require new strategies for gathering, part of your church’s plan needs to have a mindful awareness of the psychological impact this season has had on your people.

Learning from the history of SARS and other illness-related quarantines, it is clear that mental, emotional and relational health will have suffered under the period of social distancing. Many churches have begun addressing emotional health already with conversations happening online about faith and the realities of anxiety, fears and stress—even topics like depression, loneliness and suicide, which are less commonly addressed in church, are getting some airtime. But there are some issues people are struggling with that will likely not be considered.

The following three areas of struggle may be unexpected but are sure to show up in your congregation as you reengage. I share them to prepare churches and to offer suggestions on how to take an understanding approach to those who may be struggling with these and other psychological issues as we join back together.

The purpose of this article is to be informative and practical. The hope is that it will help the church to take sensitive measures in light of the potential aftershocks of COVID-19 isolation. Some of the terms will be clinical, but I hope to provide street-level understanding of these issues coupled with biblical direction for care.

3 Psychological Issues to Watch Out For

Agoraphobia and OCD Tendencies

What does the church need to know?

Agoraphobia is the fear of leaving your house, and OCD is a hyper-focus anxiety or fear about something that drives a needed action (i.e., repetitive checking or ritualistic cleaning). Both of these are psychiatric diagnoses, but a person doesn’t have to have a diagnosis for symptomatic inclinations to interrupt their life.

How to Avoid Bad Press as Your Church Reopens

By
David W. Fouse
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Father’s Day program ideas for church

Church leaders are facing a difficult decision as the COVID curve starts to flatten: Is it in the best interest of their congregation to reopen facilities and meet in-person or stay closed a while longer? How do you weigh the potential health risks of opening against the potential spiritual, psychological and financial risks of staying closed? How do you avoid bad press in all this?

The Washington Post reported that donations to churches have plummeted during coronavirus – in part because many small churches are not equipped to accept electronic donations or stream online services. One Mississippi church leader said that nearly a third of his congregation was uncomfortable with electronic technology. While the number of churches engaging digital tools has increased significantly, 7% of churches said they still aren’t streaming their services online, according to a recent Barna poll.

Even among those who are, many congregants in rural areas don’t have internet or social media access, making online services inaccessible to them. The financial strain and the inability to reach all of their members in this spiritually challenging time has put pressure on churches to reopen. At the same time, reopening is also a risk, considering that in-person church gatherings could easily spread the virus.

The reality is, churches today have to think a bit like businesses; they have to balance budgets, pay staff, recruit and retain members, and remain relevant in their services. That’s not a bad thing. Strong business acumen and a strong faith foundation aren’t mutually exclusive, and churches who are operationally adept often do a better job of reaching and retaining more people.

This is why churches should also be thinking seriously about their communications and public relations strategy as they consider reopening. As a longtime member of a large and thriving church and two decades as a public relations strategist, I have seen a lot of good, but also some mistakes when it comes to church communications.

Here are my six tips for church leaders to avoid bad press in making critical decisions right now:

1) Avoid bad press by being informed.

As you consider reopening, understand your state orders and what’s required to be in compliance; violating state orders could cause negative media attention and alienate members of your congregation. Understand CDC Guidelines and how you can help protect your congregation. Consider consulting with experts who can give you guidance around mitigation steps or advise on legal requirements. If you’re contacted by a reporter accusing your church of violating state orders, would you be knowledgeable enough to prove them wrong?

2) Avoid bad press by making sure leaders are informed.

Discuss the reopening plan with internal leaders first, so they feel like they’re part of whatever decision is ultimately made. Be prepared to answer questions; many of their questions will undoubtedly be questions you will eventually have to field from members, neighbors and local officials. Internal leaders can also help identify challenges and questions that you may not have foreseen. Your team leaders will also be the ones to field direct questions from the congregation; having your team leaders clearly articulate the plan, the first time, will avoid ambiguity and negative social media comments about the church from parishioners.

3) Avoid bad press by over-communicating with your community.  

Prior to reopening, use appropriate communication channels to reassure key community officials that your decision has been made with thoughtful consideration. Let them know that you are following the appropriate state orders, have consulted with relevant experts, and that you and your leadership team will continue to monitor the situation and quickly make appropriate changes if infection spikes in your church community. Then, use appropriate channels to inform your full staff and congregation. It is important to over-communicate that their health is your top priority. You may want to continue offering online services so that those who aren’t comfortable returning yet can still access the services.

4) Avoid bad press by proactively preparing for media questions.

Before the reopening plan is announced, develop a plan for external media inquiries. This should include:
– Identifying and preparing a public spokesperson(s).

– Making sure all staff and leadership know to direct inquiries to that person.
– Preparing a holding statement and talking points for spokesperson(s).
Know that you are under no obligation to do media interviews. Be careful about agreeing to media interviews, unless you’re sure they will be friendly and favorable. Some interviews could end up doing more harm than good. Don’t be afraid to keep media communications to email and respond to their inquires if they are reasonable. A non-response could be worse, because the reporter could find a disgruntled or ill-informed congregant that could be presented in the news as the only representative of the church.

5) Avoid bad press by being aware.

Remember that your entire worship service is usable for news media reporting. Speak the truth, but keep in mind that spiritual rhetoric about the virus could be misunderstood and misconstrued by the media and general public. Church members might be approached to be interviewed for news stories. Take social distancing measures, and do not have members share cups for communion. Not only does this increase your congregation’s safety, but any photos that may leak will show that you are taking safety guidelines seriously.

6) Avoid bad press by being alert.

Monitor your local news for stories that mention your church or COVID-related news in your community. Set up Google alerts and scan local news web sites for stories. You never want to be caught off guard without relevant statements prepared.

Inevitably, the decision to reopen will be unique for every church, considering factors like size, whether the church is in a virus hotspot, and whether a church has been able to effectively serve its congregation digitally. States are all confronting this with vastly different strategies and timelines.

A plan to reopen could involve multiple stages or adjustments, from offering drive-in services, to limiting the number of services, to making special accommodations for the most vulnerable and suspending children’s activities temporarily. In I Corinthians 14, the Apostle Paul writes to the church in Corinth in verse 40, “Let all things be done decently and in order.” Church communications and public relations shouldn’t be any different. Whatever the plans, it’s important to communicate them well to all of your stakeholders and be ready to answer any questions that arise.

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