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The True Cost of a Ministry Event

By
Josh Reich
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communicating with the unchurched

Picture this, your church just pulled off a big ministry event, and you are sitting in a room evaluating it and deciding if it was a success.

The answers are often dependent on how excited you were before the event and during it — the number of people who attended, people who became Christians, or how you experienced the event.

Then someone asks, “Do we do this again next year?”

Now, if you are smart, you would stop the conversation at this point.

Churches are notorious for throwing money after things they’ve done before or something that someone else started without asking if it is worthwhile.

Most of the time, the question of worth boils down to the budget number on that white sheet of paper.

But what most elder teams and staffs miss is that the cost of an event or ministry is not just what is on that piece of paper. It includes that, but it is much more than that.

Here are a few questions you should ask as you evaluate a ministry event or ministry:

How much did we pay staff to be there? 

When churches think about events, outreach, Christmas Eve, etc. they rarely factor in what they pay the team for the event. But this is a cost. Take whatever last big ministry event your church did, add up all the staff hours, and what those staff members get paid per hour. That is a cost to your church for that event or ministry.

Now, it might be worth it.

But as a smart leader, you have to calculate that.

Let me throw another example out. Think back to the last meeting you had at your church. How many staff members attended? How much do they get paid per hour? Was that meeting worth what your church spent to have those staff members there? Did anyone check their email during the meeting? Social media?

What we pay staff members to do is a direct reflection of how we view stewardship as a church.

How many volunteer hours were spent on something? 

When it comes to a significant ministry event or outreach at any church, hundreds and possibly thousands of volunteer hours will be taken up.

Those volunteer hours are hours that will not be spent on something else.

So, how can you make sure you don’t waste them? How do you make sure that it is worth it?

Many times, we don’t ask these questions; we plan an event and throw out the call for volunteers.

But why would they want to attend and help out? You must make sure that you attach a strong vision for something and make sure everyone knows why you are doing something.

What didn’t get done or got pushed back because of this event? 

No matter how amazing your staff is, when you pull off a big event or outreach, something won’t get done. That might be in terms of songs written, videos made, graphics produced, lessons, recruiting, or training might fall by the wayside.

Just like everything else on this list, that isn’t a bad thing — just something you have to factor in.

As best as you can, before hitting the yes button on something, try to list out what might get sacrificed because of something. Will there be an area of ministry that will suffer because of what you are trying to pull off? The reality is that something will fall off, but you have to factor that into the cost of something.

What was the wear and tear in terms of energy? 

One thing churches rarely ask is, “Is this the right season to do this?”

Churches fall into the trap of “we did this last year, so we have to do this again this year.” But what if you don’t have the bandwidth, energy, finances? Some years you can take a year off from something. There were times that Jesus walked away from the crowds and times that he walked into them. Both are acceptable and right at the right moment.

But just because you did something last year does not mean you need to do it this year.

Are you launching a campus? A new service? Did you hire several new staff members? What is the burnout rate of your team?

Remember, when you did it the first time or last time, that was a different season. Just like a family must continuously ask if now is the right season for this, so does a church.

This article about the cost of a ministry event originally appeared here.

Joy for the Anxious

By
Dave Jenkins
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communicating with the unchurched

Anxiety presents a real struggle for many in the United States. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, “Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults in the United States age 18 and older, or 18.1% of the population every year.”[1]

This is a genuine and present issue, not only out there in our culture, but also within the Church. Anxiety is something I myself have struggled with since I was a teenager. Over the years, my battle with anxiety has improved with the help of pastors, with the study of God’s Word, and with the support of godly friends. But for others this isn’t always the case. Anxiety is often tethered to loneliness; the struggler feels as though nobody cares for them.

All Things Through Christ

One of the most vital truths in my fight against anxiety came one day as I was reading Philippians. In Philippians 4:4, Paul commands the Philippians and all Christians to rejoice in the Lord. In v. 13, Paul says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Sandwiched in-between, we find teaching about anxiety (Philippians 4:5), contentment (Philippians 4:11), and experiential peace (Philippians 4:7). These truths about anxiety, contentment, and experiential peace appear in a context; they are prefaced by the command to rejoice in the Lord, and conclude with Paul’s statement that he can do all things through Christ.

From this we can see that when we are rejoicing in the Lord as Paul instructs, we are trusting in the sufficiency of Christ. The more we trust in the sufficiency of Christ over all things, we will rejoice in the Lord. Paul’s teaching is not meant to be viewed in isolation, but in context. Paul’s teaching about the peace of God made much more sense to me when I spent time looking at the bigger picture.

The Ministry of the Holy Spirit

In the Upper Room Discourse of John’s Gospel, Jesus calls the Holy Spirit the Comforter and Counselor (John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7). The Greek word is parakletos, which means “one called to the side of another,” but can also mean calling alongside to support one another. The Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Trinity, has been called to the side of the people of God.

Christians having the Holy Spirit as their Paraclete means that, as the people of God, they have God indwelling them. The Holy Spirit gives Christians peace (John 14:27); love (John 15:9-10, and joy (John 15:11). The Holy Spirit comforts Christians in a troubled world. Through the indwelling Holy Spirit, Christians can live by the Spirit so they will not “gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). The Holy Spirit produces fruit in the lives of Christians (Galatians 5:22-23) to the glory of God.

The Holy Spirit also teaches Christians and guides them into the truth of the Word, and reminds them of what Jesus has done in His finished and sufficient work. In the Psalms, we frequently see David down in the dumps, and then exulting in the Lord who alone is His rock and refuge, his present help in time of need (Psalm 18:2; 46:1; 62:6; 71:3). By reading the Scriptures, we come to see that many others in the Bible have faced issues with anxiety and depression. For example,

Walking Alongside Strugglers

While the points I’ve mentioned so far are critical, anxiety strugglers also need fellow Christians who are willing to walk alongside them. And this is a work of the Spirit; the Holy Spirit enables the people of God to walk alongside one another as He walks alongside them. Over fifty times in the New Testament, we are taught to “one another.” In Galatians 6:1, we are told to bear each other’s burdens and thus fulfill the law of Christ, which is none other than the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:37-40).

As an anxiety struggler, what has been most helpful to me is a Christian who will listen first, ask questions second, and then speak from an understanding of what is happening in my life. The Holy Spirit provides comfort to Christians so that they can comfort and care for one another (2 Corinthians 1:3-5).

We walk alongside one another, ministering the love and care we’ve received from the Lord. In our local churches, many people are suffering in silence and are not sure they can be open and honest. I was once one of those Christians. But as one of my friends once said, when we come to Church we aren’t to come with a mask, but to come as we are to worship the God of grace. Such biblical truth was a powerful reminder to me not to come to Church in disguise, but to worship God wholeheartedly and to share openly with God’s people.

The Church everywhere should be a safe place, because we believe that God saves sinners and rescues them through Christ alone. Since that’s true, our local churches should be havens to those who suffer, and should walk alongside them in their struggles.

Christ: Our Hope and Confidence

Wherever you are today, you have a great need for Christ. And Christ desires to meet that need, because He cares for you. As Christians, we have One who calls us His friend (John 15:15). He doesn’t leave us to ourselves; instead, He promises never to forsake us, because He is our very present help in time of need (Psalm 46:1; Hebrews 13:5; 13:8).

God is with us, not against us. He cares for us, and that helps me to face each day. Such biblical truth also helps me to realize that each day is new, and each day has an end. Many years have gone by, yet the Lord continues to massage these truths deeper and deeper into my life. And the deeper they go, the more joy-inducing they are.

There is so much joy to be had in the Lord, because He loves His Beloved.

[1] adaa.org. 2020. Facts & Statistics | Anxiety And Depression Association Of America, ADAA. [online] Available at: https://adaa.org/about-adaa/press-room/facts-statistics [Accessed 17 March 2020].

This article originally appeared here.

Preteen Youth Group Game: High Five Surprise

By
Sean Sweet
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communicating with the unchurched

Have you ever gone to give a preteen a high five, only to have him or her return the gesture with “knuckles” (a closed fist pump)? This is sometimes called a “turkey.”

Here’s a game for all the turkeys out there. It’s a game that involves EVERYBODY in your preteen group.

This game requires NO supplies, NO prep and can be played at any time as a planned element or as a spur of the moment activity.

You may find that once you introduce your preteens to this game that they’ll play at other random times. It’s really fun once you get the hang of it.

Use this game as an experiential learning component for lessons about disappointment, surprise and/or Jesus knowing peoples thoughts.

Preteen Youth Group Game: High Five Surprise

DOWNLOAD THIS GAME IN PDF FORM FOR FREE

Game Play:

1. Have everybody stand facing a partner. If you have an odd number of students, you can have one leader jump in and play.

2. Explain that one person is going to be Player A and one person is going to Player B. Have each set of partners decide who is who. (You might make sure that everybody’s role is clear by having all the Player A’s raise their hands, and then have all the Player B’s raise their hands.)

3. Explain that everybody will have a choice of two moves: either a “High Five” open hand hit or a “Knuckles” close fist pump.

4. Ask another leader to stand facing you so that you can give an example of the four possible things that can happen as the game is played:

  • Show the students that if you and your opponent both do “High Fives,” it creates a match.
  • Show the students that as you and your opponent both do “Knuckles,” it also creates a match.
  • Show the students that if you do a “High Five” and your opponent does “Knuckles,” it doesn’t match.
  • Show the students that if you do a “High Five” and your opponent does “Knuckles,” it doesn’t match.

5. Tell the students that each time they match their partner, Player A gets a point. Each time they do not match their partner, Player B gets a point. The first person to get to three points wins that round.

6. Demonstrate a round of the game with the leader facing you. You can show how both players start with their hands pulled back, either with open or closed hand and then you bring your hands together in the middle. As you are bringing your hand forward, you can change hand position, but you can not pull your hand back. Both players’ hand must keep moving forward until they meet in the middle.

7. Caution the students not to bring their hand forward too quickly (especially if it’s “knuckles”) so that they don’t accidentally hurt somebody.

8. After everybody understands the game, let the students play and have all the winning partners remain standing while the losing partners have a seat.

9. Have the students who are still standing (the winning partners) now get new partners and start the process over again.

10. Continue this until you have one winner.

Follow Up Questions:

Use these questions to transition to a lesson about disappointment or being surprised/shocked by what your friends and family do. You could also use these questions to transition to a lesson about Jesus NOT being surprised that he was arrested and hung on the Cross.

How did you decide whether to do a fist pump or a high five each time? (Some will say they just did it randomly, while others will say they tried to figure out what the other person was going to do.)

If you were playing this game with Jesus, and Jesus wanted to win the game, who do you think would win? Why? (You can read Luke 5:22, Mark 2:8, Matthew 9:4 and especially John 2:24-25. All of these verses point out how Jesus knows what’s in our minds and hearts before we do anything. So of course, Jesus, if he wanted to win the game, would win the game.)

Who can tell about a time when they were surprised or disappointed by something that a friend did? How about a family member?

Why are we sometimes surprised and disappointed, but God can never be caught off guard by people’s actions?  

DOWNLOAD THIS GAME IN PDF FORM FOR FREE

10 Reasons to Desire All the Spiritual Gifts

By
Bryan DeWire
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communicating with the unchurched

Some might tell you not to really desire all of the spiritual gifts. But when you say that, it does not seem to do justice to what 1 Corinthians 12–14 really says.

The apostle bookends his famous chapter on love (1 Corinthians 13) with these two (perhaps surprising) charges: “Earnestly desire the higher gifts,” and “earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy” (1 Corinthians 12:31; 1 Corinthians 14:1). God means that we desire all of God’s gifts, not to glut our selfishness, but to selflessly strengthen others—“so that the church may be built up” (1 Corinthians 14:5).

Here are 10 ways and reasons from the New Testament to desire all of the spiritual gifts, not just the comfortable ones.

1. Desire all of the spiritual gifts because you desire God himself. “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” (1 Corinthians 12:7).

2. Desire all of the spiritual gifts, knowing that “the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13; cf. 2 Thessalonians 1:3). Compared to other “higher gifts” (such as tongues, healing and prophecy†), love is “a still more excellent way” (1 Corinthians 12:31).

3. Desire all of the spiritual gifts because you need him to overcome the satanic fear that dwells in your heart (2 Timothy 1:6–7). As Sam Storms writes, “My opposition to spiritual gifts was also energized by fear … [like] the fear of what might occur were I fully to relinquish control of my life and mind and emotions to the Holy Spirit” (The Beginner’s Guide to Spiritual Gifts, 10).

4. Desire all of the spiritual gifts, knowing that discernment is needed. “Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:19–20). “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God” (1 John 4:1; cf. 1 Corinthians 14:29–32).

5. Therefore, desire all of the spiritual gifts, knowing that good things can be twisted and corrupted. But, as Storms says, “abuse is no excuse for disuse” (Convergence: The Spiritual Journeys of a Charismatic Calvinist, 206).

6. Desire all of the spiritual gifts because God commands it (1 Corinthians 12:31; 14:1, 39). In fact, God tells us, “Do not forbid speaking in tongues” (1 Corinthians 14:39), and, “Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies” (1 Thessalonians 5:19–20).

7. Desire all of the spiritual gifts, knowing that “all things should be done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40).

8. Desire all of the spiritual gifts because you long for God’s people to be as built up and encouraged and consoled as is pleasing to him (1 Corinthians 14:3). In fact, “since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church” (1 Corinthians 14:12). In other words, desire the gift of prophecy in order to build up and encourage and console others, in order to have a greater manifestation of the Spirit of God himself.

9. Desire all of the spiritual gifts, knowing that prophesying and casting out demons is no sure sign of being known by God (Matthew 7:22–23).

10. Desire all of the spiritual gifts, knowing that suffering will come. First, just as God did with Paul, he may choose to afflict you so that you might not become wickedly proud because of your great giftings (2 Corinthians 12:7). Secondly, the world, the flesh and the devil will all fight against a greater manifestation of God through his Spirit in your life because of these gifts.

†Storms writes, “The gift of tongues is simply the Spirit-energized ability to pray, worship, give thanks or speak in a language other than your own or one you might have learned in school” (Beginner’s Guide, 151), and new-covenant prophecy is “‘the human report of a divine revelation.’ Prophecy is the speaking forth in merely human words of something God has spontaneously brought to mind” (110).  

We Must Guard and Repair Relationships

By
Ray Ortlund
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communicating with the unchurched

1. Let’s rejoice in one another, because the Lord rejoices in us.

Psalm 16:3 sets the overall tone: “As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.” There is excellence to admire in every Christian. And it’s easy to discern. Two questions into a conversation and the excellence starts appearing.

2. Let’s create an environment of trust rather than negative scrutiny.

1 Corinthians 4:5 says, “Do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart.” Human eyes are not competent to judge human hearts.

3. Let’s judge ourselves, even as we give each other the benefit of the doubt.

Matthew 7:5 says, “Love believes all things.” In other words, love fills in the blanks with positive assumptions.

4. If a problem must be addressed, let’s talk to, not about. Gossip destroys.

Matthew 18:15 says, “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone.” The Lord didn’t say, “Go ask your brother his fault.” Let’s man up and tell him his sin. But let’s tell him to his face, rather than spread accusations around.

5. If a problem must be addressed, let’s avoid blanket statements but identify factual speci?cs, offer a positive path forward and preserve everyone’s dignity.

“You are ___________” is too sweeping to be fair. It leaves a person no freedom to change. Better to say, “In this situation, when you _____________, that was wrong. It would be helpful if, in the future, you would ______________. What do you think? And is there anything I can do that might help?”

My Sermon Notes Inspires Churches to Reach the Next Generation

By
My Sermon Notes
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communicating with the unchurched

My Sermon Notes Inspires Churches to Reach the Next Generation

My Sermon Notes is a discipleship-first app platform to unify your church. Our mission is to help you reach the next generation and connect your church body through technology. Our robust app is fully-customizable with options to fit the needs of all church sizes. With powerful features like fill-in-the-blank notes and interactive prayer requests, our platform encourages regular user engagement that brings your church to the hands of all church members.

Fill-in-the-Blank Notes: Church members can take sermon notes and follow along with the sermon on any device. Notes are cloud-synced between devices, and it’s easy to search for past sermon notes at any time.

Customizable Church Tab: The Church tab can be modified with custom images and tabs, allowing you to create the perfect app for your church. My Sermon Notes offers a variety of out-of-the-box features like a digital connection card, interactive prayer requests, and push notification announcements. These features can be combined with your existing ChMS and software for ultimate flexibility.

Easy Sign-Up Process: You can get started with our 30-day free trial in just a few minutes. Our team would be happy to meet with you for a one-on-one training session and help customize your church profile. It’s easy for church members to get started, too. The user sign up process takes less than 60 seconds. Watch the video for a brief 60-second overview.

Pastor Arrested for Holding Church in Defiance of Directive

By
Jessica Mouser
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communicating with the unchurched

Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne, who leads a megachurch in Tampa, Florida, was arrested Monday for refusing to cancel services in compliance with a local government directive telling people to stay at home except for essential needs. Citing religious freedom, The River at Tampa Bay Church held two services last Sunday, even busing people in to them. 

“We’re living in unprecedented times right now,” said Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister, at a press conference addressing the pastor’s arrest. “So many people have lost their jobs, are under stress, and looking for some sense of calm and normalcy. I believe there is nothing more important than faith during a time like this.” Chronister said his office has no intention of disrupting the comfort people get from their religious beliefs. But, he said, “practicing those beliefs has to be done safely.”

Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne Ignores Directive

On Friday, March 27, Hillsborough County issued a safer-at-home order, instructing people to stay at home if at all possible. That same day, the sheriff’s office received an anonymous tip that The River at Tampa Bay Church was planning to hold services that Sunday. Chronister’s office contacted church leaders and attorneys that Friday and that Sunday in an attempt to educate them as to why they should not hold their normal services. Howard-Browne did not make himself available to meet with members of the sheriff’s command team, but the church leaders who were present made it clear they did not intend to comply. 

Church Guide to Coronavirus 1

The church, noted Chronister, has the ability to livestream services, but nevertheless held “not one, but two large services on Sunday,” one in the morning and another in the evening.  

“Because of the reckless disregard of public safety, and after repeated requests and warnings,” said Chronister, “I worked with our state attorney, Andrew Warren, to obtain a warrant for unlawful assembly and violation of public health emergency rules, both of which are second-degree misdemeanors.”

Sheriff’s deputies arrested Rodney Howard-Browne that Monday. According to News Channel 8, the pastor’s $500 bond was paid about 40 minutes after his arrest. Chronister reiterated that his intention is not to stop anyone from worshipping God, but rather to keep people safe. Said the sheriff, “[Howard-Browne’s] reckless disregard for human life put hundreds of people in his congregation at risk and thousands of residents, who may interact with them this week, in danger.” 

Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne’s Defense

In a press statement posted March 18 on the church’s Facebook page, The River stated that it would continue to meet because it sees itself as an essential service:

In a time of national crisis, we expect certain institutions to be open and certain people to be on duty. We expect hospitals to have their doors open 24/7 to receive and treat patients. We expect our police and firefighters to be ready and available to rescue and to help and to keep the peace. The Church is another one of those essential services.

The church went on to say that leaders would do all they could “to support the efforts of our wider community by cleaning and sanitizing surfaces and take any other recommended measures to protect our people and keep them healthy and safe.” The post also encouraged anyone feeling ill to remain at home.

An article on the website of Revival Ministries International, another of Howard-Browne’s ministries, claimed it is unconstitutional to deny churches the freedom to assemble, adding, “To deny a Christian his obligation to gather with his local called out body is to put him at odds with a fundamental tenet of the faith.” 

In a video entitled, “End of Days: Part 3,” Howard-Browne argued that if liquor stores, abortion clinics, and businesses selling medicinal weed can be open, then churches ought to be as well. He also said people in grocery stores are not perfectly practicing social distancing by remaining six feet apart, so it is inconsistent to deny people the ability to attend church. 

300 Exposed to Virus Via Prayer Gathering, One Pastor Dies

By
Megan Briggs
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communicating with the unchurched

An international prayer gathering held at a church in Bloemfontein, South Africa is responsible for the spread of several cases of COVID-19 within that country’s Free State, the South African Health Minister, Dr. Zweli Mkhize, announced last week. Among those attendees infected by the virus are well-known evangelist Angus Buchan, two politicians, and an elderly pastor who has since died from COVID-19. 

“The majority of the 61 patients [in the Free State] come from the church meeting,” Mkhize told reporters on Sunday. Additionally, the Health Minister indicated “Church leaders who attended the meeting, put their congregation in contact with the virus.”

The elderly pastor who died, John Hlangeni, was 85 and served Global Reconciliation Church in Bloemfontein.

The gathering, Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast (JPB) was held March 9-11 at the Divine Restoration Ministries in Bloemfontein. According to Divine Restoration, 270 people were in attendance at the event. Angus Buchan was a guest speaker.

International Visitors Carried the Virus Unwittingly

Five international visitors, two from the United States, one from Fance, and two from Israel, are believed to be the carriers of the virus, which then spread to several of the attendees. According to Pastor Elisée Yao, the international guests were not showing symptoms during the prayer event. All five had been screened at the airport upon entering South Africa. In fact, the only reason they were tested on March 16th was because of the President’s order to have all international visitors tested before leaving the country. When those results came back positive for all five visitors, they entered isolation. 

Officials believe those 270 attendees came into contact with approximately 1,259 people. Contact tracing efforts has led to the screening of 973 of these people. An approximate 286 people are still believed to have been in contact with the virus and have not been in contact with the department of health yet. 

Pastor Yao contacted the National Disaster Management Centre as well as the Department of Health after learning of the visitors’ positive results. The church has worked in tandem with the Department of Health to track church members and conference attendees. Testing has been taking place at the church itself.

The Department of Health indicated Divine Restoration shared a contact list for the event with them and church leaders have encouraged church members to come forward for screening. “Surely, we wouldn’t have reached the high numbers of screening and testing that we reached had we done this on our own and without their cooperation,” a spokesperson for the Department of Health wrote.

As of the writing of this article, the Free State has 72 confirmed cases of COVID-19. According to City Press News, over 300 Divine Restoration members have been tested as of Sunday. 

Church Guide to Coronavirus 1

Politicians Present at the Event

There were two politicians present at the prayer gathering, the Reverend Kenneth Meshoe, leader of the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) and Steve Swart, an ACDP member of Parliament. These two have since tested positive for Covid-19, and Meshoe has been in contact with other high-ranking South African politicians, including President Cyril Ramaphosa. President Ramaphosa has since been tested for the virus, and has tested negative, while other politicians who have recently come into contact with Meshoe are undergoing testing.

Angus Buchan Tests Positive

Angus Buchan and his wife, Jill, traveled home to their farm in Greytown in Kwa-Zulu Natal province. According to the couple’s daughter, they have been self-isolating. The evangelist, who is known for holding massive revival gatherings and prayer events, posted an update on March 26th to his Instagram account that has since been deleted. The Times Live was able to capture some of the words that were shared:

The Need to Be Noticed Masquerades as Leadership

By
Ashley Hibbard
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communicating with the unchurched

There are many unhealthy aspects of the Christian “celebrity culture” that has infiltrated almost every corner of the church, but one of the most deadly may be one of the least addressed: the need to be noticed. It seems to me that all too often, the need to be noticed masquerades as leadership.

I once heard an individual go a struggling church leader and offer help if he needed “someone to lead things or run things.” I knew of another, more mature individual who offered his help as “anything you need; anything at all.” While this is only one incident, I have seen evidence of or heard tell of many others like it. And it makes me wonder if we have come to a place where “leaders” have replaced servants, and service has been detached from real, Christ-like leadership.

There’s a couple at a little country church where my Dad does regular pulpit supply. They’re roughly eighty, though they certainly don’t seem like it. She was a school teacher; he worked in some capacity for city public works. I found out on our most recent visit that they have been faithful members of that congregation for fifty-five years. In the absence of a regular minister the last several years, they have in large part been the main contact for the church: their number as the contact number, their email that receives congregational news and information and inquiries, their effort that brings together the worship schedule and updates and announcements, and (I’m sure) a dozen other tasks that help to keep this church spinning. And nearly every week they invite back to their home or out for lunch whoever is guest preaching for them that Sunday. They do it for free. They do it unapplauded. They do it joyfully. They do it faithfully. They do it without the need to be noticed.

The good folks from that little country church have never written a book, and I don’t imagine it would ever enter their minds to do so. No one has ever written a book about them, and I don’t imagine anyone ever will. They would be surprised and probably even a little confused to find someone writing about them in a blog post. But maybe they’re exactly who we need on the big celebrity speaking circuit. Because I don’t see a lot of Jesus-style servant-leaders. I see a lot of people, especially young people, who want to be noticed, who want to do big church growth and write about it, who want to be in charge and preach and teach, but who seem much less interested in welcoming difficult newcomers, journeying with people through pain, and pitching in with Sunday School. Perhaps I’m wrong. I’d love to be wrong. I’d love to learn that these people would be more than content to labour in obscurity if, like 98% of church workers out there, that’s where God called them. But I’m afraid that I’m not wrong.

I’m afraid that celebrity culture has such a pervasive place in society that our young people are coming to believe that ministry is a great opportunity to be noticed rather than to serve. And whether our place is preaching, or teaching, or evangelism, or administration, or dishwashing, first and foremost we are called to be servants who help people to see God more clearly, rather than helping people to see us.

When the people ask Moses to speak to them instead of God, he tells them they’d do better hearing from God (Exodus 20:19).

When the prophets speak it is always, “Thus says Yahweh,” not “Listen to me, folks.”

John the Baptist, whom Jesus would call the greatest Jew ever (Luke 7:28), said that Jesus’ fame had to increase, and his had to decrease (John 3:30)

When Paul sends greetings to the Roman church he first commends the generous (16:10), the selfless and courageous (16:4-5), and the hard-working (16:6).

When an imprisoned Paul reflects on rivals taking advantage of his imprisonment to do more preaching of their own, he is only glad to see the truth spoken (Philippians 1:15-18).

When Paul writes to Philemon, he thanks him for his “refreshing” of the saints (Philemon 7).

I’m not sure that there’s one place where God’s servants are commended for doing a good job of leading things and running things and being in charge. God’s servants who lead in the church are called to patient guidance (1 Peter 5:2), to diffusing controversy (2 Timothy 2:23), to discernment (1 Timothy 5:19-20), to prayer (Acts 6:4), and to teaching (1 Timothy 4:13). Most of the time, if all goes well, only one of those five things will actually be obvious to people in a public “need to be noticed” sort of setting.

“You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:42-45).

The question that we have to ask, and that we have to teach our people to ask, is not “How can I lead?” but “How can I serve?” For as someone once said, everything rises and falls on servantship.

This article about the need to be noticed originally appeared here.

10 Ways To Help You Live Normal When Life Is Not Normal

By
Dan Reiland
-
communicating with the unchurched

I’ve been thinking about the stresses and pressures we are all carrying these days and attempting to focus on the practical things that help promote mental and spiritual health. How do you live normal when life is not normal?

Whether you are a church leader, a parent leading your family, or leading in the business arena, we all need to lean into what helps us think and live healthily so we can better care for and lead others.

This does not dismiss…

1) The reality of the situation

There’s no question that devastating things are happening in our world, and COVID-19 is at the top of the list right now.

My suggestions do not pretend to make big problems magically disappear, but they do help us keep leading with a positive spirit.

2) The need to be vigilant

The vast majority of our time and attention is needed to handle what is not normal in our midst.

However, we must remain strong, human, connected, and reminded of the little things, the important things that make solving the big problems worthwhile.

3) The need for our focus to be on the hope of Christ

Jesus is and has always been the one who promises to help us with what we cannot solve. He is the giver of wisdom to solve problems, strength to endure challenges, and hope in our ultimate destiny.

I’m offering some everyday things that really do help.

The calmer, poised, and at peace, you are personally, the better you can lead the people God has given you responsibility for.

10 ways to help you live more “normal”:

(What’s normal? I know… but each of us has a normal, our normal, and when it’s disrupted, we know it.)

  • The goal is not for you to do all 10.
  • Select the ones most helpful to you.
  • Don’t let this be a task; let it be life-giving.

1) Establish a new routine.

We are creatures of habit, and routine is essential.

And a routine is different than a rut. A routine brings stability so we can remain healthy and more productive. A rut is when you are stuck, not growing, and not experiencing spiritual health.

Most of us have recently had our routines blown up. Some of you have kids at home, that will do it. You love your kids, but that’s a big routine breaker.

Then add the fact that perhaps all of you are home – all the time. Nothing further needs to be said.

  • Modify your family systems.
  • Make new plans.
  • Set new routines.

I highly encourage you to organize and simplify.

That won’t solve all your problems, but it helps you lift your spirits.

And candidly, it will give you something where you can see immediate and tangible results. In a time when it feels like nothing is in your control, it will help your mental health and overall disposition.

2) Reach out to your friends.

You are probably in close touch with your friends and colleagues you connect with regularly.

I’m suggesting that you consider friends and colleagues that you haven’t talked with texted or messaged on social for a long time.

Reach out and check-in. Let them know you’re thinking about them. A text or any method is great. Marco Polo is a great app you can use.

Take a moment to pray for them and let them know you prayed.

Don’t make it a project, or a task on your to-do list, consider it a privilege to encourage someone today.

This will warm your heart and lift your frame of mind.

3) Take time to be quiet.

Time to be quiet is desperately needed by everyone, especially in times of fear and uncertainty.

My world is noisy, quiet is priceless to me. I will admit that if I get too much alone time or quiet, I will literally start looking for someone to talk to, but quiet reflection is essential for the well-being of your soul.

I’m not referring only or specifically to your “quiet time” or daily devotional, although you might prefer to combine them. But real quiet time. Just to “be still,” to think and reflect.

I have a cup or two of tea a day, and that is very centering and a good pause for reflection.

Don’t dismiss the impact of the little things, the simple things in your life.

What’s one or two little things or simple pleasures that help keep you grounded?

Technology for High School Small Groups When You Can’t Meet In-Person

By
Jesse Johnson
-
communicating with the unchurched

I’m not sure what it’s like in the rest of the country, but basically all in-person church ministry has been canceled in the Washington DC area. Youth groups, Bible studies, fellowship groups, high school small groups, staff meetings, and even prayer meetings have all been canceled for basically the rest of the school year.

This is a particular burden for youth groups, where weekly discipleship is so critical. Fortunately there are technological options to enable much of that ministry to still go on. Here are a few suggestions for the youth pastors and high school small group leaders to stay in touch with their high school students.

These are written for youth leaders who may not have used these tools for high school small groups before, but keep in mind that your high school students are probably using all of them for school now.

Tech Solutions for High School Small Groups

Zoom

Zoom is the platform The Master’s Seminary uses for our distance education, and we have never had a problem with it. It allows group video and audio, and works best from computers. It gives moderators great options and is probably the best way to do a small group.

For Zoom to work you need to schedule a time where all of your students know to be in front of a computer. They also need to have the e-mail account open to which you are sending the URL for the meeting. Once they click that they should be prompted to join the meeting, etc. Once they are in the meeting you can also mute or unmute them at will (a power you do not have in person… use wisely).

  1. Go to https://zoom.us/download and download Zoom to your laptop.
  2. Start a video chat.
  3. Press “Join with Computer Audio”
  4. Press the “Invite” button on the bottom of the toolbar.
  5. Press “Copy URL” and send that in e-mail to your small group members.

The only limitation to using the free version of Zoom is that your video conferences have a 40-minute limit. Keep this in mind and use your time fruitfully. (Pro-tip: once the meeting hits 40 minutes and the session shuts down you can close down the program and re-initiate the call and the 40-minute limit resets.) However, unlimited time starts at $15 a month, and only the call’s host needs the paid account. Its probably a good investment for this season.

Pros: ZOOM is free so long as you are okay with traversing the 40-minute limit. Its moderation panel is excellent, its quality is great, and many small group leaders may already have a paid account which allows you to go longer than 40 min.

Cons: Not all students will have access to a smartphone or a laptop with a webcam. It also requires you to have a time scheduled with the students in advance.

Google Hangouts

High school students (at least in the DC area) use Google hangouts frequently, so this will likely be familiar to them. Google hangouts works best as video rather than an audio conference call. You can also message very easily with individuals in the group while the call is going on. There is a ten-person limit though, so this wouldn’t work for a fellowship group, but is great for more informal groups.

  1. Go to hangouts.google.com
  2. Login to a Google account (you may need to make one; it’s quite simple)
  3. Press “Video Call”
  4. Press “COPY LINK TO SHARE”
  5. Send that link to all of the participating student’s e-mails
  6. Once they click those links they will join the session through their web browser

This is a helpful way to hang out (as is Zoom) because you don’t have to have a Gmail account to log into these meetings. There is also no time-limit on Google hangout calls.

Pros: This is free and there is no time-limit. Many students are going to be using the Google platform with apps such as Google Classroom over the next couple of weeks. This will give them a familiarity with the user interface of Google apps. This is by far the easiest way to do more impromptu meetings.

Cons: There is a 10-participant limit on Google Hangouts. Also, if a student opts to use the smartphone app then they will need to have a Gmail account. It is only via web browser on a laptop or computer that a student can bypass needing a Gmail account.

FaceTime

If you have an iPhone and are intimidated by Google Hangouts or Zoom, FaceTime is for you. It is basically making a video call to a student, and it is easy to turn a call into a group call. Of all of these, this functions most like a phone call. The downside is that it only works on an iPhone or iPad.

  1. Find out who in your group has an iPhone.
  2. Open the FaceTime application.
  3. Press the “+” button on the top right of your screen.
  4. Add all of the students whom you are looking to contact and then once complete press “Video”.

Now the obvious limitation of this option is that not all of your students will have iPhones. Some may not even have phones. I suggest you find out if parents of these students have iPhones and would be willing to let their kids borrow their phone for the small group session.

The other factor of this is that you will need to make sure you have all of your students’ contact information. This is something that you can reach out to your youth pastors for.

Pros: FaceTime allows for you to have up to 31 participants at a time on a call.

Cons: Not everyone has an iPhone. Also, you will have much less control over the group chat than you would on Google Hangout or ZOOM. As lots of students join a facetime call, its like the Wild West, and the leader has basically no control (therefore, this might actually be closer to what real small groups are like). Proceed at your own risk.

Text Messaging

The above options are great for video chats and small groups where there is back-and-forth conversation. But if the goal is to be in ongoing contact with people, consider just sending an old-fashioned group text:

  1. Shoot a text of encouragement to your students.
  2. You could possibly start a group message.

Use this one wisely; we all know what can happen with group messages. Understand that if you enter into the group message world you are opening yourself up to a flood of memes, late night texts, and whatever else students can think of. But the benefit of contacting your students on a regular basis plus the added potential of actually getting some funny memes far outweighs the sound of your phone buzzing at 1AM.

Pros: Group messages are a good way to communicate with all your students even beyond the present circumstances.

Cons: You are opening the door to hundreds; if not thousands, of text messages that will surely ensue within the next couple weeks.

Old Fashioned Phone Calls

This option is most relevant if you were unable to reach some of the students through the other options listed above. But it is important to exhaust your options of reaching out to these students. God may use this time to teach us a lot about our students. We need to stay on top of communication and love our students well. This may be the most shaken up their world and lives has ever been. Moments like this are a great opportunity to reach into the tottering lives of our students and giving them firm truth to grab onto.

Pros: Unlike a text (unless they have “read” receipts on) you can know for certain whether or not the student received your communication. You can leave a voicemail.

Cons: Depending on your age you may have never made a phone call before. Here is a link to a video on how to make a phone call:

There’s no question that the next couple of weeks will be a whirlwind of change and uncertainty. But this presents an opportunity for us to leverage the resources God has given us to disciple our students. The lock-down may have canceled lock-ins, but don’t let it cancel discipleship.

This article about tech solutions for high school small groups originally appeared here.

Free Kids’ Lesson Package: “Finding Jesus”

By
Daniel So
-
communicating with the unchurched

Free Kids’ Lesson Package

From CMD, “The sea contains many wondrous sights created by God. When we go under the sea and take a closer look, we see that the sea has much to teach us about God. Dolphins are very social animals talking with one another through vocal clicks and non-verbal behaviors. Kids will learn that when we know Jesus, we should be vocal about it – talking about Jesus with others. Acts 8:26-40, Philip And The Ethiopian”

This kids lesson package includes:

  • Make It Stick! Parent Sheet
  • Memory Verse
  • Skit
  • Object Lesson or Kids Sermon
  • Large Group Lesson
  • Small Group Discussion
  • Large Group Game


Get Download Now

Resource provided by Children’s Ministry Deals


Download Instructions: Follow the on-screen directions at the download site.

How to Grow a Multicultural Church

By
Justin Lathrop
-
communicating with the unchurched

It’s common to think that if you want to grow a multicultural population at your church (or simply accommodate one which already exists), you must have multicultural services or programs. Of course, sometimes, this is the answer (when a service needs to be in a different language, for example).

But more often than not, multicultural populations can and should thrive in all of our churches.

We simply must be open to receive them and celebrate the gifts they bring.

We should not just be willing, but eager, to invite those from different backgrounds and cultures into our communities because diversity pleases God, and because Jesus was sent to save and redeem all people, from all nations.

Here are some things to keep in mind as you seek to invite and cultivate diversity in your community.

Make Jesus the Center

Jesus is the common denominator. He is the great unifier. He is the one who brings people together from different races, genders and backgrounds. Consider these words from Paul in Galatians:

“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28)

In Paul’s world, these would have been fierce, fighting words. To think that there was no divide between men and women, Jew or Gentile, slave or free man would have been so countercultural to Paul’s audience, it would have been hard for them to get their heads around.

Today, these words resonate with us in a different way. We believe them and wish to embody them. But if we’re ever going to achieve unity in our churches—if we’re ever going to experience true diversity—we must make Jesus the center.

Be Open to Differences

As much as we embrace differences in theory, when it comes to embracing them in actual practice, we struggle. We like things to be a certain way (the way we like them). We want to be around people who are like us. It makes us feel less threatened.

However, if we’re going to nurture diversity in our churches, we’re going to have to celebrate different ways of worshipping, preaching and relating, and even different styles of leadership.

If you find yourself feeling uncomfortable with “different,” stop for a minute and ask yourself where that discomfort comes from.

Do you really disagree, or are you just out of your comfort zone?

Invite Different Cultures Into Leadership

In order for your church to reach different kinds of people, there will need to be different kinds of people on your leadership teams.

This is vital.

If your church is not very diverse, work to diversify your leadership team.

This includes men and women, people from different backgrounds, cultures, countries of origin and even different denominations (yes, I’m serious). Of course, before you hire, make sure each person can serve the common mission and vision, but don’t forget (see point #1) to make that vision and mission all about Jesus.

Diversity might just come easier than you think.  

4 Ways Every Pastor Can Develop Emotional Resilience

By
Vince Miller
-
communicating with the unchurched

Pastor, you must learn to lead yourself by managing your emotions. One important characteristic of leadership is emotional resilience. It’s the ability to be in touch with one’s emotions and those of others. This includes the willingness to face your personal fears without being intimidated by outside pressure. Those with low emotional resilience allow their emotions to control, dictate, or govern their attitudes and actions. On the other hand, those with high emotional resilience are mindful of their feelings and those of others and as a result can effectively manage emotions rather than submitting to them.

Four Ways to Develop Emotional Resilience

One | Be emotionally aware

Critical to emotional resilience is the ability to be in touch with your emotions. If you experience feelings but are not in touch with them, they can undermine your leadership and elicit responses that adversely affect others. For instance, if you try to suppress or avoid the emotion of fear, its eventual emergence will elicit an immature response through which you might either hurt or hide from others. However, leaders who are emotionally aware of their fear and its triggers can learn to embrace and move through the experience in spite of their concerns for the benefit of the team. Awareness is where resilience begins.

Two | Face into fear

Emotionally resilient leaders have developed the ability to not only acknowledge their fear but to press through and operate in spite of what they feel. They are not crippled by fear of people, future, conflict, and uncertainty. It is important to develop this courage because there is always some level of fear when making key leadership decisions. What will people think? Will I face resistance? Will my team still trust me? What if our strategy fails? These and many other fear-based questions can paralyze a leader. Those with emotional resilience understand their fear but choose to move through it, taking measurable risks.

Three | Make right decisions

Resilient people not only are emotionally aware and move through their fears, but they also choose a course of action regardless of their concerns. This is because emotionally resilient leaders make the right choice even when it is not the convenient choice. Some leaders back away from making moral and ethical decisions, especially when it involves confronting a superior, compromising a personal agenda, or complicating a process. They may even fail to terminate an unproductive staff member, leave a partner with incompatible values, or release a high-paying customer that commands an excessive amount of time and energy. Acting out of fear is usually a deterrent to emotional resilience. But thinking right and taking righteous action will lead to right results.

Four | Play it forward

People with emotional resilience can do the right thing because they have developed the ability to think through the possible outcomes. In other words, they make calculated decisions after thinking through the unintended consequences. By doing their “homework ahead of time,” resilient leaders minimize the negative impact of their choices, and therefore the risk, in decision making. This discipline takes into account the justifiable fears one might have, but reduces those fears by thinking through the possible consequences up front.

Reflection & Mentorship

Begin

  • Emotionally resilient leaders are mindful of their feelings but effectively and appropriately manage them rather than allowing them to control their actions and reactions.

Unpack

  • Do leaders have to have emotional resilience to be a great leader? Why or why not?
  • Do you know a leader who appears to have a lot of emotional resilience? What do you like about them as a leader?

Inform

  • Nelson Mandela “fell down” and suffered through many difficulties, including decades of imprisonment, before rising to lead the people of his country. Do you feel like the world lacks leaders like him who are resilient over a lifetime?
  • In the proverbial statement above, it states a “joyful heart is good medicine.” How is joy that dwells in a person’s heart an anecdote for emotional issues and problems? Is this simply the power of positive thinking or is it something more?
  • Which of the four aspects of emotional resilience do you need to give attention to become a more effective leader?

Land

  • What issues have come to mind for you today?
  • What steps do you need to take to address these issues?

Do

  • Take on one resilience building activity this week.

 

This article is excerpted from Vince Miller’s book, 20 Lessons That Build a Leader.

What Church Leaders Need to Know About the CARES Act

By
Stephanie Martin
-
CARES Act
Adobe Stock #318185960

Now that the $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act has been signed into law, many U.S. churches, Christian schools, and other nonprofit organizations can receive assistance during the economic downturn. These employers are among those being severely impacted by lockdowns and social distancing regulations, which have been extended nationally through April 30.

The pandemic is causing financial uncertainty and strain, with unemployment claims topping 3.3 million last week. Although President Trump hoped to reopen the country by Easter (April 12), projections for the disease “peak” prompted a longer shutdown. As a result, most churches will remain empty during Christianity’s holiest season—also a time when offerings peak.

Provisions to Keep Churches Afloat

The CARES Act, now the largest relief package in U.S. history, contains a $350 billion Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to offer government-guaranteed, low-interest loans for small businesses, as well as for churches and nonprofits registered as 501(c)(3)s. Typically, religious organizations don’t qualify for the Disaster Assistance Program run by the Small Business Administration (SBA), so during this era when up to 50 percent of nonprofits could be at risk of closing, the economic relief is welcome news for churches.

Though some regulations still need to be finalized, preliminary details reveal how this groundbreaking act can serve as a “financial bridge” during challenging times. Organizations with up to 500 employees can apply for loan assistance to cover payroll costs, mortgage or rent, utilities, and group health insurance benefits, paid sick leave, and medical and insurance premiums. Payroll costs include salary or wages (up to $100,000 annually per employee), vacation and other forms of leave, and health and retirement benefits.

The PPP covers the period between February 15 and June 30, 2020. Loans have no fees, and the amount can be calculated using this formula: total average monthly payroll costs from March 2019 to February 2020, multiplied by 2.5. The loan maximum is $10 million.

The SBA will provide funding through local banks, so most churches can obtain a loan their current financial institution. The interest rate can’t exceed four percent, and no repayments are due for one year. Loans that are used as intended—to maintain payroll—may be forgiven up to 100 percent, essentially turning the money into a grant. In turn, employers who accept a loan are expected not to then lay off staff or reduce compensation.

Questions, Exceptions, and Possible ‘strings’

The issue of pastoral housing allowances hasn’t been addressed, but experts don’t expect it to be covered. Megachurches with multiple campuses are awaiting clarification on the 500-employee limit, which might pertain to each separate location.

Churches must provide “good faith certification” that the loan will support ongoing operations, including payroll maintenance and mortgage payments. For the Paycheck Protection Loans, day-to-day operating expenses such as marketing and travel aren’t covered.

Other provisions include deferred payment deadlines for employer payroll taxes, an employee retention payroll tax credit, and reimbursements for paying unemployment benefits (applicable to nonprofits but not to most churches). Nonprofits but not churches can get Economic Injury Disaster Loans, receiving $10,000 within three days.

Though the PPP doesn’t seem to have “strings attached” that would interfere with the purpose of religious institutions, Travis Wussow of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission says church leaders should remain alert for any “broader entanglement issues” regarding loan forgiveness, for example.

While some critics say religious organizations shouldn’t benefit from the CARES Act, others say it would’ve been unfair to exclude them. “This is not a permanent flow of money,” says John Stemberger of the Florida Family Policy Council. “It’s one-time assistance in an unprecedented environment.” When Sen. Marco Rubio spoke to that council, he called the relief package “an extraordinary measure”—one he likely wouldn’t have supported in other circumstances.

Act Quickly, Experts Advise

Sutton Turner, COO of Houston-based church-staffing firm Vanderbloemen, says $350 billion is a lot of money but can’t help all of America’s 5.8 million small businesses. He urges churches and nonprofits to prepare their applications quickly, before funds run out.

The Church Guide to Coronavirus

By
Christine Yount Jones
-
communicating with the unchurched

The Church Guide to Coronavirus is here to help your church prepare for the potential disruption and gospel opportunities.

As COVID-19 (the disease caused by the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2) continues to spread outside of the epicenter in China, churches would be wise to have a Coronavirus Response Operating Procedure in place. This is why churchleaders.com, SermonCentral.com, OutreachMagazine.com (under the umbrella of Outreach.com) have created The Church Guide to Coronavirus.

It is no understatement to say that the church faces a great challenge in the recent outbreak of COVID-19. First reported in Wuhan, China, on December 31, 2019, the coronavirus has shut down cities in Iran, Italy, South Korea, and the Philippines and is currently spreading in the United States. The virus has made an impact on our world from international travel to the global markets. Businesses and industries are experiencing declining attendance, customers, and revenue. The church will not be immune from these impacts.

Church Guide to Coronavirus 1

The threat of a pandemic also creates an opportunity for the church. People will be more open to the gospel than ever before. Will your church be ready to provide services, to speak hope, to trust in God heroically? Or will your church shrink back in fear and self-protection? Our hope and prayer is that The Church Guide to Coronavirus can help your church develop healthy practices to keep your church attenders safe and to rise up valiantly in these days.

To share ideas with other churches and receive immediate updates, join the Church and Coronavirus Facebook Group today.

YOUR CHURCH GUIDE TO CORONAVIRUS: HOW TO PREPARE FOR CORONAVIRUS-RELATED DISRUPTIONS

If your church has not created a Coronavirus Response Operating Procedure, now is the time to do that. And this Church Guide to Coronavirus can help.

Share The Church Guide to Coronavirus with your church leaders. And consider these CDC recommendations as you create your plan:

• Ensure the plan is flexible and involves your church leadership and staff in developing and reviewing your plan.

• Conduct a focused discussion or exercise using your plan, to find out ahead of time whether the plan has gaps or problems that need to be corrected.

• Share your plan with church staff and leadership.

• Share best practices with other churches to improve community response efforts.

• Review the CDC’s guidance for businesses and employers.

Keep reading this Church Guide to Coronavirus to discover four possible disruptions.

Church Relieves People of $1M in Medical Debt Amid Global Crisis

By
Jessica Mouser
-
communicating with the unchurched

Quite a few churches have chosen to love their communities by relieving people’s medical debt, but one church in Austin, Texas, is doing so amid uniquely challenging circumstances. In the middle of a global pandemic and an economic downturn, Covenant Presbyterian Church (CPC) is purchasing $10 million of medical debt for people in the Austin area. 

“We really didn’t want to do it for the fanfare,” said the church’s pastor, Thomas Daniel, according to the Austin-American Statesman. “We really wanted to do it just to do it, especially in this era of COVID-19 when there’s so much worry and fear and uncertainty.”

Daniel made the announcement to the church this past Sunday via livestream. In about six to eight weeks, some of the most financially vulnerable households in Travis County will receive the news that their medical debt has been eliminated.

Church Relieves Medical Debt Amid Struggling Economy

CPC is working with a non-profit called RIP Medical Debt, which purchases debt people have already defaulted on for pennies on the dollar. The church had a surplus from its 2019 budget and decided to give $100,000 to its mission committee. As the committee considered how to spend the money, they came across RIP Medical Debt. The nonprofit has a number of conditions people must meet in order for their debt to be eligible for purchase. Debtors must be facing insolvency, the debt must be five percent or more of their total income, and they must earn less than two times the federal poverty level.

Church Guide to Coronavirus 1

After doing some research, the mission committee found that the most vulnerable qualifying households in Travis County had $10 million in debt. CPC’s Mission Director, Whitney Bell, said, “This money will go to help the poorest of the poor. These are people who have to make decisions whether to pay for their medical bills or pay their rent.”

She observed, “Medical debt is never a result of a bad choice; it’s the result of an emergency. And it can haunt folks for a long time. To be able to abolish that points directly to the call of Christ to love our neighbor.”

The coronavirus has shaken the U.S. economy. As leaders attempt to contain the pandemic, many businesses have been forced to close, making numerous Americans financially vulnerable. During the week that ended March 21, 3.28 million people applied for unemployment benefits, breaking the previous 1982 record of 695,000. Depending on how long the pandemic lasts, the Federal Reserve estimates that up to 47 million Americans could lose their jobs, and the country could see an unemployment rate of 32.1 percent.

In addition to being affected by business closures and job layoffs, people in the Austin area have been impacted by the cancellation of the annual South by Southwest (SXSW) music festival. Tamara Atkinson is the CEO of Workforce Solutions Capital Area, which supports businesses and workers in Austin. She said, “Our heart breaks for the Austin community and everything that’s happened. Starting with the SXSW cancelation, we’ve seen a cascade of companies that are impacted.”

In the middle of wide-ranging financial uncertainty, any relief is welcome. People on Facebook expressed their support for how CPC is helping its community. “I am so proud of my church,” said one user. “What a wonderful and innovative thing to do! Will help so many in Austin.” Another said, “I found this so moving! Thank you to the people who made it happen!”

“We are so happy to be able to really live out our call to be a love letter to Austin,” said Pastor Daniel. “In this time of uncertainty, we are still fulfilling our mission to follow Jesus wherever we live, work and play. And while many things are changing, our mission stays the same. We want to provide hope for the people right here in our community.”

How Pastors Should Talk About Giving in the Current Crisis

By
Megan Briggs
-
communicating with the unchurched

As the world responds to a global pandemic, churches and the vital work they do are more important than ever. But as the weeks of social distancing continue, the challenge of meeting virtually with members who may or may not be able to tithe at the moment is a serious problem for more and more leaders. 

“Many of us feel like we are in uncharted waters on knowing how to appropriately talk about generosity in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis,” Brad Formsma, the founder of the nonprofit organization I Like Giving, shared with ChurchLeaders.

Formsma believes now is a great time for the church to reframe its conversations about money, while adding an emphasis on encouraging people to live generous lives–even in times of crisis:

Perhaps this is an opportunity to revisit our approach on the ways we talk about generosity. The time is now for us as believers to express our faith through our actions in this new way of life. It’s also an important time to clearly express the church’s ongoing financial needs.

Many pastors and church leaders likely feel a little apprehensive about speaking about the church’s financial needs, though, when so many of their members are struggling financially. Formsma shared five guidelines for church leaders as they talk about financial need in these coming months of uncertainty.

How to Talk About Giving and Generosity During the Coronavirus

Lead with vulnerability. 

Formsma says speaking honestly and candidly during this time will help you connect and relate with your church family on a deeper level. “The reality is that this is a hard time for everyone, but it’s also a time for all of us to grow as givers.”

There is a cautionary note on this point, however: “Be cautious that we don’t move into guilt or duty. The encouragement around this, is when we are in a season of uncertainty, we might not hear ourselves and how we come across and how we express. The scarcity mindset can find its way into our messaging without us being aware of it. More than ever, this is an important time to run your remarks around giving and generosity by your lead team or your board chair. They will give you the feedback you need on your messaging.”

Share with them how YOU are giving to your church. 

“Your story and how you’re moving through fear and uncertainty as you give to your church will be the best model,” Formsma emphasized. 

Church Guide to Coronavirus 1

Pointing to the example of Pastor Kenton Beshore (former senior pastor of Mariners Church in California), Formsma said Beshore encourages pastors to “check their gut” before talking about giving to a congregation. In the Cultivating Generosity Course, Beshore suggested asking what your motivation is before you talk about giving. He would often think about the story of the widow who gave her last mite to the house of God. Beshore would ask himself: “Am I giving? Am I giving sacrificially? If I myself am not convinced on the front end of this, I should probably wait.”

In a similar way, Formsma said his friend Pastor Mark Batterson of National Community Church in Washington, D.C. often says, “I’m not going to ask our church to do anything that I’m not doing.” Formsma said Batterson and his wife have made a “pre-decision” to regularly give–including through the storms of life. 

Encourage them to trust in Jesus as their provider.

At this time of uncertainty and crisis, Formsma believes pastors would do well to address worries and questions related to: “Can I trust? Am I going to have enough? Can I afford to give?” 

The fact of the matter is that many church-goers aren’t in a position to give money at the moment. However, Formsma said we are in “an opportunity season to find new, creative ways to be generous.” There are plenty of ways to be generous, even if you don’t have money to give. Formsma drew from his book I Like Giving, which talks about seven ways to be generous, to offer these six other ideas to practice generosity:

Learning Evangelism From G.K. Chesterton and C.S. Lewis

By
Dan DeWitt
-
communicating with the unchurched

It may be surprising but there are many insights for learning evangelism from historical authors. H.G. Wells and G. K. Chesterton were dear friends despite their categorically different world views. After Chesterton’s death, Wells said, “From first to last he and I were very close friends . . . I never knew anyone so steadily true to form as G.K.C.” They maintained a love and respect for one another even as they often challenged one another in print.

In fact, Chesterton’s famous work, The Everlasting Man, was a response to Wells’ naturalistic summary of humanity in An Outline of History. The two books share a surprising influence in the life of young girl in the Bronx; one directly and one indirectly. As a prodigious eight year old, Joy Davidman, at her father’s request, read Wells’s work in its entirety. Upon completion she announced that she had adopted an atheistic worldview following in the footsteps of her skeptic father.

Back in Britain, C. S. Lewis considered Chesterton’s rebuttal to Wells a significant contribution in his own conversion to Christianity. And the later influence of Lewis’s writings would also cross the Atlantic and eventually impact the same home in the Bronx. Lewis’s simple presentation of the Christian faith helped to lead Joy on her journey to faith. The two later met and were eventually married, bringing the literary influence of worldviews full circle. And, as they say, the rest is truly history.

It could be easy to miss some evangelistic principles from this story because of the larger-than-life intellects and international platforms of the personalities previously mentioned.

There is much to apply to learning evangelism.

Learning Evangelism Tip #1. Relationships

Chesterton and Lewis were both known for not only befriending skeptics, but for actually delighting in these relationships. They committed their lives to genuine and caring relationships with people who held contrary truth claims. By the way, Jesus was kind of known for doing the same thing. All three model a way forward for sharing the gospel with people who think our beliefs are delusional.

The way is love. As the Apostle Paul said, we can have the tongue of angels but if we don’t have charity our words are meaningless. It is really impossible to say we love skeptics if we don’t actually know any. And I think this entails much more than the normal “drive by evangelism” approaches of previous generations. Until we really love unbelievers, all of our quick gimmicks will likely fall short.

If your relationship with a skeptic is contingent upon them accepting the gospel then you are starting in the wrong place. Your love for them must transcend these fundamental differences. This is not to imply compromise, but rather a life-long commitment that is motivated by biblical compassion.
If your relationship with a skeptic is contingent upon them accepting the gospel then you are starting in the wrong place.

Learning Evangelism Tip #2. Revelation

In a letter Lewis once penned to a friend who was drifting from orthodoxy, he said, “We have no abiding city even in philosophy: all passes except the Word.” As a public intellect, Lewis understood where his ultimate authority was found. “Art consists of limitation,” Chesterton once said, “The most beautiful part of every picture is the frame.” The biblical framework provides the necessary, and according to Chesterton, beautiful, limitation of our apologetics.

In this way, apologetics is really applied theology. It is the application of Scriptural principles to contemporary questions. And evangelists are never less effective than when they depart from the bedrock of biblical truth. All passes except the Word. That’s why one of the best things you can do if you want to share the gospel with skeptics is to read, understand, and apply the Bible every day.

Learning Evangelism Tip #3. Reason

Perhaps this is why many consider the careful Christian thought and writings of C. S. Lewis to make it possible for them to be “intellectually satisfied” as believers. Lewis helped many understand Mere Christianity as it relates to all of life, including the doubts we often face. This reminds me of the Apostle Peter’s charge to be prepared to give a reason for our hope with humility. If we are to love our neighbor as ourselves we will be compelled to search diligently for the answers they are seeking.

Sadly, sometimes believers treat the gospel as if it is a fragile heirloom to be carefully protected and preserved for future generations. This should not be so. The gospel is neither intimidated nor overshadowed by rival truth claims. With Scripture as our foundation, we are to reason with those who ask about the hope we have found in the gospel. A love for God and neighbor compels us to listen and respond.

Learning Evangelism Tip #4. Rhetoric

The Apostle Paul said that we are to “season our words with salt” so that we can make the most of our opportunities with “outsiders” (Colossians 4:4-6). Like salt, our words are to draw attention to the natural qualities of the gospel content. We don’t contribute to the gospel message. We invite people to “taste and see that the Lord is good.”

I think we can find a better way to do evangelism with “outsiders” if we begin by discarding the kind of monologue approaches that have typified evangelistic programs of the past and search for inroads into meaningful dialogue. In a progressively post-Christian culture, we no longer enjoy a biblically literate audience ready to listen to our ready-made outlines. But in the context authentic relationships we can find an “evangelistic sweet spot” in the overlap of revelation, reason, and rhetoric.

Though we will likely never establish the sort of platform of Chesterton or Lewis, through their examples we may find the kind of confidence that compels us to cross our yard and begin a friendship with that neighbor who has made it clear that they don’t believe in God. You’ll probably encounter a lot of questions about your faith in the process, but don’t fear. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation for all who believe: of this we need not be ashamed.

This article about learning evangelism originally appeared here.

9 Evidences That We Preachers Have Made Preaching an Idol

By
Chuck Lawless
-
communicating with the unchurched

I confess that these thoughts are not original with me. The idea for this post came from Lewis Allen’s book, The Preacher’s Catechism, where Allen lists the first three signs of preaching idolatry listed below.[1] At the same time, my lack of preaching opportunities during the current COVID-19 threat has forced me to evaluate my own heart. Thus, the remaining evidences of preaching idolatry are my own suggestions:

  1. We can never read the Bible for our own soul’s profit. Instead, we’ve come to the place where we read the Word only with sermons in mind. Developing outlines for others trumps any personal application of the Word.
  2. We can never say no to a sermon. We always look for opportunities to preach, and we squirm in the pew when we’re not preaching. Indeed, it’s almost impossible to listen to a sermon without critiquing it.
  3. Our moods are dictated by our ministry. It’s a good day if we received positive feedback for our sermon; criticism, on the other hand, leads to rough days and sleepless nights. That’s because somebody has spoken against our idol.
  4. We spend most of our time in our study, giving little direct attention to the people we’re called to shepherd. Prioritizing our sermon preparation isn’t wrong, but isolation in the office may reveal a battle in our hearts. Sometimes it’s a battle with our ego—or a battle to be like our preaching heroes.
  5. We’re struggling right now because we’re forced to preach to a camera or an empty worship center. This crisis has required us to evaluate our own motives in preaching. If we’re disappointed because we don’t have any immediate crowds, we may be more interested in the recognition than in the message.
  6. We watch clips of our own sermons not to evaluate and improve, but to hear how good we are. No preacher I know would describe his heart this honestly, but some I know—beginning with me at times—live on this line. In our arrogance and idolatry, we impress ourselves too much.
  7. We linger after the service to hear more good comments about our sermon. When idolatry sets in, we want to know that we’ve done well with our gods. When we look forward to affirmations of our preaching—and even put ourselves in a position to hear more—we’ve crossed lines into ungodliness.
  8. We get jealous when other preachers are recognized for their preaching. It’s hard to imagine why they would be recognized over us. “If the people in charge would just listen to my sermons,” we think, “they’d know why I should be on that platform.”
  9. We have no time to give to our families because we spend so much time getting ready to preach. I’m a seminary professor—so I strongly believe in preparation and study. Sometimes, though, we spiritualize our excuses to follow our idols at the expense of our home.

Too many of these descriptions hit home for me. How about you?

[1] Lewis Allen, The Preacher’s Catechism (Wheaton: Crossway, 2018), 126.

This article originally appeared here.

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