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Ethiopia’s Evangelical Prime Minister Awarded Nobel Peace Prize

By
Stephanie Martin
-

October 14, 2019

The 100^th Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who ended a 20-year stalemate with neighboring Eritrea and helped reconcile the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.

Although Ahmed has been in office only 18 months, he’s taken several major steps to reform Ethiopia, an East African nation of more than 100 million people.

Who Is Abiy Ahmed?

At 43, Ahmed is Africa’s youngest leader. Born to a Muslim father and an Orthodox mother, he’s a “Pentay,” or Protestant Pentecostal. (About 40 percent of Ethiopians are Orthodox, 34 percent are Muslim, and 19 percent are Protestants.) BBC News notes: “Abiy is a devout Pentecostal Christian, and there is something of the revivalist preacher in the way he evangelizes for his vision. He has the energy, the passion, and the certainty.”

Andrew DeCort, director of the Institute for Christianity and the Common Good, notes, “The beguiling feature of Pentecostalism is the idea that nothing is impossible.” Ahmed, who belongs to the Full Gospel Believers’ Church, says Ethiopia “is endowed with great bounty and wealth but is starving for love.”

Ethnically, Ahmed is a member of the Oromo, Ethiopia’s largest ethnic group. Until now, no Oromo has held a major position of power. With his faith and educational background (a doctorate in peace and security issues and a master’s in transformational leadership), Ahmed has been making significant strides in reforming Ethiopia.

An Overview of Abiy Ahmed’s Achievements

In its award announcement, the Norwegian Nobel Committee said: “Abiy Ahmed has initiated important reforms that give many citizens hope for a better life and a brighter future. He spent his first 100 days as Prime Minister lifting the country’s state of emergency, granting amnesty to thousands of political prisoners, discontinuing media censorship, legalizing outlawed opposition groups, dismissing military and civilian leaders who were suspected of corruption, and significantly increasing the influence of women in Ethiopian political and community life. He has also pledged to strengthen democracy by holding free and fair elections.”

Ethiopia’s 20-year border conflict with Eritrea had cost 80,000 lives and separated families. The peace accord Ahmed signed last year with Eritrea’s president restored telecommunications, air travel, and relations between the countries.

In the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, a schism had occurred in 1991 over political issues. Ahmed helped restore relations, just as he helped reconcile Christians and Muslims in his hometown as a member of parliament.

As prime minister, Ahmed also has released political prisoners and jailed journalists, appointed women to key leadership positions, met with opponents to discuss reforms, and planted millions of trees to combat climate change. Saying he’s committed to freedom of expression, Ahmed held “listening rallies” and town halls. Critics accuse Ahmed of trying to appease Westerners. Others were critical of several internet shutdowns this summer.

While acknowledging that “much work remains” in Ethiopia, the Nobel Committee says it “hopes that the Nobel Peace Prize will strengthen Prime Minister Abiy in his important work for peace and reconciliation.”

Awol Allo, an Ethiopian who teaches law in the United Kingdom, nominated Ahmed “partly because I view the Nobel Peace Prize as a call to action.” The award comes with “great responsibility,” Allo says, adding that Ahmed now has “the moral authority to redouble his efforts” in the Horn of Africa, “still one of the most volatile and unstable corners of the world.”

New Bill Would Make Bible Study Mandatory in Filipino Schools

By
Jessica Lea
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October 14, 2019

Bienvenido “Benny” Abante, Jr., the Filipino House Minority Leader, wants to make reading the Bible a requirement for students in elementary and secondary public schools. Abante, who is also a pastor, believes that making Bible reading mandatory for students will improve the quality of life in the Philippines.

“If only biblical discipline, principles and standards are taught and inculcated in the minds of our children, there would be no much problems on leadership, governance, and peace and order,” said Abante, according to GMA News Online.

Abante Introduces House Bill 2069

Called the “Mandatory Bible Reading Act of 2019,” Abante’s bill says, “the State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building and shall promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, and social well-being.” The responsibility of the nation’s educational institutions, says the bill, is to “teach the rights and duties of citizenship, strengthen ethical and spiritual values, develop moral character and personal discipline, and encourage critical and creative thinking.”

The bill states that students in elementary and high school are at prime ages for being strengthened in the areas listed above and is based on the “conviction that the Bible is a book of righteous instructions, principles and standards, discipline, and a book of moral and spiritual values.” Through the bill, Abante proposes that the subjects of English and Filipino should require students to read, discuss, and be tested on the Bible. Notably, the bill provides for students of another faith—Muslim students will study the Quran instead of the Bible.

If Abante’s bill passes the House and the Senate, President Rodrigo Duterte will decide whether to sign or veto it. If he vetoes it, the House of Representatives can overturn the veto with a 2/3 majority vote. If the president chooses not to act, the bill will automatically become law after 30 days.

About Abante

Abante was elected as House Minority Leader this past July and is the senior pastor of the Metropolitan Bible Baptist Ekklesia. He is also one of several members of Congress who supports the reinstatement of the death penalty in the Philippines. He has, however, said he is in favor of the death penalty only as a consequence for “heinous crimes,” such as terrorism or when people are raped and murdered. For the pastor and politician, love of one’s country seems to go hand-in-hand with love for God. While attending a mass baptism, Abante praised the ministry that organized the event, saying, “I am proud that there is an indigenous Filipino religious organization that believes in nationalism and patriotism” and “that promotes love of country and love for God.”

The House Minority Leader believes that even though many view the Philippines as the only “Christian nation” in Asia, that does not mean people necessarily recognize the Bible’s value and power. He hopes that government officials, as well as students, will apply the Bible to their lives in order to improve life in the Philippines. He said, “If only the Bible is read, proclaimed, obeyed and practiced, the Philippines, our beloved and only country, would be a much better place to live in, and our government would be a government of honesty, righteousness and order.”

Standing on Our Knees for Prayer

By
Nicole Leigh
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October 14, 2019

It was still dark outside as I rose to go for prayer. A chill in the room told me that it was going to be a frigid mile-walk to the square. I wanted to crawl back under the covers, but resisted. “I’ve been doing this for only three days while my Ukrainian friends have done it every day for five years,” I rebuked myself.

Leaving the hotel, I picked my way around frozen piles of ice and deep muddy puddles, bent my head away from the wind, wrapped my scarf a little tighter, and walked in the early morning light to Freedom Square in Kharkov. It was only 26 degrees with fresh snow falling and a bitter wind beating at my face, but I arrived to find big smiles, hearty handshakes, and warm cheek-kisses from a jovial group who seemed not to notice the cold at all. The contagious joy warmed me from inside out and made me glad I’d come.

But every day? For five years? I don’t know if I could do it. What compels these people to get up early and kneel in the snow? Why is it so important to meet together when they could whisper a prayer from the warmth of their beds?

Call for Prayer

In March of 2014 tanks and guns and men with masks appeared on the streets of Kharkov, Ukraine, throwing everything into upheaval and threatening the twenty-three-year religious freedom that had nurtured this post-Communist generation. Nearby cities of Lugansk and Donetsk were also under attack by separatists, but those battling in Kharkov didn’t know what they were up against.

Pastors and evangelical leaders put out a call for prayer—seven o’clock every morning, in the city square, for anyone who wanted to fight the real battle taking place for their city—the spiritual battle. Within a week, a hundred and fifty to two hundred believers showed up to fight on their knees because they remembered the spiritual darkness that shadowed their land under Communism. This wasn’t a political battle, it was and is a spiritual battle of epic proportion as their freedom to worship, meet together as churches, pray publicly, and share their faith with others was all being threatened.

“This is the generation of the children whose fathers were killed for their faith, whose fathers spent most of their time in prison for their faith. We knew the real face of Communism, and it was trying to come back. We were standing on our knees, and we said, ‘Lord, we don’t know what to do. Our eyes are on you, Lord.’ The only hope was on the Lord,” said Pastor V, a Baptist pastor and one of the leading organizers of the prayer meeting.

During the seventy-two-year Communist rule, evangelical churches and activities were outlawed. Ukrainians who preached, taught from Scripture, or shared the gospel were forced underground and severely persecuted. Two generations of children grew up being taught in school that there was no God. After WWII, conditions were especially dangerous. Baptists and other Protestant believers in the USSR were compulsively sent to mental hospitals, were forced to endure trials and imprisonment, and were even deprived of their parental right in some cases.

“At this point, I’d be afraid not to pray,” said pastor V. “We know what’s at stake.”

After years of praying and paying dearly for their faith, God brought religious freedom to the country. Since that time Ukraine has become the Bible Belt of Eastern Europe. It is the hub of evangelical life throughout the former Soviet Union, leading the way in new churches and sending missionaries.

In contrast, the still-occupied territory in Eastern Ukraine is presently seeing the same attitude toward evangelicals that they remember all too well from their childhood. In the wake of the 2014 takeover by separatists, evangelical churches have been closed and threatened with fines in the main cities in the occupied territory.

Now, when these brothers and sisters gather, they pray for those in the war zone and for long-lasting peace, knowing that it will only come if God’s spirit moves to bring people to repentance and faith in Jesus.

This is why Ukrainians pray every day, on their knees, regardless of the weather.

“At this point, I’d be afraid not to pray,” said pastor V. “We know what’s at stake.”

Lessons for Prayer

Joe Ragan and Linda Gray, who serve in Kharkov as IMB missionaries, lived through the scariest times of the invasion. Joe had to flee his home in the war zone in 2014, leaving all his earthly possessions behind. Linda was in Kharkov, then and now, and remembers almost fleeing the city in fear during those days. God used this prayer group—their fellowship and faithfulness—to keep Linda grounded.

“In some ways I was in awe of my Ukrainian brothers and sisters and their passion for prayer, only watching from afar. But after a short time, I found myself kneeling alongside my friends. I always rose up from the time for prayer with a sense of knowing I was still exactly where I was meant to be,” she said.

Hebrews 11 is a roll call of those who came before us, an encouragement to learn from those who exemplified faith. Though the Ukrainians on the square are not figures of the past, they are present day examples of faith in a world not so different from our own. As Joe and Linda can testify, they have a lot to teach us. As conflict rises and anti-Christian rhetoric begins to influence the culture where we live, might we be wise to follow the example of our Ukrainian brothers and sisters? What might we learn from these faithful pray-ers?

1. Start with repentance for prayer.

When the events of March 2014 took place, the Ukrainian church felt it was a wakeup call and was strongly convicted that they had not been already praying for their country and their leaders (1 Tim. 2:1-3). In the twenty-three-year period after Communism, enthusiasm had waned, and the church had quickly become complacent.

“When we started praying at the square, I had to repent, because I hadn’t been praying for our president or our government. Because we didn’t like them, we didn’t pray, even though we are Christians and the Bible tells us to pray,” said Nadia, my translator and a pastor’s wife in Kharkov. Now they pray every day for those in power over them, whether they like them or not.

2. Pray in times of peace.

Even though the immediate threat of violence has passed in Kharkov, the dedicated group (about twenty people now) continues to meet and pray faithfully. Through the events that took place five years ago, their eyes were opened to the threat of danger and the privilege of peace. They prayed frantically for safety from immediate danger. Now when they gather, they pray not only for God’s blessings, but for revival in their churches and on their streets so that God’s name can be known to all Ukrainians.

3. Pray even in the midst of social or political pressure to stop.

When the prayer group began in 2014, they were threatened by soldiers and violence as well as policemen who said they had to disperse or face jail. “In the first days when we began to pray in the square, we were afraid because we knew that we might be beaten,” said Nina, an Orthodox believer who has been a faithful pray-er since the beginning.

The fears weren’t imagined. In Donetsk, where the battle also raged, a prayer tent was set up, and the leader was beaten and hospitalized. He later died.

“We have to stand on our knees and overcome our fears,” said Ivan, an eighty-year-old man who arises at 5:30 every morning to travel to the square and pray. “You must understand that when you kneel for prayer, big things happen. God gave us power to overcome fear.”

4. Join with other denominations to seek God together for prayer.

Two of the founding members of this prayer group were an Orthodox priest and Pastor V, a Baptist. The fear of war brought believers of all denominations together in a new and unique way. Pastor V said that these “prayer friends” made their Christian world wider and helped them see what God is doing. No one ever asks a new pray-er what church they belong to. All are welcomed. “The church gathered, and Christians came out together,” said Nina. “On the square, the church became one.”

5. Know that the sweet fellowship for prayer is worth the effort.

Despite long travel routes and bad weather, the ones who come together each day now depend on the encouragement and fellowship of communal prayer. The big smiles and hugs and laughter among the group make it obvious that the joy is greater than the inconvenience. Pastor V says the practice has become a welcomed routine and a great start to the day and makes them stronger in their spirit.

“Whatever the weather is, after prayer and fellowship with brothers and sisters, moreover, with God almighty, I just fly back home on the wings of faith,” Ivan said.

As I rise from my kneeling position, my toes are a little numb and, well, honestly, I’m freezing. But it doesn’t really matter because my heart is warm and full of gratitude for the witness of these people.

I’ve never been because I’m not a ‘morning person,’ a reason that seemed legitimate until now.

I live in Prague, Czech Republic, the atheist capital of Europe. There is a group that meets every morning in the center and prays. I’ve never been because I’m not a ‘morning person,’ a reason that seemed legitimate until now. Today, I decide, I will join the group of pray-ers in Prague one day soon, and as we pray for our city, I will also be praying for Kharkov and thanking God for the fellowship of standing on our knees together. Will you pray for your city?

This article about standing on our knees for prayer originally appeared here.

A Yardstick for Slander

By
Paul Swamidass
-

October 14, 2019

A Biblical yardstick is needed for slander otherwise it destroys trust within organizations. It causes the members of an organization to become wary of each other. It harshly cuts down its victim. And finally, the Bible says, slander is an ungodly sin, again and again. If not controlled in Christian organizations, it may eventually weaken or end the ministry altogether.

No wonder, the Bible has several explicit warnings about this sin:

“Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent? …The one whose walk is blameless…whose tongue utters no slander, who does no wrong to a neighbor, and casts no slur on others.” (Psalm 15:3)

“For out of heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what defile a person.” (Matthew 15:19-20)

^“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. ” (Ephesians 4:31)

King David was a victim of it, and this is what we learn from him about it:

Several Psalms bear witness to the pain he endured (Psalm 35:15; 41:6; 54:5; 119.23).

David recognizes that rulers, or those in authority, when they get together, may indulge in it (Psalm 119:23).

He records that it is an act perpetrated by one’s enemies and, once they begin to be slanderous, they do not cease from it (Psalm 35:15).

United States Law

United States (U.S.) law on defamation may confuse Christians. Unlike the Bible, US law defines slander/defamation in the context of truth and untruth. If slanderous words are true, it does not come under the legal definition of slander/defamation. According to Emily Doskow, an Attorney[1],

“’Defamation’ is the catch-all term for any statement that hurts someone’s reputation [emphasis added]. Written defamation is called ‘libel,’ and spoken defamation is called, ‘slander.’” Further, she says, “A defamatory statement must be false—otherwise it’s not considered damaging. Even terribly mean or disparaging things are not defamatory if the shoe fits. Most opinions don’t count as defamation [i.e. slander] because they can’t be proved to be objectively false. For instance, when a reviewer says, “That was the worst book I’ve read all year,” she’s not defaming the author, because the statement can’t be proven to be false [emphasis added].”

Once slander/defamation based on untrue statements is established, U.S. law allows for damages to be recovered from the slanderer/defamer through the courts system.

In the above legal definition, carefully note the exceptions such as: “statements can’t be proven to be false.”

In contrast, the Bible has numerous passages prohibiting it outright, without exceptions, whatsoever. Any derogatory statement, true or untrue, to diminish and/or harm another person, intentionally or unintentionally, could be considered slander according to the Bible.

Consider this verse:

“Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.” (1 Peter 2:1)

“Slander of every kind” is an exceptions-free definition in the Bible—it is much broader than the narrow legal definition for defamation/slander limited to only untrue statements.

The Biblical Yardstick

We are surrounded by a culture of slander magnified by the media and now, social media. There is little to stop this corrosive culture from seeping unhindered into churches and Christian organizations. However, clear teaching and explicit policies of Christian organizations against Biblical slander could help prevent unintended defamation born out of ignorance.

Given the conflicting definitions under U.S. law and in the Bible, Christian organizations will be wise to adopt short and simple guidelines that set a superior, Bible-based, yardstick for slander. Here is a sample:

A sample policy:

We teach and practice that “all forms of slander” with or without malice is prohibited in the Bible as exemplified in 1 Peter 2:1. Further, in order to remove any confusion, we explicitly state that, even the legally defensible slander/defamation “based on facts” or “that which cannot be proven to be false,” are prohibited in the Bible.

I was once asked by a Christian leader,

“Is it slander, when our ‘fact-finding’ committee of our Christian organization invited a witness to describe in detail his complaint concerning an absent Christian’s alleged misconduct that was unknown to others?”

According to the above sample policy,

“Yes, the Bible would consider it slander.”

What did Jesus teach us?

“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over” (Matt 18: 15; NIV).

In the above verse, the words of Jesus, “just between the two of you,” is the blessed initial step for killing it before it can take root.

We have two choices, legal or Biblical; choose the Biblical yardstick, slander is slander, no ifs or buts.

Acknowledgement:

The author is grateful to a retired judge and a sitting judge, both Christians, who read an earlier draft of this blog and concurred on the matters concerning U.S. law. However, any errors concerning U.S. law that remain in this blog are entirely the responsibility of the author. This blog is not a legal document or legal advice. Consult an attorney, if a specific or general legal opinion or guidance is needed. The goal of this blog is to alert Christian leaders to the stringent expectations of the Bible concerning slander, and it is unwise to bend the Biblical yardstick for it using U.S. law.

[1] http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/defamation-law-made-simple-29718.html April 30, 2016.

This article originally appeared on the CLA Higher Thinking Blog.

When Studying the Bible, Don’t Follow Your Heart

By
Jen Wilkin
-

October 14, 2019

Love God with Heart and Mind

The heart, as it is spoken of in Scripture, is the seat of the will and emotions. It is our “feeler” and our “decision-maker.” Letting my heart guide my study meant that I looked for the Bible to make me feel a certain way when I read it. I wanted it to give me peace, comfort, or hope. I wanted it to make me feel closer to God. I wanted it to give me assurance about tough choices. Because I wanted the Bible to engage my emotions, I spent little time in books like Leviticus or Numbers and much time in books like the Psalms and the Gospels.

The Bible commands us to love God with all of our hearts (Mark 12:30). When we say that we love God with all of our hearts, we mean that we love him completely with our emotions and with our wills. Attaching our emotions to our faith comes fairly naturally for women—generally speaking, we know how to be emotive without much guidance. If we think of the heart as the seat of our emotions and our will, it makes sense that we so often approach God’s Word asking, “Who am I?” and “What should I do?” Those two questions uniquely address the heart. And we speak often in the church about how Christianity is a religion of the heart—of how Christ comes into our hearts, of how we need heart-change. It is right to speak of Christianity in this way, but not exclusively in this way.

Interestingly, the same verse that commands us to love God with all of our hearts also commands us to love him with all of our minds. Our minds are the seat of our intellects. Attaching our intellect to our faith does not come naturally to most of us. We live in a time when faith and reason are spoken of as polar opposites. At times, the church has even embraced this kind of language. For some of us, the strength of our faith is gauged by how close we feel to God at any given moment—by how a sermon made us feel, by how a worship chorus made us feel, by how our quiet time made us feel. Hidden in this thinking is an honest desire to share a deep relationship with a personal God, but sustaining our emotions can be exhausting and defeating. Changing circumstances can topple our emotional stability in an instant. Our “walk with the Lord” can feel more like a roller-coaster ride of peaks and valleys than a straight path in which valleys and mountains have been made level.

Could this be because we’ve gotten things backwards? By asking our hearts to lead our minds, have we willingly purchased a ticket to the roller-coaster ride? Unless we turn things around, placing the mind in charge of the heart, we could be in for a long, wild ride.

The Role of the Mind

Asking us to put our minds before our hearts sounds almost unspiritual, doesn’t it? But notice the way that Scripture talks about the role of the mind:

In repentance: “If they repent with all their mind and with all their heart in the land of their enemies . . . then hear in heaven your dwelling place their prayer and their plea. . . .” (1 Kings 8:48–49)

In seeking God: “Now set your mind and heart to seek the Lord your God.” (1 Chron. 22:19)

In finding peace: “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” (Isa. 26:3)

In right worship: “For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.” (1 Cor. 14:14–15)

In understanding the Scriptures: “Then [Jesus] said to [the disciples], ‘These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.’ Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.” (Luke 24:44–45)

In transforming us: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Rom. 12:2–3)

Don’t rush past that pivotal truth you just read in Romans 12:2–3. What Christian doesn’t desperately want life transformation and knowledge of the will of God? In these verses, Paul states unequivocally how we can have them: by the renewing of our minds—not our hearts.

For years I tried to love God with my heart to the neglect of my mind, not recognizing my need to grow in the knowledge of the “I am.” Any systematic study of the Bible felt mechanical, even a little like an act of faithlessness or an admission that the Holy Spirit’s insight during a quiet time wasn’t enough for me. But I was missing the important truth that the heart cannot love what the mind does not know. This is the message of Romans 12:2–3—not that the mind alone affects transformation, but that the path to transformation runs from the mind to the heart, and not the other way around.

Content adapted from Women of the Word by Jen Wilkin. This article first appeared at Crossway.org; used with permission.

Should Mac Users Upgrade to Catalina?

By
Nick Nicholaou
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October 13, 2019

Apple will be releasing the next version of its Mac operating system soon. Called Catalina, it will have features and enhanced security many will want. Even though it’ll be free, should you upgrade to Catalina? Maybe! Maybe not!

Some Features & Improvements

Apple is proud it’s OS (operating system) improvements with this version of macOS. It looks very promising!

Sidecar: a feature that lets you to turn your iPad into a second display

Screen Time: bringing the parenting tool to the Mac (it has been on iOS devices for about a year)

Splitting the iTunes app into three apps to line up with iPhones and iPads

Improved security, including a better method of unlocking a Mac with an Apple Watch

And more!

I’m especially excited about how Sidecar may improve my work when traveling on planes!

Why the Cautionary Tone, Nick?  One of Catalina’s new features is that it will only run 64-bit apps. Though the macOS has been a 64-bit OS for some time, this will be the first version that will only allow running 64-bit apps. It’s a good and important step forward, but it could mean that some of the apps you’ve come to love and rely on will not work on a Mac running Catalina.

What Should You Do Before Upgrading?  Because 32-bit apps will not work on Macs running Catalina and going forward, it’s important that you find out which of your apps will be affected, and then upgrade those to 64-bit versions Here’s how:

Click the Apple symbol ( ) on your Mac’s menu bar

Click About This Mac

On the Overview view, click the System Report button

Scroll down to the Software section in the sidebar, and select Applications

The right column of that list has64-Bit at the top, and that’s the column you’ll focus on.

Clicking on the 64-Bit header will sort the list by apps that are not 64-bit and those that are.

The apps that are not 64-bit are the ones that will not work on a Mac with the Catalina macOS.

Click on any of the No lines, and you’ll be able to see in the lower section of your screen the company that provided that app

Contact those companies and let them know you need a 64-bit version (see pic).

Some apps will require purchasing a newer version. If the app is one you like using and thus rely on, it may be worth purchasing the newer version.

Your only other option at this time may be to not upgrade to Catalina. And that’s not necessarily an unacceptable option at this time. The decision is yours. The main thing is to know in advance so you don’t get caught by surprise.

8 Ways to ‘Redeem’ Your Cell Phone for Ministry Use

By
Chuck Lawless
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October 12, 2019

I’ve written in the past about why I believe that cell phones can hinder ministry, in addition to why I know I must put my phone down in meetings. I recognize, though, that cell phones are a part of our lives. So, perhaps these suggestions will help us “redeem” our cell phone for ministry.

8 Ways to Use Your Cell Phone for Ministry

Enroll in a “verse of the day” email or text subscription, and read the verse many times each day. Not only will that commitment keep the Word in front of you all day, but you’ll also memorize some texts without even trying. You may even choose to do your daily Bible reading electronically, though I still prefer my hard copy.

Commit to praying for an unreached people group each day by subscribing to the Joshua Project’s daily prayer list. Take the time to read about each group (usually no more than about five minutes each day), and your heart will begin to break for the nations.

At least once each week, call somebody with a word of encouragement. They’ll be both blessed by your affirmation and surprised that anyone actually called them rather than sending an electronic message.

Use an app to memorize scripture regularly. My students like both Fighter Verses and Bible Memory, though you may find another that you prefer. Treasure the Word in your heart that you might not sin against God (Psalm 119:11).

Use an app to challenge and reinforce your prayer life. I’ve found PrayerMate to be a helpful resource, particularly because it allows me to set alarm reminders to take time to pray. Via this app, I have my prayer list with me anytime I have my phone.

Take pictures of every person you baptize. How I wish I’d made this commitment when I started ministry 38 years ago! Of course, back then you had to carry a camera with you . . . but now your camera is on your phone. Those pictures can be great memories and ongoing encouragement.

Send an electronic prayer to someone each week. I have friends who include me on their prayer lists (two via texts, and one via email), and I look forward to learning how they’re praying for me each week. I’ve also begun sending voice prayer texts to folks I can’t reach just so they hear the prayer.

Use live polling to get feedback during a sermon. You have to choose the right technology, train your congregation to give their responses, wisely use the information gained, and not let the technology overshadow the Word—but appropriate polling can help engage your congregation as you preach.

What other ways come to mind for you?

This article about using your cell phone for ministry originally appeared here.

Evangelicals Decry Trump’s ‘betrayal’ of Kurds in Syria

By
Megan Briggs
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October 11, 2019

Some of U.S. President Donald Trump’s most loyal supporters are decrying his decision to pull U.S. troops from the northern region of Syria ahead of an offensive by Turkish military forces. Critics of the President’s decision call it a “betrayal” and an “abandonment” of the U.S.’s long-time allies the Kurds. Some leaders fear the move to step out of the way of the Turkish forces essentially seals the bad fate of Christians and Kurds in Syria.

Kurds in Syria: Some Background

On Sunday evening, October 6, 2019, Trump announced his decision to pull U.S. military forces out of northern Syria. The decision was made even with the knowledge of Turkey’s announced plans to move troops into the area. Turkey’s President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, stated the goal of the military offensive is to establish “peace” in the region by ridding it of “terrorists.”

As many familiar with the history of the conflicts in the Middle East will tell you, Turkey views the Kurdish forces as terrorists due to their ties to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which launched offensives against Turkish troops in their fight for an independent Kurdish state. It’s important to note the U.S. government also views the PKK as a terrorist organization.

Kurds that don’t belong to the PKK also desire to form their own nation-state in the area (Kurdistan is a mountainous region that straddles the borders of Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Armenia) where they have lived for centuries. However, not all Kurdish forces align with the PKK’s politics or willingness to engage in acts of war against the powers that be.

Republican Senator Lindsay Graham said Turkey views the Kurds as “more of a threat to Turkey than ISIS.” Kurdish troops have fought in the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) alliance and have served as key allies to the U.S. in various conflicts in the Middle East, including the latest attempts to corral and defeat ISIS.

Turkey invaded Syria on Wednesday morning. Trump said, “Turkey has committed to protecting civilians, protecting religious minorities, including Christians, and ensuring no humanitarian crisis takes place—and we will hold them to this commitment.”

However, reports indicate that Turkish forces are not holding to their commitment and are allegedly doing things like bombing Christian neighborhoods, killing civilians and SDF soldiers seemingly indiscriminately. According to The International Rescue Committee, 64,000 people in Syria have fled since the Turkish offensive began. Some of those fleeing are Christians. In Defense of Christians, a non-profit organization that advocates for the “protection and preservation of Christians in the Middle East,” says northern Syria is home to over 40,000 Christians. IDC says it is “deeply concerned” for both the Christian and the Yazidi communities facing the brunt of this offensive.

Evangelical Leaders Respond and Rebuke Trump

Not only have some of Trump’s staunchest supporters in Washington chided him for the decision to pull out of Syria, some of his evangelical supporters are upset with him over this issue as well.

Sen. Graham, for instance, said the withdrawal of U.S. troops “ensures the reemergence of ISIS” and that the Kurds had been “shamelessly abandoned by the Trump Administration.”

On his program the 700 Club, Pat Robertson said he is “absolutely appalled” by the U.S.’s “betrayal” of the Kurds. He also called Erdogan a “thug” and criticized Trump for allowing journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s death to go without being met by “any repercussions whatsoever.” Robertson said Trump “is allowing the Christians and the Kurds to be massacred by the Turks.” So aggrieved is Robertson by Trump’s actions that he said he believes “the President is in danger of losing the mandate of heaven if he permits this to happen.”

Franklin Graham, who supported Trump early in the 2016 campaign and has regularly defended the President’s widely criticized decisions, has made comments on the abandonment of the Kurds. However, he did not directly criticize the President.

The Kurds are the ones who have been leading the fight against ISIS in Syria. Also pray for the Christians who the Kurds have been protecting. They could be annihilated. Would you pray w/me that Pres. @realDonaldTrump will reconsider? Thousands of lives hang in the balance. 2/2

— Franklin Graham (@Franklin_Graham) October 9, 2019

Tim Tebow Shares Gospel with High Security Offenders: ‘It’s One of My Favorite Things’

By
Jessica Lea
-

October 11, 2019

Tim Tebow made a spontaneous visit to a maximum security prison for men in Gatesville, Texas, on October 3rd. While there, he encouraged and shared the gospel with the inmates, the majority of whom are guilty of murder and sexual offenses.

“So grateful to spend time with my new brothers in Christ at Alfred Hughes Prison and encouraging them in the hope that Jesus brings!” Tebow wrote in an Instagram post about his visit.

Five Hours at a Maximum Security Prison

KWTX News reports that Tebow was scheduled to speak that evening at the annual “Celebrate Life” banquet, which is put on by Care Net, a pregnancy care center. He did keep that engagement, but when the father of one of the inmates at Alfred D. Hughes Unit reached out by letter to the Tim Tebow foundation, the Heisman Trophy winner decided to make a detour. His foundation contacted a prison ministry called Discipleship Unlimited for help visiting the unit, and Tebow travelled 40 minutes out of his way to the prison to meet Suzanne and Terry McDonald, who work with the ministry.

The former professional football player arrived at Alfred Hughes around 10:30 a.m. and ended up being there for five hours. He spent the first hour with a handful of inmates who are not allowed to be in groups, and after that he delivered a message to 250 offenders. “He was just telling them that he was there because he loves them and they have a purpose and they can fulfill that purpose even where they are,” said Suzanne McDonald. “And he told them God loves them and there is nothing they could have done that would interfere with that love.”

Even Murderers and Sex Offenders?

One person commented on Tebow’s post, asking, “Tim, honest question: I looked up Alfred Hughes unit and most of these guys are murderers and sex offenders, what is your message to them?” Tebow replied, “I told them about their father in Heaven, what He did for them… how Jesus paved the way and that no matter what our past is, God’s love never leaves and He is always with us. We talked and prayed that through a faith in Jesus and His grace, that we could be brothers in Christ.”

Tebow also participated in—and lost—a pushup competition with one of the inmates. The ESPN commentator said, “We had fun, but I got smoked!…Excited to see how they will use their lives for the Kingdom as the [sic] grow closer to God and encourage others to live in faith! Thank you to the Warden and the entire staff- thank you for opening your doors and letting us love on your boys today!”

View this post on Instagram

We had fun, but I got smoked! So encouraged by what God is doing at Alfred Hughes prison and grateful for the time spent with my new brothers in Christ today! Excited to see how they will use their lives for the Kingdom as the grow closer to God and encourage others to live in faith! Thank you to the Warden and the entire staff- thank you for opening your doors and letting us love on your boys today!

A post shared by Tim Tebow (@timtebow) on Oct 3, 2019 at 1:49pm PDT

Why Go to a Maximum Security Prison?

“Honestly it’s one of my favorite things to do on this earth,” said Tebow according to Fox News. “I know it sounds weird, going to a prison, but man I just feel like it’s something God put on my heart a long time ago and he said, ‘Hey, most of the world forgot about them, but you don’t forget.’ So I try not to forget.”

5 Surprising Truths About Biblical Kindness

By
Davis Wetherell
-

October 11, 2019

I’m not sure I’ve ever met a person who does not want kindness. In today’s society, people generally agree that more kindness would make the world a better place. But what exactly is it? Where does it come from? What does it do?

Definitions of this word often associate the word with being friendly, generous, and considerate. While this may be helpful, these three terms can fail to depict the full nature of what kindness looks like. Here are five things the Bible reveals about kindness rooted in Christ, which gives the term some needed substance:

1.) Kindness is Powerful

For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared… (Titus 3:3-4)

Consider what Paul is claiming here.

He is saying that we were fools. We did not obey. We followed leaders who took us astray. Not only this but we spent all our time wishing we had what others had and being angry at them for having it. Other people hated us, and we returned the favor. If I met a person like this today, I would likely say, “They are too far gone! Nothing can bring them back to goodness.”

Then everything shifts as Paul writes, “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared.” Just like that, the previous evils are overshadowed by the great mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Kindness, like meekness, gets confused for passivity and ineffectiveness. But the Bible says otherwise—it is the tool of God’s omnipotence. Kindness is so powerful, it is even stronger than death!

2.) Kindness Is Stronger than Death

Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead! (Ruth 2:20)

In discussing a man whom Ruth just met (Boaz), Naomi hopes for best. She says, “may he be blessed by the Lord,” and then she describes the Lord with these amazing words: “whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!”

This woman has seen many trials in her life. First, a famine in her home land caused Naomi and her whole family to flee. Then, her husband died. And then, her two sons pass away. All she had left was her two daughters-in-law, which would soon become one daughter-in-law after the other went back home.

This woman was familiar with death. We may think that she would distrust God or think that He did not care for her or her family. But, in reality, Naomi believes in God’s goodness and knows Him to have a lasting kindness extending both to herself and to her deceased family members.

Death was not enough to make Naomi doubt God’s kindness. Nor was it enough, she knew, to separate her husband and sons from it.

Her words sound a lot like what Paul writes in his letter to the Romans: “For I am sure that neither death nor life… will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).

God’s kindness is stronger than death! This was true in Naomi’s day, in Paul’s day, and also in ours. If we are in Christ, we shall always see the power of God’s lovingkindness.

3.) Kindness Prepares for Repentance

Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? (Romans 2:4)

So, kindness has significant power, and it’s power is not meant to simply make us feel better about ourselves. The power of kindness is seen in how it leads people to repentance.

Remember this next time someone makes you angry. You want them to know how they hurt you, and you want them to never do it again. When I am in this position, I usually use a different tool than kindness. I may use spite, gossip, or coldness, thinking to myself that kindness will only encourage their behavior.

This fruit of the Spirit entails forbearance, yet Scripture also tells us that God uses kindness to lead us into repentance. Why should I use a tool other than the one God chooses to use?

4.) Kindness Can Hurt

Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness;
let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head. (Psalm 141:5)

When I think of actions associated with kindness, I think of “hug,” “listen,” or “smile.” I certainly do not think of “strike!” Yet, Psalm 141 brings together the two words.

When someone speaks a hard truth into your life, it can hurt. Sometimes it feels like they have betrayed you, like they don’t understand you anymore, or like they are looking down on you. In the moment, you can’t see why they would say what they did—and it just feels like an aimless, unprompted attack.

And yet, what at first seems like an aimless attack may actually be a compassionate gesture, pushing you back toward fixing your eyes on Christ. Once your eyes are on Him, you can look back and say: “I was in a bad place, and thanks to the kind strike from my friend, I’ve returned to the peace that comes from Jesus.”

5.) Kindness Brings Honor

Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness
will find life, righteousness, and honor. (Proverbs 21:21)

Once again, kindness sometimes carries a connotation of insignificance and failure. Kindness might seem like a nice ideal to some, but if they really want to “make a difference” or “be someone important,” then they can’t be kind all the time.

First of all, this is not true. As we have already demonstrated, kindness is powerful, and it can change the person you never thought would change.

Secondly, it is slightly true. This world promises certain honors, many of which could be missed by a person who was kind all the time. Yet, as Christians, we are called to strive for a greater honor. We are called to imitate the sufferings of Jesus, which result in an imperishable honor.

There is great honor waiting for those who pursue kindness—for they are zealous for good works for the sake of Jesus Christ.

Don’t miss out on this honor by walking in the way of the world.

© Unlocking the Bible by Davis Wetherell. Used with permission. https://unlockingthebible.org/2019/09/5-surprising-truths-biblical-kindness/

7 Childcare Solutions for Small Groups

By
Derek Olson
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October 11, 2019

Whether you are a small group leader/host or the small group pastor/point person at your church, here are 7 childcare solutions to help your small group(s) thrive.

Childcare Solutions for Small Groups

#1. The “Swap” Solution

My personal small group consists of 3 families with a combined total of 6 kids under the age of 4! This solution that I’ve dubbed the “swap,” is what we currently use, and it’s been working well. After everyone enjoys some food, fun & fellowship together on the front end of your small group, separate the adults of your group into two parts when you get to the study/ discussion portion of your gathering (example: either men & women or these 4 people & those 4 people). While one half of the adults take 30 or so minutes to watch the video curriculum, talk & pray, the other half is watching the kids, drinking coffee and eating dessert in a separate area. After the allotted time, the two adult groups swap places.

#2. The “Rotate” Solution

For this childcare solution, rotate two parents or members out of the group on a weekly basis to provide childcare in another room. This is best done in pairs to provide company for the adults and to add accountability for the kids. Never rotate out a married couple, but instead send two men or two women so that relationships are built. (from Steve Gladen’s “Leading Small Groups with Purpose“)

#3. The “Trade” Solution

If your group meets on Tuesday and you know of another group that meets on Thursday, offer to watch their children while they meet & ask them to do the same for your group. (from Steve Gladen’s “Leading Small Groups with Purpose“)

#4. The “Use Your Church’s Midweek Ministry” Solution

If your church provides some type of midweek kids ministry or childcare, parents can drop their kids off at the church and then head to their small group afterwards. Some churches who have the space, will also allow for small groups to meet on campus during this time. If your small group meets in a home that seems too far away from the church campus, ask your small group point person if meeting on the campus could be an option for your group.

#5. The “Subsidize” Solution

Some churches are able to work into their budget the ability to subsidize each small group for a pre-detertmined childcare cost. In this instance, the small group is responsible for finding their own childcare worker, and one group member (usually the small group leader/ host) will front the money to pay the child care worker on the day of the small group gathering. Then the group leader will usually fill out a digital reimbursement form and email it to the small group point person. The church will then write a check and mail it to the group leader. If you are a small group leader/ host, ask your small group point person if this could be an option.

#6. The “Partner with your Youth Ministry” Solution

Some churches have a partnership with their youth ministry where responsible students can provide child care as a ministry project to small groups in order to earn hours towards a camp or mission trip. (example: a student may earn $10 per hour. They don’t get the cash, but the hours are tracked and put towards their camp/ trip). This can be a win/ win where the youth get to go to camp for free, parents can enjoy themselves during the group study/discussion and the kids have care. If you are a small group leader/host, ask your small group point person if this is an option.

#7. The “All Family Group” Solution

When all else fails, embrace the idea that your group is an “all family group” where children are allowed to play in the same room as the meeting. This works best when the children are small and are not likely to catch much of what is being said. Or, kids that are elementary age and older can participate with the group. The positive of this is that families will grow together, but the challenge is that you will need to limit discussion time. (from Steve Gladen’s “Leading Small Groups with Purpose“). The key here is to create a flexible plan in advance that is tailored around the kids. Also, if you have older kids or trusted teens in the group, you can give them incentives to help play with and lead the younger kids in an activity during the discussion time, which may help to eliminate some distractions.

Childcare Solutions Bonus: The “Pool Your Money Together” Solution

Each couple or parent can bring a couple of dollars to combine with everyone else’s. Then (even if it’s just for one hour during the study/ discussion time) hire a quality childcare worker to look after the kids in a separate area while the adults enjoy the discussion with minimal interruption, and no one goes broke.

This article about childcare solutions for small groups originally appeared here.

How Reading People Protects Us and Those We Love From Harm

By
James Emery White
-

October 11, 2019

In his new book, Talking to Strangers, Malcolm Gladwell explores why so many of our interactions with strangers go wrong and how we aren’t good at reading people.

For example, how did Fidel Castro fool the CIA for an entire generation? Why did the Prime Minister of England Neville Chamberlain think he could trust Adolf Hitler after meeting him, but Winston Churchill – who never met him – never trusted him?

Gladwell notes that the people who were right about Hitler were those who knew the least about him personally, and the ones who were wrong about him were the ones who had talked with him for hours.

But this plays itself out over and over again.

Why did so many trust Bernie Madoff with their money?

Why did so many parents trust Jerry Sandusky with their children?

In other words, why can’t we tell when the stranger in front of us is lying to our face, and how is it that meeting a stranger can sometimes make us worse at making sense of that person than not meeting them?

Gladwell’s thesis is that something is wrong with the tools and strategies we use to make sense of people we don’t know. And because we don’t know how to talk to strangers, we invite conflict and misunderstanding into our lives and into our world.

It’s a fascinating read.

It caused me to reflect upon how I read people—and I do read people. We all do. But I read people better now than I did when I was younger, mostly due to a litany of lessons learned the hard way.

Here are a few lessons I’ve learned about reading people:

Reading people involves keeping an eye on their ego.

For example, if someone is a singer and is not asked to sing, how do they react? If they demand to know why or are offended that they aren’t asked, take note.

Reading people involves paying attention to what they tell you.

If they gossip to you, they will gossip about you. They are simply gossipers.

Reading people involves adding up pink flags.

We all know the phrase “that’s a red flag”—meaning something to take note of. But I’ve learned to talk about “pink flags”—meaning something of notice, but not quite certain. If enough pink flags present themselves, add them up to a full-blooded red.

Reading people involves observing their reaction to sin.

Sin is real and is present in every human life. How do they react to it when they see it? Some lean toward grace, others toward truth. Look for those who keep it in balance.

Reading people involves gauging their sensitivity meter.

If someone is quick to take offense, has their feelings easily hurt, and always seems to take things the wrong way, you realize they are highly sensitive people. Translation: they are often relationally unsafe.

And last but not least, take a lesson from Gladwell’s research and pick up the phone. This is critical for anyone engaged in hiring staff or recruiting volunteers. I’ve written about what this entails in What They Didn’t Teach You in Seminary. I’ve been told this chapter alone is worth the price of the book.

All I know is I wish someone had told me about it.

This article originally appeared here.

The (Sometimes Forgotten) Starting Point for ChMS

By
Yvon Prehn
-

October 10, 2019

Church Management Software (ChMS) can inspire creative ways to reach out to and pastor your congregation and visitors, but it’s easy to forget the most essential thing about it: you have to have the names and contact information of the people you want to reach out to. No database of names: no ministry. This is the sometimes forgotten starting point for ChMS.

To get these names often involves the use of connection cards during a church service. Though it’s possible to have the option of giving your name and prayer requests digitally, most churches still rely on some kind of connection card either as a stand-alone piece or a tear-off part of the bulletin. Following are some tips for making the most of them and getting the largest return of them.

Take time in each service to make people aware of them. This means making certain people are sitting down when you announce the connect cards, and they have something to write with. It means that the pastor or worship leader specifically have people pull them out, look at them while the speaker emphasizes how important they are for the church to get to know visitors and respond to questions and needs.

Give people time to fill them out: play a few bars of music, have the worship team or choir sing a song. The point is to give people a quiet moment (and 60 seconds is plenty of time) to actually write something down without other things going on. This will be the hardest thing for you to do. Everything inside you will scream that you don’t have enough time, that it’s a waste of time. IGNORE THOSE VOICES! If you don’t give people time to do this, unless they are frequent attenders who want to share a prayer request, people, (especially visitors) probably won’t take time to fill out the cards. You will miss the opportunity to connect. (In addition, time it: It usually takes about 60 seconds to give people all the time they need to fill it the card with basic information. In reality, you have the time.)

Take them up with the offering: You will get the largest response if you do this. To ask people to take them to a welcome center, to ask them to put them into a box at the back, or to take them up at any other time will not give you as complete a response as you will get if you take them up with the offering. Also, this gives guests something to put in as the plate is passed and that is an incentive to turn in their card.

Be sure you follow-up immediately and appropriately: Don’t put connection cards in a pile on the back of someone’s desk to be handled when there is nothing else to do. It is vitally important to screen them, to respond to immediate needs, to record attendance and new and ongoing prayer requests. These connection cards are a vital connection not only to your visitors but also to your congregation as a whole. To not respond when someone reaches out to you via a connection card is just as if someone reached out his or her hand for you to shake and you looked away.

We never know the courage it might have taken to fill out that card, or the pain behind a shared request. Treat them as an important treasure; people are sharing their hearts and lives with you. Don’t disappoint people by promising you care and want people to connect and be involved and then not respond when they reach out to you.

Connection cards are the forgotten starting point for ChMS. They may seem like a small ministry tool, but as the Lord so often does, they are a little thing that can be used to accomplish great things.

Demario Davis Dodges $7,000 Fine, Orchestrates $40,000 Donation to Hospital

By
Stephanie Martin
-

October 10, 2019

A small piece of cloth unwittingly brought Demario Davis lots of attention; now it’s blessing other people while glorifying God.

Davis, a starting linebacker for the New Orleans Saints, had been wearing a gold “Man of God” headband under his helmet this season. During a September 22 game against Seattle, the phrase was visible when Davis took off his helmet. That led to a $7,017 fine for violating the National Football League’s “personal messages” rule. Players are prohibited from “wearing, displaying, or otherwise conveying personal messages” on game day unless they receive prior approval.

Davis, one of the league’s most outspoken Christian football players, said he wasn’t “fully aware” of the policy beforehand. To avoid escalating fines, he stopped wearing the headband during games, though he still sported it during post-game interviews. This week, Davis learned he won an appeal and won’t have to pay up—but he’s found an even better use for that seven grand.

Hometown Hospital Benefits From Demario Davis’ Headwear Flap

The league often rescinds these types of fines once a player agrees to comply in the future. But even before Davis knew about his victory, he was determined to make proverbial lemonade out of the situation. “I can’t wear [the headband] and represent God and glorify him,” he said. “It’s something that’s important to me, so I’m just trying to figure out a way to still turn it into a way he can get glory from it.”

His solution was to sell headbands online and donate all the proceeds to a hospital near his hometown of Jackson, Mississippi. St. Dominic Hospital, where Davis’ mother once worked, needs a new emergency room.

“I’m hoping to put [the headband] out where fans can wear it,” Davis says, “and I can wear it through them.” The $25 headbands, available in gold and pink, come in three versions: “Man of God,” “Woman of God,” and “Child of God.”

On Instagram this week, Davis wrote: “So far, we’ve raised over $30,000 for [the hospital] from the headbands!! That means y’all helped me turn a $7,000 negative into an almost $40,000 positive benefiting people who truly need it!!! Do y’all see how that worked??” He added, “Y’all are a part of this journey too!! I can’t thank y’all enough either. We on a mission over here obstacles are meant to be conquered!! I’m truly blessed as anybody.”

Demario Davis Gives God the Glory

Winning the appeal was “huge,” Davis admits, but it’s really just icing on the cake. “We’ve been able to turn it into a positive and use it to raise funds for a hospital that’s trying to rebuild this emergency room,” he says. “And then on top of that, being blessed to win the appeal and be able to take those funds that I was already counting as a loss and further contribute to the cause, it’s just a major blessing. And I don’t take it for granted.”

Davis says God has been working through the fine and the resulting publicity. “Nobody wants to lose money,” he says, “but I think any time that the conversation about God is brought up, especially in these times, I think it’s always a positive or silver lining. If he can get glory from it, I think he can get glory from it whether I personally wear the headband or don’t wear the headband. He’s always going to be in control of the whole situation. We’re still all good.”

Davis, whose Instagram profile reads “Servant of God 1st!” says he’s “always using my platform to glorify God.” He adds, “And that’s never going to change. Because I believe he’s the one who gave me this platform for that purpose to make his name known. So I’ll always be about that.”

Young Fans Create Their Own Headbands

Davis, 30, says he’s been humbled by all the support—from Christians as well as non-Christians. “Just to have the support of the community, and pretty much nationwide, it’s been amazing,” he says. “Just about being able to have the freedom of expression and your speech and to be able to stand for what you believe in, in your faith, has just been overwhelming.”

Especially heartwarming to the linebacker was the “totally unexpected” actions of students at St. Louis King of France Catholic School in Metairie, Louisiana. Schoolchildren posed on the playground wearing their own “Child of God” headbands, handmade from lined paper. Davis shared the photo on social media, calling it “the cutest thing ever.” The player says he has “something special coming” for those kids to express his thanks.

At Fields of Faith, Over 250,000 Students Encourage One Another to Be Bold for God

By
Jessica Lea
-

October 10, 2019

On Wednesday, October 9th, students across the U.S. met for Fields of Faith, an annual event organized by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). Over 250,000 students met on athletic fields to encourage one another to follow Jesus wholeheartedly.

“Fields of Faith is always such a fantastic night to me because the community comes together regardless of what church or school you go to,” said Tate O’Bryan, a sophomore at Cleveland High School in Cleveland, Tennessee. “It’s the only opportunity in my year where I get to see that kind of unity between everyone in Bradley County; that’s always one of my favorite parts of the night, along with seeing so many give their lives to Christ.”

What Is Fields of Faith?

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Fields of Faith was a motivating reminder that as believers we are called to be active participants in our walk with Christ, not spectators. Time to get off the sidelines! #westalabamafca #fieldsoffaith #FOF19 #bamafca

A post shared by West Alabama FCA (@westalabamafca) on Oct 10, 2019 at 8:56am PDT

Fields of Faith is part of FCA, a ministry whose goal is to “lead every coach and athlete into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and His church.” In 2002, Jeff Martin, an FCA Area Director in Oklahoma, was discouraged about the “temptations and spiritual battles” facing young people. When he prayed about what to do, God led him to 2 Chronicles 34, which recounts how King Josiah (who was a teenager) gathered the Israelites together to read scripture, leading to a revival.

The first Fields of Faith events were held in 2004 by over 6,000 students throughout Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma. That year, over 100 students committed their lives to Christ, as have thousands more who have since attended the events. Last year, almost 250,000 students met at 500 fields across the country and even outside of the country.

Fields of Faith events are held on fields because athletic fields are neutral locations where people in the community can gather. The events are also intentionally interdenominational out of the belief that keeping them within one denomination would cause them to be “severely limited.”

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#fof ✝️💕

A post shared by mary parker (@maryp.mason) on Oct 10, 2019 at 5:07am PDT

Fields of Faith Across the Nation

Thousands of people attended Fields of Faith in Muncie, Indiana, which started off with 17 students from nine different schools leading the crowd in worship. The theme of the evening was the Great Commission in Matthew 28. Three students shared their testimonies from the stage, telling how God led them through difficult times, including their fear of talking about their faith with others. One shared, “I was too scared to talk to people who I didn’t already know were Christians. I always kept that Jesus topic brushed under the rug.” It wasn’t until this student’s friend died in an accident that she became willing to step outside of her comfort zone.

Stephanie Bloom, a volleyball coach and the 2018 national high school girls coach of the year, also spoke, sharing about being challenged in her faith because of tragedies in her life. These hardships included the death of her sister’s fiance and her mother getting cancer. Bloom said, “The question of, ‘Why?’ has never been answered, but who God is has to be enough.”

The Fields of Faith event at Bradley County High School in Cleveland, Tennessee, on Sept. 25th took place the same day as See You at the Pole. Leaders encouraged students attending See You at the Pole to invite their friends to Fields of Faith later that evening, and over 150 middle and high school students committed their lives to Christ that night.

Twenty local churches joined FCA to host over 1,500 students at Fields of Faith in Bryan, Texas. The evening included worship, Scripture reading and student testimonies. High school senior Jacob Franke shared how when he was younger, he thought that he could be a good person by following all the rules. But, he said, “That’s not what Jesus is about. Jesus doesn’t want you going through life checking off your to-do list and never really knowing him. He wants you, and he wants your heart.”

At the Fields of Faith event in La Crosse, Wisconsin, FCA leader Sarah Hitchler told WXOW News that the event was an opportunity to unite people who usually compete against one another: “In our conference everyone always plays each other, we’re always on different teams so this is a night where we want to bring Christians together. Mostly athletes, but some not athletes and that’s okay too. Just to bring them all together to be on one team and to unite for God.”

In Baltimore, Maryland, students gathered at Fields of Faith to pray that violence would decrease in their city. The number of homicides in Baltimore has been increasing, with the most recent occurring the morning of the event.

While October 9th was the official day for Fields of Faith, the events run throughout the month of October, so some schools have yet to hold theirs. You can check here to see if there will be a Fields of Faith near you.

Church Stewardship Requires Great Connection

By
Hillary Bowling
-

October 10, 2019

When many people hear the term church stewardship, there’s often a tendency to think “money” — and even more specifically, Oh boy … they’re going to talk about money again today. But you know that stewardship can involve myriad possibilities for making an “invitation to give.” Money, yes, but also — and perhaps more importantly — time, talent, passion, and participation.

Communicating about stewardship needs to begin with a strategy

Certainly, as a leader in your church, you should teach about church stewardship, including the many times it is referenced in the Word. You can do this in the sanctuary and in an article for the bulletin or your newsletter. If yours is like many churches, however, it can be easy to address this topic only in times of need.

The question is: How will you communicate these ideas?

That strategy must speak to your financial goals, both operational and capital-intensive, and also include your goals for people and their participation and the value they bring (both the intangibles and anything you can quantify as “in-kind”). You might also want to identify which civic, social, and business associations or partnerships contribute to the caretaking and well being of your church.

Next, you’ll need a plan, or roadmap, for how and when (and to whom) you’ll communicate about your church stewardship goals, specific needs you might have along the way, and any progress you can measure. This might include updating your member database information regarding skills and ministry interests (think “census”), and gathering information in stages, via multiple methods like email, feedback forms, or telephone polling.

Encourage visitors to share what skills and talents they bring to the community in addition to merely asking for their contact information. Be blatant in your explanation of what stewardship can be for your church. Ask each member to consider the totality of what he or she can bring to the community. You might be amazed at what will come forth with just the right hint or other encouragement. Understand that your communications need to reach several audiences within your church, and you might even want to practice with the verbiage, style and channel of communicating to these audiences.

One caveat …

Rather than communicate through every channel, try to select the channels you can do well. If you have someone who’s talented at making social media posts, that’s great. But if not, find other ways to play to your strengths. You’ll want to develop communications that have a regular cadence and identity, rather than what might look like the “fits and starts” approach. This gives your communications a connected, consistent feel — and that goes a long way to building culture.

Technology obviously can enhance your communication campaign, but again: be careful to use those tools you can manage well. An invitation to help with a fundraising car wash will lose its effectiveness if the message pops up on your electronic signage two days before the event, or worse: if it’s still in the slide rotation two days after the event. If you use Facebook or Twitter, update posts frequently and be concise in your message, whether educating, requesting, referring, or recognizing.

Many churches now also use a group messaging system to manage voice, text, email, and social media notifications. The advantage of a tool like this is the ability to have one source for reaching diverse groups within your church through a method appropriate to them. Pastors also like the ability to extend Sunday’s message with follow-up examples over the phone (or via text or email) later in the week. Some of these systems even provide a polling feature, whereby a church member can RSVP to a particular request for help with a ministry or event.

Regardless of your audience and your communication channel, be sure to regularly discuss the shared stewardship of your church and the many ways that members can contribute. Identify your needs and the type of “giving” (including specific skills, money, or other resources) that will not only help you fulfill your vision, but which will also draw your faith community closer together in the service of each other and your neighbors.

One Thing We Know For Sure Is God’s Will for You…

By
Eric Geiger
-

October 10, 2019

Pastors are often asked questions about God’s will for a particular decision someone is facing. “How do I know which job is God’s will for me?” Or which relationship? Or which city to live in? Do pastors know God’s will for you? Often I do not know the answer to a question about God’s will in a specific situation, but I can always point to one thing I know for sure is God’s will. And it is not a small matter. In fact, if we understand this and commit to this, the answer to a lot of decisions becomes clearer.

This Is God’s Will for You

“For this is God’s will, your sanctification” (1 Thessalonians 4:3). The word sanctification means to bet set apart.

In the Old Testament the Sabbath is set apart from other days (Genesis 2:3).

After God rescued His people from Egyptian slavery, He commanded them to set apart the firstborn son in every family to Him (Exodus 13:2).

When the tabernacle and temple are built, the priests were set apart to serve, their clothing was set apart, and objects in the temple were set apart (Exodus 28:38).

A day was differentiated from the other days. Clothes were set apart from other clothes. Objects were set apart. Now God has set us apart by declaring us to be His! Because we are His, we are commanded us to live as if we are set apart – to walk in holiness and become more and more like Him. “For God has not called us to impurity but to live in holiness” (1 Thessalonians 4:7). This is His will for you.

This passage was initially written to people who lived Thessalonica. Likes most cities in the Greco-Roman world, sexual activity was rampant. One of the Greek orators wrote about life in that time period: “We keep mistresses for pleasure, concubines for our day-to-day bodily needs, but we have wives to produce legitimate children and serve as trustworthy guardians of our homes.” Women was mistreated and objectified. Men commonly pursued multiple sexual partners. And then there were these new Christians living in the city and Paul, who penned the passage, connected their sanctification with the sexual ethics of the day. He reminded them “you are set apart. God’s will for you is that you would not be like the world, that you would be pure.”

Sanctification is not just about sex; it is about growing in our commitment to our Savior. But sanctification impacts all our lives. God has already revealed His will for us – that we would become more like Him, more holy, living our identity as those who are set apart.

As we wrestle with decisions, a good question to ask is “Will this make me more like Jesus?” “Will this make me more holy?” If there are multiple job offers, ask which one will make you more like Jesus. If there are multiple choices on the dating front, ask which person will help you know Jesus more. If there are multiple options on a decision ask, “Which one is more likely to help me know Jesus more and make Him more known to others?” If both options help you grow in holiness as a set apart child of God, then make a choice and go for it.

The Real Focus of God’s Will for You

Yes, He cares about your job and your hobbies but He cares about your joy and your holiness more. Yes, He cares about where you will live, but He cares more about your walk with Him. This is His will – your sanctification.

This article about God’s will for you originally appeared here.

Kids in Church: What Do You Expect Is Going to Happen?

By
Christina Embree
-

October 10, 2019

A wise person once shared with my husband that “Frustration is the difference between expectation and reality.” He went on to say, “If you are frustrated, you will need to either change your expectation or you will need to change your reality.”  As we continue to have conversations about kids in church and including all generations in corporate worship, I think it might be wise for us to do consider this idea.

In the past, the church has chosen to “change the reality.”  When children and youth were seen as distracting or having specialized needs that couldn’t be met in a corporate worship setting, the church changed the reality.

We removed them from the space, put them in their own spaces, and separated the generations from one another as much as possible.

To be clear, there is a lot of good that comes out of age-sensitive ministry. In fact, an approach that completely overlooks the unique needs of each age would be a bad idea. However, time has revealed to us some unintended consequences of the age segregation model adopted in the mid-20th century. And it’s not just in the church; our whole culture bought into the idea that separating generations is a good idea…but we were wrong.

Researchers have found that among the unforeseen results of age segregation are things like “negative stereotypes and people feeling isolated from each other” and “features of antisocial behavior and to socialization for competitiveness and aggressiveness.” (source).

In the church, Dr. Kara Powell shares that “A lot of kids aren’t going to both youth group and church on Sundays; they’re just going to youth group. As a result, graduates are telling us that they don’t know how to find a church. After years at the kids’ table, they know what youth group is, but they don’t know what church is.” (source).

Changing our reality doesn’t seem to have worked. In fact, it seems to have really hurt us in the long run. We are losing generations.

So what if instead of that, we changed our expectations?

We’ve grown up in an era where generations were segregated and separated from one another and we expect church to be a place that is tailored to meet our needs. We expect that we would have a certain experience at church and we expect others to have a similar one. We go to church for certain expected reasons (to worship, to hear a sermon, to grow in our faith, to get re-charged, to be with our friends). And those expectations often fail to be met when we put the generations in one room together.

If we were to change our expectations about kids in church, what would that look like? What expectations could we have instead?

Kids in Church: Expect the church to be more than Sunday morning

When we look at the church of the New Testament, we find a group of people who are doing life together. They aren’t meeting once a week to have their needs met; they are invested in one another all week long, meeting one another’s needs throughout that time so that there’s not a one shot fix on Sunday morning.

What if our expectation was that there are times for both worship together, all generations, and discipleship apart, meeting the specific developmental needs of each generation? What if our expectation was both/and not either/or?

Kids in Church: Expect children to be children

There is no way a five-year-old is going to come to church to “get something” out of the sermon. And because of that, it’s easy to say that kids don’t get anything out of church. But we are putting adult expectations on non-adults.

What if we adjusted those expectations so that children could be children? They will “get something” out of church, but it likely won’t be the same things adults will (For more on that, click here).

Expect the church to be family

Sociologists have said “in contemporary Western societies, which are marked by widespread institutional, spatial, and cultural age segregation, only the family surviv(es) as an age-integrated institution.” (source) But the church, as seen in Scripture, is to be like a family; one body with many parts, but one body nonetheless.

If we expect our church to be like family then we would expect to hear the littles crying, the bigs talking, the older sharing and the younger learning. We would expect to be together.

I can’t help but wonder if we shifted our expectations to ones like these, would our Sunday mornings (and Wednesday nights and Friday afternoons) begin to look and feel different to us?

Would we begin to see church as something more than a once-a-week re-charge and more of a communal way of living where we do life together?

And would our children and youth and our seniors and elderly all know that they have a place at our family table?

And, perhaps, would we be a little less frustrated when we hear a child cry in service, laugh during a sermon, wiggle and squirm at the doxology, run up to the altar for communion or dance during the worship service?

Perhaps when it comes to kids in church, it’s time to change our expectations.

This article about kids in church originally appeared here.

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So what if instead of that, we changed our expectations?

If we were to change our expectations about kids in church, what would that look like? What expectations could we have instead?

Kids in Church: Expect the church to be more than Sunday morning

Kids in Church: Expect children to be children

Expect the church to be family

Perhaps when it comes to kids in church, it’s time to change our expectations.

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