Armed Church Security Teams: Good Idea or Bad Idea?
The question of whether a church should have an armed security team is both practical and pastoral. Churches want to be welcoming places of worship, but they also have a responsibility to protect the people gathered on campus. An armed security team may be appropriate in some contexts, but it should never be treated casually. The decision requires clear policies, legal guidance, extensive training, insurance awareness, pastoral wisdom, and a churchwide commitment to safety that goes far beyond firearms.
Global Methodist Church reports growth in congregations, conferences, holds General Conference in Africa
More than 1,100 people attended the Global Methodist Church General Conference in Africa, with the theologically conservative denomination reporting considerable growth of congregations and regional conferences.
Founded in 2022 in response to the fierce debate over LGBT issues within the United Methodist Church (UMC) that led to a major schism in the mainline denomination, the Global Methodist Church (GMC) held its General Conference Aug. 30 to Sept. 6 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Another SC church accused of not limiting known sex offender
iThis publicity photo from Brookwood Church in Simpsonville, S.C., shows families with children leaving worship. (Via Facebook)
A second Southern Baptist church in South Carolina has made headlines recently for allowing a registered sex offender to participate in congregational ministry.
Ministry Watch reported Aug. 31 that Brookwood Church in Simpsonville recently disqualified an adult male from serving in any capacity in the church, saying: “The man is a registered sex offender in South Carolina who was convicted in Georgia in 1983 for two offenses: Enticing a child for indecent purposes and child molestation.”
Richard Land says Mohler’s views defy Baptist principles
A veteran leader of the “conservative resurgence” in the Southern Baptist Convention has publicly challenged Al Mohler’s Christian nationalism.
Richard Land is the former head of the SBC Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. He was a foot soldier in the conservative movement in the SBC, beginning from a position at Criswell College in Dallas and then rising to national prominence.
Now, in an opinion piece for Christian Post, Land is challenging Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and one of the most influential voices in the SBC today.
Church vows to plough on with Project Spire
Labour MP Marsha De Cordova, speaking in her capacity as Second Church Estates Commissioner for the Church of England, has said the Church fully intends to proceed with the controversial Project Spire.
The Project will see £100 million put towards communities allegedly impacted by the transatlantic slave trade. The leadership of the Church has defended the move as an act of repentance and restitution for its alleged connections to the slave trade.
Project Spire is arguably an example of the misguided priorities that are plaguing the Church of England and causing a great deal of harm at the parish level. Buildings go unrepaired. Parishes have no stipendary clergy. Rural England is especially neglected.
Christian, pro-life groups rally against assisted suicide
Christian and pro-life groups are asking supporters to urge MPs to vote against a resurrected assisted suicide bill, which is due for Second Reading in the House of Commons on Friday.
The bill has been put forward as a private member’s bill by Labour MP Lauren Edwards and is virtually identical to a bill put forward by Kim Leadbeater that failed to pass earlier this year.
Monastic Revival: The New Monastery on Iona
There is a new Orthodox monastery on Iona, an island in the Inner Hebrides off the west coast of Scotland. Iona is best known for it’s early medieval abbey. This new community, however, matters for Orthodoxy, but not just for Orthodoxy. The recent revival of Orthodox monasticism on the island deserves be on the radar of Anglicans[1]. What starts in Iona has a tendency not to stay on Iona.
While I rarely see a need for a disclaimer, in this particular instance I must state that I do not share David Goodhew's positive assessment of the growth of Eastern Orthodoxy in the British Isles. I do, however, have no objections to "full fat Christianity" of the robust Protestant Anglican variety.
Let’s Reclaim ‘Evangelical’ for the Sake of the Global Church
Despite the excitement of evangelicalism’s expanding reach, American evangelicals are in a crisis of definition. Cable-news anchors and other culture shapers regularly use “evangelical” to reference a voting bloc more than than a Christian movement. Consequently, American Christians with historically evangelical commitments actively debate the term’s usefulness.
Conceding the use of “evangelical” to secular pollsters is deeply flawed by an American-centric gaze that forgoes meaningful connection with the global evangelical family.
Break from Stubborn Habits: Lead with Humility
When your usual door won’t open, have the humility to try other doors. The destination is what matters, not the route you take to get there.
Embracing the Lost Art of Silence and Solitude
In a world filled with chaos, the practice of silence and solitude has become harder than ever but is deeply needed among ministry leaders.
Sinclair Ferguson: Scripture gives Christians a song when ‘the world around you gives way’
Theologian Sinclair Ferguson told thousands of Christians gathered at the Sing! Conference that singing is woven into the fabric of creation and redemption, stressing that Jesus Christ, and not musicians or worship leaders, is ultimately the One who leads the Church in praise.
“There may be worship coordinators, there may be instrumentalists, there may be cantors, but there is only one song leader, and His name is Jesus,” Ferguson said Tuesday evening at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center.
Church Event Registration Software: 9 Things Every Church Should Know Before Choosing (2026)
Here are nine factors you should look for to make sure your church event software is easy to use for people registering, your admins, and your finance team.
AI Can Assist Your Work. But Should It?
Generative tools have expanded what actions are possible and sharpened our awareness that choices are required of us. Increasingly, we face pressure to use such tools simply because they’re there. Let’s explore how we can think ethically about using AI tools in the realm of work, particularly amid its demands and drudgery.
For help, we’ll look to Christian ethicist Oliver O’Donovan. Using his schema from Entering into Rest, we’ll appraise AI tools based on how they might serve us in our work, and also how they might deform us.
We Can't Let AI Writing Take Over the Internet
In January 1919, more than 2 million gallons of molasses exploded from inside a pressurized holding tank in Boston. A tsunami of syrup, which some reports said reached 40 feet tall, surged through the city’s North End, covering the waterfront, destroying buildings, and drowning dozens of residents.
As the historian Jill Lepore recently wrote in the New Yorker, the Great Molasses Flood is a morbid if apt metaphor for the effect that artificial intelligence is having on the internet. Gooey, disgusting, saccharine AI slop is flowing everywhere these days, gumming up your LinkedIn feed, oozing through Twitter and Instagram, and filling every square inch of the internet with treacly spam and viscous sham, including fake recipes for “glue-topped pizza” on Google; fake biographies on Amazon; and fake images of Trump and Jesus stuck all over the modal Boomer’s Facebook wall.
Is It in Spanish? The Question That Opened New Doors for Gospel Outreach
Developing programs and content that are uniquely designed to reach Hispanic communities means crafting them well from the beginning, using anecdotes, examples, and colloquialisms that speak right to the heart of the intended audience.
How Oro Valley Church of the Nazarene Is Growing Across Every Generation
Focusing on multigenerational growth is one reason Oro Valley Church of the Nazarene (OVCN) has flourished. Located in Oro Valley, a Southern Arizona suburb that has shifted from a retirement destination to a hub for young families, OVCN has expanded its congregation by continuing its outreach to older adults while appealing to the next generation of believers.
Churches make ‘significant’ contribution to essential services in local communities, study finds
Churches could be providing as many as a quarter of a million essential community services across England, according to new research.
Earl Spencer is right to raise concerns about the Church of England’s historic buildings
The light shone by Earl Spencer, brother of the late Diana, Princess of Wales, on the financial threat to Britain’s historic churches is significant. But it is noteworthy that his article in the Financial Times did not mention the £100 million the Church of England aims to spend on slavery reparations, which could have been going on frontline parish ministry instead.
The Incredible Story of First Baptist Church of San Francisco: An Interview with Dr. Ryan Blackwell
Jess and Thom welcome Dr. Ryan Blackwell, President and CEO of Lifeway, to The Church Answers Podcast. He shares the incredible story of First Baptist Church of San Francisco.
Five Giving Strategies Almost No Church Is Using
Jess and Thom share five innovative and rare strategies that increase giving in the church. They estimate that fewer than one percent of churches use any of these strategies.
Recovering Moral Authority
Driving past a church in my neighborhood, you cannot miss its huge banner facing the busy street: “God loves everyone—no exceptions.” Well, yes. But it also reflects a broader church culture in which the message of salvation from sin and the hard work of living a sanctified life are too often replaced by personal affirmations.
This is more than another example of what Dietrich Bonhoeffer called “cheap grace”—forgiveness without repentance, baptism without church discipline, communion without confession. It’s emblematic of a larger culture in which everyone sees themselves as a leader, yet few welcome maturing discipleship that requires a spiritual course correction.
8 Ministry Staff Recruiting Red Flags
As staff recruiting in ministry world continues to evolve and become more competitive and sophisticated in recent years, churches and recruiting firms have developed a keen sense of red flags during the recruiting process that relate to whether a candidate is a good fit for your church or not. Those red flags may be a bit different from church to church but there are many red flags that are fairly consistent across the board.
Prayer Book as Precedent
The Book of Common Prayer is a profound resource and represents a rich religious heritage. Its influence runs throughout English literature and poetry. It has sparked and resolved debates and led to martyrdoms. Most importantly, the prayer book provides Christians throughout the world a means of prayer and mission formed by a sound doctrine of grace and adherence to Holy Scripture.
The American prayer book tradition, we argue, is a body of binding precedent—set at decisive moments in its history—that governs and informs liturgical interpretation, practice, and revision. This is not a historical claim, but a theological one about the nature of the prayer book tradition in America. In what follows, we aim to provide a narrative of key turning points in this tradition to aid readers in identifying the precedent contained in the prayer book and its implementation so they can use it soundly.
First Cornish musical setting of the Eucharist receives cultural award
The Cornish People’s Mass, a Eucharistic service entirely in the Cornish language, has been recognised with a prestigious award for its cultural significance. This is the story...
Also See: Oferen an Dasserghyans (Mass of the Resurrection)
How AI Will Change Church Giving (And What You Should Do Now)
Former Intel and VMware CEO Pat Gelsinger talks about what AI is doing to us and our churches. He unpacks the mental health toll of social media (and what’s coming next), the job loss scenarios leaders aren’t ready for, how AI will reshape giving in the church, and why engaging high-net-worth individuals matters now.
Plus: will the AI optimists or pessimists be proven right?
We need to rethink what it means to be a grandparent
Some grandparents are doing everything. Other older people would give anything to be needed.
That is one of the stranger paradoxes of modern family life. High housing costs, punishing childcare bills and demanding jobs are leaning hard on parents. At the same time, more people are having fewer children, having them later, or not having them at all.
These changes affect parents, of course. But they also reshape grandparenthood itself. For some, it is becoming overburdened. For others, it is slipping out of reach.
3 Marks of True Repentance
Repentance lies at the heart of the Christian message and forms the rhythm of the Christian life. The Greek word metanoia, often translated as “repentance,” speaks of a turning, a genuine change of mind, heart, and life that is not a one-time act but a way of living.1 True repentance is more than simply acknowledging our wrongs and feeling sorry for what we have done; it is turning from our ways and returning to God with conviction of wrongs, contrition of heart, and confession of sin. In doing so, we receive the abundant mercy of God in Christ.
It is important to understand that repentance does not begin with us; it begins with the gracious initiative of God, who turns our hearts from the things of this world back to himself. As Mark Boda writes, “God is in the process of transforming us from within—our behavior, our hearts, and our entire lives.”2 Thus repentance is more than a onetime action; it is a repeated act throughout the Christian life. Martin Luther captured this truth in the first statement in his Ninety-Five Theses: “Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, when He said Poenitentiam agite [in English, ‘repent’], willed that the whole life of believers should be repentance.”3 Psalm 51:3–4 helps us see that true repentance is marked by clearheaded conviction, brokenhearted contrition, and openhanded confession.
Image Credit: Oro Valley Church of the Nazarene
Why nondenominational churches aren’t Baptist churches in disguise
The claim that nondenominational churches are Baptists without the label has some basis in fact but isn’t ultimately accurate. And ironically, a whole lot of Baptist churches are acting more like nondenominational churches these days too.
If Gen Z is coming back to church, the real work is just beginning
The church’s purpose in a young person’s life must be entirely unique compared to any other institution.
Why so many women are converting to Catholicism
While American women are leaving organized religion at faster rates than men, some women are instead entering.
US closes door to Christians fleeing persecution, report warns
The United States is on track to admit zero Christians fleeing from the world's worst countries for persecution in fiscal year 2026, according to a new report from the global watchdog Open Doors and the Evangelical refugee resettlement agency World Relief.
The organizations unveiled their new report Thursday at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, documenting the state of Christian persecution worldwide and the number of refugees admitted into the U.S.
The release comes one month before the Trump administration is set to determine the number of refugees to be admitted to the country in fiscal year 2027, which begins Oct. 1.
Decline in marriage and relationships among factors driving global fertility slump - study
A growing “relationship recession”, alongside economic insecurity, delayed parenthood and changing attitudes towards having children, is contributing to an unprecedented fall in fertility rates around the world, according to a major new study.
The research - published in the ‘Reproductive BioMedicine Online’ journal - and led by demographer and deputy director of the Vienna Institute of Demography, Tomáš Sobotka, warns that the latest global decline in births is “more widespread, deeper and more permanent than previously anticipated”.
Kay Kotan: Creating New Spiritual Community
Creating opportunities for new community means more than adding another program or event to the church calendar. It’s about intentionally carving out places, spaces, time, energy, and focus for building new relationships in our neighborhoods. In a culture that is increasingly isolated and disconnected, the church has a profound opportunity—and responsibility—to create spaces where people can genuinely belong and grow spiritually together.
Should I Stay or Should I Leave My Church?
These four questions can help you walk in God’s will, whether it’s to remain at the church you’re at or trust Him when it’s time to leave.
Teresa Stewart: Small Congregation Worship Matters
Small congregations are crucial local laboratories. They are places of indigenous experimentation. Small congregations are diagnostic centers tasked with figuring out what the good news sounds like and looks like in each community. To help grow the kingdom in the years ahead.
4 Diagnostic Questions for Every Sermon
As we launch a new series of skills articles called "Back to the Basics," we asked a younger preacher (Daniel Fusco) and a veteran preacher of almost 25 years (Matt Woodley, Editor of PreachingToday.com) to weigh in on the four basics of every good sermon. Think of them as four simple, routine, diagnostic questions that will help you prepare every sermon. It's like going to the doctor's office for a routine checkup. They almost always ask the same set of questions: What's your weight? What's your temperature? What's your blood pressure? What meds are you currently taking? It's basic stuff, but it provides the baseline for the rest of your checkup. In the same way, these four questions provide the baseline for everything else in your sermon.
5 Ways to Help Your Student Ministry Volunteers Win
Every student ministry needs volunteers, but the goal can’t simply be filling enough positions to make Wednesday night work.
Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows.
This Sunday, September 6, 2026, is the Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity.
For this Sunday’s Invitatory Psalm, you have a choice as you did last two Sundays, either the original version of Michael Perry’s metrical paraphrase of the Venite (Psalm 95), “Come Worship God,” or the inclusive language version. The organ accompaniment for both versions is the same-- Joseph Francis Thrupp’s hymn tune EPIPHANY.
In this Sunday’s message we take a look at what Christians are called to do when someone endangers their relationship with God, particularly a brother or sister in Christ.
Readings: Ezekiel 33: 7-11, Romans 13: 8-14, and Matthew 18: 15-20
Message: Love Intervenes
Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2026/09/sundays-at-all-hallows-september-6-2026.html
Please feel free to share this link with anyone who may be interested.
If you are new to Sundays at All Hallows, you may find these directions helpful:
-It is recommended that after reading or hearing each lesson to take time to reflect on what you read or heard during the period of silence which follows each lesson. It is also recommended that you do the same thing after reading or hearing the message.
-When you open the link to a video in a new tab, check auto-play to make sure it is in the off position. Otherwise, a second video with a different song will follow the first.
-If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears.
-If a song begins partway through the video, click pause, move the slider to the beginning, and then click play.
-An ad may follow a song so as soon as the song is finished, close the tab.
May Sundays at All Hallows be a blessing to you.
God Brought Them Here: How to See Church Visitors
This Sunday afternoon I was speaking with my pastor on the phone about first-time visitors—those people who walk through the doors of our churches for the very first time. As we reflected on this, one thought kept returning to my mind: we often fail to notice the very people God has graciously brought to us.
I’ve observed this over the years in many conservative evangelical churches in South Africa. I’m not suggesting that every church is like this. In fact, I’ve seen churches where visitors are welcomed exceptionally well. But I’ve seen this weakness often enough to believe it deserves some attention.
This is not a problem unique to South Africa.I have visited churches in North America where I was given the cold shoulder, studiously ignored or otherwise treated in an unfriendly manner. Others have had similar experiences.
7 Traits of a Healthy Church
Each church has its own culture and personality.
So how do you know if your church is healthy and on the right track in general?
Is there a solid baseline from which to measure?
Crisis meeting to discuss future of Norfolk's rural churches
A crisis meeting is being held to discuss the future of Norfolk's rural churches, amid claims they are being starved of resources as clergy managing multiple parishes battle to keep on top of their workload.
Also See: CoE clergy feel 'undervalued, under-resourced, overworked, frustrated and vulnerable'
ACNA Charges Bishop Edgar With Misconduct
The Rt. Rev. Chip Edgar, bishop of the ACNA’s Anglican Diocese of South Carolina, has been canonically charged with misconduct a week after he apologized for publicly dedicating a school chapel together with his counterpart in the Episcopal Church.
“I share this with heaviness of heart but in obedience to the truth Christ calls us to proclaim,” wrote the Rt. Rev. Julian Dobbs, acting primate of the ACNA, in an announcement of the charges against Bishop Edgar on September 2.
Five Relatively Recent Theological Controversies That Have Faded
Some denominations and networks seem to have a controversy du jour. Many of them have deep theological implications. Others are distractions to the primary mission of churches. Sam and Thom review five controversies that were once heated but have now faded significantly.
NY Church Finds New Home for Buzzing ‘Parishioners’
The 300 parishioners of Christ Church in Corning, New York, an upstate city four hours from Manhattan, were outnumbered 100 to 1. Apis mellifera, or western honeybees, are prized for their ability to pollinate and produce honey. In New York’s Southern Tier region, beekeepers caring for a colony are required to register their hives annually with the New York State Department of Agriculture.
For 20 years — by the parish’s estimate — there was a growing bee colony inside the ceiling of Christ Church’s sanctuary, unbeknownst to the worshipers below until the pandemic, when they made their presence felt.Declining attendance, a shortage of clergy, a national church indifferent to the needs of rural parishes, and recurrent theological controversies are not the only problems facing local churches.
Would Your Parish Music Pass Pope Leo’s Test?
In this episode of From the Tower, we look at Pope Leo XIV’s recent comments on sacred music and ask a much bigger question: What actually makes church music good?
Rather than falling back into the usual arguments about traditional vs. contemporary music, organ vs. guitar, choir vs. congregation, Pope Leo’s remarks point toward something far more useful — judging sacred music according to its purpose within the liturgy.
Using those ideas, we develop a simple five-point framework for evaluating parish music...
In his comments on sacred music Pope Leo made some excellent points.
How I Would Fix Catholic Church Music
This is excellent advice for rebuilding an Anglican, Episcopal, Lutheran, or Methodist parish music program from scratch.
How to Pray When You Feel Like You Pray the Same Thing Every Day
Part of my daily rhythm of prayer includes praying a psalm. Christians have used this practice for centuries because many of the psalms are prayers. You can turn any verse or passage of Scripture into a prayer, but if you’re familiar with the experience of trying to pray but drawing a blank on what to say, the book of Psalms is a good place to start.
Callings at risk, Save the Parish warns
A LOSS of confidence in ordained ministry is the “major obstacle” to tackling the crisis in stipendiary-clergy numbers, a new report from the campaigning group Save the Parish concludes.
The report, Parish Ministry: Addressing the crisis in stipendiary clergy numbers in the Church of England, is due to be launched in Parliament on Thursday. It followed a consultation held by Save the Parish at St George’s House, Windsor, in March. Those who attended included principals of theological-education institutions (TEIs), bishops, archdeacons, directors of ordinands, and parish clergy.
Among the challenges identified are what the report describes as the “mixed messages” sent about the vocation to ordained ministry: a call to more ordinands alongside the message given when “nearly bankrupt dioceses” cut the number of stipendiaries they have.
Also See: Church leaders warn vicars becoming an 'endangered species'
Episcopal Church celebrates first trans dean — woman in lesbian marriage to trans-identified pastor
A Wisconsin cathedral has installed what is believed to be the first trans-identifying dean in the history of The Episcopal Church.
The Very Rev. Micah Cronin, a woman who identifies as a man, took the helm of All Saints' Cathedral in Milwaukee on Aug. 16, according to Episcopal News Service. The cathedral draws an average of just 70 worshippers on a given Sunday.
Also See: Wisconsin cathedral welcomes Episcopal Church’s first transgender dean
Statement regarding presentment of Bishop Chip Edgar
Last week, I shared a statement with the Province reaffirming our position of principled disengagement from those who promote false teaching.
I did so in the context of the participation of the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina, ACNA, with a bishop of The Episcopal Church in a joint dedication of a local school chapel...
Also See: A Message from the ADOSC Standing Committee on the Porter-Gaud affair
Rochet, Chimere, Stole—and a Rush to Judgment
The controversy arising from the August 18 dedication of St. Timothy’s Chapel at Porter-Gaud School has been instructive, though perhaps not in the manner its loudest participants intended.
From what I have observed, clergy do not give as much thought to what they wear as the author of this piece might like them to do. This past Sunday I attended a "Fifth Sunday Singing" at a local church. I was greeted at the door by a gentleman, hair tied in a pony tail, a gold ring in each ear, wearing a brightly colored Hawiian shirt. I introduced myself and asked if he was the musician for the event. He replied, "I'm the pastor!" Someone commented later that the church's pastor was "non-traditional." He was an odd match for the church's aging congregation whose taste in music was gospel songs from a bygone era.
Two Bishops and One School – Christian Leadership across Division
On August 18, Porter-Gaud School, a private, independent college preparatory day school in Charleston, South Carolina celebrated the dedication of a new chapel. Bearing the name St. Timothy, the space will serve the worship life of this K-12 co-educational school community, an institution dating back to 1867. Porter-Gaud was founded by an Episcopal priest, but is now governed by an independent board of trustees. Among the shared photos from the day were several showing Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley of the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina and Bishop Chip Edgar of the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina. These two Christian leaders from different bodies both serve on the board and participated liturgically in the chapel dedication service. For those in the local context, Woodliff-Stanley and Edgar probably appeared to be two religious leaders from different churches gathering to celebrate a milestone in the life of the school. If one focuses a little more closely, one might recognize that these two leaders represent bodies with a history of tension and theological division. But one might likely still see two leaders who want the best for a school held in high regard by both constituencies.
But what do people see from a distance? For many beyond the local context, the photos were disconcerting.
Church trial of Anglican Archbishop Steve Wood, accused of sexual misconduct, begins Monday
‘Our young Province finds itself in a challenging and uncomfortable season,’ Julian Dobbs, who has taken over the archbishop’s duties, wrote in an email to the denomination on Tuesday. ‘Our unity, fervor, and faith are surely being tested.’
Study documents ICE hiring violent criminals as agents
At least 152 federal immigration agents have been charged with or convicted of violent crimes including rape, kidnapping, child molestation and murder at some time in their lives, according to a new report by the Ohio Immigration Alliance.
The organization delved into the criminal backgrounds of Department of Homeland Security immigration personnel after noticing an alarming pattern of sexual and other violent attacks against immigrants and women by agents based in Cincinnati.
Most US Protestant churches have grown since 2023, survey findsMost Protestant churches in the US are growing, according to new data compiled by Lifeway Research.
In a survey of Protestant pastors in the US, sponsored by the Wheaton College Billy Graham Center, 54 per cent reported growth of at least four per cent in their average worship service attendance since 2023. Almost a third (30 per cent) reported no growth, while only 16 per cent said their church had declined by four per cent or more.
On average, Protestant worship services were attended by 183 people, up from an average of 176 in 2023.
Also See: Pastors report rising worship attendance, but fewer new commitments to Christ: study
Northern Michigan bishop to bless monarch butterflies as they begin migration to Mexico
Every year in late August and early September, thousands of monarch butterflies gather at Stonington Peninsula, a sub-peninsula of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and wait for favorable weather and wind patterns before they begin their nearly 2,000-mile migration to central Mexico, where they will settle for the winter.
Most of these lightweight insects – up to 90% – won’t survive the nearly two-month journey because of harsh weather conditions, predators, light pollution, pesticides and a lack of food available on their route, but their survival is necessary for North America’s ecosystem. As the monarch butterflies fly south, roughly 50 to 100 miles daily, they will feed on wildflowers and crops, transferring pollen and helping plants, including food crops, reproduce in the process.
Episcopalians in the Marquette-based Diocese of Northern Michigan, which serves the state’s Upper Peninsula, and fellow Yoopers understand and appreciate the monarch butterflies’ importance. That’s why about 100 people gather every year at Peninsula Point Lighthouse for the annual “blessing of the monarch butterflies” event hosted by UP Wild Church, a ministry of the Diocese of Northern Michigan and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s Northern Great Lakes Synod.
For more than six decades I have lived on the monarch butterfly migration route, first in southeastern Louisiana and more recently, for two decades, in western Kentucky. My mother took a keen interest in conservation, nature, and wildlife. For a number of years she was a monarch butterfly monitor.
Does interacting with AI make people act more like robots? Researchers say 'yes'
Researchers from universities in the U.K., Denmark and Sweden have proposed a new framework for understanding how repeated interactions with increasingly human-like artificial intelligence could influence people's behavior and self-perception.
Dubbed “robotoid humanness,” the proposed phenomenon describes a two-way process in which AI systems become more human-like while people might adapt their behavior to become more compatible with machines.
How AI Is Shaping Bible Interpretation
Pastors have plenty of reasons to be wary of AI. New research from Barna, conducted in partnership with Gloo for the State of the Church initiative, finds that one concern rises above most others: AI misinterpreting Scripture. Nearly three-quarters of U.S. adults (74%) say they are concerned about AI misinterpreting Scripture. Among practicing Christians, that figure rises to 83 percent, and among pastors, 94 percent.
Though concern about AI misinterpreting Scripture runs high, the way people want AI to handle scriptural interpretation varies significantly and, for Christians especially, seems to sit at odds with that concern.
Christians called to engage confidently amid growing curiosity in ‘dangerous’ New Age spirituality
Psychic nights at the local pub, celebrities ‘manifesting’, and “WitchTok” videos attracting millions of views: alternative spirituality has become an increasingly visible part of popular culture.
Now the Evangelical Alliance is encouraging Christians to engage confidently with the world of tarot, crystals, astrology, manifesting and other spiritual practices, while warning that such practices should not be regarded as harmless.
Its new free guide argues that growing spiritual curiosity in Britain presents churches with both a challenge and an evangelistic opportunity, particularly as renewed interest in New Age practices appears to be developing alongside greater openness to Christianity.
Christianity Explored Content Offer
Christianity Explored helps people discover who Jesus is, why he came, and what it means to follow him. Built around Mark’s Gospel, each session includes a short film and time for open, honest conversation. Get the complete course--free.
Creative Ways to Share the Gospel in Your Local Community
Join David Perrera from Pastors.com and Pastor Juan Vasquez from Unleashed Christian Church in Tucson, AZ for this FREE online webinar to discover new and innovative ways to share the Gospel in your local community using Healthy Church principles.
Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.
In this Thursday evening’s message, we revisit the Parable of the Good Samaritan. We consider what lessons Jesus is teaching us with this parable.
Readings: Leviticus 19:13-18, 33-34; Luke 10:23-37
Message: The Parable of the Good Samaritan
Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2026/09/thursday-evenings-at-all-hallows.html
Please feel free to share this link with anyone who may be interested.
If you are new to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows, you may find these directions helpful:
-It is recommended that after reading or hearing a lesson to take time to reflect on what you read or heard during the period of silence which follows the lesson. It is also recommended that you do the same thing after reading or hearing the message.
-When you open the link to a video in a new tab, check auto-play to make sure it is in the off position. Otherwise, a second video with a different song will follow the first.
-If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears.
-If a song begins partway through the video, click pause, move the slider to the beginning, and then click play.
-An ad may follow a song so as soon as the song is finished, close the tab.
May Thursday Evenings at All Hallows be a blessing to you.
Why God Uses Small Ministries to Make a Big Impact
In Episode 238, we delve into the topic of church size and why God uses the underdog to make a big impact. Join hosts Scott Ball & A.J. Mathieu as they discuss the neutral nature of church size and emphasize the significance of church health in fulfilling the mission. They share examples of small churches making significant local impacts and encourage pastors of all church sizes to utilize resources to fulfill God's plan for the global church. The hosts also reflect on the challenges faced by their organization and issue a call for support to continue their global church revitalization efforts. Tune in as they draw inspiration from the story of Gideon and explore how God uses small beginnings to achieve great things, emphasizing the importance of reliance on God's power and alignment with His will for success, rather than numbers.
Also See: Why God Uses Small Ministries to Make a Big Impact - Full Show Notes
The Purpose of the Church, According to Jesus
The fullest churches in history didn’t always make the most disciples. Some kept every pew occupied for years while quietly failing the neighborhood outside their doors. Jesus measured his followers by who they sent out more than by who showed up, and that standard is worth applying to your own church this week.
Plenty of pastors carry a quiet ache for the years when sanctuaries filled up Sunday morning, Sunday night, and again on a weeknight. Anyone who has preached to three rows of empty chairs knows that sting. That longing for a fuller building runs into three problems worth naming before you build a strategy around it.
Charles Spencer warns repair costs are leaving churches ‘struggling to survive’ Historical author, Charles Spencer, has warned that Britain’s historic churches are increasingly under threat due to the financial burden of maintaining them.
Writing for The Financial Times Spencer noted that in 2025 the Church of England alone needed over a billion pounds for major repairs across its 16,000 churches. Many such churches, especially those with smaller congregations, are “struggling to survive”, he argued.
Building maintenance is serious challenge facing churches with smaller congregations and declining attendance and giving in the United States. It is a factor that has contributed to the closure of a number of US churches.
Why Temperament Matters in Church Volunteer Roles (Stop Volunteer Burnout)
Struggling with volunteer burnout in your church? The problem might not be commitment—it's temperament mismatch. In this episode, Scott Ball and AJ Mathieu reveal why understanding temperament in church volunteer roles is the game-changer your ministry needs.
Discover how to match volunteers to positions where they'll thrive, not just survive. Learn the four temperament types and their ideal ministry fits, spot signs of misalignment, and create a volunteer culture that energizes rather than drains.
Thriving as a Dominant-Type Leader: Deep on DiSC Part 1
Are you motivated by competition, winning, and success? Are you outspoken, determined, and always up for the challenge? You might be a D-Type (Dominant-Type) leader.
There are a lot of helpful tools for understanding your personality. At The Malphurs Group, we regularly use the DiSC Assessment. In this multi-part article and podcast series, we are exploring the primary DiSC types and how they impact your leadership.
In this first installment, you’ll learn the strengths, challenges, and keys to success for the D or Dominant type personality.
Also See: Thriving as a Dominant-Type Leader: Deep on DiSC Part 1 - Full Show Notes
Leading as an Influence-Type Leader: Deep on DiSC Part 2
Are you always chasing the next big idea? Are you a connector and networker? You might be an I-Type (Influence-Type) leader.
There are a lot of helpful tools for understanding your personality. At The Malphurs Group, we regularly use the DiSC Assessment. In this multi-part article and podcast series, we are exploring the primary DiSC types and how they impact your leadership.
In this second installment, you’ll learn the strengths, challenges, and keys to success for the I or Influence type personality.
Also See: Leveraging Influence – Leading as an I-Type Leader: Deep on DiSC Part 2 - Full Show Notes
Leading as a Steady-Type Leader: Deep on DiSC Part 3
Do you value stability and loyalty? Do you avoid decisions that could lead to conflict? You might be an S-Type (Steady-Type) leader.
There are a lot of helpful tools for understanding your personality. At The Malphurs Group, we regularly use the DiSC Assessment. In this multi-part article and podcast series, we are exploring the primary DiSC types and how they impact your leadership.
In this third installment, you’ll learn the strengths, challenges, and keys to success for the S or Steady Type personality.
Also See: Shepherding Your Church – Leading as an S-Type Leader: Deep on DiSC Part 3 - Full Show Notes
Managing as a Conscientious-Type Leader: Deep on DiSC Part 4
Are you a details person? Do you thrive in an environment with clear rules and guidelines? You might be a C-Type (Conscientious-Type) leader.
There are a lot of helpful tools for understanding your personality. At The Malphurs Group, we regularly use the DiSC Assessment. In this multi-part article and podcast series, we are exploring the primary DiSC types and how they impact your leadership.
In this final installment, you’ll learn the strengths, challenges, and keys to success for the C or Conscientious type personality.
Also See: Dealing with the Details – Managing as a C-Type Leader: Deep on DiSC Part 4 - Full Show Notes
Samaritan's Purse turns down $300M from State Department for humanitarian relief
Franklin Graham, one of President Trump’s most stalwart evangelical allies, did not offer any reasons for rejecting the federal funds, which would have been used for ‘immediate life-saving assistance to people affected by natural disasters.’
Sainting Charlie Kirk serves the MAGA movement. It doesn't serve the girls who believe it.
One year after Charlie Kirk's death, former tradwife Tia Levings writes about how sainting serves Christian patriarchy and TPUSA — not the teenage girls drawn into his myth.
More Than a Force: Who the Holy Spirit Really Is
The State of Theology study reveals an alarming percentage of evangelicals who are confused about the personhood of the Holy Spirit.
10 Duties of a Pastor Most Churches Never See
Your pastor was probably up before dawn today, and not for a workout. Between a hospital call, a budget spreadsheet, a sermon that still needs an ending, and a text from someone in crisis, the job holds ten distinct roles that rarely show up in a Sunday bulletin. Skip past any one of them and a church starts to feel it within months. Here is what each duty actually requires, what tends to go wrong, and where the congregation fits into carrying the weight.
Lifeway Research’s 2025 pastoral wellness data found that fewer pastors now keep a referral list of counselors or attend counseling training than a decade ago, even as the demands on their time have grown. A separate 2026 industry report tracked pastor satisfaction dropping from 72% to 52% between 2015 and 2022, with no recovery since. The job has not gotten smaller. The support system around it has.
Spiritual Burnout: When the Pastor Stops Feeling God
Every Sunday, thousands of pastors preach about the presence of God while privately wondering where he went. They pray from the pulpit with confidence, then drive home unsure whether anyone was listening. This is spiritual burnout, and most congregations have no idea their pastor is in it.
The condition is common, well documented, and almost never named out loud. Research from Barna, Lifeway, and Duke’s Clergy Health Initiative describes the workload side of pastoral exhaustion in detail. The interior side gets far less attention: the slow fading of a pastor’s own sense of God while he or she keeps leading everyone else toward him. This article covers what spiritual burnout looks like, why pastors hide it, what earlier Christians called it, and what brings people back.
Also See: Pastor Burnout: The Dark Night Most Congregations Never See
Why Don't Churches Sing Old-School Hymns Anymore?
Josh and Sam discuss why many churches have moved away from old-school hymns, not always because they reject them, but because worship culture has changed. Modern worship music is often easier to lead with a band, more familiar to younger generations, and shaped by digital platforms, conferences, and major worship publishers. But the disappearance of hymns can also come at a cost. Hymns often carry theological depth, congregational memory, and a sense of continuity with the broader church. In this episode, we discuss why hymns have faded in many churches and how leaders can reintroduce them wisely without turning worship into a generational battle.
What I have observed about the latest crop of worship songs is their range is not a comfortable one for the average singer in the congregation, they contain phrases and verses that are theologically unsound and promote beliefs that are not found in Scripture or derived from Scripture, and they focus on "me" and not God. The type of tunes to which they are set and the frequency of the repetition of verses cause the brain to produce oxytocin and what congregations experience as a spiritual high is a chemically induced one and addictive. Increasingly the motive for writing them is to make money rather to give thanks and praise to God. They also tend to be throwaway songs - sung for a brief season and then discarded. Rather than being exposed to hymns and other sacred music that witnesseses to the faith of previous generations of Christians and that of Christians in other lands and cultures, congregations, particularly young people, are being subjected to worship music that conveys the message that the Christian faith is ever-shifting, impermanent, and rootless and the purpose of worship music is first of all consumer gratificaton and not the glorifying and honoring of God.
7 Sermon Topics Your Church Needs To Hear on Repeat
A teenager told me he does not smile. Five minutes earlier, he had sat through my whole talk on why he should. That moment taught me more about preaching than most seminary classes did, and it explains why some sermon topics belong in your pulpit every single year.
Paul told Timothy to fan into flame the gift God had given him (2 Timothy 1:6) and to keep reminding the church of the basics (2 Timothy 2:14). Peter said he would keep reminding believers of truths they already knew (2 Peter 1:12). Paul even told the Philippians that writing the same things again was no trouble for him and kept them safe (Philippians 3:1). The apostles repeated themselves on purpose. So should you.
I’m Praying for You: 3 Ways to Intentionally Pray for Others
What made middle-school-me yearn for an email from my summer camp pen pal and current-me rush to open a handwritten notecard? It’s the same desire—to feel remembered. To know that someone took the time to boot up an old computer or find a stamp just to let me know they care.
When Silence Is Not Complicity
There are moments when God’s people must speak clearly, courageously and at personal cost.
But silence is not always complicity.
Back to… Christmas?
Church leaders may not be thinking about Christmas in September, but this is an ideal time to begin preparing for Christmas Eve. Lewis Center Director Jonathan Page offers five practical recommendations for strengthening hospitality, engaging newcomers, supporting local missions, planning follow-up, and surrounding it all with prayer.
How Some Churches Grow Without Getting Bigger
Butts-in-the-seats growth is great. But it’s not going to happen for every church. That’s never a reason to give up, coast along, or offer excuses.
Three Volunteer Recruitment Mistakes
Every church knows the panic of scrambling for volunteers at the last minute, but reactive recruiting is just one of the mistakes that keeps your bench thin and your team burned out. In this episode, Scott and A.J. walk through three of the most common volunteer recruitment mistakes churches make and, more importantly, how to fix them with practical systems you can put in place right away. If your church is tired of guilt-tripping people from the pulpit, this conversation is for you.
Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu are the co-hosts of the Church Revitalization Podcast, produced by the Malphurs Group, a ministry dedicated to helping churches develop healthy strategies for growth and renewal. Together, Scott and A.J. bring practical, field-tested insight to church leaders each week, covering topics from leadership development to volunteer management to organizational health. Whether you are a senior pastor or a ministry director, their goal is to give you tools you can actually use.
Also See: Three Volunteer Recruitment Mistakes
AI Questions Leaders Never Ask: AI Girlfriends, Truth, Deepfakes, and Best + Worst Case Scenarios
You use AI. Have you thought about what it's doing to your church, the people you're reaching, or your soul?
James (JP) Poulter flips the mic to interview me in this video.
We discuss AI girlfriends, deepfakes, and the best and worst-case scenarios nobody's naming.
There's a shift happening in your church and your community right now, and most church leaders haven't caught up.
What AI Is Doing To Your Church (And How to Prepare) - Free Webinar
This moment isn’t just about what tools you use. It’s about what AI is doing to culture, your congregation, and your team. That’s why I’m hosting this free live session. You’ll leave knowing the three critical shifts every church needs to make, and a practical next step for each one.
Two pastors detained, a student dead: Haitians in Ohio turn to faith amid fear of ICE
‘All I want is to see my husband back,’ said Denise Gedeon, whose pastor-husband, Joubert Adrien, was detained by ICE — one of two pastors arrested during a weekend that also brought a death, prayers and vigils for a Haitian community under siege.
Also See: Dozens killed in gang attack on church shelter in Haiti; Gangs massacre worshippers in Kenscoff church shelter
ACNA Continues to Bleed From Self-Inflicted Wounds
While it is understandable that The Episcopal Church (TEC) and the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) have major theological differences over human sexuality and these differences are substantial enough to impair relations between the two bodies, harboring a grudge against TEC for past conflicts over property does not strike me as very Christian. When the Anglican Mission in the Americas (AMiA) was established in 2001, the clergy and congregations that broke away from TEC and joined the AMiA understood that they would be unable to retain their property and would be starting fresh. Rather than nurturing old grudges,the ACNA needs to focus on new church development like the AMiA did in its early days. Otherwise, it risks becoming known for pettiness.
Episcopal Court of Review upholds ruling against priest found guilty of adultery
The Episcopal Church’s Court of Review has upheld a ruling against an Ohio priest who was convicted of engaging in adultery while the divorce from his first wife was being finalized.
In a unanimous decision released last week, the Court of Review rejected an appeal from the Rev. Daniel McClain, former rector at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Oakwood.
Also See: Court of Review affirms deposition of Dayton priest for adultery, but strikes broader misconduct findings
$1.6M stolen from UMC regional body through cyberattack
More than $1.6 million in funds was reportedly stolen from a regional body of The United Methodist Church by criminals posing as bank representatives.
The UMC New England Conference is working with authorities to investigate a cybersecurity incident that occured on Aug. 5.
Also See: Conference confronts cyber theft with faith, resolve
How Your Church Can Prepare for a New Pastor - The Church Revitalization Podcast
Pastoral transitions are critical moments in your church's life. In this episode, we share three essential strategies to help your congregation prepare for a new pastor:
Practice Intentional Hospitality - Make your new pastor and their family truly feel at home
Communicate with Grace and Clarity - Build trust through healthy communication patterns
Embrace Listening, Learning, and Change - Balance tradition with openness to fresh ideas
Whether you're currently in a transition or simply planning ahead, these principles will help your church navigate pastoral changes with wisdom and grace.
Also See: New Pastor Onboarding Part 1: Church Prep For A New Pastor
Starting a New Pastor Position at a Church - The Church Revitalization Podcast
Starting at a new church? In this episode, we explore essential strategies for pastors preparing to begin ministry in a new congregation. Learn how to navigate the critical first 90 days, build key relationships, understand church culture, and implement change wisely. This companion to our previous episode provides the pastor's perspective on successful transitions.
Also See: New Pastor Onboarding Part 2: Pastor Prep For A New Church
Church sets the table to connect beyond its walls
The Table Korean Cuisine restaurant is a ministry of Bonfire United Methodist Church, a new congregation supported by the Great Plains Conference’s church development ministry.
The ministry began in the home of the Rev. Changhyun Kim, a United Methodist pastor and certified Korean cuisine chef, where he served multicourse Korean meals to invited guests.
Now housed at Grace United Methodist Church, both the restaurant and the Bonfire congregation are able to reach people outside the church.
Pastors Report Growing Attendance, but Fewer Unchurched Newcomers
Slightly more than half of U.S. Protestant pastors (54%) report their average worship service attendance has increased since 2023.
10 Reasons People Stay in a Church for Years
The people who stay for a decade or two are not staying by accident. They stay because something specific holds them there: a friendship, a role that fits, a sermon that meets them where they actually live. Leaders who understand what that something is can build a church community people choose to keep coming back to, long after the visitor packet is forgotten.
Are Pastors Missing the Biggest Shift in Their Congregation? 58% of practicing Christians are optimistic about AI — more than any other group in America. Nearly half have already used it to study the Bible, get spiritual advice, or create devotionals.
Your congregation is already in this conversation. The question is whether you're in it with them.
In this video, I break down new Barna research that changes the pastoral conversation on AI entirely — and explains why staying silent isn't a neutral choice. It's a discipleship gap.
Also See: What can we learn from the US pastor who created an AI version of himself?
What I have found when I conduct a Google search, Google will in most instances generate an AI overview at the top of the list. Except for sources given, I ignore these overviews as they very frequently contain inaccurate or unreliable information, presented in an authoritative manner, enough to fool someone who unlike myself may not be familiar with the subject that I am researching. I don't use an AI assistant in my writing but I have found that Word's AI assistant will make changes in what I have written, on its own, unbidden. It will substitute words and grammar of its own choosing. The words are unrelated to the topic and the grammar is incorrect! In university I received teacher training. My second specialization was English grammar, composition, and literature. These experiences prompt me to wonder what spiritual advice AI is giving Christians.
Colorado Priest’s Health Declines After a Year in ICE Custody
According to a story by Lindsey Toomer published by Colorado Newsline on August 14, the detained priest presented respiratory symptoms that a medical provider who reviewed his case said could indicate tuberculosis (TB).
Persecution of Christians Deepens in Ongoing Sudanese Civil War
Violence against civilians in Sudan’s civil war has increased in recent months, with some attacks specifically targeting Christians. The conflict, between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF), led by Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (also known by the nom de guerre Hemedti), began in 2023.
Another militia group, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement–North (SPLM–N), has also intensified their armed operations in recent months, committing atrocities and dehumanization of Christians.
Also See: Violence reaches Sudan’s Nuba Mountains, where Christians once found refuge
When political leadership uses religion as a tool of power
One of the most troubling trends in modern leadership is the growing use of religion as a political instrument. The practice is not new.
Political leaders, especially where democratic institutions are weak, have learned that religion reaches people at the level of their deepest loyalties, fears and hopes. Once leaders discover that religious identity can mobilize large numbers of people, the temptation is to use faith not to encourage moral responsibility but to gain power, consolidate it and remain in office.
An autopsy of the Porter-Gaud affair
The Porter-Gaud affair put ACNA’s claim of “broken communion” on trial. Photographs of Bishop Chip Edgar participating in the dedication of St. Timothy’s Chapel alongside the Episcopal bishop of South Carolina, followed by his public apology for the pain and confusion caused, forced into the open a question Anglicans have often preferred to leave blurred: what, in practice, are the limits of fellowship at the altar?
Millennials Move LESS than Gen X and Boomers (New Implications for Your Church)
In this episode, we re-examine a major demographic shift reshaping communities and churches: the decline in mobility across the United States. Americans are moving far less than they did in previous generations, especially millennials. While older generations often relocated for work opportunities or family, today’s younger adults are more likely to stay put. Rising housing costs, tighter job markets, student loan burdens, and a growing preference for stability have all contributed to this trend. For church leaders, this change presents both challenges and opportunities.
Gavin Ortlund Argues There Is ‘No Biblical Warrant’ for Praying to Saints
From the Reformation on the Protestant position has been the official position of the Anglican Church and is set forth in its formularies. For example, Article XXII states " ...invocation of Saints, is a fond thing vainly invented, and grounded upon no warranty of Scripture, but rather repugnant to the Word of God." Catholic Rivalists who pray to the saints or who ask for their intercessions are outliers.
The global rise of unhappiness and how religion can reverse the trend
Young people are facing an epidemic of despair, but data shows religious community is an antidote.
Light For a Few Steps
On my desk I keep a small terra cotta lamp that dates from the first century of the Christian era. It is very small. The body of the lamp could be filled with a few ounces of olive oil. A small wick, probably of linen or flax, could be placed into the “spout.” When lit, the resulting flame would be about the size of a Bic lighter. These small lamps are found in archeological digs throughout the Middle East. They were a commonly used item through to the Byzantine era and the early rise of Islam.
Imagine a small village dwelling from the time of Christ. The main room might be ten feet deep and twelve feet wide. Apart from a small hearth fire, fueled by animal waste and a few sticks, this small lamp provides the only light in the darkness. Perhaps there are several in the room, perhaps only one. Regardless, the occupants of that house would have regarded the light as precious.
I own three terracotta replicas of these lamps. Each lamp fits in the palm of my hand. I use them as props when preaching on Jesus' teaching in Matthew 5:14–15, Mark 4:21–25 and Luke 8:16–18.
Plagiarism and the Preacher
This seems to be a hot topic these days. After all, it is easy to read someone else’s message on Sunday morning. And AI can write sermons. Also, AI tools now can examine every word every preacher speaks for unattributed quotes or content. It’s daunting to think that members of congregation can be using tools on their phones to evaluate the words of the preacher as he speaks. This can lead to unrealistic expectations and a misunderstanding of the nature of preaching verses the published word or academic paper. So, a few words are in order now, and a fuller development of the subject should follow later. Please read or listen to the end before you criticize.
Five Ways God’s People Minister God’s Grace to Each Other
One of a dozen-plus reasons I love church-based counseling[1] is that it maximizes the ministry Christ’s body can play in the lives of those we counsel. Our counselees need more than the Holy Spirit and the Bible, and even more than just us. God has provided our counselees with Christian brothers and sisters—fellow church members—as vital means of God’s grace to help them know Jesus initially and grow in Jesus continually. Counselees who bond well with other believers show faster, more sustained growth than those who remain isolated or who only have private appointments with you.
Consider five ways believers minister to each other. At the end, I also suggest how a small group can use this article.
How Do We Create an Evangelism and Outreach Culture in Our Church?
Evangelism isn’t a program—it’s a culture rooted in identity. In this episode of the Church Revitalization Podcast, we explore how churches can move from sporadic outreach events to fostering a deep, church-wide culture of evangelism that flows naturally from who we are in Christ.
Hosts Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu from The Malphurs Group bring their practical experience working with hundreds of churches to help you reframe evangelism as a core component of your church’s DNA, not just a once-a-year effort.
Why Unhealthy Churches Sometimes Look Like They're Growing (4 Warning Signs)
Why do some unhealthy churches appear to be thriving while healthy churches struggle to grow? In this episode of the Church Revitalization Podcast, Scott Ball and AJ Mathieu reveal 4 key reasons why unhealthy churches sometimes experience rapid growth - and why pastors shouldn't be fooled by outward appearances.
Not all growth is good growth. Learn to distinguish between genuine spiritual vitality and superficial expansion that could actually harm long-term ministry effectiveness.
What to Expect When Your Church Finally Gets a Building
What can you expect if you transition from temporary space to permanent space?
Here are three lessons we learned.
Your church will also become building-focused instead of mission oriented, lapse into complacency, and lose its evangelistic zeal. Buildings are a double-edged sword. A church does not need a building of its own to be a "real" church (albeit we may be tempted to think that way: "If we build it, they will come.") It does, however, need people who are devoted to the Lord Jesus Christ and the Great Commission.
Keep the Change: Four Stages of Visionary Alignment Around What’s Next
Change in your church may begin with a conviction or compelling idea, but it becomes sustainable only through alignment.
‘No easy answers,’ say church leaders after death of pastor at Christian festival
Church leaders have offered their prayers and support following the death of Pastor Robert Guanco at the Big Church Festival.
The 41-year-old was the pastor of Jesus Living Water Church in Eastbourne. He died after a sign fell during the festival at Wiston Park, near Steyning in West Sussex, on Friday afternoon.
Six other people were injured and four were taken to hospital for further treatment.
Iranian Christian convert deported from US granted asylum in Canada
An Iranian Christian convert who was deported from the United States while seeking asylum has received a new home in Canada amid concerns about the safety of Iranian Christians who have faced removal from the U.S.
Artemis Ghasemzadeh has received asylum in Canada, The New York Times reports. Ghasemzadeh, a Christian convert who fled Iran, entered the U.S. illegally with her brother in December 2024 and was detained in San Diego. She was separated from her brother shortly after arriving in the U.S.
French Friday: The Solution to Partisan Christianity
New data finds that almost half of Gen Z adults won't consider going to church because of Christians' support for Donald Trump. David French and Skye Jethani wonder what the research means for the majority of evangelical churches that avoid anything political, and why that may actually be part of the problem. They also discuss the rise of socialism on the political left and why JD Vance's recent memoir suggests socialism may be just as popular on the political right. Plus, what America can learn from the goodness of Dolly Parton.
VOICES: What if America’s religious decline has been overstated?
Over the past decade, the secular media has told us incessantly that American Christianity is in its death throes. The number one news story on religion in recent years has been the rise of the “Nones,” or people who say they have no religion.
So, is it finally the end for American faith? No. If you dig a little deeper, you’ll see why it’s not.
While some assessments of the state of Christianity in the United States may be overly pessimistic, others are overly optimistic. Believing in a supreme being or a higher power or the supernatural is not equatable with faith in Jesus Christ. Even in the People's Republic of China the segment of the population that is officially atheistic, i.e., the Communist Party, is superstitious, believes in lucky days and unlucky days, and practice various forms of traditional Chinese fortune telling. This is also true of Japan where the larger segment of the the population is atheistic but will flock to Shinto shrines on New Year's Day and buy good luck charms at Shinto shrines on other occasions. The authors of this opinion piece make some interesting observations. While I would not dismiss their assessment entirely, I lean toward assigning it to the overly optimistic category.
Few Pastors Have Church-Paid Health Insurance Benefits
When people think of pastors, they often assume they receive employment benefits similar to those in the corporate world. The assumption seems reasonable. Pastors lead organizations, supervise staff, counsel members, and often work far more than forty hours a week. Surely they receive health insurance and other employee benefits.
The reality is quite different.
6 Ways to Support Families of Children with Disabilities
If you’re eager to partner with families of children with disabilities, here are six encouragements.
Rethinking Expectations of Kids in Church
Children are full members of the Body of Christ today, bringing essential gifts, faith, and wisdom to our common life. As congregations seek deeper ways to welcome young people, we face a core question: How does our culture need to change so children can participate more fully in worship and the life of the Church?
That question anchored a recent workshop led by the Rev. Dr. Kenda Creasy Dean, an author, theologian, and practical ministry expert. The session was part of Pathways to Prayer and Practice, a five-year initiative supported by a major grant from the Lilly Endowment.
"What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun." Ecclesiastes 1:9. In the 1970s and 1980s there was a surge of interest in integrating children into the worship, ministry, and life of the church in the Episcopal, Lutheran, and other mainline churches. A number of works on the topic were published. In 2000 I wrote an occasional paper for my diocese's liturgy and music commission on the subject. Regrettably I never published the paper and saved it on a floppy disc. It was based on what we had done to this end at my own church as well as the literature on the topic.
