Saturday Lagniappe: '5 Short-Timers Who Don’t Really Help Church Attendance' And More

5 Short-Timers Who Don’t Really Help Church Attendance
Every pastor has seen the sign: “Everyone Welcome.” The spirit behind it is real. You genuinely want the whole community walking through those doors. And yet, if you have led a congregation for any length of time, you also know the quiet discouragement of watching people walk right back out.

Here is the hard pastoral truth: one reason nearly every town in America has more than one church is that no pastor is equipped to be everyone’s pastor. You can work hard to close the back door, invest in discipleship, tighten your follow-up process, and still lose people. Not because you failed. Because of who they are.

There are five types of visitors who are almost never going to stick around. Knowing who they are won’t make their departure painless, but it will keep you from burning through your energy trying to hold on to someone who was never really there to stay.

6 Traits of a Church Disrupter (And How to Respond)
Every pastor has met one. They smile warmly on Sunday, send encouraging texts during the week, and quietly work against the church behind the scenes. The church disrupter rarely announces their presence. They are not the loudest voice in the room, and they are almost never openly hostile to leadership. That is exactly what makes them dangerous.

Unlike a church bully, who attacks directly, a disrupter works through whisper campaigns, weaponized questions, and carefully cultivated doubt. They can sit in any pew, carry any title, and be anyone from a founding family member to someone who joined six months ago. And if you are not watching for the signs, they can fracture a congregation before you realize what happened.

Here are six clear traits of a church disrupter, followed by practical steps leaders can take to address the problem while staying true to the gospel.

6 Types of Church Members Who Build Up the Body
The local church is one of the strangest communities on earth. It brings together people who would never choose each other on their own. And yet, by the grace of God, these people choose to love one another, serve one another, and stay. That is a powerful testimony to the world watching from the outside.

What makes it work? Not programs or personalities. It is the members themselves. Healthy churches are built by members who are actively committed to building each other up. Here are six types of members every church needs.

Signs Your Church Might Be Hiding Financial Misconduct
Most church members give generously and in complete trust. Some churches count on that. Learn how to spot financial wrongdoing while stewarding God’s gifts well.

Christians call for action against global hunger crisis
A trio of Christian organisations have signed a joint open letter calling on governments, institutions and people of faith to bring an end to world hunger and malnutrition.

Since the outbreak of hostilities between Iran and the Israel-US alliance, concerns have mounted that food may become scarcer, particularly in the developing world. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz caused a spike in oil prices but also inhibited the global trade in agricultural fertiliser.

Scientists warn Trump plan to axe US ocean monitoring system will leave world 'flying blind'
The Trump administration’s plan to dismantle an ocean observation system vital to understanding the climate crisis and marine ecosystems would “severely degrade” the accuracy of weather predictions and El Niño forecasts, with economic consequences for the US, European and American scientists have warned.

Scientists improve knowledge on sea level rise—and confirm it has been accelerating since 1960
Sea level rise is a direct consequence of human-induced climate change: global warming. It is relentless and very hard to stop. It arises from human-induced warming and the consequential expansion of the ocean, plus the addition of more and more water from melting glaciers and ice sheets. It will continue long into the future.

An international team of climate scientists has fully accounted for what is driving global sea level rise across the past six decades—resolving a stubborn mystery that has clouded our understanding of one of climate change's most consequential impacts.

Warming boosts natural methane emissions as microbes fail to keep pace
A new study led by Professor Mark Trimmer of Queen Mary University of London, published in the journal Nature Climate Change, explains how increases in natural methane emissions will be maximized under future climate warming.

Opinion: Living within our limits is the key to civilization’s survival
For reasons that psychologists have yet to explain, there are still people in the world who refuse to accept that global warming is a clear and present danger. Although they are a diminishing minority, climate scientists are still trying to find a way to convince them.

Maybe a few metaphors will help.

As polyamory gains visibility, monogamy faces a vote in the Presbyterian Church (USA)
A proposal that would require ordained clergy to be monogamous is on the docket at the Presbyterian Church (USA)’s General Assembly this summer.

The overture, CON-10, has generated strong reactions online but not yet earned broad support from PCUSA groups. A separate asks for theological studies on gender and sexuality, life-giving relationships and the Christian vocation of family that would support the denomination’s commitment to inclusion of different familial realities. Together, these overtures show that as polyamory gains visibility in broader culture, it may have policy implications, especially in theologically progressive Christian denominations.

This post and the next four posts are related to the issues of human sexuality dividing churches not only in the United States but also around the world. They reflect a variety of views on these issues.

Helen King’s motion for General Synod: a help or a hindrance?
At the July 2025 General Synod there was scheduled a debate on a potentially highly divisive Private Members Motion (PMM) from Mae Christie, a known critic of the church’s current teaching. It related to the place of Issues in Human Sexuality in the discernment process for ordination and was originally and rightly seen by many committed to the church’s current teaching and practice as undermining of that teaching. Much to people’s pleasant surprise, as a result of discussions and good will and careful amendment, it resulted in an outcome which secured widespread support across different views on sexuality. This, as Ian Paul noted on this blog, was in part because of the approach of the person who introduced the PMM in Christie’s absence:

Here we have someone who is clear he is campaigning for change in the Church’s doctrine of marriage, but recognises that this cannot be brought about by sleight of hand, and has worked actively with those upholding the Church’s historic teaching to come to a workable and reasonable agreement.

Episcopal Church plans celebration of 1976 LGBTQ+ resolution on ‘full and equal’ welcome
It was a single sentence, adopted 50 years ago by General Convention meeting in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Today, LGBTQ+ Episcopalians credit that sentence with opening the door to five decades of progress toward full inclusion in The Episcopal Church.

This is the text of Resolution A069 in full: “Resolved, That it is the sense of this General Convention that homosexual persons are children of God who have a full and equal claim with all other persons upon the love, acceptance, and pastoral concern and care of the Church.”

Now, as The Episcopal Church approaches the 50th anniversary in September of the passage of that resolution, church leaders are planning a three-day conference on the past, present and future of LGBTQ+ involvement in the life of the church. The conference is scheduled for Sept. 3-5, and it will be held where it all began, back in Minneapolis.

The future of ecumenism - and why it has everything to do with divisions over human sexuality 

The recent visit by the new Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullaly, to see Pope Leo XIV in Rome is a reminder of the success of the ecumenical movement. Until the second half of the twentieth century the division between the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church which opened at the Reformation would have made such a visit impossible.

However, the growth of the ecumenical movement during the twentieth century has resulted in such a visit being not only possible, but even unremarkable. It is now no big deal that the Archbishop of Canterbury has been to see the Pope.

Sinful Desires, Concupiscence, & “Gay Christians”
How would you feel if you met someone who self-identified as a “Racist Christian,” or maybe an “Adulterous Christian,” or even a “Wife-Beating Christian”? As a Christian, you would be concerned, as would many non-Christians. There’s just something about a Christian identifying themselves with sin. It’s unsuitable.

Christians are no longer identified by their sinful inclinations, desires, or actions, because they’re identified by their union with Christ. Though Christians still struggle with indwelling sin, their union with Christ includes the indwelling presence and power of the Holy Spirit and a striving to turn from sin (not to continue to identify with sin). There are no “Racist Christians,” “Adulterous Christians,” or “Wife-Beating Christians.” There are only Christians who, by God’s grace and Spirit, strive to put partiality, sexual immorality, and anger to death in their hearts and live in ongoing repentance and faith in step with Christ.

5 Bad Ideas That Will Make Your Service Fake
We have all been there. Everything may sound fantastic, look attractive and was planned with purposeful intent. But, something just doesn’t seem right. You feel fake vibes when hoping for authentic ones. Regardless, what makes a worship service fake might be boiled down to a few things even though there may be many things we can put on a list. Here are five bad ideas that promote the “fake factor” in church worship services.

20 Years of Collecting Prayers from Church History: An Annotated Guide
When people ask how long I’ve been working on The Lord Is My Light—the liturgy for daily prayer coming out this fall—I struggle to answer. There’s a sense in which it’s been in development for more than 20 years, from the time an older woman in my Baptist church back home handed me The Book of Common Prayer. That gift whetted my appetite for more prayers from all eras of church history, and I’ve enjoyed finding gems here and there from our forefathers and mothers in the faith that I can make my own.

In the first church I served as a pastor, we had a nicely designed prayer room just off the foyer near the entrance, and every week I compiled materials for a simple daily office for the men and women (mainly older, seasoned saints) who would frequent that room. By adding ancient prayers to my routine, I felt those words becoming mine. Ever since, I’ve been perusing prayer books and marking the most moving and glorious prayers from saints and martyrs of the past.

US hits a scary mark for total number of measles cases
The number of U.S. measles cases surpassed the 2,000 mark this week for the second time in two years, federal data shows.

There have been 30 new incidents resulting in 2,030 confirmed cases so far this year, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday. That’s inching closer to last year’s total of 2,288 cases, the agency noted.

This skill can protect kids from the harms of social media
To protect kids from the harms of social media, some of us have proposed banning social networks for young people or delaying the age at which they use them. One expert has another solution: teaching kids critical thinking so they’ll know how to be safe online.

The Surprising Reason Kids Can't Seem To Read Anymore
One of my daily challenges as a parent is getting my fourth grader to read for 30 minutes as part of her homework.

It’s not because she struggles with her reading skills; she actually reads well-above grade level. Like many kids of her generation, though, my daughter has zero interest in picking up a book. Why would she, when she’s got an iPad offering her nonstop entertainment via videos expertly designed for her short attention span?

Bad news for Anglican and Episcopal churches and Prayer Book Societies--children who refuse to read!!

Short videos may hinder learning by fragmenting attention and memory, study finds
Recent technological advances and the introduction of new digital media platforms have dramatically changed how people learn and source information about topics that interest them. Some recent studies have found that while browsing online or scrolling down social media platforms, users tend to spend under one minute on average on individual videos.

Therapists talk about the childhood punishment many adults never truly recover from
There’s a disturbing scene in “Marty Supreme” involving Marty, played by Timothée Chalamet, being spanked with a ping pong paddle by a character played by Kevin O’Leary.

It might seem like something from another era, yet corporal punishment — which refers to the use of physical force, such as spanking or hitting — is still a common form of discipline in many families.

Friday's Catch: "Why ‘Cool Church’ Stopped Working (And What Does)" And More

Why ‘Cool Church’ Stopped Working (And What Does) 

For about two decades, a polished Sunday experience could fill seats. Hire a tight band, invest in production, land a charismatic communicator, and the people would come. That formula worked. And then, quietly, it stopped.

This is not an argument against excellence. Churches that gather people should gather them well. But across the church landscape today, something is shifting in ways that lights and haze machines cannot fix. The question worth asking is not how to become cooler. It is what comes after cool.

5 Dangerous Ways Churches Convince Themselves They’re Growing
The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. Making it clear with your leaders what is really happening in your church is the first step to creating an impact in your community. I’ve seen many church leaders try to convince themselves and their people that they are growing, which is dangerous because then you won’t be motivated to change or do what is needed to reach the people God is calling you towards. Let’s be honest…do you sense that you’re trying to convince yourself you’re growing when you really aren’t?.

Why Members Leave Their Church and Never Come Back
In this episode, Thom and Sam explore one of the most sobering questions church leaders face: Why do formerly active members quietly disappear for good? After years of research with people who once attended faithfully but haven’t returned to any church for at least two years, clear patterns emerge. Most departures aren’t dramatic or theological. They’re gradual.

Most people cooperate—and underestimate others' willingness to cooperate, global study reveals
The study "Homo cooperans: Understanding the nature of human cooperation" arrives at a clear result: 69% of study participants chose to cooperate. At the same time, the study published in the journal Science shows that people systematically underestimate the willingness of others to cooperate.

BWIM puts up a billboard in Orlando
Messengers to next week’s Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting who arrive in Orlando by plane will be greeted by a surprising billboard on their drive from the airport to the convention center.

Baptist Women in Ministry has purchased space on a billboard on Beachline Expressway near the intersection of Sand Lake Road — the most likely path for conventiongoers to take.

The billboard’s message: “God calls women to pastor, preach and minister. Matthew 28:8, Acts 2:17-18.”

Also See: The way we were

Why evangelicals should oppose the new farm bill's Save Our Bacon Act
Evangelicals have largely forgotten past generations of evangelicals who not only fought against the slave trade and inhumane working conditions but also against animal cruelty.

"The godly care for their animals, but the wicked are always cruel." Proverbs 12:10 NLT

Iowa megachurch warns property permit denial could impact ministry in at-risk community
An Iowa city has rejected a request from a multisite megachurch to relocate its original campus to a former bank building. Church leaders say the decision could ultimately force the congregation to leave the neighborhood it has served for years.

The Waterloo Board of Adjustment voted 4-0 last week to reject a special-use permit for Hope City Church, a congregation of about 3,600 members, that would have allowed it to move into a former Wells Fargo building.

Zoning codes, municipal redevelopment plans, and unfriendly boards, commissions, and councils can be significant obstacles for new church plants as well assisting churches. Annualconferences and dioceses selling off vacant church buildings for secular use compounds this problem.

Christian Idolatry? Evaluating Bethel Church and Bill Johnson
On June 14, 2025, Vance Boelter (allegedly) stalked and murdered Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, and wounded Senator John Hoffman and Yvette, his wife.1 In the days immediately following the shooting, David French wrote an article in The New York Times titled “The Problem of the Christian Assassin.” In the piece, French broadly hints that Boelter, who attended the Christ for All Nations Institute in the 90s, is an “evangelical Christian” who belonged to the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR). “Boelter,” French wrote, “wasn’t just a political assassin; he was a Christian assassin — and a person deeply connected to one of America’s most radical religious movements.”2 But is the NAR really an “evangelical Christian” movement?

NAR might be thought of as a “loose” affiliation of churches and organizations that share common doctrines and styles of worship. The vanguard of the NAR is Bethel Church in Redding, California, led by the charismatic (in both senses of the word) pastor, Bill Johnson, who has stretched Bethel’s influence over the entire globe through the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry (BSSM).3

When You’re Too Weird to Lead
I’ve noticed that there are moments in church life when a man can feel the importance of a task before him and at the same time, think himself inadequate.

I know those moments well, because I experience them often.

In leaked document, Microsoft plots how to get people addicted to its AI
Some copywriter at Microsoft is getting a real stern talking to.

In an internal document obtained by 404 Media, the tech giant let slip that it wants to “make people addicted” to its new personal assistant AI agent, Scout — an alarming admission, given that AI companies have tirelessly fought against the criticism that they design their models to be as engaging as possible, to the point of being psychologically harmful and fueling mental health crises.

Some of what happens during youth can’t be reversed. It’s another reason to rethink kids’ screen time
Kara Alaimo is a professor of communication at Fairleigh Dickinson University and advises parents, students and teachers on how to manage screen time. Her book “Over the Influence: Why Social Media Is Toxic for Women and Girls — And How We Can Take It Back” was published in 2024.

Need another reason not to give your kid screens? It may permanently alter their brains, according to a new paper that reviewed and reported on current literature.

3 Ways To Make Life Easier for Your VBS Volunteers
From Group’s vacation Bible school editors, check out these 3 ways to make life easier for your VBS volunteers!

Also See: 3 Ways to Treat VBS Volunteers Like VIPs

Virtue Signalling in the Church
Is it possible for a Christian to be more concerned about the appearance of godliness in their own lives, rather than the existence of it? To sound like they love God, but deep down actually fear man? To talk of virtuous deeds yet be substantially empty of them? I am living proof that the answer to those questions is yes. The worst part is, I find myself obsessed with projecting virtue not just in the secular spaces in which I operate, but in the stomping ground of my local church. The one place where virtue ought to be developed in a real and substantive way has instead become a home for shallow and performative signalling. Rather than being a place of willingly obscure sacrifice, it has devolved into a venue for not-so-subtle humble-bragging.

It is not unusual from a psycho-social perspective for human beings to have a different persona, or social self, for different sets of circumstances, a mask by which they conceal their real self. They may act one way with friends on a Friday night and another way with members of their church on Sunday morning. Being a disciple of Jesus entails acting the same way in whatever set of circumstances we find ourselves, that is, acting in accordance with Jesus' teaching and example.

What does your invite to the community look like?
At Upward Sports, we understand the importance of community! We also understand that each church is unique in their approach.

Our desire is to come alongside your church to advance your mission, reach families in your city, and promote Jesus through the avenue of sports. Together, we will customize the best sports experience for your church, strengthening your outreach efforts.

Upward Sports is one of the sponsors of Rainer on Leadership and Church Answers podcasts.

Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (June 4, 2026) Is Now Online

Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.

With Trinity Sunday we began the season of Trinitytide, a season of the Church Year that lasts until the season of Advent and the beginning of the new Church Year. Trinitytide, with Epiphanytide, is also known as the “green season” as green is liturgical color which is used during these two seasons of the Church Year.

In this Thursday evening’s message, we will be returning to our examination of the teaching of Jesus. We will be looking at what Jesus taught were the two greatest commandments.

Reading: Mark 12: 28-34

Message: The Two Greatest Commandments

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2026/06/thursday-evenings-at-all-hallows-june-4.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.

Thursday's Catch: 'Breaking the Barriers to Church Growth' And More

Breaking the Barriers to Church Growth
Students of church growth have identified several logjams where churches tend to get stuck. These sticking points are commonly called “church growth barriers.” When a church reaches a certain size, it struggles to grow beyond that size, whether 75, 200, 400, or beyond. Studying these barriers, we can find built-in dynamics of human relationships and communities that contribute to them. And we can discover helpful and biblical principles for breaking through them.

Specifically, one of the most powerful barriers in church growth is the “200 barrier” to church growth. The dynamics, leadership, and strategies required beyond 200 people in a church are dramatically different than leading a church under 200 people. So many churches get stuck below 200 and never grow beyond it. Thankfully, we can all grow in our leadership, so that we can prepare to break through barriers and reach people with the good news.

In this series, I want to walk through some best practices and principles for leading your church to grow. This first article will address two of the most powerful barriers that prevent churches from growing beyond 200. That said, the principles apply to churches of all sizes, and they start with church leaders and pastors.

Church Growth, Discipleship, and the Gospel of Grace
I think that often talking about growth gets pooh-poohed in Episcopal Church circles. “You’re just about butts in pews; this is a business model of measuring success”, etc. I think some of that is just defensiveness. But I do think it is important to articulate theologically why church growth matters, what theologically sound church growth would look like. Would you say you have a theology of church growth? 

6 Steps to Eliminate Confusion for Unchurched in Your Worship Services
Our worship services often bring unnecessary confusion to non-Christians. Here’s how to communicate more clearly and effectively.

Why Some Pastors Stay for Decades (and Thrive in Their Churches)
In this episode, Josh and Sam explore what sets apart pastors who stay at one church for ten, twenty, or even thirty years and still lead with energy and joy. Long-tenured pastors aren’t just “hanging on.” They’ve built habits that sustain both their soul and their ministry. They’ve weathered criticism, resisted the lure of greener grass, and chosen faithfulness over constant movement.

Dallas bishop discourages use of expansive-language liturgies, favors ‘unity’ in 1979 prayer book
All dioceses in The Episcopal Church regularly rely on the 1979 Book of Common Prayer to structure their worship services. The bishop of the Diocese of Dallas wants his diocese’s congregations to refrain from using any other liturgical text, at least on Sundays.

Julian of Norwich pilgrimage site seeks funds for sustainable future
A church connected with a 14th century female mystic has begun a campaign to ensure its long term future as a both a parish community and a pilgrimage destination.

Mother Julian of Norwich was an anchoress attached to St Julian’s Church and scholars believe she took her name from it. Born in the mid-thirteen hundreds, Mother Julian took vows of poverty and chastity, and to be anchored to one place...

Julian is credited with writing the first known book in the English language authored by a woman. Revelations of Divine Love details a series of visions or revelations Julian received while seriously ill.

Magnifica Humanitas and Anglican Christian Socialism: We Have Been Here Before
This essay concludes a series on AI and Pope Leo XIV’s May 26, 2026 encyclical Magnifica Humanitas. A round-up with links to all essays will be available later this month.

Albert Mohler Revises SBC Amendment on Women Preaching Ahead of 2026 Annual Meeting
On Tuesday, Dr. Albert Mohler provided clarification to the Truth & Unity Amendment he plans to propose during the Southern Baptist Convention’s (SBC) annual meeting next week.

Last month, the president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary announced plans to propose a motion to amend the SBC Constitution to clarify women’s preaching and leadership roles in SBC churches.

Also See: Understanding Al Mohler’s case against women

Report warns religious freedom protections in Mexico exist largely ‘on paper’
A new report by Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) has warned that despite Mexico's strong constitutional protections for freedom of religion or belief (FoRB), many religious minorities continue to face discrimination, violence and displacement, while authorities frequently fail to intervene.

The report, Protection on Paper: The Situation of Freedom of Religion or Belief in Mexico, says that legal safeguards often exist only in theory, with serious violations continuing across several regions of the country.

UN issues sobering warning about looming El Niño
A new warning was issued on June 2 about the looming El Niño climate pattern.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the United Nations' weather agency, said there's an 80% likelihood of an El Niño event starting this summer.

The prospect of a strong El Niño raises fears of additional heat, including marine heat waves, piling on top of long-term climate warming. Forecasts are raising alarms globally because of the pattern's powerful influence over the world's weather, and a strong event could create ripple effects for months to come.

Why heavier rain can mean less usable water as global warming intensifies
A Dartmouth study shows that annual rainfall in much of the world has consolidated over the past four decades into heavier storms with longer dry periods in between.

The archeological record shows that heavy rains that made planting new food crops impossible and caused existing food crops to rot in the field preceded extended periods of drought that lasted centuries, caused widespread famine, and contributed to the decline and collapse of more than one ancient civilization.

Hail conditions on the move as winter crops face rising risk
A hailstorm can undo a season's work in minutes. It can strike quickly and unevenly, shredding wheat, bruising fruit, flattening crops—while also leaving neighboring paddocks untouched. In a new Nature Climate Change study, scientists from UNSW Sydney say the geography and seasonality of that risk is changing.

How to Plan a Year of Preaching (5 Principles That Work)
Here are five principles for planning a year of preaching that will serve you, your team, and your congregation well.

10 Theses on Intercession
The English word “intercede” comes from two words meaning to “go between”. The Greek word means to speak to someone on behalf of another. Intercession is one of the four central kinds of prayer, remembered by the acronym ACTS. In adoration, we praise God in our prayers (Ps. 34:1-3). In thanksgiving, we express gratitude to him (Ps. 9:1-2). In confession, we acknowledge our sins (Ps. 41:4). In supplication, we make requests, either for ourselves or for others—which is intercession.

Solving Your Top 5 Mission Trip Problems
A mission trip is like the Olympic steeplechase: You run as fast as you can over every imaginable obstacle to get to the finish line. Maybe your obstacle is the girl who shows up with five large luggage bags. Or maybe it’s the guy who’s wearing clothes that won’t work well in your context.

We’ve learned over the years that some “unforeseen” obstacles can be obliterated before they become significant issues. We want to attack mission trip problems in creative ways to streamline our trips and tear down barriers that keep us from our ministry focus.

Wednesday's Catch: 'Portsmouth Diocese records some of Church of England’s strongest attendance growth' And More

Portsmouth Diocese records some of Church of England’s strongest attendance growth 

Church attendance across the Diocese of Portsmouth increased significantly in 2025, with new figures showing growth rates well above the national average.

Data released by the diocese shows weekly adult attendance increased by 3.3% in 2025, outperforming the national growth rate of 0.7%.

Peyton Jones: Reimagining Church Planting—Part 1
In the more than 25 years that veteran church planter Peyton Jones has been in ministry, he has served in almost every incarnation and context of church. He is founder of the New Breed Church Planting Network and is an expert in the field of missional engagement strategy. A self-described “accidental church planter,” Jones has planted in a Starbucks and in inner-city Long Beach, California, and serves as the church planting catalyst of the Western U.S. and Canada for the North American Mission Board.

Jones is also the host of the Jump School Core Team Training Series, managing editor of Church Planter Magazine and the co-host of the weekly Church Planter podcast. His latest book, Church Plantology: The Art and Science of Planting Churches (Zondervan), represents what he calls his magnum opus, distilling hard-earned principles of early-church-style ministry from his colorful and poignant experiences in modern contexts.

Also See: Peyton Jones: Empowering Every Believer—Part 2

Goma bishop calls for aid and prayer in face of Ebola crisis
Martin Gordon, Bishop of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has asked for prayer and international support as the country battles its 17th outbreak of Ebola in 50 years.

An outbreak was officially declared on 15 May, with the World Health Organisation declaring it a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) two days later. So far it is estimated that around 250 people have been killed by the disease, with the number of suspected cases rising to over 1,000.

An Anglican Reception of Magnifica Humanitas
This essay is a part of a series on AI and Pope Leo XIV’s May 26, 2026 encyclical Magnifica Humanitas. A round-up with links to all essays will be available later this month.

“Prayer, Advocacy, and Ending Hunger” featuring Angelique Walker-Smith
How can churches move from charity toward advocacy? In this episode, Angelique Walker-Smith draws from her work with Bread for the World to discuss the church’s responsibility to address hunger and poverty through both direct service and systemic change. She notes that moving beyond charity models and embracing advocacy is a core expression of Christian discipleship.

Clean drinking water gaps linked to hunger and unsafe food worldwide
A new global study has found that people without access to clean drinking water are significantly more likely to experience food insecurity and food safety threats, underscoring the urgent need for coordinated global action to address these issues together.

Why the Arctic's rivers are rusting now and where toxic orange water could spread next
Scientists have identified the two biggest reasons that once-pristine rivers across the Arctic are growing cloudy with toxic orange iron particles that smother insects and suffocate fish.

‘Point of no return’: New Orleans relocation must start now due to sea level, study finds
Louisiana’s cultural hotspot could be surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico before the end of this century, authors say.

Also See: Climate-driven depopulation and adaptation realities in America’s coastal ground zero

Salt water intrusion up the Mississippi River has grown worse in the past four years despite efforts to contain it, threatening the fresh water supply of the city and the adjoining parishes. The primary cause is decreased rainfall in Ohio and other parts of the United States and Canada that supply the river with water.

Are "Real" Catholics as Conservative as Evangelicals?
Here’s a common occurrence for me on social media. I post a graph that’s really basic: how a bunch of religious traditions feel about a controversial political issue. Could be a pathway to citizenship for folks who came here illegally, could be access to an abortion, or maybe a question about gender identity. I have all the traditions listed: white and non-white evangelicals and Catholics, mainline Protestants, Jews, Muslims, atheists, etc. What the data consistently shows — across a wide variety of dependent variables — is that white Catholics are not as socially conservative as white evangelicals.

This makes a lot of anonymous people on Twitter very angry, of course. I’m guessing that many of them are Catholics who believe that Catholicism, correctly measured, will exhibit results similar to their evangelical cousins. The replies are always something like, “No, show us what REAL Catholics believe on this issue.” Which I think is shorthand for: I want you to only compare weekly attending Catholics to weekly attending evangelicals. Their assumption is that if I do that, the statistical differences will disappear.

Why Teaching Deep Theology Matters to Your Church
We often shy away from teaching new believers deep theology. But the church is called to disciple believers into theological depths.

Evangelical churches are not the only churches suffering from a lack of theological depth.

Healthy and Helpful Accountability
Healthy church leadership depends on accountability, but not the kind rooted in guilt, control, or micromanagement. Jonathan Page outlines three principles for creating a culture of accountability that is restorative, chosen, and mutual—helping churches stay focused on their mission even during the slower rhythms of summer.

Tech podcast warns AI leaders 'envisioning a deity of sorts': 'Delusion of grandeur to think you can create God'
Do tech gurus at the forefront of the AI movement believe they’re creating a species seen as “superior to humans”?

That’s the question raised in the latest episode of the "All-In Podcast", where panelists took aim at what one described as the "Dr. Frankenstein theory" motivating certain AI labs to achieve so-called artificial general intelligence (AGI) in the pursuit of creating a digital “deity.”

1 in 5 US adolescents have turned to a chatbot for mental health help
Would you trust an AI chatbot to be your therapist, medical professional or confidante? New research shows that one in five American adolescents between the ages of 12-21 – or around 8.2 million – are turning to Big AI’s chatbots for help with their mental health.

That marks a more than 40 percent increase in the past year, rising from just one in eight the previous year, a 1,009-person survey from the non-profit research institute RAND found.

5 Imperatives for Maximizing Your Summer Recovery Days
Even if you refuse to do any of those things during your day off, they won’t disappear. They’ll be waiting for you upon your return, so no need to worry! Here’s some “veteran advice” for your summer recovery days...

Parents ditch kids' phones as screen-free childhood movement spreads across US
Parents across the U.S. and abroad are joining efforts to delay smartphone use and reduce children's screen time.

Why it matters: Concerns about smartphones' effects on children are fueling broader efforts around offline socialization, digital wellbeing and screen-free childhood initiatives.

Also See: The book fueling a movement against screens in schools; Cell phone bans are good for kids. They're not enough.

Leaving the Building: ‘Community Care Day’ Gathers Congregation for Service Effort
A random weekday dog-walk epiphany prompted a new ministry effort in Greenwood, and its impact is reverberating in big ways.

Laundry of Love Brings Clean Clothes, Compassion to Edisto Fork
What began as a deeply personal experience for the Rev. Ellis White Jr. has become a lifeline of grace and practical help for neighbors facing financial strain.

The Laundry of Love Ministry at Edisto Fork United Methodist Church was born out of his desire to ease a simple but often overlooked burden: the rising cost of doing laundry during these tough economic times.

Tuesday's Catch: How Evangelism Ministries Have Changed in Churches in 30 Years

How Evangelism Ministries Have Changed in Churches in 30 Years
Jess and Thom begin with a simple observation: most churches still believe in evangelism—but far fewer are organized around it the way they once were. Programs that were once central have faded, and new approaches have emerged, often without the same clarity or consistency.

In this episode, Jess and Thom look at how evangelism ministries have shifted over the past three decades—and what those changes mean for churches that want to reach people effectively today.

Five False Assumptions about Evangelism in Churches Today
Thom and Jess challenge five assumptions that quietly shape how churches approach evangelism. These beliefs often go unspoken, but they influence priorities and outcomes more than leaders realize.

Hall County Parish Holds Final Service
Formed in 1998, in the closing years of the the ill-fated Decade of Evangelism, St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church flourished for a time. Like many churches across the denomination the events of 2003 took a toll on St. Gabriel's over the years that followed. By 2015 it was no longer able to support a full-time priest. It entered a cycle of decline, depending upon retired priests to conduct services and eventually reached the point where it was no longer viable and closed its doors in 2023.

What might have been done differently to have kept this from happening? This is something that churches which find themselves in similar circumstances need to think about. So do dioceses. What are they prioritizing and how will these priorities affect the churches in the diocese?

Also See: St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church; Construction to Begin Soon on Archives’ Permanent Home

Massachusetts Episcopalians rally behind effort to preserve state’s strict gun safety measures
Episcopal leaders in Massachusetts are rallying alongside gun safety advocates to preserve a sweeping state gun control law against a campaign seeking to repeal it by voter referendum.

‘The Church is on the front line of the Ebola response’: Anglicans act to tackle Ebola outbreak
DRC and neighbouring Uganda are seeing another outbreak of the deadly Bundibugyo Ebola strain. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recorded 10 confirmed and 223 suspected Ebola deaths since the outbreak was declared on 15 May, among more than 1,000 confirmed and suspected cases.

Around the world, Anglican churches, networks and charities are working to assist humanitarian response. A major focus is handling misinformation and overcoming practical barriers to care, while offering pastoral support, public health guidance and hope to those affected.

Also See: Church Urges Vigilance Amid Ebola Outbreak

From the Quiet Lion — Why Magnifica Humanitas Matters
This essay is part of a series on AI and Pope Leo XVI’s May 26, 2026 encyclical Magnifica Humanitas. A round-up with links to all essays will be available later this month.

Pope Leo is Right and the Tech-bros Are Wrong
Sometimes the Pope knows how to nail some theses to the door too – a reading from Russell’s recent newsletter.

Are humans naturally violent? New research challenges long-held assumptions
New research from the University of Lincoln, UK, is challenging a common assumption about the evolutionary origins of human violence, suggesting that everyday aggression does not inevitably lead to lethal conflict. The study, published in the journal Evolution Letters, finds that mild aggression and lethal violence appear to have evolved along different pathways, offering new insight into one of the most enduring debates about human nature.

John Stott’s Dream Church
In 1974, on the 150th anniversary of the dedication of All Souls Church in London, John Stott shared his dream for the church, focusing on five elements of faithfulness that would be for the glory of God and the good of the world. Riffing on Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech directed to the injustices of American society, Stott painted an inspiring picture of the church at its best.

In a time of upheaval, when the church’s weaknesses and sins have been exposed, it’s good to remind ourselves what the church has been and can still be when we’re marked by faith, hope, and love. Here is Stott’s fivefold dream for the church, as later published in The Living Church.

The Pressure of Being First: Nicole Martin on Leading Christianity Today
Nicole Martin made history as Christianity Today's first Black female CEO — and took the hits that come with it. In this conversation: the backlash, Billy Graham's original vision, how the magazine is advancing and speaking into a polarized world, and why leadership is designed to kill you.

Students learn less when they use tech. So why do schools keep giving kids devices?
Students who use computers more perform worse academically, neuroscientist Jared Cooney Horvath documented in his book, “The Digital Delusion: How Classroom Technology Harms Our Kids’ Learning — And How To Help Them Thrive Again.” These results show up in numerous reliable international standardized tests, Horvath explained in congressional testimony.

13 Key Considerations for Choosing Kids Curriculum
When choosing a kids ministry curriculum, seek God’s lead and wisdom and do your homework so you can be confident in the resource you select.

Image Credit: St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church, Oakwood, GA

Monday's Catch: 'Your Discipleship Model Is Aging Out'

St. James Episcopal Church, Clayton, GA

Your Discipleship Model Is Aging Out: 5 New Trends Churches Cannot Ignore
We’re hearing it more at Church Answers. Church leaders are communicating, “We are not doing discipleship well.” It’s not due to neglect so much as to an outdated strategy. Most discipleship systems in North American churches were built for an era when people attended weekly, married younger, had more stable family rhythms, and Baby Boomers formed the backbone of both volunteering and giving.

That world is fading. Attendance frequency is declining, household formation is delayed and stressed, and the actuarial reality is unavoidable: Baby Boomers are aging out of active participation. Discipleship strategies built for the past will not carry the next generation.

What, then, are the shifts church leaders should pay attention to right now? Here are five research-informed discipleship trends already emerging.

From the Archives: Stop Pursuing the Past
If you are honest with yourself, the good old days were really not that good. Sure you would love to see your church’s worship center filled again. Of course you would love to see all of the people come back that you used to see for 20 seconds every Sunday morning. But in romanticizing the past, you’re forgetting about all the things that were broken and all of the things that you didn’t like. Now is the opportunity to fix them.

Maybe this is not the season to rebuild your church. Maybe this is the season to start over. You’ve had daydreams about that. You thought about if I could start this church from scratch this is what I would do. Right now your church as it is as close to scratch as it’s ever been. Take this opportunity to start over.

From Ruts to Renewal: Aligning Your Leaders with God’s Vision for What’s Next
Aligning leaders with a vision plan in your church does not require a large team. It requires shared clarity.

French bishops oppose bill that would force priests to violate secrecy of confession
Bishops in France have voiced opposition to a bill debated in the National Assembly on Monday that would require Catholic priests to report child abuse disclosures made during confession, a requirement they say violates one of the sacrament's foundational principles.

The French Episcopal Conference expressed "great concern" over several provisions of the bill, according to Infovaticana, which cited the French newspaper Le Figaro.

Why Protestants should read the pope’s encyclical
Since “Rerum Novarum,” Catholic social teaching has generally assumed that the state served as the primary counterweight to concentrated economic power. “Magnifica Humanitas” suggests that this arrangement no longer adequately describes reality.

Also See: Magnifica Humanitas | Pope Leo XIV (FULL audiobook) — REAL human voice!

Overcome Ministry Burnout: Let Go and Say “No”
Saying "no" isn’t weakness or a lack of faith. Sometimes it’s a necessary first step in narrowing our focus and strengthening our faith.

Outsourcing our Humanity: AI, Human Identity, and Vocation
This essay is part of a series on AI and Pope Leo XVI’s May 26, 2026 encyclical Magnifica Humanitas. A round-up with links to all essays will be available later this month.

“Praying in the Holy Spirit”: What Does Jude 20 Mean for Christians Today?
Among the shorter books of the Bible, the letter of Jude contains some remarkably weighty exhortations. Writing to Christians threatened by false teachers and spiritual compromise, Jude urges believers to “contend for the faith” (Jude 3). Yet his final instructions are strikingly pastoral and deeply practical:

“But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.” (Jude 20–21)

For many Christians, the phrase “praying in the Holy Spirit” raises immediate questions. Does Jude refer to a special kind of prayer? Is he speaking about emotional intensity? About mystical experiences? About speaking in tongues? Or is he describing something more ordinary, and yet more profound?

What To Wear 

I’ve visited a lot of different churches over the years. A few have required a head scarf. Some, something nicer than jeans. Most don’t care.

Mine was the generation to break traditional church dress codes, following on the heels of the hippies before us. It felt daring. Rebellious, even. Like we were laying aside the trappings of formal religion to uncover the heart of what it meant to follow Jesus. It wasn’t until I gained some maturity and humility though, that I recognized that in many churches, dressing up was a form of showing respect for God, not just an antiquated tradition.

But how does God want us to dress?

Image Credit: Episcopal Asset Map

Sundays at All Hallows (May 31, 2026) Is Now Online

Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows.

This Sunday is Trinity Sunday. It is a major festival of the Church Year, which celebrates a doctrine that is unique to Christianity, the doctrine of one God in three Persons, the holy Trinity.

In this Sunday’s message we take a look at this doctrine, a longstanding article of faith for Anglicans, Episcopalians, Methodists, and other Christians.

Readings: Exodus 34:1-82, Corinthians 13:11-13, and Matthew 28:16-20

Message: Oh No! It’s Trinity Sunday!

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2026/05/sundays-at-all-hallows-may-31-2026.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.

Saturday Lagniappe: 'Gen Z and Belonging to the Church' And More

Gen Z and Belonging to the Church
Is the attraction to Christianity consumerism, a desire for superficial belonging, or something else?

The Hyper-Traditionalist Movement in Church Architecture (Is Anyone Really Building Churches This Way?)
Sam interviews Todd Brown and Isaac Brown of Brown Church Development Group. A growing number of church leaders, architects, and donors are reconsidering what sacred space should look like. In this episode, we explore the rise of the hyper-traditionalist movement in church architecture—a revival of classical, Gothic, Romanesque, Byzantine, and other historic styles that aim to communicate permanence, beauty, and theological depth. While this movement is still niche in North America, it is more than an aesthetic preference. It reflects a broader conviction that church buildings should feel unmistakably sacred rather than utilitarian or disposable.

When a church caters to the aesthetics of a few and puts form before function in the construction of a sanctuary or worship center, the result is not only a more expensive building but one that ill-suited to the needs of a 21st century congregation. Despite the claims of "if you build it, they will come," architectural evangelism is an ineffective means of evangelism.

These houses of worship are older than America. How they outlasted wars, schisms and lawsuits.
Only about 1% of houses of worship in the U.S. today existed in 1776. Here are four that predate the revolution — and still hold services.

Protesters Stormed a Church. Now States Are Criminalizing Worship Disruptions.
The large protest that erupted inside a Minnesota church earlier this year led to high-profile arrests and federal charges. Another byproduct? Tougher legislation.

At least seven states have been debating bills that increase penalties for people who enter churches unlawfully to disrupt worship services and harass congregants or pastors. So far, four states and one New York county have enacted such laws, which critics say infringe on free speech and expression.

Archbishop Duncan named Interim Bishop of the Western Gulf Coast
The ACNA's College of Bishops at a meeting on Thursday, May 21st opted not to elect a Bishop Ordinary for the Diocese of the Western Gulf Coast and named former Archbishop Bob Duncan as Interim Bishop for a period of not more than a year, during which time it is hoped the diocese will settle on a replacement for retiring Bishop Clark Lowenfield.

Speaker says God "raised up" Trump to build White House ballroom, sparking online backlash
A preacher’s comments claiming that God “raised up” Donald Trump to build a ballroom at the White House have sparked widespread reactions online. The remarks were made by preacher Eric Metaxas during a nine-hour prayer festival where he discussed Trump and a proposed ballroom addition connected to the White House complex. Clips of the statement quickly circulated across social media platforms, triggering both criticism and support from viewers.

Architect reveals how to cool your home without AC this summe
As heatwaves become more intense and widespread, staying cool indoors is shifting from a comfort issue to a health priority.

In recent weeks, millions of people across the US have been placed under extreme heat warnings, with forecasters describing some events as “once-in-a-century” heatwaves. Temperatures across parts of the Northeast have surged into the triple digits, while experts have warned that a developing “super El Niño” could make future summers even hotter and more difficult to manage.

Taking these measures may reduce the need for air conditioning but they will not eliminate its need during periods of dangerous heat!

The largest US groundwater supply is running out
The largest underground water supply in the United States—responsible for sustaining a vast share of the nation’s farming—is steadily running dry, raising concerns about future food production and price volatility as supplies come under strain.

The Ogallala Aquifer, which lies beneath eight Great Plains states from South Dakota to Texas, provides roughly 30 percent of the groundwater used for irrigation in the U.S. and supports around a fifth of the country’s agricultural output.

Entire month of rain falls in US desert city in 2 days
Albuquerque has recorded more than two months’ worth of its average rainfall in May, an unusually wet stretch for a city that typically sees limited precipitation at this time of year.

The high amount of rain comes at a time when rainfall is typically lower, weeks before the monsoon season gets underway. The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Albuquerque warned of showers and thunderstorms several times earlier this week, and at times, rainfall was heavy enough to prompt flash flood warnings across the forecast region. Because Albuquerque sits in a high desert environment, rainfall often runs off quickly over hard, dry ground, making even brief storms capable of triggering dangerous flash flooding and underscoring the need for residents to stay alert during heavy rain.

Unseasonal heavy rain is not absorbed by the ground and does not replenish local aquifers. When it occurs for an extended period, it can not only cause flash flooding in dry gullies and dangerously high water in rivers and streams but it can seriously damage local agriculture--causing soil erosion, delaying planting of crops, and waterlogging existing crops causing plants to rot in the field.

Research paper warns that there’s a massive experiment at work to geoengineer the Earth’s climate The idea of manually tampering with our atmosphere to combat climate change, such as by seeding clouds with reflective particles to dim the Sun, remains extremely controversial. These acts of geoengineering could deliver us from climate doom, the thinking goes, or backfire spectacularly in ways we never anticipated — which is why scientists are proceeding with caution.

Also See: A climate fix with a hidden catch: Cutting methane reshapes ozone layer's comeback in unexpected ways

Antarctica is hiding a terrifying secret. It could put the world at risk.
Understanding sea level rise is complicated. A team of scientists working with the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) makes its best estimates using the most up-to-date understanding of glacier and ice shelf dynamics, but as past studies have shown, these features are being pushed to a point never before witnessed. As a result, understanding the behavior of these complicated natural systems is far from simple.

Also See: Sensitivity of Antarctic ice to climate change sharply increased after ice age shift, study shows; Bare supercontinent may have tipped ancient Earth into 'snowball' phase

A Theology (Not Ideology) of Creation Care
We have been charged to care for God’s creation. To be stewards of all that God has made and entrusted to us. Since the Industrial Revolution, we have been able to do more care for creation than ever before, as well as more harm.

That harm has ramifications that border on the nightmarish, and no one is more affected than the poorest of the poor. No matter what you may think is behind it all – natural causes, human causes, or both – that creation is suffering in unprecedented ways is without dispute.

Can Agentic AI Pastor Your Church
Churches and seminaries are facing a new challenge: the automation of pastoral work through agentic AI. Unlike generative tools such as ChatGPT or Gemini, agentic AI doesn’t wait for weekly prompts. Ask your AI agent once to prepare Sunday sermons by a certain day and time, and that’s it. The agent works around the clock and notifies you when the manuscript is ready for review.

OpenClaw, for example, enables your AI agent to live on your own hardware. It’s able to scan every file—from notes and meeting minutes to photos, texts, and emails—to craft sermons from the raw material of your life. Earlier AI tools could produce solid general content. Agentic AI goes further: It personalizes that content, drawing from recent congregational events and your own experiences for illustrations, and your people’s felt needs for application points. It can sound more like you than you do.

This isn’t a distant scenario. It’s here. And it raises serious challenges for preaching and pastoral ministry. Here are four.

The people who actually want AI to replace humanity
“I want AI to be a tool that allows human flourishing!” exclaimed Brad Carson, a former member of Congress. “There is an option out there where AI is just a tool for us.”

This is a normal thing to say in most circles. But Carson was speaking at an invite-only symposium dedicated to the idea of creating a “Worthy Successor” — an AI so impressive, so beyond the mere human, that we’d actually want it to replace humanity.

Also See: Top AI models showing disturbing behavior as they become more advanced; Humanity may reach singularity within just 4 years, trend shows

Trump order endorses plan to halve vaccines recommended for children
An executive order signed by Donald Trump with little fanfare on Friday could have a huge impact on the health of US children, as it instructs the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to cut the number of recommended childhood vaccines almost in half.

The vague language of the order, which refers to “a scientific assessment that compared United States childhood immunization recommendations with those of peer nations” published in January by anti-vaccine activist Robert F Kennedy’s health and human services department, does not explicitly state that the new recommendation removes vaccines against seven diseases from the schedule.

5 Keys To Open Up Faith-Building at Home
Today’s parents come with a wide variety of home-life circumstances. Church leaders need these five keys to open up faith-building at home. Use these tools to understand today’s parents. Then, help your parents pass on their faith to their children.

Friday's Catch: 'Raise Your Church’s Capacity: 3 Moves To Make Now' And More

Raise Your Church’s Capacity: 3 Moves To Make Now
Todd Wilson has spent decades studying the American church. His diagnosis is direct: The church growth movement started with the right instinct—reach more people—but built the wrong operating system. A well-intentioned movement was gradually co-opted into consumer logic. Attend. Receive. Repeat.1 The pastor became the product. Every system flows to him. Every decision waits on him.

Barna research confirmed in 2024 that roughly 40% of U.S. senior Protestant pastors are at high risk of burnout.2 The problem is not weak pastors. It is wrong architecture—one that concentrated ministry in one office and trained the congregation to be spectators.

That model has a ceiling of exactly one person. And that person is already maxed out. The question is not how do you work harder. The question is how do you stop being the bottleneck.

How to Make Your Life Burnout-Proof: Burnout 20 Years Later, Part 2
Twenty years after burnout almost took him out, Carey is back with Part 2—the recovery playbook. You don’t need to get back to normal. Normal is what burned you out. In this solo episode, Carey shares seven strategies to burnout-proof your life: stop managing time and start managing energy, move to a fixed calendar, guard your green zone, and stop letting the wrong people hijack your best hours.

South Carolina capital campaign kicks off churchwide ‘pay it forward’ fundraising initiative
The Diocese of South Carolina is using seed money from The Episcopal Church to launch its first capital campaign since resolving a property lawsuit with a breakaway group in 2022. The new fundraising is seen both as a way to invest in the Charleston-based diocese’s own priorities, like congregational revitalization and racial reconciliation, and as a pilot program for supporting other dioceses’ capital campaigns.

Also See: We Are The Diocese of South Carolina

‘God at work’ - Baptist leaders report signs of growth across churches amid ministry challenges
Baptist leaders have reported fresh signs of growth across churches in England and Wales, with rising baptism numbers, increased worship attendance, and a modest rise in membership offering encouragement after years of decline in several areas of church life.

Speaking at the Baptist Assembly, Baptists Together General Secretary Lynn Green said the latest Annual Returns painted a hopeful picture of “God at work” across the movement, while also acknowledging ongoing structural and demographic challenges facing Baptist churches, reports The Baptist Times.

Also See: Baptists Together

In conversation with Meredith Stone about Mohler’s amendment
As Southern Baptists prepare to consider Al Mohler’s so called “Truth and Unity Amendment” at their annual meeting in Orlando next month, many Baptist women are becoming weary of Southern Baptist men defining “unity” as joining together to silence women.

Also See: More Baptist Faith and Message 2000 fallout

Canadian evangelicals confused about core Christian doctrines, survey finds

A major new survey examining religious beliefs in Canada has found that many evangelicals hold views that deny historic Christian teaching, prompting renewed calls for stronger biblical discipleship and theological education within churches.

The findings come from the 2026 State of Theology Canada survey, carried out by Ligonier Ministries Canada alongside Lifeway Research.

Also See: Most Canadian Evangelicals hold unbiblical beliefs, poll suggests

Think it's hot now? The next five years will smash records, UN says
In the next five years, the Earth is overwhelmingly likely to surge again and again past the international climate threshold set as safe and shatter its hottest-year record along the way, according to new United Nations climate projections.

The World Meteorological Organization also forecasts an overheating Arctic that warms nearly 3 degrees Fahrenheit (1.66 degrees Celsius) between now and 2030 and a dangerous drought with potential wildfires for the Amazon, a crucial part of Earth's natural defenses to lessen human-caused climate change. A hotter globe from the burning of coal, oil and gas means more extreme weather including floods, droughts and heat waves, scientists said.

Longer, hotter summers are going to have a significant negative impact upon the worship, ministry, and life of local churches particularly those that have aging congregations.

This summer is going to kill a lot of people
Summer hasn’t even started in the Northern Hemisphere, and thermometers around the globe are already fit to burst.

In India, at least 16 people have died during a pre-monsoon season heatwave as temperatures reach a scorching 116 degrees Fahrenheit, with conditions expected to worsen over the coming days.

What can your church do to help senior adults and other vulnerable segments of the population survive the heat?

Legal and Tax Issues Every Church Leader Needs To Understand
Setting compensation for pastors and church staff is not just a budgeting exercise.

Church compensation decisions have legal, tax, and governance consequences that differ sharply from those faced by for-profit employers.

Executive pastors, administrators, finance leaders, and board members all play a role—and misunderstandings can expose a church to penalties, audits, or loss of tax benefits.

Here are the compensation issues every church leader should understand.

7 Sexual Boundaries Every Pastor Must Know (And Protect)
Pastoral ministry is one of the most intimate callings in human life. People come to their pastor at their most vulnerable: grief, failing marriages, spiritual crisis. That intimacy is a gift. It is also a trap, and every year it claims men who never intended to fall.

This is not a theoretical danger. The statistics on pastoral sexual misconduct are sobering, and the stories behind them follow a pattern that almost never starts with predatory intent. It starts with small compromises, invisible lines crossed so gradually that the pastor barely notices until he is standing somewhere he never meant to be.

What follows is a practical framework drawn from decades of pastoral experience. Not rules for their own sake. Not a list of fears. A set of clear, actionable boundaries that protect the pastor, the people he serves, and the ministry God gave him.

Most ministry failures begin with small compromises that do not initially feel dangerous.

Preach to the Choir
There are two types of heretics: accidental and intentional. Most heretics in our churches are accidental heretics. They’ve got bad theology, don’t know the Scriptures, and are worldly in their assumptions about humanity, God, and the purpose of life.

The 2025 Ligonier and Lifeway report on the State of Theology of self-identified evangelicals should make pastors sweat....

Advice on How to “Preach the Gospel” to Yourself
Although the phrase became popular more recently, the idea of “preaching the gospel to yourself” isn’t something new or novel. This practice is found throughout the pages of Scripture. In the Psalms, we see David “preaching” to himself the truth about God’s saving character when he felt depressed and abandoned (Psalm 42:5). We see Peter, Paul, and John regularly preaching gospel truths to their readers before exhorting them to holy living (ex. 1 Peter 1:3-21; 2 Peter 1:3-11; Col. 3:1-17; Eph. 4:17-32; 1 John. 4:9-11; etc.). Clearly, who we are and how we live was meant to be shaped by who God is and what He has done, is doing, and will do to save us through Christ.

Preaching the gospel to ourselves is a discipline that we should consistently practice in order to mature in Christlikeness. But what does that actually look like? Practically, how do we “preach the gospel” to ourselves? Recently, a young woman in our church asked me those very questions—ones you may be wondering about as well. If so, I hope the advice I gave her will be helpful to you too.