Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (October 8, 2026) Is Now Online

Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.

In this evening’s message we consider a question that is asked by longtime Christians as well as those exploring Christianity, “What is faith?”

Readings: Genesis 28: 10-22; Hebrews 11:1-16

Message: What Is Faith?

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2026/10/thursday-evenings-at-all-hallows_01190972587.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: 'The Principled Engagement of the Anglican Tradition' And More

The Principled Engagement of the Anglican Tradition
...the posture of principled disengagement runs contrary to the spirit and practice of the early English Reformation. As a scholar of early modern Christianity, I point this out as a matter of historical accuracy.

The stakes of requiring “principled disengagement” are larger that the Porter-Gaud affair. They raise a question of what kind of church the ACNA aspires to be.

Does seperation and disengagement work? In the the 16th century the English Church broke with the Church of Rome, underwent a series of reforms, and adopted an identity and a direction more closely aligned with the teaching of the Bible. In the 19th century the Church of England and her daughter churches experienced a Catholic Revival which not only revived doctrine and practices of the medieval Catholic Church but also introduced those of the 19th century Roman Catholic Church and obscured these churches' Protestant identity. In the 19th century the Free Church of England broke with the Church of England and the Reformed Episcopal Church with the then Protestant Episcopal Church due to the growing influence and spread of the Catholic Revival movement. By the 21st century both churches have experienced their own Catholic Revivals and would be unrecognizable to their Evangelical founders!

Beyond replication: The essential contextuality of Fresh Expressions
We are at an exciting time for the church and specifically the UMC as new and exciting ministries are popping up all over! The "Fresh Expressions" movement has ignited a spark of creativity and innovation within the church, prompting communities to explore new ways of being the body of Christ. It seems like the only limit to where God is leading ministry is that of our imaginations. However, as churches are popping up in burrito restaurants, tattoo parlors, and dinners, the crucial element of profound contextuality of these expressions is often overlooked. What thrives in one neighborhood and one context may (and often likely will) wither in another, underscoring the necessity of deep discernment over mere replication.

In this article Kellen Roggenbuck provides us with a much needed reminder of the importance of contextualization when planting a new church. I keep running across articles which champion an "Anglican" way of planting new churches, what is essentially a cookie cutter approach to church planting and give little or no consideration to conditions on the ground, to the conditions in a particular mission field. I have been involved in church planting and pioneering since the 1980s and one lesson I have learned is what may work in one neighbourhood, community or district may not work in another!

Mothers’ Union celebrate one worldwide family in Christ on 150th anniversary
Mothers’ Union has concluded a four-day event in Durban, South Africa, to mark its 150th anniversary (30 September – 3 October). Themed‘Celebrating Worldwide Fellowship: One Worldwide Family in Christ’, it gathered delegates from across the world to honour the legacy of its service to women, family and community life and look forward to the next chapter.

St Mary-the-Virgin Anglican Church in Bermuda celebrates 400 years of faith and service
In recent weeks, St Mary-the-Virgin Anglican Church in Warwick, Bermuda, has been marking its 400th (quadricentennial) anniversary with special services and commemorative events. These celebrations culminated on 4 October with a rededication service, which gathered distinguished guests, clergy and parishioners.

Scottish cathedral to charge non-Scottish visitors £12 entrance fee for first time
St Giles’ Cathedral in Scotland has said that visitors from outside of Scotland will be charged an entry fee of £12.

The cathedral, located in Edinburgh’s famous Royal Mile, was established in 1124 and, in all that time, has never charged for admission.

Under the plans, Scottish residents will be able to book entry online for free if they can provide proof of residency. Visitors living in other parts of the United Kingdom or from overseas, will be required to pay the fee.

For the first time, a Catholic archbishop sues Trump over access to immigrant detainees
The lawsuit accused the Department of Homeland Security and ICE of instituting policies that violate 'core constitutional values.'

How I Changed My Mind on the Death Penalty
In recent years, I have become increasingly suspicious of the idea that capital punishment is reflective of the type of justice Jesus would have us pursue. I base this suspicion in practical concerns regarding the implementation of capital punishment in the United States, the trajectory within Scripture on the issue of violence, as well as the testimony of the early church.

Let’s start with my practical concerns.

“Sustainable Ministry: Leading Without Burning Out” featuring Margaret Marcuson
What does sustainable leadership look like when ministry leaders are navigating constant demands, anxiety, and competing expectations? In this episode, Jonathan Page is joined by Margaret Marcuson, the author of Sustainable Ministry: How to Lead (and When to Nap). Together, they explore how clergy can lead with greater clarity, manage relationships and anxiety, establish healthy boundaries, and create space for rest and renewal.

Also See: Ministry Would Be Great If It Weren’t for the People

Pastors Are Preaching Longer, and Most Churchgoers Are Fine With It
Ask ten pastors how long a sermon should run and you will hear ten different answers, plus at least one story about the Sunday the roast burned. New research finally puts real numbers behind the debate, and the results upend a popular assumption.

In a culture trained on 60-second videos, more Protestant pastors are preaching longer than they did a few years ago. And the people in the pews are mostly happy about it.

Below is what the data shows about typical sermon length, why pastors and listeners rarely agree on the clock, and how to land on the right length for your own congregation.

The Ineffectiveness of AI Preaching
There is a time for AI and a time not to use AI. As with so many things, the promise of good has a shadow side. Preachers will be drawn to AI as Gollum is drawn to the Ring. AI offers something very powerful, but with the risk of preachers becoming correspondingly unfaithful. It is a slippery slope from Claude helping you prepare your sermon, to Claude writing it for you.

Pastor beware! Guard your heart, guard your flock; take responsibility, keep it real. Put in the hours, labour with love. Close your computer, get on your knees and ask God to help you, to speak to you, to shape and reform you. Open your Bible, open your mind, and open your heart.

Sam Altman warns against AI gaining religious authority after Grok affirms Jesus is Son of God
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman shared his strong discomfort with efforts to attribute religious or moral authority to artificial intelligence (AI) systems just days after a competitor AI affirmed the divinity of Jesus of Nazareth in a viral exchange on X.

In a now-deleted Oct. 1 post on X, Grok, part of the family of generative AI chatbots and large language models developed by Elon Musk’s xAI/SpaceXAI, was asked to remove the false gods from an image that showed Jesus amid a pantheon of deities and other religious figures. In response, Grok created and posted an image of Jesus by Himself with His hand raised, replying "Done," which prompted both celebration and outrage from many on the social media platform.

Small Groups are a Leadership Development Factory
If you need more leaders and even people just to help in your church, you are in good company these days. With low attendance numbers dragging on into the third year since COVID began, the leadership deficit in most churches is bigger than it’s ever been. Small groups are a great catalyst for growing leaders.

Recapturing an Evangelistic Mindset in Your Groups
If we’re to recapture an evangelistic mindset in our Bible study groups, we must intentionally position evangelism as essential in groups.

Christians Going to College Have to Be Intellectually Prepared
When it came to moral issues (substance abuse, sex, and the party scene) and practical issues (how to get along with my roommate, manage my budget, and stay focused on my studies), I had received plenty of good input. And to be sure, these are important things for any college student to address. Many believers have shipwrecked their faith over such matters.

The problem stemmed not from what I was taught but from what I wasn’t taught. I wasn’t prepared in the one area that would matter most in a university environment. I wasn’t prepared intellectually. And I would soon learn (the hard way) that intellectual preparation was what I needed more than anything.

What I encountered was not challenges to my beliefs and values from professors and other students but a lack of support and encouragement from the denomination with which my home church was affiliated. The Episcopal Student Center was closed, its doors locked, except for a weekly Canterbury Club meeting--a service of Holy Communion, followed by a meal of fried chicken and salad. Unlike Baptist, Lutheran, and Roman Catholic students, Episcopal students were left to navigate their way through university on their own. I would drift away from the Episcopal Church during university and not return until my late 30s.

Parenting Like Aslan
C.S. Lewis’ portrayal of Aslan in The Chronicles of Narnia is one of the most powerful and beloved images of divine love in all of literature. His sacrifice for Edmund on the stone table, his deliverance of the heroes again and again in times of distress, and his quiet but unmistakable power resonate deeply with us. But lately I’ve been taken with another aspect of Aslan: the fact that the characters he interacts most with are children.

This is not accidental: indeed he seems to want it this way. After all there is an age limit for Narnia, a place beyond which he no longer wishes to interact with you as Aslan, preferring to come in more human form. Of course as the Son of God, he relates to us at all ages of our existence and is the author and perfector of each of them. But as Aslan he is especially concerned with our childhood and with that part within us that is still a child.

Winnie-the-Pooh centenary marked with new Christian reflection resources for schools
Church schools are being invited to explore Christian values through the much-loved stories of Winnie-the-Pooh as part of new resources produced to mark the character’s 100th anniversary.

The Dioceses of Winchester and Portsmouth have created a set of nine classroom reflection cards drawing together passages from Alan Alexander Milne’s ‘Winnie-the-Pooh’ stories with Bible verses, prayers and questions designed to encourage children to consider how Christian values can shape everyday life.

The resources coincide with the centenary of ‘Winnie-the-Pooh,’ first published in 1926, and focus on nine themes: friendship, kindness and compassion, gratitude, grace, courage and trust, patience, joy, hope and forgiveness.

Christian Bucket List: 50 Things to Do Before Heaven
A bucket list asks one blunt question: what do you want to have done before you die? Most lists answer with places and thrills. This one answers with people, Scripture, and the choices you will be glad you made when you finally see Jesus face to face.

Moses asked God to teach us to count our days so we could grow wise (Psalm 90:12). Every item below grows out of that prayer. Some take an afternoon. Some take years. A few will cost you your pride.

Nothing here is ranked, and your list will look different from mine. Pick five to start. And read all the way to number 31. It costs nothing, and it is the one most believers keep putting off.

Wednesday's Catch: London Rector’s Call for Separation Divides Evangelicals

London Rector’s Call for Separation Divides Evangelicals
Over the last few years, conservative evangelicals in the Church of England have been united in their opposition to new services of blessing for same-sex couples. They have dug their heels in on General Synod to try to vote down the project at every stage, winning numerous victories along the way. Earlier this year, the bishops formally shuttered the Living in Love and Faith (LLF) project, leaving further liberal reforms unlikely in the near future.

Despite these victories, there are signs of fracture the movement. While united in their support for traditional teaching about sex and marriage, conservative evangelicals are divided about their place in a church where same-sex relationships can now be blessed.

William Taylor is not the first to make such a call or Lee Gatiss to oppose it. See 50 Years Ago Today: The Split Between John Stott and Martyn Lloyd-Jones and Understanding Opponents. In the nineteenth century J. C. Ryle resisted similar calls.

Canadian woman approved for euthanasia after losing ability to cook
A woman in her 70s who felt she no longer offered value to her family because she lost her cooking ability was reportedly approved for euthanasia in Canada, prompting doctors in Toronto to raise the alarm at the ease with which Canadians can undergo physician-assisted suicide.

Madeline Li and Gary Rodin, who are professors of psychiatry at the University of Toronto, mentioned the unidentified woman in a Monday op-ed for The New York Times, offering her as an example of the expanding consequences of Canada legalizing "medical assistance in dying" (MAiD) in 2016.

Illinois Parish’s St. Francis’ Statue Stolen, Scrapped for $100
In a news release shared with local media on October 1, the Alton Police Department said it had identified the individuals believed to be responsible for the theft. Investigators also noted that less than 48 hours after it was taken, the statue was scrapped for $100 somewhere in St. Louis, Missouri, a roughly 30-minute drive from Alton.

2,700 conversions recorded as Germany’s Free Evangelical Churches report renewed growth
Baptisms and conversions have risen across Germany’s Federation of Free Evangelical Churches, as new figures suggest congregational life has largely rebounded after the setbacks of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Federation of Free Evangelical Churches in Germany (FeG) had 504 congregations and 40,933 members at the end of 2025, according to its latest statistics.

The book that changed Sweden: 500 years of the Swedish New Testament
2026 is the 500th anniversary of the first New Testament in Swedish. This is the story....

A Manhattan Parish’s ‘Magic Sauce’
For one Episcopal parish in the heart of Manhattan, it’s hard to pinpoint what makes them thrive when the magic sauce is seemingly all over the place.

St. James’ Church, a predominantly neighborhood parish that prides itself on actively sharing the love of Jesus Christ with each other, their city, and the world, the “magic sauce” means not taking themselves too seriously—precisely because they take Jesus and his kingdom most seriously.

Why We Need History More than Ever Before
“I’m just . . . disconnected,” a friend said, pausing before emphasizing the last word. I was chatting after church with some young adults, and one of them, with her characteristic candor and insight, touched on something. This sense of disconnection was the same thing I was hearing from my students at university. In contemporary culture, many people are rootless, atomized, and unsure of where they belong.

When life is all about self-invention, history is deemed irrelevant. And yet the culture of “you do you” is producing an epidemic of loneliness, an “anxious generation” (to use Jonathan Haidt’s term), and rapid polarization as people desperately try to find meaning and purpose in the myriad of idols of this world, from politics to wellness to transhumanism. People are yearning to be part of a larger story.

This is an opportunity for Christians. God invites his people to be part of a much larger historical story. If we understand something about why history matters biblically, and how to steward it well, then history can help us speak the gospel into this rootless age.

Did Early Christians Believe Jesus Was God? Philippians 2
About 20 years. That is roughly the gap between the crucifixion and a hymn early Christians were already reciting about Jesus, one that puts him on equal footing with God. If that timeline holds, the popular idea that Jesus’ divinity was added later runs into a problem. There was no “later” for anyone to add it in.

Theologian Gavin Ortlund builds that case in a video response to what he calls “evolutionary Christology,” the theory that belief in Jesus as God grew slowly over the decades after his death. Ortlund, who leads the Truth Unites ministry and serves as theologian-in-residence at Immanuel Nashville, argues for something closer to what New Testament scholar Larry Hurtado called a “big bang.” In that view, Jesus’ earliest Jewish followers recognized his divine status quickly, not gradually.

Is Jesus the Social Justice Champion of Progressives?
Progressive Christians often present a truncated portrait of Jesus, highlighting the parts of his ministry that fit their emphasis on social reform. In their view, Jesus was a social justice warrior who stood in solidarity with the poor and marginalized, challenged unjust systems and structures of power, and called his followers to pursue love, inclusion, and liberation.

10 Things a Pastor Should Never Do (If You Want to Last)
These 10 patterns have wrecked gifted leaders and wounded the people they were called to serve. Read them as guardrails, not gossip. A pastor should never....

When Ministry Is Harder On the Pastor’s Spouse
When you love someone, you’d do anything to take some or all of their pain on yourself. But you seldom can.

Don’t Suppress Young Men. A Pastoral Skill
I’ve seen it many times. The young guy is zealous. He absorbs theology like a sponge. He reads. He writes. He reflects. He engages. He’s what every church wants right?

But for many zealous young men, the pastor is constantly wet-blanket-ing them. We’re not talking about the wise correction that applies prudence to actions or precision to claims. Instead, there is a habit of exacerbation and frustration which the pastor adopts with nearly every interaction with the young zealot. A pastor’s actions can go against the wisdom of Eph 6.4, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

While God Pursues the Prodigal, How Do We Love the Mourning Family?
As leaders in ministry, here are three ways we can offer families biblical hope and practical help for loving their prodigal children.

Get a Grip: “Claude” Isn’t a Person
Anthropic is anthropomorphizing its AI program known as “Claude” with the apparent intention of convincing us that powerful computer programs are — or can become — conscious “persons” with “feelings.” And, they think, Claude should one day be treated as such, to the point that they have held meetings with religious leaders to discuss the moral concepts that might apply.

Nothing good can come from so anthropomorphizing AI. (I don’t care what President Trump wants to call it.) Understanding the moral distinction between humans and machines is essential to maintaining a proper sense of moral hierarchy in our affairs.

Leaning Into the Grind 

It’s time to lean into the grind. What does that mean? Read on to find out!

Tuesday's Catch: 'The Truth About Multi-Site Churches: The Largest Multisite Study Ever Done' And More

The Truth About Multi-Site Churches: The Largest Multisite Study Ever Done
Warren Bird and Sean bust the "8,000 multisite churches" myth with real numbers from the largest multisite study ever done (there are only 1800).

Multisite churches are just 0.5% of all churches, yet they reach 10% of churchgoers, and that share is growing.

Tune in for an hour of the most detailed data on multisite churches ever done, and what you can learn in the process.

Also See: CityLife Church: Building a Culture of Multiplication

Breaking the 200 Barrier
When John Maxwell said, “Everything rises and falls on leadership,” I wanted to prove him wrong when I wrote the book Comeback Churches. I felt that something more spiritual or miraculous than leadership had to explain healthy, growing, transformational churches.

As it turns out, we researched over 200 churches only to learn that Maxwell was right: Leadership is key for churches that see growth and impact.

The Big Front Door for Guests Just About Every Church Misses
Most churches miss this front door, not because of a lack of awareness but because of a lack of effort. Over half of the unchurched believe church could be a great place to make friends, but nearly 60% say it’s too intimidating to visit alone. That’s a huge opportunity. Today’s episode highlights how friendship, follow-up, and one key ingredient—an invitation—can lower the barrier and open the door for gospel conversations. Thom and Sam discuss some key takeaways from their new research.

Also See: The Unknown Connection Most Unchurched Have with the Church, What Really Scares People Away from Church

Moving Men from Consumers to Contributors
Many churches struggle to move men from passive attenders to active contributors, and the gap is wider than most pastors realize. In this episode, Scott and A.J. dig into the statistics behind male volunteerism, explore why so many men feel like there is no meaningful place for their skills in the church, and offer practical strategies for identifying, inviting, and deploying the right men in the right roles. The conversation is honest, encouraging, and packed with actionable ideas any church can apply.

VOICES: Why are Christians leaving for Islam?
I recently posted a clip about the thousands of Christians who leave the faith to become Muslims, which drew a response that disturbed me almost as much as the loss itself. Most people basically said, “good riddance.” If they were truly Christians, some argued, they would never have left.

That response contains a theological truth about being truly born again, but it also carries a dangerous temptation. It allows the Church to explain every departure by looking only at the person who left and never at the community he or she left behind. Scripture does not permit that kind of self-exoneration. Before we ask what has happened to America, we should be willing to ask what has happened to the Church.

10 Ways Every Christian Can Strengthen Their Church
Do your church members know how to strengthen the church? Most believers want a healthy church. Far fewer could tell you what their own part in building one looks like on an ordinary Tuesday.

In the early days at Lancaster Baptist Church, I led a “Visit With the Pastor” almost every Sunday night. My goal was to give our young congregation the DNA of New Testament Christianity. Each session was a short, practical lesson on something like leading someone to the Lord, having family devotions, or encouraging new Christians.

One of those lessons turned up again decades later, in a place I never expected.

Declines in Young Clergy Reflect a Changed Culture
When the Lewis Center began publishing annual reports 20 years ago on clergy age trends in the United Methodist Church—and from time to time across multiple denominations, there were two common responses to the stark decline in the percentage of young clergy (under age 35). One was surprise and even shock at the findings. The other was to offer what might be logical reasons for the small number of young clergy.

Some suggested there may be less need for entering clergy since there are fewer churches and members now. Others said that young people are doing everything later now such as finishing school, getting married, even moving out of their family home! One person suggested we check to see if there were fewer people ages 25-35 in the population now. As it turned out, there was some truth in all the ideas shared.

However, it turned out that in each case, even when taking account of the possible causes offered, those factors did not account for the degree of decline in young clergy. For example, young adults as a percentage of the population had declined, but the proportion of young clergy declined far more. The same was the case for fewer churches and members. And for young people delaying entry into professions, we compared the age trends among dentists (who have a similar length of education) with those of clergy and found no comparable absence of young dentists.

Leadership Drift: 4 Gauges Every Leader Should Check
No leader ever wakes up and says, “Today I’m going to drift.”

Drift is always accidental. It’s subtle. Quiet. Unannounced. And if we don’t notice it early, it takes us somewhere we never intended to go—often not a good place.

Episcopal churches bless animals on St. Francis of Assisi’s feast day
Oct. 4 was the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and ecology, and Episcopal congregations nationwide celebrated by welcoming “all creatures great and small” to church.

At these special “blessing of the animals” services, Episcopalians went to church with their pets, who received special blessings.

‘We don’t want to lose the Holy Spirit as well as our skills’: What AI means for the Church
Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming part of everyday life, from workplaces and schools to churches and Christian ministry. But as its use grows, questions are emerging about how Christians can embrace its benefits without outsourcing the thinking, relationships and spiritual formation that lie at the heart of Christian life.

The AI Christian Partnership has sought to help churches navigate those questions with a set of guidelines encouraging Christians to approach AI thoughtfully, ethically and in line with Christian values.

Christian Today spoke with Chris Goswami, founder of the AI Christian Partnership, about why the Church needs to engage with AI now, the opportunities for ministry and evangelism, and why questions about being human are increasingly important in an AI-driven world.

Jesus Chose Us to Continue His Mission
Do you ever find yourself going back to the basics of the faith? Sometimes I find it refreshing to simply hear the gospel and see what God has done in the past through his people. As I was working on my preaching schedule for the fall, I landed on the Book of Acts because it’s the perfect back-to-basics book of Scripture. It’s an opportunity for a spiritual reset as the seasons change and life starts to settle down a bit.

To truly understand the Book of Acts, we need some context. Acts is a direct continuation of the Gospel of Luke. Written by the same author to the same recipient, Theophilus, Luke wrote his gospel to offer assurance of the gospel. Acts continues this exact work as Luke lays out a biblical history, rich with the works of God and the fulfillment of Old Testament promises.

Despite common perceptions, Acts was not written as an apologetics manual or a guide on how to do church. Rather, the focus is on God’s powerful gospel work through the saints in the early church. If we lose sight of these foundations, we risk forgetting that it is God’s work alone that empowers the church today—and that is a dangerous place to be.

Monday's Catch: 'The Future of Church Revitalization' And More

The Future of Church Revitalization: What the New Wave of Pastors Will Look Like
hurch revitalization is not new. In one sense, it is as old as the church itself. The New Testament is filled with corporate calls to repentance, renewal, and reform. If ever a church needed revitalization, it was Corinth, a chaotic congregation filled with controversy.

What is newer is the formal study of revitalization as a ministry discipline. For years, these churches were more often described as “comeback churches” or “turnaround churches,” and the work was often misunderstood. Many assumed revitalization was either a proving ground for young pastors or a temporary stop on the way to a more desirable ministry assignment. But that understanding is changing. We now know far more about what it takes to lead a struggling church toward health. We know more about the actions required, the strategies that matter, the metrics worth watching, and the spiritual warfare that often comes with the work.

And increasingly, we are learning that revitalization is not just about methods. It is also about the kind of leader who is willing to walk into hard places and stay long enough to make a difference. At Church Answers, we have hundreds of interactions with revitalization efforts every year, and a leadership profile is beginning to emerge. The new wave of church revitalization leaders is not defined by any one age bracket, personality type, or ministry style. But they do share several common characteristics.

Do Younger Churchgoers Want More Liturgy?
What’s going on here? Why is this report showing a significant minority of millennials and Gen Z believers wishing there was more liturgy in their church’s worship services?

To me, it makes sense. Just think about the world younger adults have grown up in. Their whole lives they’ve been told they must invent themselves, define their own truth, and curate their own identity. The drive for self-expression and identity-performance is exhausting. Adopting ancient elements in worship says: “You don’t have to reinvent the wheel. You don’t have to come up with all the words on your own. The church was praying before you got here, and she’ll keep praying after you’re gone.” For people worn out by the pressure to be original, to pray the words of our forefathers and mothers in the faith is to settle our knees into the grooves of a prayer bench weathered and marked by the tears of those who have gone before.

Plant Churches to the Ends of the Earth
Christ’s scattered flock demands missionary church planting. Consider three truths.

Why Have (Most) Churches Stopped Using Spiritual Gift Inventories?
Thom reviews the history of a tool that received widespread use for three decades. He looks at the reasons why it has almost faded away.

Tennessee Bishops to Governor: Accountability Doesn’t Require More Death
All three Episcopal bishops in Tennessee appealed to Gov. Bill Lee on October 1, urgently asking him to commute the death sentence of Christa Gail Pike after a botched execution attempt left her alive and in critical condition.

Also See: Tennessee bishops call on governor to commute sentence after inmate’s botched execution

Seeing the Truth in Tennessee
What a botched execution does is take away the disguise. We have spent a long time making state killing look like medicine: a gurney, an IV line, a sedative with a clinical name, a curtain for privacy. The whole setup tells us that nothing violent is happening here, only a procedure. When the procedure fails, we see it plainly for the first time. It is a group of people in a room trying to make a woman stop breathing, and failing. My mother did in a Jeep Cherokee what Tennessee did by accident on Wednesday night. She described the thing truthfully, and once you’ve seen it described, it is hard to un-see.

Also See: ‘Bring back the electric chair,’ Tennessee GOP candidate urges after botched execution

United Methodist Church Split: The Aftermath
A look at the period following theUnited Methodist Church split and the effects that it has caused.

A Church Split Doesn’t Just Divide a Congregation, It Can Cost People Their Faith Forever 

The researchers behind The Great Dechurching estimate that about 40 million American adults have stopped attending church over the past 25 years. Most drifted away for ordinary reasons like a move or a crowded schedule. A smaller group, often called church casualties, left because of conflict, abuse, or harm. You can read more about why Americans are leaving church. A split is one of the fastest ways to add names to that second list.

800 years on: Why St Francis of Assisi still captivates the world
4 October is St Francis’s Day, when Christians around the world remember the life and witness of Francis of Assisi. This year’s observance has particular significance, marking the 800th anniversary of his death. This is the story...

Also See: St. Francis Among the Anglicans

The Pastoral Burden of Never Having “Off Hours”
Josh and Sam discuss how to avoid the “always available” trap of shepherding a congregation. Unfortunately, many pastors, if not most, are never truly “off.”

Before You Ask AI, Remember What It Means to Be Human
Artificial intelligence is advancing quickly, and like every powerful technology, it will almost certainly bring consequences we can anticipate as well as those we cannot. At the same time, I don’t believe fear should be the defining posture of the people of God.

Perhaps there is a better question for us to ask. Instead of simply asking, “Should Christians use AI?” maybe we should ask, “What kind of people is our use of AI forming us into?” That is ultimately a discipleship question.

3 Shifts To Help Students Thrive in Their Faith
There’s no better way for students to thrive in their faith than to get their eyes off themselves and onto Christ and His mission.

Practicing Whose Way?
Since publication in 2024, Practicing the Way has made some serious waves, selling over half a million copies within the first year of release. John Mark Comer presents his model of ‘apprenticeship to Jesus’ as the solution to the “problem of the so-called human condition” (p. xv). The book is for those investigating the Christian faith, those wanting to take their faith more seriously, and those who feel stuck in their Christian growth.

Comer’s books, podcasts, and sermons have had an impact on Christians I know here in Australia. In some ways, the book’s success is hardly surprising. Comer, a former pastor in the secular city of Portland, demonstrates a clear grasp of our cultural moment, as well as the ability to persuasively engage with a younger Christian audience. However, I ultimately found myself disappointed with the less-than-helpful answers that the book provides.

Fostering Connections in the Community and Church Through Sports
Josh Jordan, Family Life Pastor, from First Baptist Church Covington, LA joins Jess and Thom on the show to discuss how his church has used Upward Sports to engage families in their community.

How to Talk to Strangers
This is not a perfect list, but here are a few tips I’ve picked up. I hope they prove helpful.

Sundays at All Hallows (October 4, 2026) Is Now Online

Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows.

This Sunday, October 4, 2026, is the Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity. It is also the feast day of Saint Francis of Assisi. Francis was a preacher, a friar, and the founder of the religious order of Friars Minor, or Lesser Brothers, also known as the Franciscans.

A friar is a member of a religious group of men whose members take a vow of poverty, promising to stay poor throughout their lives, but unlike monks do not live and work in a monastery. Rather they live and work in the larger community, helping the poor in various ways.

Francis also founded the Poor Clares, a similar religious order for women.

Most of my own knowledge of Saint Francis comes from The Little Flowers of Saint Francis, a collection of popular tales about Saint Francis and his companions, originally written in Latin and later translated into Italian and English. As I recollect, it was one of the first books of a religious nature, which I read as a youngster.

As well as his preaching, his miracles, and his works of mercy, Saint Francis is famous for his poem, "Canticle of the Sun" (Canticum Solis). Several translations of this poem have been set to music and included in hymnals and other collections of sacred music. The two translations commonly found in Anglican and Episcopal hymnals are William Henry Draper’s “All Creatures of Our God and King” and Howard Chandler Robbins’ “Most High, Omnipotent, Good Lord.”

In recent times a number of Anglican, Episcopal, Methodist, and mainline Lutheran churches have adopted the practice of blessing pets and farm animals on Saint Francis’ feast day. Roman Catholics traditionally celebrate the feast day with Masses, processions, and pilgrimages to Assisi, the birthplace of Saint Francis and Saint Clare.

If you are new to Sundays at All Hallows the MP3 of the simple piano accompaniment for the metrical versions of the Benedictus and the Te Deum for the remaining Sunday for Trinitytide, the Season after Trinity, contains no vocals, just the tune played on the piano. Each accompaniment begins with a brief introduction. The tunes, KINGSFOLD and TALLIS’ CANON(EIGTH TUNE), were picked for their wide use in hymnals and other collections of sacred music and the greater likelihood of familiarity to the singer.

The topic of this Sunday’s message is the Ten Commandments.

Reading: Exodus 20: 1-5, 7-20; Philippians 3: 4b-14; and Matthew 21: 33-46

Message: “Thou Shalt….”

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2026/10/sundays-at-all-hallows-october-4-2026.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: 'The Folly of Trying to Measure Success In Christ’s “First Shall Be Last” Kingdom'

The Folly of Trying to Measure Success In Christ’s “First Shall Be Last” Kingdom
We need to measure what we can manage, but let’s not fall into the trap of thinking we have more control than we do.

5 Skills Every Pastor Needs to Grow a Healthy Church
Young adults who go to church are going more often than they have in years. Barna’s State of the Church research found the typical Gen Z churchgoer now attends 1.9 weekends a month, the highest rate Barna has recorded for young Christians. Across all churched adults, the average is about 1.6 weekends a month.

So more people are walking through your doors with real questions, and most of them will hear only part of what you say this month. Whether your church grows from here depends on how you lead. Here is the mindset that comes first, the five skills every pastor needs, and the obstacles that stall church growth most often.

Judge Rules ICE Likely Violated NY Parishioner’s Free Speech Rights
On September 29, a preliminary injunction against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) took effect, barring the agencies from relying on a warning notice issued to author and journalist David Streever, a parishioner of the Diocese of Rochester and husband of the Rev. Hilary Streever. The order also bars the government from issuing similar threats or making good on the threats contained in the notice.

Streever had been at the center of what a judge said in a September 15 ruling was likely a First Amendment violation.

As ICE readies Louisiana facility for children and families, faith leaders hold vigil
Part of the Trump administration’s efforts to ramp up deportations, the facility — which will hold unaccompanied minors and families — is situated beside an airport that has become known as the country’s busiest hub for deportation flights.

East Tennessee bishop joins Southern faith leaders in supporting immigrants facing deportation
East Tennessee Bishop Brian Cole and ecumenical faith leaders from across the South gathered Sept. 30 for an event in Knoxville to express their support for immigrant families living in fear of the Trump administration’s push for mass deportations.

Here’s what to know about Pete Hegseth’s new Office of Religious Affairs
A memo announcing the establishment of the Office of Religious Affairs said it would ‘oversee research, technology, and analytical tools to support and assess spiritual fitness, spiritual readiness, and spiritual resilience’ of soldiers.

Virginia State University sued for forcing Christian groups under rule of single 'campus minister'
Two Christian student groups are suing Virginia State University (VSU), claiming the historically black school has discriminated against them by instituting a policy putting their clubs under the governance of a single university-employed campus minister despite doctrinal disagreements.

Women of Victory and Bethel Campus Fellowship filed a complaint against VSU last week in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division, over an August policy change that they say strips some religious student groups of their registered status and requires them to be absorbed into a university entity called Campus Ministries.

500 million Christians worldwide face Bible access restrictions, report finds
More than 500 million Christians worldwide face restrictions on obtaining or using a Bible, with government controls, extremist violence and pressure from families and communities making access difficult or dangerous, according to a new report.

The Bible Access List 2026 estimates that more than 250 million of these Christians face very difficult or severe restrictions, with believers in some countries risking imprisonment or death for possessing Scripture.

Published by the Bible Access Initiative, a partnership of Bible agencies and ministries, the assessment covers 106 countries and examines both barriers to access and shortages among Christians who want a Bible.

The NEW NARNIA Looks Terrible - The Magician's Nephew First Look Review
My thoughts on the first images and information about Greta Gerwig's adaptation of The Magician's Nephew, the "prequel" to Narnia.

On social media a major conflagration has erupted over Greta Gerwig's alterations and additions to the original story which go beyond adaptation of the story to the medium of film. Initially this increasingly heated controversy focused on Gerwig's reimiging of the Narnia Chronicles' central character and Christ figure Aslan but has expanded to her motives for this and other changes in the story.

Retrieve the Past. Retain the Truth.
Every doctrine is important, but not every doctrine is equally important.

We should show due deference to the Christian tradition, but Scripture still has pride of place as the sole, inspired, and inerrant Word of God.

The Cross of Creation’s Praise – On the Feast of St. Francis
The modern custom of blessing animals draws on a particular portrait of St. Francis of Assisi, an image of a friar with affection for animals. Absent, perhaps strangely, are the details of Francis’ relationship to creatures. The modern image of Francis typically leaves aside the ascetic and ecclesial shape of his life—the historical details—to encourage a sentimental environmental “stewardship.” But when Francis is invoked primarily as a symbol of environmental concern, detached from the evangelical poverty and obedience that defined him, the Church loses access to the fuller scope of the divine goods his witness discloses.

Why Preachers Should Pick One Translation (And Which One Is Best)
am welcomes Dr. Nijay Gupta back to the Rainer on Leadership podcast. Nijay is a senior translator for the New Living Translation, a Professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary, and the author of several books, including "A Beginner's Guide to New Testament Studies" and "Tell Her Story." Today they discuss why preachers should commit to one primary translation in the pulpit, and why the New Living Translation is the best choice.

The New Living Translation (NLT) is not authorized for use in the Episcopal Church.

"Resolved, That Canon II.2.1 is hereby amended to read as follows:

Sec. 1. The Lessons prescribed in the Book of Common Prayer shall be read from the translation of the Holy Scriptures commonly known as the King James or Authorized Version (which is the historic Bible of this Church) together with the Marginal Readings authorized for use by the General Convention of 1901; or from one of the three translations known as Revised Versions, including the English Revision of 1881, the American Revision of 1901, and the Revised Standard Version of 1952; from the Jerusalem Bible of 1966; from the New English Bible with the Apocrypha of 1970; or from The 1976 Good News Bible (Today’s English Version); or from The New American Bible (1970); or from The Revised Standard Version, an Ecumenical Edition, commonly known as the “R.S.V. Common Bible” (1973); or from The New International Version (1978); or from The New Jerusalem Bible (1987); or from the Revised English Bible (1989); or from the New Revised Standard Version (19901989, 2022); or from the Contemporary English Version (1995); or from the Contemporary English Version Global (2005); or Common English Bible (2011); from The Revised New Jerusalem Bible (2019); or from translations, authorized by the diocesan bishop, of those approved versions published in any other language; or from other versions of the Bible, including those in languages other than English, which shall be authorized by diocesan bishops for specific use in congregations or ministries within their dioceses.

The NLT, on the other hand, is authorized for use in the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia. Note that the Episcopal Church's canon does permit diocesan bishops to authorize the NLT for specific use in congregations or ministries within their dioceses (if I am interpreting the canon correctly).

Other Anglican juridictions have similar canons listing what Bible translations may be read publicly in their cathedrals, college chapels, parish churches, missions, and schools. These restrictions generally do not extend to Sunday school classes, small groups, private devotions, or most importantly, to sermon preparation.

Fighting Lust
Strong’s Concordance says that lust is a strong desire or craving, especially for that which is forbidden.

James, in James 4:2, goes on to say,

“You lust and do not have, so you commit murder. And you are envious and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask.”

These strong desires lead to terrifying results. They cause a severe lack of thankfulness, which leads to anger, fighting, arguing, and even murder. The problem is that we want something we cannot have, so we hurt each other to get it.

Lust, manifest as "a very strong sexual desire" and as "a a very powerful feeling of wanting something" is a major problem besetting the Church in our times, and has led to the downfall of both clergy and lay persons. It may also be arguably influencing doctrine and practice in some denominations and churches. Self-denial has fallen on hard times and self-gratification has taken its place.

12 Crazy Cool Church Outreach Ideas from Churches Just Like Yours
A Princeton church served three-course dinners on linen tablecloths and let every guest pay whatever they could. An Oklahoma City pastor started fixing up donated bikes so people without cars could get to work. A group of Kansas teenagers who barely knew how to sew made quilts for kids in crisis.

None of these started with a big budget or a marketing plan. Each one started when someone noticed a need nobody else was meeting and decided their church should do something about it.

These 12 church outreach ideas come from congregations profiled by Outreach Magazine. Some are large churches. Many are small. Every one of them gives you a pattern you can borrow this month, and the last idea on the list is the boldest of the bunch.

Jason C. Stanley: 5 Tips for Your Trunk-or-Treat
Tis the season for fall decorations, pumpkin spice, costumes, and Trunk-or-Treats. Soon, church parking lots and social halls will be transformed into a safe space for costumed children and their parents. While Trunk-or-Treats are fun, they are an excellent opportunity to meet your neighbors and develop relationships. Yet, it requires intentionality to ensure that a Trunk-or-Treat is fun and relationship-building. Here are five tips for your Trunk-or-Treat.

Friday's Catch: 'New documentary looks at the changing face of Christian churchgoing' And More

New documentary looks at the changing face of Christian churchgoing
‘Christianity at a Crossroads,’ by documentary filmmaker Martin Doblmeier, tells the story of congregational church life in the United States at a critical moment when growth has flatlined, younger generations are less religious and a raft of scandals have overtaken nearly every Christian denomination.

Why People Don’t Go to Your Church: 6 Fixable Reasons
Most pastors can name a family who visited once and never came back. Fewer can explain why so many people in their own neighborhood never visit at all. That second group is much larger, and you can’t welcome someone who never walks through the door.

People are still open to church. Barna’s 2025 State of the Church research found Gen Z and Millennial churchgoers attending close to two weekends a month, more often than any older generation. A Lifeway Research survey of 2,000 unchurched Americans found that most of them aren’t hostile to faith. When new people still aren’t showing up, the cause is usually something a church can change.

Here are six of the most common reasons, with a practical next step for each one.

63% of UK Evangelicals Downplay Sin: The State of Theology
How serious is our sin?

The State of Theology survey has returned to the United Kingdom, revealing what people really believe about God, the Bible, and salvation.

The results reveal significant confusion, even among professing Christians.

63% of evangelicals in the United Kingdom agree with the statement, “Everyone sins a little, but most people are good by nature.”

ACNA Bishops Censure Edgar, Depose Jones
The Anglican Church in North America’s College of Bishops announced disciplinary sentences against two of its bishops and the failure of an inquiry into the recent trial of a third, while expressing an intention of “collective repentance” going forward.

Bishop Mariann Budde to resign, will remain in post during lengthy replacement process
‘I’m going to do all that I can to both lead well in this period and to ensure that there’s as much wind in the sails of the future leader and the diocese going forward as is humanly possible,’ Budde said in an exclusive interview with Religion News Service.

Also See: Washington Bishop Mariann Budde announces timeline for electing successor in 2028

Northern Indiana diocese releases detailed reasons for decision not to reunify with Indianapolis
The Diocese of Northern Indiana Standing Committee has released a lengthy statement outlining the reasons the diocese, in November 2025, decided it wasn’t ready for reunification with the Diocese of Indianapolis, saying the decision “came from a renewed understanding of our own identity.”

No single factor led to the votes at the diocesan convention last year, the standing committee said on Oct. 1. The Diocese of Indianapolis also voted on a resolution that acknowledged the reunification talks without moving forward with a plan to reunify. Both dioceses said they intended to “continue and expand this Season of Collaboration.”

South Carolina AG Takes Over Criminal Cases Connected to Pawleys Island Community Church
The South Carolina Attorney General’s (SCAG) Office has taken over prosecution of the criminal cases against five people, including the former pastor and his wife, connected to Pawleys Island Community Church (PICC) and the now-defunct Pawleys Island Christian Academy (PICA). In the meantime, the church is moving forward with nominations for up to seven new elders; in 2027, PICC elders will lead the selection process for a new senior pastor.

Woman Sues Willow Creek, Alleging Church Failed To Respond to Sexual Abuse Allegations When She Was a Teen
In a new lawsuit, a woman is claiming that in the 1990s, leaders of Willow Creek Community Church failed to respond to her allegations that a member of the church’s staff sexually abused her. She was a teenager at the time of the alleged abuse.

The woman is seeking more than $50,000 in monetary damages.

Think on these things
So, what do you think about? What fills your mind?

I don’t know about you, but so many things have filled my mind in these past few months. In the midst of a global war, environmental disaster, and the AI apocalypse, it’s been impossible not to play out all the worst possible scenarios for the future. Turning on the news certainly doesn’t help; neither does my social media feed.

What fills our thoughts will trigger and reinforce how we act. Both psychotherapists and spiritual counselors recognize this connection. The thought gives birth to the deed!

Pastoring Someone Through Anxiety or Depression
The greatest gift a pastor can give a person struggling with anxiety and depression is a solid biblical theology of mental illness.

A Church Offering Only Life Tips Is Giving ‘Self-Help With a Christian Vocabulary’
Most pastors would never admit it, but plenty of Sunday sermons could run in a corporate training room with a few edits. Swap “God” for “the universe,” pull the Bible verse off the slide, and the message still holds together: five ways to beat stress, three keys to a stronger marriage, how to find your purpose.

That is the problem. A church that offers only life tips is giving people self-help with a Christian vocabulary. The words still sound familiar. What sits underneath them has quietly changed.

Sociologists have a name for the faith this kind of preaching tends to produce. It’s called moralistic therapeutic deism, and it can grow in a church that never meant to teach it. Here is what it is, why churches drift toward it, and five questions to run any sermon through before Sunday.

New resource launched to bring evangelism and social action together
Christian charity Jubilee+ is launching a new resource designed to help churches connect their work tackling poverty with sharing the Christian faith.

Speak Jesus, a 44-page magazine, has been produced for individuals, church leaders, evangelists and teams involved in mercy ministries. It offers practical ideas and guidance for Christians wanting to share the gospel alongside meeting practical needs.

Intentional Evangelism: BLESS
BLESS equips every Covenanter to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with their neighbors, resourcing them with five missional practices to fulfill the Great Commission, demonstrate God’s love, and join God’s restorative work in the world. We begin with Prayer. Listen with care. Eat together. Serve with love. And share the story of God’s love. It’s that simple. It’s that powerful.

Also See: The BLESS Practices

Image Credit: Journey Films

Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (October 1, 2026) Is Now Online

Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.

This evening’s first lesson is taken from the Apocrypha, a collection of books and texts annexed to Anglican Bibles, but which Anglicans and other Protestants do not regard as divinely inspired like the Old Testament and the New Testament. According to Philip Edgcumbe Hughes’ A Re-Statement of the Thirty-nine Articles of Religion, which is “designed simply to clarify the language and meaning of the Articles for the benefit of the modern reader,” Article 6 states, “The books known as the Apocrypha are read by the church as Jerome said, because of the examples they provide of heroic lives and faithful conduct; but the church does not use these books to establish any doctrine.” 

Selections from the Apocrypha are found in the Daily Office and Eucharistic Lectionaries used in the various Anglican Churches.

Benedicite Omnia Opera, taken from the Apocrypha’s “Song of the Three Young Men,” is one of the canticles of Anglican Morning Prayer and Lutheran Matins. Benedictus Es Domine, also taken from the “Song of the Three Young Men,” is another canticle of Anglican Morning Prayer. Benedictus Es Domine and Benedicite Omnia Opera formed together a central feature of the ancient dawn office of Lauds, the forerunner of Anglican Morning Prayer and Lutheran Matins.

In this evening’s message we unpack 1 Peter 4:7-11 and examine what it means to be faithful stewards of God’s grace.

Readings: Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) 38:24-34; 1 Peter 4:7-11

Message: Stewards of God’s Grace

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2026/10/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.

Thursday's Catch: "Could the Church face a ‘silver uprising’?" And More

Could the Church face a ‘silver uprising’?
Churches are being urged to take seriously the contributions of older members - or run the risk of facing a ‘silver uprising’ of discontent from seniors in their congregations.

The warning comes as the United Nations marks Thursday October 1 as the International Day of Older Persons, dedicated to recognising the role of older people across the world. In the UK, the US and other western countries, populations are ageing, with many more people reaching retirement age and beyond.

Pope Leo’s visit to France shows how the church and country are changing
While the youth greeted the pope like a rockstar, European representatives welcomed him as a respected leader who supports multilateralism, reconciliation, justice and peace.

Also See: Pope urges Church to find its voice in secular France

1-year-old euthanized under new rules in the Netherlands allowing termination for sick children
Doctors in the Netherlands euthanized a severely disabled 1-year-old child, the first case reported by Dutch authorities under rules introduced in 2024 that allow ending the lives of seriously ill children between the ages of 1 and 12.

According to an assessment published by the Netherlands’ Review Committee on Late-term Abortions and Termination of Life of Neonates and Children, which reviews such cases, the doctor involved in administering the euthanasia “acted with due care.”

Andy Beshear: A faith that governs differently
Last Sunday, I heard Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear speak about his newly released book, Go and Do Likewise: How We Heal a Broken Country, at St. Stephen Church, a prominent African American church in the heart of West Louisville.

As I sat in that crowded sanctuary and listened, two things struck me. First, here was a Democrat talking openly about Christian faith in a way qualitatively different from the white Christian nationalism that has hijacked the Republican Party. Second, and more importantly, he was talking about the role of faith in governance, not merely campaigning.

Southern Africa Rejects Same-Sex Prayers Again
The Anglican Church in Southern Africa’s Provincial Synod defeated two resolutions that would have nudged it toward blessing same-sex unions. Despite a series of attempts by progressives over more than a decade, the September 23 votes leave the church’s teaching and practice of marriage unchanged as Archbishop Thabo Makgoba reaches the end of nearly two decades of leading the province.

Evangelical Press Association to vote on dropping the 'e-word'
The group of journalists wants to change its name to the Christian Communicators Network, saying the word 'evangelical' has too many political overtones and a bad public image.

“My kingdom is not of this world” – why Christian Nationalism misses the mark
“Now who can hear Christ declare, that his kingdom is not of this world, and yet believe that this blending of church and state together can be pleasing to him?” – Baptist pastor Isaac Backus (1724–1806)

As an evangelical Christian, I am conservative—theologically conservative and, to the extent that I am informed, politically conservative as well. As a moral conservative, I am convinced that Christians ought to season society by advocating biblical principles and values in public debates concerning ethics and morality. At the same time, I reject the movement commonly known as Christian Nationalism. Although the movement is broad and far from unified on every point, I believe that its fundamental ideas are both unbiblical and counterproductive to the mission the Lord Jesus has entrusted to his church.

10 Ways Worship Leaders Accidentally Distract From Worship
Most worship distractions start on the platform. They usually come from people who love their church and want to serve it well: a long speech before the bridge, a mix so loud the room goes quiet, a key only the lead vocalist can reach.

These habits creep in slowly, which makes them hard to see from the stage. Below are 10 of the most common ways worship leaders pull attention away from God, with a fix for each one you can try at your next rehearsal. Two of them are newer problems that many teams have not talked about yet.

7 Tips to Help You Preach Persuasively
Do you want to teach your people the Bible in a way that makes sense and engages your people, ultimately compelling them to follow Jesus? Then you need to preach persuasively, just like Paul. (2 Cor. 5:11) At the same time, we are not simply pursuing public speaking tricks to make the audience think highly of us or deceive ourselves into thinking we can persuade people into the kingdom in our own strength. Again, to take such a stance is to be in lockstep with Paul. (1 Cor. 2:1–5) All we are really trying to do is to honor a beautiful text by working at speaking in a comparably beautiful way. That is, at the heart of it, what persuasion is. Persuasion is important, and persuasion is challenging. But it is a challenge worth pursuing. Here are seven tips (amongst an ocean of them) to help you preach persuasively.

Also See: AI, Sermon Preparation, and the Ministry of the Word

AI Promises Intimacy but Delivers Isolation
If social media came for our attention, artificial intelligence is now coming for our capacity for attachment. Chatbots that speak to us in a human voice offer themselves as best friends, lovers, and psychotherapists. As of 2025, over 70% of teens and nearly one-third of US adults rely on AI for companionship and emotional support, with many preferring these chatbot relationships over human ones.

52 Small Group Activities to Build Church Fellowship
Plenty of small groups can finish a 10-week study and still not know each other’s kids’ names. Shared experiences close that gap faster than another round of discussion questions. A burnt batch of burgers, a lost disc in the creek, a Saturday spent hauling boxes up a member’s stairs: those are the stories your group will still be telling years from now.

Below are 52 small group activities sorted by type, so you can match an idea to your group’s size, budget, schedule, and season of life. Some will fit your people perfectly. Others will spark a better idea of your own. Either way, the point is to do them together.

The Origin of “The Great Commission” and How It Has Shaped Contemporary Discipleship
Can the Great Commission help us better understand the call to Christian discipleship today? There is no denying that Christians are currently struggling with how to engage certain aspects of our cultural and political moment. Often, I hear ministry leaders using the language of crisis to describe the state of Christian formation and discipleship. Perhaps Christ’s command can help us grasp better the challenge and opportunity before his church.

Congregational vitality initiatives launch with unified focus, additional staffing, and upcoming networking and training opportunities
The Episcopal Church’s Congregational Vitality Department is initiating a renewed focus on church planting, revitalization, and redevelopment in concert with dioceses and local leaders. The work will be supported by three new staff positions and a yearlong series of webinars and in-person gatherings for professional development, leadership training, and networking opportunities for all Episcopalians interested in congregational vitality.

Learn more on the department’s webpage and sign up to receive updates.

Wednesday's Catch: 'How First Baptist Church Fernandina Beach Is Growing Through Conversation' And More

How First Baptist Church Fernandina Beach Is Growing Through Conversation
The growth of First Baptist Church in Fernandina Beach, Florida, isn’t the result of a slick campaign or a reinvention of worship. According to Senior Pastor Zach Terry, it comes down to something far simpler: People want to be talked with, not talked at.

World Evangelical Alliance celebrates 180th anniversary
The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) has held an online celebration to mark its 180th anniversary. Hundreds of people from more than 22 countries attended, and the event was rebroadcast to accommodate different time zones.

Founded in London in 1846, the WEA now extends to more than 160 countries and territories. Through nine regional evangelical alliances spanning regions including Asia and Europe, it serves 650 million evangelicals worldwide. Commemorative gatherings were scheduled around the world on 27 September, designated “WEA Day”.

Wycliffe celebrates ‘remarkable moment’ as Bible translation advances at rapid pace
“The day is getting closer when everyone has access to God’s word in their own language, thanks to the amazing momentum in the work of Bible translation that has continued in the past 12 months,” Wycliffe Bible Translators has said.

The complete Bible is now available in more than 800 languages worldwide after another year of rapid progress in Bible translation, according to new figures from the Bible translation ministry.

Federal court dismisses JAFC suit against ACNA
A federal judge in South Carolina has dismissed the Jurisdiction of the Armed Forces and Chaplaincy’s lawsuit against the Anglican Church in North America, holding that the dispute cannot be decided by a civil court without intruding into matters of church discipline, governance, and polity. The dismissal for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction is without prejudice.

Western Gulf Coast sets Nov. 7 synod to elect Paul Donison as bishop; Great Plains transfer proposed
The Diocese of the Western Gulf Coast has called an electoral synod for Nov. 7 to choose its second bishop, with the Rt. Rev. Paul Donison standing as the sole nominee, while the Great Plains Missionary District is preparing to join the diocese if the election succeeds and the result is confirmed.

Update from the ANiE: Over one new church a month
Nearly six years after its founding, the Anglican Network in Europe has kept up a striking pace of growth: better than one new congregation added every month, according to official data from each diocese. Now it counts 121 local congregations, up from the 30 it started with when it launched in the 8 December 2020, by GAFCON Primates’ Council.

Averaged out, the growth from 30 to 121 congregations works out to roughly 91 new communities over about 69 months — or slightly more than one congregation added per month since its founding, a move that has held steady enough to become something of a talking point.

Former Long Island church to be sold for $11.8 million as two congregations merge
Two Episcopal congregations in the Diocese of Long Island began worshipping together this month through a merger that expects to benefit financially from the prospective sale of one of the two church properties for $11.8 million.

How Can Disciples Walk Faithfully in a Postliterate Era?
Is reading really on the verge of extinction? What do Christians stand to lose in a world that prizes short-form videos over the printed word—and how can we walk faithfully? I spoke with several Christian experts in literature and technology who shared their hopes and fears for a postliterate society.

What Clergy Age Trends Tell Us About Church Leadership
What can church leaders learn from the latest Clergy Age Trends report? Jonathan Page identifies three key takeaways for the church: cultivating calls to ministry among younger people, recognizing how changing family and vocational realities are reshaping itinerancy, and addressing the financial challenges that affect clergy recruitment and retention.

Evangelicals Must Reform Their Worship
Church isn't meant to be a dull routine or an entertainment-driven spectacle. It's a weekly heavenly ascent that transforms us to live the Christian life here on earth. Adriel Sanchez joins Michael Horton and Bob Hiller to discuss his book, Why We Worship: Experiencing Heaven on Earth at Church.

Active faith linked to happier marriages and lower divorce rates, study finds
People who regularly attend church are more likely to report happy marriages, according to a new report examining the relationship between faith and family life.

According to the Institute for Family Studies (IFS) study, they also reported a stronger commitment to marriage and greater sexual satisfaction than those who were less religiously active.

12 Reasons to Go to Church on Rainy Sundays
This article is adapted from one written by Frances Havergal and published in 1916.

Is It Worth Going to Church When I Can’t Even Be in the Service?
Should I even bother going to church when I’m not going to be in the service most of the time?

In the disorienting, frustrating blur of fresh motherhood, this is a crucial question. First, your baby always needs to eat and/or nap during the service. Then, he becomes mobile and wants to practice walking rather than sitting in the pew. Next, he learns a word and wants to shout it repeatedly at top volume. This leads to months—or years, if you have multiple children—of wondering, Will I ever sit through a whole service again?

The Case for (Sometimes) Wordless Evangelism
There’s scriptural warrant for preaching a wordless gospel through our actions after we’ve clearly proclaimed it in words.

Image Credit: First Baptist Church Fernandina Beach, Florida