Church Leaders, Have We Lost Our Ability to Shepherd?

By James Scott, Jr.

My work leading an international parachurch ministry happily includes meeting and spending time with church leaders.

A while back, I was having lunch with a bright, young pastor and was using the time to get to know him better. As he described his work as a pastor and church planter he said, “What I really don’t enjoy much is shepherding.”

A shepherd who doesn’t enjoy shepherding?

It was not the first time a minister had said something similar to me.

One problem with a shepherd not enjoying shepherding is, when he must “shepherd,” he’ll do so half-heartedly or begrudgingly because he would really prefer to be doing something else. AND, the quality of his shepherding may be lacking, meaning those he shepherds often won’t get the spiritual leadership they need.

When shepherds aren’t really interested in the spiritual work that is the heart of their calling from God, the consequences of that lack of interest can negatively impact the people in the congregations they lead. Read More

Buzz Words Aren’t The Problem

By Christina Membree

I was recently part of an online discussion where the original poster expressed his concerns about a newly released curriculum using, in his words, “woke” terminology in its description. The particular words in question were the words “identity” and “curiosity.” The concern expressed was that these words were an attempt to be relevant to the culture and, regardless of the content in the curriculum which he repeatedly stated he felt was “fine”, the use of this terminology meant he “would never get near” this particular product.

As you an imagine, the discussion to follow was passionate and intense. For the most part, I watched what was taking place with a measure of frustration and disappointment. Whether or not one agreed with the original poster, the tone of the conversation was (initially) judgmental, condemning, and fear-based. And despite assurances and affirmation that the content of the curriculum as biblically-based and Christ-centered, the choice of these two words was enough to warrant the energy and passion put into the discussion about how this would impact children’s church experience and their faith.

Which brings me to the research.... Read More

When Churches Become Mafias

The recent SBC abuse report shows that churches often prioritize tribal unity and safety over “divisive” truth.

By Russell Moore

If you ever want to do something kind for me, please don’t send flowers.

If I were to see a bouquet of them at the door, I would probably have a reflexive adrenal response. That’s because, for years in my Southern Baptist context, the lore was always about a leader in the denomination—who fancied himself a sort of party boss or even bishop—who would send to those who crossed him a bouquet of flowers, with nothing but a card with his name. The flowers were interpreted to signify something along the lines of “You’re dead to me” or “I know what you did” or some such thing.

The first time I heard this, I stopped and thought, “Wait, how is this not the mafia?”

Now I don’t know how many people ever received such flowers. When younger people asked about it, the leader would grin and look away. Maybe the legend was always bigger than the reality. But when it comes to fear and intimidation, legend is really all it takes.

And behind the legend is an even larger truth—one that the rest of the world can now peek into ever so slightly, after the release of an independent investigation that describes a culture of cover-up, retaliation, and stonewalling by the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee on matters of church sexual abuse, church sexual abuse survivors, and the advocates and whistleblowers who stood with them.

Since then, many people from outside the denomination called or texted as they watched some of the official proceedings, and all expressed some variation of how creepy they found the southern politeness—with everyone calling each other “Brother So-and-so”—given the circumstances.

To some of them I passed along a tweet by religion journalist Bob Smietana: “For those who are new to SBC politics. There’s so much going on when people call each other ‘brother’ or say they want to ‘change the direction’ and say ‘I appreciate you.’ It’s all Bless Your Heart and the Bible and Roberts Rules—and behind-the-scenes knives.”

Knives, yes. And flowers. Read More

5 Reasons Why Playing It Safe Is Not A Good Idea

The sustained pressures of unanswered questions, unsolved problems, and an unknown future have caused leaders to pull back, hesitate, and in many cases, play it safe.

Here are a few statements from leaders in the past few weeks.

• I know we already committed, but I’m not sure this is the right time to build.
• Maybe we should wait to launch the next campus.
• I think I need to hold back in my preaching with all the cultural tension.
• Maybe we should not hire anyone right now.

When you are on the front lines of leadership, these are not easy decisions. Read More

Pastor, Is What You’re Chasing Worth It?

God fills us with what we hunger for. If we’re hungry for Christ, we’ll look more like Christ. So, what are you chasing? Pastor, is it worth it?

By Andrew Hébert

As a leader, what are you chasing? What do you hunger for? What consumes your daydreams? Do you long for a larger church, a better salary, prominence, influence, or some version of the American dream? Or do you long to look and live like Jesus?

At a recent conference, I heard Gary Thomas share the story of two hikers who spent hours climbing a mountain. When they reached the top, they realized they climbed a different mountain than the one they had intended to climb. Somehow, they had gotten mixed up and realized too late they were standing on top of the wrong mountain.

Thomas made a simple application that crystallized an important truth for me: Make sure you don’t devote your entire life and ministry to the kinds of things that will one day leave you realizing you climbed the wrong mountain. Read More

5 Guidelines (Rules) for a Children's Class

 

By Dale Hudson

When I teach a children's class, I share with them 5 guidelines (rules) that I expect them to follow.

I use the word "guidelines" instead of "rules." The word "rules" can have a negative connotation with children while guidelines are something that kids can follow if they want to have a positive class experience.

Here are 5 guidelines I expect kids to follow when I am leading a class. Read More

Living as Children of Light

How does our adoption into God’s family change the way we think about our mission?

By Cynthia Marshall

When you woke up this morning, did you realize that you were waking up as children of light? I want you to take a moment to think about what that means. What does it mean to “shine your light” into the world each and every day?

Ephesians 5:8 says, “For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.”

Now, there are three interesting things about this verse.... Read More

While God may send us to a ditsant part of his vineyard, he may also send us to a part of the vineyard which is close at hand, our own neighborhood or community. Wherever we are, we should walk as children of light. 

The Death of Evangelism: Seven Unacceptable Responses

By Thomas S. Rainer

The look on the pastor’s face said it all. He was shocked.

Our team at Church Answers sent him the results of a survey of the members of his church. We use a tool called Know Your Church™ It’s a robust tool with 160 questions. It is a powerful way to see how your church members perceive the health of the church.

But this pastor went to the lowest score. It was in evangelism. The report indicated that the members perceived the church to be “very unhealthy” in evangelism. “Ugh,” he muttered. “We are sick in evangelism and our members know it.”

I give this pastor a lot of credit. He wanted the truth. He wanted to face reality. He knew his church could not get healthy until the members and the leaders admitted the church was sick. This wake-up call to reality was the first step toward health. Read More

All Hallows Evening Prayer for Sunday Evening (May 29, 2022) Is Now Online

All Hallows Evening Prayer is a service of worship in the evening for all pilgrims on the journey to the heavenly city.

Jesus’ prayer for the unity of his Church is also a prayer for the mission for which his Church was created.

The Scripture reading for this Sunday is John 17:20-26 A Prayer for Unity.

The homily is titled “A Church on Mission.”

The link to this Sunday evening’s service is—

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2022/05/all-hallows-evening-prayer-for-sunday_29.html

Please feel free to share the link to the service with anyone whom you believe might benefit from the service.

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. An ad may follow a song so as soon as the song is finished, close the tab.

Previous services are online at

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/

May this service be a blessing to you.

5 Mistakes More Likely To Be Made By Small Churches Than Big Churches

By Karl Vater

Small churches are not just smaller versions of big churches.

Every size has value, but different sizes serve different functions in the body of Christ. They also have different challenges and they tend to make different kinds of mistakes.

Here are 5 mistakes that are more likely to be made by small churches than by big ones. The smaller, the more susceptible they are. Read More

When Violence Touches a Child’s Life

By Julie Lowe

The threat of danger impacts our children on a regular basis. Tragic school shootings, violent crimes, and the like all incite an array of heartache and anxiety. Even when the threat is not at our front door, it is booming from media outlets into our homes. The likelihood that your child is impacted is high. Regardless of where you live or how stable your family life is, the lives of kids and teens are being touched by violence to some degree, and we must help them make sense of it.

Rather than react out of fear, we must help our kids by demonstrating an appropriate level of sobriety and sorrow by such events, while exhibiting that our hope is in Christ. The challenge is to find the right balance—teaching young people awareness and caution while equally encouraging trust in a sovereign God. The most hazardous thing we let our children do is ride in a car, yet we rarely fear driving them to school or church or the mall—nor should we. Young people must learn to live life fully, and not overshadowed by fear.

So parents—engage with your kids about these threatening realities. Do your best to explain them and be willing to discuss why evil exists. Model godly grief and educate your children on what is right and just. Our kids will be able to walk with confidence in a troubled world if they are educated on how to think, feel equipped to respond, and have grown to put their confidence in their Creator. We want to teach children how to both navigate this world and trust an unrivaled God.

Below are five suggestions to help children feel prepared in the face of potential violence. Read More

How Can We Measure Spiritual Progress?

By Tim Challies

Every book contract—at least, every book contract I’ve ever seen—includes a word count. When the author finally submits a manuscript, it cannot be a discretionary number of words but must be within the range the publisher has set. This is good and helpful for an author because it makes it simple to set goals and because it helps him progress toward a very measurable outcome. After he signs his contract he needs only to divide the words by the number of weeks before his deadline to keep up steady progress. As he writes, he needs only to look at the bottom of his screen to see how that word count is increasing. It’s easy, it’s clear, it’s objective. If only all progress were so easy to measure.

Each of us begins the Christian life a novice and each of us means to finish it a seasoned veteran. Each of us begins with character that has been shaped by the world and the flesh and each of us longs to finish with character that has been shaped by the Spirit and the Word. Each of us begins with warped desires and means to finish with true desires, with sinful instincts and means to finish with pure instincts. Each of us longs to make consistent progress.

But what may be true of writing a book is not true of living the Christian life. There is no progress indicator on our spiritual lives, no objective measure of our sanctification. A woman laying a floor can stand back and observe that she has laid 50 percent of the planks; a man finishing a basement can observe that 80 percent of the drywall has now been hung. But no Christian can assess his or her life and say “I am halfway there” or “I am three quarters of the way there.” We make progress that is far less visible and far less measurable. This being the case, we must rely on other indicators. Read More

All Hallows Evening Prayer for Saturday Evening (May 28, 2022) Is Now Online

 

All Hallows Evening Prayer is a service of worship in the evening for all pilgrims on the journey to the heavenly city.

God wants us to share with others the message of his love and grace, and to that end God will create opportunities for us to do so.

The Scripture reading for this Saturday is Acts 16:16–34 An encounter with an evil spirit and evil men leads to a midnight deliverance and the conversion of a jailer.

The homily is titled “Servants of the Gospel”

The link to this Saturday evening’s service is—

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2022/05/all-hallows-evening-prayer-for-saturday_28.html

Please feel free to share the link to the service with anyone whom you believe might benefit from the service.

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. An ad may follow a song so as soon as the song is finished, close the tab.

Previous services are online at

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/

May this service be a blessing to you.

Small, Focused, and Agile

By Mike Glenn

The Russian invasion of Ukraine hasn't gone the way the experts -- or Russia -- expected. When Russia began to amass troops along the Ukrainian border, the talking heads on the news shows began to make their predictions. Russia would invade and overrun the Ukrainian army in a matter of days. The Russian army was too large and its weaponry too massive for Ukraine to survive long.

But Ukraine did survive. As of this writing, Ukraine is not only surviving but also winning on some fronts of the war. The Russian army has been pushed back after their initial gains in the north and northeast of Ukraine. Depending upon what expert you trust, the Russian army has lost as many as a third of its invading army. How could this happen? Read More

15 Prayers for a Violent World

In an age weary with suffering, how can we pray?

By W. David O. Taylor

As the father of two elementary-aged children, the news of the May 24 mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas—just three hours south of my home in Austin, which resulted in the death of 19 children and 2 teachers—shook me deeply.

Driving my daughter to school the morning after, I felt acutely the fragility and unpredictability of life, and I found myself becoming intensely afraid—and increasingly angry.

Only 10 days prior, a racially motivated 18-year-old man, dressed in body armor and wielding a rifle with a high-capacity magazine, shot and killed 10 people at a Buffalo supermarket, wounding 3 others. Eleven of the 13 victims were Black.

A day after the mass shooting at a Tops Friendly Markets store in upstate New York, a gunman entered Geneva Presbyterian Church, in Laguna Woods, California—where a group of parishioners had gathered for a lunch to honor a former pastor of a Taiwanese congregation that uses the church for its worship services—and shot and killed one person and wounded five others. Read More

8 Tips On Taking Your Sunday Morning Worship To The Next Level

By Mark Cole

I love leading God’s people in worship. I have been blessed to have led church worship teams at home and around the world for over thirty years. Here are a few things that I have learned along the way. Read More

Kids Need Grace, Too

By Sarah Rainer

Whether you are a minister who has kids or a minister that works with kids, then you know that kids aren’t always easy. They have meltdowns and big feelings, they struggle to think logically, and they are messy. But kids aren’t just those things; kids are huge blessings (Psalm 127, John 16:21, Psalm 139, Proverbs 17:6, Matthew 18:10, Mark 10:14) and part of God’s design for families (Ephesians 6, Colossians 3:20-21, Proverbs 1:8-9, Genesis 1:28).

In raising kids or teaching kids, it’s easy to get frustrated. Schedules get disrupted, meltdowns occur at inconvenient times, and sometimes you just can’t seem to reason with a child. Dare I mention that plans rarely go as expected. Even in all the messiness, kids are not a disruption to our work; they are part of our mission and part of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). God has called us to witness to the ends of the earth, and that starts with the children in our homes.

Witnessing to others and loving others requires much sacrifice on our part and a great amount of grace; kids are not an exception. Here are several reasons why kids need grace, and a lot of it. Read More

Evangelism for the 21st Century

Randy Newman has produced eight videos encouraging and equipping Christians to share the good news of Jesus Christ with others. You can view a trailer and all eight videos at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiI-J-X2wUEAlrVLFOjjquw These videos can also be used in a group setting such as a Sunday school class or small group. Christians report that they need more preparation on how to have spiritual conversations with non-Christians. This video series may help to meet that need.

What's On The Web: 'Three Things a Christian Must Grow to Love' and More

Three Things a Christian Must Grow to Love

The Holy Spirit transforms us, enabling us to love the things that, in the eyes of the world, we ought not to love.

For Such a Month As This: Free Trauma-Informed Spiritual and Emotional Care Resources
Practical training and tools for responding to traumatic events–from mass shootings to the SBC sexual abuse scandal.

What Is Lectio Divina?
This practice of praying Scripture for understanding goes back almost as far as there has been a Church.

Should I Pray Someone Else’s Prayers?

But God’s grace is not only for the extraordinary moments in life. God’s grace is for the ordinary moments in life too. God’s grace comes to us in the mundane.

How to Talk with Kids about Shootings
Dale Hudson wrote this piece before the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas, but it should be helpful in taling to kids about that shooting.

Building A Church Sound System
This blog post discusses some things to keep in mind when building a church sound system so that your congregation can have the best possible experience while attending services.

All Hallows Evening Prayer for Wednesday Evening (May 25, 2022) Is Now Online

All Hallows Evening Prayer is a service of worship in the evening for all pilgrims on the journey to the heavenly city.

Our feelings, our relationship with others, and how we handle our feelings and relationships can affect our spiritual growth.

The Scripture reading for this Wednesday is 1 John 2: 7-11 The New Command.

The homily is titled “Spiritual Poison.”

The link to this Wednesday evening’s service is—

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2022/05/all-hallows-evening-prayer-for_24.html

Please feel free to share the link to the service with anyone whom you believe might benefit from the service.

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. An ad may follow a song so as soon as the song is finished, close the tab.

Previous services are online at

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/

May this service be a blessing to you.

After 2,000 UK Church Buildings Close, New Church Plants Get Creative

In England, some rally to restore aging and emptying Anglican sites, while diverse congregations look beyond traditional sanctuaries.

By Rachel Pfeiffer

Asurvey released by evangelical organizations in the United Kingdom last month found that, while around half of the country’s population identify as Christian, only 6 percent are “practicing” and active enough in their faith to attend church at least once a month.

The attendance decline is one reason over 2,000 churches have closed during the last decade. Communities are grappling with whether or how to save the historic buildings as new expressions emerge through church planting.

“If you were running a commercial organization, and you had a branch on every single High Street in the country but dwindling numbers of people visiting them, you would go bust if you didn’t close some branches,” said Theos senior fellow Nick Spencer. “That is the reality facing the church.”

The number of churches in the UK fell from 42,000 to 39,800 in a ten-year span, according to a 2021 report from the Brierley Research Consultancy.

“If you have churches in rural areas, and there are fewer people going into them, and indeed fewer people living in rural areas, and you don’t have the money to keep churches going, then they’re likely to close,” Spencer said.

A recent report from the Church of England found that up to 368 churches could be at risk for closure in the next two to five years, though the church said the rate of closure is slowing. These numbers of course don’t take other denominations into account, but many of the buildings belong to the Anglican Church.

Declines in attendance—and, in turn, involvement and giving—have left churches with fewer resources to maintain their aging buildings. Even churches with a fairly large worshiping body might not be able to afford repairs and restoration for churches that are hundreds of years old. Read More

Also See:
Church of England Considers Evangelical-Inspired Proposal for Lay-Led Churches
Anglican Churches in the UK Are Shrinking in Size but Not Impact

The Methodist Church in Britain licenses its lay preachers to administer Holy Communion, officiating at communion services and consecrating the bread and wine as well as distributing the elements. While Anglo-Catholics may object, this may be the next step for the Church of England in areas where a lay-led micro-church is the only practical option. 

How to Talk to Your Kids About Mass Shootings

By Josh Weidmann

April 20, 1999. It was my junior year of high school in Littleton, Colorado. I was glued to the TV watching SWAT teams surround Columbine High School, only a mile or so from my house. The agony of watching people I know and love mourn for their children—that’s an image no one can ever forget.

The tragedy of Columbine was one of the catalysts for my preaching ministry as countless classmates wondered where to find hope amid such loss. Now, as a pastor and biblical counselor in the Denver area, I’ve stood with people personally affected by the Aurora theater shooting (2012), the STEM high school shooting (2019) only a few miles away from Columbine, and the King Soopers grocery store shooting (2021) in nearby Boulder, where 10 people were slain—the same number killed in another grocery store massacre, this time in Buffalo, New York.

It’s been over 20 years since Columbine, and mass shootings have sadly become expected. Grocery stores, movie theaters, malls, workplaces, churches: the list of massacre sites is staggering. My own five children are now old enough to watch the news and notice when a “breaking news” alert ominously comes across the ticker, or shows up on their phone.

“Dad,” they ask, “what’s going on?”

As parents, we need to be ready for these conversations. Here are four talking points to consider when your kids ask questions about mass shootings. Read More

7 Deadly Sins of Small Group Ministry

By Mark Howell

The 7 deadly sins is a familiar idea. And originally, the 7 sins referred to were actual sins and supposedly unforgivable. So are there 7 deadly sins of small group ministry? And are they unforgivable?

I believe there are at least 7 deadly sins of small group ministry. I also believe they are forgivable, but there is a consequence. In this case the consequences almost always affect unconnected people, group leaders and group members. Read More

Image Credit: Mark Howell

Christians Say They’re Seeking but not Having Evangelistic Conversations

Christians express a desire to talk about their faith, yet few have shared with someone how to become a Christian in the past six months.

By Aaron Earls

Most Christians say they’re ready, willing and praying to have conversations about their faith with others, but many admit they haven’t gotten around to actually having those conversations recently.

An Evangelism Explosion study conducted by Lifeway Research found Christians express a willingness and desire to talk to others about their faith, yet few have shared with someone how to become a Christian in the past six months.

“Now, perhaps more than ever, people are open to conversations about faith, yet this study reveals few Christians actually take the opportunity to engage in personal evangelism,” said John Sorensen, president of Evangelism Explosion (EE). “Our mission at EE is to equip followers of Jesus to have the confidence to share the gospel naturally, lovingly and intentionally with family, friends and yes, even strangers, which is why we wanted insights on the evangelistic attitudes of Christians. We imagine a world where every believer is a witness for Christ to His glory.”

“Many Christians say they agree sharing their faith is important,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. “But many also need encouragement and to be shown how to share the good news about Jesus Christ with others.” Read More

7 Practical Ways to Counter The Wave of Deconstruction: A Short Guide for Church Leaders

By Carey Nieuwhof

In a moment (or era) when so many people—especially young people—are deconstructing their faith, what do you do as a pastor or church leader? How do you even begin to respond?

Recently, Joe Terrell wrote a brilliant and beautiful post on the five real reasons young people are deconstructing their faith. I so appreciate Joe’s thoughtful, sane, and helpful analysis. If you haven’t read it, do yourself a favor.

Why deconstruction is happening is one thing.

But it begs a further question: What do you do about it? When you’re a pastor or church leader, the question becomes even more pressing. Read More

6 Reasons for Pastors to Have at Least One Meal a Week with Someone—Either a Church Member or a Non-Believer

By Chuck Lawless

A few years ago, I read Justin Earley’s book, The Common Rule. Earley wrote the book after he had to make some difficult decisions to get his chaotic and too busy life in balance. From that experience, he adopted four daily habits and four weekly ones that have changed his life. One of the daily habits is to eat at least one meal each day with others. I have adapted that rule to have a meal with someone at least once a week, and I have found it helpful and encouraging. Here’s why I’m encouraging pastors and church leaders to have at least one meal a week with someone—either a church member or a non-believer.... Read More

FAQ: Do You Have a Job Description for a Small Group Director?

By Mark Howell

I get asked certain questions on a regular basis. One of the most frequent is “What does a job description for a small group director (or pastor) look like? Today I want to give you the basics, but I want to be sure and qualify it by acknowledging that this is by no means complete and I’m sure some of my grouplife peers would have a different take.


But here are the four things that I think ought to be on the job description for a small group director.... Read More

4 Surprisingly Simple Keys to Effectively Sharing the Gospel

By Greg Stier

Sharing the Gospel is like flying an airplane. You want to take off smoothly, have a solid flight plan, know how to deal with emergency situations and then, of course, land safely.... Read More

The FAQs: Report Reveals Sexual Abuse Cover-Up by Southern Baptist Entity

By Joe Carter

What just happened?

On Sunday, a 288-page report commissioned by the Southern Baptist Convention was released that finds allegations of sexual abuse were ignored or covered up for nearly 20 years by senior members of the denomination’s Executive Committee.

“For almost two decades, survivors of abuse and other concerned Southern Baptists have been contacting the Southern Baptist Convention (‘SBC’) Executive Committee (‘EC’) to report child molesters and other abusers who were in the pulpit or employed as church staff,” notes the report, which was issued by Guidepost Solutions. “They made phone calls, mailed letters, sent emails, appeared at SBC and EC meetings, held rallies, and contacted the press . . . only to be met, time and time again, with resistance, stonewalling, and even outright hostility from some within the EC.” Read More

Also See:

Southern Baptist Leaders Mistreated Abuse Survivors for Decades, Report Says

How Should Baptists and Christians Respond to the SBC Task Force’s Report on Sexual Abuse?
Hearing the Warning of the SBC
The Reckoning of the Lord: The Southern Baptist Convention Faces the Truth

Southern Baptists’ Abuse Report Is No Call for Reform. It’s a Repudiation of the Past 40 Years.

Image Credit: RNS/Kit Doyle

Church of Scotland Approves Same-Sex Marriage

Traditionalist minority worry disagreement on the issue will make it harder to work together on mission.

By Kate Shellnutt

Update (May 23): Church of Scotland ministers are now permitted to perform same-sex marriages if they choose.

The church’s General Assembly approved an overture that allows parish ministers and deacons to apply for authorization to marry same-sex couples. It passed on Monday by a 274-136 vote.

The Presbyterian denomination is preparing new suggested liturgy to bless same-sex marriages as well as guidance for the change in church law. Read More

Southern Baptists Refused to Act on Abuse, Despite Secret List of Pastors

By Kate Shellnutt

Armed with a secret list of more than 700 abusive pastors, Southern Baptist leaders chose to protect the denomination from lawsuits rather than protect the people in their churches from further abuse.

Survivors, advocates, and some Southern Baptists themselves spent more than 15 years calling for ways to keep sexual predators from moving quietly from one flock to another. The men who controlled the Executive Committee (EC)—which runs day-to-day operations of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC)—knew the scope of the problem. But, working closely with their lawyers, they maligned the people who wanted to do something about abuse and repeatedly rejected pleas for help and reform.

“Behind the curtain, the lawyers were advising to say nothing and do nothing, even when the callers were identifying predators still in SBC pulpits,” according to a massive third-party investigative report released Sunday.... Read More

Also Read:
This Is the Southern Baptist Apocalypse

Image Credit: Courtesy of Baptist Press / Edits by Mallory Rentsch 

Dropping the Denominational Label from the Church Name: 8 Post-COVID Trends

By Thom Rainer

Our team at Church Answers is following closely the trend of churches dropping the denominational label in their name in the post-COVID era. Though it is by no means a new trend, we do think it is good to see where the issue lies today. Indeed, it is a topic of frequent discussion in our community at Church Answers.

Our research is subjective at this point, but we do think it reflects the reality of what many church leaders are thinking. Here are the eight most common issues discussed today on this topic.... Read More

To some unchurched people a denominational label in your church's name is irrelevant; to others it is off-putting. People are more likely going to visit your church, based upon what they see on the internet--several livestreamed or pre-recorded services. Or what they hear from friends, relatives, neighbors, and coworkers. What may have attracted people in the past does not work any more. 

Add 988 To Your Contacts – the New 911 for Suicide Prevention

By Jeremiah J. Johnston

When my wife and I moved to Oxford, England, for my doctoral studies, we realized we had no idea how to call emergency personnel if there was a problem with our infant baby girl, Lily. As a new dad, not knowing who or how to call for help in a moment of crisis in a foreign country startled me. I called a local hotel, and the concierge kindly shared with me the 911 of England is “Triple 9 – 999.” Phew! Though I never had to dial the number, it gave us peace in knowing what to do in a time of crisis.

Here’s the key question: If you have a mental health crisis or someone you know is struggling with mental pain, do you know who or how to call for immediate help and intervention? Did you know May is Mental Health Awareness month? Every Christian must be aware of a significant and helpful tool soon to be available – dialing 988. It is my experience many Christians are not prepared for immediate steps in a moment of mental pain and mental crisis. Here’s a vital intervention step that could save the life of someone you love.... Read More

4 Daily Practices to Strengthen Your Leadership

By Dan Reiland

When you work your muscles using weights and intentional lifts, you become physically stronger.

When you intentionally engage and work at specific skills and leadership practices, you strengthen your leadership.

The opposite is also true.

Over time muscles that are not used or strengthened become weaker and will eventually begin to atrophy.

The same idea is true about your leadership.

The skill and influence you have today as a leader will slowly decrease if you do not continually practice leading what you have not yet led (more weight) and intentionally grow your leadership ability.

There are a number of ways to strengthen your leadership such as receive coaching, read good books, listen to helpful podcasts, and participate in roundtables etc.

But you need targeted and specific skills (muscles) to work on if you want to be able to measure the progress of your growth as a leader.

And that requires practice.... Read More

Benefits of Having a Parent & Child Dedication Class

 

Young parents are the biggest influence in their child's life. Whether your church dedicates infants or baptizes infants, a class for their parents is must. It will help them to realize how big their role is in the early spiritual formation and nurture of their child. Read Article

Is It Time To Re-Think The Role Of “Communications Director” at Your Church?

Since the church shutdown began in March of 2020 I started telling pastors that while outreaches like missions, education, and children’s ministry are all important, during the pandemic it was the communication and media team that was keeping your church in business. If there’s been a remotely positive outcome of the virus, it’s been that church leaders are finally realizing that their online congregation matters, and communicating and connecting with that congregation is more important than ever.

As a result, churches around the world have been re-thinking their communication strategy, and particularly the lead role of “Communication Director.” Our team at Cooke Media Group has been deeply involved in these conversations, so I asked our Lead Strategist, Dawn Nicole Baldwin to share a little about how she sees this transition happening and what church leaders need to consider.... Read More

Florida Churches among First to Begin Exit from UMC to New, Conservative Denomination

A statement posted on Facebook Tuesday (May 3) by the Wesleyan Covenant Association’s Florida chapter caught the attention of the Florida bishop for the United Methodist Church: “107 Florida Methodist Churches Depart United Methodist Church,” it began.

The Facebook post came just a few days after the launch of the Global Methodist Church, a new conservative Methodist denomination formed, in part, by the Wesleyan Covenant Association, a coalition of self-described “orthodox, evangelical” United Methodists.

“We are not leaving The United Methodist Church. The United Methodist Church has left us,” Jay Therrell, president of the WCA-Florida, said in a written statement, blaming a “decades-long rise of theological liberalism, the selective enforcement of our denominational laws, and a strong surge in the promotion of partisan politics.”

But the bishop of the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church took to Facebook the next day to remind Florida United Methodists that leaving is not that simple. The departure of any church or clergy from the denomination is not instantaneous, he said, but must first go through its annual conferences.

“No significant changes occur in our relationship apart from the actions of these authorized bodies,” Bishop Ken Carter said in a letter posted on the Florida conference’s Facebook page.

Florida’s annual conference will meet June 9-11 in Lakeland, Florida — the first time it’s gathered in person since the COVID-19 pandemic began two years ago. Read More

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How to Guarantee You WON’T Grow Spiritually

By Daniel Darling

How does a person grow? Specifically, for followers of Jesus, how does a person grow spiritually?

Another word for growth is sanctification — that supernatural process by which the Holy Spirit takes the Word of God and forms us into Christ’s image. Growth is primarily a work that God does in us — I can’t, essentially, make myself grow.

And yet you can’t escape the New Testament’s overwhelming pulse that God commands us to intentionally pursue Him, that growth is, in some ways, our job as Christians.

There are quite a few texts that illuminate this, but 1 Timothy 4:7 comes to mind. Paul here tells us to “discipline ourselves to godliness.” In other words, yes the Holy Spirit does the work in us, but we also will not grow if our Christian life consists of us sitting on the couch and waiting for growth to happen.

So how do we grow? What are the tools God uses?

That question could fill up a year’s worth of blog posts. It certainly has motivated the writing of many books, sermons, etc. But maybe a better question is this: What are some ways to ensure that we DON’T grow spiritually? Read More

All Hallows Evening Prayer for Sunday Evening (May 22, 2022) Is Now Online

All Hallows Evening Prayer is a service of worship in the evening for all pilgrims on the journey to the heavenly city.

Who is at the center of your life? Be honest with yourself.

The Scripture reading for this Sunday is John 14:23-29 Love Expressed in Obedience.

The homily is titled “The Center of Our Lives”

The link to this Sunday evening’s service is—

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2022/05/all-hallows-evening-prayer-for-sunday_21.html

Please feel free to share the link to the service with anyone whom you believe might benefit from the service.

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. An ad may follow a song so as soon as the song is finished, close the tab.

Previous services are online at

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/

May this service be a blessing to you.

All Hallows Evening Prayer for Saturday Evening (May 21, 2022) Is Now Online

All Hallows Evening Prayer is a service of worship in the evening for all pilgrims on the journey to the heavenly city.

While we may not have a vision like Paul in which we are called to a particular mission field, God is calling us to share the good news with those around us, in our family, in our community, in our school, and in our workplace. God has placed people in our lives to whom he intends that we should be messengers of his love and grace.

The Scripture reading for this Saturday is Acts 16:9-15 The Gospel Comes to Europe.

The homily is titled “Who Is Your Lydia?”

The link to this Saturday evening’s service is—

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2022/05/all-hallows-evening-prayer-for-saturday_20.html

Please feel free to share the link to the service with anyone whom you believe might benefit from the service.

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. An ad may follow a song so as soon as the song is finished, close the tab.

Previous services are online at

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/

May this service be a blessing to you.

What's On The Web: 'How the Early Church Dealt with Racial and Cultural Division' And More

How the Early Church Dealt with Racial and Cultural Division
They saw that their ability to truly be the church was at stake.

How to Handle Chronic Critics in Your Church
Every church has ‘em. The Chronic Critic – the person(s) who simply can’t be pleased.

Hymn vs Song – Is There a Difference?
In a world that sometimes seems like hymn vs song, let’s look at characteristics of a true hymn.

Parents, Bring Your Children to Worship
Parents need encouragement that outweighs the challenges involved in having children with them in church.

Gearing Up for the Fall 2022 Small Group Boom
How to prepare for a small group boom this fall.

Submit Your Felt Reality to God
Getting felt reality on the table can be the first step in seeking to steward and shepherd our thoughts and emotions.

What's On The Web: The FAQs: What Christians Should Know About the ‘Great Replacement’ Theory And More

The FAQs: What Christians Should Know About the ‘Great Replacement’ Theory

The Great Replacement theory is the latest version of a century-old white genocide conspiracy theory.

Leaders: Don’t Miss the Power of Symbols in Your Church
Leaders who neglect symbols miss a vital opportunity to influence followers and understand why people think and act the way they do. Likewise, pastors who neglect symbols miss an entire frame of meaning in their congregations. So how are symbols powerful in the church? What about them adds gravity to ordinary interactions within the body?

What’s the Hard Decision You Need to Make?
There are business, nonprofit, and church leaders who at this moment have one major obstacle standing between them and success:The inability to make a hard decision.

6 Essentials to Onboard and Train New Volunteers
You can’t effectively onboard, train, and equip volunteers until you’ve clarified and simplified ministry systems and processes for them.

12 Content Marketing Ideas for Church Leaders
Okay, content marketing might be a new term for you. Here’s a definition from Joe Pulizzi, Founder of the Content Marketing Institute....

Small Group Trends: Are You Doing These 4 Things?
...as more and more people move away from traditional power structures, the greater the role that Small Groups will play in the church of Jesus Christ.

Overcoming Fear of Evangelism
The courage to share our faith comes from God, not ourselves.

5 Reasons Charismatic Churches Are Growing (And Attractional Churches Are Past Peak)

By Carey Nieuwhof

Think about how churches were just before the pandemic hit.

If you looked at almost any growing church led by younger leaders, it definitely tended toward the charismatic—expressive worship, more emotional delivery in preaching, an openness to the work and activity of the Holy Spirit, and generally a warmer, more enthusiastic and expressive gathering.

And…a lot of the churches that leaned toward a more charismatic expression of their faith were filled with young adults and Millennials.

Meanwhile, many leaders in attractional churches were finding it harder and harder to reach new people. While not universally true, some had stopped growing, or at least seen a slower growth rate than say 5 or 10 years ago.

Post-pandemic, that trend may be even more accelerated.

Please hear me. This is not, a “they’re right, and you’re wrong” post. This is a learning together post. Actually, both the charismatic and attractional movements have contributed massively to reaching millions of people. There is much to learn from each other.

Critics have no place here, but learners do.

So, what’s happening? Well, culture changes, and what people respond to changes, too. The church should change with it. While you should never change the mission of a church (it’s eternal), you should definitely adapt the method.

Churches that love their methods more than the mission will die. It happened in the 1950s, in the 1970s, and in the 1990s, and it’s happening today. What was effective a decade ago isn’t always effective today. Leaders who live in the past end up dying to the future.

While you could argue that there’s a major difference in theology between charismatic and non-charismatic churches, I don’t think the differences are that big for the purposes of this blog post anyway.

The big shift is happening in how churches express themselves on the weekend and conduct their weekend experiences.... Read More