Saturday, September 30, 2023

Saturday Lagniappe: 'Do They Know That They Belong?' And More


Is there a place in our faith community where our children and youth can speak and really be heard? Is there a space for them to know that the person or persons they are talking to aren’t just half-listening to be polite but truly listening because they care? Do they know that they belong?

Is Your Church Invested in God’s Work?
How would the leaders of your church go about getting people invested in the work of the Kingdom?

Christian and Missionary Alliance, Which Now Ordains Women, Loses 8 Congregations
Following a recent policy change regarding women in ministry, the Christian and Missionary Alliance (CMA) experienced the departure of eight congregations, mostly in its southern district. In June, denominational leaders adopted recommendations allowing women to be ordained and hold the title of pastor. But women still may not hold the position of senior pastor or elder.

The Coming Pastoral Shortage as a Missional Concern
From where will come the pastoral leadership of the future? The systems for recruiting, training, and deploying congregational leadership are likely to look very different in the future.

How to Design and Lead a Healthy and Productive Church Board
When it comes to selecting your church board, don’t give in to politics, people-pleasing, or pressure. Always start with biblical standards (I Timothy 3:8-10)

The fruit of the Spirit is not optional, despite what you might witness online
Before social media, I honestly never knew people who claimed to be Christians would treat one another with such cruelty.

Jean Twenge’s ‘Generations’: Four Takeaways for Youth Ministers
Twenge’s newest book, Generations: The Real Differences Between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers, and Silents—and What They Mean for America’s Future, covers the values and demographics of each of the living generations, beginning with the Silent Generation. In it, she offers fresh insights about Gen Z as they come of age and begins to forecast some of the trends we may see with Gen Alpha (born in 2013 to roughly 2029).

What Do Mormons Believe About the Holy Spirit?
Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) view the Holy Spirit in ways both familiar and foreign to traditional Christianity.

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