Tuesday's Catch: 'Prone to Dechurch, Lord I Feel It" Ad More

Prone to Dechurch, Lord I Feel It
It’s impossible to cling to the head of Christ without doing the same to his body.

Good Growth: 4 Types of Newcomers That Point to Healthy Church Development
It must be noted that the kind of "good growth" described in this article is the result of people for one reason or another deciding to attend a particular church. It largely qualifies as transfer growth. It is not the kind of growth which result when a church takes the gospel to people, i other words, conversion growth.

How the Reformation Should Change Your Local Church
The Reformation ideals won’t be completely realized in our churches. But our churches should always be conforming to the image of our King.

In the various Anglican entities in North America one finds a number of disparate views of the Reformation. They range from celebrating the Reformation and the changes that it introduced in the Church of England to regarding the Reformation as a serious mistake.

What Does It Mean to Grieve the Holy Spirit?
To grieve the Holy Spirit is something we’re told is possible and we’re commanded not to do. There are two ways of thinking about it. One is you could ask the question, Can God be grieved by humans? Can we cause God pain? Can we make God suffer? Can we ruin God’s day?

How Long Are Sermons Today?
Though there continue to be a wide range of sermon length, Thom looks at the most common range.

Why Knowing Your Flock is Critical to Meaningful Preaching
ow well do you know the people to wom you are preaching? It can make a big difference to your preaching.

Chalk on the Table: The Story Behind Our Different Views of Communion
In October 1529, a group of church leaders met for a colloquy—a great debate—about the Lord’s Supper. They gathered high above the winding Lahn River at the towering Marburg castle. This meeting wasn’t the reformers against Rome. No, the reformers were fighting among themselves. Who were the principals in this debate? What were the major views they discussed? What concerns influenced their arguments?

Saying Our Prayers
Religion is not faith. Religion thrives on empty ritual for self-justification. It is a cheap, and safe, alternative to true devotion. Faith, on the other hand, requires our lives and our loves. It’s a small difference, really—a simple, sincere turning of the heart—but on that turning hinges faith vs. religion. Sincerity vs. decorum. Being heard vs. “I never knew you.”

4 Thoughts on Mission, Church, and Technology
Every new technology provides an opportunity for gospel advancement.... But technology also presents us significant challenges.

Do Not Be Conformed to the World
Christians should live differently.

Monday's Catch: 'Is Passing the Offering Plate Dead? 7 Thoughts' And More

Is Passing the Offering Plate Dead? 7 Thoughts

For hundreds of thousands of churches, the tradition stood the test of time. The majority of churches passed the offering plate (or some type of receptacle) during a designated time of the worship service typically called “the offertory.”

Learning All the Rules vs. Becoming Love
Brandon Cox reflects on how "living a life of faith feels like playing a game of Mao."

What is a Healthy Number of Groups in a Church?
You work hard in your small group ministry. It’s great to know how well you’re doing, right? So, what is a healthy number of groups in a church? This question comes from a member of the Small Group Reset Facebook Group....

Innovate Your Way to Better Small Groups
Josh Hunt shares a few key highlights related to small groups from Matt Ridley’s How Innovation Works.

4 Things Women Missionaries Need From Their Churches Before They Go
When churches send women overseas as missionaries, it should be the culmination of a process of communal discerning, preparing, and training.

When the Occult Moves in Down the Street
What do you do if you live next to someone involved in openly pagan practices? What do you do work next to, or regularly pass by, businesses dedicated to the occult or other activities directly opposed to the Christian faith?

Calls for prayer as Christian persecution increases
Churches in the UK and Ireland are being asked to pray as persecution continues to grow worldwide. The call has been made by Release International ahead of the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP). Churches are being invited to use Sunday 5 November or another Sunday in November to highlight the plight of persecuted Christians.

'Going, Going, Gone?' The Church of England and LGBTQ part 2: how can we really help?
This is the second article in a three-part series, "Going, Going, Gone?"

Sundays at All Hallows (Sunday, October 29, 2023) Is Now Online

Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows.

A number of Christian traditions celebrate the last Sunday of October as Reformation Sunday, marking the occasion in 1517 when Martin Luther posted his 95 theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany.

In the England a forerunner of the Reformation was John Wycliffe in the 14th century.

Wycliffe recognized and put into words one of the two key principles of the Reformation—the unique place of the Bible in the belief and life of the Christian.

Wycliffe also championed the translation of the Bible into English. He and his followers would produce an English translation of the Latin Bible, the Vulgate.

Wycliffe’s writings would influence Jan Hus whose sermons would in turn influence Luther.

Readings: Leviticus 19:1–2, 15–18; 1 Thessalonians 2:1–8; and Matthew 22:34–46

Message: Love Your Neighbor as Yourself

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2023/10/sundays-at-all-hallows-sunday-october_28.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:

-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 Importance of Converting People to Paganism' And More

The Importance of Converting People to Paganism
The latest research show not just a movement away from religion, but a movement away from spirituality itself.

Isn’t the Bible’s Morality Outdated?
Biblical morality is about more than sex.

5 Important Truths about Followership to be a Better Leader
There is no leadership apart from followership. For leadership to maintain the highest integrity, it must recognize the reciprocal process shared by both leaders and followers. The highest integrity means that the leader’s actions have resulted in the people’s (followers) greatest good. Even the best teams can experience a real leadership / followership tension in a day-to-day ministry leadership environment.

How To Generate Solutions By Brainstorming—The Right Way
Brainstorming can often improve creativity when you need many possible ideas. Consider these 12 suggestions the next time your team needs to generate solutions to a problem.

The Half-Baked Sermon
To say that some sermons reach the pulpit half-baked would be unfair to bread. Some sermons are barely dough; some little more than a collection of dry ingredients. The sermon, as a sermon, is barely begun, largely unappetizing, not particularly nourishing, lacking the enticing taste and texture of a fresh-baked loaf.

How to Interpret the Bible
Micah Colbert explains some foundational principles of Bible interpretation.

How to Interpret the Bible: The COMA Bible Study Method
Micah Colbert explains the COMA inductive Bible study approach.

The Loneliness Epidemic
The Springtide™ Research Institute spent the past year researching the consequences of epidemic loneliness among young people.

10 Things Every Preschooler Needs From Your Ministry
Here are 10 things that every preschooler needs from your children’s ministry.

Transforming Bolivia One Conversation at a Time
Warern Bird describes what one church, Ekklesia, based in La Paz, Bolivia, is doing to spread the gospel and make disciples.

Friday's Catch: 'Jesus Never Told Us To Fill Church Buildings' And More

Jesus Never Told Us To Fill Church Buildings
Going to church has never been the point. Jesus didn’t tell us to “work really hard to gather people into large crowds to fill up your church buildings. Then I’ll know that you love me.”

The Astonishing Power of Microchurches—and You
The church landscape is changing. Increasing numbers of leaders are awakening to the reality that we are losing ground in our addition- and growth-focused approaches. Many are beginning to wrestle with their personal measures of success and legacy. Here, Ralph Moore, catalyst of the Hope Chapel movement, shares what he believes will be the next step forward toward taking hold of a more effective Matthew 28 paradigm.

How to Create Connection Content Is Everywhere
When community is already incorporated into a person’s routine, they are unlikely to add church community in addition to what’s already part of their life.

How Gospel Community Can Overcome Loneliness
"In light of scripture, and with the night of painful isolation all around, I want to argue that we need to reimagine three things," writes Dr. Rebecca Laughlin, "First, how we operate at church; second, how we conceive of family; and third, how we relate to singleness. The loneliness pandemic is severe. We Christians know the cure. And we are disobeying Jesus if we fail to administer it." 

The Distraction of Decline
There’s no doubt that statistically the Western church is in decline. Really, though, the decline narrative is a red herring. The real problem is that belief itself is becoming quite fragile. People are living with other or no belief systems, and they seem to be doing OK. So how do we form a community to be positioned to encounter a living God?

3 Strategies for Guiding with Gratitude
Here are a few suggestions to effectively guide your church community with gratitude.... 

How to Give an Effective Invitation
We’ve all witnessed “the invitation” done poorly. Here are some practices to keep in mind for giving an effective invitation with integrity. 

Poll: More religious Americans support the use of political violence
Support for political violence and concern over the state of American democracy are both on the rise, with 75% of Americans believing the future of democracy is at risk in the next presidential election, according to a report released Wednesday by the Public Religion Research Institute and the Brookings Institution.

Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (Thursday, October 26, 2023) Is Now Online

 

Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.

If you are new to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows, on Thursday evenings we are examining Jesus’ teaching. For his disciples, Jesus is not only Savior and Lord but also Teacher and Guide. His followers look to him on how they should pattern their lives.

Reading: Matthew 24: 1-51

Message: What Does Jesus Teach about the Future?

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2023/10/thursday-evenings-at-all-hallows_26.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:

-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 Top 7 Reasons Guests Return To Your Church' And More

The Top 7 Reasons Guests Return To Your Church
The most common reason people check out your church is someone invited them. The most common reason people leave your church is they don’t feel connected. But what are the most common reasons people return to your church after their first visit or two?

Why Some Members Who Did Not Return after COVID Are Now Returning
Though it’s not yet a huge number, Thom looks at the reasons some dechurched members are returning.

7 Ways Not to Respond When People Leave Your Church
Despite knowing what you ought to think and feel toward people who leave your church, you are likely tempted toward some unhelpful responses.

Two Key Ways to Make Your Church Younger
One of the most common questions we get from members of Church Answers is: How do I get younger people in my church? Thom looks at two ways that have been successful.

More than a billion people struggle with loneliness globally: Gallup
More than a billion people — or close to a quarter of the world's population — are struggling with loneliness, a new survey from Gallup and Meta shows. Younger adults are more likely to suffer from the condition, which health experts warn can have the same effect on health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

Zoom Conversations vs In-Person: Brain Activity Tells a Different Tale
A new study reveals a significant disparity in neural activity during face-to-face conversations compared to Zoom interactions. Using advanced neuroimaging, researchers observed suppressed neural signals during online exchanges. In contrast, in-person discussions presented heightened brain activity, with more coordinated neural responses between participants, emphasizing the richness of live social interactions. The research suggests online faces, with present technology, don’t engage our social neural circuits as effectively.

This is significant research as it shows that digital contact is not a substitute for direct contact. It enables people to communicate but they do not receive the full benefits of direct contact.

Who Is the Holy Spirit? 

When it comes to the Holy Spirit, we need to make sure everything we believe lines up with Scripture.

Why Has the Emphasis on Spiritual Gifts Waned in Most Churches?
For three decades, spiritual gifts were a common subject of conversation and discipleship in many churches. Thom looks at why this emphasis has waned.

Why Worship Shouldn't Feel Like Family
Public, corporate worship is outwardly directed, first toward God and then to the world outside our doors: a world broken, hurting, and desperately in need of healing. It is a world that needs Christ, and public worship is one primary way we offer Christ today. The needs of the individual member matter, but they do not take precedence over the mission and the purpose of the church.

Thom Rainer recommends doing away with the greeting time altogether. It can be a very stressfu time for first time guests.

10 Important Times to Pray with Your Child
It is so important to pray for your child. Pray for your child when he or she is sick. Pray for your child when he or she is facing a hard situation. Pray for your child when he or she is faced with temptation. This is so, so important. Yes, we should pray FOR our children, but we should also pray WITH our children. Here are 10 crucial times you should pray WITH your child.

The Fallacy of One-Size-Fits-All Discipleship
You can mass produce many things—cars, furniture, plastic bottles, etc.—but you can’t mass produce disciples. One-size-fits-all simply doesn’t work when you’re trying to help people become more like Jesus.

Don’t Let Holistic Mission Eclipse Evangelism
Evangelism and social action are made to be more or less equal partners, although a certain priority is reserved for evangelism.

As Trump Campaign Continues To Ramp up, So Does God-Talk
As former president Donald Trump’s re-election campaign continues to ramp up, so has the spiritual language that surrounds it—both from the lips of Trump himself as well as from evangelical leaders who continue to preach that he is divinely anointed.

One of the things that makes a demagogue a demagogue is their ability to size up an audience and tell that audience what it wants to hear, exploiting various issues for their own purposes in ways that appeal to the desires and prejudices of the audience and stokes its fears. Among the dynamics which enable a demagogue to influence an audience is that the audience will project positive qualities upon the demagogue which may be lacking in the demagogue's character while at the same time ignoring or minimizing the negative qualities of his character and explaining away his negative behavior, which his critics draw to its attention.

Wednesday's Catch: 'Dispelling Four Common (and Unhelpful) Myths about Neighborhood Churches' And More

Dispelling Four Common (and Unhelpful) Myths about Neighborhood Churches
There is significant hope for neighborhood churches across North America because many church leaders and their congregations are leveraging their resources and reclaiming their neighborhoods for Christ. Let’s dispel some unhelpful myths about neighborhood churches.

6 Things Women in Your Church Wish You Knew About Pregnancy Loss
Caring well for women and families begins with listening. Here are six things women wish you knew about pregnancy loss.

Vatican summit tackles women’s ordination with a nod from Pope Francis
The synod on synodality gets the ball rolling on the question of female clergy, but the final decision will be up to Pope Francis.

8 Things That Lessen My Effectiveness as a Leader
If we can identify what interrupts the effectiveness of our leadership, we can become better leaders.

6 Ways To Preach Effectively
Great content without great connection is poor communication. You’ll never get to your best sermons without connection.

Sermon Series Ideas for Advent
There are standard texts (and rightly so!) that include Matthew 1–2 and Luke 1–2. But if you’re trying to think through a possible series for Advent at your church, a series that seeks to show the hope of Christ from elsewhere in Scripture, maybe these suggestions can help.

Why Are People So Fascinated with ‘Lost’ Books of the Bible?
Michael J. Kruger offers two main considerations.

Why I "Youth Group"
While youth group is not for every church and while it is certainly possible to do youth group in a way that is counterproductive to the spiritual development of young people, youth group can be a tremendous blessing both to those who participate and to those who lead.

A Plea for More Unicorns in Youth Ministry
Dave Chiswell make a plea for more youth ministry "unicorns," youth ministers who do not view youth ministry as a stepping stone to ‘real’ ministry.

Crank Up the Heat!
When teenagers share the Good News of Jesus with their friends, teammates, and classmates, not only does the Gospel advance in others’ lives, but it also has a personal impact on them.

America’s Confusing Relationship with Children
Americans want more kids, but don’t have them.

VOICES: The war in Gaza is not about revenge — it is taking Hamas at its word
As the reality of war sets in and the worst elements of Western culture attempt to obfuscate moral truth, the essential facts of the Israel-Hamas conflict remain the same. This war, which Hamas started and could end today if they chose, isn’t about vengeance. It is about taking Hamas at its word when it says it wants to obliterate Israel and its Jews and finally responding to the ugly truth that “mowing the grass” hasn’t worked.

Also see: Israel shows Hamas bodycam attack footage to journalists, Israel-Gaza war: How to spot fake news on social media and 'Hamas said they wouldn’t shoot, then murdered my daughter’

Tuesday's Catch: 'Korean American Methodists Struggle to Split from UMC' And More

Korean American Methodists Struggle to Split from UMC
Some conservative churches that voted to disaffiliate say the denomination has responded by forcing out their pastors and charging them millions to keep their property.

While their annual conference may offer assurances that it will not force any church to accept a “self-avowed practicing” gay pastor or require conference clergy to officate at same-sex marriages, conservative clergy and congregations are faced with emboldened LGBTQ advocates who see a real opportunity for General Conference to make the UMC "a more inclusive and affirming church" with the disaffiliation of clergy and congregations that oppose same-sex marriage and “self-avowed practicing” gay clergy. If General Conference does lift the present bans on same-sex marriage and “self-avowed practicing” gay clergy, the UMC is likely to experience the same kind of decline as have other mainline denominations which have taken that step. Those who speak optimistically of the future of the emerging UMC may be engaging in self-deception.

Growing strain of evangelicalism preaches 'hostility' towards poor Americans: Report
The so-called "Prosperity Gospel," a strain of evangelical Christianity that argues material wealth is a direct sign of God's personal favor, has long been a controversial doctrine among more mainstream American conservatives. Now The New Republic's Elle Hardy reports that there's a new strain of Prosperity Gospel that takes things a step further by not only seeing wealthy people as God's chosen, but singling out poor people as deserving of "hostility."

For those who are not familiar the origins of the expression, "pull oneself up by one's boot straps," the Nashville journalist who coined the phrase was poking fun at an inventor who claimed to have invented a working perpetual motion machine. He quipped that the inventor should next fly across the Cumberland River by pulling himself up by his boot straps, an impossible feat as his own weight would prevent him from lifting himself off the ground, much less fly through the air!.

Does God Want Your Church to Get Bigger?
Depending on a number of factors, growing a small church is one of the more do-able things pastors can achieve. Those variable factors include....

Flourishing With a Small-Church Mindset
To flourish, the local church and its leadership must change its mindset from growing to focusing on what it does well.

We Can Always Be Friendly
Small churches often wonder what they can offer. What can we do when we are so small? There are a bunch of things small churches can do, and do well. Indeed, John Benton has written a great book – the big picture for small churches – where he goes into some specifics, very helpfully so, that small churches can do.

In my experience being friendly may also be the hardest thing for a small church to do.

Why Stay in a Declining Mainline Church?
Victor Lee Austin explains why he stays in the declining, once-mainline, Episcopal Church.

I Was Wrong
"I think it is true that the Episcopal Church has Catholic substance in it. But also I think I was wrong to put so much emphasis upon that," Victor Lee explains. "I no longer think Anglicanism is essentially an alternative version of Catholicism. Instead, it seems to me its own thing."

Halloween Revisited 

...what is the “true” story of Halloween?

What Did You Plan To Be Hated For?
Christians are no longer hated for grace, but for nature.

JK Rowling says she'd rather go to prison for 2 years than be forced to call a man a woman
World-renowned author J.K. Rowling said she'd rather go to prison for two years than repeat the lie that “trans women are women.”

Spooky Season: Some Americans Are Open to Supernatural, Contact With Dead
Many Americans are open to the existence of supernatural beings and events, including contact with the dead.

Monday's Catch: "The 'Other ' Reformation' And More

The 'Other Reformation'

The Swiss model was radical in its impact but did not fundamentally disturb the economic status quo. However, there were others who felt that the challenge to the Catholic Church was only the start of a much more radical reordering of society. Their version of the Reformation is often forgotten....

Stream the Luther Documentary for Free
More than five hundred years ago, Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to the Castle Church door in Wittenberg. Little did he know how the Lord would use him to ignite a movement that would change the world.

Overcoming Barriers to Planning Your Church’s Future
It’s time to dream about a better tomorrow. Stop imagining what could be and step into what is by conducting a vision planning retreat.

Read This Before You Accept That Call to Be Rector
Neal Michell gives a number of question that a prospective rector candidtate will want to ask the search committee and explains why.

10 Insights for Retiring Pastors
"How do I prepare my church for my retirement?; what are some major financial issues regarding retirement?; What do I do after I retire?"

5 Choices to Help You Lead with Optimism and Hope in the Future
You must first possess a positive outlook of the future before you can authentically lead with hope into the future.

How Did Jesus’s Stories Get Passed On?
We do not need to resolve the probably unanswerable question of how Jesus’s teachings were transmitted early on in order to recognize that the stories attributed to him in the Gospels show numerous common features and that they are not readily explained as creations by the Gospel writers but are easily explained as the records of a brilliant teacher with a profile that closely matches what we know about Jesus.

Common Fallacies in an Age of Outrage
In an online world of rampant disinformation, partisan manipulation, and systemic distrust, it’s increasingly difficult—but necessary—for Christians to follow Scripture’s injunctions to discern what’s trustworthy: “do not be deceived” (1 Cor. 6:9), “keep alert” (Eph. 6:18), “try to discern” (Eph. 5:10), “test everything” (1 Thess. 5:21), and “think” (2 Tim. 2:7).

Spiritual Maturity: 5 Signs You DON’T Have It
The question of sign of spiritual maturity seems to provoke one of the super strange conversations in the North American and Western church today.

When is Good Enough Hurting Us?
How often do Christians get comfortable with the way things are in their walk with God? What happens when Christians think we’re good enough?

Evangelism Prayers
My own Life group meets on Wednesday night. Some of our best times of community and growth happens when we go into the outlying area and talk to people about Jesus and their prayer needs. But before we do, we pray.

'Going, Going, Gone?' The Church of England and LGBTQ Part 1
"...I would like to take my reader across the English border, to see how a similar situation has unfolded in the beautiful country of Wales," writes Lisa Noland. "Though there are differences, the similarities are profound."

Sundays at All Hallows (Sunday, October 22, 2023) Is Now Online

 

Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows.

The days are growing colder and the nights longer. The leaves are beginning to change color. On the campus of the university the tower clock chimes the hours. The Disciples of Christ church a block from the courthouse square also has a clock in its steeple that chimes the hours. They are the only bells one hears on Sunday morning. No church bells ring out, calling people to prayer. At the parish church of my youth the church bell was rung twice, a few minutes before the service and then just as the service was about to begin.

Open this link in a new tab to hear the ringing of a church bell. It is a traditional way to begin a service.

Readings: Isaiah 44:6-20; 1 Thessalonians 1:2-10

Message: What Are Your Idols?

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2023/10/sundays-at-all-hallows-sunday-october_21.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:

-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: 'In tough times, churches can’t afford to go it alone, new book advises' And More

In tough times, churches can’t afford to go it alone, new book advises
Samford University sociologist Jennifer McClure Haraway looks at the way congregations in Alabama work together — and what congregations around the country can learn from them.

10 Steps to Raising Up and Calling Out the Next Generation of Gospel Workers
"I’ve previously written about the importance of pastors 'calling out the called' within their congregations. I’m convinced this responsibility is ours, but most pastors I know don’t do it intentionally. Most of us wait until someone comes to us with questions about a potential call (and, certainly we must minister to them where they are)—yet, with that approach we miss the opportunity to challenge others to consider a call. Here are some steps toward 'calling out the called'...."

Walking Humbly While Waiting for Your Moment
On the one hand, you can’t do anything you put your mind to. Some things aren’t possible just because you believe they are. That’s why superhero movies are so popular – we get to watch fictitious characters do all the impossible things we wish we could do. On the other hand, you can do way more than you probably realize. You just can’t do it as fast as you probably want.

Like the Good Samaritan, loving neighbors requires centering, cost and courage, Duke professor explains
When COVID-19 started to spread, epidemiologist Emily Smith expected the pandemic would provide an opportunity for Christians to shine the light of compassion into the lives of hurting people. But when Smith began writing a blog to help focus that light, she experienced a dark backlash of denial, anger and vitriol she never anticipated.

Let’s “Uncomplicate” Discipleship at Home
When it comes to discipleship in the home, engaging in conversations that create space for faith talks and God moments, it can be tempting to formalize it, following the step-by-step guide of a book or instituting certain practices to ensure that faith gets talked about at home. But sometimes those things can bring more frustration than they do formation.

Persevere in Praying for Unbelieving Loved Ones
Praying for the salvation of a loved one over the course of a lifetime without losing hope is hard work. It takes spiritual muscles that many of us haven’t used. It takes perseverance. We persevere in the hard work of praying for unsaved family members and friends by anchoring our prayers in the truth of Scripture and the character of God.

Billy Graham Evangelistic Association announces major Europe gathering to reinvigorate evangelism
The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association is preparing to gather Christian leaders from around Europe for a major gathering on evangelism. The European Congress on Evangelism will take place in the German capital of Berlin from 27 to 30 May 2025, with the expectation that 1,000 Christian leaders will attend from every European country and territory.

Ten year Gallup study highlights positives of having a religious faith
Gallup research presented earlier this month has highlighted the profound connection between faith and well-being, emphasising the positive influence of religion on individuals worldwide. The findings, as outlined in the report "Faith and Wellness: The Worldwide Connection Between Spirituality & Wellbeing," affirm that individuals who embrace religion often enjoy heightened levels of overall well-being.

Friday's Catch: '4 Reasons Your Church Needs Domestic Violence Awareness Training' And More

4 Reasons Your Church Needs Domestic Violence Awareness Training

Training on domestic violence will equip church leaders with an awareness of its prevalence and God’s deep care for those who are abused.

6 Preaching Mistakes You Can Make in the First 5 Minutes
If you’re a speaker, preacher, or communicator of any kind, it really doesn’t matter how great your content — if you can’t connect, you can’t communicate. And these six common preaching mistakes work directly against your connection.

50 Preaching Tips in 15 Minutes
In this video, H.B. Charles Jr. shares fifty practical tips to help you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. These pieces of advice address the personal devotion, sermon preparation, and pulpit ministry. Of course, these fifty pointers are not exhaustive. But, hopefully, you will find these helpful hints beneficial to your Word work.

How to Make Gospel-Centered Applications
Host Tony Merida chats with pastor, author, and long-time ministry partner J.D. Greear to discuss the implications of addressing the heart as we preach the Word of God. Here’s how the gospel reaches beyond moralization and leads to real life transformation.

10 Tips to Create Great Worship Vocals
If your objective is to increasing your congregation's participation in the worship music of your Sunday gatherings, these tips are not for you. If, however, you are seeking to improve the vocal performance of a small musical ensemble, you may find them helpful.

While Jamie Harvill offers some good advice for worship bands and their vocalists, he treats congregational singing as if it is secondary, even talking about a time when the congregation sings. If the worship at a Sunday gathering is to be corporate and to involve the whole assembly, the congregation must do the most of the singing. The worship band's role is to lead and support the congregational singing. Its performance of special music is secondary.

Lectio Divina: An Ancient Prayer and Bible Reading Practice
Brandon Cox shares the way he approaches lectio divina.

How to Help Women Delve Deeply into the Word of God
This article aims to provide valuable insights and practical tips to help you initiate or rejuvenate a women’s Bible study group that will foster vibrant, life-changing discipleship experiences for women of all ages.

Youth Talk Tips: How to Share Powerful Messages With Teens
Here’s the most amazing structure ever used for youth talks: Hook, Book, Look, Took!

7 Words of Encouragement for Leaders of Small Groups
For those small group pastors lacking the gift of encouragement, maybe some of these phrases are phrases you could speak to a small-group leaders.

You Choose What You Focus On
You rarely get to choose your circumstances. You can’t stop world hunger, pandemics, or global economic conditions. But you can choose what you focus on.

What Unforgiveness Does to Your Brain
Unforgiveness can keep our bodies and brains in this state of high alertness and leads to these unhealthy results.

Mississippi’s largest UMC church votes to leave the denomination
A congregation that is said to be the largest United Methodist Church body in Mississippi voted overwhelmingly to leave the mainline Protestant denomination.

Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (Thursday, October 19, 2023) Is Now Online

 

Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.

In an experiment reported In the University of Chicago News researchers found that people learn just as much from other people’s failures as they do from other people’s successes. In a second experiment researchers found that we ourselves do not lean from our own mistakes. Subsequent experiments tied this failure of the experiment’s participants to learn from their mistakes to a loss of self-esteem. Feeling bad about failing kept the participants from benefiting from knowing what they did wrong. This may explain at least in part why accounts of both the failures and successes of various figures, particularly in their relationship with God, were included in the Bible. It may also help to explain why people who do not feel good about their relationship with God persist in doing the wrong thing while those feel good about that relationship are less likely to repeat the same mistake.

Reading: Matthew 23: 13-36

Message: What We Can Learn from the Failings of Others

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2023/10/thursday-evenings-at-all-hallows_19.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:

-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: 'Want to fix America’s woes? Start by getting to know your neighbors, researcher says" And More

Want to fix America’s woes? Start by getting to know your neighbors, researcher says
Seth Kaplan, a researcher at Johns Hopkins who studies fragile states around the world, argues that rebuilding social capital— including religious congregations — can help address some of the more pressing social problems.

'Parish Ministry" Outside of English Parishes
...Anglicanism outside England and Wales “has been replicated in the nonconformist model, the gathering of the faithful,” rather than in the form of churches that have included the entire public in a particular place. Parish and congregation are nearly synonymous for us, and the publics to which we Americans belong assume that our church is simply a matter of personal choice.

Start Preparing for December Now
By preparing your heart, schedule, and leadership plans, December can truly be “the most wonderful time of the year.”

‘All You Want to Do Is Worship’: A Student Reflects on 8 Months After Asbury
In the spring of 2023, J. T. Reeves was a senior at Wheaton College. He and his friends drove to Asbury University when they heard the reports of the spiritual awakening happening on that campus. Eight months later, TGC asked Reeves to reflect on the lasting effects of that experience in his life and the lives of his fellow students.

Develop Guests into Future Leaders
As the church begins to win new visitors, invariably there will be pushback from current members who feel threatened by the new people, thoughts and actions. As a church leader, you must find ways to integrate the old and the new into church membership. While there might be a tendency to lean toward one group or the other, know your role is to support each group to help shape them into one.

Churchgoers and Leaders Find Value in Ministry to Women
Women’s ministry leaders and women churchgoers see positive efforts in ministry to women while recognizing growth opportunities.

7 Ways Ministry to Women Strengthens Your Whole Church
The State of Ministry to Women report from Lifeway Research confirms that intentional ministry to women strengthens the whole church.

Co-Laborers: 3 Ways Pastors Can Support Women’s Ministry Leaders
Women’s ministry leaders should know their value and feel our support so we can pierce the darkness with the light of the gospel. Together.

5 Ways Your Church Can Invest More in Ministry to Women
The State of Ministry to Women acknowledges progress in churches’ ministry to women and identifies areas where churches can invest more.

What Is Gossip? Exposing a Common and Dangerous Sin
You don’t want to be a gossip. There is no upside to being one. Gossips hurt neighbors, divide friends, and damage reputations and relationships. The Bible labels gossips as untrustworthy and meddlesome (Proverbs 11:13; 20:19; 26:20; 1 Timothy 5:13) — and even as worthy of death (Romans 1:29, 32). At your best in Christ, you don’t want to be one.

5 Elements of Worship for a Great Service
God does what He does when He wants to. There’s no special formula to create a worship service with a worshipful atmosphere. But with a humble heart, consider these elements of worship that will encourage an attitude of worship in the hearts of your people.

Softly playing music under a prayer can be a distraction. It is not becessary to fill every space in a worshp service with music. Silence has a place in worship as does spoken prayer without a musical background. Some worship leaders talk too much. They need to pause before opening their mouths and ask themselves, "Does what I am about to say really contribute the congregation's worship experience?" As for using familiar songs, it is a no brainer. Don't expect the congregation to sing if it does not know the song, it is sung at too high a pitch, and no one is playing or singing the melody. It aint gonna happen!

HuddleCam HD Review
When you need a good webcam, you certainly have a lot of them to choose from, but that doesn’t mean they are all alike. The HuddleCam HD webcam gives you the same quality as their many other products, and it’s super affordable at around $90. This wide-angle lens webcam is great for conducting classes, conferences, and various presentations. If you’re interested in finding out the advantages and disadvantages of buying this camera, keep reading.

Hybrid church is here to stay, folks. It is not going to go away. Today's local churches need to have both a physical presence and a digital presence in the community. Since some members of the community may ot have cable TV or iternet, they also need to have a presence on the local radio station.

Wednesday's Catch: 'The State of the Post-Pandemic Church' And More

The State of the Post-Pandemic Church

A year long study of more than 1,000 pastors and leaders, conducted by ChurchSalary and the Arbor Research Group on the impact of COVID-19 on the American church, has been completed and the results released.

How to Recover from a Toxic Church and Bounce Back Even Better
Something will happen in almost every church because ministry includes people. In some cases, the pastor is the cause of the hurt. In other cases, the people of the church hurt the pastor. Pastors can be responsible for church hurt, but this article focuses on how pastors should respond when experiencing a toxic church culture.

7 Ways to Give Your Brain a Break
Pastor, you can (and should) take charge of your thought life. Here are seven ways to give your brain a break.

5 Ways to Gracefully Say “No”
Often people in the church will ask pastors to do something that takes their time or they want to meet with them on some issue. In many cases we know deep inside that we should respond with a “No.” However, because we don’t want to disappoint, we often say, “Yes,” and later regret it.

Putting Christian and Missionary Alliance Theology in Song
What if worship music got a little more denominationally specific? A new artists’ collective is experimenting with that.

Youth Ministry Needs Less of These 10 Things in the Future
What is the future of youth ministry? And how can we minister to teens more effectively?

What Acts 26 Taught Me About Evangelism
...many people miss out on the blessing of evangelism. Perhaps it seems too scary. Or maybe they’re not sure how to have an evangelistic conversation. Evangelism can be intimidating for many reasons—but it doesn’t have to be.

Bishop of Wyoming on Leave After ‘Alleged Indiscretion’
The Rt. Rev. Paul-Gordon Chandler, who has served as the 10th Bishop of Wyoming since February 2021, “has been placed on administrative leave due to pending Title IV allegations against him,” the Public Affairs Office announced October 16. Public Affairs Officer Amanda Skofstad declined to release any details beyond the brief announcement.

Tuesday's Catch: '5 Ways the World Would Be Worse without Christianity' And More

5 Ways the World Would Be Worse without Christianity

In 2007, God Is Not Great, a bestselling book by the late Christopher Hitchens, denounced Christianity as being violent, hateful, and inimical to human flourishing. Today, similar claims are reiterated by those who condemn Christianity as the religion of the oppressor class. Christians are instructed to “check their privilege” and “do the work” to repudiate Christianity’s toxic legacy. But what would the world really be like without Christianity?

The Mission Field We Don’t Think About
Thousands each year are consigned to live out their last years in isolating, impoverished, and sometimes dangerous living environments.

Post-COVID, U.S. poverty and hunger rates are soaring
While the U.S. government must act decisively to counter poverty rates that are increasing as pandemic-era assistance programs end, people of faith also have a responsibility to counter food insecurity, hunger expert Jeremy Everett said. “As people of faith who confess Jesus as Lord, it is imperative on us — it is core to discipleship — that we are addressing hunger and poverty in our communities and in a systemic and structural way. It’s hard to love your neighbor who is hungry if you are not doing anything about it,” said Everett, executive director of the Baylor University Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty.

Churches, Ministries and the SMLLC
SMLLC stands for Single Member Limited Liability Companies. These corporate structures have gained popularity among nonprofit organizations for years, as they offer the flexibility of limited liability protection combined with the tax-exempt status granted under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Seven Arrows of Bible Reading
Sarah Puryear describes the Bible study method, developed by Matt Rogers and Donny Mathis at Christ Fellowship Cherrydale Church in Greenville, South Carolina.

Truths the Devil Uses To Stop Us From Praying
Joe McKeever describes the different ways that the evil one seeks to discourage us from praying.

Youth Ministry Is More Than Friday Night
Jill started coming to youth group in year 7. She loves hanging out with her friends but sometimes the games are lame and the Bible teaching can be a bit boring. What’s it going to take to get someone like Jill from a current youth group attendee to a future youth group leader? If we want deep, lasting fruit then we need to realise that youth ministry is much larger than what happens on a Friday night.

11 Ways to Use Email to Make Things Worse
Email has become endemic to our culture. Without it, it would be difficult to communicate as much as it seems that ministry and the marketplace require. I receive scores of emails every day and I know some pastors and leaders who get over 100. YIKES! It can be a useful tool if used correctly. But it can also be a deadly tool if used poorly. If you want to make matters worse with people you know or within your organization or church, these 12 practices will definitely get the results you want.

10 Things Every New Christian Should Know
Here are the 10 things (not necessarily in any particular order) that Brian Mavis thinks new Christians should inernalize as they walk their first year with Jesus.

When Is Satan’s Birthday? (And Other Halloween Issues)
What’s the trick to surviving this treat-filled holiday with your faith intact? Here are a few suggestions....

One thing that we need to remember is that All Hallows Eve is the eve of what has been for Christians a feast day since the seventh century A.D. It marks the beginning of Hallowmas, or All Saints' Day. Contrary to what some people believe, All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day did not evolve from paganism. Both are days for commemorating the faithful departed and giving thanks for their lives and witness.

Abandoned by evangelicals, Americans United continues 75-year fight for church-state separation
In 1947, Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Episcopal and Seventh-day Adventist leaders gathered in Chicago to form a new group: Protestants and Other Americans United for Separation of Church and State. Founding members included Clyde W. Taylor, secretary of the National Association of Evangelicals, and Louie D. Newton, president of the Southern Baptist Convention. SBC pastor Robbert Maddox later served as the group’s executive director. But by the 1980s, prominent and politically active evangelical and Southern Baptist leaders went in the opposite direction, waging culture war, enlisting congregations in political activism, and — according to traditional separationists — working to blow up any wall of separation.

Catholic Church seeing 'troubling' decline in attendance, except in these states
While Catholic Church enrollment continues to decline in the Northeast, it has experienced a rapid resurgence in South Florida as the Hispanic population increases. In a piece published on Substack Thursday, Pastor Ryan Burge presented data outlining the changes in the share of Americans who identify as Roman Catholic by state from 2008-2022.

Monday's Catch: 'Is the Rise of the Nones Over?' And More

Is the Rise of the Nones Over?
Not all research data agrees, but some recent studies indicate that the growth of religiously unaffiliated Americans has slowed or stopped.

Dozens of North Carolina Methodist Churches Join Over 6,000 Leaving Denomination
After their lawsuit was dismissed earlier this year, the group of 36 congregations will disaffiliate in November according to the UMC’s exit plan.

3 Core Beliefs of the Transgender Movement
The transgender revolution is sweeping. Deeper understanding of it requires us to consider three core beliefs that underly it and make it possible. Though often unarticulated, these beliefs are like the framing of a house, giving the transgender movement its present shape and stability.

4:30 Tuesdays
"On Tuesdays from 4:30-5:30 I meet with 8-12 people, and we read the bible for an hour. We talk and laugh and ask questions and ponder, but mostly we just read. We have been doing this for a year...."

Why Your Youth Group Events Must Move Beyond Fun and Games
...today,...in many communities, big fun at youth group events isn’t working like it used to. Here’s why: If we’re planning to attract kids with fun and excitement, we must remember we’re not the only game in town anymore.

Uber Evangelism: Three Lessons
"I am close to finishing my second 30-day round of The Hope Initiative. It is a simple process of praying, studying Scripture, and going in one form or another. It is simple obedience to the Great Commission. May I share with you three lessons I have learned about myself in each of these 30-day periods? The lessons have been basic but profound for me."

Don’t Waste Your Church Gym
Your church gym is perhaps one of the best locations for ministry. Don’t miss the opportunity to utilize it for community and gospel seeds.

Hamas terrorists ordered to kill as many people as possible, target schools in attacks: report
Newly uncovered documents reveal that Hamas terrorists were directed to kill as many people as possible, with a specific focus on elementary schools and youth centers. These meticulously rehearsed attacks resulted in a death toll exceeding 1,300 in Israel alone, according to official sources.

Unlike American evangelicals, religious bodies from Quakers to Catholics urge care for Palestinians and Jews alike
As Southern Baptists and other evangelicals rally support for Israel in its retaliatory war with Hamas, they are outliers compared to most other Christian groups in America — from Quakers to Catholics. Other denominations and religious leaders have expressed more nuanced statements calling for an end to violence perpetuated by both Hamas and Israel.

Sundays at All Hallows (Sunday, October 15, 2023) Is Now Online

 

Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows.

We are almost halfway through the month of October. Hallowmas, the Feast of All Hallows, also known as All Saints’ Day, falls on a Wednesday this year. It will be the fourth Hallowmas since All Hallows Murray was launched as an online worship and digital church ministry. Hallowmas is a day on which we remember all the faithful departed and give thanks to God for their lives and their witness. It is a day particularly to remember those who played a part in our coming to faith in Jesus Christ and our formation and growth as a disciple of our Lord.

Readings: Isaiah 25: 1-9; Philippians 4: 1-9

Message: Salt

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2023/10/sundays-at-all-hallows-sunday-october.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:

-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 Way of Violence Versus the Way of Jesus' And More

The Way of Violence Versus the Way of Jesus
There is the way of violence, and there is the way of Jesus, and they are never the same path.

God’s Nonviolent Plan of Salvation
The story that has developed over centuries among Christians, particularly in the West, is a strange and violent twist on the gospel, which literally means “good news.”

VOICES: The ethical bankruptcy of ‘moral equivalency’
The grotesque, gruesome and obscene atrocities committed by Hamas terrorists against innocent Israelis on Oct. 7 have outraged and nauseated decent, civilized people across the globe. Let us all be clear: there can never be any justification for murdering innocent civilians (including infants, children and grandmothers, with children being butchered in front of their parents and vice versa).

8 Strategies for Reaching and Developing Gen Z
In today’s rapidly changing world, the church faces a critical challenge: engaging and connecting with Generation Z, born between 1997 and 2012. This generation is often characterized by its technological savviness, diverse perspectives and desire for authenticity, which presents opportunities and obstacles for many churches.

Report: What Church Leaders Need To Know About How Gen Z Approaches the Bible
The perception that older people prefer print versions of the Bible while younger people prefer digital media is not entirely accurate, according to recent data presented in the American Bible Society’s (ABS) latest State of the Bible (SOTB) report. The newest chapter of State of the Bible 2023, “Bible Use and Technology,” explores how American adults connect with the Bible and the role digital media plays in their lives.

10 Signs of a Healthy Children's Ministry
Is your children's ministry healthy? Here are 10 signs of a healthy children's ministry.

The Meaning of Membership
Here’s a true-life parable about the meaning of membership.

Donald Trump and the exceptions of American evangelicalism
Evangelicals still see themselves as the true custodians of American authenticity.

Friday's Catch: 'When Will the ACNA Overtake TEC?' And More

When Will the ACNA Overtake TEC?
The Anglican Church of North America (ACNA) only came into being in 2009. To suggest that it will overtake the Episcopal Church (TEC) — so large and long-established — might sound absurd. But it is in the cards, as this article shows. Not soon, but also not that far away.

David Goodhew is looking at the statistics reported by the two rival churches themselves. His study does not consider how much the growth the ACNA is experiencing is transfer growth and how much is conversion growth, nor does it look at which dioceses in the ACNA are experiencing growth, the type of growth they are experiencing, which dioceses are aggressively planting new churches, and other relevant details that are need to evaluate the growth of the ACNA. It does not consider the divisions in the ACNA that are simmering just below the surface. It also does not address the question which is being raised in some quarters in the ACNA and outside the ACNA, "Does the ACNA represents authentic historic Anglicanism any more than TEC?" What should concern us more than which church is the biggest is how effective is a church denomination-wide in telling people about Jesus, making new disciples who are genuine followers of Jesus, and enfolding them in dynamic new churches.

Season 2, Episode 2: The De-Churching of America
In the United States, we are experiencing the largest and fastest religious shift in the history of our country. Recent research shows about 15 percent of American adults — that’s 40 million people — have stopped going to church, and all of this, within the past 25 years. It’s a drop that has affected every region in the country, every theological tradition, every age group, every ethnicity, every education level, every income bracket.

3 Times Jesus Modeled How To Treat Sinners
Jesus modeled well for us how to treat sinners. Ever since the SCOTUS decision in the United States, which legalized gay marriage, there have been scathing comments from all sides and an overwhelming amount of questions about how Christians should respond to the culture around us. The best thing we can do is follow Jesus regarding how to treat sinners.

The Case for a Church Choir
Choral music itself will never be a thing of the past, but impoverished are the congregations who are forcing their people to experience singing in secular settings. How important are church choirs? How vital are they to a healthy ministry? Why have them at all? Many people are asking questions like these. Tragically, some congregations have decided that the whole business of nurturing and supporting a choir is just not who they are, or who they are anymore.

Americans who attend church online read the Bible more than those who attend in person: study
Americans who attend church services online may be more likely to read the Bible at least once a week than those who go to in-person services, according to the findings of a survey.

A factor which may account at least in part for this trend is what Trevin Wax describes in his podcast, "...the religiously unaffiliated—the fastest-growing religious demographic in the United States—are often still religious in personal and privatized senses, only that their religious identities are in flux, mixing and matching various practices."

8 Digital Shifts: Simple Changes to Transform Your Church’s Online Ministry
Whether it was the use of Roman roads to carry letter dispatches from the apostles to local churches in the first century, or the widespread adoption of radio and television for evangelism and Christian education in the 20th, the church has often been an early adopter of new technology, driven by a calling to participate in God’s reconciliatory mission in the world.

VOICES: 7 ways to crank up evangelism in youth
When teenagers share the good news of Jesus with their friends, teammates and classmates, not only does the Gospel advance in others’ lives, but it also has a personal impact on them.

4 Questions To Gauge Your Spiritual Health
As a Christian, it’s easy to develop habits of spirituality and yet still miss what Jesus came to do. We fill our lives with a bunch of Christian things like church, Bible studies, small groups, and all the other church events. Yet, we aren’t any closer to Jesus.The difficult thing about it is that we might not even realize our lives becomes filled with “Christian” things instead becoming full of Jesus. Christianity becomes like a club that we’re a part of. And it misleads us into thinking we have become more like Jesus.

Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (Thursday, October 12, 2023) Is Now Online

 

Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.

Jesus left his disciples with these words, “…you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8 NLT) These words were not just meant for those who had followed Jesus during his earthly ministry but for all his followers in every generation. As a witness to Jesus, it is not enough that we tell others about Jesus, our way of life must also reflect Jesus’ message and his teaching. Both our words and actions must point to Jesus.

Reading: Matthew 23: 1-12

Message; The Genuine Article

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2023/10/thursday-evenings-at-all-hallows_12.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:

-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: 'Mental Health Ministry as an Evangelism and Outreach Strategy'And More

Mental Health Ministry as an Evangelism and Outreach Strategy

The presence of common mental health conditions has a dramatic impact on church attendance and engagement, according to researchers. This article identifies factors contributing to the mental health community being underserved and some things your church can do to prepare to serve members of that community.

The Community Demographics and Psychographics Churches Most Often Miss
You can’t reach your community unless you know your community. On this week’s episode, Thom and Sam discuss the most often missed community demographics and why they are important.

Six ways your church can help older people stay connected
Millions of older people in the UK, the US and other countries are not internet users – and it's becoming harder for them to access basic services. Everything from shopping to parking, banking and keeping in touch is becoming more difficult for anyone who is not online.

Ten Questions to Ask Yourself Before Confronting a Brother or Sister in Christ
Christian love requires that we must at times confront one another about sin patterns that hinder growth toward spiritual fruitfulness and maturity. However, before we embark on what I like to call “the ministry of confrontation” let’s be ready to ask ourselves some questions.

10 Ways Worship Leaders and Audio Techs Need to Work Together
Worship teams and audio techs exist in order to help lead our congregations to worship and love God. We all have the same goal, to provide excellence in leading worship. So why do audio techs and worship leaders frequently experience conflict, having a hard time supporting and respecting one another?

7 Questions for Evaluating Church Content
When evaluating your church communications content before communicating it, you need to be asking these seven questions.

‘Like a revival’: UMC bishops talk of ‘a future with hope’ after over 6K churches depart
United Methodist Church bishops have expressed optimism over the direction of their denomination after more than 6,400 congregations have voted to leave, with some saying the aftermath of the separation within their conferences has felt like a "revival."

Sounds like the bishops are accentuating what they perceive to be the upside while minimizing or ignoring the actual downside. Progressives in the UMC are viewing the denomination's losses from disaffiliation as a victory, anticipating that they will no longer face opposition to their agenda but it may prove to be a pyrrhic victory. The Episcopal Church's progressive wing gained hegemony in that denomination but it has not helped that denomination to arrest its decline, much less to grow, but has accelerated its decline as similar circumstances have in other mainline denominations. The UMC may lose more churches if its progressive wing is too aggressive in pushing its agenda.  

Survey: A third of Asian Americans say religion is very important in their lives
Around 40% of all Asian Americans said they feel close to a religion for reasons aside from religion, such as family or culture.