Friday's Catch: 'New Research on Church Attendance: Decline of Women or the Rise of Men?' And More

New Research on Church Attendance: Decline of Women or the Rise of Men?
For decades, women have outnumbered men in church attendance and have often led the way in spiritual participation. But a significant shift is occurring in American Christianity that demands attention: Women—particularly younger women—are attending church less frequently than men. This reversal isn’t just a numerical milestone; it signals a broader cultural and spiritual turning point.

MAGA salivates at the chance to cut off food stamps
The Department of Agriculture’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is one of the most successful anti-hunger programs in American history. By providing food purchasing benefits to low-income households, SNAP helps about one in eight Americans buy groceries. Now, with the Trump White House exploiting the month-long government shutdown to allow SNAP benefits to lapse on Saturday, the right-wing media is working overtime to argue that, in this time of financial peril, the food stamp program should be harder to access.

SNAP update: 1.7M people to be banned from benefits under GOP proposal
Republican Representative Randy Fine has announced he plans to introduce legislation to stop non-citizens from collecting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and other forms of welfare.

Half of states sue Trump to keep food stamp funding going
Half of all U.S. states and the District of Columbia are suing to force the Trump administration to continue food stamp funding currently scheduled to end Nov. 1 due to the government shutdown.

Faith leaders join Democrats to decry health care cuts, expiring SNAP benefits
‘We will not retreat, and we will use every nonviolent tool at our disposal, to call this nation, this Congress, to stop all of this partisan fighting and get down to the business of the people,’ said the Rev. William Barber II.

More Than Treats: A Pastoral Letter on the Ending of SNAP Benefits
In Matthew 14 we find the disciples going to Jesus with the need to feed a hungry multitude in the midst of their own hunger. Their proposition was to send the crowd away to find food for themselves to which he responds, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” (Matthew 14:16, NRSVUE) and from the little food that they could find, the multitude was fed.

Beloved, this is our call to action at this time. Give them something to eat. I know that resources may feel inadequate and the need is great. And, we have our own needs. But I am wondering if this shutdown cannot be another Matthew 15 moment where the few who had little were able to feed the multitude.

Food Ministries Sound Alarm on Rising Needs
Even before the federal government shutdown, United Methodist ministries across the U.S. faced growing demands and reduced federal support.

With the suspension of federal food assistance as of Nov. 1, church pantries plan to step up.

But leaders emphasize that they will need help.

Episcopal churches, food pantries prepare to aid 42 million Americans on food assistance
Food ministries across The Episcopal Church have been offering aid to federal workers furloughed or working without pay since the Oct. 1 start of the government shutdown, and they are also gearing up to help even more people if food assistance benefits for an estimated 42 million Americans run out on Nov. 1.

Churches Brace for SNAP’s Pause
“There is no way for food pantries of any size to take care of all of the need that will come about. We have to advocate for sensible aid to families who are hungry.”

Episcopal Church omits membership total in annual report; baptisms fell considerably in the past decade
The Episcopal Church continued to see declines in baptisms and the number of parishes in 2024, but did not release an overall membership tally when unveiling its annual figures this month.

Episcopal Church reports no baptized membership data for 2024, citing parochial report ‘confusion’
The Episcopal Church has many members. In most years, it can provide a specific count of its baptized members – 1.5 million in 2023 — based on data compiled from its congregations’ parochial reports.

Not for 2024.

On being ‘just Christian’
In its effort to avoid enforcing unity through a single dogmatic standard in the ecclesiastical manner of the Catholics, megachurch ecclesiology unites by abolishing standards. Instead of trying to answer deeper questions about theology, it is a big-tent approach to theology that tries to push the boundaries of Christianity outward to fit everybody.

Practically speaking, though, this approach has served to push Protestants away from their stuffy liturgical traditions and hymnals. It has become a means of turning houses of worship into Baptist-lite churches with contemporary worship music as a means of avoiding distinctives. These congregations end up enforcing an unstated creedal standard in place of formal ones.

Night of Darkness: Halloween’s Forgotten Struggle with Evil
Halloween used to be different. Very different. Before Michael Myers and Freddy Krueger, before trick-or-treating and crowded costume parties, it was All Hallows’ Eve.

What Was the Protestant Reformation?
To understand the Reformation and its lasting influence, we have to imagine a very different world from our own. For one thing, the choices we enjoy in the twenty-first-century West were nonexistent. Life was controlled by financial constraints, geography, ignorance, and family ties. And then there was the church. The freedom to choose one’s own church was unheard of because before the mid 1500s, the Roman Catholic Church was the dominant religious force. In fact, in many parts of the world, it was essentially illegal to be anything but Roman Catholic or to read anything that didn’t agree with Roman Catholic teaching. Rome insisted that it alone could interpret and explain the Bible.

We Need Luther’s High View of Scripture
On All Saints’ Eve 1517, Martin Luther changed the shape of Europe and the world forever. However it was done—and I don’t think Luther was beyond the theatrical flourish of nailing his famous Ninety-five Theses to the church door himself—when Luther’s arguments against indulgences were released on the world, the Protestant Reformation began.

The Narrow Path for the Long Haul
What does it mean to truly have faith? In the Christian walk, faith is more than a word tossed around in church. Faith means believing in God’s promises, even when feelings, circumstances or voices in the world try to shake us. Hebrews 11:1 says it best: “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” This isn’t just a statement or a Sunday morning slogan. It’s the backbone of a believer’s walk with God, shaping how we think, act and love.

Rick Warren challenges Christians to love like the early church ahead of 2033 milestone
The global Church needs to look more like the early church if it wants to fulfil the Great Commission by 2033, says Rick Warren.

With just eight years to go until the 2,000th anniversary of the Church, he said there were a number of things Christians must do if the ambitious goal is to be met. These include modelling the early Church in love and prayer.

Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (October 30, 2025) Is Now Online

Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.

In the Jackson Purchase the autumn rainy season has finally begun in earnest. We have had several wet days. The leaves have also begun to change color, turning yellow, gold, orange, and various shades of red. 

Like the year, our lives have seasons too. We grow older and, God willing, we also grow in our love of God and the Christlikeness of our character.

In this evening’s message we take a look at how Nathaniel became a disciple of Jesus and what we can learn from it.

Reading: John 1:43-51

Message: Come and See

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2025/10/thursday-evenings-at-all-hallows_30.html

Please feel free to share this link with anyone who may be interested.

If you are new to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows, you may find these directions helpful:

-It is recommended that after reading or hearing a lesson to take time to reflect on what you read or heard during the period of silence which follows the lesson. It is also recommended that you do the same thing after reading or hearing the message.

-When you open the link to a video in a new tab, check auto-play to make sure it is in the off position. Otherwise, a second video with a different song will follow the first.

-If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears.

-If a song begins partway through the video, click pause, move the slider to the beginning, and then click play.

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

May Thursday Evenings at All Hallows be a blessing to you.

Thursday's Catch: 'When Church Growth Is Not Your Destiny, Remember Your Mandate' And More

When Church Growth Is Not Your Destiny, Remember Your Mandate
Getting bigger is the destiny of some. Being effective is the mandate for all. Don’t waste time chasing an uncertain destiny, invest in your absolute mandate.

Thrive as the Pastor of an Ordinary Church
In a world that celebrates the spectacular and sensational, the quiet faithfulness of ordinary churches often goes unnoticed and undervalued. Yet these humble congregations—with their modest buildings, limited budgets, and small but devoted memberships—represent what has been common for Christian communities throughout history.

GSFA Leader Questions GAFCON Communiqué
Archbishop Titus Chung, honorary secretary of the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches (GSFA), has become the first major conservative Anglican leader to express concerns about the implications of the launch of a Global Anglican Communion since it was announced in a GAFCON communiqué nearly two weeks ago.

Church of England welcomes growth in attendance for the fourth year in a row
Latest statistics from the Church of England reveal a fourth consecutive year of growth in attendance at services, although total figures remain lower than before the pandemic and more churches have become smaller than have grown.

In 2024, the Church recorded 1.009 million regular worshippers, a rise of 0.6 per cent on the previous year and the second year in a row since the pandemic that overall figures have surpassed a million.

The Church is Not Broken
What does a faithful church look like?

For those of us in the Anglican tradition, it means children and adult converts are being baptized and confirmed, faithful lay Christians are centered increasingly on Jesus Christ through Word and Sacrament – grounded in the biblically saturated liturgies of the Book of Common Prayer. It entails an appreciation for the apostolic faith guarded and transmitted over centuries and received through the English Reformation. It means leaders we can trust – bishops, priests, and deacons who serve under the authority of Scripture and take holiness seriously, bound by the doctrine set forth in the Thirty-Nine Articles and the canons of the Church. We expect to see all of this, but most importantly, we expect to meet Jesus in the breaking of bread, in the reading of Scripture, and in the prayers and fellowship of the faithful (Acts 2:42).

New Research: Belief in Jesus Rises, Fueled by Younger Adults
At a time when organized religion in America faces scrutiny and skepticism, a new Barna study as part of the State of the Church 2025 initiative shows a groundswell of commitment to Jesus over the last four years.

According to Barna’s latest data, 66% of all U.S. adults say they have made a personal commitment to Jesus that is still important in their life today. That marks a 12-percentage-point increase since 2021, when commitment levels reached their lowest in more than three decades of Barna tracking.

Also See: New Barna Data: Young Adults Lead a Resurgence in Church Attendance

Asbury University pres. praying campus revival was mere tremor ahead of global Christian awakening
Kevin Brown, president of Asbury University, says his prayer is that in five to 10 years, Christians will look back on the Asbury revival as a tremor that preceded a global Christian awakening.

Religion Is Gaining Influence in American Life
Americans’ views about religion in public life are shifting. From February 2024 to February 2025, there was a sharp rise in the share of U.S. adults who say religion is gaining influence in American life.

While this remains a minority view, it is increasingly held by adults across several demographic groups – with gains of at least 10 percentage points among Democrats and Republicans, adults in every age category and in most large religious groups.

The new survey also finds that in recent years, a growing share of the public takes a positive view of religion’s role in society.

Help! The wrong type of person is turning up at church!
The wrong type of people are turning up at our churches. The wrong type of non-Christian people.

Not convinced? Let me explain.

How Churches Can Reach and Disciple Divorced Young Adults
Connect divorced young adults to discipleship opportunities so they can take the next step in their faith journey.

The Nones Project: Zealous Atheists
...here’s one more group in our typology that seems to raise the most eyebrows and get the most head nods when we discuss this stuff during a presentation. This fourth category only makes up 11% of all nones, but I think we all have had an interaction or two with them. We have decided to call them the Zealous Atheists.

Outreach 100 Churches on Creating a Flourishing Volunteer Culture
What does it take to attract, develop and retain volunteers? It’s a complicated challenge affected by many factors, not the least being budget and attendance numbers. Building a good volunteer program begins with a strong foundation of the basics, so we asked several Outreach 100 Fastest-Growing Churches (Outreach100.com) to share what they have learned.

Christianity & Culture Wars
If there’s an ideological fault line running through Western culture—one that divides left from right, progressive from conservative—it’s clear this fault line also cuts directly through churches. Pick, at random, two churches to attend this coming Sunday and, depending on where you go, you’re apt to encounter very different versions, or perhaps caricatures, of Jesus.

5 Elements of Worship for a Great Service
God does what He does when He wants. 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.

Church must not be ‘backfooted’ when it comes to AI but ‘lead the charge’
AI is changing the world as we know it and the Church has a responsibility to be ahead of the curve, says Christian technologist Nick Kim.

Kim, who has spent over 20 years working in the technology sector, including time at Google and YouTube, says AI is unlike anything else ever invented because while these “make our lives easier, they don’t really challenge what it means to be human”.

You’re Their Mom or Dad, Not Their Pastor or Evangelist
ne of the most difficult circumstances any family will face is when some love the Lord and others reject him. Sometimes it is Christian parents whose child knowingly rejects and turns away from the faith their parents had taught and modeled. Sometimes it is a Christian spouse who watches their husband or wife reject Christ altogether. Occasionally, it is Christian children who see their mom or dad turn away from the faith they once professed. In any number of ways, families can be divided so that some are for Christ and some are against him.

Suffering From Spiritual Anemia
The world will only be changed when those who call themselves Christians begin to follow Christ, becoming scandalously present in the world in all their Christlike particularity. Such a life is a formidable presence, forever marking everything in its wake.

Or not.

Wednesday' Catch: 'The Inside Story on GAFCON’s Communiqué' And More

The Inside Story on GAFCON’s Communiqué
The October 16 launch of a Global Anglican Communion by the conservative renewal movement GAFCON has captured headlines around the world. Yet many are puzzled about how the decision was made, who will join in, and what the development will mean for the future of the Canterbury-based Instruments of Communion.

Leaders are failing in holiness and too many Christians are ignorant about Jesus’ key message, says evangelist
Too many pastors are failing to live holy lives, while many ordinary Christians are clueless about the core point of Jesus’ teaching, veteran evangelist Rev Dr Stephen Tong said on Tuesday.

In a challenging address to the general assembly of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA), Indonesian evangelist and theologian, Dr Tong said that so many pastors were living extremely hypocritical lives, “womanising” and committing adultery during the week, then coming to church on Sunday to preach the Word of God.

In ACNA’s upside-down world, abuse survivors are considered the problem
The crucial truth to remember is that when someone comes forward and tells the truth about abuse, they are not the one causing harm to the church.

Why Non-Christians Don’t Like Christians (Hard Truths for Church Leaders)
Let’s talk about something that’s hard—but important: why so many non-Christians don’t like Christians.

In this video, I walk through 5 things we often do (even with good intentions) that actually turn people away from Jesus. From judgment to hypocrisy, to the way we use churchy language or treat people like projects—these are real barriers we can do something about.

The truth? This isn’t just an image problem. It’s an integrity problem.

I’ve wrestled with these issues in my own life and leadership, and my hope is this helps you create a church culture that looks a lot more like Jesus.

3 Qualities Necessary to Learn from our Critics
Nobody likes to be criticized, at least not at first. Sometimes criticism is warranted. Sometimes it’s not. And sometimes it hard to differentiate between the two. The writer of Proverbs implies that we should learn from and even seek out the beneficial wounds from our critics. Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy. (Pv 27.6) But when we need to heed a message from a critic, how can we position ourselves so that we can benefit from it? Below I suggest three ways we can do so.

Does Simple Church Still Work? 

Nearly twenty years after releasing his groundbreaking book Simple Church, Eric Geiger reflects on why complexity in your church still doesn’t scale, how complexity subtly creeps in as you grow, and what he’s learned since he started leading Mariners Church.

He also shares the great things that happen when older church leaders choose to set aside their own agendas and die to their egos so the next generation can thrive.

The Power of Repetition in Liturgy
Every week, when Anglicans gather around Word and Sacrament, the familiar prayers of the Book of Common Prayer are spoken again. To many Evangelicals, this feels foreign—“It’s the same thing over and over.” But what critics often dismiss as “rote repetition” is, in fact, the very means by which the liturgy forms us, grounding our faith more deeply with each Lord’s Day.

The Vesture of the Lord's Table 

I wrote this article for readers who want to learn more about how Anglicans "did church" in the three centuries before the Catholic Revival of the nineteenth century and who are interested in reviving the practices of the reformed Church of England from what was a formative period for classical Anglicanism.

How to Keep Small Groups Thriving Through the Holidays (Without Losing Momentum)
The holidays bring joy, warmth, and celebration—but they also bring disruption. Between travel schedules, family gatherings, and Christmas programs, many churches see their small groups slow down or even pause entirely. When this happens, leaders often feel discouraged, wondering how to sustain small group ministry during the holidays. But it doesn’t have to be that way. With a bit of creativity and care, you can help your group stay spiritually engaged and relationally strong through one of the busiest seasons of the year.

Healthy small group ministry during the holidays doesn’t mean overloading people—it means giving them opportunities to experience community and faith in ways that fit the rhythm of the season. By shifting expectations and focusing on connection rather than completion, your small group can emerge from the holidays more united than ever.

Called by Name: Practicig Everyday Hospitality 

There was a long season in our lives when our home was a gathering place. We regularly hosted large groups of people for food and fellowship, endeavoring to heed the call of 1 Peter 4:9 to “show hospitality to one another without grumbling” by making our home a welcoming place.

Now we’re in a different season—one where it’s challenging to host people in our home. Yet I know the call to be hospitable remains. So how can I welcome others in this new season of life?

Image Credit: GAFCON

Tuesday's Catch: 'Farewell to a Church Triumphant ' And More

Farewell to a Church Triumphant
The current run of failures in leadership and difficulties applying our disciplinary processes won’t be the death of the Anglican Church in North America. Far from it.

I make that prediction as one of a small group of people who witnessed the formation of the ACNA up close. The truth is, we have survived many near-death experiences over the years, even though most never made it into the Washington Post. We will survive this one as well. There is even something hopeful in the fact that we are a church that has a process for investigating and, if necessary, disciplining our own primary leader.

Still, there is both a warning and an opportunity for us in this moment of public accounting.

The ACNA has a seamy underbelly which has not escaped the notice of longtime observers of the ACNA. Its clergy and congregations have also displayed a proclivity to willingly let the wool be pulled over their eyes rather than acknowledge the chicanery involved in its establishment and the other dark spots in its history.

‘The future of Christianity is already here’: Gospel spreading at an ‘explosive’ rate in Africa
Evangelicalism is growing around the world but nowhere more so than in Africa where the increase has been “explosive”, says researcher Jason Mandryk.

By contrast, growth in Western nations remains “modest”, he told the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) on the first day of its World General Assembly taking place in Seoul this week.

America’s Hunger Crisis Is Growing
“I can’t stand for too long a time, or I lose my balance.”

This is what Rubem DaSilva, a 79-year-old retired accountant who lives alone in New York City, experiences when he tries to prepare a meal or go grocery shopping ever since his cerebral hemorrhage. His story reflects what I see every day: older Americans going hungry behind closed doors.

States are sounding alarm bells that SNAP benefits will run out as soon as next week—and I can’t stop thinking about Rubem and many others in his position. And while we're focused on the immediate crisis the government shutdown poses, we've already lost something far more permanent: our ability to see the next crisis coming.

Most Americans don’t share the MAGA vision
Last week, PRRI released our flagship American Values Survey. In this unprecedented political moment, we find party polarization remains a pernicious and growing aspect of American politics.

That Republicans and Democrats remain polarized in their views on a range of public policies, their political priorities and the direction of the country is hardly newsworthy. It is notable, however, that independents are far closer to Democrats in their views of many Trump administration policies than they are to Republicans. This explains in large part why President Trump’s job performance remains under water.

Yet for me, the most important takeaway from this year’s AVS is that most Americans, including in some cases majorities of Republicans, largely reject the worldview espoused by MAGA leaders.

Why Christmas Worship Music Still Matters: Leading Your Church Into Wonder
Few things shape the atmosphere of the Christmas season more than music. Long before anyone hears a sermon, the sound of “O Come, All Ye Faithful” or “Silent Night” softens hearts and points people toward Jesus. Christmas worship music has a unique way of bringing generations together, stirring nostalgia, and opening the door to spiritual reflection. For pastors and worship leaders, this season is more than a musical tradition—it’s a sacred opportunity to help the church encounter the wonder of the incarnation.

When done intentionally, Christmas worship music strengthens community, deepens faith, and reaches people who may not normally engage with church. The goal isn’t performance—it’s presence. As we plan, we must remember that worship is not just about singing; it’s about leading people into awe of Christ.

The Comfortable Words: A holy refrain that still assures modern souls
A moment in Anglican worship that reminds us of what is always true — even when our feelings waver.

Why (Really) Do We Become Prayerless?
What was the mental, emotional, or spiritual path that took me away from an awareness of God’s presence, away from obedience to the command to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)? I usually notice a combination of three things: disappointment, deviancy, and distraction.

Denominational Discourse in the Age of the Algorithm
Everywhere I go, when I meet with leaders and pastors in various denominations, I encounter a common concern: how do we sustain denominational partnerships and healthy fellowship in a world where social media incentives are designed to pull us apart, in service of an algorithm that thrives on conflict? Even if only a minority of churchgoers and leaders are on the platforms most associated with controversy, and even if a tinier minority generate incendiary posts, these online dustups sometimes have outsized influence in directing conversations and hardening tribal lines. Why is this the case?

The Discipleship of Phones
Discipleship is not just about what we believe; it is about what shapes us day after day. In most churches, when we think about discipleship, we picture Bible studies, sermons, small groups, and prayer gatherings. All of those are essential.

But there is another discipler working quietly, consistently, and often more effectively than the church itself. It sits in our pockets, on our nightstands, and in our hands nearly every hour of the day. Our phones are discipling us.

For many believers, the phone has become a constant companion. It gives direction, fills silence, and creates rhythms of life. The question is not whether our phones shape us, but how. Unless we acknowledge this reality, we risk being formed more by technology than by the truth of the gospel.

Research from Harvard Recommends Surprising Health Hack: Go to Church 

Study after study has shown that people who attend religious services once a week or more are happier, healthier, and longer-lived than those who don’t.

11 Low-Stress Christmas Outreach Ideas That Actually Work
Christmas should be a season of joy, not burnout. Yet many churches enter December already exhausted. We feel the pressure to plan big events, draw large crowds, and make everything perfect. But what if meaningful ministry didn’t require massive productions? The most effective Christmas outreach ideas are often simple, relational, and doable for churches of any size. When we focus on loving people instead of impressing them, our outreach becomes both low-stress and deeply impactful.

Jesus didn’t call us to overwhelm ourselves—He called us to love our neighbors. This Christmas, your church can reach others in practical, heartfelt ways that build relationships and open doors for the gospel.

Why you can't debate unbelievers into the Kingdom of God
In an age addicted to argument, Christians have become remarkably good at talking — and remarkably poor at listening. Scroll through social media or walk past a campus debate table, and you’ll see believers armed with microphones, cameras, and carefully memorized rebuttals. The object is not conversion but conquest. The applause line has replaced the altar call.

Monday's Catch: 'The Church Model That's Dead: Attractional Church and 3 Shifts Every Leader Must Know' And More

The Church Model That's Dead: Attractional Church and 3 Shifts Every Leader Must Know
In this episode, Carey explains the shifts in culture and ministry that have happened over the last few years that have made the attractional model ineffective, what's replacing it, and what aspects of the attractional church model to keep as you try to reach your community.

Also See: 3 Reasons Engagement (Not Attraction) Will Grow Your Church

2024 Parochial Report shows continued post-COVID rebound in attendance
In-person average Sunday attendance continues to rebound after a dip during the COVID-19 pandemic; numbers show attendance (totaling 413,034) is back to the previous point of overall decline being experienced prior to mid-2020.

The Anglican Church's split: When the culture wins over Scripture
The Anglican Communion just split in two. And it happened because the Church of England decided that 1,400 years of biblical faithfulness matters less than a headline.

The Steve Wood Story and the Soul of the Church
" I write this reflection not as an official spokesperson for the Anglican Church in North America, but as a longtime Anglican priest, author, and observer of our movement. My goal is not to defend or condemn, but to offer a pastoral and personal perspective on a difficult moment for the church and for a friend."

Sandra Montes resigns from Executive Council; had filed Title IV complaint against presiding bishop
Sandra Teresa Soledad Montes Vela, a lay Executive Council member from the Diocese of Texas, announced on Facebook that she has resigned from The Episcopal Church’s interim governing body, saying it would be unprincipled for her to remain a member.

Don’t Believe Boo: Americans Doubt Ghosts, Other Paranormal Phenomena
Americans have broad skepticism about paranormal phenomena, according to surveys from Gallup and Pew Research.

Who was Alfred the Great and why is he commemorated in some Church traditions?
26 October is the day when many churches remember the Christian King Alfred the Great. He was driven by biblical principles and was the only English king to translate parts of the Bible into English. This is the story....

7 Ways Not To Respond When People Leave Our Churches
No matter the manner of departure, a good pastor yearns for the spiritual well-being of these congregants. We want to see them growing in Christ and fellowship with His people. Yet despite our best intentions and knowing what we ought to think and feel toward people who leave our churches, we’re often tempted toward any number of unhelpful responses (often, several at the same time). Here are seven ways not to respond when people leave our churches.

Turn Your Outline into Action: Building Points That Change Lives
Books on preaching often highlight the wrong kind of sermons as examples. Too many teach you to prepare academic outlines so vague and general that they’re robbed of power.

The One-Person Church Communication Plan (That Actually Works)
Many pastors and church leaders face a common challenge: how to develop an effective communications strategy when you don't have a big team to help you. Julie Masson, church communications expert, joins Sam on the show to discuss a simple, repeatable approach to managing church communications without burning out. You'll learn how to build a messaging calendar around the predictable rhythms of church life—like Easter, Christmas, and the fall ministry launch—and how that calendar can help you stay ahead, reduce stress, and communicate with clarity and consistency. With this plan, you will hear fewer comments like “I didn't hear about that” and more comments like “thanks for letting me know.”

The Age of De-Skilling
The fretting has swelled from a murmur to a clamor, all variations on the same foreboding theme: “Your Brain on ChatGPT.” “AI Is Making You Dumber.” “AI Is Killing Critical Thinking.” Once, the fear was of a runaway intelligence that would wipe us out, maybe while turning the planet into a paper-clip factory. Now that chatbots are going the way of Google—moving from the miraculous to the taken-for-granted—the anxiety has shifted, too, from apocalypse to atrophy. Teachers, especially, say they’re beginning to see the rot. The term for it is unlovely but not inapt: de-skilling.

Artificial Intelligence is dangerous and it must be regulated
Power without responsibility is the “harlot’s prerogative”, according to Rudyard Kipling, a quote that his cousin Stanley Baldwin would later use to describe the press barons. Today, it aptly sums up the behaviour of American technology giants, who wield global power but regard accountability as a nuisance.

When You Don't Want to go to Church
It’s Sunday morning. The alarm rings loudly while every instinct in you cries out to stay in bed. Saturday was a hard day, and it seems like the best thing you can do for yourself is to have a day of rest. After all, you can watch the sermon online later.

But you should get up and go to church.

Not just because it will be good for you, but because the church needs you.

What Does It Mean to Be "Fully Committed" to God?
What does it actually look like to be fully committed to God? A fully devoted disciple of Christ? To be “all in”?

I’ve had to honestly admit that my answer to this question was different just a couple of years ago when I was serving as Lead Pastor of a local church because I needed the definition to include certain commitments to the local church as an institution. Attending regularly, giving, and volunteering in some area of ministry would all be part of the description I would offer for a fully committed follower of Jesus.

Maybe You ARE a Spiritual Gift
And maybe everyone else is a spiritual gift, too.

Sundays at All Hallows (October 26, 2025) Is Now Online

Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows.

Next Friday, October 31, 2025, begins Hallowtide, the triduum of All Hallows' Eve (Halloween), All Hallows' Day (All Saints’ Day or Hallowmas) and All Souls' Day, as well as the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (observed on the first Sunday of November).

In some Christian traditions, the first Sunday of November is observed as All Saints Sunday, on which beloved members of the local church who have departed this life are commemorated and candles may be lit in their memory to the solemn ringing of a bell. The local church’ worldwide connection with those who claim the name of Christ is also acknowledged and celebrated.

In southeastern Louisiana where I lived for almost five decades of my life, families visit the cemeteries, clean the gravesites, wash the aboveground tombs and repaint them, and decorate the graves and tombs of loved ones with fresh flowers and lit candles. They may also eat a picnic meal beside the grave or tomb.

In this Sunday’s message we unpack the meaning of the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector and its application to us.

Readings: Sirach 35: 10-17; 2 Timothy 4: 6-8, 16-18; and Luke 18: 9-14

Message: A Pharisee and a Tax Collector Went Up to the Temple to Pray

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2025/10/sundays-at-all-hallows-october-26-2025.html

Please feel free to share this link with anyone who may be interested.

If you are new to Sundays at All Hallows, you may find these directions helpful:

-It is recommended that after reading or hearing each lesson to take time to reflect on what you read or heard during the period of silence which follows each lesson. It is also recommended that you do the same thing after reading or hearing the message.

-When you open the link to a video in a new tab, check auto-play to make sure it is in the off position. Otherwise, a second video with a different song will follow the first.

-If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears.

-If a song begins partway through the video, click pause, move the slider to the beginning, and then click play.

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

May Sundays at All Hallows be a blessing to you.

Saturday Lagniappe: 'Five ways To reimagine planting ecosystems' And More

Five ways To reimagine planting ecosystems
I never cease to be amazed at the incredible kaleidoscope of churches that God’s Spirit is empowering planters to start today: from microchurches reaching the adult film industry in Las Vegas to Nigerian immigrant churches in Texas to second and third generation Korean American churches in LA.

In response to global migration and the diversifying of our cities, consider the various forms of diversity in the church planting world....

5 Questions to Ask Before Planting a Church
I frequently tell young men church planting is the scariest, riskiest, most challenging, yet rewarding thing you could ever do with your life. There’s never been a greater time in the history of our nation to see a new movement of church planting. The U.S. Census Bureau is projecting a net gain of 30 million new people in the next decade. With 3,500 churches closing their doors each year and only 4,000 churches starting annually, there is still a huge gap to meet the evangelistic need in our country. But while the need is great, the church-planting pathway is not for everyone. So what are the questions to ask before planting a church?

The Block Church: See You at the Block
Joey and Lauren Furjanic were youth pastors at a multisite church in Illinois before moving to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in November 2013 with a plan to plant a nondenominational church.

The Burge Report: The Biggest Little Denomination: The Presbyterian Church in America (PCA)
Sam and Ryan Burge take a deep dive into the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), unpacking the denomination’s unique growth patterns, size distribution, and robust recordkeeping. They explore surprising statistics on membership trends, baptisms, and church finances—revealing why some PCA congregations thrive while others remain stagnant. The co-hosts highlight key takeaways for understanding both the strengths and challenges of one of America’s most data-rich evangelical denominations.

MAGA preachers make Charlie Kirk a test of true faith. Here's how that went 300 years ago.
When politics and religion mix in religious communities, it is the spiritual health of congregations that suffers.

Trump’s immigration agenda is a minority view, research shows
New research shows most Americans disapprove of President Donald Trump’s handling of immigration and specifically oppose how federal agents are arresting and detaining undocumented immigrants.

Almost six in 10 Americans (58%) agree that “Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers should not be allowed to conceal their identity with masks or use unmarked vehicles when arresting people,” according to a survey released Oct. 22 by Public Religion Research Institute.

At Bay Area protest, a second pastor is shot by federal agents with a pepper round
For the second time in six weeks, a pastor was struck in the head with a pepper round fired by a US immigration agent as faith leaders protested the arrival of more than 100 US Customs and Border Patrol agents.

Love Never Harms: A Reflection for Domestic Violence Awareness Month
“Love is patient; love is kind… It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends…” (1 Cor. 13:4, 7–8).

These are, dare I say, some of the loveliest words in the Bible. They are almost certainly among the most quoted. I have found myself returning to them a lot this month, but not because I am preparing for a wedding or even trying to remind myself of love amid so much hate and division. I am thinking about the apostle Paul’s powerful articulation of the primacy of love because October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Confronting Pluralism: Can Salvation Be Saved?
We can’t explicitly preach about pluralism each week, but we can enrich our church’s gospel soil so its weeds don’t take root.

Also See: A Dangerous New Ecumenism

Carey Nieuwhof on the ‘Many Implications’ AI Has for Churches That Pastors Must Not Ignore
Pastors must prepare for the “disruptive impact of artificial intelligence,” said leadership expert Carey Nieuwhof, who believes that “AI is going to make the mental health implications of social media look like the kiddie pool.”

'Bring your whole self to work' is bad advice, Ivy League psychologist says—here's why
If someone tells you to "bring your whole self to work," don't listen, says psychologist Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic.

Like many other workplace platitudes, the intention of the phrase is "truly positive, even if naive," according to Chamorro-Premuzic, a professor of business psychology at Columbia University.

Friday's Catch: 'Rural Church Pastors Face Obstacles With Optimism' And More

Rural Church Pastors Face Obstacles With Optimism
Rural church pastors recognize the trials inherent to those areas but believe God is working in their congregations and communities.

Why the Local Church Really Matters
As we prepare to worship God tomorrow, it may do us good to pause for just a few moments to consider the local church. What is the church? Why has God called us into these little communities? Does the local church really matter? It does! The local church is foundational to God’s plan for his people. In their book Church in Hard Places, Mez McConnell and Mike McKinley offer 6 reasons that the local church matters.

Churches Work to Meet Rising Requests for Food, Utility, Housing Aid
As families struggle with rising food, housing and utility costs, more are turning to local churches for assistance. Pastors say their community members are worried as recent legislation -- and the ongoing government shutdown -- could leave some low-income families with fewer resources to make ends meet. While generous people are helping ministries in Holston Conference meet the rising needs, ministry leaders offer suggestions for how others can help.

Pastors Split on the Economy’s Impact on Their Churches
Half of U.S. Protestant pastors say the economy is negatively impacting their churches, according to the latest Lifeway Research tracking survey.

7 dioceses receive assessment waivers as Episcopal Church finalizes 2026 revenue projections
Seven Episcopal dioceses have requested and received assessment waivers, meaning they will not be required to pay the full 15% of diocesan revenue to support the churchwide budget in 2026.

Global report warns of sharp decline in religious freedom
Religious freedom is under growing threat across the globe, according to a new report released by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).

The organisation’s biennial Religious Freedom in the World 2025 report paints a grim picture, revealing that 64.7% of the world’s population— about 5.4 billion people — live in countries where this fundamental right is severely restricted or denied.

ACNA archbishop faces allegations of sexual misconduct, bullying
Stephen D. “Steve” Wood, the archbishop and senior-most official of the Anglican Church in North America, faces allegations of sexual misconduct, bullying and plagiarism, according to an investigation and “presentment” (formal church complaint) first reported by the Washington Post.

Also See: ACNA Primate Faces Misconduct Charges

Little evidence so far that Anglican leaders plan to join GAFCON in leaving Anglican Communion
The GAFCON statement’s potential impact was evident as soon as it landed Oct. 16. It immediately provoked intense reactions in Anglican circles around the world.

Also See: The Anglican Communion Is Coming Apart

Churches Can Plan for Potential Disasters Using Restored Database
A non-profit organization that tracks severe weather and climate change events has taken over a crucial database – a resource for church planning – that the current federal administration discontinued in June.

Climate Central announced Oct. 22 that it has assumed responsibility for managing and maintaining a billion-dollar disaster dataset previously compiled by the National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). President Donald Trump ordered NOAA to cease tracking billion-dollar disasters in May 2025, and Climate Central acquired the database July 28, 2025.

5 Approaches Christians Take Toward Culture
For centuries, Christians have debated what our response to the world around us should be.

During the 1940s, Yale professor Richard Niebuhr gave a series of lectures on five common approaches Christians have taken toward culture throughout history.

My take on the five approaches follows.....

Jesus’s Atoning Death in Mark
People have a wide range of opinions on how Jesus viewed his own death and resurrection. But it’s important to listen to the Gospels themselves on this topic. They give us eyewitness testimony to Jesus that can be traced back to authoritative apostles.

The Gospels also requires us to consider carefully the Old Testament background for his teaching.

Let’s consider three ways Jesus speaks about his death and resurrection in the Gospel of Mark. We’ll see that Jesus speaks about his death in multifaceted ways, but he memorably describes his death as a substitutionary ransom for many.

The 7 Cs of Leadership: Essential Traits for Effective Ministry 

As a preacher, I naturally think in alliterative terms—it’s practically part of my DNA. Recently, while reflecting on leadership, I began jotting down five “C” words. Before long, two more emerged. The result? Seven traits that every Christian leader should cultivate.

The Art of Writing and Living a Sermon, with Austin Carty (Ep 114)
"At a certain point in the process, we must stop trying to control our sermons and must learn instead to trust the Spirit of God.”

More than a Welcome: Why Calling Your Congregation to Worship Really Matters
This article is part of a series on the role the elements of the Sunday worship service play in everyday discipleship. While our individual churches may not formally include each of these liturgical pieces, we hope you will be blessed to understand the heart of Jesus behind these historic practices and allow them to shape your daily life as disciples.

Holiday Planning for Youth Ministry: Why Less Is More
For youth ministry holiday planning, don’t run yourself ragged. Instead, embrace simplicity to have greater impact on teens during this holy (and busy) season!

Christmas Musicals and Solutions for Tryouts
For Christmas musicals at church, are tryouts terrible or terrific? Should you hold auditions for your children’s ministry Christmas production?

Consider the two perspectives below. Then learn helpful solutions for Sunday school Christmas programs.

Thursday's Catch: 'ACNA Archbishop Steve Wood accused of sexual misconduct' And More

ACNA Archbishop Steve Wood accused of sexual misconduct
It’s the latest in a string of crises to rock the small, conservative denomination.

Continuing Anglicans Split Over Churchmanship
Two small continuing Anglican churches have ended a full communion agreement that dates to 2007. They cited differences in churchmanship and the authority of the “Affirmation of St. Louis,” a 1977 text that played a central role in launching the Continuing Anglican movement.

Provocative social-media posts, and the decision of the United Episcopal Church of North America to explore fellowship with a conservative German Reformed denomination, heightened tensions with the Anglican Catholic Church.

Our German Cousins: Litury in the Evangelical and Reformd Church
Anglicans tend to worry about liturgy in the same way that cage-stage Calvinists worry about the Ordo Salutis – obsessively. This can blind them to the fact that the Eucharistic Rite of the Book of Common Prayer is not a unique creation, but the product of the widespread endeavor to reform the liturgy in accordance with the principles of the Protestant Reformation. One of the more interesting byways that I have discovered thanks to the UECNA’s engagement with former Evangelical and Reformed congregations is the strong “family resemblance” of their Eucharistic rite to the two main Anglican Orders. Both Anglicanism, and the Evangelical and Reformed Church evolved from bodies which succeeded in reconciling the Lutheran and Reformed impulses within the Reformation, so it should come as no surprise that – like the Windsors and the Hohenzollerns – the two churches ended up with a strong resemblance to one another not just in terms of theology, but liturgy.

What is the Anglican Catholic Church?
Ready to Harvest takes a look at the Anglican Catholic Church.

He's The Supreme Governor of the Church of England. Can He Stop the Anglican Split?
This video examines the role of the UK Monarch in the Church, in the past and today.

History will be made when King Charles III prays with Pope Leo XIV. A future may be as well.
The moment is a milestone in reconciliation between Roman Catholics and Anglicans, in which the British monarchy has played a key role.

Republicans increasingly stand alone, PRRI finds
A significant majority of Americans believe President Donald Trump is leading the nation in the wrong direction and disagree with his handling of the economy, immigration and foreign policy, according to a new annual survey by Public Religion Research Institute.

Most Americans now see Trump as a dangerous dictator
After months of data collection and analysis, we at PRRI have just released our 16th annual American Values Survey, conducted in partnership with our colleagues E.J. Dionne Jr. and Bill Galston at the Brookings Institution. Amid all the bad news, the new survey shows some hopeful signs for democracy: Evidence that Donald Trump is overreaching.

Our actions are dictated by 'autopilot' not choice, finds study
Habit, not conscious choice, drives most of our actions, according to new research from the University of Surrey, University of South Carolina and Central Queensland University.

Giving to Christ at Christmas
What is the most important thing you can do this Christmas?

7 Christmas Eve Service Ideas That Work
I’m a big fan of Christmas Eve. Attendance is generally up at all churches during the Christmas season, as even the most unchurched have a little voice nagging them to go. We’ve decided at Brookwood Church to put all our eggs in the Christmas Eve basket because it’s THE service of the year (along with Easter Sunday), even beyond Christmas cantatas and December Sundays, when people are most likely to darken the door of a church. We all need Christmas Eve service ideas.

12 Ideas for a Life-Changing Small Group Christmas
Many groups struggle with meeting and studying over the holidays, and this can be detrimental to the health of your group. Do you have a small group Christmas strategy?

Not only that, but this is a prime time of the year to help your group members grow in their faith as well as to reach out to and invite new people. Perhaps your group will take a break from your normal schedule, but that’s no reason not to keep meeting. Here are 12 ideas for how your small group can get the most—and give the most—this Christmas. Pick one or two of these to do as a group!

Image Credit: Anglican Church in North America (ACNA)

Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (October 23, 2025) Is Now Online

Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.

This Thursday evening, we continue the message series which we began last Thursday evening and in which we take a fresh look at Jesus’ teaching and what it means to be a disciple of Jesus.

In this evening’s message we take a look at the similarities and differences between Jesus’ first disciples and his modern-day disciples.

Reading: Matthew 9:9-13

Message: Disciples Then and Now

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2025/10/thursday-evenings-at-all-hallows_23.html

Please feel free to share this link with anyone who may be interested.

If you are new to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows, you may find these directions helpful:

-It is recommended that after reading or hearing a lesson to take time to reflect on what you read or heard during the period of silence which follows the lesson. It is also recommended that you do the same thing after reading or hearing the message.

-When you open the link to a video in a new tab, check auto-play to make sure it is in the off position. Otherwise, a second video with a different song will follow the first.

-If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears.

-If a song begins partway through the video, click pause, move the slider to the beginning, and then click play.

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

May Thursday Evenings at All Hallows be a blessing to you.

Wednesday's Catch: 'What Churches Can Learn from Farmers Markets' And More

What Churches Can Learn from Farmers Markets
Jess and Thom explore how the humble farmers market might hold surprising lessons for church life. In a world drawn to authenticity and community, what if the local church functioned more like a neighborhood market — relational, participatory, and grounded in place?

'Disillusionment with false promises' is driving Quiet Revival, says retired bishop
Retired Anglican bishop Michael Marshall has become the latest Christian leader to say that there are signs of revival in the country, adding that the Church must seize the opportunity to bring more people to Christ.

Nordic Catholic Church offers 'refuge' to conservative Anglicans in Church of England
...Ottar Mikael Myrseth, Bishop of the Nordic Catholic Church, has written to members of the Church of England offering them a “refuge” from a church which has he says has “deviated from the historical faith on human sexuality and holy orders”.

If you are not familiar with the Nordic Catholic Church, it is an Old Catholic denomination which teaches what the Roman Catholic Church teaches, except for papal supremacy. It may be an option for some Anglo-Catholics disaffected from the Church of England but it is not an option for Protestant-minded Anglicans.

After clergy arrests, religious pushback to ICE expands in Chicago
More than 210 mostly Chicago-area clergy, representing a range of liberal and conservative traditions, have signed a letter criticizing ICE titled ‘Jesus is Being Tear Gassed at Broadview.’

It's Not 'Christian Leadership,' It's Moral Rot
This week we witnessed things that should never be associated with leadership, let alone Christian leadership.

Also See: What Young Republicans say when they think no one’s listening

Baylor, Princeton Offer Anglican Studies
As the fall 2025 semester began, Baylor University’s George W. Truett Theological Seminary launched an Anglican Episcopal House of Studies. The seminary was founded in 1991 to train Baptist ministers.

12 Goals Finance and Stewardship Leaders Might Choose
Church financial leaders are encouraged to set one or two focused goals to strengthen mission and financial health. From creating narrative budgets to teaching year-round stewardship, Ken Sloane offers 12 practical ideas promote transparency, trust, and generosity—empowering churches to better align finances with ministry and disciple-making.

'Tis the Season ... For Overconsumption 

Thanksgiving is for many the overeating feast that kicks off holiday buying and more overeating.

Here are some tips for making your choices ones of “Giving Thanks.”

The Church Number: 46 to 50: The Missing Generation — Why Pastors Ages 46–50 Are Underrepresented
In this episode, Thom and Jess examine one of the more unusual findings from the 2023 Faith Communities Today (FACT) study. The survey reveals a noticeable gap in pastors aged 46 to 50. We’ll explore why this age bracket is underrepresented, what factors may have shaped this trend, and what it means for the future of pastoral leadership.

The 18th-Century Anglican Who Diagnosed Our Social Media Problem
Long before anyone had heard of going viral or getting ratioed, an 18th-century Anglican bishop delivered a sermon that reads like a diagnostic manual for our social media age. In “Upon the Government of the Tongue,” Joseph Butler identified what he called “talkativeness”—a compulsive disposition to keep speaking without regard for whether our words do good or harm. Three centuries later, Butler’s insights feel prophetic.

Stop Fidgeting: Why Kids Squirm at Church
Wondering how to stop fidgeting among Sunday school students? Do children in your church and classrooms have trouble sitting still? If so, it’s not because they’re irreverent or rebellious. Kids fidget because they’re wired to move. And you likely don’t give them enough opportunities to do so.

Tuesday's Catch: 'Is religion's power on its way back in the USA? A growing number of Americans say yes.' And More

Is religion's power on its way back in the USA? A growing number of Americans say yes.
A new study found that about a third of Americans say religion’s influence in society is growing — up more than 10 percentage points from a year earlier.

Men Are Coming Back to Church. Here’s What You Need to Know.
With more men coming to church, pastors have an unmistakable opportunity to invest, meet with, and pour into these men.

Nearly 40% of Gen Z women identify as atheist, agnostic or have no faith: Barna
As they grapple with a profound disconnection from their parents and older adults in general, nearly 40% of young adult women in Generation Z — those born between 1999 and 2015 — now identify as religiously unaffiliated, according to new data released by Barna Research.

Is there religious revival among Gen Z?
There’s a swell in Christian devotion at the University of Pittsburgh amid claims of national revival, but some researchers say ‘revival’ is too strong a word.

Critics: Justin Welby partially to blame for Gafcon schism
Critics have suggested that former Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, is at least partly responsible for the latest schism within Anglicanism, following a breakaway move by Gafcon, the traditionalist Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans.

Moral Absolutes or ‘It Depends’: How Americans See Right and Wrong
The more I think about what religion means, the more that I think that there are just two camps of people in the United States. Some folks draw bright lines around what they think is right and wrong. In evangelical circles, there’s an oft uttered phrase, “The Bible says it. I believe it. That settles it.” They just have a really clear sense of what is acceptable in their world and what is not.

Then there’s a whole different class of folks who just don’t seem to believe in anything concrete. It seems that their most likely response to a lot of complicated questions about right and wrong is, “It depends.” For them, ethics are situational. For what it’s worth, surveys don’t make it easy to get to the bottom of this divide....

The Problem with Comer’s Cafeteria Approach to Spirituality
John Mark Comer’s book Practicing the Way: Be with Jesus. Become like Him. Do as He Did has been declared the ECPA 2025 Christian Book of the Year. It’s no surprise that many evangelicals are discussing its vision for spiritual formation. Do we need more engagement with Comer’s work?

What Will I Preach This Sunday? 6 Tools for Overcoming Preacher’s Block
How to prepare better, preach stronger, and have a greater impact on the people God has called you to bless.

Balance, Innovation, and Tradition in Hybrid Worship Technology
The global church has entered a new era—one where the sanctuary and the screen now share equal space in how we gather, worship, and grow. In recent years, churches have adopted hybrid worship technology not just out of necessity, but as a way to reach people wherever they are. Yet, as digital tools continue to expand, a tension has emerged: how do we embrace innovation without losing the sacred traditions that root us?

This question is not just technical—it’s deeply theological. The challenge before church leaders today is to integrate new tools in a way that enhances, not replaces, authentic worship.

21 Christmas Icebreaker Questions for Small Groups
Christmas is one of the most joyful seasons of the year—but for small group leaders, it can also be one of the most relationally rich. The twinkle lights, the familiar carols, and the scent of cinnamon and pine all make people more open to connection and reflection. Yet even in this warm atmosphere, it can help to have a few Christmas icebreaker questions ready to spark conversation and laughter. The right question can take a group from polite small talk to genuine sharing that opens hearts to the deeper message of the season.

Social media pushes pornography on children within minutes, report finds
Social media is now one of the primary pipelines to porn addiction for both children and young adults.

Put Strong Teachers in Your Children’s Ministry
Every church has one ministry that shapes its future more than any other. Ironically, it’s often the one that gets the least attention from pastors. Peter’s instruction to “shepherd the flock of God that is among you” (1 Pet. 5:2) includes the children in our pews. Yet many churches treat children’s ministry as glorified childcare rather than a discipleship lab.

Why Telling Your Disciple-Making Story Is Essential To Your Church
You don’t need to have all the answers, but you do need to share the stories. Because stories plant seeds.

5 Ways the Enemy Lures Us Into Sin
Every one of us is responsible for his or her sin, but we still wrestle against an enemy who seeks to devour us (1 Pet 5:8). In fact, we could list multiple ways he tries to trap us in sin. Here, though, are some reminders we likely all need....

Are You Scattering Bad Seed?
Every day good seeds are being sown into the lives of the people around us, the people we love and are called to serve. And every day we are tempted to plant thorns among them, to sow weeds among the wheat and tares among the crops. We are tempted to add doubt to faith, discouragement to hope, evil thoughts to pure and holy desires. We are tempted to do the work of the devil instead of the work of the Lord.

Monday's Catch: 'Why Do Unchurched People Come to Church at Christmastime?' And More

Why Do Unchurched People Come to Church at Christmastime?
Every December, pastors and church leaders notice something extraordinary—sanctuaries fill up, even with faces not seen since last Christmas. The lights, music, and message of hope draw people through the doors who might never come any other time of year. It’s a mystery worth pondering: Why do unchurched people come to church at Christmastime? The answer can help us serve unchurched people at Christmas better, communicate the gospel more clearly, and make those first-time visits a doorway to lasting faith.

What the Unchurched Really Think About Church (New Research Says…)
I love the process of discovery through research. The journey begins with a question and swerves through multiple twists and turns before finally arriving at an answer. Our team at Church Answers recently conducted a research project that took several months to complete. We wanted to know if unchurched people felt differently about the church than those who are regular attendees. A survey of current research did not yield the results we desired, so we embarked on a study of our own. We found new, surprising insights from the unchurched.

GAFCON says its members will leave Anglican Communion to form rival network
The conservative Anglican network GAFCON, a mix of leaders from Anglican provinces and breakaway groups, released a statement Oct. 16 saying it would disengage from the Anglican Communion’s existing deliberative bodies and create a rival to the Anglican Communion with an unspecified number of provinces.

Rejecting Canterbury decision, conservative bishops claim lead of Anglican Communion
It is not clear exactly whether the statement, which reprises familiar rhetoric from earlier declarations, will have an effect.

The Future of Anglicanism Has Arrived: What GAFCON’s Statement Means for Evangelicals
On October 16, the anniversary of the martyrdom of Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley, the leaders of the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) released a statement beginning with the striking words: “The future has arrived.”

For many outside Anglicanism, this may sound like insider church politics. But the statement represents something much larger: a historic reordering of the Anglican Communion that has profound significance for global evangelicalism.

What first caught my eye when I first saw this article on Facebook was the red door in the photo. Someone should have informed whomever selected the photo that painting the church door red is not an Evangelical practice but a Anglo-Catholic one, first introduced in the 19th century as a way of telling churchgoers that a particular church celebrated Mass in accordance with the doctrine and ceremonial associated with its Roman Catholic counterpart, including the Roman Catholic doctrine of eucharistic sacrifice and the Roman Catholic practice of elevating the consecrated host for adoration. Evangelicals, on the other hand, painted their church doors grey. Instead mounting a cross on the top of the church steeple or tower, they mounted a windcock, a rooster-shaped weather vane.

A long awaited future
The recent announcement from the Gafcon Primates, The Future Has Arrived (16 October 2025), begins a new era in the long history of the Anglican churches.

Poggo Responds to GAFCON Communion Launch
Bishop Anthony Poggo, the Anglican Communion’s secretary general, responded to GAFCON’s October 16 about launching a Global Anglican Communion with a calm and gracious pastoral letter. He urged deeper engagement with the Nairobi-Cairo Proposals, which seek to maintain the greatest degree of communion possible among Anglicans at a time of deep disagreement.

Also See: ‘You Have Broken My Heart’—A Letter to My Siblings in GAFCON

The Church of England Has Competition Now?
The Church of England isn't the only Anglican Denomination in the UK. This video examines a recent entry into the mix.

VOICES: 10 reasons why God removes His glory from churches
The tragic declaration in 1 Samuel 4:22 — “The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured” — resonates like a prophetic alarm across generations. The ark, a symbol of God’s manifest presence and covenant with His people, was seized by the Philistines because of Israel’s rebellion and spiritual negligence. Ichabod, the name given to the child born in that moment of national despair, signified a divine indictment: God’s glory had withdrawn from His people.

What caused such a catastrophic loss? Scripture gives us profound insight, not only in this historical episode but also in other moments when God’s glory departed or was withheld from His people. These patterns offer sobering warnings to the contemporary Church. Below are ten reasons the glory departs from those once chosen by God....

Christian nationalism is a power grab, Kaylor says in new book
There’s a simple reason Christian nationalists are willing to abandon long-held values and rewrite, redact and reinterpret the Bible as needed to support Donald Trump, Brian Kaylor says.

“They want power,” said Kaylor, a Baptist minister, editor-in-chief of Word&Way and author of The Bible According to Christian Nationalists: Exploiting Scripture for Political Power.

Therapists Warn This Normalized Trump Behavior Is Causing Real-World Harm
Should President Donald Trump’s campaign slogan be “Make America Mean Again”? It turns out, maybe.

A third of Americans say the Bible is 'totally accurate,' survey finds
Americans are split on the accuracy of the Bible, as the public remains divided about institutional trust in religion and the family, a new study finds.

Study Finds Churchgoers Are Becoming Less Certain the Bible Is Clear About Sexuality, Gender, Abortion
American churchgoers are becoming less sure about what the Bible says regarding abortion, human sexuality, and gender, according to a study conducted by Family Research Council’s Center for Biblical Worldview.

Also See: Most churchgoers don't think Bible has clear teachings about homosexuality, transgenderism: poll

'We need to change,' says incoming Church of Scotland Moderator
The Rev Gordon Kennedy has been appointed to be the next Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. He will succeed the Rt Rev Rosie Frew.

Who was St Luke and what do we know about him?
18 October is St Luke’s Day. But who was St Luke, and what do we know about him? This is the story....

10 Christmas Sermon Ideas That Engage and Inspire
As the Christmas season approaches, pastors everywhere face the joyful challenge of preaching a message that feel familiar yet timeless and fresh. Each year, familiar texts call us back to the manger—but how do you keep them from sounding routine? With the right approach, your Christmas sermon can rekindle awe, deepen faith, and invite both regulars and newcomers into the story of God’s love made flesh. These Christmas sermon ideas can help you connect Scripture to hearts and lives in meaningful ways.

This Christmas, Consider an Acoustic Worship Set
It’s the most wonderful time of the year—but it’s also one of the busiest for worship teams. Between rehearsals, productions, and special services, the Christmas season can sometimes feel more like a performance marathon than a time of genuine worship. What if, this year, your church took a different approach? What if you scaled back the production and embraced a quieter, more reflective experience—an acoustic worship set that allows the message of Christmas to breathe?

5 Ways to Deliver Group Leader Training
Group leader training shouldn’t be just a nice-to-have but a strategic investment in the health and growth of your entire church community.

Christmas Giving Ideas: 10 Ways to Transform the Holiday
Those of us who love the Christmas season (and I plead guilty!) often are in the market for ways to make it more meaningful. I polled some friends and would like to share some of the results they had regarding Christmas giving ideas. Give more. Give yourself. Give the unexpected. Give ten times as much as they expect. Give more than ever before. Shop less. Buy fewer. Spend less. Stress less. Quit giving to the adults; give only to the children. Give no more than three presents per child. Emphasize the personal aspect.

Write more notes. If you send Christmas cards, write personal notes on them. Don’t be afraid to tell people you love them, even if you need to vary the verb and make it “I treasure you.” (Or, cherish, adore, appreciate or thank God for you).

The Bible is a firm foundation in an ever-changing mission field
When many of us as Christians hear the word mission, the first thought is of distant places, of Christ's words to reach “the ends of the earth.” And rightly so. God’s mission is to reconcile to Himself people from all nations through Christ. But God’s heart is not just for faraway lands. The mission also includes our friends, neighbours and the communities right on our doorstep, in a country where for the first time since records began, less than half of the country identifies as a Christian.

This statistic might discourage us, but we are also seeing positive signs of renewed interest, particularly amongst Gen Z, with church attendance quadrupling from 4% to 16%. There is a growing cultural moment of openness and curiosity with the spiritual realm, and Christianity in particular.