Wednesday's Catch: 'Why Your Local Church (No Matter How Small) Will Save the World' And More

Why Your Local Church (No Matter How Small) Will Save the World
In this article Mez McConnell lays out the importance of the local church.

3 Marks of a Healthy Church Culture
How can you tell if you have a healthy ministry culture? Here are three marks of a healthy church culture....

Virginia church rallies behind Iranian-born sisters seized by immigration agents for deportation
Two Iranian-born asylum-seekers who have been active for the past three years at an Episcopal church in suburban Washington, D.C., are fighting for their freedom after being detained by federal immigration agents and threatened with deportation.

Priest says sisters slated for deportation are Christians who could face persecution by Iran
‘We all feel a wound in our body of Christ, knowing what’s happening to them,’ said the Rev. Fran Gardner-Smith.

Advent messages urge United Methodists to defend immigrants

As President Donald Trump’s administration has pursued immigration enforcement aggressively this year, The United Methodist Church has intensified multiple avenues of immigrant support. Now United Methodist leaders are using their Advent messages to urge pastors and church members to protect and defend U.S. residents targeted by the federal administration’s immigration crackdown.

,Vermont schools sent violent messages after raising Somali flag
A school district in Vermont took down its website and disconnected many of its office phones on Monday after its superintendent said it had been inundated with racist and violent messages over its decision to raise a Somali flag.

Wilmer Chavarria, the superintendent of the Winooski School District, told VTDigger that the messages came after a number of prominent right-wing social media accounts shared videos of the raising of the flag.

UK Christians challenge Christmas rally organized by far-right provocateur
The Church of England has countered with posters at bus stops and other locations that say ‘Christ has always been in Christmas’ and ‘Outsiders welcome.’

A Call to Pray for the Church in Rwanda
"In recent months, our brothers and sisters in Rwanda have entered a season of deep trial, one that calls the entire Body of Christ to prayer, solidarity, and biblical hope."

And … Who Is My Neighbor?
Loving our neighbor starts with who we love, and according to Jesus’ parable, that’s anyone—yes, anyone—in need.

A Gentle Pastor Isn’t a Weak Pastor
Pastors today face enormous pressure to project strength and authority. We hear expectations expressed everywhere: in the aisles during greeting time, over a fellowship meal, in the parking lot after the service, and especially on Christian social media. “The world is dying for bold preachers, tough preachers—strong, manly preachers!”

What pastors frequently hear is an implied accusation that they’re weak, soft, and timid, that their preaching lacks boldness. A pastor’s gentle demeanor is perceived as weakness. But what if being gentle is actually courageous?

The Danger of Preaching About the Gospel
I have never heard a Reformed preacher who did not repeatedly use the word “gospel” in a sermon. But I have noticed that the word “gospel” is rarely explained and applied. We preach about the gospel while failing to preach the gospel itself.

Now AI Trump reads Bible stories for children
...what happens when insurrectionist Christians combine AI, children’s entertainment, and Christmas?

A Nativity book of an AI Donald Trump narrating the birth of Jesus.

A 5-month-old's shocking death and the dangers of extreme diets, medical misinformation
A baby died. Three young kids, hospitalized. And, allegedly, it all happened in the name of health.

An Arizona couple is facing possible prison time after their parenting practices, shaped by online misinformation about medical care and nutrition, left their 5-month-old child dead and three other children suffering from chronic malnutrition, police and court records show. The couple allegedly adhered to a dangerous and debunked eating regime − called the alkaline diet − which they imposed on their kids.

After claiming that COVID shots killed children, FDA says it is also looking at other age groups
The US Food and Drug Administration is looking into whether deaths “across multiple age groups” have been related to Covid-19 vaccines, a spokesperson said Tuesday, weeks after a senior agency official claimed — without offering evidence – that Covid-19 vaccinations resulted in the deaths of 10 children.

Connecting with Neighbors through Christmas Cookies
Laura Heikes shares an easy, low-barrier Christmas outreach idea that can involve your entire congregation and extend an invitation to worship that is warm, non-coercive, and inviting. Best of all, you can help your congregation get to know your community in an easy, non-threatening way.