Friday's Catch: 'What are the four loves in the New Testament?' And More

What are the four loves in the New Testament?
The English word love covers many meanings, but in Greek we find concepts often known as 'the Four Loves'. This is the story....

Thousands Sign Christian Petition Accusing JD Vance of Going Against Jesus
A petition created by a frequently anti-Trump Christian group that accuses Vice President JD Vance of going against Jesus for his comments that promote the immigration policies of President Donald Trump's administration has over 19,000 signatures, close to its goal of 20,000 signatures.

USAID Freeze Worsens Sudanese Crisis
More than Gaza, Ukraine, Haiti, and Myanmar, Sudan already faces the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. President Trump’s Inauguration Day executive order, which imposes a 90-day freeze on expenditures by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), worsened the situation, halting local public health, food assistance, and mutual aid to suffering civilian populations in both Sudan and neighboring South Sudan.

Related article: 'Millions will die,' Catholic humanitarian organizations warn, if halt in US aid continues

Christian Congregations Are Standing Up to Cruelty. Why Won’t Politicians?
Here’s a strange question: Why is Elon Musk lying about Lutherans? The richest man on earth recently forced good people across the country to interrupt their community work to respond to his lies and threats.

'Beyond Disgusting': Elon Musk Faces Backlash After Mocking Federal Aid Recipients As ‘Parasite Class’ While His Companies Rake In $18 Billion from U.S. Taxpayers
Elon Musk is many things, but self-aware is not one. Compassionate is another adjective that eludes one of the nation’s biggest recipients of federal contracts.

In nation’s capital, Trump’s cuts and funding freezes spur pastoral-care crisis
'To have more than half your congregation receive notices to resign or face the risk of losing a job, is a super, super big deal,' said DC-area evangelical pastor Bishop Derek Grier.

White Christian leaders in South Africa refute Trump’s claims
More than 300 white Christian leaders in South Africa have signed a statement rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump’s claims that white people are being victimized there.

Episcopal, ELCA bishops plead for Tennessee to renew summer program addressing child hunger
East Tennessee Bishop Brian Cole joined his counterpart in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in writing a column in the Nashville Tennessean pleading for the state to commit to distributing federal food assistance to address child hunger this summer. The state has until Feb. 15 to decide whether to use the federal funds. The program helps feed low-income children in the summer, when they no longer have access to the free or reduced-cost meals they receive during the school year.

Set Up for Success
How often are people promoted to leadership in the business world for their expertise in a particular product or service but aren’t then equipped with vital leadership skills, such as conflict resolution, vision-casting or decision-making? We assume they will just pick up those skills as they go. The same thing happens in ministry: We elevate someone to leadership because of their close relationship with the Lord, but then we don’t equip them to lead.

Seven Personality Traits Guests Like in a Pastor
Initially, when you ask church guests what they like about a pastor, they will respond with a comment about the pastor’s preaching. But if you go just one more level in the conversation, these church guests will also talk about the favorable personality traits of the pastor. Most of these traits fall under the category of “relational skills.” Here are some of the most common personality traits noted in exit interviews with church guests. Each of the traits is followed with a representative guest comment....

6 Practices for Your First Year in Church Leadership
Starting well in your first year is so important for the long run of your leadership. In your first year of ministry, it is more important to focus on your internal adjustments more than external accomplishments.

Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (Thursday, February 13, 2024) Is Now Online

Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.

Every Christian, young and old, is called to be a witness to the Lord Jesus Christ. We are witnesses to him not only through our words but also our lives. In this evening’s message, we unpack what the apostle Paul say about our witness as Christians.

Reading: 1 Timothy 4: 1-16

Message: How to Be a Credible Witness to Christ

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2025/02/thursday-evenings-at-all-hallows_13.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: 'The pattern is contempt for the poor' And More

The pattern is contempt for the poor
The pattern emerged in the biblical text when the prophet Nathan confronted the king of Israel and said, “Thou art the man.” And in the United States, that very same pattern now has become crystal clear. The pattern is contempt for the poor.

The rich's mistreatment and oppression of the poor is repeatedly condemned in the Bible.

Texas lawmaker introduces bill to require Ten Commandments in public schools, pastor offers alternative
Should the Beatitudes be in public schools rather than the Ten Commandments? A Dallas-area pastor is challenging Christians to rethink their position on whether to support placing the Ten Commandments in classrooms as the state of Texas takes a first step to aligning with other states on the issue.

Are religious charities under Trump and Musk’s knife?
With the appearance of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, the executive branch has set itself on a mission to gut the federal government to the extent of its power, incurring multiple lawsuits and firing thousands of federal employees. Considering religious charities play a major role in domestic and international outreach, directly working with federal organizations to address specific issues in different parts of the world, many Christian organizations are outspokenly anxious.

Related articles and video: ‘That’s illegal’ Trump illegally fires USAID IG who exposed him for risking spoilage of $500 million in food aid, USAID's foreign aid comes from US farms. Now $450 million of food is left to rot., and Kansas farmers face financial trouble as Trump administration cuts funding

Dr. Brené Brown: Sympathy vs. Empathy
What’s the difference between empathy and sympathy? According to Dr. Brené Brown, “Empathy fuels connection. Sympathy drives disconnection.”

Dating and the Church: How Should the Church Treat Singles?
Is church the answer to dating? Make disciples, and along the way, like-minded followers may take the next step in their relationships.

Why Churches Are Not Early Adopters of Technology
Churches are not typically early adopters of technology. Boyd Pelley from Church Teams joins Josh and Sam to discuss why churches should embrace new technology sooner. The co-hosts talk about how pastors can become more proficient in the technology space.

How to Choose the Best AED For Church
An AED, or automated external defibrillator, is a life-saving medical device that can treat sudden cardiac arrest. When someone goes into cardiac arrest, their heart stops beating, and they stop breathing. AEDs are designed to be used by laypeople with little or no medical training and can be found in public places like churches. With so many models on the market, knowing which AED is right for your church can be difficult. Here’s how to choose the best AED for church.

Gen Z struggles with small groups, trusts mothers most with spiritual questions: Barna
While many churches use small groups to build deeper relationships and community among members, this approach to discipleship isn’t a good fit for younger generations who are more likely to be wrestling with social insecurities and anxieties and turn most often to their mothers for spiritual direction, according to Christian research organization Barna.

Missions in a Microwave World
What do you do when expectations about ministry don’t line up with on-the-ground results?

Wednesday's Catch: 'What’s Next?! The Best Question to Ask Regarding Guests At Church' And More

What’s Next?! The Best Question to Ask Regarding Guests At Church
Hopefully, you will meet new people this week. One of the marks of a healthy church is a steady stream of new attendees. They might have come for any kind of reason—an outreach initiative, a special service or time of the year, or maybe just an invitation from a church member. Whatever the cause, they are there. And once they are, there is one, key question you should ask: What happens next?

How Healthy is Your Church Culture?
Jim Ozier says a healthy church culture is critical to the long-term growth and viability of a congregation. He shares a list of attributes that can help diagnose whether your church culture is healthy or in need of change.

Episcopal Church, interfaith partners challenge Trump’s ICE enforcement actions in court
More than two dozen Christian and Jewish organizations, including The Episcopal Church, sued the Trump administration on Feb. 11 for allowing immigration officers to target churches and other “sensitive” places for arrests as part of the president’s promised crackdown on legal and illegal immigration.

Related articles: United Methodists Join Lawsuit Challenging Immigration Raids in Houses of Worship, Faith-based groups challenge Trump orders in two court cases, and 27 more religious groups sue to stop ICE raids at churches

Pope Francis calls US Catholics to listen to Jesus, not Trump, on immigration
Pope Francis issued a clarion call to U.S. Catholics Feb. 10 to reject the anti-immigrant narrative of the Trump administration. He also rebutted Vice President JD Vance’s appeal to ordo amoris to justify the administration’s “America First” policies.

Related articles: Pope Francis’s Stunning Rebuke of JD Vance Exposes MAGA’s Dark Soul and Pope Francis takes aim at Vance's definition of 'ordo amoris' in letter to US Bishops

5 Steps to Your First Sabbatical
If done well, a pastor’s sabbatical will glorify God as they come back eager to be a blessing to their family, church, and community.

Church of England Responds to Reports It Banned Gluten-Free Communion Wafers
The Church of England has released a statement clarifying its stance on whether gluten-free wafers and non-alcoholic wine can legitimately be used for Communion following reports that it had banned both.

Straining gluten-free and non-alcoholic gnats whilst swallowing camels
It was reported a couple of days ago that the Church of England was asked to consider the use of non-alcoholic wine and wheat-free bread as part of the eucharist. The case was made on behalf of those who have a history of alcoholism and those who suffer from wheat intolerances.

A eucharist of sourdough or wafer? What a thousand-year-old religious quarrel tells us about fermentation
A nasty quarrel arose in the 11th century over what kind of bread should be used in holy communion.

AI-pocalypse Now?
The risk of AI isn't the extinction of humanity, it's the abolition of man.

Dopamine Media Is a Digital Las Vegas
While most Americans tend to think of substances as addictive—especially those that directly deliver dopamine—new research shows behaviors can be profoundly addictive as well because they release dopamine in the brain.

What Would I Say to a Young Christian Reading John Mark Comer?
I was asked to give a pastoral and general take. Here it is.

Partner With Parents in Youth Ministry: 5 Tips To Empower and Equip
Wondering how to partner with parents and empower them in their important roles? Then check out these insights from youth ministry veteran Brandon Early.

Ending Racism: 10 KidMin Tips To Break Down Stereotypes
Ending racism is an important endeavor, and starting early is key. Learn how you and your children’s ministry can help stop racism before it starts.

Reimagining Discipleship at the Table of Grace
Stephen Handy says Jesus captured the imaginations and hopes of people around a simple table. He says we can nurture discipleship in others by simply breaking bread together and sharing a story of hope.

Tuesday's Catch: '9 Encouraging Trends for Global Christianity in 2025' And More

9 Encouraging Trends for Global Christianity in 2025
When we expand our vision, we can see several trends in global Christianity in 2025 that give us good news about the kingdom of God.

Water and Wilderness Church Combines Nature and Worship
There’s a perennial question at church meetings: What should we do to draw people to church? An Episcopal priest believes he has found one way.

Fact Check: Do Refugee Resettlement Organizations Promote Illegal Immigration?
In the wake of President Donald Trump’s executive order temporarily suspending the United States Refugee Admission Program (USRAP), a number of public figures have criticized several of the refugee resettlement organizations that carry out the program. Some of these criticisms appear to have come from a misunderstanding of how USRAP works and what refugee resettlement entails.

Related article: Most Evangelicals say US has 'moral responsibility' to accept refugees: poll

Trump isn’t defending religious communities — he’s waging war on them
The Trump administration is already the most harmful to religious freedom in modern American history.

Related articles: Episcopal Church joins religious freedom lawsuit challenging ICE enforcement actions in churches and Trump reestablishes White House Faith Office, places Paula White-Cain in charge

Culture wars caused evangelicals to vote against their interests, author says
Right-wing influencers propelled Donald Trump to power by spreading misinformation that convinced the MAGA base to support political agendas detrimental to their own interests, according to Katherine Stewart, author of Money, Lies, and God: Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy.

Related article: GOP slammed over 'bait and switch' on Trump campaign promise

WSJ editorial board warns that Trump is 'threatening to repeat' a first-term 'blunder'
The conservative editorial board of the Wall Street Journal has a dire warning for President Donald Trump: don't make the same mistakes on trade policy you did in your last term.

Related articles: Illinois farmers brace for fallout from tariff war and freeze on USAID programs, USAID cuts dire for nation’s farmers, advocate says, and ‘Ridiculous blunder’: Trump wades into California’s water wars – and strikes some of his strongest supporters

Is No-Contact a Biblical Response to Toxic Relationships?
I seem to meet more and more Christians who have no-contact relationships with members of their family or people they once considered close friends. Some grievance or wound—something that has caused deep hurt or emotional turmoil—has led the offended to want nothing to do with the offender. But is no contact a biblical response in such situations? In most cases, I don’t think so.

Should We Expect to Be Slain in the Spirit?

...is this phenomenon biblical? Does Scripture support such displays as a normative work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer? Or has it become another expression of emotionalism, untethered from sound doctrine? In this article we will examine the practice of being slain in the Spirit, the theological claims behind it, and its alignment or lack thereof with biblical teaching.

Easy Stagecraft Tips Any Church Can Use
Creating an engaging and inspiring environment for worship doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. With thoughtful stagecraft, churches of any size can enhance their services and communicate messages more effectively. From lighting to set design, small changes can make a big impact on the overall atmosphere. Here are some practical stagecraft tips to help churches improve.

How to Read the Bible like Jesus
As Christ’s followers, we’re called to imitate him in the way we live (Mark 8:34; 1 Cor 11:1). We tend to think of this command in terms of how we act, speak, and think. But what about how we read the Bible?

Should We Pray Written Prayers? The Surprising Scriptural Basis for Scripted Prayer
Over the past several decades, evangelicals have increasingly accepted written (i.e., scripted) prayers from liturgical traditions. This reception is partly due to the influence of the ecumenical movement of the twentieth century, partly due to their perceived novelty, but also partly because evangelicals are rediscovering the real value of scripted prayers. Yet for evangelicals, the question naturally arises: Does the Bible support the use of written prayers, or must prayers always be extemporaneous?

How Can Small Groups Make Disciples?
Small groups have become a vital part of fostering spiritual growth and community. These intimate gatherings, often held in homes or smaller church spaces, provide opportunities for believers to connect, learn, and support each other. But can small groups truly make disciples, as Jesus commanded in the Great Commission? The answer lies in understanding the unique dynamics and potential of these gatherings.

Monday's Catch: 'How to Know Your Church Is Truly Revitalized (5 Key Indicators)' And More

How to Know Your Church Is Truly Revitalized (5 Key Indicators)
At what point can you say your church is fully revitalized?

How to Choose a New Church
The start of the year is often a time when Christians move to new places and so need to find a new church. Is that you? If so, for what it’s worth, here are my tips on how to go about it.

This is not Christianity
“How can people who claim to be Christians do these things?”

Related articles: 'Crippling crises': Evangelical leaders turn on Trump over 'damaging and wasteful' order and Catholic newspaper calls out Trump’s ‘unprecedented cruelty’

Farmers on the hook for millions after Trump freezes USDA funds
Farmers report missing millions of dollars of funding they were promised by the U.S. Agriculture Department, despite promises from the Trump administration that a federal funding freeze would not apply to projects directly benefiting individuals.

The failure of the Trump administration to meet the obligations encumbered by the previous administration is not surprising. Trump has a long history of bankrupting his own businesses as well as stiffing sub-contractors and other creditors. The policies of the Trump administration that negatively affect farmers in rural agricultural districts of the United States will also negatively affect local churches as well as local businesses. They will have a negative impact upon residents of these districts who voted for Trump.

What an ‘America First’ Diet Would Really Look Like
Yasmin Tayag explores how tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and other countries would affect the US food supply and the diet and health of Americans.

How tariffs will impact the US food supply will impact food pantries operated by local churches and community food banks supported by them. Cuts to WIC and SNAP will increase the demand for emergency food assistance. Local churches may wish to convert unused space on their property into vegetable gardens and launch nutrition programs to help families and individuals eat a healthy and balanced diet despite food shortages.

Trump Enrages Christian MAGA By Naming ‘Heretic’ Pastor to White House: Prophet for Profit
President Donald Trump angered some of his Christian supporters on Friday when he named a televangelist who even some conservative evangelicals have labeled a “heretic” as part of his White House administration. The president signed an executive order establishing a White House Faith Office and chose Pastor Paula White-Cain, his ally and spiritual advisor, to lead it.

Related article: She’s baaaaaack!

What is Christian Reconstructionism?
Among the reasons that the appointment of Pete Hegseth as US Secretary of Defense is controversial is that he is accused of endorsing the theocratic doctrine of 'sphere sovereignty', a worldview connected to the related belief called 'Christian Reconstructionism.'

Has Contemporary Praise and Worship Become Just a Show?
The growth of praise and worship within Christian churches has sparked a growing debate: has it become more of a spectacle than a genuine expression of faith? Once centered on simple congregational singing, many modern worship services now resemble concerts with elaborate lighting, professional sound systems, and charismatic performances by worship leaders. While some see these changes as enhancing spiritual engagement, others question whether contemporary praise and worship has strayed too far from its intended purpose.

Related article: Dumb Will Do: Why Satan Doesn’t Need Heresy

8 Ways to Provide More Training for Group Leaders
More than 3 in 4 groups ministry leaders (76%) agree more training should be made available to their leaders. So how do we make that happen?

Most American teens ‘very motivated’ to know about Jesus: Barna
Although religious affiliation and church attendance are on the decline, more than half of American teenagers say they're “very motivated” to know more about Jesus, and just over 75% say they're at least “somewhat motivated” to learn about the centerpiece of Christianity, according to Barna Research.

Image Credit: St. James Episcopal Church, Pulaski, NY

Sundays at All Hallows (Sunday, February 9, 2025) Is Now Online

Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows.

In his teaching Jesus often drew upon familiar experiences from the daily lives of those to whom he was speaking to illustrate what he was saying. These experiences may not be familiar to us, living as we do more than 2000 years later.

In this Sunday’s message we unpack what Jesus meant when he described his disciples as “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world” and what it means for twenty-first century disciples of Jesus.

Reading: Matthew 5: 13-20

Message: Salt and Light

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2025/02/sundays-at-all-hallows-sunday-february_8.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: 'Tide of Faith or Spiritual Tsunami?' And More

Tide of Faith or Spiritual Tsunami?
Here’s a question for the church as it stands in the shallows of the post-Christian beach in the West: Are we simply preparing ourselves for an orderly returning tide of faith, or are we preparing ourselves for a returning, tumultuous spiritual tsunami that will upend our practices, challenge our assumptions about reality and refuse our neat categories?

On Politics, Pulpits, and Presidents
She certainly got us all talking. Just a few weeks ago, Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde spoke directly from the pulpit to the president at a national prayer service, looking President Trump in the eyes and urging him to show mercy to trans children, refugees, and immigrants who are afraid of what his policies may mean for them.

CoE asks for prayers and suggestions as it prepares to choose new Archbishop of Canterbury
The Church of England is inviting people to suggest candidates to replace Justin Welby as Archbishop of Canterbury.

New Study Finds That Most Evangelicals Support Refugee Resettlement and a Path to Citizenship for Undocumented Immigrants
A new study conducted by Lifeway Research has found strong support among evangelicals for refugee resettlement, legal immigration, border security, and a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. The study also found little support for deportation of immigrants who are not violent criminals.

Related study: 2025 Evangelical Views on Immigration Study

Catholic Relief Services facing ‘massive cuts’ as Trump guts USAID 

Catholic Relief Services is reportedly preparing for "massive cuts" to its staff and programs amid President Donald Trump's gutting of the U.S. Agency for International Development, which accounted for nearly half the organization's budget.

Reflecting on this development, Jesus' Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds came to mind. The farmer in the parable told his field hands not to pull up the weeds lest the young wheat be harmed in the process as the good was intermixed with the bad. Trump has chosen to represent everything that USAID does as "bad" and to undo even the good work that the agency has been doing.

USAID: The best of bipartisan and faithful work now nearly lost
It is perplexing to hear the vice president champion faith-based aid initiatives while, at the same time, funds for efforts like these are literally being turned off.

Delivering the nation’s health care into the hands of anti-vaxxers is the wrong decision
Most Americans still have a favorable opinion of childhood vaccines. But during the pandemic, the fringe movement of vaccine skeptics partnered with political libertarians to oppose COVID vaccine mandates. Now they’re setting their sights on childhood vaccines.

I worked for almost three decades in the field of child welfare--foster care, child protection, and family and youth services. During that time I saw for myself what can happen to children whose mothers were not vaccinated against childhood diseases ad who contracted one of these diseases when they were pregnant with the child and what can happen to unvaccinated children when they contract a childhood disease. Childhood diseases are NOT as harmless as some parents mistakenly believe. They can do permanent harm to a child and even be fatal. What I see happening now is a public health disaster in the making.

The Department of Education that Trump is intent upon dismantling funds services to disabled children whose disability in some cases is related to the fact that they or their mother was not vaccinated against a childhood disease. Very few, if any, states are able to provide these services without federal assistance.

13 Characteristics of the Holy Spirit
The Scripture provides a multitude of phrases that describe the characteristics of the Holy Spirit. Let’s see what God’s Word has to say about the third Person of the Trinity.

10 Things You Should Know About Hands Lifted in Worship
Hands lifted in worship is part of worship in many churches. Worship involves our bodies as well as our hearts and minds. Our posture tells a story. It makes a statement to God and to others about the state of our souls and the affections and passions of our heart.

A Christian’s 5 Rules of Online Engagement
Before you dash off your next post or comment, stop to consider these scriptural guidelines.

It’s No Surprise to Me I Am My Own Worst Enemy
How do we battle our own desires that contend with the will of God?

Friday's Catch: 'Continuing the Canada Conversation: The Purpose of the Church' And More

Continuing the Canada Conversation: The Purpose of the Church
Charlie Clauss addresses what he describes as the core question: what is the church for?

Trump Announces White House Faith Office, Headed by Paula White, and Task Force To Address ‘Anti-Christian Bias’
At the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday (Feb. 6), President Donald Trump pledged to eliminate discrimination against Christians, protect religious liberty, and “bring God back” to America. During speeches at the annual two-part event, Trump announced he is creating a task force to root out “anti-Christian bias,” led by new Attorney General Pam Bondi. He is also creating a White House Faith Office, headed by Paula White, Trump’s personal pastor.

Related articles: Trump vows to ‘protect’ Christians in America and At two prayer breakfasts, Trump calls himself champion of religion

When I read these articles, the idiom 'fox guarding the hen house' came immediately to mind. This idiom 'describes a set of circumstances in which someone who should not be trusted has been chosen to protect someone or oversee a situation. The choice involves someone directly unsuitable for the task....' It also describes 'someone who is put in charge of policing himself.'

Church Leaders Respond to Deportation Threats
Episcopal leaders are speaking out against the Trump administration’s plans to capture and deport record numbers of undocumented immigrants, warning of racial profiling and helping those in danger of deportation to know their rights.

Defunding and demonizing the government's faith-based partners will make its job harder
Whether you are a person of faith or not, Musk’s actions should concern you because they threaten the bedrock principles of our democratic freedoms.

Wolf is not the only alternative to sheep
...we have to be careful that we don’t assume everyone who evidently shows themselves not to be sheep must, therefore, be a wolf. The Bible speaks of another category of person who will exist in the church too; namely, goats.

The Sports Betting House Always Wins. Who Loses? We Do.
...the gambling industry is a predatory, profits-over-people enterprise that’s fostering a cultural crisis—leading to devastating consequences for individuals, families, and our nation.

In Divine Missions, God Gives Us Himself
To clarify the true nature of the sending of the Son and the Holy Spirit into the world, and to refute heretical misunderstandings, theologians formulated the doctrine of the divine missions. Simply expressed, a divine “mission” refers to the sending of a Trinitarian person into the world. The doctrine is intended to explain how this divine person has entered the world without changing.

Rest, Reflect, Renew: A Step-by-Step Guide to Planning a Meaningful Women’s Retreat
Springtime is often one of the busiest seasons for women’s ministry, but it also brings a unique opportunity to pause and reconnect. Planning a women’s retreat is a meaningful way to create space for rest, community, and spiritual renewal. Though the process may seem daunting, breaking it into manageable steps can help you craft a retreat that is both well-organized and impactful. Whether you’re a seasoned planner or tackling your first retreat, these practical tips will guide you every step of the way....

A Match Made in Heaven
Too many people see discipleship (growing in Jesus) and evangelism (going with Jesus on a mission) as separate. They are not.

Image Credit: https://www.anglican.ca/

Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (Thursday, February 6, 2025) Is Now Online

Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.

What is the Gospel of Jesus Christ? The word “Gospel” means “good news.” So, what is the good news of Jesus Christ? In this evening’s message we unpack the Gospel which was passed onto to the apostle Paul and which he passed onto the church at Corinth and through his letters to us.

Reading: 1 Corinthians 15: 1-11

Message: The Best News of All

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2025/02/thursday-evenings-at-all-hallows.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: '3 Not-So-Obvious Reasons Church Visitors Don’t Return to Your Church' And More

3 Not-So-Obvious Reasons Church Visitors Don’t Return to Your Church
You’ve read the books, been to the conferences and tried everything you can think of, but the back door of your church is always wide open. What is going on?

Leaving One Church for Another Close By
...when a problem arises in your current church, or you disagree with the direction of the church, or you just feel like a change, it’s possible to attend elsewhere. Is this okay?

WCC calls on President Trump to follow international law for a just peace in Gaza
World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay has described the proposal of US President Trump as “tantamount to proposing full-scale ethnic cleansing and neo-colonization of the homeland of the 2 million Palestinians of Gaza.”

Related article: Even red-state leaders are slowly waking up to Trump's 'deranged' plans: Ex-GOP strategist

‘The church of fear is still in effect,’ author says
The fear and rage that drove evangelical support for Donald Trump has not abated since his return to office, journalist and author Christine Emba observed during a webinar on Christianity and democracy hosted by the Brookings Institution.

United Methodists express solidarity with immigrants
United Methodists have joined other Christians opposing President Donald Trump’s executive orders on immigration and promising to continue their immigration ministries.

Churches educating congregants on how to respond if ICE shows up
Religious groups are hoping for the best and preparing for the worst now that immigration raids can be conducted in churches, schools and other spaces historically off limits to such actions.

Related artices: CBF joins Quakers in lawsuit against ICE raids in churches and ICE raids in churches violate conservative principles

JD Vance accidentally directed us to a crucial moral question
Theology isn’t usually part of the job description for America’s vice president, but that’s not stopping JD Vance from giving it a try just a couple of weeks into his new position.

Related article: Amid criticism from religious detractors, Vance speaks at religious freedom summit

Develop the Art of Being an Associate Pastor
Once we’ve built the theological and spiritual foundations of associate-pastor ministry, we can turn to the practical dynamics of serving fruitfully while being “second.” While understanding our position and cultivating the right heart posture are essential, the daily execution of our responsibilities requires specific skills, strategies, and wisdom. This article explores how associate pastors can provide meaningful leadership while honoring our supporting role.

2 Tips for Implementing Personal Bible Reading
It’s pretty much impossible to turn off “preacher mode.” What do we do then? How do we implement a personal Bible reading time?

Rediscovering the power of prayer
In today's fast-paced world, where schedules are packed and to-do lists never seem to end, it's easy to lose touch with the people who matter most. Amid the chaos, carving out time for prayer often feels like an impossible task. Yet, as Christians, nurturing our spiritual lives through regular communication with God is essential. Perhaps it's time to rekindle the passion for prayer by reflecting on its profound importance.

8 Ways Church Tech Is Way More Than Computers
When people hear the term “church tech,” their minds often jump straight to computers, software, and audio-visual equipment. While these elements are undeniably important, the concept of church tech extends far beyond just hardware and gadgets. It encompasses tools and strategies that enhance worship, improve communication, and enable ministry to flourish in a rapidly changing world.

How Small Groups Benefit the Whole Church
Fostering genuine community and spiritual growth within a church can be challenging. While Sunday services provide a critical gathering point for worship and teaching, small groups play a vital role in enriching the church experience for individuals and the broader congregation. By offering opportunities for deeper connections, personalized discipleship, and collaborative ministry, small groups benefit the whole church in profound ways.

There is more than one way to deny the faith (basically, there are two)
What does it mean to “deny the faith”? Fundamentally, it is to walk away from following the Lord Jesus. To deny the faith is to reject him. There are two basic ways anybody might deny the faith and reject Jesus.

‘Practicing the Way’ in the Church: Analyzing the Comer Option
“Protestant circles need a new pedagogical strategy,” Carl Trueman recently claimed. “It is striking that in the New Testament and in the early second century (see, for example, the Didache) Christians and pagans were differentiated not simply by what they believed but by how they behaved. The Christian community must have a practical, moral distinctiveness.”

Wednesday's Catch: '“Belong, Believe, Become: Engaging Millennials and Gen Z in Faith” And More

“Belong, Believe, Become: Engaging Millennials and Gen Z in Faith” 

How can congregations faithfully engage in ministry with Millennials and Gen Z? In this episode, Dexter Nutall shares how New Bethel Church engages these generations. The church fosters belonging, social justice, and leadership, creating a welcoming and impactful community for young people. 

Related article: Gen Z's nones have their own beliefs. Try working with them, not converting them. 

What Really Happened to Religion in the 1990s? Young people abandoned Christianity in larger numbers - did they leave Catholicism, evangelicalism, the mainline?

Anglican denominations' record on abuse prompts calls for victim-focused reform
In the U.S. and Canada, survivors and advocates have been advocating for change in Anglican denominations amid a groundswell of abuse and misconduct cases.

Calvin Robinson Was Not ‘Defrocked,’ Says Denomination; Robinson Seeks Audience With Archbishop
While Calvin Robinson said on Monday (Feb. 3) that he still had not been allowed to speak to his archbishop about the revocation of his ministry license, the Anglican Catholic Church (ACC) released a statement clarifying that Robinson had not been “defrocked.”

Evangelical leaders appear to have no comment on Trump’s plan to take over Gaza
Christian leaders were noticeably silent Tuesday as President Donald Trump shocked the world by proposing the United States “take over” Gaza and expel all Palestinians living there. Baptist News Global searched for any national religious leader commenting on the president’s suggestion and found none — not even from those evangelical leaders who typically enthusiastically support the president. Politicians, however, were not so quiet.

Tariffs, trade, and the Gospel: A Christian perspective on global responsibility
Is an increasingly isolated, protectionist America in denial of a basic reality? That the world, more than ever, is bound together with great complexity. Economically, politically, culturally, militarily.

Leading the Small Membership Church
Small membership churches thrive on self-reliance, requiring leaders with strong relational skills. Lew Parks writes that preaching in these churches reinforces corporate identity, tells the congregation’s story, addresses key issues, and guides the church toward faithful growth and action.

The Bread Which We Break
One of the less well-observed rubrics in the English Book of Common Prayer is the requirement that the bread for communion ‘be such as is usual to be eaten; but the best and purest Wheat Bread that conveniently may be gotten’. Instead of the loaf of leavened wheat bread the rubric calls for, one usually sees wafers. It is much the same story in the other parts of the Communion I know best: the Episcopal Church (USA), the Anglican Church of Canada, and the Scottish Episcopal Church. It was not always so. Like many aspects of contemporary Anglicanism, the use of wafers – so unremarkable today – is a development of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Christian Debate Topics for Youth: 46 Subjects Teens Can Tackle
Christian debate topics are a hit with most teenagers. As a youth leader, you know kids love to talk. So why not harness that vocal energy by using Christian debate topics in youth group? In-depth conversations hone critical thinking, faith, and evangelism skills.

Tuesday's Catch: 'Do Dying Churches Really Know They Are Dying?' And More

Do Dying Churches Really Know They Are Dying?
Typically, the first step in making necessary changes is acceptance of the current reality. A church cannot change unless its members and leaders know that the status quo will lead to death. Sam and Thom review five situations where dying churches get stuck and, as a consequence, continue on the path toward death.

House bill to censure preacher assigned to committee led by a Southern Baptist
The bill asking the U.S. House of Representatives to censure Episcopal Bishop Mariann Budde for her sermon at Washington National Cathedral Jan. 21 has been referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. That powerful committee is chaired by Rep. James Comer, a conservative Republican and a Southern Baptist from Kentucky. He was baptized at First Baptist Church of Tompkinsville, Ky., and is a member of Forks of the Elkhorn Baptist Church in Midway, Ky.

Related article: Two versions of Christianity cross swords at the National Cathedral

Musk spotlights federal funds for Lutheran aid groups, calls them 'illegal payments'
Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, accused Musk and others of spreading 'misinformation' and casting baseless doubt on longstanding federal funding agreements, including to resettle refugees

Related article: MAGA ramps up attacks on US Christian groups

Donald Trump’s January 6 insurrection is now a coup
On Feb. 2, private actors reportedly employed by Elon Musk took over U.S. Treasury computer systems that control the nation’s payments for government benefits. That action followed a Trump-ordered takeover of the USAID independent federal agency responsible for distributing foreign aid to people in needy countries around the world.

Related article: Trump, the destroyer of worlds

Vatican sees dangers in AI
A new Vatican missive approved by Pope Francis has warned of the dangers of Artificial Intelligence (AI), while also stressing that, ultimately, it is human intelligence that will guide the morality of its use.

Old-Growth Forest Network Welcomes Virginia Parish
Stacey Remick knew there was something special about the five-acre forest surrounding St. Peter’s in the Woods Episcopal Church in Fairfax Station, Virginia. She never dreamed that the church property would one day be inducted into the Old-Growth Forest Network, the only national network in the United States of protected, old-growth native forests.

Who Are the “Sons of God” and Nephilim in Genesis 6?
In this inaugural episode of What in the Word?, James M. Hamilton Jr., a professor of biblical theology and a pastor, joins Kirk E. Miller to talk about one of Scripture’s most notorious passages: Genesis 6:1–4Open in Logos Bible Software (if available).

The Priority of Humble Leadership
How many church leaders wake up every morning and plead with the Lord to save their ministry from themselves? Probably not many. We tend to underestimate the pervasive, pernicious, and powerful presence of pride in our hearts and to undernourish the grace of humility. As a result our self-confidence grows.

What can we expect when we pray? 

If prayer is such a widespread human phenomenon, then what makes Christian prayer different? Is there anything that distinguishes Christian prayer from the prayers of the vast multitudes of those who do not call upon the Father of Jesus Christ?

Monday's Catch: "The origins and use of the word 'church'" And More

The origins and use of the word 'church'
The word 'church' in common language has many meanings depending on the context. This is the story....

Sean Rowe Seated as 28th Presiding Bishop
In a sermon during his ceremonial seating at Washington National Cathedral, Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe posed the question of what our lives would be like if we realized that Christ is among us.

Related article: Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe’s sermon at Washington National Cathedral

“The Future of the United Methodist Church” featuring Doug Powe and Lovett Weems
What does the post-pandemic and post-disaffiliation United Methodist Church (UMC) look like? In this episode, Jessica Anschutz speaks with Lewis Center Director Doug Powe and Senior Consultant Lovett Weems, who discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the UMC. They highlight regionalization, the need for structural reform, and changes to the ordination process, while advocating for renewed focus on mission. To remain vital, the UMC must balance sustaining traditional practices with disruptive innovation to connect with underserved communities while fostering spiritual growth and inclusivity.

Building a Bigger Table: The Task of Methodism Today 

In Treasures Old and New we reflect on the never-ending task of blending tradition and experience in ways that give life in the present and hope for the future. Thomas Merton described the task as the biggest paradox of the church—that “she is at the same time essentially traditional and essentially revolutionary.”

The Continental Divide of Doctrine
In the decades that I’ve been a Christian, I’ve been told of many doctrines, many convictions, and many movements that represent the theological equivalent of a continental divide.

Jesus’s View of the Old Testament
Jesus’s view of the Scriptures was similar to his contemporaries—accepting their completely divine origin, reliability, and authority in our lives—but also markedly different—seeing their judgment of ethnocentrism, their Christological nature, and their implications for the Levitical purity laws.

7 Ministry Tensions: A Conversation About Pastoral Leadership
Some tensions in pastoral ministry don’t indicate failure; they signal engagement with real ministry in the real world.

How Big Does Your Worship Team Need to Be?
How many members are necessary to create an impactful worship team experience? While the size of your worship team can vary based on numerous factors, what matters most is fostering an atmosphere that draws people into genuine worship.

Why You Should Just Be Honest With God
It is no great feat to convince another person of a lie. Because other people cannot see our inner selves, they are easily deceived. But as we pray to God, we pray to one who knows our innermost thoughts, our innermost desires, our innermost longings. We pray to one who knows us far better than we know ourselves.

Sundays at All Hallows (Sunday, February 2, 2025) Is Now Online.

Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows

The Feast of the Presentation falls on February 2 of each year. If it falls on a Sunday, its observance takes precedence over that Sunday’s. This year it fell on a Sunday.

The Feast of the Presentation is also known as Candlemas. On Candlemas, many Christians take candles to their local church, where they are blessed and then used for the remainder of the year. For these Christians, the blessed candles serve as a reminder of what the Bible says about Jesus’ being the Light of the World. In some Episcopal churches the service may be preceded by a procession in which the congregation takes part, everyone holding a lit candle.

The topic of this Sunday’s message is agape love.

Readings: Jeremiah 1:4-10; 1 Corinthians 13; and Luke 2:22-40

Message: A Different Kind of Love

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2025/02/sundays-at-all-hallows-sunday-february.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: '3 Reinvention Pillars of Change' And More

3 Reinvention Pillars of Change
Reinvention involves anticipating, designing, and implementing change. According to Jim Merhaut, effective reinvention requires a leadership mindset ready to disrupt, experiment, and stabilize, ensuring meaningful, lasting change that shapes the future identity of the church.

Partners for Sacred Places helps churches see their spaces anew
Bob Jaeger and his team at Partners for Sacred Places want struggling American congregations to know there are numerous ways to preserve and use aging facilities beyond just seeing them become pieces of commercial real estate.

Was What Vance Told Hannity About Immigration Actually a ‘Christian Concept’? 

Comments Vice President J.D. Vance made this week explaining what he called a “Christian concept” are generating heated debate among Christians online. During an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Hannity and Vance were discussing President Donald Trump’s immigration approach when Vance explained his belief that Americans should have a hierarchy of affections towards others.

While Vance cited Augustine's 'ordo amoris' in support of his contention that Christianity teaches a hierarchy of love, a careful reading of what Augustine wrote in its entirety does not support his contention.

The Rise of the Right-Wing Exvangelical
...we are now seeing the emergence of what might be called "right exvangelicalism." If left exvangelicals sought to keep Jesus but dispense with the church, right exvangelicals are following a similar trajectory, but from the other side of the political spectrum. This causes the right exvangelical to end up mirroring the left exvangelical, as it were: Start with right-wing politics circa 2025 and then come to Christianity after you've already committed to the political vision of the American right. But whereas this move caused left exvangelicals to keep a proxy of Jesus and dispense with the church, it is causing right exvangelicals to keep a proxy of the church and dispense instead with Jesus....

SBC pastor opposes ICE raids in churches and gets labeled ‘woke’ by far right
A Southern Baptist pastor in Tennessee who told his congregation of his concerns about President Donald Trump’s wide-ranging immigration crackdown has been labeled a woke Leftist by a far-right advocacy group.

This article goes into greater detail than an earlier article to which I posted a link.

Calvin Robinson Loses License After Parody
Greta Gaffin digs into the backstory behind the Anglican Catholic Church's revocation of Calvin Robinson's license to officiate.

Bishop Budde went viral because she showed us what's wrong with American religion
The sermon reminded many Americans what public religious faith looked like in the not-so-distant past, when the Episcopal Church was the de facto faith of the American ruling class.

Related article: Washington bishop’s plea to Trump inspires first-time visits to Episcopal churches

Whether the uptick in visits in response to Budde's sermon and the controversy surrounding it benefits the Episcopal Church in the long term only time will tell.

4 Types Of Thinking That Will Sabotage Your Leadership
Chances are a big chunk of what you’re going to do today in leadership is think. Add a crisis or instability into the mix, and your thinking can easily get tripped up into some well worn but dangerous directions.


7 Things the Holy Spirit Does in and for Our Salvation
Kevin DeYoung explains the work of the Holy Spirit from a Reformed perspectve.

Does Believing in God’s Sovereignty Mean We Must Be Fatalists?
...the question of how human choice and divine sovereignty can coexist is big and difficult, but it’s also vitally important for Christians to consider.

Friday's Catch: 'Just Ask: A Simple Solution to the Church Planter Shortage' And More

Just Ask: A Simple Solution to the Church Planter Shortage

The problem in the Western church is clear: There is a serious lack of church planters. So, what is the solution?

Ministering in Our Times and Amid Our Tragedies
Jesus’s bold teachings challenge us to keep God’s agenda in mind as we seek to understand our times and minister in them.

Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde’s Words to President Trump Continue Stirring Controversy
More than a week after Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde asked President Donald Trump to show mercy on Americans, her comments remain a hot topic in Christian circles. Budde, the first female bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, spoke during a Jan. 21 interfaith prayer service at the Washington National Cathedral.

American values and a tale of two islands
In a move that is more publicity stunt than workable policy, President Donald Trump has ordered his administration to prepare to house tens of thousands of “criminal aliens” at the Navy base at Guantánamo Bay.

Despite Vance attack, Catholic bishops press ahead on defending migrants
Just a week into the Trump presidency, the U.S. bishops find themselves in an unaccustomed position: For the first time in history, their character has been called into question by a Catholic standing at the helm of the U.S. government.

As Trump touts deportations, many Episcopalians are eager to offer immigrants sanctuary, support
The Diocese of Chicago has pledged support for immigrants as a “sanctuary diocese” since 2019. Now, with the Trump administration pursuing a new crackdown on immigration, Episcopalians in northern Illinois are living out that spirit of “sanctuary” in ways as diverse as their diocese.

Related article: Sacred Resistance ‘2.0’ gearing up to support vulnerable communities across diocese

United Methodists Mobilizing to Aid Immigrants in Face of Trump Orders
As fear stalks the United States from a tsunami of executive orders targeting immigrants, migrants and refugees, United Methodists around the country are mobilizing to help the people they've been serving in ministry for many years. As of Jan. 29, multiple United Methodist statements have been published in support of immigrants and in defiance of President Donald Trump's executive orders halting immigration and imposing mass deportations.

Theologians push back on JD Vance’s view of ‘ordered love’
Vice President JD Vance is getting schooled by theologians over his inverted theology expressed in a Jan. 29 interview on Fox News...Politics aside, numerous Christian theologians took to social media to point out the vice president — who is a conservative Catholic — misrepresented the teachings of Jesus and the Gospels.

Associate Pastor, It’s Good to Be Second
... in churches around the world, some of the most profound kingdom influence comes not from those standing in the spotlight but from those serving in the shadows. The role of associate pastor—often viewed as a transitional position to “real” leadership—may be the strategic key to unlocking a church’s true potential.

25 Hymns About Trusting God in Hard Times
In a time of uncertainty, what should we sing? Right now, the church certainly needs hymns about trusting God in hard times! The relevant hymns of the faith, both ancient and modern, offer us a vocabulary for expressing our fears, anxieties, and questions to the One who hears.

Sensory-Friendly Worship for Children with Autism: A Guide for Churches
Every congregation should consider sensory-friendly worship for children with autism. Kids with special needs and developmental disabilities are vital members of the church family. But traditional worship, children’s church, and Sunday school can present challenges.

5 Myths about Children’s Ministry (Jared Kennedy)
Today we are pleased to share an audio essay written and read by Jared Kennedy entitled "5 Myths about Children’s Ministry". Jared Kennedy serves as an editor at the Gospel Coalition. He is also cofounder of Gospel-Centered Family, a ministry that helps parents and church leaders share Jesus with the next generation, and the author of Keeping Your Children's Ministry on Mission: Practical Strategies for Discipling the Next Generation from Crossway.

Salt and Light: Remind Teens of Their Calling as Christ-Followers
Salt and light are important metaphors for Christian living. In Matthew 5:13-16, Jesus calls his followers to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Youth pastors and ministry volunteers can use these concepts to teach teens about discipleship and evangelism.

Thursday's Catch: 'Empathy for immigrants sounds like Christianity 101. Here's why some say it's a sin.' Ad More

Empathy for immigrants sounds like Christianity 101. Here's why some say it's a sin.
A small but influential group of evangelicals argues that enforcing the law is as important as mercy, and has come to see Christian charities as the enemy.

Suspending PEPFAR: An emergency of our own making
Trump’s stop-work order came with such power and authority that, literally, it caused global momentum on fighting HIV to simply stop.

Anglican priest Calvin Robinson defrocked over Nazi-like salute 

Robinson has defended the gesture, with which he concluded his speech at the National Pro-Life Summit last week, as an ‘attempt at dry wit.’

Related articles: Calvin Robinson Defrocked for Making Gesture Resembling Nazi Salute and Calvin Robinson removed as ACC priest after 'Elon Musk salute'

In asking Trump to show mercy, Bishop Budde continues a long tradition of Christian leaders ‘speaking truth to power’
A scholar of medieval Christianity explores the history of Christians who spoke out, unafraid to risk official censure or even death.

The Church in Dark Times with Mike Cosper
Ever wonder, “How did we get to this moment?” as a country, as a church?

The Catholic cohort
The first White House press conference introduced us to Karoline Leavitt: articulate, assertive and intensely Catholic. She represents to us the third component of the Religious Right in the United States.

12 Concerns and Burdens Church Staff Members Have Shared with Me
I most often work with lead pastors when I consult with churches, but I do spend time with staff members, too. I also have church staff members among my students at Southeastern Seminary. As I work with staff, here are some concerns staff have expressed to me over the years....

The Advantage of Pastoral Longevity
The vast majority of churches grow by layers not by leaps. Step by step, family by family, person by person rather than jumping by hundreds at a time. Because this is true, momentum is strengthened significantly by the longevity of the pastor. A longer pastoral tenure doesn’t guarantee greater spiritual results (growth and life change), but it sets the stage for it.

4 Attributes Of Powerful Preaching
Kevin DeYoung presents four qualities of what he calls "truly good preaching–-the kind that resonates with people and the kind God tends to employ."

From Church Juice – Secrets of Great Church Websites
Website design is constantly changing. Technology evolves and design trends change. While this is not an exhaustive list, nor are the websites ranked in any order, we encourage you to use these great church websites as you look to update your own church website this year.

Youth Ministry Leader Burnout: Move From Exhaustion To Health Youth ministry leader burnout is unfortunately common. This calling brings challenges that can zap your joy. When ministry demands lead to burnout, everyone suffers. The good news? You can take steps to prevent burnout and restore your overall health. Discover ways to avoid youth ministry leader burnout so you can serve joyfully and effectively.