Some Keys to Developing a Discipleship Culture

by Scott Laird I heard the phrase “cut flower culture” years ago and its image still resonates. Cut flowers are beautiful, they smell good, provide color to our homes, and sometimes get a husband out of trouble. The problem is cut flowers are separated off from their roots and life itself. Many of the roots […]

Israel-Hamas War: Resisting an Impulse 

by Evertt W. Huffard  10/18/23 When our preacher began his sermon Sunday morning, he wanted to say something about the Israel-Hamas war but was not sure what to say. With some hesitation he acknowledged the tragic loss of lives on both sides and the need to pray for peace. Then he added, “I wonder what […]

When Using Technology Hinders

By Grady D. King, D. Min. Every leader has a lot on their plate these days. The complexities and pace of leading is greater and more demanding than ever in a culture of hyper-sensitivity. Enter technology. Technology is good and helpful. But it has limitations. This is particularly true when it comes to group leadership. […]

The Church: A “What” or a “Who?” – Lessons from Mao Tse Tung & Tom Hanks

By Art McNeese, D. Min Question: What one person had more impact on Christianity than any other in the 20th century? Perhaps the answer is: Mao Tse Tung, the leader of Communist China until 1976. When Mao came to power, there were very few Christians in China. But by the end of the 20th century, […]

Don’t Fumble the Baton – Does the Previous Minister Have to Leave?

By Art McNeese, D. Min Churches often experience trauma when going through the process of succession. The previous preacher resigns or retires. The church then experiences the disequilibrium of finding a new minister. This normally creates ‘anxiety’ within the church system. After all, even in the event of needed change or positive change, the transition […]

Wilderness in Marriage and Ministry: Four Principles for Thriving Through Hard Seasons

by Lantz Howard During a six-hour road trip through the panhandle of Texas headed for our home in McKinney, a major turning point in my marriage occurred. I looked over at my wife, Jessica, and acknowledged the tears streaming down her face. Our four girls, all under the age of six, were in the back […]

Lavish Hope: Our Ministry to Encourage and Spiritually Nurture Ministry Wives

by Kaley Ihfe My husband and I had been in campus ministry for a little over a decade when he decided to go into preaching. We ended up at a great church; and it felt like the perfect fit for us. We had a strong sense that God had called us there. Karl immediately loved […]

Your Minister Needs a Shepherd

by John Eastland Jesus laid down his life for the sheep. In Jesus’ time, a shepherd knew the individual sheep in his flock. He cared for it, protected it, fought against wild beasts for it and, when it was lost, searched for it. Conversely, each sheep knew the shepherd’s voice, mannerisms, and care. It was […]

“How can I support my minister?”

by Matthew Love I am a preacher, and I care deeply about preaching, preachers, ministers in general, and congregations. Most the lay-folks in the pews I know also do. So, it’s alarming to me and to many to hear about recent trends and data suggesting significant turnover in ministry personnel. (See https://christianchronicle.org/our-ministerial-crisis-has-arrived/ as one example […]

Grounding Ourselves Sanely in an Age of Anxiety: Spiritual Practices for our Complex, Polarized Culture

By Adam Gray Before the workday was over, I met six new employees with this organization – three of which, after introducing myself and sharing my title, immediately responded by acknowledging their mental wellness struggles to me and wanted to schedule a time together. The biggest surprise in my first year with this organization is […]

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