Results

Pastors today are faced with more work, more problems, and more stress than any other time in the history of the church. This is taking a frightening toll on the ministry, shown by the statistics below: Pastors: · Fifteen hundred pastors leave the ministry each month due to moral failure, spiritual burnout…

Do not think of preaching until you have truth written on your very soul. You would as well think of steering a ship across the ocean without knowing the first principles of navigation. You would as well think of setting up as an ambassador without your country’s sanction as to dare to intrude yourself…

There are churches wherein the minister is nominally the leading officer, but he cannot lead, for the church does not follow. A young officer, sword in hand, leaps the rampart. He looks back, but his troop is yards behind him. He cries, “Come on! Come on!” But there is no answer; he might as well call…

I have seen in the army a number of veterans marching in front, an ornament and an honor to the whole company. Your short-service men come and go, but these tried men stick to the colors and are the backbone of the regiment. If a tough bit of fighting has to be done, you must rely upon such as these.…

Along the coast, in certain places, there are no harbors. But in other spots, there are bays into which vessels run at once in the time of storm. Some men present an open natural harborage for people in distress. You love them instinctively, and trust them unreservedly. They, on their part, welcome your…

You have sometimes seen a widely spreading oak tree cut down, and you have missed its grateful shadow. Yet afterwards you have discovered that many little trees, which would have been dwarfed beneath its shade, have grown more rapidly in its absence. In like manner, the removal of some eminent servant…

Queen Elizabeth told a notable merchant in the City of London to go to the Continent on royal business. “Please your majesty,” said he, “who will attend to my business while I am away?” The queen replied, “If you will go abroad and see to my business, I will see to your business.” I will be bound to…

A famous preacher was to preach on a certain occasion, but he missed his way and was too late. The devil, knowing of it, put on the appearance of the minister, took his place, and preached a sermon to the people, who supposed they were listening to the famous preacher whom they had expected. The devil…

In the long line of portraits of the Doges in the palace at Venice one space is empty, and the semblance of a black curtain remains as a melancholy record of glory forfeited. Found guilty of treason against the state, Marino Falieri was beheaded and his image as far as possible blotted from remembrance.…

In his business book, Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen, Donald Miller says something from a business perspective that the church has known for years: “Those who realize the epic story of life is not about them but actually about the people around them somehow win in…

Federal and local authorities responded to the need when excessive amounts of lead were discovered in the drinking water in Flint Michigan. They were a joined by Baptists from the area. Most residents were only able to one case of water per day, but many families need more due to cooking and drinking.…

Blaine Boyer, relief pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers, spent ten days in November 2015 in Southeast Asian brothels, wearing a hidden camera and doing undercover work to help rescue underage sex slaves. Working through a nonprofit called the Exodus Road, Boyer, and good friend Adam LaRoche, conducted…

A Methodist church in Minnesota asked members over the age of 60 to worship elsewhere for 18 months while it tries to woo a younger congregation. After all, Rev. Dan Wetterstrom explained, “Jesus said we are called to reach new people.” The Week, February 7, 2020 p. 6 I understand the need and the desire…

A church in downtown Detroit is working to encourage the renewal of the area by introducing a spiritual component. ST. John’s Episcopal Church is located next door to Comerica Park and has a prime location, so they installed a wooden prayer wall, 9 feet high. The church says the wall is a way for them…

Genocide, rape, destruction, child trafficking are all the norm in many parts of the world. This devastating reality has caused millions of people to flee their homes, countries, and families looking for safety. There are more displaced people in the world now than there were after World War II. There…

In a difficult neighborhood of Los Angeles, the Central City Community Church of the Nazarene hosts a karaoke night for the homeless and nearly homeless in the neighborhood. They come, about 200 per week, and shut out the depressing street life to sing and dance and share refreshments. Pastor Tony, who…

According to a new government report, 50% of U.S. homes do not have or do not use a landline, relying on their cellular phones. That figure increases to 60% among young adults. The study, will aid the Center for Disease Control adapt its data collection program. The CDC was using data collected exclusively…

Peggy Uhle was already on a flight from Chicago to Columbus waiting to take off when the plane turned back to the gate and a flight attendant asked her to get off. She thought maybe she had gotten on the wrong plane and she complied. The gate agent asked her to check in at the desk, and the desk told…

As Intervarsity Christian Fellowship students head back to school on more than 100 campuses, they are asking fellow students about their bucket list to delve into other’s deeper motivations. When the topic turns to conversations about spiritual topics, interested students can be invited to learn more…

When a Christian finds him or herself in a difficult ministry situation we just don’t know what to say, or do, or how we can help. Many times our presence with someone is worth more than any word we can say or action we can take. In fact, a new study shows that the simple act of holding hands with a…

The American Bible Society has released their fifth annual State of the Bible report, which contains several assumptions that Americans have about the Bible. Among other things, it shows that a majority (72%) of Americans were not aware that many languages still do not have a Bible translation. Linguists…

For a small Nepali church, the huge earthquake in April 2015 meant loss and heartache, but it has also provided a new sense of purpose. The church lead by Pastor Tamang was singing a worship song, when they were interrupted by the 7.8 magnitude earthquake. They grabbed hands and crouched against an inner…

Reverend Wena Parry a minister in Great Britain says she was told that stickers saying “Christ Must be Saviour” and “Christ For me” could be regarded as modifications and might void her insurance policy. Parry though she was being treated unfairly and was concerned that someone in the company had something…

Studies have shown that children who grow up in poverty do poorer in school than those who do not. Now, a new study suggests part of the reason stems from changes in how the brains of these children grow and work. The study, which combined the expertise of neuroscientists and economists, found that the…