The Miscellaneous category houses articles, updates, reflections, and resources that do not fit neatly into one of Christian Standard’s primary topical hubs. While broad in scope, these posts still aim to serve readers with biblically grounded insight, thoughtful commentary, and practical value for Christian life and ministry.
March 21, 2023
"It’s been five years since the final NACC, [but] I still go to the North American Christian conventions. And I think you should too," writes Matt Proctor. "By 'conventions,' I mean our three biggest national gatherings that are still largely Independent Christian Church folks . . ."
September 28, 2022
Dr. Richard D. Hogan, 88, died Tuesday in Bella Vista, Ark. He was a longtime minister with First Christian Church in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and then with NewLife Christian Church in Bella Vista, Ark. He served as president of the 1990 North American Christian Convention and was a longtime member of the Publishing Committee at Standard Publishing.
May 1, 2019
Compiled by Chris Moon and Jim Nieman Emmanuel Christian Seminary’s Helsabeck Archives has received the contents of the archives of the North American Christian Convention. The seminary has been sorting through 100 boxes that contain photos, audio, and visual material spanning the 90-year-plus history of the NACC. “When the NACC contacted us about donating their archives, I was thrilled,” said Katherine Banks, college archivist at Emmanuel. “Because the Helsabeck Archives is focused on collecting the history of the Christian church/church of Christ branch of the Stone-Campbell Movement and the convention has been such a pivotal part of that branch’s history, I knew it
September 30, 2018
By Jerry Harris The 2018 North American Christian Convention was held where it started 91 years ago, in Indianapolis. This year’s president, Drew Sherman, his team, and the NACC staff pulled together an amazing experience with inspiring speakers, incredible worship, and great accommodations. As usual at “the connecting place,” I engaged in countless conversations with like-minded leaders in our tribe, something for which the NACC is known. Some of those conversations were powerful to me. Leadership Huddles were a new addition; these ministry intensives and roundtable discussions drilled down into real issues leaders face every day in ministry. Volunteers from
September 30, 2018
(This is a sidebar to Jerry Harris’s October 2018 Letter from the Publisher: “The NACC: Celebrating Our Wins . . . and Starting an Inspiring New Season”) By Jerry Harris Seventy-seven names. As one scans them, a history of the modern independent Christian church forms. These men strove to hold together in unity an independent movement while, at the same time, cherishing its individuality. They worked hard to inspire a movement of healthy, growing churches. They had their own ministries, but they generously gave their time, talent, and treasure to advance a tribe and cause in which they believed.
September 13, 2018
Rick Rusaw has announced plans to step down as lead pastor of LifeBridge Christian Church, Longmont, Colo., by September 2019, and transition to serving with the Spire network, formerly known as the North American Christian Convention. Rusaw and his wife, Diane, have served in Longmont for 28 years. LifeBridge averaged 3,264 in weekly worship attendance last year. “We knew there would be a time when we would pass the leadership privilege to someone new,” Rusaw wrote in a letter to the church posted at lbcc.org. “Now, as I look to the future of our church’s opportunities and needs, it has
July 18, 2018
North American Christian Convention managing director Larry Collins provided various statistics about the recent gathering in Indianapolis June 26-28. “The NACC 2018 was a wonderful event and combined the best of all the programming tweaks that have been made over the last five years,” Collins said. Total attendance for the event was 6,032. Of that total, 4,826 people registered and an estimated 1,206 people—or about 25 percent—did not register. Among those who registered, 233 were students and 442 were children. In addition, Compassion Experience prearranged with the NACC to have a large number of folks visit their display during the
June 27, 2018
Why Nathan Loewen and other gospel-believing Disciples of Christ pastors are attending the North American Christian Convention in Indianapolis this year. By Michael C. Mack Much has changed and much has remained the same in the Restoration Movement over the past 90-plus years. The separation was set in motion, many say, over a two-year period beginning with the 1926 Disciples of Christ convention in Memphis, Tennessee, and then the response by the more biblically conservative church leaders who organized the first North American Christian Convention in 1927. Over the next 45 years or so, the two groups drifted apart
June 3, 2018
By Jerry Harris Some of us have heard a massive shift is coming to the North American Christian Convention that will make it unrecognizable compared to gatherings of years past. While the 2019 convention will see some changes, in many ways it will focus on the fundamentals upon which the NACC was founded. I was at a meeting to help plan the NACC’s 92nd-year gathering. I was surrounded by committed leaders of our movement from churches, organizations, and missions. What I heard renewed my excitement for a great future. The mission of the NACC is “. . . to encourage
August 27, 2017
By Jerry Harris Three words describe the core of the mission of the North American Christian Convention: identity, inspiration, and ideas. The convention has been crucial to the unity and vibrancy of the independent Christian church since its inception in 1927. The 2017 NACC in Kansas City, Missouri, June 27-29, was the first time I was tasked with setting up and manning a booth instead of just attending the NACC as a pastor of a local church. Even before the convention started, I was surrounded by many people critical to our fellowship. Identity As my wife and I checked in
February 6, 2017
By Chris Moon Something new! Something free! Something fun! It’s for EVERYONE! It was like a banana split without the whipped cream. Or hot chocolate without the marshmallows. Or a Thanksgiving Day meal without the pumpkin pie. Something was missing. That was the thinking among the leadership of the North American Christian Convention following the final night of programming at the 2016 convention in Anaheim, California. Everything went so well. Bob Goff was the keynote speaker. The Christian rock band For King & Country put on a concert. The atmosphere was electric. “People were just up in the clouds””excited,” says
February 6, 2017
By Chris Moon Mitch Chitwood grew up in the Restoration Movement. He spent his childhood attending independent Christian churches in Arizona and Nebraska. His father has served for decades as a Christian church pastor. And Chitwood today works as the operations and multisite pastor for StoneBridge Christian Church in Omaha, Nebraska. Needless to say, the 27-year-old is very familiar with the movement of Christian churches and churches of Christ that spans the United States. But for his first several years in ministry, Chitwood never fully felt part of that movement. “I always had that one-step barrier,” he says. Chitwood attributes
February 5, 2017
By Greg Montague 10. KC Streetcar. This fun new travel option ferries people between downtown restaurants, art galleries, and shopping areas””for FREE! http://kcstreetcar.org 9. The Power & Light District. Folks can dine in style or on a budget at dozens of restaurants within three blocks of the convention center. www.powerandlightdistrict.com 8. BBQ. Kansas City is known for some of the finest barbecue in America! My personal favorite? Jack Stack Barbecue, just south of the convention center in the Freight House District. www.jackstackbbq.com 7. The College Basketball Experience and National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. Sports fans will LOVE this tribute
February 4, 2017
By Gene Appel I want to invite you to join me in one of America”s greatest cities for my favorite conference on the planet, the North American Christian Convention, June 27″“29 in Kansas City, Missouri. I especially want to invite you if you”ve never been to this special gathering, or if you haven”t been able to make it for a few years. After a fantastic convention in Anaheim, California, in 2016, we have great momentum building for Kansas City, and I hope you”ll jump on board. Let me share why. First, we have an urgent theme:Â “This is for EVERYONE.” God”s
January 24, 2017
By Mark A. Taylor It”s fair to say the passing of Leonard Wymore represents another marker in the end of an era. Leonard, who served as director of the North American Christian Convention from 1963 to 1986, died last Thursday, January 19. He was 95 years old. Known by many as Mr. North American, Leonard had his finger on the pulse of Christian churches and churches of Christ as perhaps no one else. He traveled widely. He heard and encouraged preachers in churches small and large across the heartland. He passionately promoted unity and church growth in a fellowship of
August 27, 2016
By Mark A. Taylor In recognition of CHRISTIAN STANDARD”s 150th birthday earlier this year, the North American Christian Convention featured a workshop led by three of the magazine”s contributing editors. We asked each of them to think about hopes and challenges they see for the future of the churches served by this magazine for a century and a half. The comments below are edited from the hour-long workshop. See the whole session here. Matt Proctor What will be the future of the independent Christian churches? As I considered the churches I”ve seen, I thought of three answers to that question:
August 25, 2016
By Mark A. Taylor Convention President Dave Stone rallied California Christian churches and churches of Christ to join brothers and sisters from around the world at the Anaheim Convention Center in an exuberant gathering July 12-15. Here, close to the center of storytelling for much of our culture, Christians gathered to tell “A Better Story.” The spirit in each session was upbeat, energized by a crowd of Californians for whom this was their first NACC. Main session preaching centered on encounters with Jesus recorded in the Gospel of John, and each sermon offered hope and help for Christians and church
July 26, 2016
By Mark A. Taylor Of course, if you had attended the North American Christian Convention in Anaheim, California, July 12-15, you would have experienced many good things . . . We enjoyed dry, warm days amid the beautiful palm-tree setting of the Anaheim Convention Center We shared the enthusiasm of California Christians, many of whom had never experienced an NACC before. Over half the crowd at the packed opening-night assembly were Californians. A similar number said this was their first NACC. Gene Appel, minister with Eastside Christian Church in Anaheim, praised convention President Dave Stone for the hard work he
July 26, 2016
Are there orphans in America? Yes, indeed, according to Brian Mavis, president of America”s Kids Belong. Mavis discussed the foster care crisis in the U.S. with Editor Mark A. Taylor at the 2016 NACC in Anaheim. See this exclusive interview here.
July 25, 2016
Joe Grana talks about spiritual disciplines and how it is possible for a Christian of any age to continue to grow spiritually. See this interview from the 2016 NACC in Anaheim here.
March 27, 2026
Rick Cherok
March 27, 2026
David Empson
March 27, 2026
David Faust