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.
July 24, 2016
Jeff Vines explains to Kelly Carr, editor of The Lookout, why church leaders must focus more on apologetics and why he believes all evangelism must be one-on-one. See this interview, from the 2016 NACC in Anaheim, here.
July 23, 2016
“What if we put as much emphasis on scattering as we do on gathering?” Rick Rusaw talks about “neighboring” and the hard work of being an “organic” church in this interview with contributing editor Jennifer Johnson at the 2016 NACC in Anaheim.
July 23, 2016
Matt Proctor challenges parents to seize their opportunity to create a lasting legacy through their children. Get his tips for parenting in this exclusive interview with Editor Mark Taylor at the 2016 North American Christian Convention.
July 22, 2016
Contributing editor Jennifer Johnson talks with Mel McGowan about how a church building can help tell the gospel story to its particular community in this exclusive interview.
July 21, 2016
Contributing editor Ben Cachiaras speaks with Dr. Jerry Taylor at the 2016 North American Christian Convention about racial unity and the problem with political correctness today. In this exclusive interview, he suggests what the local church can do in troubled times like those we”re experiencing today.
July 20, 2016
Contributing editor Ben Cachiaras speaks with Gene Appel, minister with Eastside Christian Church, Anaheim, California, about next year”s North American Christian Convention (he”s president), why he loves the “tribe” of Christian churches/churches of Christ, and how to lead change in a local church. See this exclusive interview here.
July 20, 2016
Kelly Carr, editor of The Lookout, talked with Christine Caine at the 2016 North American Christian Convention about how shame drives many leaders and how individual Christians can make a difference with the big problems in our world today. See the exclusive interview here. For more information about Christine Caine”s ministry, go to http://christinecaine.com.
July 19, 2016
Dudley Rutherford, pastor with Shepherd Church in Porter Ranch, California, paused to talk with CHRISTIAN STANDARD Editor Mark Taylor during the 2016 North American Christian Convention. In this exclusive interview, he shares how his Dream of Destiny came about, and what he thinks about progress in Christian churches and churches of Christ to achieve racial diversity.
July 18, 2016
Dave Stone, 2016 North American Christian Convention president, shares where this year”s theme, “A Better Story,” came from. In this exclusive interview with contributing editor Ben Cachiaras, Dave thanks California churches for the convention”s success and shares reactions to Christian churches and churches of Christ he”s receiving from Christian leaders outside that fellowship. (Click here to view the interview.)
July 16, 2016
Jeff Stone shares ideas to help any Christian seize moments with evangelistic potential in his summary of his workshop, “Creative Ways to Share Your Story.” Exclusive interview at the 2016 North American Christian Convention with editor Mark A. Taylor, here.
July 15, 2016
Melissa Sandel and Rob Kastens, two megachurch executive pastors, talk about the unique challenges of the role and what they wish someone had told them before they took it on. Exclusive interview from the 2016 North American Christian Convention with CHRISTIAN STANDARD contributing editor Jennifer Johnson, here.
July 12, 2016
By Mark A. Taylor Like every great novel or memorable movie, your story has a cast of compelling characters. And no matter how much you may hear about telling or improving your story, it will never be about you alone. These other characters in your story set its plot even before you were born. Your parents and theirs, your siblings and your childhood have all colored and directed your story, probably in ways you don”t realize. This is why your counselor pokes and prods to know more about your family and your growing-up years. Your story is not about you
June 22, 2016
By Jim Tune In just a few weeks Claudia and I will be on our way to Anaheim, California, for the 2016 North American Christian Convention. President Dave Stone has put together a great program, and the theme, “A Better Story,” is especially appropriate considering the convention is happening in Walt Disney”s backyard. Walt Disney loved a good story and devoted his life to helping people imagine a better world and a magical future. He was tireless in his optimistic vision of a better tomorrow. The creation of Tomorrowland at Disneyland (and later at Walt Disney World) was the realized
February 21, 2016
By Wendy Fitzgerald A good defense isn”t enough to help us score against the enemy. Every year, Americans gather to watch two teams battle for the title of Super Bowl Champion. While the defensive, offensive, and special teams units are all important to a team”s success, the offense scores the most points. The same is true of our faith. As Christians, we are in a battle that can be won only if we engage offensively. As long as we have strong defense, the enemy will not score against us, but we need a good offense to score against him! When
February 20, 2016
By Arron Chambers This past summer, instead of traveling across the country, we decided to have a staycation and experience some of the beauty and wonders close to home. My wife, who apparently also wanted us to experience a great deal of pain and discomfort, was intent that we all climb the Manitou Incline. The Manitou Incline is a popular hiking trail rising above Manitou Springs, Colorado. The 2,744-step trail is the remains of a railway whose tracks washed out during a rockslide in 1990. The incline is as steep as 68 percent in places, making it a difficult fitness
February 19, 2016
By Dave Stone It”s the right place and the right time for all of us to discover “A Better Story.” Several years ago the North American Christian Convention called to ask me a two-part question: “Would you be willing to serve as the president in 2016 AND would you be willing to have the conference in California (where it hasn”t been in 24 years)?” Before I answered, I asked for some time to pray about it and talk with various pastors in the Southern California area. The next couple of months became a time of incredible discovery. I heard story after
January 1, 2016
MONDAY, JULY 11Â TBA””ICOM Pre-Convention Event 7:30 p.m.””MOVE Evening Session TUESDAY, JULY 12Â TBA””ICOM Pre-Convention Event TBA”””Velocity” Event for Leaders Under Age 40 9:15 a.m.””MOVE Morning Session 7:30 p.m.””NACC Main Session (Dave Stone speaking) 7:30 p.m.””MOVE Evening Session 9:00 p.m.””President”s Reception WEDNESDAY, JULY 13 8:00 a.m.””Ministry Networking Breakfast 8:00 a.m.””Women in Ministry Breakfast 9:00 a.m.””Bible Study with Kyle Idleman 9:15 a.m.””MOVE Morning Session 10:30 a.m.””NACC Main Session (Dudley Rutherford speaking) 12:30 p.m.””Ladies” Luncheon (featuring Christine Caine) 2:30 p.m.””Workshop Session I 4:00 p.m.””Workshop Session II 7:30 p.m.””NACC Main Session (Gene Appel and Christine Caine speaking) 7:30 p.m.””MOVE Evening Session THURSDAY, JULY
December 28, 2015
By Jeff Walling Someone asked me why I like using hip-hop poetry, sometimes called “spoken word,” as sermon illustrations. I answered, simply, “Because God is a hip-hop artist.” Before you brand me a heretic, consider this: God is the original spoken word artist. From the first introduction of God in the Scriptures, the creator of all things seems to love using words to create art. He could have made the universe with a snap of his fingers or a nod of his head, but instead he spoke it into existence. And it”s not just any words he prefers, but poetic
September 7, 2015
By Darrel Rowland “I did not set out to do radical stuff,” says this year”s NACC president, Mike Baker. But he knew “it was going to be a bit of a risk to our tradition” to schedule a woman to preach at a main session, for one of the very few times in convention history. “There”s two things about me,” Baker said. “I”m an old-school Christian churcher, so I know full well that both my dad and my grandfather, who have passed on, would not approve of me having a woman speaker. But I”m also a word guy, and I”m
September 6, 2015
By Darrel Rowland This year”s NACC offered something from everyone, in a week filled with challenge, a few surprises, and at least one controversy. We speak . . . Both young and old . . . With voices from America to Asia . . . Through dynamic music to dramatic poetry . . . From hard-core theology to lighthearted comedy . . . Via onstage vignettes to on-screen video . . . By anointing with oil to acknowledging those who have gone to their reward . . . Every year it seems the North American Christian Convention offers something for
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