Miscellaneous

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.

September 6, 2014

Christian Standard

Why Would You Be the President of the NACC?

By Tim Harlow I made a joke the final day of the North American Christian Convention when I appointed my friend Mike Baker as next year”s president. I knighted him with a sword (because Mike and I are weird that way), and then I said, “But I”m keeping the sword””because you might be tempted to fall on it sometime this year.” In case you are wondering, there is no pay involved in being the president. Actually it”s the opposite; your church or organization will likely have to spend money on it, and it will cost you in many ways. Is

September 1, 2014

Christian Standard

2014 NACC: One Man’s Testimony

  By Darrel Rowland Lee Strobel has made The Case for Christ, The Case for Faith, and even The Case for Christmas. At the North American Christian Convention, the popular Christian speaker and apologetics author made the case for Christian churches and churches of Christ. “This movement of churches is nothing short of miraculous,” he said the day before taking the NACC stage.  “God is doing amazing things. I love their pastors””they”ve got huge hearts, they love the lost, they”re strategic, they”re prayerful, they”re culturally relevant, they”re scriptural, they”re entrepreneurial.” Strobel has appeared at several Christian churches across the country.

September 1, 2014

Christian Standard

2014 NACC: Offstage

By Darrel Rowland   As with any North American Christian Convention, not all the action was on the main stage. You could mine golden nuggets at every turn. If you found Haydn Shaw”s workshop on the impact of generational differences in the church, you would have heard the sobering observation that people living 35 years longer, on average, is one of God”s most amazing blessings on our time””and millions will go to Hell because of it. Before people started living longer, the next generation would receive the leadership torch because the old folks simply died off. Now, people with power

August 31, 2014

Christian Standard

2014 NACC: Different & Demanding

By Darrel Rowland It”s hard to say which was the more unusual sight at this year”s North American Christian Convention: the heavy-metal guitarist with waist-length dreadlocks and arms covered by tattoos as a featured speaker or the video of venerable Ben Merold, now 88, playing the Godfather. Or was it the appearance of a beardless Duck Dynasty star? Perhaps the oversized beach balls and foam flying discs tossed into the crowd before several of the services? Or possibly even the NACC president admitting that his primary prayer to God was “not to screw up the work of his Holy Spirit”

July 15, 2014

Mark A. Taylor

Recommitted to the Mission

By Mark A. Taylor  A large convention of Jehovah”s Witnesses met last weekend in Indianapolis, on the heels of the North American Christian Convention there Tuesday through Friday. When some JW delegates began arriving on Thursday, a teenager I know said, “I wonder if they”ll go through the hotel, knocking on every door.” We all chuckled, but later I thought, Wouldn”t it be something if OUR movement were known for persistently sharing what we believe about Christ? After last week”s convention, that could happen. President Tim Harlow”s theme for the week was ReMission, a challenge to recommit to the mission

July 11, 2014

Mark A. Taylor

A Conversation with Lee Strobel

Lee Strobel talked about his love for the Christian Church movement and the need for apologetics teaching today in his interview with CHRISTIAN STANDARD Editor Mark Taylor at the 2014 North American Christian Convention. See it here.

July 10, 2014

Mark A. Taylor

A Conversation with Rick Santorum

Rick Santorum spoke passionately at the 2014 North American Christian Convention about the need for Christian values to permeate our culture and the potential of Christian film to help accomplish this. See  CHRISTIAN STANDARD Editor Mark Taylor’s interview with him here.

July 10, 2014

Mark A. Taylor

A Conversation with Liz Curtis Higgs

  CHRISTIAN STANDARD Editor Mark Taylor talks””and laughs!””with Liz Curtis Higgs at the 2014 North American Christian Convention about how to write a book and why she’s encouraged about the future of the church. See the interview here.

July 5, 2014

Christian Standard

5 Things to Do at the NACC

By Susan Lawrence As usual, the North American Christian Convention is packed with possibilities. You might not know where to begin. If you”ve attended for years, you might drift through this year”s event””July 8 to 11 in Indianapolis””on autopilot. Or, perhaps you want to take in as much as possible, so you”ve highlighted your program to maximize every day from sunrise to well past sunset. Take a deep breath. The NACC isn”t just a program for you to power through. 1. Make eye contact. Notice people around you. Stroll. Sit. Savor. Don”t rush from one session to another and miss

July 4, 2014

Christian Standard

Interview with Tim Harlow

By Paul Boatman Tim Harlow, the senior pastor of Parkview Christian Church, Orland Park, Illinois, is president of the 2014 North American Christian Convention.   Tell us about your work with the North American Christian Convention. My mother carried me in her womb to my first NACC. In the 52 years since then, I have attended 46 of the conventions. It really has always been a part of my life. In 1990, when I began a difficult ministry with this church, the convention was a lifeline for me. I got the empowering messages, the pats on the back, the “juice”

March 8, 2014

Christian Standard

Become a Better Leader with 50 Free Videos!

By Dick Alexander “¢ Encouragement “¢ Connecting “¢ Ideas “¢ Challenge “¢ Inner life “¢ Leadership And all in a few minutes each week. It sounds like a lot to promise, but Tim Harlow, 2014 North American Christian Convention president, makes and keeps big promises. Last year at a pastors” conference, Tim pulled together 50 outstanding Christian church leaders and asked each of them to share one thought, principle, or idea on leading churches that will reach the world. The result is a series of short videos being shared by the NACC, one each week via e-mail, with follow-up ideas

March 7, 2014

Christian Standard

Your NACC Planner

By Jennifer Johnson In American Religion: Contemporary Trends, author Mark Chaves reports the percentage of people in the United States who say they “never” attend church has risen steadily over the last 30 years, and that if current trends continue, we will soon be a “Protestant-minority” country. Warren Bird, director of research for Leadership Network, recently blogged that 125 million Americans””more than 1 out of 3″”haven”t attended any religious services in the last year, and writes, “That number alone would be the 10th largest country in the world!” At this year”s North American Christian Convention, President Tim Harlow will challenge

September 2, 2013

Christian Standard

Victorious: The theme needed most by the president

By Darrel Rowland The February weekend Matt Proctor found out his wife, Katie, had cancer was filled with tears, fears, and scary portents. The Sunday morning lesson he had to teach didn”t help; it was on Ruth and Naomi, both widowed when their spouses died. Emotionally wrung out by Sunday night, he suggested his kids pick out a movie and they would all gather downstairs and watch it together. The choice was the Disney-Pixar animated film Up. Within the first few minutes of the movie, the husband loses his wife. “I had tears rolling down my cheeks,” Proctor says. Less

August 5, 2013

Christian Standard

Victorious! — A Review of the 2013 NACC

By Darrel Rowland The woman who can never stand up got a standing ovation simply for guiding her wheelchair onto the stage. Why did the entire hall of thousands of Christians rise to applaud Joni Eareckson Tada””an honor given to no other speaker during this year”s North American Christian Convention in Louisville, Kentucky””even before she uttered a syllable? Perhaps because her life embodies the theme of the 2013 gathering: “Victorious.” Convention President Matt Proctor”s decision to spend July 9-12 plowing through the book of Revelation may have generated skepticism beforehand, but the reaction afterward was overwhelmingly positive. “I think this is

July 30, 2013

Mark A. Taylor

Choosing All the Priorities of Jesus

By Mark A. Taylor Dr. Frank Smith Jr.”s sermon, “Bear Witness Boldly,” began quietly, almost academically Thursday morning at the North American Christian Convention. With the style of a professor he set the stage and provided the background for the message he wanted to bring. By the time he had finished, though, his tone, and the reaction of his audience, was anything but quiet. In the spirit of legendary African-American oratory, his sermon ended with a driving cadence and rhythm that brought a chorus of clapping and amens from the crowd. Tucked in the middle were challenges that must not

July 28, 2013

Mark A. Taylor

Interview with Wayne Cordeiro

Hear Wayne Cordeiro’s take on balance, sabbath, ministry fruitfulness, apostasy, and how his church approaches volunteers with a challenge to serve. See this interview with CHRISTIAN STANDARD Editor Mark Taylor, recorded in July at the North American Christian Convention in Louisville, Kentucky.

July 27, 2013

Mark A. Taylor

Interview with Jon Weece

Jon Weece explains his church’s missional approach to ministry and reflects on suffering, the topic of his North American Christian Convention sermon. “We should anticipate suffering,” he says, “but also remember it is only temporary.” Click here to see his interview with CHRISTIAN STANDARD Editor Mark Taylor, recorded in July at the NACC in Louisville, Kentucky.

July 26, 2013

Mark A. Taylor

Interview with Mark Scott

Mark Scott explains his new approach to studying Revelation and also considers how the Christian college and the local church should relate to each other. See the interview with CHRISTIAN STANDARD Editor Mark Taylor by clicking here. (This conversation was recorded in July at the North American Christian Convention in Louisville, Kentucky.)

July 25, 2013

Mark A. Taylor

Interview with Frank Smith Jr.

Frank Smith challenges the church to lead in community transformation and asserts, “Pro-life means more than being anti-abortion.” Click here to see the interview with CHRISTIAN STANDARD Editor Mark Taylor filmed at the North American Christian Convention in Louisville, Kentucky, in July.

July 24, 2013

Mark A. Taylor

Interview with Amy Hanson

Amy Hanson, author of Baby Boomers and Beyond, tells CHRISTIAN STANDARD Editor Mark Taylor seniors ministry must change if we are to engage the next generation of retirees. See the interview here.

Help Keep Christian Standard Free & Accessible with a Tax Deductible Donation

We can do more together!

Every gift makes a difference!

No, thank you.
100% secure transactions - receipts provided.
Does Your Church Want to Support Christian Standard?

Would your church consider including support for Christian Standard in its annual missions budget? Your support would help us not only continue the 160-year legacy of this unifying ministry, but also expand the free resources, cooperative opportunities, and practical guidance we provide to strengthen churches in the U.S. and around the world.

We can do more together!

Every gift makes a difference!

No, thank you.
100% secure transactions - receipts provided.
Secret Link