News &amp; Updates

Harvey Recovery: News and Notes

We’re getting numerous updates about churches impacted by Hurricane Harvey and its soaking rains that flooded Greater Houston and much of the Gulf Coast area at the end of August, and we’re receiving news from churches and ministries that have launched efforts to help people and churches in those areas. Send updates to **@********************ia.com. (We will also try to share a few photos of recovery efforts; please send the images as attachments, and provide captions, one image per e-mail.) Here are some of the reports we’re receiving, along with some ways to help (we’re placing the newest items at the

September 1, 2017

September 2017

August 31, 2017

Houston-area Churches Coping with Harvey Flooding

Also read “Creekside Fellowship Helping Shelter Storm Victims” and “Church Riding Out Storm in Katy, Texas.” ________ By Jim Nieman Tim Liston, senior pastor of New Hope Church, a multisite megachurch with four locations mainly south of Houston, posted a “Hurricane Harvey Devotional” Sunday based on Matthew 8. In it, Liston says, “The best place to be in a storm is with Jesus.” New Hope, like most churches in the Greater Houston area, were forced to cancel onsite services Sunday because of the storm that has dumped, in some places, more than 50 inches of rain since Friday. When we

August 30, 2017

Creekside Fellowship Helping Shelter Storm Victims

Read “Houston-area Churches Coping with Harvey Flooding.” ________ By Chris Moon All pastor Greg Garcia could do Tuesday evening was wait. Garcia, founding pastor of Creekside Christian Fellowship in Needville, Texas, and his wife were in a hotel room, having been evacuated from their home in Katy, Texas, as the floodwaters from Hurricane Harvey rose. The last he had heard, hours before, was that the water was at his garage””and it was expected to rise another two feet. Serious damage to the family”s house and the loss of three cars seemed quite possible. “If that happens, we”re down to

August 28, 2017

Church Riding Out Storm in Katy, Texas

Here are two updates to this story (as of 5 p.m. Tuesday): Current””A Christian Church has set up a relief page on its website where people can make financial donations for relief efforts. Go toÂ www.currentchristian.org/harveyrelief. Of the money collected, 100 percent will go to relief efforts. Also, the church already has teams out doing construction work, and removing damaged carpet and drywall. Other teams are working to meet a variety of community needs, such as helping with supplies at schools and shelters. x x x By Chris Moon Nathan Rymer, executive pastor at Current””A Christian Church in Katy, Texas, was

August 25, 2017

Headlines: September 2017

Singer Overcomes Major Obstacle, Wins Over Harshest of Critics Mandy Harvey, 29, a singer-songwriter (who happens to be deaf) from St. Cloud, Fla., won over the judges””including notorious critic Simon Cowell””when she auditioned on NBC”s America”s Got Talent on June 6. Mandy”s father, Joe Harvey, an associate professor of ministry with Johnson University Florida in Kissimmee, wrote about his daughter in “Mandy”s Story” in the April 2015 issue of Christian Standard. Mandy became deaf during her first (and only) year studying music education at Colorado State University. Joe Harvey accompanied Mandy to the AGT performance and was interviewed as part

August 1, 2017

August 2017

August 1, 2017

Jim Nieman

The Editors: An Inside Scoop

Christian Standard managing editor Jim Nieman reflects on the four editors he has known and worked alongside. By Jim Nieman My transition from newspaper journalist to Christian Standard managing editor came about unexpectedly almost 20 years ago. Three editors of the magazine played roles in making it happen . . . and I am glad they did. Because of my unique perch and perspective, new editor Mike Mack asked me to share my insights into these gentlemen. Edwin V. Hayden I”ve been managing editor for the last three editors of the magazine, but a man I never worked

July 21, 2017

Headlines: August 2017

Baptisms Surge at Kentucky Church Thanks to Jail Ministry A Kentucky church is using a jail ministry to add hundreds of lives to God”s kingdom each year. Jessamine Christian Church baptized 227 people during 2016″”a number that is notable because the church averages 525 in weekly worship attendance. That”s an average of 43 baptisms per 100 people in attendance. Only a handful of churches in Christian Standard“s annual church statistics issue””which was compiled by Kent Fillinger and published in May””reached a baptism ratio of 10 per 100 in attendance. Wally Rendel, senior minister of the church in Nicholasville, a city

July 18, 2017

Jerry Harris

Letter from the Publisher

Letter from Jerry Harris, Publisher of Christian Standard.

July 12, 2017

Michael C. Mack

Giving Honor to an Editor and Friend

By Michael C. Mack I don”t recall what the speaker said, but I”m sure his words were well-spoken and significant. I do remember, however, who that speaker was on that Sunday evening 21 years ago: Mark Taylor, who was at that time publisher at Standard Publishing Company. Mark had already played a key role in my life. When I worked in the New Products department at Standard in the early to mid-“90s, Mark was my boss. When I left to start a web-based small group ministry in 1995, he encouraged me and gave me opportunities to do freelance work, which

July 1, 2017

Jerry Harris

July 2017

June 20, 2017

Michael C. Mack

How I Got Here . . . on God”s Path

God knows what we need before we ask him, and he knew I needed Mike Mack. As the new publisher of Christian Standard Media, my first major responsibility was finding a qualified, passionate editor for Christian Standard. The Lord provided a writer, editor, minister, and disciple maker who already had a great relationship with the magazine, and I”m excited to have him tell you a little about his story. “”Jerry Harris _ _ _ By Michael C. Mack God drastically changed my life in 1988. I found Jesus, found a great church, was baptized, lost my job, started seminary, and

June 19, 2017

Church Gives Away 4,000 Copies of Christian Standard

On Sunday, June 18, Crossroads Christian Church in Grand Prairie, Texas, gave 4,000 copies of the July issue of Christian Standard, with its new design and focus, to its members and attenders. Senior pastor Barry Cameron told those in attendance that the magazine is one of the oldest continually published magazines in the United States and is all about our “tribe.” “We told them the emphasis of this publication is to unify and rally all the Christian churches together to have a greater impact for the kingdom and to share the great stories of what God is doing in our

June 18, 2017

The July Issue Is Now Available Via Our App

The July issue of Christian Standard“”completely redesigned, updated, and refocused””should be arriving in our print subscribers’ mailboxes very soon and is available for download right now via our app. There is a new leadership team, featuring Publisher Jerry Harris and Editor Michael C. Mack, a new designer, and a firm commitment to (as Jerry writes this month) “capture the power that comes from our unity.” Christian Standard”s ownership has also changed in recent months. A new not-for-profit, Restoration Movement Media, now owns both Christian Standard and her sister publication, The Lookout. It is the first time in 62 years that

June 13, 2017

Jerry Harris

What to Expect from CHRISTIAN STANDARD

By Jerry Harris Why is the survival of CHRISTIAN STANDARDÂ so important and what does it offerÂ that other magazines don”t?Â Other magazines like Relevant, Outreach, and Christianity Today offer lots of good commentary and resourcing for churches and leaders in general, but they represent no actual tribe. CHRISTIAN STANDARD is critical to the Restoration Movement because it serves a vital role unique to us. We are comprised of about 5,300 churches, all autonomous, without any denominational support to hold us together. It”s one of our greatest strengths, but without something connecting us regularly, we can lose much of the potential of

April 4, 2017

Michael Mack Named Christian Standard Editor

Michael C. Mack has been named the 12th editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. Jerry Harris, newly appointed publisher of Christian Standard Media, announced that Mack will join him on the staff of the magazine, beginning with its July issue. “We at Christian Standard Media are truly blessed to have on our team the combination of talent and passion we find in Michael Mack!” Harris said. “We welcome Mike and his wife, Heidi, into a bright future with CHRISTIAN STANDARD.” Mack comes to the position with 28 years of experience in publishing, local church ministry, and national small groups leadership. He is

March 14, 2017

My Retirement Plan

By Mark A. Taylor Yesterday”s announcement of Jerry Harris as the new publisher for Christian Standard Media includes news of my retirement. I”d like to use my space this week to add a little background. I told Standard Publishing management about 20 months ago, in July of 2015, that I planned to retire after the North American Christian Convention in Anaheim in 2016. But when most of Standard Publishing (but not the magazines) was sold to David C. Cook in December 2015, I changed my plan. We assumed that some new owner would also eventually acquire CHRISTIAN STANDARD and The

March 13, 2017

Restoration Movement Media Announces Christian Standard Media Publisher Transition

PARKER, CO””The president of Restoration Movement Media, Doug Crozier, along with its board is very pleased to announce the next chapter of leadership for Christian Standard Media. Jerry Harris, senior pastor of The Crossing based in Quincy, Illinois, has been named the new publisher of CHRISTIAN STANDARD and The Lookout magazines. He will serve in this role while continuing his leadership at The Crossing. The transition coincides with the retirement of the current publisher, Mark A. Taylor, on June 30, 2017. “Mark Taylor has faithfully served in a variety of roles at Christian Standard Media, formerly Standard Publishing, for more

March 7, 2017