Organizations & Events

Organizations & Events covers the ministries, institutions, and gatherings that shape church life and the Restoration Movement. Explore articles on conferences, training opportunities, church networks, and the work of organizations serving local congregations. You’ll find news, highlights, interviews, and event coverage—along with updates that help leaders stay connected and informed. Whether you’re looking for what’s happening across the movement or learning about trusted partners and key initiatives, this hub brings together stories and information related to organizations and events that support the mission of the church.

June 22, 2019

Christian Standard

10 Creative Ideas for How Christian Colleges and Churches Can Collaborate . . . and Make Both Stronger

By David Fincher Christian colleges want to work with local churches to enrich the school and its students, as well as the congregation and its members. Such collaboration helps our Christian higher education institutions maintain their core mission of training church leaders. Most Christian colleges and universities work hard to recruit potential students from the church, provide professional candidates to fill staff openings, and send preachers or teachers when asked. Christian churches need to use these important resources, and Christian colleges need to clearly communicate theservices it can offer congregations. Here are 10 ideas for creative collaborationforChristian colleges and churches

May 22, 2019

Christian Standard

Point and Jessup Cited as ‘Enrollment Success Stories’

The Council for Christian Colleges and Universities published an article on “Enrollment Success Stories” that features two of our Restoration Movement colleges: Point University in West Point, Ga., and William Jessup University in Rocklin, Calif. The story describes how, in 2006, Point University had 423 students, limited course offerings, and outdated facilities. “A firm of consultants estimated that it would take $17 million to make facilities fit for its current number of students,” the article stated, “as well as a $50 million investment to accommodate 1,200 students.” Much has changed over the past dozen-plus years. As of fall 2018, more

April 30, 2019

Christian Standard

Alexander to Succeed Derry as President of Hope International University

When Dr. Paul H. Alexander assumes the presidency of Hope International University in August, he will become the first alumnus of the institution to serve in that role. Alexander has been selected to succeed Dr. John L. Derry as president by HIU’s board of trustees. Alexander will begin serving as the institution’s seventh president on Aug. 16, upon Derry’s retirement. A presidential inauguration at the school in Fullerton, CA, is tentatively scheduled for Oct. 17. “I consider Paul one of my best friends and have had the privilege of working closely with him for nine years in his role as

April 25, 2019

Christian Standard

Kendall Grace Kemerly: Founder, Kendi’s Cows of Grace

This teenager who started a nonprofit ministry at age 8 continues to make a difference in the world By Kelly Carr “God’s teaching me that we’re not promised tomorrow, so we have to put forth our best today, every single chance we get. I need to listen to him and follow through what I’m being called to do, no matter what.” These wise words come from Kendall Grace Kemerly, who has been following the Lord in ministry since she first dreamed of making a difference at age 8. Now 16, she has spent 8 years overseeing Kendi’s Cows of Grace,

April 17, 2019

Christian Standard

Four Christian Universities Celebrating Milestone Anniversaries

By Jim Nieman At least four Christian colleges are celebrating significant anniversaries in 2019: Mid-South Christian College is turning 60, Great Lakes Christian College is marking 70 years, Lincoln Christian University turns 75, and Kentucky Christian University will mark its 100th anniversary. KENTUCKY CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY Kentucky Christian University in Grayson will celebrate its 100th birthday during Fall Homecoming Sept. 27-29, and again on Dec. 1, the actual anniversary of its founding. The Homecoming plans are still being finalized but will include a performance by 64 to Grayson, a Christian music group that formed at KCU; live performing artist (speed painter),

April 13, 2019

Christian Standard

Updated Listing of Christian College Enrichment Activities

Christian colleges have been offering numerous opportunities for fellowship and spiritual enrichment throughout the spring. We found some additional activities being offered over the next several weeks that weren’t part of the original list we posted Feb. 6. Below is an updated chronological listing of events yet to happen. “Love Your Story . . . Embrace His Glory,” the Lincoln (Ill.) Christian Women’s Conference, is scheduled for April 24. Featured speakers will include Debbie Strater Sempsrott and Sheila Walsh. Learn more at lincolnchristian.edu. Great Lakes Christian College, Lansing, Mich., will host a Women’s Spring Celebration at 6:30 p.m. April 26.

March 13, 2019

Christian Standard

Stone-Campbell Journal Conference Set for April 5, 6

The 18th annual Stone-Campbell Journal (SCJ) Conference will take place next month at Johnson University Tennessee in Knoxville. The conference will be from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. April 5, and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 6. The theme “Acts and Paul: Another Look” will be developed by Craig Keener, F. M. Ada Thompson Professor of Biblical Studies, Asbury (Ky.) Theological Seminary; Jerry Sumney, professor or biblical studies, Lexington (Ky.) Theological Seminary; and David Fiensy, emeritus professor of biblical studies, Kentucky Christian University in Grayson. Keener will present “Interpreting Acts: The Value of Cultural Background” and “Interpreting Romans: The

February 21, 2019

Christian Standard

Let’s Help the Disabled

On Jan. 29, 1984, Sam E. Stone provided an answer to a question he had asked readers more than two years earlier: “Just what is the church doing to meet some of the enormous needs disabled people are facing?” The answer came in the form of a front-page story in Christian Standard entitled, “Ministry to the Handicapped Begins.” That article—as you’ll read—details the start of the Christian Foundation for the Handicapped, which continues to thrive, but under a new name, Ability Ministry. (Read more about Ability Ministry—including an important part of its origin story that Sam doesn’t share here—in an

February 6, 2019

Christian Standard

Christian Colleges Offer Fellowship and Enrichment Opportunities This Spring

Christian colleges have planned numerous opportunities for fellowship and spiritual enrichment this spring. We scoured their websites and came up with this calendar of activities. If we happened to miss an event or two, please let us know at **@********************ia.com and we will be happy to add to this chronological list. _ _ _ Summit Christian College, Gering, Neb., is offering a series of “Bridge Seminars” throughout the spring. Attend the free events in person or online. Seminars led by SCC professors begin at 6:30 p.m. Thursdays and last about 45 minutes. Church groups are welcome. Learn more at www.summitcc.net.

January 31, 2019

Christian Standard

The Origins of Hope International University

Announcement of John Derry’s retirement as president of Hope International University this coming August after 15 years in that office served to remind me it is the 90th anniversary of that institution, which originally was known as Pacific Bible Seminary. Christian Standard announced the launch of that school with a front-page story Dec. 1, 1928, and also with an editorial in that same issue. Following are excerpts from the article, but some of its details open up a bit of mystery. _ _ _ Pacific Bible Seminary New School for the Training of Loyal Christian Preachers Is Launched in Los

January 30, 2019

Christian Standard

Jay Craig Retiring after Long Career with Shiloh Christian Children’s Ranch

By Jim Nieman Jay Craig, who has served Shiloh Christian Children’s Ranch almost since its beginning in 1977, is retiring this week after nearly 40 years of service to about 700 youth who were once abused or neglected, but found refuge through the years at one of Shiloh’s six homes. Craig came on as the ranch’s administrator on Jan. 1, 1980, and later transitioned to direct fund-raising for the Christian nonprofit. Shiloh has a $2 million budget and operates primarily through the generosity of churches and individuals. (The ranch receives virtually no government funding.) Today about 50 children, ranging in

January 29, 2019

Christian Standard

Transforming Ability: Ministry Rebrands to Reach the 1 Billion-Plus People in the World Who Live with a Disability

By Ryan Wolfe God is writing a story of transformation at Ability Ministry. Richard Rohr wrote, “Transformed people transform people.” It is a simple yet profound statement. An outward transformation in the world must start with an inward transformation. This was the case in September 1981 when Sam Stone, then editor of Christian Standard, went to visit his parents at Mount Healthy Christian Home in Cincinnati. Sam surely never realized the transformative work God would begin that day. At that senior housing facility, Sam met resident Marjorie Broxon, who had cerebral palsy and was in a wheelchair. She spoke slowly.

January 29, 2019

Christian Standard

How Is ICOM Making a Lasting Impact on the Church?

By Emily Drayne Youth conferences, weeks of camp, training conferences for adults, and mission trips are all mountaintop experiences. Participants come home refreshed, revitalized, and more passionate about the things they spent time focusing on. But life inevitably slows down, the daily humdrum returns, and the fire inside begins to flicker. There is at least one Great Commission-focused event, however, from which there seems to be no post-event letdown: the International Conference On Missions. What makes ICOM different? I’m convinced it’s the on-fire vibe that permeates the conference. People attend ICOM to do something: win the world for Christ, find

November 21, 2018

Michael C. Mack

The ICOM 2018 Recap

  By Michael C. Mack The International Conference On Missions was held last week in Cincinnati, Ohio, with the theme, “Unhindered.” Kevin Dooley served as president this year. Christian Standard Media was a sponsor and exhibitor. We plan to report in more detail about the conference later in our print/digital issue, but here is a quick recap: — ICOM is still tabulating total attendance, but 3,500 people pre-registered and several thousand registered onsite. — About 2,300 people attended the first three sessions, which is an increase of about 400 to 500 over last year’s sessions. — There were 314 exhibitors

November 14, 2018

Christian Standard

First Christian: A ‘Modern’ Masterwork

(This article is a sidebar to “Acclaimed Church Building Copes with Aging.”)   By Jim Nieman “Our church is our people.” Finnish architect Eliel Saarinen honed in on that church member’s statement as he designed a new house of worship for Tabernacle Church of Christ—now known as First Christian Church—in Columbus, Ind. Saarinen and his son, Eero, stressed that point in 1940 in their “response to the building committee’s charge.” The Saarinens also wrote: In accordance with the wishes of the building committee, our endeavor has been to design not a mere church but a church expressing the religious aims

November 12, 2018

Christian Standard

Seven Insider Facts About ICOM

By Emily Drayne The strategic focus of the International Conference On Missions is no secret—it’s apparent in the name—but there’s much more that goes on beneath the surface. Do you know these seven insider facts about ICOM? See if you’re an ICOM expert! 1. The idea for a missions conference came from an unexpected place. The idea for the missions conference was born in Los Angeles. J. Russell Morse and John T. Chase had the idea for a “missions emphasis day” before the North American Christian Convention, and the first such meeting occurred in 1948 in Springfield, Illinois. Attendance grew

October 30, 2018

Christian Standard

The Uttermost Banquet

By Lena Wood In mid-November the International Conference on Missions will meet in Cincinnati. Thousands will gather, as they have for 70 years. Friends will reconnect from all over the world. They might share an Italian meal at the hotel, a breakfast of French roast coffee and croissants, or an Asian feast at a Japanese steakhouse. Almost anywhere in the world nowadays you can partake of meals from . . . almost anywhere. If we were to have a fellowship meal here and each of you brought food from the farthest place you’d ever been, what kind of ethnic meal

October 25, 2018

Christian Standard

Reporting on Johnson University’s Origins

Johnson University is hosting its 125th Anniversary Celebration today through Saturday at its Knoxville, Tenn., campus. We congratulate and extend best wishes to Johnson University, and pray for their continued success. In that spirit, we thought it would be fun to look back on the first few mentions of the school in the pages of Christian Standard . . . from way back in the 1890s. But before we do that, we should provide a few historical facts not contained in our reporting. Johnson University was founded as the School of the Evangelists on May 12, 1893, by Ashley and

October 11, 2018

Christian Standard

Big Preaching

The Oct. 13, 1928, Christian Standard featured a printed version of the keynote address of George Taubman, serving that year as president of the second North American Christian Convention, then taking place in Kansas City, Mo. Taubman served as minister with First Christian Church, Long Beach, Calif., where his men’s Bible class exceeded 2,000 in attendance each Sunday. We will focus on an editorial from that week’s issue, but not anything related to Taubman or the NACC. “Big Preaching” most likely was written by then-editor Willard Lee Mohorter. _ _ _ Big Preaching When Abraham Lincoln was candidate for the

October 3, 2018

Christian Standard

Swimming Pool Integral Part of Church’s Fitness Center

By Jim Nieman When First Christian Church of Kernersville, N.C., built its Family Life Center and included a fitness component about 15 years ago, such projects were unusual for churches. Not so much these days. But FCC’s decision to also include a five-lane, Olympic-style swimming pool in its construction plans continues to set the church apart, says Dan Hipply, director and minister of the Family Life Fitness Center at First Christian. And that swimming pool is used pretty much from sunup to sundown—or most every minute the center is open during the week (it closes at noon on Saturday and remains

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