Series: Buzz

February 21, 2012

Christian Standard

‘Promise Island’ VBS Earns Top Honors

  Standard Publishing again received top honors for best Vacation Bible School in the nation for its 2012 curriculum, “Adventures on Promise Island.” Lynda Freeman, editor of the popular blog “About the Children”s Department,” chose “Adventures” as her top pick. “This VBS has solid Bible content and a strong focus on living what you learn by serving others,” she writes. “Combine this with a fun island setting and great music from Yancy [and] you have a VBS which will impact and change lives!” “Adventures on Promise Island” uses the fun of surf, sand, and island adventure to introduce God”s lifesaving

February 18, 2012

Christian Standard

Heritage Center Ready to Add to Collection

By Jennifer Taylor   In the fall of 2009, Pepperdine University opened the Churches of Christ Heritage Center on its campus in Malibu, CA. Today the collection of books, photographs, congregational histories, speeches, and other documents fills a room in the school”s library. “Many of these “˜artifacts” are connected to Pepperdine, like the catalog from the school”s first year in 1937,” says Jerry Rushford, director. “But there are also unusual pieces like a device from the 1920s used to fill Communion cups. A church in Idaho donated it to us.” In fact, the collection was created primarily with donations from

February 4, 2012

Christian Standard

Church Continues with Katrina Recovery Efforts

By Jennifer Taylor   Although Hurricane Katrina doesn”t make the news much anymore, Biloxi (MS) Christian Church has not stopped caring for its victims. Biloxi Christian sprang into action immediately after Katrina hit in 2005, opening its building and organizing volunteers and supplies. Today, more than six years later, BCC continues to have an open door for the effort and has partnered with another area church to form New Life Disaster Relief. “People from all over the country and every denomination come to work, and we house them in our building,” says minister John Wester. “We”ve turned our classrooms into

February 2, 2012

Christian Standard

Sherman Interviews President Bush

By Jennifer Taylor   After former President George W. Bush spoke at the Real Choices Pregnancy Center Banquet Nov. 17 at the Irving (TX) Convention Center, he sat down for an onstage interview with Drew Sherman, lead pastor of Compass Christian Church (Colleyville, TX). The candid conversation covered such topics as the presidential experience, post-presidency life, 9/11, faith, and much more. There were serious and somber moments, but also many instances when the former president showed off his good humor. Thousands of people attended the banquet to benefit Real Choices. Sherman asked Bush about the day of the 9/11 attacks.

February 2, 2012

Christian Standard

Lipscomb University Adds Benefit to Prison Program

By Jennifer Taylor Five years ago, Lipscomb University (Nashville, TN) established the Lipscomb Initiative for Education (LIFE) program to provide opportunities for their students and inmates at the Tennessee Prison for Women (TPFW) to learn and grow together. Each semester as many as 30 Lipscomb students enroll in a liberal arts course held at the prison; classes have included art history, Christian ethics, and conflict management. Both students and faculty travel to the prison for classes. The Lipscomb students work toward their bachelor”s degrees and, until recently, the inmates worked for credit hours to be applied toward a future degree

January 26, 2012

Christian Standard

Giving Plate Food Ministry Growing Exponentially

By Jennifer Taylor Gary and Debi Kelso, members at Real Life Christian Church (Bend, OR), created The Giving Plate in 2010. After beginning with just a few cans of tuna and a few loaves of bread (really!), the food relief and outreach ministry now provides more than 2,200 local families with a 50-pound box of food every month. Each box is prepared specifically for each family with consideration for food allergies and dislikes. “We have served the hungry and homeless for years,” say the Kelsos, who work full-time””without pay””for the organization. “We have a call in our hearts to serve

January 19, 2012

Christian Standard

Global Gospel Sets Out to Bridge Language Barriers

By Jennifer Taylor  “How can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?” (Romans 10:14). Good News Productions, International (Joplin, MO), has created a new way to reach the many people groups who have not yet heard about Christ because they do not have access to the Bible or cannot read. This fall it launched The Global Gospel, a three-disc illustrated DVD storybook and dramatic reading of the Gospels. “The Global Gospel series was created to be easily adapted for use around the world,” shares GNPI. “The project can be shared with people in nearly every tongue,

January 12, 2012

Christian Standard

Save Some Quarters, Ship Some Supplies

By Jennifer Taylor Lifeline Christian Mission (Westerville, OH) is making it easy for families, churches, youth groups, and businesses to give healthy food to people around the world. Lifeline is able to send a pound of supplies for 25 cents, so it is encouraging groups to donate quarters with its “Quarter Back Challenge.” To participate, groups order Challenge Kits filled with mini-tubes of candy, labels, ribbon, and instructions. Each group sells the candy, fills the empty tubes with quarters, and mails a check for the total to Lifeline. Fifty-six quarters””$14″”fit in a tube. Lifeline began the program as a way

January 5, 2012

Christian Standard

Dozens Baptized after Bible Seminars at Prisons

By Jennifer Taylor Joe Garman, president of ARM Prison Outreach International (Joplin, MO), writes with news of baptisms and Bible learning: In October we experienced two events that had never happened in our years of prison ministry in the U.S. First, I presented a three-day “See Through the Scriptures” seminar at a prison in Pecos, TX that holds 2,500 male prisoners. Hundreds of men attended, including one who served as my interpreter, and following the seminar 51 prisoners were baptized (including the interpreter!). This is the most baptisms we”ve ever had at the end of a program, and the chap-

January 5, 2012

Christian Standard

BASH Program Offers After-school Help

By Jennifer Taylor Berean Christian Church (Murphrysboro, IL) began its “BASH” program””Berean After-School Haven“”to provide a safe, fun environment for grade-school kids every Wednesday afternoon and evening. Volunteers pick up participating students at school and bring them back to the church for homework time, snacks, games, and dinner. Parents picking up their children are invited to stay for Wednesday night services. This fall the BASH leaders expanded the program to include middle-schoolers. “We did not want to jeopardize the success of our current efforts by making a change for the wrong reasons, but with the new volunteers and commitment from

December 30, 2011

Christian Standard

Lincoln Christian to Begin Offering MA in Bioethics

By Jennifer Taylor Next month, Lincoln (IL) Christian University and Seminary will begin holding classes for its new Master of Arts degree in bioethics. The off-campus program will be taught at the Methodist Medical Center of Illinois in Peoria and will also include online components and some clinical experiences. LCU&S designed the program for three groups of students: health care professionals (physicians, nurses, paramedics, medical school students in residence, and hospital administrators); pastors, chaplains, and counselors; and others working in related fields, including pharmaceutical representatives, hospital legal counsels, and graduate theology, philosophy, or political science students. The program will “produce

December 4, 2011

Christian Standard

ACU Adds Major in Digital Entertainment Technology

By Jennifer Taylor In Abilene (TX) Christian University”s digital entertainment technology program, students practice a variety of skills while preparing for careers as animators, computer game designers, and app developers. The interdisciplinary major combines the creative with the computerized, requiring work in art, script development, and writing as well as technological comprehension. Abilene professors provide training in the full process from concept to publishing, with an optional focus on mobile game development.  “We wanted to become Christian leaders in the digital entertainment industry,” says Brian Burton, assistant professor of information technology. He says the demand for the program”s students exceeds

November 27, 2011

Christian Standard

Church Providing Meals to Children Each Weekday

By Jennifer Taylor “Almost every church has a kitchen,” says Jane Dugan, a member at East Bartlesville (OK) Christian Church. “There”s no reason they couldn”t do something like this.”  “This” is providing a meal each weekday for 60 to 130 children at the nearby Boys and Girls Club, an after-school and summer program for kids. The club is a safe place for kids to do homework, play games, work on the computer, and eat dinner while waiting for their parents to get off work. EBCC volunteers cook every meal for the club”s hungry kids. Dugan meets with the club”s nutrition

November 20, 2011

Christian Standard

“˜Drop in the Bucket” Ladies Ready to Bring Blessings

By Jennifer Taylor Beth Ladd, a teacher and the wife of New Hope Christian Church senior pastor David Ladd (Everett, WA), met each Monday to pray with her friend Debbie Powell. After the 2004 tsunami hit Indonesia, the two friends said, “I wish we could go there and help.” After Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005, they said, “We can go there and help. Let”s do it.” Like other volunteers around the country, Ladd and Powell organized a group to travel south and help the churches and people of New Orleans. However, their yearly “drops” have continued””to Louisiana, Oklahoma,

November 13, 2011

Christian Standard

WJU Makes Connections in One-Day Fund-raiser

By Jennifer Taylor  This fall, William Jessup University (Rocklin, CA) tried a new approach to fund-raising””and set a record in the process. Vice President for Advancement Eric Hogue had three goals: to recruit new donors, help WJU students, and to raise the money without taking the staff away from work. “Give:24″ accomplished all three. Every member of the staff, faculty, and administration was encouraged to participate by asking 24 friends and family members to give $24 each. They made the requests and promoted the effort via social media and e-mail during the month of August; donors could give online during

November 6, 2011

Christian Standard

Equipping Volunteer Leaders

By Jennifer Taylor Churches around the country struggle with the wonderful problem of how to expand their work by involving enthusiastic new leaders””people who may have limited Bible knowledge or ministry experience. The Crossing (Quincy, IL) created its Ministry Development Institute in 2009 to equip and encourage these volunteer leaders. The 18-month course of study provides in-depth biblical teaching and training in ministry skills. Classes include Old and New Testament surveys, the book of Acts, biblical interpretation, worldview and spiritual formation, practical ministry, and more. The institute posts syllabi and reading lists for each course on its website, and the

November 5, 2011

Christian Standard

Church Starts Arts Academy

By Jennifer Taylor Trombonist and jazz musician Stan Wilkerson has played with Wynton Marsalis, Yo-Yo Ma, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, and Aretha Franklin. This fall he”ll be leading the Academy of the Arts at Common Ground Christian Church (Tampa, FL). Common Ground launched the academy this fall to provide lessons in piano, guitar, drums, woodwinds, and brass. Students may choose private or group lessons at reasonable prices, and older students also receive opportunities to play in jazz combos, ensembles, and recitals. The academy also emphasizes music as worship; students may share their music as part of weekend services at Common

November 4, 2011

Christian Standard

Families Enjoy Outdoor Fun at “˜Journey Jubilee”

By Jennifer Taylor Instead of a traditional Vacation Bible School, this summer Journey Christian Church (Apopka, FL) created “Journey Jubilee,” a three-day event designed for families and friends. “The older people need to teach the younger ones, and parents need to teach children,” said teaching pastor Harold Armstrong to the Journey family in an announcement about the event. “And often we don”t know how to do that, so we want multiple generations to come together.” The event, held on Journey”s campus July 28-30, centered around a “Tent of Meeting” in the church courtyard where the campers gathered for worship and

November 2, 2011

Christian Standard

Emmanuel Institutes Seeks Top Students

This week the Emmanuel Institutes announced a new program–and an opportunity for 15 students to earn a full scholarship. Next August the institute will host its first-ever Ministry Immersion Week as an opportunity for emerging church leaders from undergraduate programs. Students will gather for a week of “comprehensive exposure to the ‘ins and outs’ of ministry best practices.” The organization is inviting other Restoration Movement colleges and universities to encourage their top students to apply, and 15 will be selected to participate with no expenses beyond the $50 application fee. The East 91st Street Christian Church Foundation and contributions from 33 partner churches and organizations are

November 2, 2011

Christian Standard

Forefront Gathers Religious, Nonreligious for Conversation

On Thursday, Forefront Church (New York, NY) will hold its next “Conversation That Matters,” a regular gathering to discuss a problem, issue, or article as well as offer one or two people the opportunity to share their own stories. “There are too few places where nonreligious and religious people can listen to one another graciously and learn from one another’s perspectives,” the church writes. Forefront posts links to discussion questions and suggested readings before each gathering.

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