Series: Featured

March 6, 2012

Christian Standard

NACC 2012: Speakers, Topics to Challenge and Refresh

  By Jennifer Taylor Some leaders attend conferences to hear just one or two of these speakers; at the 2012 NACC you can learn from them all! Mark Scott, exposition and leadership pastor at Mountainview Community Christian Church (Highlands Ranch, Colorado), will kick off the week with his Tuesday night message, “Come, Be Refreshed.” He is a popular author and speaker and former professor at Ozark Christian College (Joplin, Missouri). On Wednesday morning the main session will feature Jerry Taylor from Abilene (Texas) Christian University. Taylor teaches Bible classes at the university and is also one of the organizers of the

March 5, 2012

Christian Standard

NACC 2012: Different, but the Same

By Tom Claibourne Some words just don”t seem to belong together, even though we use them that way all the time. Consider: well-known secret; jumbo shrimp (is there really such a thing?); dead livestock; objective opinion; United Nations; drive-through window (which, in reality, would require a very large window and result in a very angry building owner). Here are two more odd combinations: different and same; convention and refreshing. As much as I have appreciated my experiences at various conventions, conferences, family camps, and clinics, I have departed from most of them with some good insights and a few new

March 4, 2012

Christian Standard

The Marginalized

By David Soucie They sit quietly in our auditoriums. Numbering in the untold thousands, they border on invisible. Unknown to most, they are the marginalized. Some are new attendees. Because they are naturally reserved, they have not ventured out beyond their pew. Most of the congregation is content to allow them to be a part of their services, but never make the effort to get acquainted. The new people wait for someone to reach out, and remain disappointed. Some have been around for years. Most are introverts, and they have long given up waiting for the extroverts to notice them

March 2, 2012

Christian Standard

Lead with Style!

By Rick Chromey Leadership happens when we move people toward desired insights, attitudes, and behaviors. We all lead somebody, but in the church our skill to enact change, instill confidence, and reduce conflict often spells the difference between success or failure, promotion or termination, trust or skepticism. Naturally, the real question is how will you lead and flex your leadership style? Tom enjoys the spotlight. His winsome charisma captures his congregation”s heart. He enjoys risks, but Tom”s hasty decisions betray trust and create insecurity. His lack of discipline keeps Tom unfocused and unproductive. Rob also enjoys risk and change, but

March 2, 2012

Christian Standard

Sitting Pretty

By Daniel Schantz The wooden pew is a kind of symbol of the church in the past century. For a preacher”s son who grew up in the 1950s, the church pew provided me with stability, discipline, and plenty of fuel for a child”s imagination. Stability Almost everything in those old churches was made of wood. Wood was warm, smooth, pretty, and as stable as an anvil. Children sat with their parents during worship in those days before graded worship, a practice that many churches are reviving today. The first thing a child learned in church is that God is forgiving. The second

February 29, 2012

Christian Standard

Sending and Supporting Missionary Kids

By Lana West These kids are confronted with special opportunities and unique problems. The first step to helping them is understanding the world through their eyes. The issue of taking children to a foreign mission field and raising them overseas has long been a matter of debate. Grandparents wonder, “Will they be safe? How will they be educated? Will they have proper medical care?” The local church asks, “How can we support a family with so many children? Why do they have so many children? How can they do the work they are called to do and care for their

February 28, 2012

Christian Standard

“˜Commissioned”: NMC Becomes ICOM

By Chris DeWelt The National Missionary Convention became the International Conference on Missions at its gathering last fall. The conference seems set to continue what it does best: challenging thousands with the opportunity and needs for world missions. From the moment I heard that Wing Wong of China was the 2011 National Missionary Convention president, I knew it would be a great gathering. My anticipation grew when Wing visited Ozark Christian College a few months before the convention and immediately endeared himself to hundreds of students. Wing”s unique combination of humor, passion for Christ, and humble spirit connected with more

February 24, 2012

Mark E. Moore

How Should the Church Relate to Those with Same-Sex Attraction?

By Mark Moore Individuals with same-sex attraction make up as much as 6 percent of the male population and 4.5 percent of females (though some studies estimate half that). Those are not insignificant numbers, especially when same-sex attraction involves you or someone you love. The church traditionally has not been particularly welcoming of such individuals, and a number of Scriptures have been cited to validate responses that are sometimes violent””verbally, emotionally, occasionally even physically. Because I am a follower of Jesus Christ, it is unconscionable for me to reject in the body of Christ some of the most spiritually sensitive

February 22, 2012

Christian Standard

Sending, Serving, Reaching: Team Expansion

By Jennifer Taylor Team Expansion (Founded 1978) 4112 Old Routt Road, Louisville, KY 40299 www.teamexpansion.org Doug Lucas, President Team Expansion is serious about prayer. The ministry began as a movement of prayer when President Doug Lucas was a student at Kentucky Christian College (now Kentucky Christian University). In addition to raising support, team members also recruit prayer partners””an average of 200 for each individual or family! And Emerald Hills, the ministry”s training center, is “a prayer center first,” says Eric Derry, vice president, mobilization. From those first prayers almost 35 years ago, Team Expansion has grown to more than 300

February 22, 2012

Christian Standard

Sending, Serving, Reaching: TCM International Institute

By Jennifer Taylor TCM International Institute (Founded 1957) P.O. Box 24560, Indianapolis, IN 46224 www.tcmi.org Tony Twist, President It takes a one-time Master of Arts scholarship investment of $16,000 to equip an international leader for a lifetime of service and ministry in his home country. Compare this to the $60,000 or more needed annually to send a U.S. missionary overseas (where service is usually less than four years), and it”s obvious: equipping national leaders to reach their own countries for Christ is both effective and cost-effective. TCM exists to develop bivocational “international disciple makers” throughout Europe, Russia, the Middle East, and

February 21, 2012

Christian Standard

Sending, Serving, Reaching: Pioneer Bible Translators

By Jennifer Taylor Pioneer Bible Translators (Founded 1976) 7255 West Camp Wisdom Road, Dallas, TX 75236 www.pioneerbible.org Greg Pruett, President Pioneer Bible Translators does not exist just to translate the Bible. Instead, its mission is “discipling the Bible-less,” a holistic approach that includes working with native people groups, developing literacy, investing in the community, and planting churches. “The end goal is not just translated Scripture, but churches using Scripture,” says President Greg Pruett. “We consider a project completed only when we have helped to create networks of growing believers and multiplying churches.” The ministry began with a vision to combine the

February 21, 2012

Christian Standard

Sending, Serving, Reaching: New Missions Systems International

By Jennifer Taylor New Missions Systems International (Founded 1989) 2701 Cleveland Ave., Suite 7, Fort Myers, FL 33901 www.nmsi.org Laura Clancy, President/CEO Every word of NMSI”s name is intentional: the organization looks for new ways to help people fulfill the missions they feel called to, while using systematic approaches to planning and implementation and maintaining an international focus across the ministry. “Our niche is supporting missionaries to fulfill their calling,” says President Laura Clancy. “We look for ways to support people who can identify and articulate their call, and we focus on opportunities where we can add unique value. This

February 21, 2012

Christian Standard

Sending, Serving, Reaching: IDES

By Jennifer Taylor IDES (Founded 1973) P.O. Box 60, Kempton, IN 46049 www.ides.org Rick Jett, Executive Director Until 2005, International Disaster Emergency Service primarily received donations from churches and individuals and channeled the money to missionaries or U.S. agencies. When disaster struck, churches knew they could trust IDES to manage the gifts and ensure every penny went to the designated cause. Today IDES is still a “top of mind” organization for charitable giving, especially in response to earthquakes, floods, and other natural disasters, and as much as 70 percent of its ministry is facilitating these gifts. However, the IDES team

February 20, 2012

Christian Standard

Sending, Serving, Reaching: Good News Productions International

By Jennifer Taylor Good News Productions International (Founded 1976) P.O. Box 222, Joplin, MO 64802 www.gnpi.org Mike Schrage, Executive Director Many organizations exist to evangelize the world; the mission of Good News Productions International is accelerating the work with relevant, culturally sensitive media strategies. “We offer the church an opportunity to use first-world technology to reach Third World cultures,” says Executive Director Mike Schrage. “Our team in Joplin is just a small part of our ministry””we have regional production centers around the world and we touch a million people each week with our audio, video, and print projects.” These initiatives

February 20, 2012

Christian Standard

Sending, Serving, Reaching: FAME

By Jennifer Taylor FAME (Founded 1970) 4545 Southeastern Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46203 www.FAMEworld.org Rick Wolford, Executive Director “You don”t send ice skates to Honduras.” Rick Wolford, executive director of FAME, smiles as he explains the ministry”s insistence on sending only good quality, usable medical equipment to the field. But the illustration is fitting; FAME understands its role as a leader in medical evangelism and targets its efforts on accomplishing this mission with excellence. “That”s been one of our biggest challenges in responding to the Haitian earthquake,” Wolford says. “We received requests to help with construction projects and other initiatives and

February 20, 2012

Christian Standard

Sending, Serving, Reaching: Christian Missionary Fellowship

By Jennifer Taylor Christian Missionary Fellowship (Founded 1949) P.O. Box 501020, Indianapolis, IN 46250 www.cmfi.org Doug Priest, Executive Director Many people have learned of Christian Missionary Fellowship because of its work in Nairobi, Kenya; since 2006 Executive Director Doug Priest has invited ministers and other Christian church leaders to visit the area and learn about The Hope Partnership. The Hope Partnership offers a strong Community Health Evangelism (CHE) program, teaches HIV/AIDs awareness and other basic health and wellness education, plants churches, and provides hope to the people living in the Mathare slums. “At the Willow Creek Leadership Conference in 2006, Bill

February 16, 2012

Christian Standard

Speak the Truth””Even on the Internet

By Eleanor Daniel I have a confession to make. Some days I wonder why I even bother to teach the Word of God to others. I”m not sure they take it in very seriously. I”m not talking about teaching the Word to unbelievers. It often takes a long time and a lot of effort for them to come to belief in the Lord and to submit to him. Rather, I”m talking about good people who have been Christians for a long time and who, by all expectations, should demonstrate markedly different behavior than nonbelievers. Nor am I talking about gross

February 14, 2012

Christian Standard

Our Journey with Grace

By Pam Parmenter Two and one-half years ago, on our Monday-morning walk together, my husband confessed to me that he had lied to the elders of our church. Later that day, he confessed to the elders. On the next Sunday evening, he lost his job. He came home with tears in his eyes and said, “Honey, I”m so sorry. I lost my job.” I took his face in my hands and said, “Yes, but look at you. You”re clean.” In that moment, I believe God let me glimpse what he sees when we confess and repent of our sins, because

February 14, 2012

Christian Standard

Works Without Grace Are Dead

By Todd Parmenter As the economy faltered and recession began in 2008, offerings began to shrink at the church I served. Some members lost jobs, some others relocated because their jobs moved, physical needs of people in the congregation increased, and a general malaise of uncertainty hung in the air. We cut expenses wherever possible, including some painful staff layoffs. We tightened our belts and ramped up efforts to teach the congregation good financial skills. But still we struggled to pay all the bills, and eventually we couldn”t. In September 2008, the church couldn”t pay both the mortgage and the payroll

February 13, 2012

Christian Standard

What We Learned

By Brad Neal I remember feeling the anguish surface again. The pain of dealing with a fractured ministry, and the resulting fallout, all came rushing back when it came time for public restoration. Was this the right course? Would members trust us? The easy path would have been just to leave it in the past.   Take sin seriously. The restoration process takes time. In our case, two years. It takes time for the seed of repentance to bear the fruit of a changed life. It also takes time for those who are hurt to be ready to trust again

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