Series: Featured

September 10, 2010

Christian Standard

LARGE-SIZED CHURCHES: Hope on the Road Less Traveled

Hope on the Road Less Traveled By Kent E. Fillinger “Need hope? Find it here.” That is the message on the LED sign at Twin Oaks Christian Church, Woodhaven, Michigan. The message of hope is needed in this southern suburb of Detroit, given the area”s depressed economic condition. Hundreds of new people have found hope at Twin Oaks since it relocated in 2007. The church”s average attendance has grown from 282 to 738 in three years””an increase of 162 percent. Twin Oaks is the fastest-growing large-sized church during this time frame from among the 75 churches profiled. And most of this growth is

September 9, 2010

Christian Standard

LARGE-SIZED CHURCHES: More to Discovery

By Kent E. Fillinger Shining a spotlight on challenges and successes at three churches . . . More to Discovery Did you grow up going to church? I did. Therefore, I don”t know what it feels like to walk into church for the first time as an adult with no church background. Toney Salva, senior minister at Discovery Christian Church, Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, on the other hand has used his personal experience of not growing up in a church to design a church that targets people who do not like church, or who have no church background. Through some internal

September 8, 2010

Christian Standard

LARGE-SIZED CHURCHES: A New Name and New Numbers

By Kent E. Fillinger What”s in a name? Abram became Abraham and Sarai become Sarah in the Old Testament, and Simon became Peter and Saul became Paul in the New Testament. Name changes were common in the Bible when God altered the purpose or role of an individual. Christian Standard has reported the average weekly attendance and the total number of baptisms annually for churches that average 1,000 or more in weekly attendance since 1997. Several years ago, the size designation of a megachurch shifted from 1,000 to 2,000 in attendance. Therefore, the term emerging megachurch was developed for churches

September 8, 2010

Christian Standard

LARGE-SIZED CHURCHES: The 2009 List

This listing of 75 churches that averaged 500-999 for worship in 2009 includes church name, city, senior minister, Web site, average attendance, and number of baptisms. (This is not a complete listing of such churches; it is a listing of Large-Sized Churches that participated in our survey.) Click here to look at the chart of 2009 LARGE-SIZED CHURCHES.

September 3, 2010

Christian Standard

Letters to the Editor (archived)

We always appreciate hearing from our readers. In the future, we would like to encourage readers to respond in the comment boxes after the articles. We are looking forward to reading your comments! ‘I Find His Comment Offensive’ (posted 8-31-10) I really appreciated the August 1 edition of your magazine, but a big red flag did pop up when I read Ryan Connor”s article (“Burnout in Ministry”). He said, “Ministers often enter the ministry with a need to compensate for personal hang-ups” (p. 5). Thankfully, the ministers I have known over the years chose ministry because they wanted to serve and

September 2, 2010

Christian Standard

Growing Like Jesus (Intro)

Mention growth to a Christian audience, and their thinking quickly goes to the spiritual. Yet “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:51, 52). He showed us that growing close to God is connected with every other kind of growth, too. The intellectual, physical, and social dimensions of life all connect to the spiritual. And growth in any of these areas is most successful when accompanied by growth in the other three. This week we asked eight friends, Christian Standard contributing editors or members of our Publishing Committee, “What has helped you grow?”

September 1, 2010

Christian Standard

An Incarnational Approach to Mission?

By Ash Barker Some of the most exciting and innovative Christian workers today describe their approach to mission as incarnational. But the term has been used in such diverse and contradictory ways that it is in danger of becoming clichéd, losing any real meaning. This means some will dismiss the incarnational idea before they even consider its important call to sustained faithfulness and relevance in mission. The Same as . . . ? Some people think that because Anji and I moved our family into Klong Toey slum in Bangkok, Thailand, that we are therefore incarnational“”believing we have somehow become

September 1, 2010

Christian Standard

Growing Like Jesus: The Bad Bounce

By Jim Tune (Jim Tune was among eight Christian leaders asked to share what helps them mature just as Jesus did. Tune is executive director of Impact Canada, a church-planting ministry based outside Toronto, Canada (www.impactcanada.org), and a contributing editor for CHRISTIAN STANDARD.) __________________ Soccer”s World Cup is a big deal in the multicultural city of Toronto. Who knew one of the most controversial components of the tournament would be the ball itself? The ball is the Adidas Jubulani and it had goalkeepers and strikers worrying and complaining from the start of the contest. The manufacturer claims it is the most

September 1, 2010

Christian Standard

Growing Like Jesus: Wisdom You Can Touch

By Eddie Lowen (Eddie Lowen was among eight Christian leaders asked to share what helps them mature just as Jesus did. Lowen, a member of Standard Publishing”s Publishing Committee, is senior minister with West Side Christian Church, Springfield, Illinois.) ___________________ A television commercial for cars.com depicted a fictional young genius named David Abernathy during several phases of his life. In the first scene, as a newborn, David shocked the obstetrician who de- livered him by reaching up to shake hands with him! As a preschooler, David amazed his parents by using graphs and PowerPoint slides to successfully negotiate a later bedtime.

September 1, 2010

Christian Standard

Growing Like Jesus: Wisdom from Fellow Travelers

By Jennifer Taylor (Jennifer Taylor was among eight Christian leaders asked to share what helps them mature just as Jesus did. Taylor, one of CHRISTIAN STANDARD”s contributing editors, lives in Nashville, Tennessee.) ________________________ This spring I tagged a few days onto a California business trip so I could spend time with friends. First I had coffee with John, who shared his recent decision to leave a safe ministry position and start a new church. “I waited years to discover this calling, and just tried to stay faithful until I saw the next step,” he told me. “And I”m not afraid

September 1, 2010

Christian Standard

Growing Like Jesus: Sight and Insight

By Pat Magness (Pat Magness was among eight Christian leaders asked to share what helps them mature just as Jesus did. Magness is professor of humanities and English at Milligan College in Tennessee and a member of the Publishing Committee at Standard Publishing.) _______________ An old story tells us that as Francis of Assisi neared his death, he apologized to his body””using the endearing term “Brother Donkey”””for working it so hard and so long with little rest or appreciation. Like many people in ministry, and to an extreme degree, Francis devoted his life fervently to God”s kingdom while neglecting the

September 1, 2010

Christian Standard

Growing Like Jesus: Hearing God Through People

By Glen Elliott (Glen Elliott was among eight Christian leaders asked to share what helps them mature just as Jesus did. Elliott serves as lead pastor with Pantano Christian Church, Tucson, Arizona and as a CHRISTIAN STANDARD contributing editor.) ___________________ Years ago I was working as the dean of students at Pacific Christian College (now Hope International University). At the same time, I had the joy of leading the junior high ministry at my church. (It was natural. Both junior high kids and college students are just crazy enough to be fun!) I poured my life into my work and

September 1, 2010

Christian Standard

Growing Like Jesus: Learning to Obey

By Becky Ahlberg (Becky Ahlberg was among eight Christian leaders asked to share what helps them mature just as Jesus did. Ahlberg is minister of worship and neighborhood engagement at First Christian Church, Anaheim, California. She serves as a CHRISTIAN STANDARD contributing editor.) __________________ The story of Jesus at the temple at age 12 has always fascinated me, but it”s the line just before our “grew in wisdom and stature” assignment that really hits home with me: “Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them” (emphasis mine). Many things have led to my own growth

September 1, 2010

Christian Standard

Growing Like Jesus: The Spiritual Discipline of Parenting

By Matthew Proctor (Matthew Proctor was among eight Christian leaders asked to share what helps them mature just as Jesus did. Proctor is president of Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri, and serves as a contributing editor for CHRISTIAN STANDARD.) ___________________ When I look at books on the spiritual disciplines, the table of contents all read the same: Bible reading, prayer, fasting, meditation, and solitude. Each discipline, of course, is a God-given tool to help sculpt us into the image of Christ. But, if I were writing such a book, I would add another chapter: parenting. Few things help move me

September 1, 2010

Christian Standard

Growing Like Jesus: No Pain, No Gain

By LeRoy Lawson (LeRoy Lawson was among eight Christian leaders asked to share what helps them mature just as Jesus did. Lawson is international consultant with Christian Missionary Fellowship International, a CHRISTIAN STANDARD contributing editor and a member of Standard Publishing”s Publishing Committee.) __________________ “No pain no gain, Dad. No pain no gain.” Our son Lane was in his teens. Both grandfathers had bequeathed good genes, and he was making the most of them. (I resent how those genes jumped right over my generation and landed in his.) He wasn”t tall but he was muscular””and eager to become even more

August 25, 2010

Christian Standard

A Heart for God

By Michael Mack Read Michael Mack”s sidebar, “Life in All Its Fullness.” ______ What do you want to be known for? What would you want people to say about you when you die? What do you want written in your obituary? At different stages of my life I would have responded to that question differently. But today, I want to be like Enoch. You don”t hear too many people say that, do you? People will say they want to have the faith of Abraham or the power of Moses or the wisdom of Solomon. But Enoch? I love what Genesis

August 25, 2010

Christian Standard

Why Some Corporate Practices Should Have a Home in the Church

By J. Andrew Keith (with Chris Keith) Several years ago, popular Christian writer John Piper warned ministers about the dangers of professionalism1. On the first page of Brothers, We Are Not Professionals, Piper sounds a clarion call: “We pastors are being killed by the professionalizing of the pastoral ministry. The mentality of the professional is not the mentality of the prophet. It is not the mentality of the slave of Christ. Professionalism has nothing to do with the essence and heart of the Christian ministry.”2 Some of his final words in the opening chapter are a prayer that reads: “Banish professionalism

August 25, 2010

Christian Standard

Life in All Its Fullness

By Michael Mack This is a sidebar to “A Heart for God“ ____ Life to the full, the abundant life, more and better life than you”ve ever dreamed of. You cannot lead a person, small group, or church to experience the fullness of God”s love and grace unless you are living it yourself. In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus presents three ways to respond to his offer of abundant life: 1. Come to me . . . and I will give you rest. Life to the full comes only through Jesus. Your response to him is to seek God and stay connected to him.

August 25, 2010

Christian Standard

Eight Ways to Be a More Positive Leader

By Victor M. Parachin While serving in the U.S. Army Reserve, Terence T. Griffiths”s assignment was battalion level retention. Part of his work involved visiting companies in his battalion to determine why soldiers were not reenlisting. He visited one company that had greater losses than others. During his visit, the company commander, a captain, was giving a briefing on an upcoming joint military exercise involving the Navy, Air Force, and Marines. At the briefing, the company commander stressed the importance of the upcoming operation. He told troops that, effective immediately, there would be no leaves granted and all preapproved leaves

August 18, 2010

Christian Standard

Lookin” for Squirrels

By George Ross I”m sitting in a motel a long ways from home with a laptop and a deadline. (I”m on a staff recruiting trip interviewing two guys for two key positions for our ministry leadership team.) I”m wondering if I should acknowledge in this article what I”m struggling with. So here I sit in the motel facing a big mirror on the wall as I look beyond my computer. I”m OK with the deadline and the risk factor, just not the mirror! A visual of myself at 6:30 am brings no inspiration! A Specific Sign In recruiting for a

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