Featured Archives - Page 167 of 176

April 2, 2006

By Paul E. Boatman I write these words at my dad”s bedside in early November. It is Tuesday morning at 5, and Russell Boatman”s death is expected within hours. He has seemed close to death several times in the past year, but this time the end of life seems imminent. His 91-year-old body is yielding to the inevitable outcome of living in a fallen world. He is resting fitfully, breathing in shallow gasps, and talking to himself about needing to “get going.” He clings to life with the tenacity of one who prizes life as God”s gift, yet he has

March 26, 2006

Shawn McMullen

Church & Ministry Church Growth

Unleashing the Potential of the Smaller Church

Most churches in America are smaller congregations, and their local presence is strategic. Shawn McMullen highlights why small churches matter and introduces a resource designed to help leaders and volunteers expand ministry impact.

March 26, 2006

Cody Moore

Church & Ministry Church Planting

A Church Replant in an Urban Setting

Facing decline and a changing neighborhood, West Side Christian Church chose a bold replant that became The Pearl. This story traces the costly transition, urban ministry realities, and renewed commitment to future church planting in Denver.

March 26, 2006

Angie Gergely

Mission & Evangelism

A Rural Church with a World Focus

A small rural Kentucky church helped fuel the growth of Workers for Mexico Mission through bold generosity, hands-on trips, and lasting partnership—showing what a big vision can do through steady faithfulness.

March 26, 2006

Nancy Karpenske

Worship & Prayer Worship

A Surprising End to a Skirmish in the Worship Wars

A loud youth concert meets an elderly congregation—and a surprising benediction reveals the deeper solution to worship wars. This reflection points to relationships, trust, and intergenerational encouragement as keys to a healthier church future.

March 19, 2006

Christian Standard

Apologetics & Worldview

Second Guessing God

Why does God allow terrible things to happen? Brian Jones tackles that question with grace, humor, and transparency in a book that speaks to anyone who has faced trouble of any kind. “From the first paragraph I was captured by his open and engaging style,” Gene Appel said. “Brian Jones . . . expresses the heart”s disappointment and longing with a directness that somehow always ends up leading us toward God,” wrote John Ortberg. “This book was written by, for, and in the midst of people with bruised souls,” Jones says in his introduction. “My goal has been to write

March 19, 2006

Phil LeMaster

Church Leadership Preaching

The Times They Are A-Changin’

After 35+ years in local ministry, Phil LeMaster surveys how busyness, shifting church “brand” loyalty, worship changes, staffing growth, and bigger facilities have reshaped preaching—while reminding us people still need Jesus.

March 12, 2006

Greg Marksberry

Church Leadership Leadership Development

Humility in Leadership

Hardship can reshape spiritual leaders—restoring humility, tenderizing compassion, and deepening dependence on God. Greg Marksberry reflects on how suffering can recalibrate a leader’s heart toward Christlike service and lasting impact.

March 12, 2006

Gary Fait

Church Leadership Eldership

The Chairman of the Elders

What is the chairman of the elders—and what is he not? Gary Fait reflects on rotating leadership, church authority, and why the chairman’s role should be defined by service, not superiority.

March 12, 2006

Doug Carter

Church & Ministry Church Growth

Grow Church, Grow!

Why do some churches grow rapidly while others struggle? Doug Carter points to shared traits of growing churches: faith-filled risk, a clear commitment to evangelism, and unified values, structure, and style.

March 5, 2006

Steve Wyatt

Church Leadership Leadership Development

Trading Potential for Passion

In this excerpt from Trading Places, Steve Wyatt shows how Jesus shaped John’s passion into steadfast love—affirming uniqueness, rejecting manipulation, and modeling servant leadership that calls people to grow within an atmosphere of acceptance.

March 5, 2006

Sheila S. Hudson

Organizations & Events Local Churches

Grace in Sin City

A Las Vegas “family” of churches grew from Central Christian Church in Henderson into multiple congregations shaped by a shared commitment to grace, outreach, and leadership development—bringing “living water” to the Mojave Desert.

March 5, 2006

Arron Chambers

Church & Ministry Church Growth

Thinking Outside the Box

Arron Chambers examines how church buildings can help—or hinder—the mission of reaching lost people, urging leaders to “think outside the box” and keep the church moving, growing, and caring like a living body.

March 5, 2006

John Faust

Church Leadership Eldership

Our Acorn-to-Oak Story

John Faust reflects on four early elders at Southeast Christian Church and the leadership qualities that helped lay a lasting foundation—quality, trust, unity, and availability—for the church’s growth in Louisville.

February 26, 2006

Tom Jones

Church & Ministry Church Planting

Little League Baseball, Collaboration, and Church Planting

Tom Jones connects lessons from coaching Little League to the growing strength of church planting networks. Collaboration among churches and organizations can share resources, coaching, and services to launch new congregations and multiply kingdom impact.

February 26, 2006

Robert Kitchen

Church & Ministry Church Planting

Another One?

Do we really need another church? Robert Kitchen argues yes—because lost people still need to be reached, communities keep changing, and planting new churches remains a powerful method of evangelism.

February 26, 2006

By Staff

Church & Ministry Church Planting

Church Plants, 2003-2005 (chart)

A brief notice sharing an updated PDF chart listing new congregations planted by Christian churches and churches of Christ from January 2003 through December 2005.

February 26, 2006

Rick Grover

Church & Ministry Church Planting

First Things First

Using Hurricane Katrina rebuilding as a picture, Rick Grover challenges church planters and leaders to put first things first, take the long view, and grow deep roots in spiritual health and patient ministry.

February 19, 2006

Bill Weber

Organizations & Events Conferences & Gatherings

Set Apart to Shine

A firsthand report from the 2005 National Missionary Convention in Atlanta, where testimonies, preaching, workshops, and service projects encouraged thousands to live “set apart to shine” and consider cross-cultural mission service.

February 19, 2006

Dale Meade

Mission & Evangelism

The Making of a Missionary

How should churches evaluate missionary candidates seeking support? Dale Meade challenges common assumptions and urges clear missions goals, meaningful commitment, and strong training standards for effective gospel work.

Saying the Last Good-bye to My Dad

Unleashing the Potential of the Smaller Church

A Church Replant in an Urban Setting

A Rural Church with a World Focus

A Surprising End to a Skirmish in the Worship Wars

Second Guessing God

The Times They Are A-Changin’

Humility in Leadership

The Chairman of the Elders

Grow Church, Grow!

Trading Potential for Passion

Grace in Sin City

Thinking Outside the Box

Our Acorn-to-Oak Story

Little League Baseball, Collaboration, and Church Planting

Another One?

Church Plants, 2003-2005 (chart)

First Things First

Set Apart to Shine

The Making of a Missionary

A MOTHER’S TREASURES

MINISTRY CONTINUES ON THE FORMER CAMPUS OF CINCINNATI CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY

Treasures New and Old

A MOTHER’S TREASURES

MINISTRY CONTINUES ON THE FORMER CAMPUS OF CINCINNATI CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY

Treasures New and Old

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