Series: Featured

January 17, 2015

Christian Standard

One Church, Many Nations

By John Chace Imagine a special glimpse of Heaven every time you go to church. If you worship, study, serve, or fellowship at Community Christian Church in Tamarac, Florida, you”ll do so with people from almost 80 countries. In this South Florida congregation, church members harmoniously celebrate the blessings of broad diversity. The people know diversity is there, but don”t necessarily see it. They feel good about fitting in easily and being fully accepted for who they are; they are warmly welcomed and encouraged to get involved. Most are quick to cite common bonds””acknowledgement they are sinners, in need of

January 16, 2015

Christian Standard

A Healthy Church Nourishes Fellowship

By Barney Wells From the tiniest white-frame rural chapel to the largest of megachurch campuses, church buildings seem to have two rooms in common. One is called the auditorium, sanctuary, or worship center””it is where the gospel message is proclaimed weekly through sermon, song, the Lord”s Supper, and prayer. The other room is the fellowship hall. Whether found in a dank basement room with a low ceiling or a cavernous gymnasium-like structure, the ubiquitous presence of the fellowship hall testifies to the importance of a place for fellowship. Fellowship in the Bible refers to a common task and common concern

January 15, 2015

Christian Standard

A Healthy Church Has a Robust Missions Program

By Rob Maupin My wife and I entered the local sub shop and began to order. The young man serving us noticed our tired, but happy faces and asked what we had been doing. We told him our church had packed 500,000 meals for hungry kids in Haiti, and it took us (and more than 1,000 volunteers) well over 11 hours of really hard work. We explained that even though it was tiring, we had a truly wonderful experience. “Why did your church do that?” he asked quietly. As we conversed, he said, “I”d like to be a part of

January 12, 2015

Christian Standard

A Healthy Church Is Doctrinally Strong

By Jeff Faull I know what you”re thinking: OK, here comes the obligatory “doctrine” article. I think I”ll pass””or else””I”ll hold my nose and take the medicine in one quick gulp and wash it down with something good and be done with it. Please don”t. Doctrine was never intended to be dry, rigid, sterile, lifeless rules and syllogisms, but rather, the stuff of life itself. So I”m asking you to consider healthy church doctrine from some refreshing and positive vantage points.   Consider Doctrine as a Framework for Story I hear a lot of people nowadays saying Christianity is a

January 11, 2015

Christian Standard

A Healthy Church Is a Giving Church

By Joe Putting “Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “˜Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?” (James 2:15, 16). When I was growing up in the late 1960s, my dad exposed me to every western movie available. There was nothing quite like the drive-in theater experience. At some point in nearly every film, the good guys would circle the wagons to ward off the bad guys. Though this might sometimes be necessary, a group that

January 10, 2015

Christian Standard

A Healthy Church Is Evangelistic

By David Bycroft About 20 years ago during a doctor”s visit, I learned I had some serious health problems. My doctor described my problems and what would happen if I did not address them. Part of me wanted to ignore the situation and go on living like nothing was wrong. After all, everything on the surface seemed just fine. Instead, with the urging of my wife, we began making some lifestyle changes that would improve my quality of life and give me a better chance at quantity of life. It would have been foolish to ignore my doctor”s advice and

January 8, 2015

Christian Standard

A Healthy Church Manages Debt Well

By Don Anderson Thank you for even starting to read an article about an important topic that is seldom considered exciting. I am certain I could find church leaders who would argue that an indebted church cannot be considered “healthy.” And others would argue that debt has little to do with a church”s overall health. I think the truth lies somewhere between these two extremes. Debt can be like a noose squeezing the necks of leaders, or it can be a useful tool for eliminating real obstacles to growth, such as the lack of seating or parking. Debt and commercial

January 2, 2015

Christian Standard

ICOM Relaunches “˜Light the Fire”

By Kim Butts With ICOM”s “Vertical” theme this year, hundreds of people, young and old, had the opportunity to be a part of something that had never been done at the conference. Two interactive, station-based prayer rooms were set up as sacred spaces for people to engage with God in compellingly creative ways, day and night, from the first hour of ICOM to the last. The largest prayer space was located in the middle of the exhibit hall. The area, graciously designed and set up by the prayer and missions teams of Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky, was open

January 1, 2015

Christian Standard

2015 NACC Schedule of Events

TUESDAY, JUNE 23  8:30 a.m.”” Cane Ridge Adventure Tour (tickets required) 9:00 a.m.”” PROPEL Pre-Lab Event (information on page 50) 1:00 p.m.””Logos Bible Software Training (tickets required) 6:45 p.m.””Evening Main Session (Mike Baker speaking) 8:30 p.m.””College Fair 8:30 p.m.””President”s Reception   WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24 7:30 a.m.””Ministry Networking Breakfast (tickets required) 8:00 a.m.”” Ministers” Wives” Breakfast (tickets required) 8:30 a.m.”” Bible Study with J.K. Jones 9:45 a.m.””Morning Main Session (“Next Generation” preachers and LeRoy Lawson speaking) Noon””Seniors” Luncheon with John and Bob Russell (tickets required) 2:00 p.m.””Seminars/Workshops 3:30 p.m.””Performance by Michael Jr., Christian comedian 5:00 p.m.”” President”s Banquet (tickets required) 6:45

January 1, 2015

Christian Standard

Faithful and True

By Mark R. Laaser If you were Satan and wanted to bring down the church””all churches and all denominations””what would you do? Attack leadership, of course. Thanks to the Internet, Satan now has that technology, and he is using it. I call addiction to Internet pornography among pastors the tsunami that is threatening to engulf the church. I am an ordained pastor who struggled with sexual addiction, and by the grace of God, found freedom in March 1987 when I went to an inpatient treatment program. Thanks to the intervention of the Holy Spirit and the best clinical resources available at

January 1, 2015

Christian Standard

2014 ICOM: Nothing Like It!

By Reggie Hundley The 2014 International Conference On Missions (ICOM) was an outstanding gathering.  Dave Butts, president of Harvest Prayer Ministries and the 2014 ICOM, selected “Vertical” as the theme for the 2014 gathering, and it permeated every level of activity. Butts wrote, “So much of missions is horizontally focused and rightly so. But if we want maximum impact horizontally we need to start with a vertical focus. It”s all about Jesus.” Scripture repeatedly emphasizes the need for a vertical focus. For example, Hebrews 12:1, 2: “Let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do

December 29, 2014

Christian Standard

Church/Christian College Joint Ventures

By Jennifer Johnson Although this NACC workshop was designed to find new ways for churches and colleges to work together, some are already leading the way with innovative programs and creative solutions. “¢ Hope International University, Fullerton, California, created its School of Advanced Leadership Training, or SALT, program several years ago after its president, Dr. John Derry, observed the increasing number of churches creating their own leadership training programs. Derry and his team created a flexible curriculum to offer practical and biblical material to church members and staff at a range of commitment levels. “Participants may audit the courses for

December 28, 2014

Christian Standard

Churches & Colleges Working Together

By Jennifer Johnson At this summer”s North American Christian Convention, representatives from Emmanuel Christian Seminary, Ozark Christian College, Milligan College, and several churches participated in a workshop to discuss how our churches and our schools can partner to build stronger relationships and develop the leaders we need. “The changing landscape in America requires kingdom workers with a global perspective who can confront a secular culture with a Christian worldview,” says Phyllis Fox, director of church relations and the Youth in Ministry program at Milligan College and the coordinator of the workshop. “How can our Christian colleges and universities best prepare

December 27, 2014

Christian Standard

The Agony and the Honor

By Daniel Schantz I rose from my chair and shuffled over to the pulpit. My hands were shaking and my voice wavered. “I”m sorry,” I said to the congregation, “but I have nothing for you today. I just couldn”t come up with a sermon.” Members of the audience stared at each other in bewilderment. Then I awoke, relieved to find I was just having a nightmare, one that I have had on and off all my life””that I am stepping into the pulpit unprepared, the ultimate disgrace. Writing sermons is the hardest writing I ever do; it is exquisite agony,

December 22, 2014

Christian Standard

What to Give the Person Who Has Everything

By Daniel Schantz The stubborn conundrum of Christmas is, “What will I get for everyone on my list?” Males, for example, are oblivious of female needs. That explains why your husband got you a new chain saw and some radial tires for Christmas last year. Some people just give everyone the same thing, like a homemade fruitcake, but one has to wonder if there is not some symbolic meaning behind all those fruits and nuts. Without a doubt, the hardest person to buy for is the one who has everything, like your boss, who drives a Lamborghini and gave Super

December 21, 2014

Christian Standard

Overwhelmed by Christmas, Again!

By Alan Ahlgrim A few unsuspecting shepherds were minding their own business when they were suddenly overwhelmed by Christmas. According to the classic Christmas text in Luke 2, the message and how it was delivered terrified them. An angel appeared. The radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were told in unmistakable fashion that the Savior had been born! The news was stunningly and extraordinarily good. It’s no wonder the angels were overwhelmed when they heard it. Overwhelmed is a great way to describe how many of us feel much of the time—especially at Christmastime. In fact, I suspect

December 20, 2014

Christian Standard

Leading Young

By Will Thomas Young ministers can overcome the challenges that have faced them since Paul wrote Timothy. I understand Timothy”s predicament. “Don”t let anyone look down on you because you are young,” the apostle Paul encouraged (1 Timothy 4:12). Timothy was a preacher and in all likelihood younger than most of the people in his church. Been there, done that. I had just turned 19 when I began serving as a minister. I had preached a fair number of sermons as a teenager in my home church and had always been a motivated student of the Bible. But suddenly, a

December 19, 2014

Christian Standard

From Jaded to Joyful

Brian Jennings I knew how the game worked. Someone would walk into our church office, request to speak to a preacher, ask for prayer, and then tell a dramatic story of misfortune. They needed money and they needed it now. Their sister was dying of cancer in Nebraska. Their job interview started in 20 minutes on the other side of town. Their friend betrayed them and they needed a hotel for just one night. Each new crisis dealt me two options: cruelty or gullibility. Would I shun compassion or stewardship? The scenario repeated daily. The issues of poverty defeated me.

December 18, 2014

Christian Standard

Breaking the Link from Poverty to Prison

By T.R. Robertson Prison life is easier than life on the street for many in our country”s poor population. By understanding and taking effective measures to address poverty, we are helping to solve the crime problem as well. Here are some basic understandings and ideas. Until she went to prison, Janie said, she had never in her young life been sure she would get to eat three meals in any one day and have a bed to sleep on at night. Born into the make-do culture of generational poverty, the only “meals” she”d ever known consisted of whatever food could

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