February 9, 2021
By Ron Clark, executive director of Kairos Church Planting — Reading and signing an Ethical Conduct Agreement or Covenant before a church not only serves as an encouragement to our congregations, community, and those who have been hurt by church leaders, but it also provides a level of accountability for ministers.
February 8, 2021
Etienne Prophete, 81, who co-founded Haitian Christian Mission in 1974 with his wife, Betty, died Friday, Feb. 5. Over the years, the mission has started nearly 60 churches totaling more than 10,000 members. Many of the churches also have schools that serve a total of more than 13,000 children daily. Prophete was a 1974 graduate of Ozark Christian College, which awarded him with the Seth Wilson Outstanding Alumnus Award in 2006. “Since he came to Ozark and returned to his native land, no missionary leader has cast a longer shadow of Christ-honoring influence in Haiti,” said former OCC president Ken
February 7, 2021
By Dee Ann Billings On a recent night I got a glimmer of what a church would be like if Jesus were here in the flesh sitting amongst us. We often refer to Jesus as the giver of freedom—freedom from our sins and freedom from our pain. Unfortunately, the church oftentimes has become the opposite of that. That night was the first of a six-week Bible study called “In the Middle of the Mess.” We opened the class to the community, knowing there were hurting and struggling women who needed freedom from their pain. But we didn’t expect a roster
February 3, 2021
By Chris Moon Not every ministry couple can boast of watching all three of their grown sons enter into full-time ministry. But such is the case with Lewis and Lisa Captain. “Our lives have been centered around kingdom work,” Lisa Captain said. “This world is not our home. We’re here for God’s purpose. We tried to involve [our sons] in ministry as much as possible. This is something they did as well. Growing up, this was our life.” The Captains’ own journey has taken them to Zimbabwe, Hawaii, various spots in the Midwest, and now Utah. Their sons Brent, Timothy,
February 3, 2021
The Best Christian Workplace Institute has honored 157 faith-based organizations as “2020’s Certified Best Christian Workplaces.” Among those churches, mission organizations, and parachurch ministries honored: • 2|42 Community Church, Brighton, Mich. • Canyon Ridge Christian Church, Las Vegas, Nev. • Christ’s Church of the Valley, Peoria, Ariz. • Compass Christian Church, Chandler, Ariz. • Kingsway Christian Church, Avon, Ind. • Northridge Christian Church, Milledgeville, Ga. • Southeast Christian Church, Parker, Colo. • StoneBridge Christian Church, Omaha, Neb. • Summit Christian Church, Sparks, Nev. • Traders Point Christian Church, Indianapolis • CDF Capital, Irvine, Calif. • Christian Children’s Home of Ohio, Wooster,
February 2, 2021
Southeast Christian Church's "Purpose in Pandemics" is a documentary that follows the response of the church to pandemics throughout history. The "Purpose in Pandemics" website also includes a study guide for small groups and individuals.
January 31, 2021
In Orchard Group's 2020-2021 Report, president/CEO Brent Storms shared these “7 Reasons to Back Church Planters” . . .
January 29, 2021
I soaked up Sam Stone's wit and wisdom during our lunches together. Afterward, I’d take notes about our conversations. After hearing of his passing, inspired by his wordsmithing, I felt compelled to share just a small part of his story.
January 27, 2021
Former Christian Standard editor Sam E. Stone passed away from cardiac failure on Monday, Jan. 25, 2021, at the age of 84. Over a lifetime of Christian ministry, Sam served as a preacher of the gospel in Ohio and Missouri, academic dean of Cincinnati Christian Seminary, Bible college professor, president of the North American Christian Convention, world missions advocate, author, and advocate for the developmentally disabled. He served as Christian Standard editor for 25 years, from 1978 to 2003, the longest tenure in the magazine’s 154-year history. The New Mexico native graduated from Ozark Bible College, Joplin, Mo., and also
January 27, 2021
Mark A. Taylor shares memories of his colleague, teacher, and friend, Sam E. Stone. Sam, who was Christian Standard's longest-serving editor, died on Monday.
January 27, 2021
Stadia Church Planting shared a video highlighting multiple achievements attained during the challenging year of 2020. Among those successes: Stadia planted 98 U.S. churches and 280 global churches (making a total of 1,256 Stadia churches since 2003); 83 new church planters were recommended for church planting; 1,155 women were served through Stadia’s Bloom: Church Planting Women; and 2,000 more children were sponsored through Stadia global partnerships (bringing the total to 48,720 since sponsorships began). View the video at stadiachurchplanting.org. _ _ _ LifeVenture Group, a new ministry devoted to offering people new life in Jesus, is actively engaging with international
January 24, 2021
By Jim Nieman A small church in a town of fewer than 2,000 in west-central Oregon is playing an outsized role in helping its region recover from wildfires that swept through large swaths of the Pacific Northwest last summer and fall. Mill City (Ore.) Christian Church initially helped by establishing a disaster relief store, but for the past few months it has partnered with a church from Washington state, along with area business owners and individuals, to help clear some of the more than 300 homes destroyed in the area. “I had spent a year asking God to use me
January 21, 2021
Church leaders are invited to participate in our annual church survey. We will be collecting data from churches of all sizes through Monday, Jan. 25.
January 20, 2021
By Chris Moon It is not every day someone retires from 50 years as a law enforcement officer, including 20 as the local sheriff . . . and decides to devote his retirement to lay ministry in the church. But that’s exactly what Dave Phalen has planned. “Wherever the Lord leads me. He kind of can surprise us sometime,” said Phalen, who just retired as sheriff in Fairfield County, Ohio, and serves as an elder with Fairfield Christian Church in the city of Lancaster. Phalen set aside his badge after 50 years in law enforcement and he did so with
January 20, 2021
Grace Grubert has been promoted to the new dual positions of chief financial officer and chief operations officer (CFO/COO) of Financial Planning Ministry in Irvine, Calif. Grubert joined FPM in 2008 and has been serving as director of administration during a time of great growth at the organization. FPM is a nonprofit partnership of national charities dedicated to providing a path to sound biblical stewardship through donor estate planning. In her new role, Grubert will be supported by a national team of 35 staff members serving 100 charitable partners. Together they serve 34,000 estate planned families and have helped facilitate
January 17, 2021
Three Bibles of historical significance to Cincinnati Christian University were the first books place on the shelves during relocation of the George Mark Elliott Library.
January 13, 2021
By Jim Nieman After 16 years on the board of IDES followed by 19 years as the organization’s executive director, Rick Jett has transitioned out of the latter role and David Stine has been named to succeed him. Since 2016, Stine has served as director of operations with IDES—International Disaster Emergency Service—a Christian church/church of Christ organization incorporated in 1973 to provide emergency assistance via missionaries who were in or near disaster situations around the world. “I am honored to continue the legacy of meeting the physical and spiritual needs of suffering people throughout the world in the name of
January 13, 2021
A December blog post by CMF International spotlighted Will and Ruth Walls for their years of service with the global mission organization. Will served as a campus minister at Ball State University, Muncie, Ind., from 1972 to 1995, then he and Ruth served as CMF missionaries in England (pastoral care, team training, and development with the church-planting team). Upon returning to the States in 2005, Will served in CMF’s office in Indianapolis. The couple officially retired in October. “The Walls are examples of lifelong service to the kingdom for all of us,” said CMF executive director Kip Lines. “It is
January 12, 2021
By Chris Moon The COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t dampened Restoration House Ministries’ efforts to bring young church leaders to New England. The church-planting organization in Manchester, N.H., is in the third year of its residency program which recruits young people from across the country to gain ministry experience in the Northeast. Five residents are nearing the end of their 11-month training cycle. “It’s a work in progress,” said Aaron Rathbone, residency program director for RHM. This year’s residency program came with its own challenges, he said. The current cohort started work remotely in April 2020 just as the COVID-19 pandemic was
January 11, 2021
How do we gauge what exactly happened in our churches during 2020 and what is the best course of action as we endeavor to resume face-to-face community during this new year? A good first step is to share your church’s experience with us via Christian Standard’s annual survey of Christian churches and churches of Christ. “Capturing the stories and statistics from 2020 is vital for us to gauge the true impact of the pandemic on our churches and establish baselines to measure future growth and changes,” said Kent Fillinger, who has been conducting our annual survey for more than a
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