Series: News

Church Life

The Key to the Future Is in the Past

By Quentin Mumphery We are living in unprecedented times. A global pandemic forced us to re-envision life as we know it. Centuries-old racial tension forced this nation to wrestle with its original sin. Economic uncertainty. Businesses shuttering. Political polarization. Quarantining. Social distancing. All of these things created a “perfect storm.” The church has not been exempt from the volatility and uncertainty, yet the church is called to be a beacon of light and hope. A city upon a hill. But how do we provide light in darkness when we are wrestling with these sobering realities? How is the church, the

November 18, 2020

MACU to Help Train Rwandan Ministers (Plus News Briefs)

Mid-Atlantic Christian University, Elizabeth City, N.C., has signed a memorandum of understanding with Rwanda Challenge and Africa Hope Initiatives to offer an accredited associate degree in Bible and ministry to the people of Rwanda and other East African nations. A year ago, Rwanda Challenge director Frank Reynolds approached MACU and shared the need for such a degree. In 2023, Rwandan law will require all ministers to have an accredited associate degree in ministry. Through discussions, the three groups arrived at a solution for providing the necessary degree at an affordable cost. Students will take the majority of the courses online,

November 16, 2020

Three Colleges Adjust Schedules Due to COVID-19

At least three Christian colleges announced changes to their fall semester plans in recent days due to the coronavirus pandemic. The most significant change occurred at Lincoln (Ill.) Christian University, where students were sent home about 10 days early, a main reason being the dwindling number of students receiving in-person instruction. “It is becoming increasingly difficult for our faculty to manage courses that have numerous students in quarantine,” LCU president Silas McCormick wrote on Nov. 9. “While we would all prefer to continue holding these classes in-person, the reality is that over the next week-and-a-half, a number of classes would

November 13, 2020

Prayer Worship & Prayer

What Breaks God’s Heart?

The Answer May Help Us Pray More Passionately for God’s Will in Our Lives, Churches, Communities, and Nation By Dale Reeves Earlier this month, Trevor DeVage challenged our church to pray every day for a week, “God, break my heart with the things that break your heart!” That’s not a safe or easy prayer. It’s not consistent with the God-please-bless-me-and-take-care-of-my-needs-and-answer-my-prayers-the-way-I-want-you-to Christianity that many American believers have grown accustomed to. I can’t claim to know everything that breaks God’s heart, but I know one must be when I try to hide from him and go my own way—as Adam and Eve

November 11, 2020

Culture & Public Square Politics & Government

Small-town Christian Church Member Wins Seat in Congress

By Jim Nieman A first-time political candidate from eastern Illinois who attends a small-town Christian church—where her husband serves as an elder—was elected to Congress with more than 70 percent of the vote, according to unofficial totals. Republican Mary Miller—described as “a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a local farmer, and a business manager,” by her website—is set to represent Illinois’ 15th Congressional District, which includes 33 counties that cover most of the southeastern part of the state. In her spare time, she teaches Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, according to her website. Mary and her husband, Chris, attend

November 11, 2020

California Church Mobilizes to Help Chaplain Bless Troops (Plus News Briefs)

By Jim Nieman Central Christian Church in Lancaster, Calif., is mobilizing to send Military Christmas Care Boxes to a troop of U.S. Army soldiers stationed overseas. The mobilization to fill approximately 350 shoeboxes with letters, snacks, and various necessities is in response to a request from a CCC member who serves as a U.S. Army chaplain for those male and female soldiers. “We have always done [Samaritan Purse’s] Operation Christmas Child boxes in the past,” said Autumn Rutledge, who serves with Central’s women’s ministry. “This year we were asked . . . if we would consider sending care packages to

November 10, 2020

Mission & Evangelism

All-Church 5K Raises Funds for Mission

By Jim Nieman In this time of COVID-19, Vail Christian Church in Tucson, Ariz., figured out a way to bring people together, improve physical and spiritual health, and raise money for a Christian mission. As a bonus, participants in the church’s inaugural Masquerade 5K—the culmination of VCC’s 12-week Run for God class—were encouraged to dress up in costumes, since the big event took place on Halloween. “Due to the closures of all [running] races around Tucson, we wanted to provide a race that our Run for God class participants could end their 12-week walk/run training program with,” said Mat Miller,

November 4, 2020

Christian Colleges Facing ‘The Perfect Storm’

By John Derry Last year, I was among seven Christian university presidents from Southern California to retire. It wasn’t a coordinated decision, just a coincidence—we all were about the same age. I recently was on a Zoom call with some of them and we commented about how, even though we faced plenty of challenges, we never expected anything like COVID-19, a pandemic that has forced cancellation of on-campus instruction and athletic competition, loss of revenue, and transitioning to remote instruction. Initially, many of us thought the crisis would affect only the spring semester, but it has become clear there is

November 4, 2020

A Strong ‘Harvest’ Despite Pandemic (Plus News Briefs)

Despite the pandemic, this year’s “Harvest of Talents for World Hunger,” a unique ministry started in 1984 by Lincoln (Ill.) Christian Church, raised more than $100,000 to combat hunger around the world. Each year, people in and around Lincoln use their talents for cooking, crafts, art—whatever—to create items that are sold at events and auctions to raise money for Harvest of Talents. All of that money is routed to International Disaster Emergency Service (IDES), which distributes those funds to mission partners that request it to feed starving people. This year’s “Harvest” raised $116,558 (equal to 388,527 meals), increasing the 37-year

November 3, 2020

Plans Announced for 2021 SCJ Conference at Lincoln Christian University

The 20th annual Stone-Campbell Journal Conference is slated for Lincoln (Ill.) Christian University next April 16-17. If necessary, due to COVID-19, the conference will function virtually. The plenary sessions (and perhaps more) will be available virtually regardless. The theme “Violence of God in the Old Testament” will be developed by featured speakers Eric Seibert, professor of Old Testament at Messiah University, Mechanicsburg, Pa.; Michelle Knight, assistant professor of Old Testament and Semitic languages at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, Ill.; and Mark Hamilton, Onstead Professor of Biblical Studies at Abilene (Texas) Christian University. Seibert will present “Solving the Problem of

November 2, 2020

CCCB Resumes In-Person Classes after COVID-19 Cases Subside

By Jim Nieman Central Christian College of the Bible in Moberly, Mo., resumed in-person classes Monday, two weeks after switching to virtual/remote learning due to a spike in COVID-19 cases that saw nearly half of its residential student population either test positive for the virus, isolate with symptoms, or quarantine due to exposure. “We’re down to two active cases—one student and one employee—with five [people] in quarantine,” college president David Fincher reported Monday. Of the five people who remained in quarantine, four are employees. The student with COVID-19 and the quarantined student both were off-campus, he said. “Some of the

October 28, 2020

Conferences & Gatherings Organizations & Events

Interview: David Empson Discusses ICOM’s Roller-coaster Year

By Jim Nieman The International Conference On Missions’ executive director, staff, and this year’s president have had to overcome monumental challenges in planning this year’s event in the age of COVID-19. Work for the November conference essentially had to begin anew over the summer when ICOM announced it was switching to a hybrid format—both online and in-person. ICOM officials have promised the in-person portion will be safe and comfortable, but limited mainly to the popular exhibit area where so many friends and mission agencies connect. The virtual aspect, meanwhile, will be robust and comprehensive, so that as many as possible

October 28, 2020

OCC’s Mark Scott Planning Transition to Church Ministry (Plus News Briefs)

By Jim Nieman Mark Scott, longtime professor of preaching and New Testament with Ozark Christian College, has announced he will conclude his full-time service with the school on May 31, 2021, so he can focus on ministry with Park Plaza Christian Church in Joplin, Mo. In a memo to Ozark faculty and staff, Scott wrote, “I cannot put in words or quantify what it has meant for us to serve at OCC. When you cut us, we bleed OCC blue. How can I thank you for the privilege of serving with you for these 35 years? Thank you, OCC, for giving

October 27, 2020

Canadian Christian Colleges Find Unique Solutions to Disparate Challenges

By Jim Nieman Two Canadian Christian colleges have undergone major changes over the course of the last several months. At Alberta Bible College in Calgary, the disruption resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic has caused the school to deliver its classes via an online method since the springtime. “We weigh the information we receive from Alberta Health Services weekly and are trying to determine if beginning some physical classes in January is prudent,” president Stanley Helton said. Maritime Christian College also has seen disruption, but those changes were in motion even before the coronavirus began dominating the world’s headlines. MCC—located in

October 21, 2020

Weekly Spire Huddles Cover Range of Topics (Plus News Briefs)

Compiled by Jim Nieman Spire Huddles—taking place each Wednesday—offer an online, interactive, conversational, and free way to connect with other church leaders and discuss important topics presented by expert speakers. There is a different huddle focus and host/presenter each week until February. The huddles begin at 1 p.m. Wednesdays (Eastern time) and last roughly 90 minutes. An additional 30 minutes are allotted for final questions at the end of the main presentation. More than half of the time is spent in small groups. By the time you complete a Huddle, according to Spire, “you will hear from an expert, connect

October 20, 2020

Dozens of CCCB Students In Quarantine Or Isolating Due to COVID-19 Outbreak

By Jim Nieman Central Christian College of the Bible in Moberly, Mo., has switched to online-only instruction for the next two weeks due to a spike in COVID-19 cases among residential students. The change in format will enable the school to reduce the risk of exposing more students to the virus. The school announced its decision Monday morning. After the first residential student tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday, another seven students tested positive on Sunday and Monday, president David Fincher and vice president of student development Darryl Ammon said via email. As of Tuesday afternoon, about 45 percent of

October 19, 2020

Johnson Receives $1 Million Lilly Grant to Help Launch Three Rivers Collaboration

Johnson University has received a $1 million grant from the Lilly Foundation to help establish the Three Rivers Collaboration to guide congregations in the Knoxville, Tenn., area in a process of refining their God-given mission within a changing cultural context. Mark Nelson, a 1987 Johnson graduate who has served as lead pastor of The Crossings in downtown Knoxville, which he planted in 2007, will join Johnson’s staff as executive director of TRC. Nelson’s experience also includes serving 10 years of campus ministry at Purdue University. His wife, Dr. Monica Nelson, leads the pre-nursing program at Johnson. The TRC is funded

October 16, 2020