Series: News

Philippians 4:6 Is ‘Verse of the Year’ (Plus News Briefs)

Philippians 4:6 is the “2019 Verse of the Year,” as determined by YouVersion. Users of the popular Bible app engaged with that Bible verse—by bookmarking it, highlighting it, and sharing it—more than any other. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6). YouVersion also reported increased use of the app during 2019, including 5.6 billion chapters listened to, 35.6 billion chapters read, and 478 million verses shared. Meanwhile, Merriam-Webster’s “word of the year” is they. Searches of that term rose 313 percent during 2019, and

December 22, 2019

Obituaries for 2019

Send obituary information for **@********************ia.com. James Clapsaddle Smith, 91, a Christian church preacher and general director of Christian Missionary Fellowship (now CMFI) for 20 years, died Oct. 23, 2019. He was born April 7, 1928, in Centerville, Kan., the son of Kathleen May Clapsaddle Smith and Dewey Bryan Smith. After his father died in an accident in 1934, he and his seven siblings grew up in a single-parent home. He attended Northwest Christian College (now Northwest Christian University) in Eugene, Ore., which is where he met Joyce Couch of Seattle. They married on July 1, 1949, then continued to complete

December 18, 2019

CCU Faculty, Staff Relief Fund Started on GoFundMe

Three graduates of Cincinnati Christian University have started a GoFundMe page for CCU faculty and staff who are now in need due to the closing of the university. Former Christian Standard editor Mark A. Taylor, The Lookout editor Shawn McMullen, and Linda Mirante, who serves in ministry with Bachelor Creek Church in Wabash, Ind., started the page Tuesday for CCU workers who are “receiving their last paycheck this week.” The appeal states, “Many of these faithful servants still do not have jobs; at least several are left with no income. With the closing of the school, employees have no severance,

December 18, 2019

Church Life

Even after 25 Years, Churches Welcome Thousands for ‘Journey to Bethlehem’

By Chris Moon Another year, another “Journey to Bethlehem.” For some Restoration Movement churches, the “Journey” is a tradition that has spanned decades. Christian Standard found two churches that have been at it for at least 25 years—New Hope Christian Church in Washington, Ind., and Capital City Christian Church in Jefferson City, Mo. “Things kind of gain a life of their own,” said Joe Coquillard, lead pastor of New Hope, which held its 25th annual “Journey to Bethlehem” last weekend. He said 1,791 people participated in the interactive Nativity that guides participants through a series of scenes that tell the

December 18, 2019

Conferences & Gatherings Organizations & Events

ICOM Reports on 2019 Gathering, Makes Plans for 2020 (Plus News Briefs)

Compiled by Jim Nieman and Chris Moon The International Conference On Missions shared some statistics from last month’s gathering in Kansas City, Mo., even as it makes plans for its next annual get-together in Indianapolis Nov. 19-22, 2020. The total attendance of about 8,500 during the Nov. 14-17 Kansas City gathering was on track with ICOM events of the recent past, while the Student ICOM—or SICOM—remained strong with 575 attending. There were 47 colleges and universities represented, along with 42 public decisions to enter missionary service. ICOM set records for its biggest KidZone attendance (585), total number of exhibitors (356),

December 11, 2019

Local Churches Organizations & Events

CCV (San Dimas) Rebranding as ONE&ALL Church, Expanding Overseas

By Chris Moon Christ’s Church of the Valley in San Dimas, Calif., is changing its name to ONE&ALL Church. The rebranding effort comes as the church expands its mission to reach beyond its Southern California turf. The megachurch that averaged almost 6,700 in 2018 has formed partnerships with congregations in New Zealand, Australia, and elsewhere and is working on additional ones. Lead pastor Jeff Vines said the church looked at changing its name as it realized its mission was expanding geographically. Vines has multiple connections with church leaders in New Zealand and Africa because of his 20 years of missionary

December 11, 2019

Professor Walton Retiring from CCCB (Plus News Briefs)

Compiled by Jim Nieman and Chris Moon Central Christian College of the Bible will host a retirement reception from 1 to 3 p.m. Friday for William Walton, professor emeritus of Christian ministries. Walton began his service with CCCB in 1980 and has served the college in various roles, including as dean of students, vice president of student life, and athletic director. CCCB president David Fincher said he was a high schooler competing in a preaching contest when he first met Walton, and that Walton’s comments that day encouraged Fincher to pursue ministry. “A similar story can be told by thousands

December 4, 2019

Church Leadership

Three Stories of Hope: The Legacy of Cincinnati Ministry Education

By David Fincher (This article is adapted from comments delivered at the Cincinnati Christian University alumni homecoming on November 9 and at the International Conference on Missions on November 15.) As a graduate of Central Christian College of the Bible, Moberly, Mo., I have long known the influence of Cincinnati upon our Christian churches and colleges. In 1989, I began as a freshman at CCCB. My teachers were primarily graduates of Cincinnati Bible Seminary who quoted their teachers and shared memories of their school. Before I ever visited the Cincinnati campus, I was already grateful for the work of CBS.

December 4, 2019

Louisville Bible College President Tom Mobley Dies (Plus News Briefs)

Compiled by Jim Nieman and Chris Moon Dr. Tom Mobley, 70, president of Louisville Bible College, died Monday morning at Flaget Memorial Hospital in Bardstown, Ky., the city in which he lived. “It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that Louisville Bible College received word earlier this morning that Dr. Tom Mobley has passed away,” LBC wrote on its Facebook page. “We are eternally grateful and appreciative of his ministry at Louisville Bible College. His presence will be missed.” Through the years, Dr. Mobley served in various capacities as a Christian educator, minister, and chaplain. He served as

November 27, 2019

Church & Ministry Church Leadership Pastoral Transitions & Succession

Bycroft Serving Oklahoma Church after Long Ministry in Kansas

By Chris Moon Retirement didn’t last long for David Bycroft. “That’s a little bit of a joke,” he told Christian Standard. Bycroft retired from Tyro (Kan.) Christian Church in September 2017 after a long ministry—47 years in all—that saw the church grow in average weekly attendance from 40 people to 950. And that was in a town of just 250 residents. The church attracted people from towns all around the area. Not long after preaching his last sermon in Tyro, Bycroft was contacted by the leadership at East Bartlesville Christian Church, located in Bartlesville, Okla., about 30 miles south

November 27, 2019

Northshore Christian Academy Recognized as Blue Ribbon School (Plus News Briefs)

Compiled by Jim Nieman and Chris Moon Northshore Christian Academy in Everett, Wash.—a ministry of Northshore Christian Church—was presented with a National Blue Ribbon School Award during ceremonies last week. NCA was one of 362 schools—only 50 of them private—to be honored as a Blue Ribbon School. Northshore superintendent Holly Leach, principal Diane Winningham, and other staff members accepted the award at a ceremony in Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C. Leach told Heraldnet.com that Northshore stood out due to its faith, fine arts, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), and school culture. NCA’s Cultural Connection groups include parents who are African-American;

November 20, 2019

Church & Ministry Church Growth

Mountain Christian to Open New ‘Epicenter’ and Campus

By Chris Moon Mountain Christian Church in Joppa, Md., is opening a new campus northeast of Baltimore—expanding its community center church model with its second “Epicenter” facility. The church will launch its Aberdeen campus in the fall of 2020 after its 9,000-square-foot worship building, which will be added to a local shopping mall, is complete. But even before that, the church-affiliated Epicenter at Aberdeen will open; the Epicenter will offer before- and after-school childcare and workforce development services for the community. Other community services will be added later. “It became very clear very quickly that God’s choice was Aberdeen,” Jared

November 20, 2019

Some Shooting Victims Part of a High School Ministry at Real Life (Plus News Briefs)

Compiled by Jim Nieman and Chris Moon Real Life Church in Valencia, Calif., dedicated its worship services this past Thursday and Sunday to Saugus High School following a school shooting there last week that killed two and injured three. One of those killed, Gracie Anne Muehlberger, 15, and two girls that were injured were part of a high school ministry at Real Life, senior pastor Rusty George told the Los Angeles Times. “People further away from the situation wonder ‘Why?’ and might even blame God,” George told the Times. “But the people who have been directly affected don’t blame God.

November 18, 2019

Except for God

As Cincinnati Christian University finishes its final semester of classes before closing, there are undoubtedly many stories from the school’s alumni about their time on campus. This remembrance, which originated as a Facebook note, particularly stood out to us. Jerry Borton was born with cerebral palsy and now serves with Luke 14 Exchange, an organization that encourages people with disabilities to use their gifts. His story is just one part of the tremendous legacy CCU has left us. _ _ _ By Jerry Borton Like so many of you, I am deeply saddened by the news that Cincinnati Christian University

November 16, 2019

Church Leadership

CCCB’s Plans in Cincinnati Include Maintaining 3 Ministry Assets

Central Christian College of the Bible, Moberly, Mo., which is working toward opening an extension campus in Cincinnati next spring, has announced plans to maintain “three key ministry support services” that have been a part of the soon-to-close Cincinnati Christian University. According to its website, CCCB plans to provide ministry education through the Russell School of Ministry, continue development of a national network of churches through the Center for Church Leadership, and provide library services through the George Mark Elliott Library. The Missouri college is asking for “the [financial] support of Cincinnati constituent friends and church families” to help make

November 13, 2019

Church & Ministry Community Outreach

Barbara Rendel Continuing to Scatter JOY after Many Years in Ministry

By Chris Moon Barbara Rendel shows few signs of slowing down. She served many years in ministry alongside her husband, Wally—former pastor of Southern Acres Christian Church and Jessamine Christian Church in Kentucky—and since 2012 has been leading a multifaceted ministry program that serves families in need in central Kentucky. ScatterJOY Inc. partners with the public school system in Jessamine County, Ky., to provide food, clothing, and shelter for students and their families. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg for the organization. The group also holds events to support people coming out of addictions. It does work in

November 13, 2019

Joneses to Step Down from Leadership Roles at Stadia (Plus News Briefs)

Compiled by Jim Nieman and Chris Moon Tom and Debbie Jones plan to step down from their leadership roles with Stadia Church Planting and Bloom, respectively, on Jan. 1, they announced via Facebook. However, both will remain with Stadia as special assistants to the president. Tom Jones has served as executive director of Stadia since its founding in 2003. Debbie Jones founded and serves as senior director of Stadia’s Bloom, which empowers women to maximize their role in starting churches. Both of the Joneses will turn 65 in 2020. “Our focus will turn from executive leadership and operations to work

November 6, 2019

Church & Ministry Church Planting

Multiethnic Church Planned for Johnson University Florida Campus

By Chris Moon A church plant is in the works at Johnson University Florida. Encounter Church is expected to launch at the Kissimmee campus in September 2020. It will be led by pastor Gonzalo Venegas and is backed by Florida Church Partners and Nexus Church Planting. “Things have gone pretty fast,” Venegas said. The church already has 53 committed adults involved in its prelaunch phase. Venegas was featured in March 2019 article in Christian Standard as he embarked on planting a church in Florida after leaving his former home in Michigan. Part of Venegas’s story is his history as a

November 6, 2019