Series: News

September 24, 2019

Christian Standard

Former Standard Publishing Employees Meet for Reunion

On Friday, September 20, about 70 former employees of Standard Publishing and their spouses met to renew friendships and share memories, recalling the years they served together in Christian publishing. The gathering—organized by Sheryl Overstreet, Joann Van Meter, and Elaina Meyers—was held in the Community Room at the Christian Village at Mt. Healthy in Cincinnati, Ohio. The site was selected because of its proximity to the former Standard Publishing plant on Hamilton Avenue in Mt. Healthy. Standard Publishing, in fact, donated the property upon which the village was built in the early 1960s. “What a great evening!” one attendee wrote.

September 18, 2019

Christian Standard

Exponential, Outreach Team for ‘Church Multiplication Challenge’

Exponential and Outreach magazine are partnering for “The Church Multiplication Challenge,” and an initial goal of identifying 100 reproducing churches has expanded to 1,000. “We want to see reproduction and multiplication become normative,” Exponential CEO Todd Wilson says in an article at ReproducingChurches.org. “We want to see leaders changing their scorecards as they think differently about what it means to lead successful churches and to build legacies that last.” The response thus far has been encouraging, Wilson says, especially since an attempt several years ago to identify 10 rapidly multiplying churches fell far short. (The research team couldn’t find even

September 18, 2019

Christian Standard

Kelly Clarkson Announces Food Pantry Moving to Oregon Church (Plus News Briefs)

Compiled by Chris Moon and Jim Nieman Beaverton Christian Church in Oregon is the new home for a significant local food pantry—and it made quite a splash in becoming so. The announcement that Sunshine Pantry is relocating to the church was made Sept. 9 on the inaugural episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show, a syndicated talk show. On the show, Clarkson interviewed Sharon Straus, the founder of the Sunshine Pantry—which started as a Cub Scout canned food drive that continued for years in Straus’s garage before moving into its own warehouse more than a decade ago. Straus told how her

September 11, 2019

Christian Standard

McGilvrey Retiring after Ministry with an Unexpected Twist

By Jim Nieman When Mark McGilvrey’s church provided seed money to help start 2|42 Community Church in 2005, he had no idea of the boomerang effect. McGilvrey, who retires this month after 47 years of ministry in Livonia, Mich., said the church he serves, Compass Christian Church, reached an agreement earlier this summer to be adopted by 2|42, and is slated to become an official 2|42 campus, probably in the fall of 2020. “It’s a beautiful thing,” McGilvrey said. “We started just this past Sunday with live video from [2|42].” Since being planted in Brighton, Mich., 2|42 has been one

September 11, 2019

Christian Standard

Several Christian Colleges Shine in ‘U.S. News’ Rankings (Plus News Briefs)

Compiled by Jim Nieman and Chris Moon A handful of Christian church and church of Christ-affiliated colleges had strong showings in U.S. News & World Report’s 2020 rankings of best colleges. William Jessup University, Rocklin, Calif., earned three No. 2 rankings: Regional Colleges West (tied with California State University—Maritime Academy), Best Colleges for Veterans, and Best Undergraduate Teaching (tied with Oral Roberts University). Milligan College in Tennessee ranked No. 4 in Best Value Schools and No. 13 in Regional Universities South (tied with Longwood University). Milligan also ranked No. 43 in Top Performers in Social Mobility for “enrolling and graduating

September 4, 2019

Christian Standard

Small Tennessee Church Oversees Big Laundry Ministry

By Jim Nieman A women’s group at a church of about 35 in Rogersville, Tenn., started a ministry in 2016 that has grown like, well . . . a pile of laundry. The Rogersville Laundry Ministry began as a once-a-month outreach to people at a local laundromat and has developed into a weekly endeavor that relies on dozens of volunteers from several churches to serve hundreds of people at two laundromats. “Our church’s mission is ‘Loving People to Jesus,’” said Dawnel Newhouse of First Christian Church of Rogersville. “Basically, it’s what we’re trying to do” with the laundry ministry. But

September 4, 2019

Christian Standard

Key Lay Leaders of First Christian, Evansville, Die in Plane Crash

First Christian Church in Evansville, Ind., suffered the loss of three key lay leaders in a plane crash last week in Montana. Tim Arnold, Grant Weythman, and Allen Eicher were flying in a small plane toward Pinehaven Christian Children’s Ranch in Montana as part of a volunteer missions team when they struck a power line and crashed. According to the Courier & Press, Weythman and Eicher were elders at First Christian, and Arnold was a former elder. They were headed to the children’s ranch to repair broken machinery. “They were very much what we call shepherds—trying to make sure everybody

September 4, 2019

Christian Standard

Kentucky Christian Will Celebrate 100th at Homecoming (Plus News Briefs)

Compiled by Chris Moon and Jim Nieman Kentucky Christian University will celebrate its 100-year anniversary during its Fall Homecoming Sept. 27-29. Friday highlights will include soccer matches, a banquet featuring speaker Ernie Perry, and two performances by 64 to Grayson. On Saturday there will be a tailgate and a football game. And Sunday morning worship is set for 10 a.m. Go to kcc.edu to register. The school was cofounded in 1919 by J. W. Lusby and J. O. Snodgrass. The cofounder’s son, J. Lowell Lusby, served as president for 40 years. His book about the school’s founding and history, For

August 28, 2019

Christian Standard

Disciples See Deep Drop in Attendance

If its current rate of decline continues, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) denomination could lose half its membership over the next 10 years, according to an Institute on Religion and Democracy blog post by Jeffrey Walton. Numbers provided by the DOC’s Office of General Minister and President show that total membership declined 7 percent from 2017 to 2018, from about 411,000 to around 382,248. Likewise, average worship attendance declined 11 percent, from 140,000 to 124,000, Walton wrote on IRD’s blog, Juicy Ecumenism. Also, baptisms dropped from 4,344 to 3,782, down 13 percent, while other additions (including transfers in) declined

August 28, 2019

Christian Standard

Ohio Church Celebrates 175 Years (Plus News Briefs)

Compiled by Chris Moon and Jim Nieman First Christian Church of New Philadelphia, Ohio, is celebrating its 175th anniversary in August and September by welcoming back four young ministers whose faith was formed at the church and who now serve churches elsewhere in Ohio. The Times Reporter said ministers Josh Davis, Brandon Schwartz, Luke Borton, and Maddie Miller will be speaking or performing music at the church on three successive Sundays. The same newspaper also published an interesting article about the history of First Christian. “We are extremely thankful for the six generations of Christ followers that established this vibrant

August 21, 2019

Christian Standard

Kansas Church Plans ‘Major Evangelistic Event’ at City Park

By Jim Nieman With school resuming and families settling back into a routine, South Rock Christian Church has planned an outdoor community worship service at a city park through which it hopes to reach hundreds of unchurched people. This Sunday’s event, dubbed South Rock ONE, “is all about reaching people who don’t know Christ and/or don’t have a church,” said Rick Wheeler, lead pastor with SRCC, located in Derby, Kan., a few miles south of Wichita. The church averages about 1,300 in weekly attendance. “We’ve done outreach events off-site, but never a worship service,” Wheeler said. “We sent a letter

August 21, 2019

Christian Standard

Southeast Christian Launching Campus for Senior Adults (Plus News Briefs)

Compiled by Chris Moon and Jim Nieman Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Ky., will open its eighth campus this fall. The new Chapel in the Woods Campus will be near the main Blankenbaker Campus of the megachurch, one of the largest in the Restoration Movement. Chapel in the Woods will be geared for reaching senior adults. “We’ve built a beautiful facility across the street from our Blankenbaker Campus, and everything from the architecture to the parking lot makes this an incredible facility for our senior adults to connect and worship through hymns and classic worship,” said senior pastor Kyle Idleman.

August 20, 2019

Christian Standard

Allcorn Named President of Kentucky Christian University

Dr. Terry Allcorn has been named the sixth president in the 100-year history of Kentucky Christian University in Grayson, Ky. The 1985 KCU graduate will replace outgoing president Dr. Jeffrey Metcalf, who announced last September that he intended to serve only until Aug. 26 of this year. Metcalf has served as president and CEO of KCU for 10 years. “I am thrilled and privileged to be the next president of Kentucky Christian University and follow in the footsteps of men I admire greatly and to work with a team that is so experienced and strong as this one,” Allcorn shared

August 20, 2019

Christian Standard

Ellsworth Plans to Retire from Sherwood Oaks; Green to Replace

Tom Ellsworth plans to retire as senior minister with Sherwood Oaks Christian Church next spring after serving the church since January 1981. During his ministry, the Bloomington, Ind., congregation has grown from 80 people to nearly 3,000 people across three locations. “What a joy it has been to lead Sherwood Oaks Christian Church and to serve the Bloomington and Bedford communities,” Ellsworth said. “It’s been an incredible journey, and I’m excited for all that is ahead.” Ellsworth and his wife, Elsie—who will be retiring as Sherwood Oaks’ marriage coordinator and premarital counseling coordinator—say they want to take their years of

August 14, 2019

Christian Standard

Ozark Profs Share the Bible ‘On Demand’ Via NextLevel

By Jim Nieman In 2016, Ozark Christian College began producing free online teaching videos featuring professors such as Chad Ragsdale, Michael DeFazio, Shane Wood, and Mark Scott. Since that time, the project—known as NextLevel Online—has grown to include 25 different biblical teaching series and 198 free online videos that have been viewed more than 100,000 times by church classes, small groups, student ministries, and individuals in all 50 states and 35 countries. Ozark’s mission is to “train men and women for Christian service,” said Jim Dalrymple, Ozark’s vice president of advancement. “We do this in the classroom every day, and

August 14, 2019

Christian Standard

Lincoln, Great Lakes Students Win SCJ Competition (Plus News Briefs)

Compiled by Chris Moon and Jim Nieman Students at Lincoln Christian Seminary and Great Lakes Christian College took home top awards in the Stone-Campbell Journal Student Paper Competition. In addition, an Abilene Christian University graduate student won the Isaac Errett Award for his paper. Andrew Nichols, of LCS, won the graduate division with a paper called “Divine Medicine: Trials According to John Cassian.” Kalman Mate, of GLCC, won the undergraduate division with a paper called “Begetting a Man: Eve’s Response in Genesis 4:1 to the Power Move Made by Adam after the Fall.” ACU grad student Joel Childers won the

August 12, 2019

Christian Standard

California Church Sees a Steady Rise

(We shined a “Spotlight” on four large and medium churches of note in our August print issue. Here’s a bonus article about Rise City Church of Lakeside, Calif., the second-fastest-growing large church [average weekly attendance of 500 to 999] in our most recent survey.) By Chris Moon Rise City Church of Lakeside, Calif., is showing she was aptly named. The church has seen a strong, steady rise in attendance since being planted six years ago. Attendance at Rise City grew by 31.8 percent in 2018. It averaged 837 people each Sunday, making it the second-fastest-growing church in Christian Standard’s list

August 7, 2019

Christian Standard

Church Shows Ongoing Love for Seniors at Mobile Home Park

By Jim Nieman For at least a decade, a California church has been investing in the lives of a group of folks that many tend to overlook. The Christian Church of Thousand Oaks’ ministry to senior residents of the Ranch Mobile Home Park started as an outgrowth of a local “Action” day when Christians are encouraged to get out and serve their neighbors and communities. CCTO started by working on the grounds at a local mobile home park managed by a church member. The manager later recommended the church focus efforts at Ranch, an affiliated, but smaller, mobile home park

August 7, 2019

Christian Standard

Churches Help in Various Ways as School Year Set to Start (Plus News Briefs)

Compiled by Jim Nieman and Chris Moon Classes are starting this month, and Christian churches across the country are trying to help children, parents, and schools begin the year successfully. Here are just a few examples: * * * LOUISVILLE, Ky. — More than 2,000 members of Northeast Christian Church helped spruce-up the exteriors of 32 schools on Sunday. “Volunteers laid mulch, raked leaves, and pulled weeds at schools throughout Louisville and Oldham County,” WDRB reported. The church focuses on the campus and grounds of schools because principals say that is where help is most needed, said David McKinley, marketing

July 31, 2019

Christian Standard

Milligan Mourns Passing of Communications Professor Carrie Swanay (Plus News Briefs)

Compiled by Jim Nieman and Chris Moon Milligan College is mourning the death of Dr. Carrie Beth Swanay, 55, longtime professor of communications. Swanay died July 24 after a lengthy battle with cancer. A memorial service was Sunday. Swanay served the Tennessee college for 29 years, starting there when the communication major was still just emerging. For 10 years, she was area chair for performing, visual and communicative arts, Milligan reported. During her tenure, she led the faculty and the arts program through several curriculum changes, and she was instrumental in the creation of several recent majors, including graphic design

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