Series: News

February 2, 2012

Christian Standard

Lipscomb University Adds Benefit to Prison Program

By Jennifer Taylor Five years ago, Lipscomb University (Nashville, TN) established the Lipscomb Initiative for Education (LIFE) program to provide opportunities for their students and inmates at the Tennessee Prison for Women (TPFW) to learn and grow together. Each semester as many as 30 Lipscomb students enroll in a liberal arts course held at the prison; classes have included art history, Christian ethics, and conflict management. Both students and faculty travel to the prison for classes. The Lipscomb students work toward their bachelor”s degrees and, until recently, the inmates worked for credit hours to be applied toward a future degree

January 26, 2012

Christian Standard

Giving Plate Food Ministry Growing Exponentially

By Jennifer Taylor Gary and Debi Kelso, members at Real Life Christian Church (Bend, OR), created The Giving Plate in 2010. After beginning with just a few cans of tuna and a few loaves of bread (really!), the food relief and outreach ministry now provides more than 2,200 local families with a 50-pound box of food every month. Each box is prepared specifically for each family with consideration for food allergies and dislikes. “We have served the hungry and homeless for years,” say the Kelsos, who work full-time””without pay””for the organization. “We have a call in our hearts to serve

January 19, 2012

Christian Standard

Global Gospel Sets Out to Bridge Language Barriers

By Jennifer Taylor  “How can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?” (Romans 10:14). Good News Productions, International (Joplin, MO), has created a new way to reach the many people groups who have not yet heard about Christ because they do not have access to the Bible or cannot read. This fall it launched The Global Gospel, a three-disc illustrated DVD storybook and dramatic reading of the Gospels. “The Global Gospel series was created to be easily adapted for use around the world,” shares GNPI. “The project can be shared with people in nearly every tongue,

January 12, 2012

Christian Standard

Save Some Quarters, Ship Some Supplies

By Jennifer Taylor Lifeline Christian Mission (Westerville, OH) is making it easy for families, churches, youth groups, and businesses to give healthy food to people around the world. Lifeline is able to send a pound of supplies for 25 cents, so it is encouraging groups to donate quarters with its “Quarter Back Challenge.” To participate, groups order Challenge Kits filled with mini-tubes of candy, labels, ribbon, and instructions. Each group sells the candy, fills the empty tubes with quarters, and mails a check for the total to Lifeline. Fifty-six quarters””$14″”fit in a tube. Lifeline began the program as a way

January 5, 2012

Christian Standard

Dozens Baptized after Bible Seminars at Prisons

By Jennifer Taylor Joe Garman, president of ARM Prison Outreach International (Joplin, MO), writes with news of baptisms and Bible learning: In October we experienced two events that had never happened in our years of prison ministry in the U.S. First, I presented a three-day “See Through the Scriptures” seminar at a prison in Pecos, TX that holds 2,500 male prisoners. Hundreds of men attended, including one who served as my interpreter, and following the seminar 51 prisoners were baptized (including the interpreter!). This is the most baptisms we”ve ever had at the end of a program, and the chap-

January 5, 2012

Christian Standard

BASH Program Offers After-school Help

By Jennifer Taylor Berean Christian Church (Murphrysboro, IL) began its “BASH” program””Berean After-School Haven“”to provide a safe, fun environment for grade-school kids every Wednesday afternoon and evening. Volunteers pick up participating students at school and bring them back to the church for homework time, snacks, games, and dinner. Parents picking up their children are invited to stay for Wednesday night services. This fall the BASH leaders expanded the program to include middle-schoolers. “We did not want to jeopardize the success of our current efforts by making a change for the wrong reasons, but with the new volunteers and commitment from

December 30, 2011

Christian Standard

Lincoln Christian to Begin Offering MA in Bioethics

By Jennifer Taylor Next month, Lincoln (IL) Christian University and Seminary will begin holding classes for its new Master of Arts degree in bioethics. The off-campus program will be taught at the Methodist Medical Center of Illinois in Peoria and will also include online components and some clinical experiences. LCU&S designed the program for three groups of students: health care professionals (physicians, nurses, paramedics, medical school students in residence, and hospital administrators); pastors, chaplains, and counselors; and others working in related fields, including pharmaceutical representatives, hospital legal counsels, and graduate theology, philosophy, or political science students. The program will “produce

December 4, 2011

Christian Standard

ACU Adds Major in Digital Entertainment Technology

By Jennifer Taylor In Abilene (TX) Christian University”s digital entertainment technology program, students practice a variety of skills while preparing for careers as animators, computer game designers, and app developers. The interdisciplinary major combines the creative with the computerized, requiring work in art, script development, and writing as well as technological comprehension. Abilene professors provide training in the full process from concept to publishing, with an optional focus on mobile game development.  “We wanted to become Christian leaders in the digital entertainment industry,” says Brian Burton, assistant professor of information technology. He says the demand for the program”s students exceeds

November 27, 2011

Christian Standard

Church Providing Meals to Children Each Weekday

By Jennifer Taylor “Almost every church has a kitchen,” says Jane Dugan, a member at East Bartlesville (OK) Christian Church. “There”s no reason they couldn”t do something like this.”  “This” is providing a meal each weekday for 60 to 130 children at the nearby Boys and Girls Club, an after-school and summer program for kids. The club is a safe place for kids to do homework, play games, work on the computer, and eat dinner while waiting for their parents to get off work. EBCC volunteers cook every meal for the club”s hungry kids. Dugan meets with the club”s nutrition

November 20, 2011

Christian Standard

“˜Drop in the Bucket” Ladies Ready to Bring Blessings

By Jennifer Taylor Beth Ladd, a teacher and the wife of New Hope Christian Church senior pastor David Ladd (Everett, WA), met each Monday to pray with her friend Debbie Powell. After the 2004 tsunami hit Indonesia, the two friends said, “I wish we could go there and help.” After Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005, they said, “We can go there and help. Let”s do it.” Like other volunteers around the country, Ladd and Powell organized a group to travel south and help the churches and people of New Orleans. However, their yearly “drops” have continued””to Louisiana, Oklahoma,

November 13, 2011

Christian Standard

WJU Makes Connections in One-Day Fund-raiser

By Jennifer Taylor  This fall, William Jessup University (Rocklin, CA) tried a new approach to fund-raising””and set a record in the process. Vice President for Advancement Eric Hogue had three goals: to recruit new donors, help WJU students, and to raise the money without taking the staff away from work. “Give:24″ accomplished all three. Every member of the staff, faculty, and administration was encouraged to participate by asking 24 friends and family members to give $24 each. They made the requests and promoted the effort via social media and e-mail during the month of August; donors could give online during

November 6, 2011

Christian Standard

Equipping Volunteer Leaders

By Jennifer Taylor Churches around the country struggle with the wonderful problem of how to expand their work by involving enthusiastic new leaders””people who may have limited Bible knowledge or ministry experience. The Crossing (Quincy, IL) created its Ministry Development Institute in 2009 to equip and encourage these volunteer leaders. The 18-month course of study provides in-depth biblical teaching and training in ministry skills. Classes include Old and New Testament surveys, the book of Acts, biblical interpretation, worldview and spiritual formation, practical ministry, and more. The institute posts syllabi and reading lists for each course on its website, and the

November 5, 2011

Christian Standard

Church Starts Arts Academy

By Jennifer Taylor Trombonist and jazz musician Stan Wilkerson has played with Wynton Marsalis, Yo-Yo Ma, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, and Aretha Franklin. This fall he”ll be leading the Academy of the Arts at Common Ground Christian Church (Tampa, FL). Common Ground launched the academy this fall to provide lessons in piano, guitar, drums, woodwinds, and brass. Students may choose private or group lessons at reasonable prices, and older students also receive opportunities to play in jazz combos, ensembles, and recitals. The academy also emphasizes music as worship; students may share their music as part of weekend services at Common

November 4, 2011

Christian Standard

Families Enjoy Outdoor Fun at “˜Journey Jubilee”

By Jennifer Taylor Instead of a traditional Vacation Bible School, this summer Journey Christian Church (Apopka, FL) created “Journey Jubilee,” a three-day event designed for families and friends. “The older people need to teach the younger ones, and parents need to teach children,” said teaching pastor Harold Armstrong to the Journey family in an announcement about the event. “And often we don”t know how to do that, so we want multiple generations to come together.” The event, held on Journey”s campus July 28-30, centered around a “Tent of Meeting” in the church courtyard where the campers gathered for worship and

November 2, 2011

Christian Standard

Emmanuel Institutes Seeks Top Students

This week the Emmanuel Institutes announced a new program–and an opportunity for 15 students to earn a full scholarship. Next August the institute will host its first-ever Ministry Immersion Week as an opportunity for emerging church leaders from undergraduate programs. Students will gather for a week of “comprehensive exposure to the ‘ins and outs’ of ministry best practices.” The organization is inviting other Restoration Movement colleges and universities to encourage their top students to apply, and 15 will be selected to participate with no expenses beyond the $50 application fee. The East 91st Street Christian Church Foundation and contributions from 33 partner churches and organizations are

November 2, 2011

Christian Standard

Forefront Gathers Religious, Nonreligious for Conversation

On Thursday, Forefront Church (New York, NY) will hold its next “Conversation That Matters,” a regular gathering to discuss a problem, issue, or article as well as offer one or two people the opportunity to share their own stories. “There are too few places where nonreligious and religious people can listen to one another graciously and learn from one another’s perspectives,” the church writes. Forefront posts links to discussion questions and suggested readings before each gathering.

October 24, 2011

Christian Standard

Selling Art to Feed Hungry Children

By Jennifer Taylor  Last year at Thanksgiving, Todd Clark surveyed the abundance of food and was convicted of the need to provide meals for hungry children. At the same time, people began asking how they could buy copies of the photographs he was shooting and sharing on Facebook. An idea was born. “Photography is a hobby, not my livelihood,” says Clark, lead pastor at Discovery Church in Simi Valley, CA. “I wanted to use it to help others.” Last month he created Eat Art, a nonprofit organization that “artfully ends hunger” by selling photographs, paintings, postcards, and apparel and using

October 17, 2011

Christian Standard

Challenging Men to Take the Lead in Prayer

By Jennifer Taylor  When John Seitz joined the Antioch Christian Church (Marion, IA) staff in 2000, he challenged the men to join a team committed to praying for his ministry and for the church. “Prayer is so integral in seeking guidance from God and providing spiritual protection for the pastor,” Seitz says. “We have a prayer ministry open to everyone, but I wanted this to encourage strong male leadership in the church.” In addition to praying through the week, each year the team gathers for a retreat, and each Sunday morning several of the men gather at the church building

October 10, 2011

Christian Standard

Johnson, Other Colleges Partner for PhD Program

By Jennifer Taylor Eight Christian universities and graduate schools have partnered together to offer an online PhD in leadership studies. This new Center for Global Studies, under the sponsorship of Johnson University (Knoxville, TN), will prepare students around the world for academic or ministry leadership. The program “is an online, research-based, interdisciplinary degree that seeks to facilitate the leadership abilities and roles of Christian men and women working in inter-cultural, cross-cultural, and/or international contexts,” the center writes. The degree includes classes in ethics and research and requires focused electives in educational leadership, organizational leadership, or theology of leadership. The proposal

October 6, 2011

Christian Standard

Encouraging Male Prayer Leadership

By Jennifer Taylor When John Seitz joined the Antioch Christian Church (Marion, IA) staff in 2000, he challenged the men to join a team committed to praying for his ministry and for the church. “Prayer is so integral in seeking guidance from God and providing spiritual protection for the pastor,” Seitz says. “We have a prayer ministry open to everyone, but I wanted this to encourage strong male leadership in the church.” In addition to praying through the week, each year the team gathers for a retreat, and each Sunday morning several of the men gather at the church building

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