Articles for tag: church staff

May 11, 2008

Christian Standard

Second Thoughts About Mission Giving

By Sam E. Stone As Joan Rivers used to ask, “Can we talk?” We have some issues in Restoration Movement churches that need to be discussed. Many worthy missionaries and church-related organizations who have received generous gifts through the mission giving of local churches are facing serious challenges. Over the years I”ve talked with many missionary leaders around the world. They know more about the subject than I do””but it wouldn”t be prudent for one of them to write this article. You might dismiss their comments by simply declaring, “Well, they have a vested interest in this.” I don”t. But

October 14, 2007

Christian Standard

TRIED & TRUE: Vacation Bible School

By Bob Boswell We love Vacation Bible School at Plainfield Christian Church! Above all other annual activities, I must say this particular summer event is the “most wonderful time of the year” for us. It reaches about 1,000 of our area children, taps into the creative juices of around 265 volunteers, and our entire church staff is heavily involved in all aspects. It”s just a thrilling week! Nothing else on our calendar reflects such a churchwide effort with focus and intent. Those who witnessed our Friday morning closing session this summer will never forget the impact of 2007″s VBS. This

September 26, 2007

Christian Standard

A Special Couple, a Special Ceremony

By Mark A. Taylor Her blouse was glimmering white. His suit was dressy black. They smiled as they walked toward the platform. Accompanying them was a lineup of young adults also smiling, also dressed in black and white. The girls carried flowers. The boys wore boutonnieres. The room was full of anticipation; family and friends looked expectantly at those assembled at the front, with special interest in those two at the center who stood out from all the others. Who was this couple? The bride and groom? No, it was almost time for the bride to appear, but she hadn”t

June 20, 2007

Christian Standard

Interview with Eleanor Daniel

By Brad Dupray If there is a “dean of Christian education” in the Christian church, it is Eleanor Daniel. In a career spanning nearly five decades, Eleanor has served as either staff member or Christian education consultant to dozens of churches across the United States, taught in mission stations around the world, written five books on Christian education, taught Christian education on the graduate and postgraduate level, and served as dean at both Cincinnati Christian University and Emmanuel School of Religion. A graduate of Lincoln Christian College and Seminary, she currently teaches at Emmanuel and serves part-time as adult education

March 25, 2007

Christian Standard

Five Ways to Prepare Your People for a Stewardship Sermon

By Bob Russell 1. Don”t apologize. A preacher who subscribed to our tape ministry was disgruntled that I had preached four straight sermons on sacrificial giving. “If you don”t stop preaching about money, there won”t be any people left to fill up the new building you”re trying to finance,” he wrote. The director of our Living Word Tape Ministry replied to him, “Dear Sir, during the month Bob preached on giving, enthusiasm was high, and twice as many accepted Christ as do in a usual month. Over half of Jesus” parables concern use of material possessions. Maybe if you preached

December 31, 2006

Christian Standard

Looking for Church Leaders

By Alan Ahlgrim The many problems in this world will never be addressed without gifted leaders. When Jesus began his world-changing enterprise, he started with a few good men. They weren”t perfect (even though handpicked!). And they proved God”s remarkable power to use inadequate and imperfect people, even inadequate and imperfect leaders, for his grand purpose. Bill Hybels says, “The local church is the most leadership intensive organization on the planet.” That means the kingdom of Jesus Christ demands a higher and more complex form of leadership than any business in the country because it is utterly voluntary. And that

August 30, 2006

Christian Standard

Interview with Jim Stanley

By Brad Dupray As executive minister with Traders Point Christian Church in Indianapolis, Jim Stanley is serving on a leadership team working on a $20 million relocation project. But that pales in comparison to the challenge he and wife Jennifer have in raising 7 year old triplets! Along with Jack, Erin, and Trey, the Stanleys also have a son, Clark, 12. Jim holds a degree in economics and political science from Ball State University and has completed course work toward a Masters of Ministry Degree in Theological Studies at Cincinnati Christian Uni versity. How did Jim Stanley end up as

July 26, 2006

Christian Standard

One Course, Two Kinds of Runners

By Mark A. Taylor Wayne Smith was entertaining the banquet crowd at the Energizing Smaller Churches conference in Cincinnati this spring. The retired minister of Southland Christian Church in Lexington told about a conversation with his former secretary. “Any differences between me and the new guy?” “Well, he hands me his sermon to type by Tuesday,” she answered. “Tuesday?” Smith replied. “Why, I didn’t even pray till Thursday!” I wouldn’t presume to compare myself to Wayne Smith. But I think he and I have one thing in common. We both work close to the deadline. Here at Christian Standard we

July 19, 2006

Christian Standard

Please Update Your Listing!

By Mark A. Taylor Suppose you knew a Web site where you could find a listing for every Christian church and church of Christ in the United States. Suppose you could find not only the church’s address and phone number but a wealth of other information: names of staff members, link to the Web site, and statistics about baptisms and giving and attendance. You would use this information to find a church when traveling. If you were doing research about congregations in our movement, you’d go here to gather the information you need. Just browsing through the listings would encourage

June 4, 2006

Christian Standard

Gloriously Out of Control

By Rick Lowry I turned 50 this spring. For 28 of those years, I”ve been a Christian church minister. As I look forward to the “second half” of my life, I”ve been asking myself a lot of questions about what it really means for a church to be successful. An old word from my past keeps coming back: revival. When I was a high schooler in the 1970s, our youth group of about 20 teens started a Bible study on Wednesday evenings. In the course of those meetings, a spiritual awakening occurred. Within three months, more than 100 people were

May 14, 2006

Christian Standard

3 WOMEN IN MINISTRY: ‘I Couldn’t Be More Thrilled’

By Linda Ahlgrim Some may have thought I was crazy (and at times I wondered myself), but it was a critical need I couldn”t ignore. With fear and trembling, 16 years ago I agreed to become the “interim” director of children”s ministry for our church. We desperately needed someone to lead that vital ministry. We had been looking a long time, with no success. What no one knew, not even my husband who was the senior pastor, was that I had a growing conviction that God could use me in that role. Questions I wondered what the elders would think

May 7, 2006

Christian Standard

First Things First

By Jeffrey J. Knowles It”s time for a compromise on compromise. This is not the kind of wording that usually graces Christian dialogue. The words “Christ” and “compromise” are often seen as opposites. Yet, let”s face it: Christians and their churches have been compromising with (some would say capitulating to) our larger culture for a long time. Regrettably, arguments about those compromises often lead to church damage and destruction instead of resolution and redemption. Prophetic voices have been warning the church against cultural compromises since Paul exhorted the Corinthian church. Yet, the times demand something bold””even a bold compromise. Here”s

September 21, 2005

Mark A. Taylor

A Month for Ministers

A Month for Ministers

Clergy Appreciation Month (CAM) offers a timely reminder to encourage your church’s ministers. Try simple, personal steps—activate leaders, write specific notes, thank the spouse, give thoughtful gifts, or support a favorite cause.

September 11, 2005

Eddie Lowen

Re-Respect Your Elders

Re-Respect Your Elders

Volunteer elders often face misunderstanding and criticism. Eddie Lowen urges churches to reject disrespect, uphold biblical qualifications, and use thoughtful selection practices so elders can lead with integrity and joy.

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