July 1, 2024
Fences, Freedom, and Fellowship
In my study of our Restoration Movement heritage, it seemed leaders were more concerned with eradicating fences than erecting them. That value has been overlooked by some. . . .
Articles for tag: Churches of Christ
The Solomon Foundation: Investing in a Movement and a Future
The Solomon Foundation is absolutely committed to the churches of the Restoration Movement. . . .
March 18, 2024
How to Tell Your Church Is ‘Tanking’—and What to Do
How do elders or pastors know their churches are sliding toward closure? Christian Standard posed that question to Stan Granberg, vice chairman of Heritage 21, which specializes in helping noninstrumental Churches of Christ that are facing closure. . . .
March 1, 2024
The Restoration Movement: A History of Separation
Exploring the pivotal issues that gave rise to two major divisions (and a number of smaller ones) . . .
March 1, 2024
The Solomon Foundation’s Impact
A bottom line measured in outreach, church attendance, and baptisms . . .
January 30, 2024
GLCC’s President Shares Financial Update in Advance of Accreditor’s Visit
Great Lakes Christian College President Dr. Frank Weller recently provided a "State of the College" update via Facebook. In the 4-minute, 36-second video, Weller shared about GLCC’s efforts to shore-up its finances in preparation for a visit by the Higher Learning Commission on March 25. . . .
January 26, 2024
YouTube Presenter Profiles Independent Christian Churches
Ready to Harvest, which conducts denominational research, has released a 27-minute video via YouTube profiling and explaining Independent Christian Churches and Churches of Christ. “What Are Independent Christian Churches?” was posted early this week and is being generally well received. . . .
January 24, 2024
Annual Survey: Please Share Your Church’s Information
There is still time to complete Christian Standard's Annual Survey of Churches. This survey of 2023 data is designed for every Restoration Movement church (Independent Christian Churches and Churches of Christ)—from the largest to smallest—and takes only a few minutes to complete . . .
November 1, 2023
Oldest Independent Christian Churches (Please Help Us Update This List)
Christian Standard is compiling a list of the oldest Independent Christian Churches and Churches of Christ that are still gathering for worship each week, but we need your help. Please review this list of churches that started between the years of 1800 and 1859. If you know of a church that we have overlooked, or if you see incorrect information . . .
November 1, 2023
Survey: Full Responses from Christian College Presidents
This lengthy post carries the full responses from Christian college presidents to our survey asking them about their institution’s views on the topics of biblical inerrancy, human sexuality, and women in ministry. . . .
October 31, 2023
LCU Alumni Grapple with News of University’s Imminent Closure
Phil and Marian Yakey had a hard time digesting the news about the closure of Lincoln Christian University. The couple have been connected to the college for nearly five decades. “There’s an element of shock in it,” Phil Yakey said. “We kind of always assumed the college would continue to grow and prosper.” . . .
September 25, 2023
October 1 | Application (“More to Restore”)
I was brought up in the Independent Christian Churches and Churches of Christ, but I have remained in this tribe by personal choice. . . . But there is still more to restore. . . .
September 1, 2023
The Hope Quotient
By Kent E. Fillinger It’s been said that a person can live 40 days without food, four days without water, four minutes without air, but only four seconds without hope. Hope is a power that energizes us with life. The available research on hope is limited, so Christian Standard conducted an online survey in May 2023 to assess how hopeful people are about the future of the church. The survey size was limited—just 141 responses—but the results were informative. It’s worth noting that 87 percent of the survey participants reported attending church “more than once a week” or “once a
September 1, 2023
Helping the Church Thrive Between Ministers
An Interview with Leaders from Transitional Interim Pastor Services By Shawn McMullen Recently Christian Standard met with three leaders who serve with Transitional Interim Pastor Services, a ministry of NXTStep Church Services (yourncs.org), to learn about their unique approach to interim ministry. John Cutshall, a graduate of Cincinnati Christian University, has been in ministry for more than 40 years. He spent his first 20 years in youth ministry before serving in senior ministry positions. Greg Comp, also a graduate of CCU, is a second-generation minister. Following his graduation from Bible college, Comp served as an associate minister. At age 30
August 3, 2023
THROWBACK THURSDAY: ‘What Our Websites Say About Baptism’ (2012)
In 2012, Daniel Overdorf and two friends examined 250 Christian Church and Church of Christ websites to determine how they presented their view of baptism to the public. Overdorf offers good suggestions for churches.
August 1, 2023
Beale Takes Helm of Christian Churches Pension Plan
W. Todd Beale succeeded Reggie Hundley as CEO/administrator of the Christian Churches Pension Plan (CCPP) on July 1, and he is continuing the effort to increase visibility of the plan among those who can benefit from it. . . .
Johnson University Florida to Close after Next School Year
Johnson University announced its Florida Campus in Kissimmee will be closing on June 30, 2024, after the upcoming 2023-24 academic year. The school in Florida was originally known as Florida Christian College; JU acquired it in 2013. . . .
THROWBACK THURSDAY: ‘When Christians Disagree’ (1957)
Dr. Henry E. Webb wrote in 1957: "A necessary condition for the success of any approach to Christian unity is the development of a satisfactory concept of Christian liberty—one that recognizes the right of another person to exercise his sincere mental and spiritual faculties with the freedom we demand for ourselves. . . ."
July 1, 2023
Faith Factors
By Kent E. Fillinger The number of unaffiliated, nondenominational Christian churches in the United States grew by almost 5,000 congregations and nearly 9 million people from 2010 to 2020, thus making it America’s largest Protestant “denomination,” according to the U.S. Religion Census. In 2010, unaffiliated, nondenominational Christian churches had an estimated 12,241,329 adherents in 35,496 congregations, which represented 4 percent of the overall population. By 2020, the number of people worshipping in those churches grew to 21,095,641, and their share of America’s religious population increased to 13.1 percent, representing 6.4 percent of the nation’s population. How Many Churches Do We
May 30, 2023
What I’ve Learned in Switching to an A Cappella Church of Christ
In the fall of 2020, as COVID restrictions were being eased, my wife and I were church “free agents.” I suggested we try an a cappella congregation I knew in Louisville, Ky. We jumped in, and two years later I joined the staff as involvement minister—a lifelong Christian Church guy now teaching, discipling, and worshipping in four-part harmony. Here are five observations from my experiences serving in an a cappella church. . . .
