Articles for tag: Darrel Rowland

Church Leadership

An Exception to the Rule?

By Darrel Rowland There are exceptions to the rule . . . there are rare exceptions . . . and then there is Ben Merold. Point to statistics showing that a long-term ministry generally doesn”t equal numerical success for a church, and those who disagree will more than likely point to Merold, in ministry for 63 years and counting. After a 12-year stint at an Indiana church, he spent more than 22 years with Eastside Christian Church in Fullerton, California, where weekly attendance grew from 185 to 3,000. Then, at age 65, he launched a 17-year stay as senior minister

June 4, 2012

Church Leadership

Beware the Second Decade

By Darrel Rowland For several years in a row, Kent Fillinger”s statistics have shown that church growth peaks when the senior minister is in his eighth to tenth year. Last year, those churches” weekend attendance increased an average of 8.3 percent””about double the figure for years 11-20 of a minister”s tenure. The 2010 contrast was even greater: 17 percent growth for years 8-10, a mere 1.4 percent for the second decade. Is now the time to mention that many senior ministers really hate these statistics””even though few quibble with the bottom-line numbers? One reason: The figures shoot down a prevalent

March 26, 2012

Colleges & Seminaries Organizations & Events

We’re Not Alone

By Darrel Rowland Colleges in the a cappella stream of our movement are also experiencing greaterÂ religious diversity in theirÂ student bodies. Abilene Christian University crossed a historic threshold in 2008. For the first time since the Texas college was founded 102 years earlier, a majority of its freshman class was not part of a (noninstrumental) church of Christ. Just 10 years before, about two-thirds of its students belonged. The decline at Abilene Christian shows that the a cappella branch of the Restoration Movement is experiencing the same, if not a greater, decrease in the proportion of fellowship students making up its

March 25, 2012

Colleges & Seminaries Organizations & Events

How Colleges Are Coping

By Darrel Rowland With more non-Restoration Movement students added to the growing number from Christian churches/churches of Christ “who are relatively disconnected from key biblical teachings on salvation and the Christian walk,” Florida Christian College, south of Orlando, put key Bible and apologetics courses earlier in the educational process, says President William K. Behrman. “The key concern is how the institution ministers to those students. We put professors skilled at teaching key beliefs in those courses.” As at several institutions, the increasing proportion of non-Restoration Movement students at Manhattan Christian College in eastern Kansas stems mostly from growing interest in

March 25, 2012

Colleges & Seminaries Organizations & Events

Christian Church Colleges?

By Darrel Rowland More students from non-Restoration Movement churches are attending colleges and universities associated with independent Christian churches and churches of Christ. Is that good news or bad? To find out, CHRISTIAN STANDARD contacted leaders of the movement”s institutions of higher learning. Those from 15 responded, together representing about 85 percent of total enrollment. The “good news” camp points to the benefits of exposure to faithful biblical teaching, which in several cases has led to baptisms””sometimes in college swimming pools. “We view having non-Restoration Movement students as a blessed opportunity to share our message with those who might never

September 26, 2011

Protestors at the NACC: “˜Where the Action Is”

By Darrel Rowland “We’re not out here to turn people to Christ.” So said one of six sign-toting demonstrators (including two children) from Westboro Baptist Church, Topeka, Kansas, who protested outside the North American Christian Convention for about an hour July 7. A woman with an NACC name tag was asking the female protestor about Jesus’ love and whether they thought their message would turn gays and others to Christ. But the protestor said gays are “in the pit”—and, in fact, so was the NACC attender because she had cut her hair, in violation of 1 Corinthians 11. As the

September 26, 2011

NACC Crowd Reaction: “˜Spiritually Uplifting”

By Darrel Rowland James and Deborah Dixon had no plans to attend the North American Christian Convention. In fact, they hadn”t even heard of it. They traveled from their home in Indianapolis to Cincinnati just to get away for a few days after July 4th. But when they saw the people crowded around the convention center, they decided to check it out. “It was very spiritually uplifting,” James Dixon said. The couple attends New Life Worship Center in Indianapolis. It wasn”t just the newbies giving two thumbs up to this year”s NACC. “I thought it was fantastic,” said Rich Bowie

September 26, 2011

NACC Diversity: “˜A Giant Leap Forward”

By Darrel Rowland Dudley Rutherford admits it”s his biggest fear: That the recent increasing diversity of the NACC will fade away. “We took a giant leap forward. We cannot afford to take a small step backward. We need to keep pressing the issue,” said Rutherford, who has led the drive to bring more minorities as speakers and to fill other key roles on the platform. Rutherford said he already has written letters to future NACC presidents urging them to continue the convention”s blend of races and ethnicities. “Usually we put one African-American on the stage and call itÂ diversity,” he said.

September 25, 2011

What a Wonderful Convention!

By Darrel Rowland A blur of scenes from the 2011 North American ChristianÂ Convention in Cincinnati . . . “¢ A pair of preachers, leaders of churches totaling about 30,000 in weekly attendance, breaking down in tears at 1 a.m. in their hotel””then taking pizza to the homeless . . . “¢ Two women riding one step apart on the escalator cackling when they realize they had worn identical blouses that day . . . “¢ Noisy protestors””including one toting a sign saying “Your Pastor Is a Liar”””occupying all four corners of the intersection just outside the main entrance to the

September 10, 2011

Care & Counseling Trauma

Interview with David Beamer: The Worst Day of My Life

By Darrel Rowland David Beamer and his family will get through today just like they have every day for the past 10 years. “The Beamer clan, the faith and the assurance and frankly the conviction that we had on September 11, has not waned,” he said. “We know that God is sovereign, his word is true. We know that for those who accept the saving blood of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, their future is secure. Having that assurance has enabled us to deal with the attack. Happily, that is not different 10 years later.” Beamer”s son, Todd, is

September 8, 2011

Culture & Public Square

What’s Different Now?

By Darrel Rowland In some ways it seems everything has changed. But some observers say reaction to 9/11 has been only a blip amid trends that began even before the tragedy. Flying is a hassle. We know what IED stands for. Osama is dead. Saddam, too. And so are almost 10,000 Americans. We”ve learned about Kabul and Fallujah the way previous generations found out about Iwo Jima, Panmunjom, and Pleiku. Scars in our largest city, our capital, a Pennsylvania field. Scars on our psyches, our souls, our kids. A bold president with a bullhorn promising justice. Members of Congress from

September 7, 2011

Care & Counseling Trauma

Help, hope, and lives . . . Forever Changed

By Darrel Rowland Perhaps none of us can forget where we were and what we felt when we first heard of the September 2001 terrorist attacks. But perhaps many of us don”t know how God has worked through individuals and the local church to bring redemption and hope since then. This week we want to tell that story. Chip Gilgen was staring at the burning World Trade Center from a 25th-floor window of his FBI office when he saw the second plane slam into the other twin tower. Lisa Gilgen was still at work near Rockefeller Center while a coworker

May 12, 2011

Church & Ministry Community Outreach

More and Better Disciples

Mountain Christian Church’s women’s ministry uses welcoming events, Bible studies, small groups, and retreats to help women connect with the church and take clear next steps toward discipleship.

May 11, 2011

Church & Ministry

Why Women’s Ministry?

Susan Lawrence explains why women’s ministry should be shaped by intentional discipleship, healthy relationships, and prayerful obedience rather than tradition, trends, or one-size-fits-all programming.

May 9, 2011

Ethics & Moral Issues Gender

Reaching Their Potential?

Christian church leaders and women’s ministry leaders respond to whether churches allow women to reach their full potential in Christ, offering varied perspectives on gifting, leadership, Scripture, and service.

May 8, 2011

Church & Ministry

Women”s Ministry: Changing Views

Patricia Rohach’s research shows how women’s ministry in Christian churches has changed over five decades, while highlighting ongoing needs for spiritual growth, relationships, and mentoring.

May 5, 2011

Church & Ministry

What’s Happening with Women’s Ministry?

Leaders from Christian churches describe how women’s ministry is shifting toward authentic relationships, outreach, mentoring, flexible Bible studies, and more meaningful spiritual engagement across generations.

September 30, 2010

Church Life

“˜We Are Intentionally Multicultural”

Keele Street Christian Church in Toronto reflects kingdom diversity through a congregation shaped by many cultures, intentional welcome, and the faithful example of one Filipino family.

September 30, 2010