Articles for tag: Gene Appel

Anxiety & Depression Care & Counseling

HIU’s Alexander Teaching Church Leaders about Depression and Ministry

By Chris Moon When a prominent pastor committed suicide last year in Southern California, Paul Alexander couldn’t help but take notice. A lot of people he knew had a connection with the young pastor—Andrew Stoecklein—and they were deeply moved by the news. Alexander, a licensed marriage and family therapist who assumed the presidency of Hope International University in August, has spent years studying and teaching about depression and ministry. It only made sense to help. Depression is something many ministers struggle with—even though, Alexander said, it is “not comfortable or common to talk about it.” Alexander contacted Gene Appel of

September 30, 2018

Jerry Harris

Thank-You!

(This is a sidebar to Jerry Harris’s October 2018 Letter from the Publisher: “The NACC: Celebrating Our Wins . . . and Starting an Inspiring New Season”) By Jerry Harris Seventy-seven names. As one scans them, a history of the modern independent Christian church forms. These men strove to hold together in unity an independent movement while, at the same time, cherishing its individuality. They worked hard to inspire a movement of healthy, growing churches. They had their own ministries, but they generously gave their time, talent, and treasure to advance a tribe and cause in which they believed.

August 27, 2017

Jerry Harris

The NACC: Identity, Inspiration, and Ideas

By Jerry Harris Three words describe the core of the mission of the North American Christian Convention: identity, inspiration, and ideas. The convention has been crucial to the unity and vibrancy of the independent Christian church since its inception in 1927. The 2017 NACC in Kansas City, Missouri, June 27-29, was the first time I was tasked with setting up and manning a booth instead of just attending the NACC as a pastor of a local church. Even before the convention started, I was surrounded by many people critical to our fellowship. Identity As my wife and I checked in

June 4, 2017

Church & Ministry Church Growth

Should We Build It? Will They Come?

By Mark A. Taylor We wanted experience from church leaders who have led their congregations to build. We were able to spend an hour with four who brought insight and a couple of warnings for any congregation considering a building campaign:Â Gene Appel, senior pastor with Eastside Christian Church in Anaheim, California;Â Gary Johnson, lead servant with The Creek in Indianapolis, Indiana;Â Darrel Land, senior minister with Redemption Christian Church in Jasper, Indiana; andÂ David Vaughan, senior minister with Whitewater Crossing Christian Church in Cleves, Ohio. Here are excerpts from that conversation. Tell us about your last building project. Appel:

February 6, 2017

Come to the (After) Party!

By Chris Moon Something new! Something free! Something fun! It’s for EVERYONE! It was like a banana split without the whipped cream. Or hot chocolate without the marshmallows. Or a Thanksgiving Day meal without the pumpkin pie. Something was missing. That was the thinking among the leadership of the North American Christian Convention following the final night of programming at the 2016 convention in Anaheim, California. Everything went so well. Bob Goff was the keynote speaker. The Christian rock band For King & Country put on a concert. The atmosphere was electric. “People were just up in the clouds””excited,” says

February 4, 2017

NACC 2017: This Is for Everyone

By Gene Appel I want to invite you to join me in one of America”s greatest cities for my favorite conference on the planet, the North American Christian Convention, June 27″“29 in Kansas City, Missouri. I especially want to invite you if you”ve never been to this special gathering, or if you haven”t been able to make it for a few years. After a fantastic convention in Anaheim, California, in 2016, we have great momentum building for Kansas City, and I hope you”ll jump on board. Let me share why. First, we have an urgent theme:Â “This is for EVERYONE.” God”s

September 2, 2016

Stewardship & Generosity

CostlyÂ””The Price of Avoiding Sermons about Money

By Eddie Lowen “Our minister doesn”t teach on giving, at least not very directly or often.” I haven”t counted how many times staff members or elders from other churches have said something similar to me, but I”m sure the tally is approaching 50 by now. It makes me wonder. . . . During the last year, how many churches have hosted a four-week series on biblical money management that emphasizes tithing (or growing generosity) to the church? How many churches regularly offer Financial Peace University or a similar series that equips people to master their finances? How many churches have

August 2, 2016

Culture & Public Square Race

Beyond Fear

By Mark A. Taylor Gene Appel spoke of fear at Eastside Christian Church (Anaheim, California) July 10. This was the first Sunday after two black men, one in Louisiana and another in Minnesota, were shot by white police officers and later in the same week five officers were killed by a black sniper after a peaceful rally in Dallas, Texas. These tragedies were on everyone”s mind that week, along with the continual staccato of news about global terrorism and political upheaval. “When the disciples huddled in secret after Christ”s crucifixion, they were afraid, too,” Appel said. And then he introduced

July 26, 2016

NACC””You Didn”t Have to Be ThereÂ

By Mark A. Taylor Of course, if you had attended the North American Christian Convention in Anaheim, California, July 12-15, you would have experienced many good things . . . We enjoyed dry, warm days amid the beautiful palm-tree setting of the Anaheim Convention Center We shared the enthusiasm of California Christians, many of whom had never experienced an NACC before. Over half the crowd at the packed opening-night assembly were Californians. A similar number said this was their first NACC. Gene Appel, minister with Eastside Christian Church in Anaheim, praised convention President Dave Stone for the hard work he

July 20, 2016

An Interview with Gene Appel

Contributing editor Ben Cachiaras speaks with Gene Appel, minister with Eastside Christian Church, Anaheim, California, about next year”s North American Christian Convention (he”s president), why he loves the “tribe” of Christian churches/churches of Christ, and how to lead change in a local church. See this exclusive interview here.

April 18, 2016

Restoration Movement History

Opening Doors

“You don”t have to leave the movementÂ to lead beyond it.”Â Six perspectives on a provocative statement ________ By Jennifer Johnson These leaders love the Restoration Movement and its principles, but they also work and minister “outside” of it with the churches they serve, the partnerships they pursue, and the parachurch ministries they lead.Â Here are their thoughts on what it means to go beyond the movement, why it matters, and how it can honor God. Brent Storms The biggest question for me is how does one “get in” and “get out” of our movement?Â We”re coming across planters and church

February 6, 2016

Church & Ministry Church Leadership Preaching

The Best Sermon I”ve Ever Heard (8)

By Arron Chambers Christian leaders, some of them preachers themselves, tell us about a sermon they can”t forget””and maybe you won”t either. TRACEY D. LAWRENCE Tracey D. Lawrence is an author and professor. She has written for Chuck Colson”s BreakPoint, the Wilberforce Forum, Promise Keepers, Sheila Walsh, Rebecca St. James, and others. She holds a BS in Christian education and an MA in church history and theology. Her book written with Eric Irivuzumugabe, My Father, Maker of the Trees, a memoir of the Rwandan genocide, was featured on The New York Times best-seller list. Tracey serves as a professor

January 14, 2016

Church & Ministry Church Growth

An Unlikely First Step at Expansion

By Jennifer Johnson Although Eastside Christian Church“s building in Anaheim, CA, is large””it”s a former Boeing Aerospace facility””the church knows that one location isn”t big enough to accomplish its vision of reaching tens of thousands of people. So when Eastside purchased and renovated the building a few years ago, it designed the site as a “hub” that could support additional campuses. “Four thousand churches close each year,” says Jill Gille, executive project director at Eastside. “I grew up in a small church, and I know the challenge to get past that critical mass to keep growing. There is quite a

January 1, 2016

NACC 2016: Schedule of Events

MONDAY, JULY 11Â TBA””ICOM Pre-Convention Event 7:30 p.m.””MOVE Evening Session TUESDAY, JULY 12Â TBA””ICOM Pre-Convention Event TBA”””Velocity” Event for Leaders Under Age 40 9:15 a.m.””MOVE Morning Session 7:30 p.m.””NACC Main Session (Dave Stone speaking) 7:30 p.m.””MOVE Evening Session 9:00 p.m.””President”s Reception WEDNESDAY, JULY 13 8:00 a.m.””Ministry Networking Breakfast 8:00 a.m.””Women in Ministry Breakfast 9:00 a.m.””Bible Study with Kyle Idleman 9:15 a.m.””MOVE Morning Session 10:30 a.m.””NACC Main Session (Dudley Rutherford speaking) 12:30 p.m.””Ladies” Luncheon (featuring Christine Caine) 2:30 p.m.””Workshop Session I 4:00 p.m.””Workshop Session II 7:30 p.m.””NACC Main Session (Gene Appel and Christine Caine speaking) 7:30 p.m.””MOVE Evening Session THURSDAY, JULY

July 19, 2014

Mission & Evangelism

A Conversation with Gene Appel

Gene Appel says “The evangelistic temperature of a church drops faster than anything else.” He discusses how to solve this problem, including a strategy of reducing ministry programs where he preaches, Eastside Christian Church, Anaheim, California. Hear his interview with CHRISTIAN STANDARD Editor Mark Taylor here.

June 30, 2013

Colleges & Seminaries Organizations & Events

An Honors Program Focusing on Leadership and Community Service

By Jennifer Johnson “There”s a lot of discussion about the cost of investing in a college education,” says Dave Miller, vice president of advancement at Nebraska Christian College. “We want to talk about what the college is investing in the student.” At NCC in Papillion, NE, part of the investment is The Institute, a new program that rolled out in January and launches officially this fall. “The Institute is like an honors program, but focused on leadership potential and community service,” Miller says. Students must maintain at least a 3.0 grade point average to participate, but academic aptitude is just

January 6, 2013

Church Leadership

How Do You Define Your Leadership? Gene Appel

By Gene Appel Others tell me that I”m a visionary pastor whose personal leadership style is collaborative, empowering, and team-oriented. I love to get the right people and right systems working right. I believe that with God”s touch, great things can happen. Several years ago a leadership consultant studied me and defined me as a “catalyzing leader.” I am motivated by problems and love to build teams, cast vision, and solve problems that have kingdom implications. I like to pull key leaders and influencers together to prayerfully dream and consider what God is calling our church to do and be.

December 20, 2012

Church Life

Merger a Reunion of Mother, Daughter Churches

By Jennifer Johnson In November, Eastside Christian Church (Fullerton, CA) moved into its new building, a former Boeing defense site (complete with helipad!). On the same weekend, more than 100 members from Community Christian Church in nearby Yorba Linda joined them. Community Christian launched 27 years ago as an Eastside church plant, and offered a strong ministry with intergenerational worship and a car clinic providing free auto services to more than 150 single-parent families each year. But the struggling economy, a building located far from its core members, and declining attendance prompted Community Christian”s senior pastor Greg Curtis and Eastside

September 9, 2012