Articles for tag: Global Pandemic

March 1, 2021

The Dilemma of Social Media and the Church

I received an email from Jonathan, a person I’d never met, last June. He explained that he’d hit a point in his life where he had questions about life, faith, his purpose, and how to respond to everything that was happening in the world. We were in the midst of a pandemic; people were losing their jobs, and there was political turmoil and racial injustice. Jonathan said he didn’t know how to process all the chaos we all were witnessing. Jonathan had found our church through Google and Instagram. Unbeknownst to me, he had been listening to our sermons and

January 1, 2021

Melissa Wuske

Money & Debt Stewardship & Generosity

How the Pandemic Impacted Construction Loans

Three Leaders of Church-Lending Organizations Discuss How They Are Building on a Strong Foundation in Uncertain Times Early in 2020, as the global pandemic unfolded, the uncertainty and economic losses seemed to spell disaster both for churches looking to build or expand their facilities and for the financial institutions that provide loans to these ministries. How can churches expect to build when they can’t even safely meet in person? How can giving and lending hold steady when the economy is flailing and so many people are out of work? Now, mere months later—albeit long months—the worst fears did not happen.

December 21, 2020

David Faust

Bible Study Theology & Bible

He’s Got Your Back (Dec. 27 Lesson Application)

This “Application” column goes with the Bible Lesson for Dec. 27, 2020: Fulfilled through Hope (Matthew 12:1-23) ________ By David Faust Last December 31 when we celebrated the New Year, I told my wife, “2019 has been rough, but I have a good feeling about 2020. It’s going to be a great year!” Clearly, I don’t have the gift of prophecy. The year 2020 brought a global pandemic, racial strife, economic upheaval, and political turmoil. Someone joked that in the future 2020 will become a one-word catchphrase to describe a big mess. When asked, “How was your day?” you can

November 20, 2020

Christian Standard

Church Life

The Key to the Future Is in the Past

By Quentin Mumphery We are living in unprecedented times. A global pandemic forced us to re-envision life as we know it. Centuries-old racial tension forced this nation to wrestle with its original sin. Economic uncertainty. Businesses shuttering. Political polarization. Quarantining. Social distancing. All of these things created a “perfect storm.” The church has not been exempt from the volatility and uncertainty, yet the church is called to be a beacon of light and hope. A city upon a hill. But how do we provide light in darkness when we are wrestling with these sobering realities? How is the church, the