December 20, 2025
Who’s That Guy?
Chad Broaddus tells us about reading the Christmas story with his family and how Quirinius reminds him of the authenticity of Jesus' birth.
Articles for tag: Independent Christian Church
April 12, 2022
At Ekklesia, Easter Brings a Season of Discipleship
For the past five years, Ekklesia Christian Church in Conway, S.C., has engaged hundreds of people in a post-Easter discipleship program that moves people from spiritual milk to meat, with a goal of baptizing many on Pentecost Sunday.
September 1, 2021
The ‘Independent’ Christian Church
As I write this in June, many have been seeing news stories coming from the Southern Baptist Convention. Just about all of the news has been less than flattering, and some of it has been scandalous. There have been stories connected to sexual abuse, a history of racism (and debate over critical race theory), leadership roles and speaking roles for women, and the list goes on. At the convention meeting, outgoing president J. D. Greear changed a gavel used to open and close ceremonies because the traditional gavel had been provided by an early SBC leader who was an outspoken
January 2, 2020
An 'Independent' Objection
In this editorial from the December 27, 1970, issue of Christian Standard, the late Edwin V. Hayden registered an objection to the term “Independent Christian Church.” _ _ _ We’re Still FriendsIsn’t it wonderful that we can be brotherswe can even be friendswithout agreeing with one another in some rather strong opinions? Consider, for example, the convenient use of the term, “Independent Christian Church,” to designate folk who generally concur in the historic position taken by CHRISTIAN STANDARD. Some of our best friends use the term pragmatically, arguing that it is brief, generally understood, and generally applicable. It communicates what
September 30, 2018
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.
July 10, 2018
Making an IMPACT in Indy
By Jim Nieman On June 24, the Fairfax Christian Church family in inner-city Indianapolis celebrated their final weekend of worship together under longtime minister Tom Richason, and on July 1, the church became the newest site of Mount Pleasant Christian Church’s IMPACT Ministry. Chris Philbeck, senior pastor of Mount Pleasant—a church of about 4,700 located in Greenwood, Ind., about a dozen miles south of Indy—says MPCC hopes to “bring renewal to this new ministry opportunity.” Fairfax voted unanimously to transfer ownership to MPCC on Feb. 25, but no ministry changes occurred until the first of this month. Like many urban
April 20, 2018
The State of Our Christian Churches Today
Where We’ve Come From, Where We Are, and Where We’re Going By Ken Idleman In her book Join the Club: How Peer Pressure Can Transform the World, Tina Rosenburg sought to determine how to get people to change for the better. She concluded people don’t change simply because they desire to change, or feel guilty, or learn it would be beneficial (such as by quitting smoking). Instead, Rosenburg argues, people grow and change best in community. She asserts that few things in life are more important in determining the kind of people we become than the group of people with
February 2, 2018
Inspiring Us to Greater Things
By Jerry Harris Last year at the North American Christian Convention, David Johnson of Harvest Point Church in North Charleston, South Carolina, stopped by the Christian Standard Media booth to talk. When I mentioned that I had been reading about Marshall Keeble, David just lit up. He began to share things he’d learned about Keeble’s methods of establishing churches and raising up leaders for them. He mentioned names of some other folks and asked if I’d heard or read about them. It was my favorite part of the convention, and it energized me for writing the article about Keeble this month.
January 6, 2018
The ABC’s of Financial Freedom
By Jerry Harris One of the top-selling books of the recent past by an independent Christian church writer is undoubtedly Barry Cameron’s The ABC’s of Financial Freedom, which has sold approximately 250,000 copies since its release in 2001. The book has helped hundreds of churches and thousands of people across America turn their financial situations around, and it has helped churches raise millions of dollars for kingdom causes. Through the ABC’s, readers have discovered biblical principles to help escape the burden and bondage of debt, enabling them to declare their financial independence. Churches have reduced their debt and improved their financial
September 22, 2016
Two Schools Consider Merger
Cincinnati (OH) Christian University and Kentucky Christian University, located in Grayson, are engaged in discussions that may result in the merger of the two schools. On Jan. 17, 2017, CCU and KCU plan to begin a partnership agreement in which KCU will provide executive level management assistance to CCU, under the ongoing guidance of the CCU Board of Trustees. Formal approval of the management consultancy agreement is expected at the October meetings of the CCU and KCU boards of trustees. “During this management period, the two schools plan to work together and with their respective constituencies and accrediting bodies to
March 30, 2011
New Building for Churchill Meadows
This past Sunday, Churchill Meadows Christian Church (Mississauga, Ontario) celebrated the grand opening of their new building. Senior minister Jim Tune and his wife, Claudia, planted CMCC in 2001 and the church broke ground on the building in June 2008. The project””Church Development Fund“s first international loan””will provide the first permanent facility for Churchill Meadows, which has grown to be the largest independent Christian church in Canada.
September 17, 2006
NACC Viewpoint 4: You Just Had to Be There
Steven Clark Goad reflects on reconciliation among Restoration Movement believers, urging unity of purpose over worship wars. Instruments don’t worship—people do—and the real test is the fruit of the Spirit.
June 25, 2006
We Strayed from Original Principles
Tom Langford revisits Thomas Campbell’s Declaration and Address to show how insisting on human inferences as fellowship tests fueled division. He offers a hopeful Lubbock example of unity pursued without sacrificing convictions.
October 30, 2005
INTO A MOVEMENT: Surviving the Game
A Long Island church planter moves from skepticism to confidence after attending a church planting assessment and connecting with the Orchard Group—discovering coaching, authenticity, and a movement that feels “priceless.”
