Articles for tag: Jim Herbst

September 23, 2013

Governments across the country have been criticized””and rightfully so””for their failings with regard to community development. Unfortunately, churches have made many of the same mistakes, but on a smaller scale. Here are some suggestions for changing this situation, and for how government and church can even work together. By Jim Herbst Basic neighborly values have declined in some places to the point that government offices have begun offering programs to reintroduce them. This is a great opportunity for churches. Jesus, after all, had a few things to say about neighbors. The post-World War II growth of the suburbs, and other

February 6, 2011

Christian Standard

Church & Ministry Youth & Children's Ministry

Pep Rally Jesus and Other Youthful Myths

By Jim Herbst Imagine the Sermon on the Mount this way. The people are seated on the mountain. They use a tent as a staging area. Ten apostles start playing drums. The apostle John comes out to the beat. He encourages the crowd on their feet and leads the chant, “We will, we will, rock you.” Next the apostle Peter comes out dancing. Mary and Martha run out from behind the tent and start doing backflips. Finally Jesus comes out and gives high-fives to the waiting crowd. The crowd, still chanting, goes wild. Peter starts the wave. And then Jesus

March 30, 2008

Christian Standard

Prayer Worship & Prayer

A Simple Prayer

By Jim Herbst A few years ago it was the beginning of what I now call “the human hunting season” in our neighborhood. As temperatures rise in the spring, criminal activity and turf battles also heat up. The warm spring nights are pierced with gunfire. I lay in bed during this annual cycle with tears at our church”s inability to make much of a difference. I learned a simple and often repeated prayer: “Help!” I”ve prayed that prayer in bed, in daily devotions, with fasting, on my knees, flat on my face, driving, on the church”s balcony, on the church”s

September 4, 2005

Jim Herbst

Church Life

God and Little Old Ladies

Senior saints carry long stories of prayer, hospitality, and perseverance. Jim Herbst reflects on how overlooked faithfulness in Pittsburgh strengthened his ministry and reminded him that God’s slow work is relentless.