"The ICOM 2024 theme of 'Entrusted' comes from 2 Timothy 2:2," 2024 president Andrew Jit shares. "Jesus has entrusted to us the best news, the gospel, and we are called to preach and proclaim it to those around us, both in our Jerusalem and to the ends of the earth." . . .
The lineup of speakers has been set for this fall’s International Conference On Missions, which will take place Nov. 14-16 in Lexington, Ky. The theme this year is “Entrusted.” . . . Plus briefs from Ozark Christian College, Exponential, and the Northwest Christian Convention.
September 7, 2023
"For over forty years Mark Collis has ministered with Broadway Church, Lexington, Ky. Here he lets us into the secret—unblemished reputation, scrupulous use of time, patience, sense of humor, faithfulness to the New Testament teaching, and unselfishness." . . .
February 2, 2023
In preparation for the 1931 North American Christian Convention, slated for June 17 to 21 of that year in Lexington, Ky., Christian Standard published a list of important dates in Restoration Movement history. . . .
May 1, 2021
A Church Changing Its Metabolism Catalyst Christian Church of Nicholasville, Kentucky, is a small congregation with a big vision to plant churches. “We want to be a church that has children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren,” said senior pastor David Kibler. Inspired by the church-planting legacy of congregations like East 91st Street Christian Church in Indianapolis, Kibler started Catalyst in 2008 with a goal of being a church that plants churches. Catalyst was a “ground zero plant” with no formal support or backing from an evangelistic association or other organization. Kibler worked multiple jobs to support himself and his family during Catalyst’s
March 19, 2020
Here is the conclusion of Wayne Smith’s keynote sermon “Preach the Word” from the 1977 North American Christian Convention. Smith helped start Southland Christian Church in Lexington, Kentucky, in 1956 and served as her senior minister until 1995. He died in 2016. Many still list Smith as their all-time favorite preacher. Click here to read the first part of Smith’s sermon, which focuses on “The Summons—Preach.” _ _ _ Preach the Word (Part 2) The President’s message at the 1977 NACC—based on 2 Timothy 4:1-8 By Wayne B. SmithMarch 10, 1985; p. 4 THE SUBJECT—CHRISTChrist said, “And I, if I
October 2, 2019
Compiled by Chris Moon and Jim Nieman A retired pastor at Southland Christian Church in Lexington, Ky., is opening a coffee shop that employs people with special needs. Brewster McLeod served Southland for 40 years before retiring last year. Now he is preparing to open McLeod’s Coffee House early this month at 376 Southland Drive. He has hired 50 employees, all of them with special needs, faithwire.com reports. “If Down syndrome or special needs make you nervous, you probably need to come in here and relax and just treat them like anyone else,” he told WKYT News. McLeod said he
June 22, 2019
By Jerry Harris Some people we cross paths with in life leave an indelible mark. Robert Coleman is such a person for me. A few years ago, I was part of a group of leaders who were preparing the speaking lineup for that year’s Exponential conference. The focus that year was on discipleship and its relationship to church planting. Jim Putman, a preacher whose life and ministry have been devoted to relational discipleship, was chosen as a featured speaker and also selected to help write that year’s accompanying book. He and Bobby Harrington were looking for a third person to
April 17, 2019
By Jim Nieman Volunteers at Gardenside Christian Church recently finished their sixth winter of helping the homeless population in Lexington, Ky. Gardenside is one of about two dozen churches in the city that participates in the Room in the Inn ministry, says church member Karl VanDyke Jr. Gardenside houses a dozen homeless men on Tuesday nights, twice monthly, during the winter. “We provide everything they need,” VanDyke says. This past winter, 130 Gardenside volunteers were at work seven separate nights. The final tally showed the church provided 84 beds, along with 84 dinners, breakfasts, and brown-bag lunches. VanDyke says volunteers
January 10, 2019
– Jan. 9, 1909 – Among the crucial earliest triggers of the Restoration Movement, I typically think of two: The Cane Ridge Revival led by Barton W. Stone (1801) and the Declaration and Address penned by Thomas Campbell (1809). In January 1909, Christian Standard began a year-long series under this banner headline: “CENTENNIAL SPECIAL FOR JANUARY” with the subhead, “After One Hundred Years—A Century of Progress in America’s Greatest Christian Union Movement.” A number of articles in the issue carried that theme forward. In a moment, I will zero in on what probably is the most personable of them (“Reminiscences
November 8, 2018
– October 31, 1964 – The International Conference on Missions is taking place in Cincinnati next week, November 15-18. It’s the sixth time the gathering has come to the Queen City, and the first time it’s been there under its “new” name, ICOM. Cincinnati last served as host in 2007; the conference was known as the National Missionary Convention until 2011. As is the case with the North American Christian Convention—now known as Spire—the best-attended gatherings among our fellowship of churches traditionally take place in the heartland. And so, that’s where most of the ICOM/NMC gatherings have taken place during its
October 10, 2018
Veteran Kentucky horse breeder Beau Lane, 76, experienced his most successful auction in September and Bedford Acres Christian Church in Paris, Ky., will see a financial boost because of it. Bloodhorse.com reported that Lane, who with his wife, Gail, operates 160-acre Woodline Farm in Bourbon County, Ky., promised God that he would donate $100,000 of his auction proceeds on 12 yearlings to the Lord . . . if God blessed him with $1 million in sales. Lane said he was expecting only about $800,000 during the Keeneland September Yearling Sale that concluded Sept. 23. But those 12 yearlings ended up
July 17, 2018
By Peggy Park It was a golden day in Lexington, Ky., on June 10, as Tates Creek Christian Church celebrated its annual Wedding Bells Sunday with 83 couples who have been married 50 years or longer. One couple, in fact, has been married 75 years. Ladies received white corsages while the men received boutonnieres, and all of the couples had their pictures taken. The couples were also recognized as a group during the worship service. Additionally, senior minister Tommy Simpson recognized the widows and widowers who would have been married 50 years or more. The church administrator and some members
July 23, 2016
By Cindy Willison At age 16, Jani ran away to get married because she was bored and looking for adventure. She had started attending church at age 13, but it was just a social thing for her. Two years and one day after her marriage, Jani was a single mother. She started hanging out with friends and learned from them an adult entertainment club was hiring. She had no moral objection to the business, so she worked there for three years. It was a terrible experience; but she, and everyone else who worked there, talked about it being so positive,
June 30, 2016
By Adrian Wallace Collaboration is the key aspect to effective inner-city ministry that, in turn, creates healthy multiethnic Christian community. Some of the main reconciliatory agents in Lexington, Kentucky, have been the joint efforts of churches of different denominations, parachurch groups, nongovernmental organizations, and civic organizations. Help has come from ministry partners like the Lexington Leadership Foundation, whose mission is to connect, unify, and mobilize the body of Christ. For example, LLF assisted Broadway Christian Church in creating an urban ministry. Quasi-governmental organization Partners for Youth, the Fayette County Public School system, and others have helped bridge gaps that have
May 24, 2016
By Mark A. Taylor What does Christian unity look like? Sometimes it takes the form of two or three preachers getting together just to talk and share common experiences, dreams, and convictions. Often this leads to joint ministry projects and worship services between congregations creating new associations where once there was only suspicion and separation. Maybe the sweet aroma of unity will create a longing for it among others ready to include more people among “us” and fewer as “them.” And that can create an expression of unity in a large, public event attracting hundreds of separated brothers and sisters
March 22, 2015
By Sean Plank I”ve always enjoyed watching TV preachers. I know that sounds weird, because most people can”t stand them. To be clear, I”m not talking about the ministers who preach exclusively on TV (a lot of those guys are kind of shady). I”m talking about the pastors and ministers who broadcast their regular worship services on TV. Growing up in Lexington, Kentucky, I would sit in front of the TV on Sunday mornings and watch a couple of guys on the local ABC station, known to me only as “channel 36.” One of the guys I watched was an
December 19, 2013
By Tom Lawson Stephen and Ian stood together talking, while they braved the crisp breeze of a cold December in downtown Lexington, Kentucky. They had decided to go to a popular local café for lunch. But the people standing outside told them what was confirmed by the hostess at the door, “It will be about 20 to 30 minutes, if you want to wait.” They did. In the eight months between college and graduate school, my son Stephen decided to live and worship with a group of Christians in a depressed section of Lexington. From various denominations, the members of
September 6, 2013
By Ernie Perry “We believe God still has us downtown for a purpose.” Those were the elders” words when I interviewed for the senior minister”s position at Broadway Christian Church in Lexington, Kentucky. It was December 2010. I was in my 12th year as an associate at the suburban daughter church, Southland Christian. I”d known of Broadway since I was 6 years old, having attended children”s sessions of the North American Christian Convention there in 1963. I sang there with The Watchmen quartet when my preaching hero, Marshall Leggett, was the minister. His predecessor, and the dean of preachers, Ard
July 20, 2013
JON WEECE Lead follower, Southland Christian Church Lexington, Kentucky The new pope is giving hope to many because he”s a Jesuit. He”s humble and cares for the poor. He”s named for St. Francis. Jon Weece gives me the same hope. He has the heart of a missionary and the humility and leadership of Moses. He comes from some of the finest stock in the Christian church and carries the Weece name proudly. Southland is innovative, but not to be chic. The church exhibited its innovation by starting a huge campus in the middle of an under-resourced area, which has enabled
April 7, 2026
John B. Penrose Jr
April 7, 2026
David Faust
March 27, 2026
Rick Cherok