February 8, 2022
Dr. James B. North, 81, longtime professor of church history at Cincinnati Christian University, frequent lecturer on church history, and a man who wrote extensively on the history of Christian churches and churches of Christ in America, died on Monday after battling cancer.
March 25, 2020
Compiled by Jim Nieman and Chris Moon Earlier this month, Mount Pleasant Christian Church, Greenwood, Ind., surpassed $1 million in giving through its Change for a Dollar program, which was started in July 2015 and thus far has helped 250 individuals and families. The fund was created after pastor Chris Philbeck asked attendees to give an extra $1 weekly to help people in need. “It’s powerful, because it’s just such a simple formula,” Philbeck told the Daily Journal. “One dollar alone doesn’t go very far, but all together, it can be a big deal.” The ministry “allows ANYONE from ANYWHERE
February 12, 2019
By Ronald G. Davis The presidents of the United States of America have represented the best among us. And the worst. For every president—whether moral, immoral, or amoral—has sinned. None has been perfect in policy nor in person. The wisest and the most foolish, the politest and the rudest, the honorable and the dishonorable, all are sinners. Oh, many have been men of prayer and public worship, but none has been the perfect example of righteousness and noble behavior. It is appropriate that we express honor to those to whom honor is due. Peter spoke for the Spirit when he
February 5, 2019
By Ronald G. Davis The word valentine speaks to us of love. And to love is to be the most like God we can be. Let me repeat that: to love is to be the most like God we can be. For God is love. The disciple who most sensed the love of God wrote to early Christians and to us, “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 John 4:8) and “Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God” (4:7). In his image, we want the very best for all those
January 27, 2017
By Ronald G. Davis Sunday again. One hundred sixty-eight hours have passed, and now we are here again. How feebly we apply markers to the times of our lives. Yet we are creatures of time, having been destined to be born into time, to suffer all the joys and vicissitudes time offers, to die and find an end to time. Here, at this table, week after week, we assemble to remember that Timeless once entered into time. The Timeless One took on the weaknesses of time, so that he could save us from the inherent weaknesses of being creatures of
By Jennifer Johnson Although internships are invaluable for helping college students determine their vocational path””and although many Christian colleges and universities now require them for students across a variety of disciplines””ministry internships can be difficult for both students and churches. “The shorter internships, especially, are challenging,” says Tim Dunn, minister at LifeSpring Christian Church in Cincinnati, OH. “With just a few hours a week, you don”t have time to really influence or invest in the students, especially when they are also participating in mission trips or camps. It”s hard to really include them in the life of the church.” Cincinnati
January 13, 2017
By Ronald G. Davis The Passover of the Hebrew people was inextricably tied to the shedding of blood. How many thousands of Egypt”s firstborn sons had to die to free the Hebrews from their bondage? And how many young and innocent lambs and goats became a hurried meal of roasted flesh? How many gallons of their blood became the blessed stripes on doorjambs and door frames? Exodus 11 and 12 describe the wonderfully awful and bloody events of that solemn and deadly night of redemption. The Passover when Jesus gathered his devoted””and not-so-devoted””12 friends and disciples in the upper room
August 30, 2016
Mark A. Taylor Two weeks ago I posted a list of writers from the Christian churches who have publishing success in the larger Evangelical market. It was inevitable that my list wasn”t complete, so today I”m adding three more names. Two of these, Laura Dingman (a writer for Christian Standard) and Diane Stortz (a former colleague) I should have remembered the first time around. One, Steve Carter, was suggested by a reader. I”m guessing this second list won”t be my last one. Please feel free to tell me about others we should include here. This Invitational Life, by Steve Carter,
By Mark A. Taylor As every media outlet in the U.S. comments on this year”s most unusual election, distinctly Christian voices are seldom heard above the noise. And even though I have no expectation that CNN will be quoting CHRISTIAN STANDARD, I have decided this week to weigh in. Actually, it”s not my opinion but those of two others I feel compelled to share. The first is from our Culture Watch columnist, Joe Boyd, whose “Steps to Improve Political Discourse” appears in CHRISTIAN STANDARD”s May issue. His three points (“We can drop the labels,” “We can appeal to the best in
June 10, 2014
By Mark A. Taylor “The temporary becomes permanent.” Dale McCann, senior minister at the first church I served full-time, repeated the proverb whenever I was tempted to slap something together till we could “do it right” later. He was observing a tendency of human nature and long experience working with the local church: A cardboard sign announcing a room number might never be replaced with one professionally made. A haphazard approach to ushering or serving Communion will continue for years because no one tackles the task of organizing something more efficient. When the temporary becomes permanent at home, we see
July 19, 2013
CHRIS TRAVIS Pastor and teacher, Everyday Church, New York, New York Chris Travis is a leader people follow. He”s passionate, funny, and insightful””but it goes deeper. It”s not just charisma or image. There”s something deep inside that spills out, and it”s something magnetic to people with an interest in God. Part of it is genuineness of conviction. When Chris came to Christ as a senior in university, he never looked back. Without the benefit of a church background, he bought a Bible, read it, and acted on it. Reading the New Testament prompted him to seek out a church. His
July 6, 2013
JUSTINE HAYES Missionary serving with CMF International My first dealings with Justine were through e-mail. Justine works with Missions of Hope in Kenya. Our church was planning a mission trip to the slums outside Nairobi, and Justine was our contact person. I assumed she was a retired woman who had moved to Kenya to help the mission there. A few months later I was in Kenya to attend a Christian Missionary Fellowship board meeting. Imagine my surprise when someone knocked on our cabin door as my roommate and I were settling in for the night. The visitor was to be
September 1, 2012
By Jennifer Johnson I like Matthew Barnett“s philosophy of serving: “Find a need and fill it.” For Barnett, founder of The Dream Center in Los Angeles, the motto has worked well. Since its launch in 1994, the center has served millions of poor, addicted, homeless, and broken people. Thousands of volunteers lead ministries ranging from residential rehab to “Adopt-A-Block” teams in 35 locations across the city. I also like their story: Pastor Matthew”s outreach to the gangs surrounding the church”s iconic building, the organic growth of ministries developed by members, and its identity as “the church that never sleeps.” But
September 1, 2012
By Jennifer Taylor When physician Doug Collins returned to the United States after several years as a missionary in Cambodia, he wanted to open a free medical clinic similar to the one he led overseas. LifeSpring Christian Church (Cincinnati, OH), which supported Dr. Collins and his family as missionaries, worked with him to open the new clinic this past July. Potential patients must be 19 to 64 years old, have no health insurance, and have a yearly income no greater than 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level ($22,000 for an individual or $44,000 for a family of four). “The
December 18, 2010
By Jennifer Taylor So many churches, so many different ways to celebrate the birth of our Savior! Each December for the last three years, My Safe Harbor (Anaheim, California)“”a nonprofit organization providing education and support for low-income single moms and their children””has coordinated a Christmas brunch for teachers at four local elementary schools. From homemade treats and decorations to music and gifts, the MSH team provides a special time of appreciation for these hard-working teachers. Members at Anaheim First Christian Church, which helped launch My Safe Harbor, sign thank-you cards and donate money for presents (including refills for the Keurig
January 27, 2010
By Brad Dupray As a youth minister in Southern California, Dick Alexander led regular missions trips to nearby Mexico. Those first ventures into the mission field put a desire in his heart to see cross-cultural ministry take place on a broader scale, which has carried forward into his 25 years as senior minister with LifeSpring Christian Church in Cincinnati, Ohio. He leads by example, helping facilitate numerous overseas partnerships. Dick has deep roots in the Restoration Movement, having grown up at First Christian Church, Canton, Ohio, where he was baptized by P.H. Welshimer. He is a graduate of Cincinnati Christian
January 6, 2010
By Brad Dupray In his new book Unnamed, Chris Travis explores the stories of eight biblical heroes who went without much recognition. In fact, the Bible doesn”t even mention their names. Based on Standard Publishing”s 2010 Vacation Bible School theme, his book combines stories of these Bible personalities with incredible accounts of modern-day unnamed heroes. Readers will discover solid biblical insight to consider what it means to live a heroic life for God in our day. Last year, Chris and his wife, Lindsay, left a staff position with LifeSpring Christian Church in Cincinnati, Ohio, to move to New York City
January 11, 2009
By Diane Stortz  When you”ve already got the best VBS on the market, what do you do to stay ahead of the rest? You test. So the children”s ministry staff and volunteers and the children of LifeSpring Christian Church in Cincinnati, Ohio, got a unique sneak peek at Standard Publishing”s 2009 VBS course, “Studio GO! Game Show,” as they used and tested it as their 2008 VBS. “Standard Publishing has always included focus groups and surveys as part of our VBS theme research,” says Ruth Frederick, director of children”s product. “We”ve tried to increase the amount of customer engagement
January 11, 2009
By Diane Stortz Combine the good looks and energy of American Idol host Ryan Seacrest with the lovable charm of Bob Barker, retired host of The Price Is Right, and what do you get? Why, Daniel Read, of course. Read, a Cincinnati Christian University senior, plays Wade Winalot, host of “Studio GO! Game Show,” Standard Publishing”s 2009 Vacation Bible School. From his taped appearances on the planning CD and theme song music video to live appearances in seven states and 11 venues in 2008″“09, Read plays Winalot with a wallop of friendliness, enthusiasm, and grace. He plays real life with
June 8, 2008
By Diane Stortz Wondering what your small group should study next, or how to help group members truly connect? Looking for material to inspire the small group leaders at your church? Rather than choosing a study based on the Bible, how about reading through the Bible itself? On the first Monday night of 2000, I sat with 16 other women in the living room of Beth Neuenschwander, coleader of a newly forming group at LifeSpring Christian Church in Cincinnati, Ohio. “We”re here to get to know God by reading through the Bible in a year,” Beth said. “We”ll read about
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