March 13, 2026
Debating Differently: In a Time When People Can’t Talk About Hard Things Anymore, How Can Christians Be Different?
In a time when people can’t talk about hard things anymore, how can Christians be different?
Articles for tag: Louisville
January 1, 2026
How Do You Retire When Your Successor Ain’t Ready?
If you’ve spent your career walking with Jesus, your last days should be your best days, not your worst. Jesus’ last moments before his death were spent pouring himself completely out for us.
February 26, 2023
Asbury Student Talks of Gen Z’s Desperation for God in Fox News Interview
Hayley Anderson, who grew up at Northeast Christian Church in Louisville and is now a student at Asbury University, was interviewed by Fox News last week and spoke of Generation Z's desperation for God. “I think what’s so special about this [revival],” Hayley said in the interview, “is that it’s a story about how God has met students where they’re at . . ."
May 1, 2021
We Were Made for This
How your church can build on your pandemic compassion with both spiritual justice and social justice.
January 28, 2021
Sam E. Stone: ‘He Tried to Speak the Truth in Love’
In memory and appreciation of our former editor, Sam E. Stone, who died early this week, we share this 2011 column from Christian Standard’s archives in which Sam discussed four Scripture verses significant to his life.
June 3, 2020
Northeast Organizes 200-plus ‘Campuses’ as Restrictions Ease
By Chris Moon Louisville’s Northeast Christian Church seized the opportunity. With Kentucky loosening pandemic restrictions slightly, the church quickly organized more than 200 “watch parties”—some would call them 200 new “campuses”—to tune into the church’s worship services this past Sunday. Church members gathered groups of no more than 10 people in homes to worship, pray, and listen to the Sunday sermon. And it certainly was a fitting occasion, since Sunday was Pentecost. “We were just trying to help people look at weekend services a little differently given the state we were in,” said David McKinley, director of marketing and communications
March 18, 2020
Pastors Focused on Serving Communities, Improving Online Abilities as Pandemic Continues
By Chris Moon After a weekend of large-scale cancellations of in-person worship services—the result of the COVID-19 pandemic—many Restoration Movement churches are spending this week plotting their next moves. Pastors say they are looking both inward at how their online programming was received and outward at how best to serve their communities in a time of need. They say they are recognizing the way in which “social distancing” recommendations are affecting vulnerable communities, from the elderly to those in poverty. Tyler McKenzie, lead pastor of Northeast Christian Church in Louisville, said his church put together both a weekend service plan
February 22, 2020
Can Online Churches Create Offline Connections?
Three Churches Share Stories from the “Wild West”of Worship on the World Wide Web By Justin Horey From smartphones to social media, Facebook to FaceTime, the Internet and the tools we use to access it are often advertised as ways to help people relate to one another. Dating apps and websites aim to bring people together in person, while social media platforms and videoconferencing were created to help people stay in touch when they can’t be together in the same room. Technology experts and ordinary people alike love to debate the effectiveness of relating with online tools, but these tools
February 19, 2020
Can Online Churches Create Offline Connections?
Three Churches Share Stories from the “Wild West” of Worship on the World Wide Web By Justin Horey From smartphones to social media, Facebook to FaceTime, the Internet and the tools we use to access it are often advertised as ways to help people relate to one another. Dating apps and websites aim to bring people together in person, while social media platforms and videoconferencing were created to help people stay in touch when they can’t be together in the same room. Technology experts and ordinary people alike love to debate the effectiveness of relating with online tools, but these
April 14, 2017
A “˜Thirteenth Step” to Recovery
By Jennifer Johnson Laura Setters“s brother has been an addict since he was 12 years old. When he finally celebrated a year of sobriety, she decided to mark the achievement””and ended up creating a new ministry. “By the time Michael got sober in 2014, our family had been dealing with his addiction for 26 years,” Setters says. “My mom, Beth, passed away the year before, and she had been the only one who never lost hope in him. I wanted to do something to honor her life as well as Michael”s one-year sobriety anniversary, so I donated to a recovery
Michael Mack Named Christian Standard Editor
Michael C. Mack has been named the 12th editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. Jerry Harris, newly appointed publisher of Christian Standard Media, announced that Mack will join him on the staff of the magazine, beginning with its July issue. “We at Christian Standard Media are truly blessed to have on our team the combination of talent and passion we find in Michael Mack!” Harris said. “We welcome Mike and his wife, Heidi, into a bright future with CHRISTIAN STANDARD.” Mack comes to the position with 28 years of experience in publishing, local church ministry, and national small groups leadership. He is
March 18, 2017
My Refugee Friends
By Kelsey McKain I first met Wurood, Alaa, and their son, Rayan, through the Kentucky Refugee Ministry Cultural Exchange program that connects local residents with newly settled refugees to help acclimate them to their new city. I”ve known them for about six months, but because of the language barrier, I”ve only recently (with the help of a translator) been able to learn more about their lives as refugees. We sat down in their modest, two-bedroom apartment in the south side of Louisville. The furniture doesn”t match and the walls aren”t decorated, but it”s cozy and it feels like a home.
February 19, 2017
Single on Purpose, with a Purpose
By Jennifer Johnson Northeast Christian Church (Louisville, KY) has a history of giving money to church members who want to use the funds to make a difference””and the recipients of these donations have a proven track record of changing lives with the money. Several years ago as part of a sermon series, Northeast”s leadership team chose 100 people and gave each one a hundred dollar bill with instructions to use the money for something God was calling them to do. From this investment came a number of ongoing ministries, including a “Mom”s Closet” which helps single moms with education, food, and clothing,
August 9, 2016
How My Church Pointed Me Toward Ministry
By Mark A. Taylor With his list of ways your church can move more young people toward vocational ministry, Matt Proctor implies this is a goal off the radar for too many today. I”m glad that wasn”t true in the congregation I attended while I was in high school. Central Christian Church in Waukegan, Illinois, was a small, simple congregation by today”s standards. Of course, this was almost 50 years ago, when almost every church approached ministry with less sophistication than many today. The Preacher Training Class led by ministers of the church was a simple idea, too. Get some
July 14, 2016
From the Mess to a Message of Hope
By Dave Stone Lindsay Knight remembers the hopelessness. It stalked her as a college student, when she had seen too much and been loved too little. It was in the back of her mind as she chased self-worth in being pretty, thin, a good athlete, popular, and successful. After a long string of abusive, destructive relationships left her homeless, alone, and broke, she took the one “yes” she found””to work at a local strip club. It didn”t take long for her to see life at the club wasn”t so glamorous””she didn”t make a lot of money and she didn”t like
Johnson University Partners to Extend Reach
Johnson University, with campuses in Tennessee, Florida, and online, is launching Johnson University ExtendEd. Through ExtendEd sites, the University will provide Christian education opportunities to more students on a localized basis. Initial launch locations include Indianapolis, IN; Phoenix, AZ; Louisville, KY; and Knoxville, TN. Starting in August 2016, Johnson University ExtendEd will offer affordable, local business and ministry degrees at partner locations around the country. Partners include Southeast Christian Church in Louisville; Christ”s Church of the Valley in Phoenix; Knoxville Interdenominational Bible Institute in Knoxville; and Connection Pointe Christian Church, Greenwood Christian Church, Indian Creek Christian Church, Park Chapel Christian
April 22, 2016
Five Ways Staff Members Can Work with the Senior Minister
By Michael C. Mack Bob Russell spoke at a regional gathering of small group ministers held in Louisville in 2009 about how staff ministers can work more effectively with their senior ministers. 1. Find ways to communicate with him, especially when working through an edgy or controversial topic or situation. Be sure to run actions by him first. There”s value in many counselors. You can gain his trust by seeking his advice. Maintain harmony. Regularly communicate with him about your plans, problems, and victories. Be ready to admit your mistakes when you make them. If you sense a distancing between
July 11, 2014
Advice to a Dad
By Dave Stone (From our series “The Best or Worst Advice I’ve Ever Received.”) The best advice I ever received was this: “The best way to be a good father is to be a good husband.” It was given to me by Chuck Lee, a former staff member, who shared it with me soon after the birth of our first child. Dave Stone serves as senior pastor with Southeast Christian Church, Louisville, Kentucky.
June 13, 2013
City on a Hill Producing Films and Filmmakers
By Jennifer Johnson “You could call us “˜media missionaries,”” says Cyndi Moreno, director of development at City on a Hill Productions (Louisville, KY). For more than a decade, the nonprofit organization has used film to share the gospel and support the work of local churches. “We provide Bible study resources like The Easter Experience and Kyle Idleman”s Not a Fan; help churches share their stories, recruit volunteers, or raise funds; and equip local church leaders working in media,” she says. “We want to reach the world with the message of the gospel.” City on a Hill is currently in the
Interview with George Ross
By Paul Boatman George Ross is in his 13th year as senior pastor of Northside Christian Church in New Albany, Indiana. The church has grown from 1,200 to 5,000 during his ministry. His previous ministries have been directed to children, youth, small groups, music, and preaching. We spoke with him about reaching sinners, watching repentance, and creating a culture of redemption. We would like to hear you reflect on how you minister in the face of cultural challenges. Why me? I”ve watched your ministry. In both Las Vegas and metropolitan Louisville, you have focused on leading non-Christians to be
