January 1, 2026
With careful planning, clear communication, financial foresight, and sensitivity to personalities, churches can not only survive transitions, they can thrive through them.
December 5, 2018
Compiled by Chris Moon Central Christian Church in Mesa, Ariz., is one of several nearby churches that have helped house nearly 5,000 asylum-seekers who have crossed the Mexican border into the United States since October. According to the Arizona Mirror, the megachurch has received five large groups of migrants released by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The asylum-seekers are brought temporarily to the church’s worship center, where they are fed and clothed and connected with local families who can house them temporarily. Eventually, the migrants go to live with relatives across the United States until their asylum cases can be
By LeRoy Lawson While admitting there is no sure-fire formula for success in succession, I have learned a few things from retiring and watching others retire. Here”s my advice. “I wanted you to do well. I didn”t want you to do this well.” I had been away from my 20-year ministry with Central Christian Church in Mesa, Arizona, for more than a year when Cal Jernigan, my successor, invited me back to preach one weekend. It was already evident the church was prospering under his guidance. All I had hoped would happen in that first year after my departure had
July 30, 2015
We asked 35 Christian leaders, “Who is the influencer with the biggest impact on your life and ministry?” Most of these leaders listed several influential thinkers, writers, innovators, and leaders more of us should get to know. This response is from Mike Baker, senior pastor with Eastview Christian Church, Normal, Illinois. ________ Two men have helped me think both as a Christian and a pastor for nearly 25 years. Both Cal Jernigan, senior pastor at Central Christian Church of Mesa, Arizona, and J.K. Jones, pastor of spiritual formation at Eastview Christian Church, Normal, Illinois, have impacted my thinking in great ways. J.K.
July 15, 2014
Cal Jernigan calls himself “a success story of the Christian church.” See why, and hear the pastor of Central Christian Church, Mesa, Arizona, explain why he believes church leadership is a lot harder than it looks. Enjoy his interview with CHRISTIAN STANDARD Editor Mark Taylor here.
May 13, 2011
Patty Wyatt was reeling. A college roommate had been shot and killed at Wedgewood Baptist Church and just seven months later a man walked into her parents” homeowners” association meeting and randomly shot and killed Patty”s mother. About the same time, Lisa Jernigan”s mother passed away after a tough fight with cancer, and Lisa”s husband, Cal, had been asked to serve as the new senior pastor at Central Christian Church in Mesa, Arizona. But the move from Central”s youth ministry to “big church” left Lisa feeling very alone. A mutual friend saw these two women””both with grieving fathers and hearts
November 24, 2010
By Paul Covert In July of 2003, I nervously made a call to Cal Jernigan, the senior pastor at Central Christian Church in Mesa, Arizona. I had known Cal for 25 years and had always respected him. I hoped he could point me to a church that might have some interest in my passion for prayer. Thirty days later I was leading the prayer ministry at Central. When I called Cal, I didn”t know Central had just gone through an extensive season of developing their core values. One of them was, “As a community of believers, we seek God”s guidance
April 22, 2007
By Lisa Jernigan As my daughter-in-law waited in line at her favorite home away from home, Starbucks, a thought popped in her mind to purchase drinks for the car waiting in line behind her. It was something simple that offered exciting possibilities. When she gave the money to the employee and informed him of her plan, she learned a surprising fact: this had happened once before. As the employee shook his head in amazement, he told her about another time when someone offered to buy drinks for the car behind him. Amazingly enough it created a chain of generosity that
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April 21, 2026
David Faust
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Quentin Davis
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James Thompson