November 5, 2025
When a Plan Comes Together
A sermon should be long enough to adequately exegete and apply the main point of the passage, but short enough to leave mature Christians willing to listen a few minutes longer.
Articles for tag: Mount Pleasant Christian Church
July 12, 2023
Chris DeWelt Retires as President of College Press (Plus News Briefs)
Chris DeWelt has retired as president of College Press Publishing, a company founded by his father, Don DeWelt, 64 years ago. . . . SpireConference plans preconference options. . . . Reggie Epps and Eddie Grover have passed away. . . . Chris Philbeck announces retirement plans. . . .
July 1, 2023
God’s Answer in My Distress
My Cancer Battle Has Made Me a Better Preacher and Leader
A Calling Wrapped in Failure
By Chris Philbeck I recently read an article by Lewis Allen called “10 Things You Should Know About Preaching,” published at Crossway.org. One point in the article stood out to me: “Preaching is a calling wrapped in failure.” That may seem a little shocking to someone who isn’t a preacher, but let me share a couple things to think about. First, here’s the reality: We are imperfect beings trying to speak for a perfect God. On our best day, we’re going to fall short. I have sometimes said, “There are things in the Bible I believe and experience, and there
October 31, 2022
‘When We Preach . . . We Speak for God’: A Conversation with Daniel Overdorf About His New Book
Chris Philbeck speaks with Daniel Overdorf about his new book, "Preaching: A Simple Approach to the Sacred Task," which comes out next week. Overdorf, who directs the preaching program at Johnson University, says the book is for students, preachers, and lay leaders.
December 8, 2021
News Briefs for Dec. 8
Johnson University announced via Facebook that “our friend and professor” Lee Richardson passed away Tuesday, Nov. 30. Tommy Smith, JU’s president, referred to Richardson as “Johnson’s Renaissance man.” Plus briefs from Racine (Mo.) Christian Church, National Bible Bowl, and more.
CICM Responds to Unprecedented Surge of COVID-19 in India
People are flocking to Central India Christian Mission’s new hospital in the city of Damoh for treatment of COVID-19. CICM founding director Ajai Lall described the challenges CICM is facing as well as some tangible ways people might help.
February 16, 2021
Churches Honor Those with Special Needs on ‘Night to Shine’
About 25 Christian churches and churches of Christ were among the more than 700 serving as virtual experience host churches for “Night to Shine,” an event for people with special needs. On Friday at a “Shine-Thru” celebration hosted by The Crossing in Las Vegas, guests were greeted in-person by Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow, whose foundation sponsors “Night to Shine.” “The secret is out!” The Crossing wrote on its Facebook page. “All of our guests are being welcomed by Tim Tebow himself! We are so honored that he chose to attend our Night to Shine event.” This is the seventh
March 25, 2020
Mt. Pleasant’s Dollar-Giving Campaign Eclipses $1 Million (Plus News Briefs)
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
August 8, 2018
Madeline Hansen, Bear Creek Team Win at Bible Bowl (Plus News Briefs)
By Jim Nieman There were at least two “firsts” at this year’s Bible Bowl National Tournament: It was the first time the national event was hosted by a college—in this case, Johnson University Tennessee in Knoxville—and the Individual Written Test saw its first three-time winner: Madeline Hansen of Bear Creek Christian Church, Rochester, Minnesota. And the bad news for the other test takers? Madeline has three more years of eligibility. “What she has done is incredible,” said Josiah Gorman, executive director of Bible Bowl. “She is a very knowledgeable young lady.” Madeline has competed on the Individual Written Test for
July 10, 2018
Making an IMPACT in Indy
By Jim Nieman On June 24, the Fairfax Christian Church family in inner-city Indianapolis celebrated their final weekend of worship together under longtime minister Tom Richason, and on July 1, the church became the newest site of Mount Pleasant Christian Church’s IMPACT Ministry. Chris Philbeck, senior pastor of Mount Pleasant—a church of about 4,700 located in Greenwood, Ind., about a dozen miles south of Indy—says MPCC hopes to “bring renewal to this new ministry opportunity.” Fairfax voted unanimously to transfer ownership to MPCC on Feb. 25, but no ministry changes occurred until the first of this month. Like many urban
October 29, 2017
Headlines: November 2017
By Chris Moon  App Pays Off Student”s Loan Jordan Shelton had a very good day this summer.  The staffer at CMF International was chosen in a random drawing to have his $33,407 in student loans paid off by a trivia game app that seeks to eradicate student loan debt.  According to Indianapolis news station Fox 59, Shelton is a graduate of Manhattan (Kan.) Christian College. Shelton had played the free app, Givling, which uses crowdfunding through in-app purchases to enable it to pay off student loans to randomly selected participants.  The app”s mission, according to the news station, is
July 14, 2011
Solomon Foundation Offering Church Loans
By Jennifer Taylor The Solomon Foundation, a new church extension fund for the Christian churches and churches of Christ, launched several months ago with headquarters in Englewood, CO. Doug Crozier, formerly president of Church Development Fund (Irvine, CA), serves as chief executive officer of the new organization. Crossroads Christian Church (Grand Prairie, TX) and Christ”s Church of the Valley (Peoria, AZ) worked with Crozier and his team to fund the development and launch of the foundation. Leaders from Mount Pleasant Christian Church (Greenwood, IN), Real Life Ministries (Post Falls, ID), The Crossing (Quincy, IL), and Churchill Meadows Christian Church (Toronto,
December 30, 2009
Interview with Alan Baumlein
By Brad Dupray When the leaders of Mount Pleasant Christian Church, Greenwood, Indiana, considered developing a new worship center, they prayed over their decision and determined to take a transitional step by first building a community life center. As executive pastor at Mount Pleasant, Alan Baumlein oversaw construction of the $7 million facility and, since its opening in September 2008, he oversees its use. This month Alan celebrates his 10th anniversary on staff at Mount Pleasant, where he served as outreach pastor the first four years. Alan joined Mount Pleasant in 1992 and later transitioned into ministry after a successful
