April 6, 2026
The Connect Conference is an annual Christian gathering hosted by the Crieve Hall church of Christ in Nashville, Tennessee, designed to inspire, equip, and mobilize believers in discipleship, evangelism, and spiritual growth. Rooted firmly in Scripture and centered on Christ, the conference brings together Christians from congregations across the country to focus on making disciples, encouraging one another, and living out the gospel in daily life.
October 21, 2022
This is part 2 of Christian Standard’s interview with Kent Sanders, coauthor of the new book "The Faith of Elvis: A Story Only a Brother Can Tell." Sanders, a former St. Louis Christian College professor, assisted Elvis Presley’s younger stepbrother, Billy Stanley, in telling the inside story of the spiritual life of the “King of Rock and Roll.”
January 26, 2022
Rusty Russell thought his son, Charlie, would recover quickly when his boy was hospitalized with COVID-19 in August. That wasn't the case. Rusty, who preaches in Florida, traveled back and forth to Tennessee weekly to help during Charlie's long ordeal.
August 24, 2021
The Spire Network is in the final stages of preparation for its third-annual SpireConference, set for Sept. 14-16 in Nashville. Spire anticipates it may match or exceed the number of people who participated in their first in-person conference two years ago, which would be a "huge win," said board chairman Dave Stone.
The speaker lineup for the 2021 SpireConference is announced; High Hill Christian Camp is undergoing expansion; plus other briefs.
September 28, 2020
It’s not too late to register for the all-virtual 2020 Spire Conference, which takes place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (EDT) Wednesday. A great lineup of speakers is scheduled to participate. And as a bonus, you can forgo paying the $19.95 conference registration fee if you download Spire’s app from Apple’s App Store or from Google Play. More information is available at Spire’s website. The coronavirus impacted this year’s conference—as it seemingly has affected everything else—forcing it to transition from an in-person, three-day gathering to a virtual, one-day gathering. Spire CEO Rick Rusaw called the change in plans due
October 16, 2019
By Chris Moon A new gathering of disciple-makers within the Restoration Movement—and beyond it—will meet Nov. 6 in Nashville. The Renew Gathering is expected to draw about 600 people. It is aimed at helping participants grasp solid disciple-making theology. The conference will serve as a precursor to the annual National Disciple Making Forum, which also will meet in Nashville and is set for Nov. 7, 8. “At Renew, you get the theology. At the National Disciple Making Forum, you get the methodology,” said Bobby Harrington, who is organizing both conferences and leads their accompanying websites, Renew.org and Discipleship.org. Harrington is
November 14, 2016
By Jennifer Johnson Leading Bible studies in prison? Old news. Coordinating worship services in prison? No problem. But holding college classes in prison””for both inmates and traditional students? Since 2007, Lipscomb University”s LIFE program””short for Lipscomb Initiative For Education“”has brought undergraduate students from its Nashville campus to the Tennessee Prison for Women, also in Nashville, to learn everything from conflict management to business communication””and to learn from each other. “I often quote the old biblical passage about “˜silver and gold have I none, but what I have I give you,”” says Dr. Richard Goode, professor of history at Lipscomb and
December 16, 2014
By Mark A. Taylor The Disciples of Christ Historical Society has decided to move its archive from the T.W. Phillips Memorial Archives building in Nashville, Tennessee, to a college or seminary affiliated with the Disciples of Christ. Dr. Todd Adams, interim president, said the Society”s directors plan to choose a place in March; actually preparing the archive to move could take three years, he said. A press release distributed in November explained the move, saying, “there are insufficient funds to maintain both an archive and the T.W. Phillips Memorial Library building.” Adams, associate general minister and vice president with the Disciples,
October 2, 2014
By Jennifer Johnson There are many things I love about living in Philadelphia””the history, the proximity to New York, the water ice (look it up). But this month I”m wishing I still lived in Cincinnati . . . or Orange County, California . . . or even Nashville so I could get to a show or three of Joe Boyd”s Gospel of John and his retelling of both Old and New Testament stories next year. I also wish I could take everyone I know, both my friends who have been Christians forever and the ones who think the rest of us
July 11, 2014
By Veva Appel (From our series “The Best or Worst Advice I’ve Ever Received.”) The best advice I have ever received, other than taking the advice of the man who asked me to marry him, came from my boss, George Gahr, president of Christian Homes, where I was his secretary. After my beloved husband, Leon Appel, died at a young age, I thought I would be continuing in the secretarial position I enjoyed. But one day, Mr. Gahr asked me, “Veva, would you be willing to do some development work for Christian Homes?” I replied, “George, don’t ask me, I
June 29, 2014
See related article, “A Call to Sacrifice.” ________ By Jennifer Johnson Each time I move I”m keenly aware of how much junk I own. As I prepared to leave Nashville and join Matt in Philadelphia two years ago, my fourth move in 10 years, I was amazed at how much I”d accumulated””14 antique china plates and three matching cups (Grandma was prone to dropping things). Dozens of books I fully intend to read. Half-used hair products. Barbie dolls with complete outfits. The original packaging for Standard Publishing”s 1984 VBS craft kit featuring my smiling face. So, some seriously good stuff.
April 29, 2014
By Mark A. Taylor “We make Christianity so much more complicated than it needs to be, especially when it comes to talking about millennials.” Rachel Held Evans, author of The Year of Biblical Womanhood, had 18 minutes to answer “How will millennials contribute to the future of the church?” Hers was one of 30 questions, each assigned to a different speaker at the Q Conference last week in Nashville. No one gave answers clearer than hers. “Millennials are tired of the culture wars,” Held said. “Time and again church leaders believe a few style changes are the key. But millennials
October 16, 2013
By Jennifer Johnson Alumni from Lipscomb University (Nashville, TN) helped create The Contributor, a “street newspaper” sold by the homeless in the city to provide a source of income for themselves and a source of information on homelessness to the public. Recently, Lipscomb alumni, administration, faculty, staff and students came together to save it. In September, The Contributor “announced that unless enough money could be raised in the next month, the September issue would be its last,” Lipscomb writes. The college community raised more than $5,000 and LU president Dr. Randy Lowry provided a matching gift, making the total donation over $11,000. “Contributor vendors sell about 50,000 newspapers each week,”
May 14, 2013
By Mark A. Taylor “Misery loves company,” the old saying goes. And, while attendees at the annual Evangelical Press Association conference, May 1-3 in Nashville, seemed to relish each other”s company, their mood was everything but misery. This group of magazine editors, writers, marketers, and designers clearly enjoyed the chance to talk shop together. Workshop sessions covered most aspects of Christian journalism””everything from interviewing skills to photography techniques. The digital revolution was in the background of many conversations. And, while most of these editors are extending an online presence, all are working as if print isn”t going away anytime soon.
February 2, 2013
By Jennifer Johnson When the governor of Tennessee talked to Lipscomb University (Nashville, TN) about the need for local workforce development, the church of Christ-affiliated school began brainstorming ways to bring more graduate education opportunities to its community. But the result was far more than a few online classes or one-week seminars; the new “Spark” center in nearby Williamson County offers resources, meeting space, and the newest technology in a creative environment. “Typically an off-site academic facility will be in an office park, with the college investing just enough money to make it operational,” says John Lowry, executive director of
March 12, 2011
By Pat Magness “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world” (James 1:27, King James Version). I don”t recall ever hearing a sermon on this verse. It doesn”t get read at weddings, funerals, ordinations, or baptisms. It probably isn”t on anyone”s top-10 list of best-loved Scripture passages; yet this little verse once turned my life upside down and has affected me ever since. Isn”t it strange how a verse that has always been there, quietly unobtrusive in its place, suddenly
March 3, 2011
Harpeth Community Church (Franklin, TN) finished its Harpeth Songs Project last Sunday. Each week during February one of the songwriters at HCC (a church just a few miles from downtown Nashville) shared an original song that tied in thematically with the day”s message. “This was an intentional effort to make space for our musicians who write and sing for a living, but aren”t part of our worship teams,” said creative director Kyle Baker.
January 27, 2011
By Jennifer Taylor Pioneer Bible Translators (Dallas, Texas) created a Re-Entry Fund to provide help to missionaries returning home from a term of service overseas. Donations to the fund may provide help for missionary kids beginning college, missionaries needing counseling or retreat, or even missionaries who suddenly lose their support. www.pioneerbible.org ________________ Jennifer Taylor, one of CHRISTIAN STANDARD”s contributing editors and bloggers, lives in Nashville, Tennessee. Do you know of a church breaking new ground or leading innovative ministry? Contact bu**@*********ub.com.
October 8, 2010
By Brad Dupray For 17 of the 19 years Randy Cordell has ministered with Lakeshore Christian Church, Nashville, Tennessee, his wife, Sue Ann, has been honing her skills and working toward becoming an expert in human resource management at William Morris Endeavor Entertainment (WME), a large and diverse entertainment agency. Sue Ann now manages the Nashville office as her vocation, but her life”s passion is her relationship with Christ. She and Randy have been married 34 years and are the proud parents of two children and four grandchildren. Sue Ann has been a retreat speaker for more than 25 years
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April 28, 2026
Rick Cherok
April 28, 2026
David Faust
April 28, 2026
Rick Cherok