Articles for tag: Normal Illinois

November 3, 2018

Nondenominationalish News Briefs

The annual meeting at Middle of the Road Christian Church is generating a level of excitement never seen before, as a faction of the congregation that loudly supports candidate for elder MacDonald Blunt, a self-styled real estate developer, squares off against their rivals, supporters of Richland Tweed, a psychiatrist and adjunct professor at the local university. A key issue is the use of paper or electronic ballots. Senior minister David McStraddles has taken no position. The election will take place after worship on Sunday, Nov. 18—immediately prior to the church’s Thanksgiving meal together. _ _ _ Another tight elder’s

July 30, 2015

Christian Standard

Church & Ministry Leadership Development

Mike Baker’s Thought Leaders

We asked 35 Christian leaders, “Who is the influencer with the biggest impact on your life and ministry?” Most of these leaders listed severalÂ influential thinkers, writers, innovators, and leaders more of us should get to know. This response is fromÂ 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.

April 14, 2015

Mark A. Taylor

Miscellaneous

Finding Our Place, Claiming Our Heritage

By Mark A. Taylor Talk to Mike Baker and you”ll discover a guy who”s serious about his work while not taking himself too seriously at all. In fact, in our latest episode of Beyond the Standard, Baker used the word unfortunate to describe the “celebrity culture” in today”s church climate. “There are a lot of great preachers and leaders in churches of 150 and 200 who in their part of the world are really doing great things for God and for his kingdom,” he said. “But they”re just not ever going to get the accolades” that often come to leaders

July 8, 2012

Barton Shaw

Church Leadership Eldership

How a Good Team Is Getting Better

Barton Shaw reflects on how prayer, vulnerability, and stronger personal relationships helped the elders of Eastview Christian Church grow closer as a team and become better equipped to lead.

May 18, 2012

Paul E. Boatman

Church Leadership Preaching

Interview with Mike Baker

Eastview Christian Church senior pastor Mike Baker discusses his call to preaching, church growth, satellite churches, the Restoration Movement, Bible colleges, and why he wants to keep preaching.

November 28, 2011

Mike Baker

Church Leadership Preaching

Our Year in Deuteronomy

Mike Baker reflects on what happened when his congregation spent 54 weeks in Deuteronomy—and how preaching through the book strengthened biblical teaching, encouraged deeper study, and uncovered relevant themes.

November 10, 2010

Mike Baker

Church Life

Stop Bashing the Bride!

Mike Baker defends the church as Christ’s bride, arguing that despite human imperfection, the church remains God’s idea, spiritually radiant, and central to God’s redemptive work in the world.

May 22, 2005

Randy Richards

Church Leadership Eldership

A Guide to Effective Leadership: A Case Study

Eastview Christian Church faced leadership stagnation as growth outpaced older processes. Randy Richards and Gary York describe how policy leadership clarified roles, improved meetings, strengthened teamwork, and helped elders focus on vision, monitoring, and strategic thinking.