June 2, 2021
Wayne Kent of First Christian Church, Decatur, Ill., and Greg Taylor of Second Church of Christ, Danville, Ill., host talk radio shows that are reaching their communities. Kent's show has been on the air for 16 years.
May 1, 2015
You are leading a small group or you want to start one to reach out to people who are struggling””in their marriages, in their jobs, with the lives and choices of their children, and sometimes with life itself. You are passionate about building a community that makes a difference. But what do you do when people tell you, over and over again, that they simply don”t have enough time for another commitment in their already stressed-out lives? This was the question Hasandra Heyward was dealing with. In response, she helped start a Women”s Online Growth Group and set up a
By Jennifer Taylor When Caleb Kaltenbach became the senior pastor at Valley View Christian Church (Dallas, TX), he challenged members to get more involved in local outreach. “My wife, Marla, and I led a life group and began discussing what we could do,” says John Latvatalo, an elder at Valley View. “My daughter, who is a teacher, told us about a teen mom who was struggling to stay in school. We wanted to help but didn”t know where to start.” The couple contacted the school district”s parenting program, planning simply to give money. “But the school told us these girls
January 26, 2012
By Jennifer Taylor Gary and Debi Kelso, members at Real Life Christian Church (Bend, OR), created The Giving Plate in 2010. After beginning with just a few cans of tuna and a few loaves of bread (really!), the food relief and outreach ministry now provides more than 2,200 local families with a 50-pound box of food every month. Each box is prepared specifically for each family with consideration for food allergies and dislikes. “We have served the hungry and homeless for years,” say the Kelsos, who work full-time””without pay””for the organization. “We have a call in our hearts to serve
March 25, 2011
Last week, the Amity (OR) Church of Christ was recognized by Rep. Jim Weidner of the Oregon House of Representatives for “success in exemplary community involvement.” This recognition came as the result of ACC’s response to victims of a recent fire that destroyed a local apartment building, displacing several low-income residents. ACC’s outreach ministry took donations for the fire victims through “Lydia’s Closet” (ACC’s clothes closet ministry), and by setting up a fund at a local bank to help the fire victims with financial needs.
March 24, 2011
By Jennifer Taylor Before developing a new outreach ministry, DaySpring Christian Church (Fort Collins, Colorado) wisely asked community members about their biggest needs. Although the area is noted for an especially high incidence of multiple sclerosis, many people using wheelchairs said they did not have ramps to their front doors. Jim Stroh and other DaySpring volunteers have spent years changing that, one ramp at a time. The team created a consortium with Volunteers of America and local resource agencies for the disabled. Using a combination of his own skills, online information, and official specifications from the Americans with Disabilities Act,
November 13, 2010
By Darin Brown I can still remember taking notes from a breakout session at the Eastern Christian Convention more than 10 years ago. Gene Appel was describing the transformation that had occurred at the church he was leading in Las Vegas and was presenting a simple yet profound formula for change. I wrote down “Dissatisfaction + Vision + Next Steps = Change.” As I listened to Appel explain these concepts, I had no idea my life and ministry would be heading down the same path. It should not have happened so quickly. I was the senior minister of a new
August 22, 2007
Church leaders share how congregations can impact culture by going beyond their walls—serving schools, shelters, and neighborhoods—while keeping disciple-making central, not merely counting how many newcomers were never part of a church.
August 5, 2007
Two south Tampa churches explored a merger, paused, then reunited around a shared vision. Learn how leadership, a transition team, and trust-building helped form New Beginnings Christian Church.
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