July 1, 2023
‘A Miracle of God’s Grace’—A CS Interview with Dr. John Castelein
Paul E. Boatman Talks to Dr. John Castelein About His Crisis of Faith
Articles for tag: Paul Boatman
August 1, 2022
Christian College Closings & Mergers: The Search for Answers
No longer are we stunned to read, “A Christian college is closing its doors!” . . . By 1980, about 40 colleges were committed to preparing the next generation of servant-leaders among the independent Christian churches. What has happened in recent years to reduce that number to fewer than 20?
May 10, 2017
It Takes More Than a Village
By Paul E. Boatman In a rapidly changing culture, Christians look for a foundation for healthy life. We can”t ignore what”s happening around us. But we can decide how to handle our homes. Family! This oldest of all institutions of God stirs amazingly conflicted images in the current American cultural climate. Some have Norman Rockwell-style family memories. Some view traditional family values as an evil to be fought and destroyed. Some enshrine idealized images of the family in a way that smacks of idolatry. Each of these perspectives may be found among leaders of American churches. Whatever one”s value perspective,
September 28, 2014
Do You Suspect Someone You Love Has Alzheimer”s?
The Alzheimer”s Association lists 10 warning signs that may signal Alzheimer”s. A person who has difficulty in one or more of these areas should be evaluated*:Â 1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life 2. Challenges in planning or solving problems 3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work, or at leisure 4. Confusion with time or place 5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships 6. New problems with words in speaking or writing 7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps 8. Decreased or poor judgment 9. Withdrawal from work or social activities 10. Changes in
September 27, 2014
Facing the Darkness as Children of Light
By Paul E. Boatman The words pierced even though they were not a surprise. “Mrs. Boatman, you have persistent and pervasive memory loss of an Alzheimer”s type.” Alzheimer”s! We did not want to hear the “A” word. Alzheimer”s has a dark, hopeless sound to it. My wife, Mary, had been exhibiting patterns of memory loss for a couple of years. The symptoms were occasionally amusing, frequently frustrating, and increasingly intrusive. Our initial pursuit of answers was not taken seriously. “We all have forgetfulness as we age.” “Maybe some of your drugs are having adverse side-effects.” (With a history of surgeries
July 4, 2014
Interview with Tim Harlow
By Paul Boatman Tim Harlow, the senior pastor of Parkview Christian Church, Orland Park, Illinois, is president of the 2014 North American Christian Convention. Tell us about your work with the North American Christian Convention. My mother carried me in her womb to my first NACC. In the 52 years since then, I have attended 46 of the conventions. It really has always been a part of my life. In 1990, when I began a difficult ministry with this church, the convention was a lifeline for me. I got the empowering messages, the pats on the back, the “juice”
June 18, 2014
Interview with Gary Johnson
By Paul Boatman Gary Johnson serves as lead pastor/elder with The Creek, formerly Indian Creek Christian Church, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Â How has your approach to God been altered over the years? Growing up, I went to church week after week without ever realizing that one could have a personal walk with God through his Son, Jesus Christ. I was following a religion, not pursuing a relationship. Leah”s family introduced me to a relationship with Jesus. And has your approach to Christian leadership changed too? About 15 years ago I went through a period of deep introspection. We
May 5, 2014
Interview with Darryl Bolen
By Paul Boatman Darryl Bolen recently celebrated 40 years as a minister at Greenville (Illinois) First Christian Church. Forty years? How did that happen? I never would have guessed. I was a Bible college student at Lincoln Christian College when my baseball coach, Dr. Marion Henderson, told me about a youth ministry opportunity at this church two hours away. Tom Van Meter, the preacher, and the elders talked with me. On October 1, 1973, I began a relationship that is still going. Big doors swing on small hinges. You transitioned from the youth ministry fairly soon. In 1977 the
March 21, 2014
Interview with Alisa Franz
By Paul Boatman Alisa Franz is the author of Duck Dynasty: Hunting for Spiritual Truths, an interactive discussion guide for families and small groups. She is also the wife of Rich Franz, pastor of Central Christian Church in St. Petersburg, Florida, and the mother of a son, Avery, 15, and a daughter, Aubree, 13. She does not consider herself a “redneck.” Duck Dynasty is a huge media phenomenon, the most watched show on cable TV. But it”s obvious from this book you are much more than just a fan. I remember when I first saw a trailer for the
February 3, 2014
Interview with Mike Kilgallin
By Paul Boatman Mike Kilgallin was called to the presidency of Crossroads College (formerly Minnesota Bible College) in 2008. He has previously served as a professor and preaching minister, and as a vice president working in commercial construction, banking, and church finance. He and his wife, Debbie, live near Rochester, Minnesota. I understand Crossroads College is in a crisis. That is fair to say. Our crisis is much like that of other Bible colleges, though perhaps more intense. It is financially driven. Let me give you some personal background. I”ve been associated with Bible colleges since 1975 when my
January 20, 2014
Interview with Steve Dye
By Paul Boatman Steve Dye, a 17-year veteran of deaf ministry and former deaf minister at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky, is a freelance evangelist for the deaf, working in conferences, workshops, revivals, and other church programs, for the encouragement of deaf ministry. (The interview was interpreted by Amy Truman of the Deaf Institute.) How did you become interested in deaf ministry? I did not know sign language until I married my wife. She is also deaf and had to be my interpreter all the time. As I learned to communicate through sign, I began to realize many
December 27, 2013
Interview with Phil Scott
By Paul Boatman Phil Scott is in his sixth year as senior minister with First Christian Church in Dodge City, Kansas. This is his fifth ministry focused on leading a declining church into “turnaround” principles and practices. “Turnaround church,” “comeback church”””help us understand these terms. As I use “turnaround church,” I”m using a concept deeply rooted in Scripture. It relates to leaving past patterns that were ineffective and choosing new patterns for living out our faith by returning to God. That describes repentance, but not all of the issues that led a church into decline are obvious sin patterns.
November 24, 2013
Interview with Gonzalo Flores
By Paul Boatman Gonzalo Flores is president of Colegio Biblico, a college located on the Mexican border in Eagle Pass, Texas. The school has provided Hispanic ministry education for nearly 70 years. x Gonzalo, what led you to your life of international ministry? I am a product of mission work. I was rescued by Niños de Mexico when I was about 7 years old. I came from a very broken family. My father was an alcoholic, and my mother was in prostitution. There were 10 of us in the family. My oldest brother met Merlin Beeman from Niños. We were
October 27, 2013
Interview with Steve Wingfield
By Paul Boatman Steve Wingfield serves as senior pastor with First Christian Church in Florissant, Missouri. With an average attendance of 1,200, this church in the largest suburb of St. Louis faces challenges endemic to churches in changing suburban communities. Give us a brief summary of your history with First Christian. My dad, Charles Wingfield, was called to preach here in 1972 when I was 10 years old. The church was running about 150 to 170. I grew up in this church, went away to Bible college, and then ministered four years in another place. In 1987 the church
September 27, 2013
Interview with Ken Henes
By Paul Boatman Ken Henes is in his 18th year as director of Wisconsin Christian Mission Association (WCMA)””a church planting organization for the state. Since 2008 he has also served as preaching minister of Westwood Christian Church in Madison, Wisconsin. What are the challenges to church planting in the northland? We start with a small support base””about 40 Christian churches in Wisconsin, two-thirds of them with average attendance of less than 100. Only one church, Central Christian in Beloit, ranks as a megachurch. Historically, we followed the old style of church planting””a small nucleus that was typically many years
August 31, 2013
Interview with Mike and Kari MacKenzie
Drs. Mike and Kari MacKenzie of Marble, Colorado, are the directors of Marble Retreat Center (www.marbleretreat.org) specializing in “pastor care” through intensive counseling for Christian leaders. By Paul Boatman What is “pastor care”? Mike: Pastor care is ministry that focuses on the spiritual, mental, emotional, and relational healthiness of Christian leaders. The ministry of Marble Retreat is to help bring healing, hope, and restoration to those in vocational Christian ministry. What led you to this ministry? Mike: We each had some influences before we were a couple. I was first sensitized by seeing some of my brother”s
Interview with Russ Kuykendall
By Paul Boatman Russ Kuykendall is a lifelong Christian who spent his youth and young adulthood preparing for ministry. For the past 20 years he has ministered in the arena of Canadian politics. How did you happen to choose a career in politics? I did not really choose a political career. I chose to live a life in ministry. I was raised on a farm near Grande Prairie, Alberta. My family loved the church and wanted us to live a Christian life in interface with our wider community and events of the world. Serving Christ was my life”s
Interview with Paul Blowers
By Paul Boatman Paul Blowers is in his 24th year as Dean E. Walker Professor of Church History at Emmanuel Christian Seminary, Johnson City, Tennessee. He chairs the committee of faculty chairpersons overseeing faculty advancement, tenure, and other handbook issues. Why teach church history in a seminary? Church history as taught in a seminary is definitely a theological discipline. My aim is to help students interpret their own faith and ministry in light of the historical Christian faith, as tempered by the refiner”s fire of history. Can you put that in context of this point in history and
May 20, 2013
Interview with George Ross
By Paul Boatman George Ross is in his 13th year as senior pastor of Northside Christian Church in New Albany, Indiana. The church has grown from 1,200 to 5,000 during his ministry. His previous ministries have been directed to children, youth, small groups, music, and preaching. We spoke with him about reaching sinners, watching repentance, and creating a culture of redemption. We would like to hear you reflect on how you minister in the face of cultural challenges. Why me? I”ve watched your ministry. In both Las Vegas and metropolitan Louisville, you have focused on leading non-Christians to be
April 19, 2013
Interview with Jon Keck
By Paul Boatman Jon Keck is a staff pastor with First Christian Church, Decatur, Illinois, a once-dwindling traditional church affiliated with the Disciples of Christ that has turned around to become a thriving Evangelical congregation. Introduce us to First Christian Church of Decatur. This is a growing church that gathers 1,000 Christians each weekend to worship Jesus. We date back to 1833 and have been historically affiliated with the Disciples of Christ. As changes evolved in the Disciples of Christ, we became an autonomous Christian church affiliated with the Disciple Heritage Fellowship. We are growing at the rate
