Hope for the Future
What do Gen Z and Gen Alpha think about faith—and what should churches do next? Luke Proctor explores concerning trends, surprising hope, and three practical choices to help pass the baton to the next generation.
Articles for tag: Plainfield Christian Church
November 21, 2022
Plainfield Church Prepping to Serve Thanksgiving to 2,000
The members of Plainfield Christian Church near Indianapolis are busy this week. The church is sponsoring its 18th Thanksgiving Day Community Dinner—with more than 180 volunteers expecting to serve 2,000 meals.
January 11, 2022
In Farewell Sermon at Plainfield, Steve White Shares ‘Why I Love the Church’
Steve White preached his farewell sermon Sunday after serving with Plainfield (Ind.) Christian Church for 34 years. In that sermon, he shared the reasons he loves the church, and specifically, why he loves Plainfield Christian.
October 24, 2020
Short-Term Shutdown
When the pandemic suspended their short-term mission trips indefinitely, churches responded at home and abroad. Here are three alternatives they’ve discovered. By Justin Horey Just weeks into the new year, Riley Weaver sensed that 2020 might be an unprecedented year for his ministry. He didn’t have a premonition about the pandemic—quite the contrary. Early in the year, Weaver thought 2020 could be the first year on record that he didn’t have to cancel, postpone, or reschedule a single short-term mission trip. It was an exciting thought for Weaver, the global and local impact minister at Plainfield (Indiana) Christian Church. Plainfield
May 14, 2019
Ranson Closing Out 40-Year Career at Hazelwood Christian
By Jim Nieman Back on May 20, 1979, during his first Sunday as senior minister with Hazelwood Christian Church in Clayton, Ind., Steve Ranson had no idea it would be his first of 2,000-plus Sundays there. He was unaware the church had had 31 ministers since its founding in 1910—a span of 69 years. That’s a new minister every two-plus years. “It wasn’t trending well,” Ranson deadpanned. But things worked out, though Ranson now confesses that, early on, he was occasionally at a loss for topics to preach about. “It wasn’t like it is today, with the Internet and so
April 3, 2019
Church Bridges the Gap Between Sundays with Facebook Live
By Jim Nieman Plainfield (Ind.) Christian Church is “bridging the gap” between Sundays and working to connect with people who might otherwise never enter their church through its Weekday Chat on Facebook Live at noon every Wednesday. “We recognized that the front door of the church is no longer the front door of the church,” says Kyle Ferguson, director of media arts with Plainfield, whose team proposed the program to the church’s leaders. The show serves multiple purposes, including allowing two of the church’s ministers to sit down weekly to “dig deeper” into the topic they covered the previous Sunday
Getting Ready for Easter: Plainfield (IN) Christian Church
Remembering the Final Week By Todd Dillon, worship arts pastor, Plainfield (Indiana) Christian Church We always have a pre-Resurrection Day service on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday. Some of our favorite have been Tenebrae services based on different approaches to the final week before the crucifixion. Some of these have been based on the last seven words of Christ, as told through the eyes of various biblical characters, entwined with Scripture and music. We have used the traditional Tenebrae approach, using lighted candles that we extinguish at intervals until we are left in darkness. Another favorite was “a meal of remembrance.” We had tables
September 21, 2008
Outstanding Christian Leaders Honored at NACC
Standard Publishing and Milligan College honored eight Christian leaders at the North American Christian Convention, recognizing adults and students for servant leadership in churches and communities.
October 14, 2007
TRIED & TRUE: Vacation Bible School
A Plainfield Christian Church leader shares a memorable VBS offering moment—and practical principles for planning, training workers, involving staff, and building relationships to help Vacation Bible School thrive.
January 21, 2007
Preaching or Sharing?
A convention comment raises a question about what’s missing in many pulpits. Gary Weedman defines doctrinal preaching, connects it to New Testament speech, and calls churches to restore doctrine with celebration, creativity, and stronger ministry preparation.
June 4, 2005
Engaging And Excellent
A choir concert by Purdue University’s men’s glee club packed an auditorium during a church music conference, stirring congregational hymn-singing and raising a lingering question about choral music’s place in local churches today.
