KBF & ICOM: Two Are Better than One
Kairos Benevolence Fund and the International Conference on Missions are partnering to provide encouragement and support to those who have given their lives in service to Christ.
Articles for tag: Shawn McMullen
December 25, 2021
The Star on Our Christmas Tree
"I've shared every Christmas of my life with the star that sits atop our Christmas tree," writes Shawn McMullen. "I inherited it years ago from my parents." (This is the final installment in a weeklong series of Christmas memories.)
July 28, 2021
David Faust Marks 25 Years of Weekly Column Writing
Today is David Faust’s 25th anniversary of writing a weekly column focusing on God’s Word and Christian faith. On this date—July 28, 1996—Faust’s first column appeared in the pages of The Lookout magazine. "I view writing as an extension of my ministry," Faust says.
January 17, 2021
Elliott Library ‘Cornerstone’ Laid
Three Bibles of historical significance to Cincinnati Christian University were the first books place on the shelves during relocation of the George Mark Elliott Library.
June 9, 2020
Ministry Training & Resource Site to Open Near Cincinnati in Fall
The Christian Church Leadership Center is slated to open this fall in Northern Kentucky. The CCL Center will serve as the hub of ministry education and church support in the Greater Cincinnati area through the work of the Russell School of Ministry and the CCL Network. The center will also house a library that provides biblical, ministry, and historical resources for churches and Christian leaders. Plus, it will be home to the Christian Church Leadership Foundation. The Russell School of Ministry and Central Christian College of the Bible, Moberly, Mo., will offer courses at the CCL Center, 8095 Connector Drive
March 31, 2020
McMullen Named VP of Partner Relations with CCL Foundation
Shawn McMullen, who has concluded his service as editor of The Lookout magazine, will begin work Wednesday as vice president of partner relations with the Christian Church Leadership Foundation. McMullen’s responsibilities will include working with Cincinnati area ministers, churches, and mission teams to present the work of the CCL Network and the Russell School of Ministry. He will identify partners to support student scholarships, library services, and network memberships. He also will closely work with representatives from the Cincinnati Christian University Alumni Association to help maintain communication and connection with the CCU community within the CCL Foundation. “I’m grateful for
February 12, 2020
CCU Faculty, Staff Relief Effort Distributes More Than $54,000
The GoFundMe effort on behalf of Cincinnati Christian University Faculty and Staff has disbursed $54,576 among 28 individuals left without jobs because of the school’s sudden closing last year. Gifts came from 132 individuals and ministries from around the world. Some of the largest gifts came from local congregations and parachurch ministries, including: Milford (Ohio) Christian Church, $1,000; Owensboro (Ky.) Christian Church, $2,500; Northeast Christian Church, Louisville, Ky., $5,000; Bob Russell Ministries, $5,000; SouthBrook Christian Church, Miamisburg, Ohio, $5,000; and Southland Christian Church, Lexington, Ky., $12,500. Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Mo., dedicated its first chapel offering of the second semester
February 10, 2020
Christian Standard and The Lookout Merge!
For many years, Christian Standard Media has been challenged by steadily declining subscriptions to our print magazines, Christian Standard and The Lookout. The commensurate drop in revenue presented an opportunity for a non-profit ministry to purchase the magazines—and much of our Restoration Movement heritage—from a for-profit company. The change in ownership three years ago preserved the magazines and much of our heritage. Since that time, both Christian Standard and The Lookout have been retooled as we have endeavored to maintain and improve their appearance and content. We thank The Solomon Foundation for being the primary benefactor in this endeavor and
December 18, 2019
CCU Faculty, Staff Relief Fund Started on GoFundMe
Three graduates of Cincinnati Christian University have started a GoFundMe page for CCU faculty and staff who are now in need due to the closing of the university. Former Christian Standard editor Mark A. Taylor, The Lookout editor Shawn McMullen, and Linda Mirante, who serves in ministry with Bachelor Creek Church in Wabash, Ind., started the page Tuesday for CCU workers who are “receiving their last paycheck this week.” The appeal states, “Many of these faithful servants still do not have jobs; at least several are left with no income. With the closing of the school, employees have no severance,
May 29, 2019
In Praise of ‘Holiness’: New Book Seeks to Reclaim the Word
By Jim Nieman A new book by Shawn McMullen, editor of The Lookout, seeks to explain the importance of holy living and help people nurture a deeper relationship with God. McMullen titled his book Coming Home to Holiness, though he admits holiness isn’t a popular topic today. “The concept of holiness is routinely misrepresented and misunderstood in our culture,” McMullen says, “to the point that many people today are turned off by the mere mention of the word.” “I think this is why some sincere Christians, with all their love and service and devotion, still feel incomplete—like something is missing
April 25, 2019
Working in the Messiness of Multigenerational Ministry
By Michael C. Mack With apologies to Abraham Lincoln (and John Wycliffe, who, it’s said, actually originated the phrase I’m referencing), Christian Standard is produced by different generations of people, with different generations of people, and for different generations of people . . . to equip and encourage people to make disciples of and effectively lead different generations of people. The Christian Standard team consists of three millennials (born 1981–2001): operations manager Renee Little and designers Megan Kempf and Abby Wittler, and four baby boomers (born 1946–1964): publisher Jerry Harris, managing editor Jim Nieman, contributing editor Shawn McMullen, and me.
September 19, 2018
Raiders of the (Almost) Lost Artifacts
History preserved at new Christian Standard Media Library in Quincy, Illinois By Jerry Harris I lacked only a fedora and bullwhip as I channeled Indiana Jones during the excavation of a deep, dark storage-facility locker in a suburb of Cincinnati. Three others joined this expedition: Mike Mack, Shawn McMullen, and Jim Nieman. And no, we didn’t discover the Ark of the Covenant or the Holy Grail that day. In fact, upon first glance, the room seemed filled only with stacks of boxes on pallets, along with totes and other various objects, some wrapped in paper. But we soon began to
August 19, 2018
Back to School . . . for All of Us
Editor’s Note: Starting today, each Sunday we will publish a new blog post from the editors of and regular contributors to Christian Standard. Our purpose is to encourage and equip leaders with timely and relevant leadership lessons we are learning. We will relate to current events in the church and culture and also provide insider information about Christian Standard Media. And we’d love to hear from you! If you have a reaction to a post, please comment below! _____ By Michael C. Mack As kids in our area went back to school this past week, I started reflecting on those
August 13, 2018
The Lookout’s New Scope and Sequence: A Systematic Plan for Studying Through the Bible
By Shawn McMullen But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:14-17). Paul wrote these words to his protégé Timothy after warning him to be on guard against false
August 1, 2018
Hillsboro Family Camp: A Favorite Week of Summer (Plus News Briefs)
Last week the editors of Christian Standard and The Lookout spent several days at the Hillsboro Family Camp in Hillsboro, Ohio. Family Camp is sponsored by Person to Person Ministries and led by executive director Kerry Allen. For 46 years (since 1972) Person to Person Ministries has organized this annual gathering of families for the purposes of instruction, edification, and fellowship. The camp provides programming for adults, teens, and children. Many families bring tents, campers, motor homes, and vans to Restoration Acres, a 158-acre campground owned by the ministry, to participate in Family Camp. This year there were 273 camping
A Continuing Commitment to Discipling Our Children
By Michael C. Mack The Standard Publishing Company that I worked for many years ago had an obvious commitment to children’s and youth ministry. We produced top-selling VBS materials, children’s and youth Sunday school curriculum, take-home papers for middle and high school students, and more. We trained teachers and leaders in our Teacher-Leader Conferences (known as TLCs) across the country. Today, Christian Standard Media has that same DNA, that same commitment to and passion for children and youth, though it may not seem so obvious at first glance. The Lookout and Christian Standard work in tandem to play a vital
July 4, 2018
A Brief History of Restoration Movement Media and Christian Standard Media
Compiled by Shawn McMullen Christian Standard and The Lookout have a rich history within the Restoration Movement. Christian Standard was first published in 1866; The Lookout was first published as the Young People’s Standard in 1888 and changed to its current name in 1894. Under the umbrella of Standard Publishing, the magazines served Christian churches and churches of Christ across the United States and around the world for a century and a half. Ownership and leadership have changed through the years, but the purpose of the publications has remained the same—to strengthen churches and their leaders through biblical teaching and the promotion of the Restoration
February 25, 2018
Civil Liberty: How Christ Frees Us to Be Civil in Less-than-Civil Times
By Shawn McMullen You’re driving down the highway and notice a silver Honda in the passing lane traveling a few miles per hour below the speed limit, impeding the progress of the gray Toyota behind it. When the Toyota gets a break in the line of traffic, its driver veers quickly into the other lane, moves in front of the Honda, and taps his brakes, causing the driver of the Honda to brake and swerve into the berm. The party of four at their lunch table simply can’t be pleased. They complain loudly to one another throughout the meal: the
September 28, 2017
The Impact of a Humble and Faithful Servant
By Shawn McMullen Tom Claibourne is a friend of mine. We”ve known one another since our days in Bible college. We”ve studied together, taught together, commiserated together, and prayed together through the years. These are just a handful of reasons I was honored when asked to write this piece about Tom and the church he has served for 38 years. Tom models what can happen when a faithful servant of Christ commits himself to a local body of believers and chooses to love and serve them with all his heart. That”s what he”s done for nearly four decades in rural southwestern
September 26, 2017
When Truth Speaks
By Shawn McMullen “Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone””and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true” (3 John 12). We don”t know much about the disciple named Demetrius. He”s mentioned only once in the New Testament, in John”s third letter. Some suggest he was the courier who delivered John”s letter to Gaius, but that”s speculation. We do know one thing about him. He enjoyed a good reputation among his brothers and sisters in the church. John described him as “well spoken of by everyone.” It seems everyone
