September 4, 2025
In studying Genesis 1-2, we tend to focus on God creating the light, sun, moon, stars, plant and animal kingdoms, and, of course, humanity. We seldom think about him creating rest.
December 31, 2024
When Bob Russell retired from his stellar 40-year ministry with Southeast Christian Church, he created a unique retreat to encourage those who serve as lead ministers in their congregations.
September 1, 2023
By Tom Ellsworth The candles on my birthday cakes in recent years have been reduced to a symbolic number (so as not to set off smoke alarms), but my grandkids still urge me to make a wish and blow them out. I comply. When I was their age, I remember hoping my wish would come true, but there was always considerable doubt in that hope. We regularly misuse the word hope in our casual conversations. “I hope it doesn’t rain today.” “I hope we get to take that vacation we’ve always dreamed about.” “I hope the MRI results bring good
March 31, 2021
More than 600 people attended a celebration of life service Monday at Antioch Christian Church, Marion, Iowa, for correctional officer Robert McFarland, who was killed last week during an attempted escape from the Anamosa State Penitentiary. The governor ordered flags in the state to be flown at half-staff Monday.
October 24, 2020
How Our Church Is Making a World of Difference with International Students By Tom Ellsworth The bursts rang out on that sultry, July 4 Sunday morning in 1999. They weren’t firecrackers, but gunshots . . . fired at attendees gathered in front of the Korean United Methodist Church in Bloomington, Indiana. Won-Joon Yoon, a Korean student at Indiana University, was gunned down on his way into worship. The cowardly white supremacist had fired randomly into the crowd and taken an innocent life. The city was stunned. At the time, my dear friend Carthell Everett—part of the Sherwood Oaks Christian Church
August 15, 2020
How the Church Can Serve the Most Vulnerable in Our Spiritual Families By Tom Ellsworth Thirty-five years ago, Indiana issued a license plate with the slogan, “Wander Indiana.” I understood the invitation to casually tour the state for all it has to offer, but the wording felt more like an invitation to lazy futility. Can you fathom what it was like for the Israelites to spend 40 years plodding through a barren land on a journey that could have been accomplished in a matter of weeks? And many of them knew they would never set foot in Canaan, which only
Compiled by Jim Nieman and Chris Moon Kentucky Christian University recently hired two new administrators. Calvin Lindell was hired as vice president of academic affairs. Lindell, who had been serving as interim in that position since March, “did an outstanding job throughout the transition to remote instruction in the spring term and with several other projects,” KCU president Terry Allcorn said. Lindell’s transition to vice president was effective July 1. Lindell also serves as preacher with Salt Lick (Ky.) Christian Church. He previously served 31 years with Morehead State University. Donald Damron, a 1990 KCU graduate, began serving part-time as
April 15, 2020
By Chris Moon Tom Ellsworth jokes that his “crystal ball” must have been broken when he announced last year his plan to retire at the end this month. Ellsworth has put in nearly 40 years of service as pastor of Sherwood Oaks Christian Church in Bloomington, Ind. He’s seen the church grow from an attendance of about 80 people to more than 3,000 on two campuses. But 40 years is a good biblical number, and Ellsworth had his 65th birthday earlier this year. The church began working on a retirement plan a couple of years ago, and Shawn Green was
August 20, 2019
Tom Ellsworth plans to retire as senior minister with Sherwood Oaks Christian Church next spring after serving the church since January 1981. During his ministry, the Bloomington, Ind., congregation has grown from 80 people to nearly 3,000 people across three locations. “What a joy it has been to lead Sherwood Oaks Christian Church and to serve the Bloomington and Bedford communities,” Ellsworth said. “It’s been an incredible journey, and I’m excited for all that is ahead.” Ellsworth and his wife, Elsie—who will be retiring as Sherwood Oaks’ marriage coordinator and premarital counseling coordinator—say they want to take their years of
July 28, 2016
By Tom Ellsworth Jesus” parable of the vineyard laborers who all received the same wage (despite the fact that some started at the 11th hour) has created more questions than answers for me. It just didn”t seem . . . fair. When I talked with Kenny Ooley regarding his relationship with the Lord, he shared his struggle. He didn”t struggle with his faith; he struggled with his past. How could a perfect God love and forgive him for a lifetime of lousy choices? Could God be that generous? Could forgiveness extend that far? After all, he had wasted a lifetime
February 18, 2016
By Tom Ellsworth I broke a promise. I don”t take that lightly, but thankfully, it was a promise to me alone. Years ago I vowed that when I became a grandfather I would not get all “twitterpated” (defined as infatuated; giddy; in a state of anxious excitement“”as used in the Disney movie Bambi, which I”ve seen again and again as a casualty of being a grandparent). My silly promise melted two seconds after holding my granddaughter for the first time. With the birth of each subsequent grandchild, the memory of such an absurd vow fades farther into my subconscious. And
September 25, 2015
By Tom Ellsworth At the time many condescendingly referred to it as “Seward”s Folly”””because U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward brokered the deal and was its biggest promoter””but the purchase of Alaska from Russia was anything but foolish. Rich in gold, copper, and oil, its value has far exceeded the 1867 purchase price of 2 cents per acre. Part of this grand acquisition (twice the size of Texas) is a tiny island with a big story. Only 2.8 square miles in size, Little Diomede Island rises out of the water in the middle of the Bering Strait and is
September 11, 2015
By Tom Ellsworth On July 30, 1945, just after midnight, the heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis was torpedoed while en route from Guam to the Leyte Gulf in the Philippines. The resulting explosions so damaged the cruiser that it sank in only 12 minutes. Amazingly, nearly 900 crew members made it into the water. Since the Indianapolis was unable to radio a distress signal, no one knew to look for the ship until it didn”t arrive in port. Consequently, after it was determined the Indianapolis was missing, no one knew where to look for survivors””if indeed there were any. The shark
September 4, 2015
By Tom Ellsworth One really can make a difference. It was a sweltering election afternoon in 1842 when Hoosier farmer Henry Shoemaker finally realized he hadn”t voted yet. Shoemaker had personally promised state representative candidate Madison Marsh he would cast his vote for him, so he saddled his horse and hurried to Kendallville before the polls closed. When the votes were counted, Marsh and his opponent, Enos Beall, were tied. There was one contested ballot, and it was Shoemaker”s. When his vote was finally admitted, the tie was broken, and Marsh was declared the winner . . . by one
July 31, 2015
We asked 35 Christian leaders, “Who is the influencer with the biggest impact on your life and ministry?” Most of these leaders listed several influential thinkers, writers, innovators, and leaders more of us should get to know. This response is from Tom Ellsworth, senior minister with Sherwood Oaks Christian Church, Bloomington, Indiana. ________ Theology: Jack Cottrell Devotional study: Max Lucado, Ken Gire, Mark Atteberry A deeper challenge: N.T. Wright, Dallas Willard Cultural study: Thom Rainer Inspiration and perhaps my all-around favorite: John Ortberg
June 19, 2015
By Tom Ellsworth I”m not sure when it happened. I distinctly remember being a young minister just starting out who desperately wanted to bridge the gulf between the generation I so respected and my generation, which also needed to find a place in church leadership. Suddenly””at least it seems that way””I find myself moving into a different stage. I turned 60 this year and have become part of the generation to which I was trying to build that bridge years ago. I hasten to add that 60 is not old (my perspective), but neither is it young. So I want
May 1, 2014
A ‘Community Catalyst’ LAKEWOOD, CO “” A recent Denver Post article profiled Reg Cox, senior minister with Lakewood Church of Christ, and his work as a “community catalyst” who connected with two dozen church leaders, civic leaders, and others from the community to help a local elementary school. “There really has to be a way the sacred, secular and civic can work together,” Cox says in the article. “And when we do, cities and communities can be transformed. Real problems can be solved . . . we don”t have to believe the exaggerated, negative narrative that”s spun by people that
June 14, 2013
By Tom Ellsworth I would be hard-pressed to list my favorite meal. Some days I long for the time when I ate at my grandparents” table and enjoyed a dinner of speckled butter beans, corn bread, and homemade apple pie. Simple fare, to be sure, but few meals ever tasted better. On the other side of the menu spectrum, I have occasionally dined in upscale restaurants on scrumptious treats that my grandparents never tasted. Those, too, were memorable meals. To say the least, there is considerable contrast between the simple and exquisite meals I”ve enjoyed through the years. However, I
August 20, 2011
By Tom Ellsworth My favorite passage of Scripture? I hem and haw and generally fumble trying to find the right answer. What about John 3:16? Naw, everyone picks that one””be more original. All right, how about Philippians 4:13? Overused. OK, let”s try the Old Testament””Psalm 23? Did somebody die? That”s a funeral text. Sorry, I”ll say Revelation 3:20. Are you serious? You”re going to pick prophecy as your favorite? The inner deliberation rages while on the outside I try to appear thoughtful and decisive. How does one choose a favorite passage? That”s like asking me to identify which of my
February 27, 2011
From Inverted, by Tom Ellsworth We love the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). It”s filled with a sense of adventure and intrigue, unexpected responses, good guys versus bad guys, and a happy ending. There”s another reason we love this story. It isn”t personal””we don”t have issues with Samaritans. Most of us have never even met a Samaritan. Jesus” audience, however, certainly had! This story wasn”t called the Parable of the Good Samaritan when Jesus first told it””in the minds of his Jewish audience there was no such thing. Those in attendance at the parable”s premier weren”t oohing and aahing with
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