Articles for tag: Worthington Christian Church

September 26, 2011

Christian Standard

Protestors at the NACC: “˜Where the Action Is”

By Darrel Rowland “We’re not out here to turn people to Christ.” So said one of six sign-toting demonstrators (including two children) from Westboro Baptist Church, Topeka, Kansas, who protested outside the North American Christian Convention for about an hour July 7. A woman with an NACC name tag was asking the female protestor about Jesus’ love and whether they thought their message would turn gays and others to Christ. But the protestor said gays are “in the pit”—and, in fact, so was the NACC attender because she had cut her hair, in violation of 1 Corinthians 11. As the

September 26, 2011

Christian Standard

NACC Crowd Reaction: “˜Spiritually Uplifting”

By Darrel Rowland James and Deborah Dixon had no plans to attend the North American Christian Convention. In fact, they hadn”t even heard of it. They traveled from their home in Indianapolis to Cincinnati just to get away for a few days after July 4th. But when they saw the people crowded around the convention center, they decided to check it out. “It was very spiritually uplifting,” James Dixon said. The couple attends New Life Worship Center in Indianapolis. It wasn”t just the newbies giving two thumbs up to this year”s NACC. “I thought it was fantastic,” said Rich Bowie

May 11, 2011

Christian Standard

Why Women”s Ministry?

By Susan Lawrence with Darrel Rowland Editor”s note: Why have a women”s ministry? We asked women”s ministry consultant Susan Lawrence for her answers. In addition to her ministry with women”s groups in many places, Susan coordinates women”s ministry at her home church, Taylorville (Illinois) Christian. To have or not to have a women”s ministry? It”s a question every church needs to answer, but the answer won”t be the same for every church. Many churches make their decisions to have or not to have a women”s ministry for rather twist-ed reasons. For instance, continuing a women”s ministry because “we”ve had women”s ministry for

March 25, 2011

Christian Standard

He Chose Us

By Trevor Tolley Classes on ethical theory are notorious for presenting students with scenarios calling for difficult decisions. Often these scenarios have no good solutions. No matter what a person might choose to do, someone will die. The especially difficult scenarios pit the choice of saving a family member, such as a son or daughter, at the expense of many others dying, or saving many people at the expense of your own child dying. For example, let”s say a boat capsizes, and your son and his two friends are thrown into the water””your son is in the water to your

January 7, 2011

Christian Standard

God”s Word””the Life Shaper

(This essay is the first in a series called “The Bible, My Guide” that will appear throughout 2011. In it, Christian leaders will present testimonies about how the Bible has changed them. This essay, and all subsequent ones in this series, may be accessed by clicking on “The Bible, My Guide” in the drop down menu under “Features” on the home page.) By Marshall Hayden I didn”t understand the TV commercial the first time or two. But now every time I see it I get a warm feeling the advertiser no doubt wanted to plant in my subconscious. When we

September 30, 2010

Christian Standard

“˜We Are Intentionally Multicultural”

By Darrel Rowland The elders are from the United States and the Philippines. The deacons include a member from the Caribbean. The pastor and musical director are Canadian. And the congregation looks like a mini-United Nations. Sure Keele Street Christian Church is located in one of the most multicultural cities of the world, Toronto. But the church”s tremendous diversity wasn”t an accident. “Are we intentionally multicultural? Absolutely,” says pastor Grant MacDonald. “Those who are here at Keele are here because they want to be part of a multicultural church. There are other options in Toronto to be sure. You can

September 29, 2010

Christian Standard

“˜Look at What We Have in Common”

By Darrel Rowland The new church Reggie Moore had planted on the north side of Columbus, Ohio, had run out of space in the hotel conference room where it gathered. He was calling around to see where he could find a bigger place for his fledgling congregation when somebody suggested he contact a church in the nearby suburb of Westerville. It sounded good. But Moore”s biggest worry was about doctrine. Just what did these Christian church people believe anyway? Greg Bondurant was mugged by black toughs when he was a youngster in Akron. But years later as an established preacher,

September 24, 2010

Christian Standard

2010 NACC: A Man and His Church

By Darrel Rowland Line after line, page after page, the neat dark handwriting lovingly chronicles the intertwined history of Don Pollock”s family and their church. March 1902: Grandpa and Grandma join the church on successive Sundays. January 1924: Parsonage next to church building dedicated. And October 1927: “First North American Christian Convention held at Cadle Tabernacle””P.H. Welshimer, president.” Pollock was there, just before his ninth birthday. And he was there nearly 83 years later, when the convention returned to Indianapolis last summer. As a youth, it didn”t seem unusual that he would accompany his parents to a church gathering, “Back

March 7, 2010

Christian Standard

How to Help

By Darrel Rowland Read the main article, “Balancing Grace and Truth with Homosexuals,” by Darrel Rowland There’s sin. There”s sexual SIN. And then there”s HOMOSEXUAL SIN. At least that”s how we Christians often act. And that”s a big reason why Christian leaders” struggles with homosexuality (1) are more prevalent than many believe and (2) go unaddressed for so long. Many times the inner battle remains secret until the all-but-inevitable blowup or crisis. That”s usually when Dr. John Walker gets a call. For more than 15 years, Walker, a licensed clinical psychologist, has run Blessing Ranch, a sprawling facility on 166

October 18, 2009

Christian Standard

Someone in the Church Family Has Just Died

By Marshall Hayden Those of us who serve in ministry with a church family are asked by members and the community to do several things. People seek counseling; and most of us refer more often than we accept. Groups are looking for a speaker; and we will accept the events we feel good about. Couples come asking us to perform a wedding. Some we accept. Several we decline. But there is one request that, as a minister, I have never turned down. A funeral is an opportunity for meaningful service, and often a chance to open hearts to the good

November 16, 2008

Christian Standard

Should the Minister Be One of the Elders?

By Darrel Rowland   “The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching” (1 Timothy 5:17).   Does this verse mean the preacher could/should be a pastor and regarded as an elder? Three of the four churches examined this week because they have a well-functioning leadership team believe so. Bob Russell was an elder at Southeast Christian in Louisville. Robin Hart in Ohio and Eddie Lowen in Illinois are elders today. Greg Marksberry is not, although he acknowledges that a “fly on the wall” at elders

July 20, 2008

Christian Standard

More Than the ABC”s

By Darrel Rowland The emphasis on making disciples is not subtle at Mountain Christian Church. It”s displayed in three-foot-high letters inside the church building. It”s in the bulletin every Sunday. It”s emphasized everywhere from new members classes to gatherings of the church”s top leadership. “The purpose of this church is to make disciples””more and better disciples.” “One thing that has helped us perhaps as much as any other thing is a crystal clear focus with a mission that everyone understands and knows,” senior minister Ben Cachiaras says. “Every line item in our budget we hold accountable to that mission, every

October 21, 2007

Christian Standard

Welcome Back! How Some Churches Work to See Visitors Return

By Krista Petty The outreach strategy is working. Your church has an abundance of first-time guests, or maybe a nice, steady stream of curious new people from week to week. Now what? What does it take to get them back for a second look at all your church family has to offer? And just as important, what gifts and strengths does that new person or family have that the kingdom of God may miss without their involvement? Without planned and purposeful follow-up, visitors may come and go through a revolving door without setting down roots or feeling involved. Several growing

October 8, 2006

Christian Standard

Faith on the Front Lines

By Gayle L. Gresham Joe Wright, Marshall Hayden, and Russell Johnson have chosen, each in his own way, to take a stand in social and political causes affecting their communities and states. Today they speak openly of their involvement, the reaction of their churches and communities, and offer advice for others seeking to engage socially and politically. Joe Wright Central Christian Church, Wichita, Kansas “Jesus gives us the Great Commission to take the gospel into all the world,” says Joe Wright. “He also challenges us with another commission to be “˜salt and light” in our world. If the church is

January 18, 2006

Christian Standard

Interview with Debbie Roeger

Debbie Roeger By Brad Dupray Debbie Roeger and her husband, Derf, are members and adult Sunday school teachers at Worthington (Ohio) Christian Church. Six years ago Debbie left her career as a successful attorney to seek God”s purpose for her life. She now volunteers as executive director of Opening Doors of Ohio, Inc., a ministry to Ohio prison inmates and staff members designed to bring conflict resolution and mediation in the name of Christ.   How did you arrive at the practice of law? For 15 years I was in human resources management. I went to law school midlife, graduated,

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