Right now, churches across much of Texas are responding to emergencies, while churches across much of Florida are preparing for them. Below are practical steps churches and families can take to prepare for and respond to emergencies, and lessons from churches in New York and New Orleans who suffered through natural and manmade disasters.  ... Continue Reading

In light of such dramatic upheaval, certain questions beg to be asked: What factors led to the Protestant Reformation? Where was the Reformation born? How did this powerful movement come about? Where did it spread? Who were the key leaders who stoked its flames? What biblical truths were unleashed on the world at this time?... Continue Reading

A FEMA spokesperson declined to comment on the pending litigation, brought by a trio of Pentecostal and charismatic churches across three southeastern Texas counties: Harvest Family Church in suburban Houston, Hi-Way Tabernacle in Cleveland, and Rockport First Assembly of God. Harvest Family and Hi-Way both flooded in the hurricane, while Rockport—located just blocks from the... Continue Reading

“The Church remains relevant. We in the Church, and all who love the Church, need to keep finding ways to show and tell those who say they have ‘no religion’ that faith — faith in the God who loves them still — can make that life-transforming difference for them and for the world,” Bayes said.   Survey... Continue Reading

Churches rarely celebrate slow, hard-slogging work that’s yet to see fruit. In doing so, we unintentionally create spiritual versions of get-rich-quick testimonials, showing how through only a little extra giving and a little extra prayer, you too can see an entire unreached people group saved in your lifetime.   Almost everyone knows the story of Adoniram Judson. But among the... Continue Reading

Perhaps many of us could testify of going to a church service where something was said or even printed in the bulletin to the effect that “first we are going to have a time of worship and then we are going to turn to preaching.” What do we think preaching is? It is the central... Continue Reading

Though the fabric of her life may feel like it’s unraveling, she needs assurance that God is able to meet her in the center of her pain and that there is always hope in Jesus. He will comfort her in her grief, and He will be her strength in this battle. This is not the... Continue Reading

To grow your own leaders is nothing more than to replicate Scripture. Pastors and ministerial leaders are shaped and fashioned only in the context of a local church, and nowhere else. And, what’s more, it is a delight to see someone from your own church family grow into a leader. It’s a wonderful privilege to... Continue Reading

Over time I realized I was making this more difficult than it had to be. I sat down and thought about what I wanted to do in terms of one on one discipleship. I asked myself some hard questions and then made some adjustments. Soon I came up with four important categories that I wanted... Continue Reading

There are several lessons from Calvin’s first stay in Geneva. One is that our callings do not always match our desires exactly. Like Calvin, you may be in a location or role that you do not want, but unless you are there in direct rebellion against God, he evidently wants you there at present, and... Continue Reading