Posts Tagged ‘Church’
Assemblies of God Starts a Church a Day
The Assemblies of God, one of the nation’s largest Pentecostal denominations, opened more than a church a day last year.
In all, 368 new churches opened in 2011, the denomination said. That total marks the second highest number of church starts since it began keeping reliable statistics in 1965.
Factoring in church closures, there are now 12,595 Assemblies of God congregations in the country, the highest ever recorded… Full article here
Source : http://blog.christianitytoday.com
A shocking comment on today’s church…and what YOU can do about it.
Dear Friend in Ministry,
I’m going to say something shocking to you. It is something I believe strongly…and have heard echoed recently by our CEO and Founder, Thom Schultz. The biggest challenge the church in America is facing is the idea that we go to church not to serve, but to be served. Served the music I like, the coffee Ik want, the sermon I wat to hear, the children’s church that suits me…and so on! There is a big disconnect between the reality of the 21st century church and the Biblical model for service and humility laid out in the Bible.I believe, every church has what it takes to reach its potential. But chances are if you’re following the traditional model of doing church in America, it will never reach that potential, regardless of its size. This is a strong statement, I know. And you may be thinking, that’s not the way it is in our church. Good! However, some of you may be thinking, that is exactly the problem I see in our congregation. Don’t be discouraged—it’s not hopeless! We are seeing a resurgence in interest in the biblical pattern of serving and discipleship like never before. We can turn this around…Full article here
Church Volunteer Central
5 false assumptions that keep people from serving
As a leader, we need to recognize these wrong assumptions and start addressing them, in our own lives and in the lives of the people we serve with. Using Andee’s article as a springboard, I came up with five false assumptions people may have about serving:1. The church doesn’t need help.2. They have nothing of value to offer.3. There are other people more qualified to serve.4. Serving will require time or skills they don’t possess.5. They will be asked to serve in an area they don’t enjoy…Full article here
http://www.churchvolunteercentral.com
Churches, Christian Schools a Thing of the Past in Afghanistan
“The 2010 International Religious Freedom Report has revealed that Christian churches and schools no longer exist in Afghanistan.
The report, which is published annually by the U.S. State Department, states that the last remaining church was demolished in March 2010 and that only “[Private] chapels and churches for the international community of various faiths are located on several military bases…and at the Italian embassy.”
Religious freedom has been steadily eroding in Afghanistan, a country that is almost entirely made up of Muslims, while those in the nation’s minority Christian population have become the targets of rising societal ostracism and persecution. According to the State Department, most Afghan Christians are afraid to “state their beliefs or gather openly to worship.” Former Muslims who converted to Christianity are especially at risk of losing their marriages, extended family, and even their jobs…” Full article here
Source : http://www.christianfreedom.org
Baptist Fellowship Offering Cash Incentives to Churches Considering Female Pastors
The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Missouri (CBFMO) will offer cash incentives to any member church that is willing to consider hiring a female pastor.
CBFMO leadership decided in September to pay interview, travel, and other expenses incurred by search committees that include a woman in their list of candidates in hopes of expanding the number of women in church leadership.
None of the 50 CBFMO churches have female senior pastors.
“The whole idea behind it, honestly, is to reduce the anxiety or risk that churches feel,” CBFMO associate coordinator Jeff Langford told Christianity Today. “Search committees don’t want to break new ground or rock the boat.”
There already is a lot of anxiety surrounding searching for a pastor, he said. Search committees want to make a good decision but not one that is too progressive, so often they choose what feels comfortable to them—a male candidate, he said…Full article here
Source : http://www.christianitytoday.com
Six Reasons Young Christians Leave Church
Many parents and church leaders wonder how to most effectively cultivate durable faith in the lives of young people. A five-year project headed by Barna Group president David Kinnaman explores the opportunities and challenges of faith development among teens and young adults within a rapidly shifting culture. The findings of the research are included in a new book by Kinnaman titled You Lost Me: Why Young Christians are Leaving Church and Rethinking Church.
The research project was comprised of eight national studies, including interviews with teenagers, young adults, parents, youth pastors, and senior pastors. The study of young adults focused on those who were regular churchgoers Christian church during their teen years and explored their reasons for disconnection from church life after age 15. Full article here
“…Five major trends for churches in America”
“…Because most of the research that is the basis for these trends was related to American demographics, we must not extend the projections beyond our nation’s borders. Nevertheless, it is possible that some of the research could have implications beyond American churches.
1. Our nation will see the emergence of the largest generational mission field in more than a century. According to our current research, the Millennial generation, those born between 1980 and 2000, will have a very low Christian representation. Our estimates now are that only 15 percent are Christian. With a huge population of nearly 80 million, that means that nearly 70 million young people are not Christians.
2. The dominant attitude of this huge generation toward Christianity will be largely indifferent. Only 13 percent of the Millennials rank any type of spiritual matter as important to their lives. They are not angry at churches and Christians. They simply ignore us because they do not deem us as meaningful or relevant…” Full article here
by Thom Rainer
Source : http://www.lifeway.com
Heroes Among Us: Thoughts on National Volunteer Week
You may already be aware that it’s National Volunteer Week. This national movement recognizes the contribution volunteers make in our communities.
“America’s story has been marked by the service of volunteers. Generations of selfless individuals from all walks of life have served each other and our Nation, each person dedicated to making tomorrow better than today. They exemplify the quintessential American idea that we can change things, make things better, and solve problems when we work together
Volunteers are the lifeblood of our schools and shelters, hospitals and hotlines, and faith-based and community groups. From mentoring at-risk youth and caring for older Americans to supporting our veterans and military families and rebuilding after disasters, these everyday heroes make a real and lasting impact on the lives of millions of women and men across the globe.”* Full article here
“Catholics defend Cathedral of Lima against gay provocation with prayer”
.- On Saturday, Feb. 19, hundreds of Peruvian Catholics gathered
at the entrance to the Cathedral of Lima to pray a Rosary for Peace in response to a “Kiss-in Against Homophobia” organized by a small group of homosexuals and lesbians just a few yards away from the church.
This was the second time gay activists staged a “kiss-in,” after their first protest ended with police forcibly removing them from the steps of the cathedral on Feb. 12.
This time they came with the explicit blessing of Lima’s mayor, Susana Villaran, who has voiced her support for homosexual unions on numerous occasions.
Despite a heavy media campaign to promote the Feb. 19 “kiss-in,” only eight people showed up in Lima’s central square.
In response to the planned protest, some 200 Catholics showed up at 3:30 p.m. outside the cathedral and formed a human barrier for more than three hours. The group spent the time peacefully praying the Rosary and singing hymns…”Read more
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com
Report: Crimes Against U.S. Churches Rising
“We read a lot about persecution against Christians through arrests and beatings. But church facilities themselves are also under attack, as highlighted in the New Year’s Eve church bombing in Egypt.
But the problem goes well beyond Egypt—for the past two years, arsonists have attacked an average of 100 churches—and well beyond facility and personal attacks. For example, Internal theft has cost congregations an average of more than $250,000 per incident, and almost every area of crime against Christians and their places of worship is rising.
So says a report from the Christian Security Network (CSN). “Crimes against Christian Organizations in the United States—2010” contains findings that Jeffrey Hawkins, CSN executive director, describes as “the tip of the iceberg.”read more
Source : http://www.faithnews.cc
How to Separate Church & State in the Classroom
“What is the distinction between teaching about religion and instruction in, or the teaching of, religion? The California Department of Education offers this distinction that is instructive for educators everywhere:
To teach about religion is not to instruct in religion. Teaching about religion embraces the study of various religions; appreciation of the nature and variety of religious experience historically and currently; information on past and present sources, views, and behavior of religious persons or groups; and the influence of religion on cultures and civilizations.
Instruction in religion, by contrast, is to seek acceptance of and commitment to a particular religion, including a non-religion, such as secularism…”full article here
http://www.ericbuehrer.blogspot.com/
Church Reports Record Missions Offering
“An Ohio congregation testifies of God’s faithfulness as they are faithful to give to missions through the years.
Pastor Terry McBeath went to the Upper Room Church of God in Findlay, Ohio, 31 years ago. When he arrived at the church, his congregation had approximately 30 members. Now, the church has grown to more than 400 attendees.
In his first year as pastor, McBeath began a local church missions emphasis, teaching the church that “you can’t out give God.” As a young child, McBeath was taught the importance of giving to missions, and it was his desire to instill that same attitude in the heart of his congregation.
“My advice to other local churches is to look at God’s Promise. Mark 10:21 says, ‘…Give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven.’ Luke 6:38 says, ‘Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over.’ I have no doubt that God will bless ANY church that has a heart for missions – the same way he has blessed my church,” says McBeath…”read the full article here
Don’t Leave the Holy Spirit Out of Christmas
“There would be no Christmas story without the Holy Spirit’s power.
By J. Lee Grady
We Christians are notorious for limiting the Holy Spirit. Many churches put Him in the back seat, confine Him in a box of tradition or ignore Him altogether. Some Christians treat the Third Person of the Trinity as if he magically materialized in the Book of Acts, like a genie out of a bottle, and then vanished after the early church was established.
But God is God, not a genie, and the same Holy Spirit who brooded over the waters at Creation, inspired the Old Testament prophets and empowered the first disciples at Pentecost is still doing miracles today. It is also important to recognize that the Holy Spirit was involved in every step of the Christmas story. This holiday, I’m paying closer attention to the Spirit’s work in the miracle of the Incarnation.
Luke, the author of the Book of Acts, pays close attention to the work of the Holy Spirit in the gospel that bears his name. Luke’s account of the birth of Jesus is the most detailed, and he highlights the Holy Spirit’s activity in the lives of five people in the first two chapters.
We tend to look down on Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, because he doubted God’s ability to give his barren wife a child. But Luke reminds us that after Zacharias was struck dumb in the temple, he was filled with the Spirit when his son was born (see Luke 1:67) and he began to prophesy. Humbled and chastised by God, Zecharias gained new strength from the Spirit and uttered one of the richest Messianic promises recorded in Scripture…”read the full article here
Iraq: Muslims Attack Church
“On Oct. 31, Islamic extremists attacked worshipers at the Syrian Catholic Church of Baghdad, killing 59 Christians and severely injuring more than 80 others, according to VOM sources.
Several gunmen armed with automatic weapons and explosives entered the church during a worship service and opened fire on the worshipers. Two priests were among those killed in the attack. “[This church was attacked] because they are very active, especially among the youth and community,” VOM contacts said. “This church works closely with the United Bible Society and VOM by distributing Bibles and Action Packs in Iraq. This is the second time this church has been targeted; in 2004 it was hit with a car bomb.”Read the full article here
Pentecostal Holiness Church Joins Prayer Initiative
“The International Pentecostal Holiness Church has joined the Church of God in the special 30-Day Prayer Emphasis. According to Terry Fowler, director of prayer ministries for the IPHC, Fowler sent a note to Doug Small, coordinator of prayer ministries for the Church of God saying, “We are joining you in your prayer journey.” A special 30-day prayer guide has been produced for use by the IPHC churches and is now posted on the Church of God Prayer Ministries link, located at www.churchofgod.org.
Across Church of God congregations, pastors and people alike are discovering the power of pressing into God in prayer during the “30 Days of Prayer – Days of Awakening, Days of Action.”
Read the full article here
Sursa : http://www.faithnews.cc/
How Much Does God Co$t?
Traditional churches [of USA] collect over $420 billion in tithes and donations
annually. In her new book, How Much Does God Co$t?, Kay Quinn asks why - with an abundant flow of money coming in - are the needs of donating parishioners left unattended?
How Much Does God Co$t? appears to be against the church at first glance but quite the opposite is true; Quinn, a Christian and preacher’s daughter, offers readers an awakening experience through the raw observations she makes in the pages of her book. She forces readers to analyze the doctrine they are following and question if they are truly serving God’s law or those created by man.
In How Much Does God Co$t?, Quinn warns readers of participating in the very church Jesus warned his followers about - one of hypocrites. She discusses the traditions of men such as tithing, preachers using their positions for personal gain and fame, the physical establishment of the church and how the church body has turned church into a social club. She firmly believes that the spirit of God does not dwell in the church building itself but in his people, his true church. According to Quinn, the sacrifice of Jesus paid for all of his followers’ sins and tithing is an unnecessary practice that puts his death in vain. How much does God cost? According to Quinn, God is free. Quinn writes:
“In other words, if you could fully obey the law and pay for your own trespasses, then Jesus died in vain. What I believe this passage of scripture to be saying is this, if you are going to insist on keeping any portion of the Old Testament Law, then God will require of you to keep the whole law in its entirety! Why hold on to only the tithing part Pastor, Rev. Preacher Man? It is bondage and certainly a bondage that Christ’ death freed us all from! That is, of course, if you have the faith to believe that the blood of Jesus was sufficient enough. Our debt is paid in full and we are free to enjoy victory, peace, promises, and dreams of a better future. And it is all because Christ paid the price for us and not because we pay a tithe.
About the Author: Kay Quinn was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. She is the daughter of the late Rev. Odell Christian. Quinn is the founder of the Mutual Freedom Organization, a charitable organization designed to assist the needs of forgotten churches through philanthropic donations. All proceeds from the sales of How Much Does God Co$t? will go to the Mutual Freedom Organization.
For more information visit: www.mutualfreedom.org
Source: Christian Newswire http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/6205313107.html
Why Go to Church?
“America is full of good guys who think their admittance to heaven is going to be based on their acts of charity, abstinence from cheating people, and the like. With the utmost grief I profess that anyone who thinks they can earn God’s favor has grossly overstated their worth and grossly understated their sin (see Ephesians 2:8-10). But that’s besides the point. The point is that it’s usually this category of people who snub going to church. Let’s just set the record straight from the beginning: church is not a building. It’s not a place you go. It’s a community of people that is universal/global (Matt. 16:18; Acts 20:28; Eph. 3:10) but expressed locally in groups of believers who gather together for worship (1 Cor. 14:26, Col. 3:16, Heb. 10:25).
I’m very skeptical of anyone who claims right-standing with God but doesn’t attend church. So although this apologetic for ‘going to church’ was stirred by a cultural need to defend and promote this discipline for the nonbelievers in our world, I also recognize that some people in the church genuinely struggle understanding the worth of gathering regularly for worship, instruction, fellowship etc. Let’s admit it–sometimes sermons stink, people are curiously peculiar, and services are more boring than watching C-Span. I’m not immune to feeling that sometimes I could have gained more from a personal Bible study at home or watching a Podcast from one of my favorite teachers.
With these realities in mind, I hope to shed light on why Christians should go to church. This may serve as an apologetic both for believers and nonbelievers.
Let’s just ignore the fact that the Bible straightforwardly commands Christians to attend church (Heb. 10:25)! Furthermore, it’s helpful to understand that the Bible hardly expounds on this practice because it was an assumed discipline and the early communities were keenly aware of why they were assembling together (something churches in free societies, where they do not suffer persecution, are less prone to).
The nature of my argument is a very pragmatic one. I have traditionally taught that Christians should go to church for two simple reasons. Though they are uncomplicated in theology, I don’t consider them lacking profundity. Those who actively attend church and live out these two reasons will understand the strength of my argument.
God wants Christians in a church so that they can grow.
There are so many dimensions that we need to grow in as God’s people. There’s worship (Col. 3:16), knowledge (Acts 2:42), character (Heb. 13:17) to name a few. Local churches serve as the environment through which God wants you to experience this. They provide relationships that will serve as an avenue for your spiritual growth. Pastors, teachers, mentors, accountability partners cannot be found in solitude. The cap to your personal growth will be your own experience if you attempt to grow spiritually on your own! By joining a church, you humbly recognize that the Spirit has been working in his church (universal) long before you came upon the scene, and are given access to knowledge, understanding, and experiences that you can only gain from others…”
Andy Dragos
Read the full article here http://themourningdovecaws.com/2009/11/30/why-go-to-church/
A plea to the president Obama to attend church
“Dear Mr. President,
Remember all the analysis immediately after your election this past November regarding where you and your family would attend church? Newspapers and websites were filled with stories about where you would go, and numerous congregations in Washington invited you, your wife, and children to attend their Sunday morning services. Although Americans have usually displayed substantial interest in where their presidents attended church while in office, never before had there been such fascination with this issue before a president was inaugurated. At present, this focus seems ironic because you and your family have attended church in Washington only once — on Easter Sunday — since you took office (although you have attended a few services at Camp David).
Americans acknowledge that you are a very busy man with incredibly important responsibilities. We also recognize the typical reasons some of your predecessors have given for not attending church regularly and you have sometimes used: they did not want to divert other worshippers’ attention from God to themselves, they did not want to subject other congregants to metal detectors and security concerns, they found it difficult to worship when others appeared to being watching them, or they wanted to use Sunday morning for other activities such as golf or stamp collecting. However, these reasons have not deterred several of your recent predecessors, and the benefits of attending more than compensate for the problems they involve.”
read more HERE
Sincerely,
Gary Scott Smith
Source: OneNewsNow
Evangelical Lutherans abandon Bible teaching on homosexuality
Iata ca dupa Biserica Episcopala din America si Biserica Evanghelica Luterana a votat vineri 21 august 2009 cu 559 voturi pentru si 451 de voturi impotriva , o motiune prin care vor fi acceptati pastorii homosexuali car au parteneri stabili. Biserica Evanghelica Luterana americana care numara 4,6 milioane de credinciosi raspanditi in 10,000 de congregatii , a decis prin cei care ii conduc ca homosexualitatea nu mai este pacat . Se pare ca se inmultesc asa-zisele “Biserici”care abandoneaza Biblia.
Doamne ai mila de America!
Small Groups & the Christian
Do you meet with Christians for worship, fellowship, and instruction outside of your weekend or midweek service? Do you do it regularly? With relatively the same people? If not, you’re missing out on a dynamic that is so incredibly conducive to spiritual growth! I’m talking about the concept of small groups (some churches call them community groups, connect groups etc.) Allow me to show you why meeting regularly in smaller groups of Christians is so important to attaining God’s purpose of you- to be presented to him “perfect in Christ” (Col. 1:18).
This concept is biblical. Early Christianity was marked by small groups and local churches that met in homes (Romans 16:5).
Church history has demonstrated its value. Revival movements throughout church history happened as a result of small groups. The emergence of denominationalism–which in this case was good because groups of people broke from a rigid, cold, & empty religiousity–happened largely through small groups/house meetings. Among these movements are pietism, including the Anabaptist, Moravian, & Methodist traditions.
Allows for a different style of learning. Discussions often lend themselves to a more effective comprehension of God’s word. You can’t ask questions or share your input at an ekklesia of 100+, or often 1000+ people. But you can in the safe environment of a small group.
Creates better unity. The unity of a church as a whole will only be as strong as the ties between individuals and families. Strong relationships are built when you regularly meet with each other!
Offers Christians necessary accountability. It’s so easy to get lost in the crowd of a worship service, or slip in and out of a building without being noticed. Not so when you meet with the same 10 or so people every week! If you’re missing, you’ll be missed. Furthermore, as relationships deepen you’ll find people who you’ll feel safer to open up to about your spiritual strengths and weaknesses.
Some Christians value small groups so much that they put a cap on how much they want their church to grow numerically before splitting or planting another church. This is an extreme and doesn’t take into account the fact that in Acts “all the believers” met together at Solomon’s Colonnade (5:12). Large churches are healthy and biblical. But for most Christians, the value of small groups has yet to be realized!
Hear your pastor repeatedly suggest joining an existing small group in your church? Do it at the next opportunity you have!
Are you part of a church that has yet to discover or fully realize the idea? Talk to your pastor about what you can do to help- whether it be hosting, leading, preparing refreshments etc.
Unity; accountability; fellowship; growth; discipleship; worship; you’ll find these and other great things in small groups! Find one, create one…join one somehow.
by Andy Dragos
http://themourningdovecaws.wordpress.com/
