Some churches, even in the same community, will make different decisions about both the place and methods for re-opening. We need to support church leaders who are making hard choices, not criticize others for making different choices than we do. While believers gathering is important, some of...
A few weeks ago, a friend of the seminary sent a special gift.
Pressure turns fissures and flaws into chasms and canyons. Right now, some churches are discovering their past strategy of depending on donors instead of building stewards is producing devastating results.
One of the causalities of canceling the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention this summer was losing the opportunity to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the International Mission Board. The IMB is, in many ways, the reason we exist as a denomination. We came together in 1845 in...
A common refrain these days is, “I’ll be glad when things get back to normal.” Well, that’s not happening. Our world will never be the same after COVID-19. The disruptions to social, economic, educational, corporate, entertainment, and religious systems have been too...
Governmental leaders make policy decisions to manage risk, not eliminate it. Their goal is palatable decisions that maintain social order, not preserve every life. Governments manage death rates, keeping them reasonable, without eliminating their causes. That’s not a criticism, just a frank...
Church ministries were initially rocked by governmental restrictions and limitations brought on by the pandemic. However, church leaders have since responded by creating new approaches to continuing our mission of sharing the gospel, making disciples, and meeting the needs of people. Story after...
Easter 2020 will one for the history books. Across the United States and around the world, church buildings will be as empty as the tomb central to the resurrection story. Rather than lament what the governmental response to COVID-19 has taken from us, let’s make it an Easter to remember. Here...
A common lament in our current pandemic is people saying the hardest part is “not knowing.” Not knowing how long the quarantine will last, when they will return to work, how widespread the pandemic will be, etc. Millions of people are experiencing profound uncertainty—an unsettling, disruptive...
Pastors are the front-line leaders in God’s kingdom. Over the weekend, I watched several pastors speak to their congregations electronically and consulted with others about ministry challenges. These pastors were insightful, intentional, positive, and effective in their messages and ministry...