I didn’t kill our Wednesday night prayer gatherings, but I didn’t keep them alive either. Our youth and AWANA programs engage lots of students and require numerous volunteers. It never made sense that our churchwide prayer meeting was at a time that so few could attend. Praying with fellow believers was always encouraging, but I […]
When a mom says ‘whatever it takes’
I was supposed to die on a Tuesday in 1977. My 15-year-old mother had been scheduled to have an abortion despite her objections, leading her into the high school counselor’s office the Monday before that dreaded appointment. After hearing my mother’s story, Mr. Sheets called her mother attempting some mediation away from abortion, but to […]
Find purpose in your church’s true identity
When we see the “success” another local church is experiencing, we want it for our church as well. But to copy another church ignores factors like location, budget, and volunteers. Here are three steps to owning your identity as a church: Read…
Raising up ministers from the pews
While people must personally respond to a ministry calling, I think there is more that churches—and pastors—can do to create an environment that promotes vocational ministry. Read…