A clever book in the 1980s titled All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten is both correct, and incorrect, simultaneously. The same can be said about the notion that all I ever needed to know about theology I learned in Sunday school. Or seminary. The truth is, we learned foundational principles, key […]
The Whole is Greater than the Sum of its Parts Read More »
“If your church closed its doors, would anyone in the community care?” That’s a question that keeps pastors and church leaders up at night, but it isn’t a question for them alone. Every Christian should be invested enough in their local church to wrestle with that dilemma. We are all called to love our neighbors,
Restoring the Role of Churches in Our Communities Read More »
At the beginning of this year, Grace Fellowship Church in Columbus, Ohio, launched a new initiative with a focus on evangelism. Called “2 at 2,” the goal of initiative is to encourage their congregation to pick two people to commit to praying for every day at 2:00 p.m. “We strive to be an ‘and’ church
See a need, meet a need. This was the driving idea behind the Northern Atlantic District rallying together to help Grace Community Bible Church in Philadelphia, Pa., last fall. The church, which has been serving its community for more than 125 years, was in need of major renovations to keep the building in good working
See a Need, Meet a Need Read More »
Three years ago, Anne Brown prayerfully sought a way to help connect and support the pastor’s wives in the Charis Fellowship. Thrive Pastor’s Wives Network was born through monthly Zoom meetings for prayer, regional shepherds offering encouragement, and even a few regional gatherings. Thrive set out to gather, encourage, and equip the women who find themselves called
Thrive Announces New Director Read More »
It’s been three weeks since the town of Indian Lake, Ohio, was hit by an EF2 tornado on the evening of March 14, 2024. Weather reports say the tornado was on the ground for about 45 minutes, reaching a maximum speed of 155 mph with a mile-wide path. There were three fatalities, dozens of injuries, and
Disaster Response to Recent Western Ohio Tornado Read More »
“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58, ESV). Easter is a monumental occasion in the Christian faith. For those of us who have trusted in Jesus Christ as our Savior, there is perhaps no greater cause
Your Labor is Not in Vain Read More »
The first recollection I have of women’s ministry is mother-daughter banquets. They were always held at Knott’s Berry Farm Chicken Dinner Restaurant. They were beautifully decorated, and the program always included something silly like a skit or a funny fashion show and someone who sang special music. These banquets felt special because, as a child,
More than Teacups and Doilies Read More »
In 2017 when Courtney Cherest was asked to take over women’s ministry at Grace Church in Waldorf, Md., she knew she wanted to kick off the new ministry with a big fall launch event. She began thinking through hosting a simulcast event when her pastor said to her, “We don’t need that; we have you.”
The Legacy of Tom Julien (1931–2023) Tom Julien was a prophet. Not in the Old Testament sense of revealing God’s will to His people, but in the church-era sense of revealing how God’s perfect and unchanging Word reshapes how we engage with a broken and changing world. Sensing a call to vocational ministry, yet discouraged
Prophetically Speaking Read More »
