As the government shut down here in the U.S. enters a third week, my heart is heavy for individuals and families who are without a… Read More »Please read this if you are concerned about furloughed federal employees.
The weekend before the wise ones in congress chose to shut down the U.S. government rather than compromise, my husband and I were in Fairfax,… Read More »WWJD while the US government is shut down
The spring issue of Leadership Journal had me with the cover and then continued to reel me in with article after article on two of my favorite topics – money and ministry. I could have done without the tagline, “Funding your ministry without losing your soul.” But I understand the editors’ dilemma. It’s likely the journal’s predominantly clergy readership wouldn’t have read on without the disclaimer.
And I’m okay with that. If disclaiming gets pastors and other church leaders talking/thinking/preaching stewardship, disclaim away.Read More »Speaking of money in church
It’s commencement season on college and university campuses across America. That wonderful time of year when starry-eyed graduates march into life to the strains of Pomp and Circumstance, diplomas in hand, dreams in their hearts, and a dark cloud of debt over their heads.
Sorry for raining on the graduation parade with my mention of school loans. But with the average debt of today’s college seniors speeding toward $30,000 ($40,000 at private colleges), we need to do more than hand out umbrellas. It’s time to talk honestly about debt.Read More »Debtors don’t donors make, unless . . .
To say that the congregation with which I worship is late to the technological revolution is an understatement. We’ve been one projector short for weeks and no one seems to notice the blank screen on the left. The church’s website is difficult to navigate. Our Facebook page has racked up a grand total of 15 friends. And our idea of social media is a prayer chain.
In other words, ours is pretty much like every other small to mid-size church in the U.S. and Canada.
Aside from the staffed-up mega-churches, few congregations are maximizing the ministry potential of new technologies and social media. And that, says religion prof Adam Copeland, helps explain (but not completely) the dearth of Millennials under our steeples.Read More »Driving the luddites out of the temple
“MDS ends historic 7-year recovery effort in New Orleans.” The headline grabbed my attention as I pulled the latest issue of Mennonite World Review from my… Read More »A problem with short-term mission trips