South Scipio United Brethren

How shunned Jehovah's Witness mom killed her entire family

She made a video of herself saying that she was "broken" and that she didn't want to burden her family.

Why we will no longer be a welcoming church

We’ve decided to quit being a welcoming church. No kidding. We’re giving it up. Like so many congregations, we’ve sunk an amazing amount of time and energy into becoming a welcoming church. We changed worship styles, trained greeters and ushers, wore name tags, brewed coffee, went to workshops on hospitality and put our friendliest people …

Why Homosexuality Is Not Like Other Sins

Homosexuality is not the only sin prohibited in the Bible, but it is different from all the rest, at least right now. And we have really good news for homosexuals.

Blade publisher, aviation expert to wed Nov. 19

John Robinson Block, of Pittsburgh and Toledo, and Mary Fackler Schiavo, of Isle of Palms, S.C., and Pioneer, Ohio, have announced their wedding engagement. ...

God doesn't want you to be happy

Yes, really. I said it. Although to be clear, I didn't say, "God wants you to be unhappy." There's a difference. But your happiness is not on His todo lis

When the Church Silences Survivors

I remember how embarrassed I was the day I walked into work with a black eye. I dreaded the questions, knowing I would have to reveal my lost battle with lawn equipment, and worrying that someone migh

When Conspiracy Theories Come To Church

How to deprogram followers of Trumpism and other extremist cults.

What God Does When We Strip the Facade

I remember a time when my marriage was falling apart, and I felt desperately alone and afraid. Despite the situation, I could not bear to tell anyone about

Let The Dirt Do Its Work

Life would be a lot easier if we always knew what to do and how to do it, but God rarely works that way. In this message, set yourself free from the “need to know” and learn how to find peace in the process.

Is Modern Church Leadership Tilting Toward Bivocational Ministry?

The goal of our existence is to learn how to leverage everything God has given us.

How Planting a Church Made Me Reconsider My Beliefs about Gender Roles

“Kay should be an elder.”<br>It was handwritten in black sharpie on a big white page—just one quote among many others on one of those big flip chart tripods. Some life moments sparkle

What if the Church Was the Church?

What does it look like to be the salt of the earth? For one thing, it might look like Christians welcoming sinners and eating with them.

What if Churches Started Churches?

Good churches should add “church starting” to the list of ingredients that define their health.

3 Reasons We Really Need to Start Churches

There are many reasons to start churches – both biblical and personal. I am mentioning three and I would love to hear from you your reasons to start churches: 1) I know too many people who are lost…

Seven Things the Church isn’t and what the church is.

As a pastor in the 20th century, a part of preparing sermons is coming up with the “phrase that pays.” Sometimes they stick, sometimes they don’t. Sometimes I don’t even rem…

When Is a Church Not a Church?

The tax code allows for some strange political shenanigans.

Why Isn't My Church Like The Church In Acts?

It’s tempting to imagine that the early believers represented a golden era of the Church.

Why Millennials Are Valuable in the Church

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word millennial? Lazy? Commitment Issues? Entitlement? These are just a few of the major stereotypes that revolve around the millennial generation. But as a millennial myself, I can tell you that these aren’t always true when it comes to my generation. In

Tips to Prevent Church Embezzlement

Misappropriation of church funds (or embezzlement) is of the most concern for churches and nonprofits. Use these basic tips to prevent church embezzlement

What is the Church?