CongreGate

Today we are remembering Nabeel Qureshi, a Muslim convert to Christianity, who passed away this week from stomach cancer at the age of 34. In his years as a Christ follower, Nabeel went on to study apologetics and theology, became a speaker with Ravi Zacharias Ministries, and wrote 3 books about his life, faith, and ministry to Muslims.

We've also invited our friend, Thomas Messick, from Crescent Project to talk with us about his ministry to Muslims and share his thoughts about Nabeel Qureshi. Thomas tells us about how he came to work with Muslims in ministry overseas and later came to work with Muslims in our community here. He shares some encouraging stories about Muslims turning to Christ.

We talk about the cost of faith for Muslims. To embrace Christ means to leave their entire way of life and to leave their family. Thomas encourages the church to step up and become the family and community that Muslim converts have lost.

Thomas talks about how Crescent Project equips Christians to reach Muslims and invites you to their upcoming national conference.

Why this Muslim-turned-Christian speaker resonated with so many before his death at 34 -Ravi Zacharias for the Washington Post

Nabeel Qureshi - Gospel Coalition

Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim Encounters Christianity - by Nabeel Qureshi

No One But God: A Former Muslim Investigates the Evidence for Islam and Christianity - by Nabeel Qureshi

Answering Jihad: A Better Way Forward - by Nabeel Qureshi

Crescent Project

Today we are chatting about some current events, including the recent hurricanes, some 9/11 memories, and Mark's birthday.

We share a few personal memories of 9/11 and talk about how church services were different the following Sunday. We reflect on how our lives are different after that day, and how events like the recent hurricanes can affect permanent change in people's lives.

Regarding the hurricanes, Kirk Cameron said God sent the hurricanes for "humility, awe, and repentance." In contrast, actress Jennifer Lawrence said the hurricanes are punishment from mother nature for the election of Donald Trump. We talk about sin, repentance, and the gospel, in light of natural disasters and other crises. As believers, we have to trust that God is in control and works for his glory.

Finally, we share a few suggestions for how you can help with hurricane relief.

Woman with Brain Cancer Who Chose Baby Instead of Chemotherapy has Died

Kirk Cameron on the Hurricanes

What is God Saying to Us?

Feed the Hunger - donate to help provide meals for hurricane relief efforts

Samaritan's Purse - donate or volunteer to help with hurricane relief

In this episode, we discuss how to talk to your children (and others) about transgenderism and other LGBT issues, from a Biblical perspective. We recently witnessed several young children at the playground conversing with each other about LGBT and transgender issues. It was surprising to hear that type of talk coming from children.

If we as Christians believe in the authority of scripture, then we must continue to uphold God's created order for our identities, our marriages, and our families. How can we engage with people on this topic when they don't embrace the Bible as the inerrant word of God? We need to love them, while compassionately discussing the issue of identity, sin, and failure to believe who they are in Christ. This isn't just an issue of dealing with gender confusion. We all fail to identify with Christ when we sin, regardless of the type of

We need to love them, while compassionately discussing the issue of identity, sin, and failure to believe who they are in Christ. This isn't just an issue of dealing with gender confusion. It's a sin issue. We all fail to identify with Christ when we sin, regardless of the type of sin. Helping people to understand their identity in Christ is the catalyst for change in behavior.

We encourage you to practice hospitality not only to your like-minded church friends but also to people that you may not feel as comfortable with in your home. We believe this is the way to connect with and show compassion to people that need Jesus.

Mark and Micah are back from vacation so we're returning to dialogue about current events and culture. After several recent protests related to racial issues, we're discussing how to talk to our children about these racial issues.

First and foremost, we must understand and teach our children how the gospel unites all people under Christ. For those with younger children, when and how do you begin to have conversations about hard topics like this?

We talk about early American history and the failure of the church to recognize racial prejudice as a theological issue. Ultimately, this is an issue of understanding our identity in Christ and dealing with the sin of racism in our hearts.

One way you might start a conversation with your older children about racial issues is by watching a movie, such as Remember the Titans, and discussing it together. Another way to help your children learn to show respect to other people is to introduce them to disabled people or people of different ethnic backgrounds in your community.

Shawn closes with some thoughts about the table of nations in Genesis and how that relates to us as New Testament believers now.

Today, we are departing from our usual discussion of church and world events to conclude our three-part interview series. Next week we'll be back to talk about some of the important current events that have taken place in the past couple of weeks. We hope you enjoy getting to know more about Shawn's work in the Navy as a submarine officer.

Shawn begins by sharing why he decided to enlist in the Navy instead of pursuing a traditional college education. He also tells the story of how he ended up in Nuclear Power School. Providentially, a couple of years into his training, he was offered a chance to become an officer through a commissioning program and spent 3 years earning a Chemistry degree at Auburn University while on active duty.

Shawn talks about some of the challenges and opportunities that came with being in the military. He shares some of the ways he was able to disciple and encourage people during his time in college and his time on the submarine. He also talks about why he left the Navy and how his leadership and teaching experiences have transferred to business and church eldership.

Today, we are departing from our usual discussion of church and world events to continue a short interview series. We hope you enjoy getting to know more about Micah's work and ministry background.

Micah grew up as the oldest of seven children and as a pastor's son. He was saved as a child and anticipated going into ministry as an adult. Following college, Micah returned home with his new wife and began to work with the housing contractor he had worked with in high school. Around that time, the housing market crashed, leaving Micah looking for a job. Through providential circumstances, Micah was hired by a local marketing firm where he has worked for the past eight years.

We talk about working in business while feeling called to ministry. When is it best to get a job and provide for your family and when do you pursue ministry opportunities? Micah shares how God has provided ministry opportunities through his work in the business world.

Today, we are departing from our usual discussion of church and world events to begin a short interview series. We hope you enjoy getting to know more about us and our backgrounds as we interview one another. Mark begins by sharing his testimony and call to ministry. He tells how he met Cindy in college, eventually married her, and started a student ministry.

Early in Mark's preaching ministry, another pastor criticized his preaching. Though it caused some discouragement initially, it ultimately forced him to ask "Am I doing this for the Lord?" and "What does the Lord want me to do with my gifts?". Those questions gave him direction and motivation to continue in ministry.

Mark also talks about why and how he works as a communications professor and as a pastor. We also discuss how people are called to ministry in different ways.

Mark and Micah talk about their recent missions trip to Moldova and we share our philosophy of ministry regarding church missions trips.

We talk a little bit about the value of taking kids on missions trips. Mark had the opportunity to take each one of his children to Africa before they left home. Micah reflects on the benefits of traveling with his father to do missions work as a teenager.

We compare and contrast mission trips that are designed to meet physical and economic needs vs. trips that are focused on equipping leaders. Both can be beneficial, but our recent trips have been more focused on training and equipping local ministry leaders.

In Moldova, Mark and Micah taught the men Biblical leadership concepts from Mark's book,  A Faithful Man. They also gave instruction on Biblical eldership and shared the discipleship process Antioch has used to train up new elders. These are areas where their church leaders have not received much training, so they were very eager to hear and implements the teaching they received on these concepts.

Today Shawn and Micah chat with a special guest, Tony Rose, about civility in public discourse. Tony serves on a local school board, so he has some insightful comments to share regarding public dialogue and conversation.

Conversation in our culture has been changing the past few years, as evidenced by the most recent Presidential election cycle. People can no longer agree-to-disagree. Responses are no longer logical arguments, but personal attacks. We share some personal experiences when poor argumentation, poor journalism, and personal attacks made it difficult to remain courteous in our responses.

Tony offers some helpful thoughts about how we can have more civility in our political and cultural conversations—disagreement is not a lack of civility; everyone you meet knows something you don't know; don't take disagreement personally; don't consider politics a competitive sport.

Shawn and Micah take over the podcast, while the beloved professor, Mark, is off on a European vacation. Following his vacation he'll head to Moldova, where Micah will meet him, to do some pastoral discipleship & training with believers there.

Today we chat about the overwhelming amount of information coming at us every day, through social media and other avenues, and how to deal with the pressure that comes from living up to everyone else's standards. We perceive a crushing weight of expectations, from the church and people around us. How do we know if we are doing the things that God call us to, without feeling the burden of others' expectations?

This isn't really a conversation about time management, though our busyness can contribute to the feeling of overwhelm. We can be busy doing "good things" and still feel as though it is all futile. We talk about how to choose the "first best thing," which requires discrimination and discernment.

Are we prioritizing the right things? One way to find out is to ask your wife. Ask her to share 1 or 2 things that are a priority for your family. Work on those things to develop a new habit. Growth takes time and patience.

Ps. 4:6-8 There are many who say, "Who will show us some good? Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!" You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound. In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.