Pastor Caught in Bed With Parishioner's Wife Won't Resign Because God Has Already Forgiven Him

http://www.christianpost.com/news/pastor-caught-in-bed-with-parishioners-wife-wont-resign-because-god-has-already-forgiven-him-173638/

 

Mosque case prompts IMB policy tweak

http://www.bpnews.net/48249/mosque-case-prompts-imb-policy-tweak

 

Most religious groups come out against Trump refugee order

http://www.newtondailynews.com/2017/01/31/most-religious-groups-come-out-against-trump-refugee-order/a3kx057/

Stetzer Pleads for Christians to Share News Responsibly

In an editorial for Christianity Today, Ed Stetzer writes that the truth will set us free, but Christians have been among some of the most likely to share fake news, with a popular Christian news site providing one of the clearest examples of bad reporting. Stetzer encouraged readers to consider sharing true, factual news as part of their Christian witness and reliable Gospel messengers.

Source: Christianity Today

Don’t Break the Law During the Super Bowl

Churches are allowed to host Super Bowl viewing parties regardless of screen size, but there are several key restrictions. For starters, a church cannot charge admission, although donations to cover food costs are permitted. Churches also cannot use official logos for the NFL or the teams playing in promotional material.

Source: Facts & Trends

Take the 2017 National Church Compensation Survey and get a free gift:
http://cltsurvey.com/2017

Pastoral Missteps and Renewed Faith Top CT News

In the list of the top 20 stories from Christianity Today, a number of pastoral missteps and removals topped the news in 2016, including Andy Stanley’s regret that he said it’s selfish to attend a small church and the resignation of Darrin Patrick from Acts 29 and his St. Louis church The Journey. However, the charismatic renewal of Bethel Church continues and former atheist Nicole Cliffe wrote about how God messed up her “happy atheist life.”

Source: Christianity Today

 

Why this story matters for church leaders:

People will always want to know about pastors who failed or overstepped their boundaries in some way, so church leaders should have clear accountability and restoration plans should a misstep happen.

 

• Communication Mishaps: With recorded sermons today, a comment can go out of context quickly and become news.
• Review Processes: Is your church at a stage where it may help to have a trusted colleague or member to read over your sermon notes in order to catch potential problems?
• Testimonies Are Powerful: One of the most popular stories at Christianity Today was a conversion story, which reminds us that a testimony can still encourage many.

Is there one particular lesson or action step your church can take based on this story?

Quarter of Americans Look to Presidents for Solutions

A LifeWay poll asking Americans who they look to in order to solve the problems in America found that only 23% relied on the U.S. president to solve their problems. Only 11% trusted in preachers and 10% looked toward college professors. However, 33% choose “none of the above” in their response.

Source: LifeWay

 

3 Growing Trends for Healthy Churches

Thom Rainer has noticed three key trends that are leading to healthier churches throughout America. For starters, he’s seeing longer pastoral tenures, and he hopes that will continue since longer tenures tend to correlate with more effective ministry. Rainer also sees renewed emphasis on practical ministries and a commitment to ongoing learning within the ministry context.

Source: Facts and Trends

 

Compassion International Finds All Sponsors for Four Countries

All of the children available to be sponsored through Compassion International in four countries, El Salvador, Indonesia, Rwanda, and Tanzania, were sponsored at a recent event, making it the largest surge in sponsorships to date. Roughly 14% of the 50,000 conference attendees at a Passion event signed up to support children with education, healthcare, food, and the gospel for $38 a month.

Source: Christianity Today

The Pitfalls of “Facebook Lurking”

We all do it, end our day by scrolling our Facebook feed, scanning photos and updates and articles to see what our social network is up to. The problem is that this "Scrollaxing" may actually be making you miserable, studies show. University of Copenhagen shows that this practice is making us miserable and unhappy. To fix it, either cut back, avoid certain sections or "it may be difficult to change one's way of using Facebook. If this is the case, one should consider quitting Facebook for good" researchers say.

Source: Mashable

Russell Moore’s Backlash Over Criticizing Trump & His Followers

Baptist leader Russell Moore is being harshly denounced by many evangelicals for his negative opinions on President-elect Donald Trump. "The religious right, turns out to be the people the religious right warned us about" he said in an October speech.  Moore’s organization, the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission could lose funding because of his stand on Trump.

Source: NPR

89% of Protestants Have Services on Christmas Day

This year the debate over church services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day have been resolved with the answer: both. In fact, 63% of pastors reported that they would hold services on both days. While 71% were planning to hold only a Christmas Eve service, 89% planned to host only a Christmas Day service.

Source: Christianity Today

Church Restoration Halted Over Facility Dispute

Cancer survivor Greg Thomas was featured in a series of headlines eight years ago because he spent his treatment days restoring a small chapel known as Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church. While Thomas beat cancer back then, with it only returning recently, the church took issue with the repairs he had made after collecting more than $70,000 in donations and banned him from the property. Thomas argues that the church has become a show piece instead of a source of community unity.

Source: KARE 11

Evangelist Screams at Children Waiting in Line for Santa

Westboro Baptist Church supporter and Last Frontier Evangelist David Grisham filmed himself shouting at children who were waiting in line for Santa. Grisham shouted that Santa does not exist and that Christmas is all about Jesus. Two men eventually prompted Grisham to leave.

Source: Metro

Non-denominational Evangelical minister, Episcopal priest: One man leads two congregations in historic Catonsville church

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-dual-minister-20161203-story.html

 

Ohio ‘Pastor Protection Act’ Clears House Committee

http://www.gospelherald.com/articles/68646/20161207/ohio-pastor-protection-act-clears-house-committee.htm

 

Beaver walks into Md. store, finds only artificial Christmas trees, and proceeds to trash it

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/local/wp/2016/12/01/cute-beaver-trashes-store-after-holiday-shopping-in-maryland/?utm_term=.43cf9390e795

How Fidel Castro's Death Will Affect Cuba's Christian Revival

http://www.christianitytoday.com/gleanings/2016/november/how-fidel-castro-death-will-affect-cuban-christians-revival.html

 

3 Assumptions & 5 Realities About Why So Many Churches are Small

http://www.christianitytoday.com/karl-vaters/2016/november/3-assumptions-5-realities-why-so-many-churches-are-small.html?start=2

 

Tullian Tchividjian Emerges From Scandal With New Wife, Preaches Sermon on God's Redemption

http://www.christianpost.com/news/tullian-tchividjian-emerges-from-scandal-with-new-wife-preaches-sermon-on-gods-redemption-171665

Christian Universities Divided Over Election Results

Younger evangelicals have broken from the white evangelical majority who supported Trump by 81%, and that means evangelical colleges are seeking to reassure their students who feel betrayed by those who supported a candidate who is outspoken in his prejudice and sexism. At Wheaton College, 42% of students were likely to vote for Clinton, while 52% of students at Grove City College were planning to vote for Trump. Philip Ryken of Wheaton College wrote to assure his students that Wheaton stands against prejudice and hatred (including racism and sexism), embraces ethnic diversity as part of God’s design for humanity in Christ. Students at Taylor University also reported racial intimidation.

Source: RNS

Is New York City Trending Toward a Revival?

The Barna Group believes that according to surveys conducted in the 1980’s and then again in 2010 the population of New York City is shifting toward Christianity, with an increase from 20% to 32% for Christians. Over the past five years there has been a noticeable increase in revivals and religious events throughout the city.

Source: Christianity Daily

Here are the Major Trends Coming This Year

A report of major trends coming this year include a more fluid, less gender specific use of signage, polyamory for married couples, and an increased focus on the morality of using AI. In addition, there is a greater awareness of people with disabilities and that could lead to new economic opportunities. Insects may become a new source of food as well.

Source: PR NewsWire

Why Do Churches Overpay for Staff?

Churches have often made the mistake of hiring staff rather than empowering a volunteer to minister or outsourcing a simple task to an expert organization. However, churches also struggle to see staffing as a stewardship issue. Sometimes staff members need to be reevaluated and reallocated in order to meet the changing needs of a congregation.

Source: Thom Rainer

Women Are Ministering as Authors and Speakers

Authors such as Jen Hatmaker and Ann Voskamp, who have grown through blog posts and social media, have created a new version of women’s ministry that is not depending on a congregation. Their social media followers are larger than most pastors and any church, while their books tend to outsell some of the best known Christian authors. Women who don’t see a place for female leaders in their congregations are turning to authors such as Hatmaker for guidance.

Source: Christianity Today

Churches Reach Out to Neighbors After Terror Attack

The Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando left 49 people dead and 53 others wounded. However, the challenges faced by the police and the trauma of the community became a key opportunity for churches in the area to host first responders and to care for neighbors suffering from anxiety and panic attacks after witnessing the terror of those fleeing the nightclub.

Source: Christianity Today