Features

Churches are getting less of the total charitable giving. Overall, charitable giving is on the rise in the United States, but churches are receiving a smaller and smaller portion. The bottom line is simple. People who give see the church as merely one option among many places to give.

To be sure, most pastors are aware that sometimes remarks made against them are more a reflection of the person making them, and they are good natured enough to let most things roll off their backs.

Common practices of successful mergers

Forty percent of parents are saying they are extremely/very worried about their child struggling with anxiety or depression. Another 36% are somewhat concerned. That’s three out of every four parents with mental health on their parenting radar in relation to their child.

It started when they upwardly held the name of Jesus “in high honor” and continued when they inwardly rid themselves of their secret sins and outwardly spread the gospel to everyone around them.

We are not left alone with our questions. It is not up to us to solve the riddles of our existence. We have a helper, a divine instructor. He will save us from the cul-de-sac of confusion and the dead end of doubt. He does this by enrolling us in the primary course of his university: Jesus Christ.

Regularly studying Scripture together is an important community rhythm we often neglect.

Almost everybody sacrificed to pay the bills. We had to, actually. None of us was rich, but our mutual sacrifices produced the offerings we needed to get through each week financially.