Community and connection are some of the key distinctions I see in women's ministry planning where we are able to help foster multi-generational relationships and offer moments to connect over shared experiences.
Culture wars and ideologies like Christian nationalism look to the external world to find enemies and threats. But as Christians who define our identity inwardly, through a deepening and growing relationship with Jesus, we find health. The promise of hidden, inward transformation is gorgeous hope.
Nine times out of 10, guests will not just show up unsure of what to expect because they will have reviewed the church's website and social media pages looking for the flavor of your local church.
On this side of heaven, theological disagreement is part of life. The apostles who wrote the New Testament settled such disputes in the first century. Today, we have a clear word from God preserved in Scripture but no magisterium to settle our disagreements over how to interpret it, especially when church division arises from these theological disagreements.
Has your church become so comfortable in the familiar that it misses what guests are experiencing? Guests will break through the confines of the comfortable and see Christ, or they will see the church stuck in church familiarity and never return.
Leading the local church is hard enough, but leading when youre unsure what to do next is challenging. Finishing strong in your season will look different for everyone. But everyone can complete the overall tasks they have been called to and meet them with Gods excellence in mind.
Humility is not self-hatred, self-neglect, or self-punishment. Understanding the true meaning of humility is crucial, as the Bible never says, Hate yourself; instead, love your neighbor. It says, Love your neighbor as yourself
In addition to its growing local ministry, the church hasn’t lost sight of its commitment to carrying the gospel to other nations. Over the past 20 years, College Heights has sent teams to the Rifians in North Africa and to the Pashtun people in Central Asia, both unreached people groups that are less than 2% Christian.
Because the church is big on families, many events are geared toward kids, including bull riding for teens; Little Wranglers, an event that lets kids ride a horse, milk a pretend cow, “brand” goats with flour and a mop, and barrel race with stick horses; and a special needs kids rodeo.
Missional engagement is intentional preparation and serving of community needs. In this case, the community is the local church, and the need is to help facilitate providing a meal for a family in need, made easier by the simple act of offering one cup of coffee.
