![Finding Communal Joy in Lament Finding Communal Joy in Lament](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/48642.jpg?h=168&w=300)
ISIS. Ebola in West Africa. Syria. The recent Middle East conflagration. Flight MH17. I stand in front of the congregation. How does my denomination’s expression of Christian worship and life together, teased out over 90 minutes every Sunday morning, mean anything really, ...
![Include Your Children in Life-Changing Decisions Include Your Children in Life-Changing Decisions](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/47866.jpg?h=168&w=300)
Standing on the driveway with my teenage daughter, we watch silently as her childhood bed and miniature table and chairs, packed in the back of a truck, pull away and drive down the street, around the corner, and onto the highway. Words aren’t necessary. We’ve ...
![When Loving Your Sheep Hurts When Loving Your Sheep Hurts](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/47864.jpg?h=168&w=300)
Tears rolled down my face as I confessed my agony to a friend: “I love God and I love the church, but I don’t want anything to do with God’s people right now.”
It was a shocking confession that came after a deep betrayal in ministry. Someone I loved ...
![Saying Goodbye to Volunteer Leaders Saying Goodbye to Volunteer Leaders](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/46769.jpg?h=168&w=300)
Leaders naturally cycle in and out of ministry. When it’s a positive parting of ways, create an environment where the leader is honored for their service and students, parents, and other leaders have a chance to voice their thanks. Make this a consistent ritual for ...
![Dare Mighty Things Dare Mighty Things](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/46761.jpg?h=168&w=300)
The book:
Dare Mighty Things: Mapping the Challenges of Leadership for Christian Women
By Halee Gray Scott
Published by Zondervan
Why I picked up this book:
Simply put, there is no other book on the market like it! Author and Ph.D. Halee Gray Scott has done her research ...
![A Voice for the Sinned-Against, Part 2 A Voice for the Sinned-Against, Part 2](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/46313.jpg?h=168&w=300)
Childhood sexual abuse victims experience lifelong battles to gain understanding of what happened to them and why. Statistics show that 1 out of 20 boys are sexually abused as children, and the number is much higher for young girls: one out of five girls is sexually abused, ...
![A Voice for the Sinned-Against, Part 1 A Voice for the Sinned-Against, Part 1](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/46312.jpg?h=168&w=300)
I walked into church in December 2007 as a 32-year old new Christian, full of anger, hurt, and bitterness. I spent much of my life feeling like a failure and did not see a purpose for myself. My father left when I was very young. My mother was searching for her own self-worth ...