Finding Communal Joy in Lament
Letā€™s sing the Lordā€™s song in a strange and troubled land
Finding Communal Joy in Lament
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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
God is working in their lives too
Include Your Children in Life-Changing Decisions
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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
How I found healing after betrayal in ministry
When Loving Your Sheep Hurts
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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
How to do it well—in youth ministry and elsewhere
Saying Goodbye to Volunteer Leaders
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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
A Book Review
Dare Mighty Things
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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
Ministry to survivors of sexual abuse
A Voice for the Sinned-Against, Part 2
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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
Ministry to survivors of sexual abuse
A Voice for the Sinned-Against, Part 1
Image: Thinkstock

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 ...


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