Tending to the relationships in our neighborhoods is central to living out the gospel.
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Preaching God’s justice
What does biblical justice look like?
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Being in and for your neighborhood
As congregations developed online worship offerings in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many learned that their reach could be far greater online than it had been previously. Some churches report people regularly logging on from across the continent or across…
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Celebrating the Graying Church: Mutual Ministry Today, Legacies Tomorrow
Today, many churches and their related agencies and ministries are shrinking. Often a large portion of those who remain are older adults. Celebrating the Graying Church suggests that this is an opportunity for a new and different kind of ministry—a ministry to,…
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Third Culture Faithful: Empowered Ministry for Multi-ethnic Believers and Congregations
“It is appalling that the most segregated hour of Christian America is eleven o’clock on Sunday morning.” Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., 1960. This quote remains true and begs the question “How do we heal the church divide?” Mario…
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What is God doing in your neighborhood?
This week, we continue to explore the relationship between our congregations and our communities. Tim Soerens from the Parish Collective invites us to consider how our neighborhoods may teach our churches about the dream of God in the world. Jonathan Brooks’s church…
Read MoreAsk Alban: Religious Preference
by Larry Peers Q: It seems that a growing number of people indicate that their religious preference is “none”—or say, “I’m spiritual, but not religious.” Is there anything that congregations can do differently? Are we becoming irrelevant? A. Loyalty to religious…
Read MoreThe Church in Exile: Being a Missionary to the Dominant Culture
A colleague of mine at the seminary where I work recently presented a paper on the places in the world where the church had once been a strong and vibrant entity but, for various reasons, had become extinct within a…
Read MoreBeyond the Comfort Zone: Evangelism as Parabolic Witness
The United States is the most ethnically and culturally diverse nation the world has ever known. It is probably more diverse than the Roman Empire, or any empire in history. In light of this staggering reality, a critical question must…
Read MoreFulfilling the Great Commission: Congregations as Missionary Outposts
The Great Commission is Christ’s command to make disciples of the world. Reported in all four Gospels, it is the heart of a vibrant Christianity, a reflection of the kingdom of God at hand, and the source of a profound…
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