Five Consequences of the Pending Retirement of Boomer Pastors

Podcast Episode #451

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Every single day, 1,000 Boomers are hitting retirement age. This includes Boomer pastors. Today we discuss the consequences of this reality and also highlight why many are choosing Interim Pastor University to prepare for their next stage of ministry.

Some highlights from today’s episode include:

  • More churches are starting to plan for pastoral succession because they’ve seen how other churches have failed with it.
  • Thankfully, more churches are starting to raise up pastoral successors from within.
  • The interim pastor role has changed over the past few years. It’s no longer primarily just pulpit supply.
  • There is no set retirement age for pastors, but too many hang on too long.

The five consequences we discuss are:

  1. There will be more pastoral vacancies than qualified candidates.
  2. More churches are giving thought to pastoral succession.
  3. More and more pastors are getting additional training for interim and bi-vocational positions.
  4. There is a mixed view on pastors staying at their current churches past retirement age.
  5. Some Boomer pastors will lead their churches toward mergers and acquisitions.

Episode Sponsors

The ministry landscape is changing, and the need for biblical training is more necessary than ever. It’s time to get your Master of Divinity degree. The M.Div —Midwestern Seminary’s flagship degree program — is the primary track for ministry preparation. At just 81 hours,…

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Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Thom Rainer.

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Married Couple Dates Again after Accident Wipes Wife’s Memories

Married Couple Dates Again after Accident Wipes Wife’s Memories



Even though Jeff and Angela Hartung have been together for more than 17 years, the couple is still getting to know each other. After a terrible accident, Angela lost all memories from at least 15 years of her life. Now this husband dated wife after accident to see if he can reclaim their 


Angela had been crossing the street in New York City when she was hit by a car. She suffered a traumatic brain injury and was left in a coma for a month. When Angela finally woke up, she believed she was still married to her first husband and that her children were still only 2 and 8 years old. In reality, her first husband had passed away many years ago, she was remarried, and her children were now grown adults.


And worst of all, Angela could not remember her current husband, Jeff. She did not even remember ever meeting, much less marrying the man who she had been with for nearly two decades. A lot of people may have given up, but Jeff saw this as a blessing. “How many times have we said, ‘I wish I could go back and do something over again?’ I’ve gotten to do that,” he said.


To start off, he put up pictures of their life together all over the house. Then, he decided to start dating his wife again. They learned to get to know each other all over again and Jeff never left her side.


Angela eventually fell in love with this amazing man all over again, and they decided to celebrate…

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Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Christian Headlines.

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What Does It Really Mean to ‘Speak With God’? Pastor Breaks It Down

(Photo: Pure Flix)Pastor Mark Batterson (2nd from left) speaks during an interview.

What does it mean to speak to God — and to hear Him communicate back? This is a question that continues to be discussed and debated in religious and secular circles alike, especially in an era in which atheists and skeptics are increasingly vocal about their view that “listening to God” is problematic or, at the least, nonsensical.

Read Also: What’s the Meaning and History Behind the Lord’s Prayer?

Mark Batterson, pastor of National Community Church in Washington, D.C., and author of “Whisper: How to Hear the Voice of God,” recently explained this dynamic during an appearance on PureFlix.com’s “Pure Talk,” revealing how he believes God communicates with humans.

“There is a God who speaks and the truth is He’s speaking all the time … but I think God most often speaks in a whisper,” Batterson said. “1 Kings 19 calls it ‘that still, small voice’ and I have a theory. My theory is this: Yes, God has an outside voice — He can make it thunder. But He usually speaks in a whisper.”

Watch Batterson break down how God speaks:

The preacher said that God wants people to be close to Him and to “hear His heart as well as His voice” — and that God is big enough to speak to each and every person….

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – The Christian Post.

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Cuba Approves New Leader’s Cabinet With Old Faces in Place – Urban Christian News

Cuban lawmakers on Saturday approved the Cabinet named by new President Miguel Diaz-Canel, keeping most of the ministers from Raul Castro’s government in place, except for in the key post of economic reform.

At the same time, the national assembly received a proposed reform of Cuba’s 1976 constitution that would reshape its government, courts and economy, and pave the way for same-sex marriage, although it would maintain the Communist Party as the sole political force in the country. The charter will be put to a national referendum in the coming months then return to the assembly.

Among the ministers kept in place in Diaz-Canel’s Council of Ministers were three historic vice presidents: revolutionary commanders Ramiro Valdes, Ricardo Cabrisas and Gen. Ulises Rosales del Toro. Foreign Minster Bruno Rodriguez, Foreign Trade Minister Rodrigo Malmierca and Finance Minister Lina Peraza will also remain in their posts.

The main change was the absence of economic reforms minister Marino Murillo who had accompanied Raul Castro for a decade while he implemented modest openings to private enterprise in the socialist economy.

Diaz-Canel replaced Castro in April in a historic changing of the guard in Cuba, but Saturday’s Cabinet suggests continuity rather than immediate change.

Cuban officials have proposed a reform of the constitution, saying the current one does not reflect changes made in the country in the decades since 1976.

The new charter would create the position of prime minister alongside the president, splitting the roles of head of government and head of state.

It would…

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Urban Christian News

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Free cheeseburgers and the secret to positive living

Cody is a ten-year-old boxer-lab mix who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. His owner, Alex Karcher, discovered that Cody would take his medicines more easily if he eats them with Burger King cheeseburgers.

When Alex told a restaurant employee his story, the manager told him that their location would provide free cheeseburgers for Cody for the rest of his life. After Alex wrote a letter to express his gratitude, the official Burger King Twitter account responded: “The world needs more kindness and empathy. Thank you for giving us the chance to do this for Cody.”

“The power of positive people”

The New York Times recently carried a fascinating article titled, “The Power of Positive People.” The writer focuses on research indicating that our well-being is significantly influenced by the company we keep.

For instance, positive friendships are especially common in regions of the world where people live far longer than the average. Experts are now encouraging us to create intentional networks of friends who will help us build long-term supportive relationships.

We can certainly use more positivity in our lives today. Consider this story in the news: Young adults are drinking themselves to death.

According to a new report, deaths from cirrhosis–the late stages of liver damage–rose by 65 percent between 1999 and 2016. Deaths from liver cancer doubled. From 2009 to 2016, the greatest increase in death rate from cirrhosis was among people between the ages of twenty-five and thirty-four, and the major cause was alcohol.

The study’s lead author suspects a connection between increased alcohol use and unemployment associated with the global financial crisis. He notes that “people started dying at increased rates after 2008,” and adds: “We know that there is a model of despair in young unemployed men who are likely to abuse alcohol.”

Why it’s hard to love ourselves

Proactive steps to build greater positivity into our lives are…

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Denison Forum.

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Nicaraguan Cardinal condemns government attacks

Cardinal Leopoldo José Brenes Solorzano, the Archbishop of Managua, told Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need that there have been two attacks on bishops in the last fortnight – including one on himself.

On 9th July, the cardinal was assaulted by government soldiers who entered the Basilica of San Sebastian in Diriamba – as were his Auxiliary Bishop José Silvio Baez and the apostolic nuncio Archbishop Waldemar Stanisław.

As well as the raid on the Basilicia, Bishop Abelardo Mata narrowly escaped armed attackers on Monday.

Cardinal Brenes said: “Please put pressure on the government, urging it to show respect for the bishops, the priests and the population.”

According to UN figures 280 died and 1,830 suffered injuries when government forces cracked down on anti-government protests over the last three months.

The cardinal also spoke about the situation in Masaya, 18.5 miles south of the capital Managua, where large-scale protests calling for President Daniel Ortega’s resignation led to all the roads into the city being blockaded.

At around 6am local time on Tuesday, Masaya was besieged by more than 1,000 soldiers and police.

By the time the government announced that it had retaken control of the city later that day, at least three people had died.

Cardinal Brenes told ACN: “It is an extremely difficult moment for the whole country”.

He added: “Hearing the appeal by Pope Francis to be a…

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.

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Chick-fil-A Flash Mob Video Goes Viral, Hits Over 13 Million Views

(Screenshot: Facebook Live Video)Over 60 professional a capella gospel singers from various countries staged a flash mob inside a Chick-fil-A in Nashville, Tennessee.

A video of a flash mob performance by 60 professional a capella gospel singers from around the world inside a Chick-fil-A near Nashville, Tennessee, has gone viral with more than 13 million views on Facebook.

The video reached 13 million views early Saturday morning. 

“I was shocked in the first couple of hours when it started to get hundreds of thousands” of views, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution quotes Chris Armstead, worship minister from a church in Marietta near Atlanta, Georgia, who recorded the video, as saying.

Armstead and 60 others were in Nashville for the weeklong Worship Leader Institute, which trains a capella worship ministers in everything from how to organize singers to microphone techniques.

A capella, four-part harmony version of Hezekiah Walker’s “Every Praise” that was performed by singers from various countries, including South Africa, Brazil, Australia, Guatemala, the U.K. and Canada, brought customers around the restaurant to their feet and got employees dancing, noted Tennessean.

“This song … has so much appeal across a lot of cultural context and worship styles,” Armstead says, and adds that the Chick-fil-A manager was cool with it.

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – The Christian Post.

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Notable Voices and the Week in Review: July 21, 2018

Five Marks of Effective Prayer — H. B. Charles

The last passage of Mark 1 (verses 40-45), records the miracle of Jesus cleansing a leper. It is also recorded in Matthew 8:1-4 and Luke 5:12-15. This story is about the miracle-working and divine authority of Jesus. This leper is a trophy of amazing grace. The priority of this passage it what it teaches us about Jesus, but there is a lesson about prayer in the actions and words of the leper. The way he came to Jesus shows us how to go to God in prayer. Mark 1:40 teaches us five marks of effective prayer:

 


Three Ways to Learn From Even the Worst Criticisms — Facts & Trends

Despite working in ministry and supposedly around Christians most of the time, pastors and church leaders can face almost constant criticism. I’ll never forget a friend in the ministry saying, “People are broken and broken things cut.” Church leaders are constantly around broken people who will inevitably cut. The critiques can range from the petty and pointless to the hurting and hateful. But church leaders often can’t do anything about the criticism. It will come regardless of how well you lead.

 


When the Preaching Fire Burns…and When It Goes OutChuck Lawless

There’s nothing quite like it, though most people can’t understand it. I share my thoughts about it today because I want churches praying more intentionally and regularly for those who are gifted to do it—that is, to preach His Word. When that calling hits you, everything changes:

 


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Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Thom Rainer.

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Tim McGraw and Faith Hill Discuss What Keeps Their Relationship Strong after over 20 Years of Marriage

Tim McGraw and Faith Hill Discuss What Keeps Their Relationship Strong after over 20 Years of Marriage



Faith Hill and Tim McGraw’s real-life love story has spanned more than two decades. And now, the Country music power couple is preparing for the “empty-nest” stage of their lives. After 21+ years of marriage, they’re opening up about what keeps their love going strong.


Not surprisingly, music brought these two together. Their paths first crossed in 1994 backstage at the annual Country Radio Seminar in Nashville. They kept their relationship strictly professional, but Tim felt sparks instantly.


Two years later, Faith became Tim’s opening act during his first major headlining tour called the “Spontaneous Combustion Tour.” Their connection was impossible to ignore and Faith broke things off with her fiancé.


One of the sweetest stories of their whirlwind courtship is when Tim showed up on Faith’s doorstep with cornbread and a big bowl of chicken and dumplings he’d made himself.


“He said, ‘I made these myself. They’re homemade from scratch.’ He had the bowl covered in aluminum foil, and he had a spoon and a fork on top of the bowl,” Faith recalled. “He said, ‘I didn’t know if you liked to eat your dumplings with a spoon or a fork.’”


Music may have brought them together, but it was their troubled childhoods that bonded them.


“Although our stories are very different, there was a missing link within…

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Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Christian Headlines.

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John Piper’s Podcast Hits 100 Million Listens With Marriage Sex Question Being No. 1

(Screengrab)Pastor John Piper.

Episodes of theologian John Piper’s podcast “Ask Pastor John” have been played 100 million times over the last five-and-a-half years, and just one episode, on whether oral sex is okay, has been played more than 1.5 million times.

Since the podcast began on Jan. 7, 2013, 16 of the roughly 1,300 episodes have reached the 300,000-play benchmark, according to the desiringGod.org blog, which hosts the podcast.

Piper said while the numbers are “encouraging,” he believes “the emotional impact of one personal testimony face to face is greater than the numbers.”

He added, “APJ is just part of a constellation of influences people receive from Desiring God, but it is one that people mention to me as much as any other.”

With 1,570,100 plays, episode 400, titled “Is Oral Sex Okay?” published in August 2014, became the most popular.

“I think it is wrong outside marriage. … Oral sex is even more intimate and delicate, it seems, than copulation. And we know this because even married couples are wondering if they should go there. It is as if it is a stage of intimacy that may not even be proper for married people,” explained Piper at the time. “To think it can be an innocent substitute for copulation so people can obey the letter of the law outside marriage…

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – The Christian Post.

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