The Seven Most Common Reasons Revitalization Pastors Quit

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Pastors leave churches every week. It’s a sad reality, but in revitalization settings it often happens for one of these seven reasons.

Episode Highlights:

  • Pastors should expect there to be critics in the church.
  • Your family is your first line of ministry. If you’re not leading them well, you won’t be able to led the church well.
  • It’s important for a pastor to have friends out side the church to maintain proper perspective and understand that they face the same thing other pastors do.
  • When pastors take extended sabbaticals (longer than 4-6 weeks), they run the risk of losing touch with the church and the church moving on without them.

The seven reasons that we discuss are:

  1. Unrealistic expectations
  2. Critics
  3. Family hurt
  4. Loneliness
  5. Weariness
  6. Financial stress
  7. Lack of self-worth

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

Revitalize & Replant is sponsored by the North American Mission Board and ChurchReplanters.com. More than 10% of churches in North America are at risk of closing and the North American Mission Board is committed to reversing this trend by decreasing the death rate of existing churches while simultaneously increasing the birth rate of new churches. To learn more about what it means to become a replanting pastor or to explore resources for replanting and revitalization in your own church, visit ChurchReplanters.com.

Submit Your Question:

Do you have a question about church revitalization or…

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

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Most Pastors Don’t Feel Qualified to Address Touchy Sexual Issues, Abuse in Church: Survey

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Most Pastors Don’t Feel Qualified to Address Touchy Sexual Issues, Abuse in Church: Survey

(Photo: The Christian Post)From left: Trillia Newbell, director of community outreach for the ERLC; Russell Moore, president of the ERLC; author Jamie Ivey; and James Merritt, lead pastor, Cross Pointe Church in Duluth, Georgia; and Kimberlee Norris, sexual abuse trial attorney at Ministry Safe speak at the Southern Baptist Convention in Dallas, Texas, on June 11, 2018.

New research reveals that while pastors routinely face questions about sexuality issues, particularly areas of pain and brokenness, few feel qualified to speak to them.

The survey — Sexuality & the Church in America I: Are Pastors Responding to Sexual Challenges Within the Church? — which was released Wednesday and explores how American pastors are addressing sexual issues within their congregations was based on research conducted by Barna Group on 410 senior Protestant pastors. The research was sponsored by The Brushfires Foundation, True North Freedom Project and Covenant Eyes.

Results showed that 99 percent of pastors surveyed dealt with at least one question about sexuality in the past year, and 27 percent handled 13-18 different issues brought by church members or staff.

The report also shows that seven in 10 pastors are approached many times a year with concerns about sexual brokenness, with 22…

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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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Scottish church leaders urge Government to offer Asia Bibi asylum

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Scottish church leaders urge Government to offer Asia Bibi asylum

Figures including Rt Rev Susan Brown (pictured below), the moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, warned Sajid Javid the threat to Asia Bibi is “real”.

In an open letter, they said: “Asia was acquitted on 31st October, 2018.

 

“Although she has been reportedly reunited with her husband and three children, she needs round-the-clock protection as Tehreek-e-Labbaik (an Islamist political party in Pakistan) has called for her to be hanged and there have been several cases of extra-judicial killings of people charged with blasphemy in Pakistan.”

The note, which was also signed by Most Rev Leo Cushley, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh, says the treatment of Ms Bibi highlights the “dangers” believers in Pakistan face.

It continues: “The threat to Asia and her family and supporters is real.

Church of Scotland

 

“The root cause is, of course, Pakistan’s blasphemy laws and we urge the UK Government to do all in their power to advocate for these laws to be amended to prevent their misuse and to promote tolerance and harmony between faith communities.”

Protestors blocked key roads in major cities when Pakistan’s Supreme Court cleared Ms Bibi last month of allegations that she had insulted Islam’s prophet Mohammad.

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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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Californian pastor speaks of sitting wildfire out in church overnight

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Californian pastor speaks of sitting wildfire out in church overnight

Pastor Doug Crowder leads Magalia Pines Baptist Church, Magalia is near Paradise – a town which is now virtually incinerated after receiving the worst of the fire.

He said he was first aware of the fire when he saw it in the distance at about 7 in the morning. The fire he could see was from the sane town where his church had helped clear up 150 homes from a fire exactly 10 years ago.

Pastor Doug told Premier: “However, within the next hour, the fire raced down the mountain 20 miles to the bottom of the town of Paradise.

“Paradise started evacuating and Paradise is disintegrated now”

The town of Magalia then got warnings to evacuate too, with 12,000 people trying to leave via one road. But Pastor Doug stayed behind with the people who couldn’t leave town.

“At that time it was moving fast but these things are really unpredictable and we had never had one in Magalia”

However, the fire then surrounded Magalia, leaving those in the church stuck where they were.

“We were then trapped from both directions and no one could get in or get out and we had no communication because they cut off the cell towers and so we had no water, no power and no communication.
 
“The only people who knew we were there were the fire department because they were trapped too.”

Crowder said he stayed so busy that he didn’t feel scared and everyone settled…

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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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Why are hate crimes on the rise?

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Why are hate crimes on the rise?

The FBI recently announced that reported hate crimes in the United States increased by 17 percent in 2017. That marks the third consecutive year the number has gone up and the single largest spike since the months following 9/11, when Muslims became the targets of such attacks across the country.

To compound the problem, officials speculate that only about 1 percent of hate crimes around the nation are actually reported due to issues such as police precincts not responding to the FBI’s requests and strange laws defining what constitutes a hate crime. In Kentucky, for example, homicides are not considered hate crimes, even when racially motivated.

These trends are troubling, to be sure, but perhaps the greatest concern is that it’s hard to look around us and conclude that the situation will improve any time soon.

But why is that?

Don’t blame the culture

While some will be quick to point at the rising animosity in our culture as the reason for the escalation in hate crimes, that explanation only scratches the surface of the true problem. To be sure, the rancor of our day, whether it comes from the president’s Twitter page or the headlines of CNN, contributes to the rising hostility. And there is some merit to the argument that when our cultural leaders seem to embrace hate and derision it gives license for others to do the same. Yet, placing the blame on public figures only further removes the responsibility that every individual holds for his or her own actions.

Hate is nothing new to humanity. Whether it manifests in jealousy, rage, derision, or any number of other displays, hate has been around since the earliest days of our existence and will remain as something we have to deal with until we find ourselves in a new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 21).

Encouraging, right?

Perhaps it should be. After all, if the potential for hate is woven into the fabric of fallen humanity, yet people across time have learned to overcome it, then we can…

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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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Stealing lead from church roofs should be treated as a ‘hate crime’, says security expert

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Stealing lead from church roofs should be treated as a ‘hate crime’, says security expert

Nick Tolson, head of National Churchwatch, an independent organisation that provides advice on crime and security for places of worship, said when his church in Hampshire was attacked by arsonists in 2015 for a second time, just weeks after a Bible was left burning at the altar in a previous attack, it wasn’t treated as religiously motivated.

“If a crime happens in a mosque or a synagogue, it is assumed to be a hate crime unless proved otherwise, but if it happens in a church it is assumed to be a normal crime,” Tolson told The Times.

 

“Lead theft is a big one. People may think someone is only attacking the church because it has lead, but they know it is a church, that the church will have to pay for it and that the church is prevented from worshipping and can end up being locked up.”

His comments follow figures released by Church insurance company Ecclesiastical that found churches made more than 9,000 claims per year for metal theft in the four years to 2012.

All Saint’s Church in Houghton Conquest, Bedfordshire, are currently raising funds to cover a potential £400,000 bill  after the Grade-I listed building had approximately 20 tonnes of lead stolen over time.

 

It may only receive £15,000 from insurers for the replacement project.

The Crown Prosecution Service defines a hate crime as an action motivated by…

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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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Justin Welby pays tribute to ‘prophet’ Charles on 70th birthday

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Justin Welby pays tribute to ‘prophet’ Charles on 70th birthday

The Most Rev Justin Welby said the heir to the throne had shown his “prophetic instincts” in his championing of the environment and his early warnings of the threat posed by plastic pollution.

The leader of the Anglican church was speaking as peers in the House of Lords hailed the Prince of Wales’ “outstanding service to the nation” and wished him “many happy returns” on turning 70.

 

Referring to accusations levelled at the prince of “meddling” in public affairs, the Archbishop said: “In the Church we politely say ‘being prophetic’.

“To some extent, his Royal Highness is a prophet.

“A prophet in the Old Testament is someone who sees slightly further into things than other people and, perhaps to some people’s discomfort at times, may bring them out and is then proved to be right.

“He has shown his prophetic instincts, not least in his welcome advocacy of the critical need to protect the environment and … his instincts around plastics pollution.

“Those efforts have been well ahead of most of us in this chamber.”

PA

 

The tributes in the upper chamber had been due to be led by Lords leader Baroness Evans of Bowes Park, but as a member of the Cabinet she was involved in the lengthy talks in Downing Street on the draft Brexit deal.

In her absence, deputy leader Earl Howe moved what is known as the humble address to mark the…

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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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Cathedral launches gin to fund revamp

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Cathedral launches gin to fund revamp

Blackburn Cathedral hopes bottles of Cathedra – on sale for £45 each – will eventually be sold at other cathedrals nationwide.

The Dean of Blackburn, Very Rev Peter Howell-Jones said: “This is not a novelty, this is a cathedral doing business.

 

“It’s about engaging with people, that’s our core business.

“Blackburn is not a tourism centre, it is not a rich part of the world, and we need to reach out to markets beyond our town and region to be sustainable long-term.”

Cathedra is one of several fundraising ventures aimed at helping Blackburn Cathedral raise £1 million to transform its crypt into a community, heritage and exhibition space.

 

Very Rev Howell-Jones added: “Gin is on trend, it is a developing market, and there is a long history of monastic communities brewing mead, wines and beers.

“I wanted to create a brand that would work across the country, that could create an income stream from which all English cathedrals can benefit.”

Blackburn Cathedral

 

If enough bottles are bought, there are hopes sales could also help fund education, music and social cohesion projects – currently benefiting 6,000 youngsters in 160 schools.

Stay up to date…

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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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Joyce Meyer Devotional 15 November 2018 — Attitude Is Everything

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Topic: Attitude Is Everything [Joyce Meyer Devotional 15 November 2018]

No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. — Joshua 1:5

Some of the challenges we face in life may be very difficult ones, but God never allows more temptation to come upon us than we can bear. In fact, with every temptation, He always provides a way out.

The scripture above not only says He provides a way out, but it also says He gives us the strength to bear up under trials with patience. That means we can go through them with a good attitude! Maintaining a good attitude in the midst of something unpleasant is the key to victory, and it enables us to enjoy the journey.

Prayer Starter: Lord, thank You for being with me through all of life’s difficulties. Help me today to keep a good attitude, knowing You are working on my behalf behind the scenes. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read “Joyce Meyer Daily Devotional HERE’’

From Joyce Meyer’s Ministries.

The post Joyce Meyer Devotional 15 November 2018 — Attitude Is Everything appeared first on Flatimes.

Love: Foundation for a Healthy Family Relationship (Part 2) By Pastor Faith Oyedepo

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Love: Foundation for a Healthy Family Relationship (Part 2) By Pastor Faith Oyedepo

Topic — Love: Foundation for a Healthy Family Relationship (Part 2)

Dear Reader,

You are most welcome to another interesting edition of these series of teachings. Last week, I started a teaching on the topic: Love: Foundation for a Healthy Family Relationship. I also defined some terms and I explained that the ultimate way to express your love, especially in marriage, is to practice love according to 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. This week, I shall be showing you how the man should demonstrate love to experience a healthy family relationship.

God is the foundation of the family. Genesis 2:18 says: And the LORD God said, it is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. He decides each person’s family and has a heritage of peace for every home. God wants to give His people peace always and by all means Now the Lord of peace himself gives you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all (2 Thessalonians 3: 16).

The man has diverse roles to play in the family, but for in this edition, I will examine just three of his major roles.

1. A HUSBAND
A man is first a husband to his wife, and the Bible says: Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; (Ephesians 5:25) It is the responsibility of the man to known that he has a ministry to his wife by meeting her needs intimately, emotionally and psychologically. The verses in Ephesians 5 teaches that the husband is to cherish his wife, treat her with tenderness and affection. As it is written: The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife (1 Corinthians 7:3) NIV

Love; however, is to be fed if it must grow. You feed your love for your spouse through a warm demonstrative love relationship. The husband has the responsibility to love his wife in words, actions and expressions. The word of God admonishes clearly in this regard:

Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered (1 Peter 3:7).

2. A FATHER
The word father means source and sustainer that is the man must be the provider and protector of the home. No wonder the Bible says: But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel (1 Timothy 5:8).

The all mark of a father is Responsibility. Fatherhood is not just about reproduction of babies but responsibility. The father has the core duties to earning a living to support his family. The dimension of the father in the home is as a financial provider; having to cater for the family’s food, shelter, education, etc. However, he does not only provide financially, but provides comfort, mentorship, guardians and protection for his family.

Also Read: Handling Family Challenges (Part 1) By Pastor Faith Oyedepo

3. THE SPIRITUAL HEAD
The man is the spiritual head of the home, who should build capacity in the spirit to take charge of the spiritual atmosphere in the home against wicked force. The man is also responsible for consistent family prayers altar, Bible studies, to teach the children about God and His ways. He should live a spiritual exemplary lifestyle so that every member of the family can follow in his stead.

Every godly man should see to the spiritual development of his family by the life he lives and the direction in which he leads. He is to enforce discipline and teach his children to have the fear of God. This discipline should however be in love. Many times, discipline is administered without love. The Bible says in Ephesians 6:4, And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Again Colossians 3:21 says: Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

The man is the principal figure in the family unit. God reckons with his position as head of the home and holds him responsible for any mishap that occurs in it. That is why as a man, you need the grace of God to function in all three capacities that is required of you. This grace can only come from God, the giver of all good gifts, including a peaceful home.

True love can’t be expressed without knowing God intimately and you cannot function fully in your capacity as husband, father and spiritual head without a genuine relationship with God. Loving God first is the way to love, but you can’t claim to love God without accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savoir, and becoming his child. Jesus is the expression of God’s love to humanity. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).

You can be His child by confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. If you have not asked Jesus to come into your life or may have neglected your initial love for Him, then you should say this prayer in faith: Dear Lord, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. I accept You as my Lord and personal Saviour. Make me a child of God today, teach me to love even as you loved us. Thank You for delivering me from sin and satan to serve the living God and thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.

Congratulations! If you prayed this simple prayer of faith with me, you are now born again and a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21).

With this, you are guaranteed all-round rest and peace in Jesus’ Name! Call or write to share your testimonies with me through [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.

For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Building a Successful Home, Making Marriage Work both authored by me, and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored) with Dr. David O. Oyedepo.

“Please click HERE to read other inspiring articles by Pastor Faith Oyedepo”

Pastor Faith Oyedepo is the wife of Bishop David Oyedepo, the founder of the Living Faith Church Worldwide a.k.a. Winners’ Chapel, and Senior Pastor of Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, Nigeria.

The post Love: Foundation for a Healthy Family Relationship (Part 2) By Pastor Faith Oyedepo appeared first on Flatimes.

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