Church trials live voting smartphone app to engage congregation

Worshippers at Aylsham Parish Church in Norfolk are asked to take their phones to services and use their handsets to answer questions which are displayed behind the vicar on a projector screen.

They can also rate hymns they like or dislike to help make future services more enjoyable, and the app has also been used to display a “word cloud” of things the congregation is praying for.

The more people type a particular word, the larger that word is displayed on the screen.

Revd Canon Andrew Beane said it “has given us an opportunity to be much more interactive in our worship”.

“I would like to think it’s pioneering,” he said. “We’re holding on to the traditional but embracing new technology to make it more relevant to society today.”

The church already offers its congregation free internet access through a scheme called WiSpire and has TripAdvisor. 

It has used the voting app, developed by Swedish company Mentimeter, in three services to date and plans do so at future special events.

Revd Beane said: “Sometimes you can ask a question and people are shy, but by using the app, everybody joins in.”

He said it had not brought extra people into the church, but encouraged greater interaction between older and younger members of the congregation.

He added that the congregation are “very…

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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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Primary Factors That Led to a Pastor’s Call to Ministry – Rainer on Leadership #490

Podcast Episode #490

SUBSCRIBE:
iTunesRSSStitcherTuneIn RadioGoogle Play • iHeart Radio • Spotify

A call to ministry is intensely personal, but for many pastors the call shares a few common themes. Today, we discuss six of those themes.

Some highlights from today’s episode include:

  • Those in ministry often (and almost always) feel called to make a difference.
  • A passion to reach the community is being realized by revitalization pastors and church planters.
  • The primary call to pastor is to shepherd His people.
  • Sometimes God gives a subtle call to ministry. For others, it can be a jarring call.

The six factors we discuss are:

  1. Desire to preach
  2. Desire to make a difference
  3. Passion to reach a community
  4. Heart to shepherd people
  5. A traumatic event
  6. Affirmation by people

Resources mentioned in today’s podcast

Rainer on Leadership is a member of the LifeWay Leadership Podcast Network


Episode Sponsors

Vanderbloemen Search Group is the premier pastor search firm dedicated to helping churches and ministries build great teams. They’ve helped thousands of churches just like yours find their church staff and are uniquely geared to help you discern who God is calling to lead your church.

For more information, visit WeStaffTheChurch.com.


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…

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

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Child poverty has risen to ‘unacceptable’ level, Quaker charity says

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) said Britain is leaving the EU with half a million more children “trapped” in poverty than five years ago.

A fifth of the population, over 14 million people, are in poverty, suggested the charity, in its annual state of the nation report.

 

Over half of those classed as in poverty are working age adults, 4.1 million are children and 1.9 million are pensioners, the study suggested.

In-work poverty has been rising faster than employment, especially among parents, the research indicated.

Child poverty has been rising since 2011/12, much faster than expected based on population growth, said the JRF.

Nearly half of children in lone-parent families live in poverty compared with one in four of those in couple families, while lone parents are more likely to be low-paid than parents in couples, according to the report.

Campbell Robb, chief executive of the JRF said: “We are seeing a rising tide of child poverty as more parents are unable to make ends meet, despite working.

“This is unacceptable. It means more families are trapped in impossible situations, struggling to pay the bills, put food on the table and dealing with the terrible stresses and strains poverty places on family life.

“It’s time for us to decide what kind of country we want to be. As we leave the EU, we must tackle the burning injustice of poverty and make Britain 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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TREM Devotional 4 December 2018 – Rejoice, The Wagons Are Coming

Topic: Rejoice, The Wagons Are Coming [TREM Devotional 4 December 2018]

“And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived:” Genesis 45:27

Today I come to encourage you not to give up. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. I declare over your life that your season of joy has come in Jesus’ name. Our text for today is about Jacob. Jacob had been convinced years before that his favourite and most beloved son had been killed; a scheming perfected by his other sons and Jacob believed it. In spite of the number of years, Jacob lived in sorrow of losing this dear son of his. But one beautiful day, like today, he got the unbelievable news; his son that he had considered dead was alive.

Click HERE to Watch SHILOH 2018 LIVE

What have you considered dead? What dream, desire or aspiration have you written off? What request have you filed away on the shelf and labelled impossible? I come with a word from God to you today: the wagons are coming.

What are wagons? Wagons are carriages or trucks used to move things from one place to the other. When you employ the services of a wagon, it shows you are not trying to pick one or two things, rather you have a whole load that you want to move. What are the things that you have written off? No matter the number, it is time to take them off the shelf because your wagons of testimonies are coming. Just like it happened to Jacob and his spirit revived, it will happen to you. The blessings that God is bringing your way today will surprise you. Jacob never imagined that he would see Joseph again, but God restored to him much more because, he not only saw Joseph, he was well taken care of throughout the famine. Jacob did not have to spend money again to feed his family, he was fed from the National Treasury. Think of it: all his domestic bills became government’s responsibility because the wagons came.

I plead with you to receive this word today and you will see the manifestations in Jesus’ name.

Further Reading: Genesis 45:16-28

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Ezekiel 47-48; Evening- 1 John 3

“If you missed yesterday devotional click HERE to read TREM Daily Devotional by Dr. Mike Okonkwo’’

Written by Dr. Mike Okonkwo; Is the Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM); a versatile man of God with over 30 years of dedicated service unto the Lord.

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MFM Daily Devotional 4 December 2018 – A Strong Wall Of Fire

MFM Mountain Top Life Daily Devotional 4 December 2018 By Dr. D.K Olukoya – A Strong Wall Of Fire

TOPIC: A Strong Wall Of Fire (Mountain Of Fire and Miracle Ministries, MFM Daily Devotional 4 December 2018)

FIRE SCRIPTURE: Job 1:6-12

MEMORY VERSE: “For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.” – Zechariah 2:5

The MESSAGE:

There is a protective hedge around every child of God. This protective hedge is what is referred to as the wall of fire. This evidence was revealed by satan in the Fire Scripture for today. Walls of fire are real protective hedges which surround God’s children. A herbalist who was contracted to harm a brother confessed that he could not touch the wonderful brother because he saw a big fire all around him. There is an invisible wall of fire surrounding your life even now if you are a true child of God. This wall of fire cannot be seen with your physical eyes, except God opens your spiritual eyes to see it or sometimes opens the eyes of your enemies to see it.

Click HERE to Watch SHILOH 2018 LIVE

As children of God, we are entitled to this divine protection. Job enjoyed this divine protection and as a result of this, satan could not harm him until God permitted him. When you have this wall of fire around you, no devil can harass you; every power from the covens of darkness will always bow to you.

Similarly, for anyone or anything to succeed unhindered in life, divine protection is the most needed asset. The truth remains that, for every good thing, there is always an opposition. People do not throw stones at unripe oranges but ripe ones. In the same vein, the devil goes to attack those who are headaches for his kingdom. When one embarks on any project without divine protection, the project end up in a fiasco. When a person’s life is not secured in Christ, that life may end up in crises. Divine protection is therefore paramount in every endeavour of life. The evidence of Job’s protection should encourage you to remain true to your faith as a child of God. Only a strong wall of fire can see you through life this year and beyond.

MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE:
A LIFE THAT IS NOT SECURED IN CHRIST IS IN CRISES.

PROPHETIC WORD:
Every secret battle presently raging against you shall fail woefully.

PRAYER POINTS:

MORNING
1. O God, arise and let me and everything belonging to me be enveloped in Your fire, in the name of Jesus.
2. Anything in me, quenching the fire of my protective hedge, come out and die, in the name of Jesus.
3. Every satanic fire, locking me out of the fire of God, quench now by the fire of God, in the name of Jesus.

EVENING
4. Thou holy fire, enter me now and incubate my life, in the name of Jesus.
5. Evil legs, walk out of my life and destiny right now, in the name of Jesus.
6. Every witchcraft incantation against my destiny, die now, in the name of Jesus.
7. My Father, clothe me and my family with the garment of fire, in the name of Jesus.

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read MFM Mountain Top Life Daily Devotional HERE

MOUNTAIN TOP LIFE is a daily devotional by Dr. D.K Olukoya (General Overseer, Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries, Worldwide)

Flatimes Notice Board: Until you are born again, God ever abiding presence will never be with you. You must be born again to enjoy continuous victory. Please say the displayed prayer below in faith:

Lord Jesus, come into my life. I accept You as my Lord and Personal Saviour. I believe in my heart You died and rose from the dead to save me. Thank You Lord for saving me, in Jesus name Amen.

If you just prayed the prayer of salvation online please send your testimonies and prayer request to [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.

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Open Heavens for Teens 4 December 2018 – Build On Your Strengths

Topic: Build On Your Strengths [Open Heavens for Teens 4 December 2018]

Memorise: But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost. Jude 20

Read: Hebrews 12:12-13 (KJV)

Bible In One Year: Daniel 3-4, 1 John 3

MESSAGE:

Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. However, our strengths are not meant to elicit pride in us, just as we should not celebrate our weaknesses. Some believers will often make statements like; “You know when I get angry nobody can stop me.” Or “For fear of encountering me in rage, people tread very softly with me.” Statements like these celebrate weaknesses. People who make such statements obviously don’t see their weaknesses as habits that they should do away with.

On the other hand, most of us have not identified our strengths. The simple truth is that any strength not built up diminishes into weakness. It is the strength that you have identified that you can constantly build on, and it is that strength that you constantly build on that will not retrogress into weakness. To secure your strength, identify it. Constantly build on it and avoid anything that can diminish it.

Key Point: The strengths of many have sadly been eroded due to neglect. Do not neglect your strengths.

Also Read: Teen Open Heaven Daily Devotional by Pastor Adeboye

Hymn 6:

1. Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home:

2. Under the shadow of your throne
Your saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is your arm alone,
And our defense is sure

3. Before the hills in order stood
Or earth received its frame,
From everlasting you are God,
To endless years the same.

4. A thousand ages in your sight
Are like an evening gone
Short as the watch that ends the night
Before the rising sun.

5. Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
Soon bears us all away;
We fly forgotten, as a dream
Does at the opening day.

6. Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Still be our guard while troubles last,
And our eternal home!

Daily Devotional for Teen’s guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries.

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Lauren Daigle Shares Her Views on Homosexuality, Says, “I Can’t Say One Way or the Other. I’m Not God.”

Lauren Daigle Shares Her Views on Homosexuality, Says, “I Can’t Say One Way or the Other. I’m Not God.”



Well-known Christian singer Lauren Daigle couldn’t say whether or not homosexuality is a sin because there are people she loves who are homosexual, and she is not God.


The Grammy-nominated artist spoke of her opinions in a recent interview on iHeartRadio’s “The Domenick Nati Show.”


Nati, who works as a celebrity publicist, shared his interview with Daigle to Youtube, giving the video the title “Lauren Daigle Doesn’t Know if Homosexuality is a Sin.”


He asked the 27-year-old a question that came as a result of her recent performance on The Ellen Show, and inquired: “do you feel that homosexuality is a sin?”


“I can’t honestly answer on that,” Daigle said. “In a sense, I have too many people that I love that they are homosexual. I don’t know. I actually had a conversation with someone last night about it. I can’t say one way or the other. I’m not God.


So when people ask questions like that…that’s what my go to is.  I just say read the Bible and find out for yourself. And when you find out let me know, because I’m learning too,” she noted.


Nati and Daigle went on to discuss her October performance on “The Ellen Show” as well as the criticism she received for appearing on the show.


“This is the first time in my career that I’m genuinely getting criticized,” Daigle revealed to Nati. “The second you step outside…

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

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Best of the Month: November’s Top Ten News Stories

November has come to an end, but it has certainly left its mark. From Lauren Daigle breaking the internet to House Democrats threatening to put Religious liberty on the backburner, here are November’s top ten stories.

Photo Courtesy: Design Editor Rachel Dawson

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Chris Pratt Gives Impassioned Recitation of the Gospel of Luke at Disneyland’s Candlelight Ceremony

Chris Pratt Gives Impassioned Recitation of the Gospel of Luke at Disneyland’s Candlelight Ceremony



Disneyland lit up over the weekend as Guardians of the Galaxy star Chris Pratt gave an impassioned delivery of the Gospel of Luke during the park’s annual Candlelight Processional. In Chris Pratt style, he also added in a few of his own thoughts on the love of God.  


The exclusive processional is part of a tradition that has been going strong for decades, dating all the way back to the park’s opening in 1955. The event is one that is truly magical, featuring a processional of local choirs, a variety of Christmas songs performed by a live orchestra, candle lighting, a bell choir, and a retelling of the original Christmas story, this year told by Christian actor, Chris Pratt. 


Pratt took time in between songs to quote Scripture and shared a few personal experiences with the audience. At one point, he spoke of his own journey in fatherhood and compared it to God’s immense love for His children. 


“Being a parent has really changed my life in so many ways, and one of those ways is to understand truly the love that a father can have for a child,” Pratt stated.


“When I stare at this precious little creation of mine here, and I watch the ways in which he tries to please me, I just feel a love that is so pure, and unending,” the actor continued. “The way we love our children, and the more we love our children, the more we will…

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

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DCLM Daily Manna 4 December 2018 – Overcome That Temptation

Topic: Overcome That Temptation [DCLM Daily Manna 4 December 2018 Daily Devotional by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi]

Text: Matthew 4:1-11 (KJV)

Key Verse: “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil (Matthew 4:1).

MESSAGE:

Temptation is an allurement or enticement from the devil to make us do evil. Temptations, if not yielded to, are not sin. Satan’s temptations often start at the eye, blinded to things it should see, and dazzled with vanities it should be turned from. Temptations commonly rise from the world and the things in it; the lust of the flesh and the eye, with the pride of life. These are the major weapons the devil uses.

The experience of our Lord Jesus in the wilderness reveals that no one is free from or above temptation. Jesus was tempted when He was hungry. This made turning a stone into bread very proper for His necessary support. It is one of the wiles of Satan to take advantage of outward condition to plant his temptations. The use of unlawful means to get relief could bring setback to us. It is better to starve to death than live and thrive in sin.

The aim of Satan in all the series of temptation was to bring Jesus to sin against God and render Him incapable of making the Substitutionary Atonement for the sins of mankind. Had he succeeded, he would have been too glad to have Christ’s honour ceded to him.

Believers are to employ careful measures so as not to be caught in Satan’s web; knowing full well that the glory of the world is the most charming temptation to the unthinking and unwary. The comfort we have is in the fact that Christ conquered all the tempter’s tricks. He conquered for us. Hence, followers of Christ are given power to overcome all temptations and remain more than conquerors (Hebrews 2:18).

Thought For The Day: He who yields to temptation succumbs to Satan’s snare.

Bible Reading In One Year: 2 Corinthians 1-4

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read Deeper Christian Life Ministry, DCLM Daily Manna HERE

DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.

Flatimes’ Notice Board: Until you are born again, God ever abiding presence will never be with you. You must be born again to enjoy continuous victory. Please say the displayed prayer below in faith:

Lord Jesus, come into my life. I accept You as my Lord and Personal Saviour. I believe in my heart You died and rose from the dead to save me. Thank You Lord for saving me, in Jesus name Amen.

If you just prayed the prayer of salvation online please send your testimonies and prayer request to [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.

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