By Aaron Wilson From the Enneagram to what-character-are-you quizzes on social media, many people desire to understand themselves and the roles they play in their communities. Yet, as fascinated as people are with knowing their inner workings, many pastors are concerned church members feel indifferent about using their spiritual gifts to serve others. A recent study from … [Read more...]
Nearly dead for camp cred, but totally worth it
By Laura Erlanson NASHVILLE (BP) – During June, I did what many said could not be done. I pulled off the exhaustion hat trick, the triathlon of tired, the white whale of weariness – the SBC annual meeting, Vacation Bible School and CentriKid in back-to-back weeks. It was the Baptist Ironman of sleep deprivation. The first week of the month, I flew to Anaheim, where I … [Read more...]
How to pass the baton to the next leader: A Q&A with Bryant Wright
By Carol Pipes Today the average clergy member is 57 years old, compared to 50 years old in 2000, according to the 2020 Faith Communities Today study. In the next 5-10 years, a wave of Boomer pastors will reach retirement age. Unfortunately, few churches plan for pastoral succession. And that transitional period is often difficult. Bryant Wright, the former long-term … [Read more...]
Lifeway summer camps give kids and students the ‘best week ever’
By Marissa Postell JACKSON, Tenn. — Lifeway Christian Resources’ summer camps are in full swing across the nation, investing in kids, students and their churches for a week but making an impact that lasts both for a lifetime and for eternity. Yellow t-shirts stood out among the sea of humans on Union University’s campus for FUGE Camps. Big, bold letters across the front … [Read more...]
Mandrell shares Lifeway’s vision for serving the global church
By Aaron Earls ANAHEIM, Calif. — Speaking to messengers gathered for the 2022 Southern Baptist Convention’s Annual Meeting, Lifeway Christian Resources President and CEO Ben Mandrell shared the organization’s desire to partner with churches around the globe, including those who have felt underserved. After noting the challenges of leading Lifeway during his first three … [Read more...]
