The Challenge Ahead: Religious Liberty

Forced to choose a single word to describe the year of our Lord 2020, it would have to be "unprecedented." From a global pandemic that shut down the world to a "land hurricane" that left a path of destruction several hundred miles long in the state of Iowa, we have watched many unprecedented events this … Continue reading The Challenge Ahead: Religious Liberty →

My Response to John Piper

John Piper wrote an article providing insight into his perspective on the current political climate. While I agree with his initial premise that Christians error when they justify the sins of one party's personality in order to condemn the sins of the other party's policies, I disagree with his overall conclusion. Piper places the sins … Continue reading My Response to John Piper →

The Church After Coronavirus

I just participated in a webinar by The Unstuck Group on the Church’s Response to Coronavirus. I found the information helpful as we consider the future. Tony Morgan expressed a lot of opinions during this webinar, and I am not sure where I land on some of these issues, but it is certainly worth having … Continue reading The Church After Coronavirus →

Time To Rethink Church

by Chris Eller, Associate Executive Director, Baptist Convention of Iowa The mission of your church is bigger than a 75-minute weekly service. It seems like almost hourly, more and more of what we consider "normal life" is being shut down. As we all grapple with the new reality of this time, let me challenge you … Continue reading Time To Rethink Church →

Coronavirus: Should We Cancel Church This Sunday?

Several churches are discussing the recent flood of cancellations, suspensions, and closings due to the Coronavirus and asking themselves, “should we consider canceling services this Sunday?” This is a good question to ask, and worthy of discussion among your churches leadership. I have read several articles and listened to some podcasts on the issue, and … Continue reading Coronavirus: Should We Cancel Church This Sunday? →

Barna: 5 trends driving Americans’ perception of church relevance, influence

New research by the evangelical Christian polling firm Barna Group, which looked at how Americans relate with the churches they attend, reveals five notable trends affecting pastors and Christian leaders. Here are the five trends that Barna discovered: Declining church loyalty, ‘church hopping’ Churchgoers on the value of church Churchgoers largely experience or expect positive … Continue reading Barna: 5 trends driving Americans’ perception of church relevance, influence →

Pastors don’t link world events to speeding up return of Christ

The Doctrine of Eschatology is falling on hard times in this age of the church. Mention the Study of Last Things or Bible Prophecy today and most evangelical pastors will look at you with either a blank stare (because they haven't a clue what you are talking about) or they will think to themselves, "this … Continue reading Pastors don’t link world events to speeding up return of Christ →

Arkansas Baptist State Convention failed to report abuse allegations against pastor, lawsuit claims

CE Comment: Failure to report sexual abuse is going to become a much more costly legal problem for churches and pastors moving forward. Much of the pain and hurt connected to sexual abuse in the church in general and the SBC, in particular, is rooted in a failure to report. If there is one lesson … Continue reading Arkansas Baptist State Convention failed to report abuse allegations against pastor, lawsuit claims →

How the Mighty Have Fallen!

This has been a difficult month for the American Church. On Sunday, Feb. 10, the Houston Chronicle published part one of a three-part investigative series on sexual abuse within SBC churches over a 20-year period of time. Then, on Wednesday, Feb. 13, Harvest Bible Chapel announced Pastor James MacDonald had been fired after a recording … Continue reading How the Mighty Have Fallen! →

James MacDonald Fired from Harvest Bible Chapel

Kate Shellnutt reported the story for Christianity Today: In the midst of efforts to reconcile with longtime critics, Harvest Bible Chapel fired its founder and senior pastor James MacDonald for “engaging in conduct … contrary and harmful to the best interests of the church.” Harvest elders announced this morning that they were forced to take … Continue reading James MacDonald Fired from Harvest Bible Chapel →