By: Jenny Dooley on November 4, 2024
My Current Beliefs and Convictions Slavery I believe slavery is a dehumanizing evil because it deprives human beings created in the image of God of their basic human and universal legal rights that restrict their freedom of movement, self-determination, and dignity. I know slavery comes in many forms, including sexual, chattel, bonded, and forced labor.…
By: Dinka Utomo on October 31, 2024
Last June, I attended the International Reformed Theological Institute Conference at our alma mater in Yogyakarta. In a conversation with one of the participants from the Netherlands, we turned to the state of the church in our respective countries. The person showed me data showing that in his country, 51% of people aged 15 and…
By: Jonita Fair-Payton on October 31, 2024
“Only when something is lost can it be found. Only when something dies can it be born again.” [1] I have lamented over the past week about the current state of the United States. It has been an extremely challenging time for me, so difficult that I have had to protect my peace by…
By: Adam Harris on October 31, 2024
It’s the season for chili here in Tennessee. It’s getting cool; the leaves are changing, and chili recipe videos are now a part of my algorithms. Last week, I ran across a chili recipe that looked amazing and had great reviews. It inspired me! I got all the ingredients and made it for the family.…
By: Todd E Henley on October 30, 2024
Hunting in the harsh winter of Alaska presents significant challenges, and for an Eskimo, the risks can be life-threatening. In these extreme conditions, the threat of frostbite or freezing can become a reality in less than thirty minutes. This is why it’s crucial for hunters to be innovative and resourceful. One such practice involves coating…
By: Esther Edwards on October 29, 2024
As I read Losing Our Religion by Russell Moore, I was once again saddened by yet another book that broadcasts the state of the Evangelical Church at large. Moore speaks to those wounded and disillusioned evangelicals who have walked away or are thinking of walking away. One critique calls it “not only a memoir, but…
By: Kim Sanford on October 29, 2024
On the first day of my first class in my master’s program, I learned an important lesson, namely what it feels like to cross cultural boundaries. The professor of this Intercultural Communication class ran a simulation. Students were divided into groups to play a silent card game. At the end of each round the winner…
By: John Fehlen on October 28, 2024
I love giving people the opportunity to commit their hearts and lives to Jesus. It’s safe to say that over the last 30+ years of pastoral ministry, I have had the great honor of leading thousands of people into a public profession of trust in the Lord. Those “altar calls” have happened in a myriad…
By: Cathy Glei on October 28, 2024
Wow, there is so much to chew on from this week’s reading Losing Our Religion: An Altar Call for Evangelical America by Russel Moore. I am a little fired up so I apologize in advance for any leakage of pain and passion. Not only did this book spark something deep within, but I am sitting…
By: Jenny Dooley on October 28, 2024
I struggle to understand the specific brand of American Evangelicalism described in our book this week. I’ve been somewhat detached from American Christianity, and it’s taken a bit to get my bearings in recent years. I remember my feelings of dismay when returning for a short holiday break in 1999 to find my favorite local…
By: Mathieu Yuill on October 28, 2024
I recently had the chance to step out of my Canadian bubble and join my cohort—fellow students from the Doctor of Leadership, Global Perspectives program at George Fox University—in Washington, DC. Since our coursework is primarily online, this annual in-person event is a chance to engage deeply, especially in a place that holds global and…
By: Dinka Utomo on October 24, 2024
The rapid and unpredictable changes have left many people uncertain, hesitant, and even anxious. In last week’s reading, our class discussed the anxiety that plagues the majority of Gen Z due to the influence of social media. One of the impacts is the loss of meaning in real-world relationships. Even though they are virtually connected…
By: Adam Harris on October 24, 2024
This Sunday, we are finishing our series “Tales From the Scrypt…ures”. Get it? It’s a play off the old television series “Tales from the Crypt.” It’s spooky season, so we are diving into Bible stories that are a bit eerie and usually avoided on a Sunday morning. The one I’ll be unpacking this Sunday is…
By: Jonita Fair-Payton on October 24, 2024
This book had perfect timing for an assignment on which I am currently working to complete. I am working with the most fascinating organization. It is a youth serving organization that provides paid internships with Fortune 500 companies to high school seniors in under-resourced schools. Along with the internships, students receive training and mentorship. It…
By: Mathieu Yuill on October 24, 2024
Running a small marketing company is a bit like being the captain of a ship in unpredictable waters—there’s a lot that can go right and, of course, a lot that can go wrong. I have a knack for clarity—seeing through the fog, pinpointing problems, and figuring out the quickest way forward. It’s a great gift…
By: Kim Sanford on October 24, 2024
What? Humility can be a tricky concept, meaning different things to different people. Merriam-Webster’s dictionary says it means “freedom from pride or arrogance.[1]” However, the Oxford English Dictionary defines it as “having a lowly opinion of oneself.[2]” That’s not exactly the same thing. The authors of Humble Leadership treat humility from a bit narrower perspective.…
By: Todd E Henley on October 23, 2024
In his book Leading Out of Who You Are: Discovering the Secret of Undefended Leadership, Simon Walker exclaims, “Leadership is about who you are, not what you know or what skills you have. Why is this? There are two reasons: leadership is about trust, and it is about power.”1 This definition of leadership instantly…
By: John Fehlen on October 21, 2024
Several years ago, while living and pastoring in Oregon (which I still do), I was invited to speak at a leadership conference hosted at a large church in Washington State. O.K. Now, let me tell you the expanded and more truthful version of that last sentence because I just glossed over the truth to make…
By: Jenny Dooley on October 21, 2024
Humility seems rare in our current US political environment, western culture, and sadly, at times, among our more public religious leaders. Maybe humble leaders don’t make the news, but they exist. Genuine humility is essential whether one is leading or following. Defining and practicing humility is a challenge. I wonder how false humility has become…
By: Esther Edwards on October 21, 2024
I recently asked my daughters and sons-in-law (all millennials and Gen Z’s) what they would look for in a church and a pastor. Our family message thread was immediately flooded. These were their responses: In a congregation: a small congregation where we could get involved quickly opportunities to grow and be mentored to know the…
