James Stillwell is a licensed pastoral counselor who does plenty of traveling to see clients in Kentucky. And somewhere in there he has a marriage he wants to maintain. That’s where prayer, meditation and Bachman Turner Overdrive’s hit song “Taking…
Rural, urban churches joining the monastic movement
The New Monastic communities get quite a bit of press. And why not? Their adherents shun contemporary society and church to live communally. They embrace ancient Christian contemplative and worship rituals, practice radical hospitality and serve those living on the margins…
‘Spoken word’ preaching form gaining as racial justice movements grow
Somehow, Trey Lyon is able to pack nearly an hour of gospel into a few short minutes of preaching. And have it stick. “Trey’s sermons are 10 minutes, but I would argue they do more work theologically and homiletically than…
Small churches ideal for Millennials if members, pastors avoid temptation to isolate
It isn’t easy being a small church. Their pastors and members know it all too well. They are usually under-resourced — fewer members often means fewer dollars, fewer teachers and lay leaders, fewer books, workshops and experts focused to overcoming their…
Pastors question roles, emotions when police and protesters clash
It was Charlotte’s turn on Sept. 20, 2016, the day police fatally shot Keith Lamont Scott at an apartment complex. Cops say he was armed. The family said he was reading a book when officers approached. Just as they had…
The ranks of ex-pastors grow as some join ‘nones’ and ‘dones’
Between the notoriously long hours, the unrealistic expectations and the severe stress on health and family, church ministry often becomes too much for many — in fact most — ministers to handle. For some it results in being fired, quitting or…
Baylor student continually relives Paris attacks — even in Waco
Baylor University senior Olivia Gambelin is a passionate advocate for international travel and study abroad. She highly recommends it after spending last fall studying in Rome. “A great way to open your mind to other world views is to travel,”…
Focus must be on behavior, not age, in shaping relevant ministry
For years now, Christian communities have been intensely focused on serving Baby Boomers, Millennials and other groups demarcated by age. But that focus alone is no longer going to cut it for churches genuinely interested in being relevant to the…
Types of Christians drawn to Enneagram growing
Michael Sciretti Jr. has spent years teaching about, and guiding students through, the Enneagram, an ancient practice that inspires spiritual growth through personality typing. And Sciretti, who is a Baptist, said he has also learned how important it is that…