On the anniversary of the greatest single domestic threat to American democracy since the Civil War, what would you expect a respected religious leader to say? After the president of the United States calls out his predecessor’s perpetually expanding web…
10 alternatives to Operation Christmas Child
So you love the idea of Operation Christmas Child but you don’t want to support a ministry run by Franklin Graham because of his statements on immigration, religious liberty or America politics. What to do?
Stuffing shoe boxes for the world’s poor? Maybe you should reconsider
For many churches, Operation Christmas Child is a well-established — and easy — expression of their compassion for the poor. Some congregations, however, are discovering better ways to engage the world’s impoverished.
Rethinking short-term missions
When I returned to Haiti for my seventh short-term mission trip, I wondered how I can do good and not harm. The question of doing good is inherent in short-term mission trips. In other words, how can Christians engage in…
De-toxifying charity: Taking steps to make your mission and ministry projects more effective
In his popular book, Toxic Charity, Robert Lupton challenges churches and other charities to reconsider and revise their mission strategies in order to make them more effective. If a church deems Lupton’s assessments to be valid, what are the steps…
3 community development principles the church should apply to all ministries
“What would it take for us to have those we wish to serve be part of the strategy of serving?” That’s what John Maher, vicar of St. Francis Episcopal Church in Manakin Sabot, VA, said during an interview.