A Glossary for the Confused, the Concerned, and the Convictional BY BEN LACEY & BEN ROBIN Words are not neutral. They carry ideas and histories, convictions and consequences. To use a word carelessly is not merely an intellectual failure—often, it is a moral one. In the life of an association like the Southern Baptist Convention, imprecise language has fueled unnecessary …
BY BEN LACEY A little over a year ago, I deleted my X account. I told myself it was because of what I was seeing: Christians speaking about other people with contempt. Cruelty dressed up as conviction. Snark masquerading as prophetic boldness. Brothers and sisters reducing image-bearers to objects of public ridicule. Thankfully, my timeline was clean. I never posted …
By David Michael It was a delightful meeting with two ministry leaders who were six months into the launch of a new church plant. They expressed much excitement about the growth and impact they were experiencing in such a short time. Their team planned to begin children’s ministry in nine months and asked me to help with preparations. This is …
Cody Mankin, Director, GuideStone Agency Sales & Business Development A church plant ushers in an air of excitement and anticipation. Unfamiliar faces transform into meaningful relationships, event calendars begin the framework for fellowship and hope for a community unfolds. What could bring this progress to a halt? An injury. A lawsuit. A fire. A data breach. A proactive approach to …
By Megan Cuzen, Director of Agency Customer Experience at GuideStone Some things don’t mix — wired microphones and baptistries, concrete surfaces and playgrounds, and poor lighting in parking lots. High-risk areas of your church demand extra attention to protect your ministry and people from injuries, crimes and lawsuits. Maximize church safety with a closer look at steps you can take …
By Nadeena Kersey, GuideStone Chief Insurance Officer Planning events, preparing sermons, meeting with members, recruiting volunteers, paying staff and scheduling building maintenance — these activities are likely a familiar part of your day-to-day tasks. Daily duties can become so routine that it’s easy to lose sight of potential risk exposure that could damage your ministry without the protection of church risk management. …
By Seth Hawkins Whether you’re breaking bread with new neighbors, celebrating a joyous occasion or lamenting grief with a trusted friend, what makes a house a home is the people coming in and out of its doors. So it is with vocational ministry; it may begin inside the church building, but ministry often extends to and through the walls of …
By Jed Coppenger It’s not loving to create laws that promote falsehoods, confusion, discrimination, and harm, while reducing the institutions that help people flourish the most. That’s why, out of love for all people, including the LGBTQ+ community, I’m praying against the Respect for Marriage Act. I know this isn’t a popular position in our culture or, most likely, a …
By Nate Akin February 10, 2021, I posted a twitter thread about “pastors/complementarianism” due to the amount of conversation I was observing on Social Media (SM) around the topic. This thread preceded both SBC 2021, SBC 2022, and the whole dust up with Rick Warren including the revelation that he was ordaining women as “pastors” but not “elders.” Almost two years later, …
By John Murphy, GuideStone Managing Director of Insurance Sales Social media has fundamentally changed the way we communicate with one another. Thoughts are broadcast to followers in a matter of seconds, generating quick public criticism or praise. Posts can be as entertaining as your latest vacation snapshot, as boring as your dinner plate and as controversial as the politics of …
