
‘I want to be a pastor’
It is not unusual for young men who serve on church staffs to reach a point in ministry and leadership development where they start thinking about becoming senior pastor of a church.
It is not unusual for young men who serve on church staffs to reach a point in ministry and leadership development where they start thinking about becoming senior pastor of a church.
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Carey Nieuwhof recently released a video discussing five disruptive trends in the church, which included some sobering statistics. In this article, I’ll highlight one of these trends and offer thoughts on potential solutions from the front lines of reaching the next generation.
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Parents, our kids may not be physical captives in Babylon, but they are captives to whatever is captivating them. And that presents a serious challenge for discipleship.
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When I became a believer at age 13, my pastor told me to begin praying for my parents to become believers. I followed his direction, and I started praying that God would save my mom and dad. These prayers would go on for 47 years.
The statistics on sexual abuse are staggering, and this should give pastors pause as they consider how to care for people who have been sinned against in this way. Fifty percent of women and one out of three men have experienced an unwanted or traumatic sexual violation. Studies show that many who have been sexually abused do not disclose until they are adults, and the average age of disclosure is 52! As shepherds, pastors are called to care for others in the Lord (1 Thessalonians 5:12), comforting and encouraging them in their grief and struggles.