Tag: spiritual growth
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Trolls Band Together in Theaters November 17th
Nothing's Stronger Than Family Harmony
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This holiday season, get ready...
Are State Laws the Solution to Kids’ Access to Porn?
As data continues to show the harms of viewing porn, particularly for children, support for stricter legal limits on pornographers has grown.
The Burial: A Glimpse Into the Life of William Gary
The Burial: Based on a True Events
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Inspired by true...
Pandemic Restrictions Had No Lasting Effect on Churches, Study Finds
Even in states where regulations were severe, most congregations moved on quickly.
Jeff Schoch was ready to be done with COVID-19 health safety regulations.
Like most ministers in the US, the pastor of Crossroads Bible Church in San Jose, California, did his best to comply with the many pandemic rules imposed by state and local governments. But as soon as they were lifted, he wanted to put them all behind him. He quickly tore down the state-mandated signs about social distancing, hand washing, and masks.
“I got rid of every visual reminder in the church,” Schoch told CT. “I was anxious, personally, to make that a memory.”
Across the country, Protestant congregations are dealing with the long-term impacts of the pandemic. A new, extensive study by Arbor Research Group and ChurchSalary, a ministry of Christianity Today, found that a lot of pastors are still in crisis. Some furloughed staff members haven’t gone back to work. And even when attendance numbers have rebounded, there are still people missing from many congregations. Christian leaders will likely be grappling with the fallout from COVID-19 for years to come.
But, surprisingly, state-level pandemic restrictions had no measurable, lasting impact on American churches. Even in places like San Jose—where the county government imposed some of the strictest rules in the country, the restrictions changed frequently, and authorities aggressively went after churches they said failed to comply—pastors like Schoch were able to just move on. The data doesn’t show any adverse effects from the government regulations.
Eric Shieh, a research consultant for Arbor Research, said that surprised him.
“You would think that the restrictions made things tougher for churches. They didn’t meet as much, and so you’d ...Continue reading...
Spiritual Detox: 5 Ways to Cleanse Your Mind and Spirit
We take care of our natural bodies with various detox regimens - have you considered a spiritual detox for your mind and spirit? Here are 5 tips.
Spiritual Fitness Tip: Pray Against Yourself
Meet new writer, Kristina Bolton, and her interesting spiritual fitness tip - pray against yourself. Does our flesh need our prayers?
Foul on the Play: Is Offense Keeping You from Being a Champion?
Are you often offended by correction or sound advice? If yes, your sensitivity to offense can stunt your growth. Here are a few play calls to help.
God’s Invitation: Calling all Comfortable Christians
What's Next as a Christ Follower?
Recently, I’ve been feeling like I’m at a spiritual crossroads. When you think of a crossroads you imagine the...
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Are State Laws the Solution to Kids’ Access to Porn?
As data continues to show the harms of viewing porn, particularly for children, support for stricter legal limits on pornographers has grown.
The Burial: A Glimpse Into the Life of William Gary
The Burial: Based on a True Events
About
Inspired by true...
Pandemic Restrictions Had No Lasting Effect on Churches, Study Finds
Even in states where regulations were severe, most congregations moved on quickly.
Jeff Schoch was ready to be done with COVID-19 health safety regulations.
Like most ministers in the US, the pastor of Crossroads Bible Church in San Jose, California, did his best to comply with the many pandemic rules imposed by state and local governments. But as soon as they were lifted, he wanted to put them all behind him. He quickly tore down the state-mandated signs about social distancing, hand washing, and masks.
“I got rid of every visual reminder in the church,” Schoch told CT. “I was anxious, personally, to make that a memory.”
Across the country, Protestant congregations are dealing with the long-term impacts of the pandemic. A new, extensive study by Arbor Research Group and ChurchSalary, a ministry of Christianity Today, found that a lot of pastors are still in crisis. Some furloughed staff members haven’t gone back to work. And even when attendance numbers have rebounded, there are still people missing from many congregations. Christian leaders will likely be grappling with the fallout from COVID-19 for years to come.
But, surprisingly, state-level pandemic restrictions had no measurable, lasting impact on American churches. Even in places like San Jose—where the county government imposed some of the strictest rules in the country, the restrictions changed frequently, and authorities aggressively went after churches they said failed to comply—pastors like Schoch were able to just move on. The data doesn’t show any adverse effects from the government regulations.
Eric Shieh, a research consultant for Arbor Research, said that surprised him.
“You would think that the restrictions made things tougher for churches. They didn’t meet as much, and so you’d ...Continue reading...
A Million Miles Away Trailer: Some Dreams Are Closer Than You Think
Catch "A Million Miles Away", inspired by the real-life story and grit of NASA flight engineer José Hernández