Pastor/Church Planter - Beware

I was thinking the other day about what types of people I would warn a pastor/church planter about. Hang on -- here goes ...

#1 - The “I’m Going To Leave If” Person

Pastors, you are going to have people threaten to leave your church – period. And 999 times out of 1,000 the best thing you can do is let them go.

I remember once in the early years of my ministry, being on the telephone for over an hour, begging a young lady in our church not to leave. Why was she wanting to leave? A group of singles had gotten together and forgot to call her.

You are going to have people who don’t like the music, your wife/husband, you talking about your kids, the way you dress, the kind of car you drive, the version of the Bible you use, your hairstyle, your zodiac sign, your staff, and your belief on the end times.

You can’t please everyone … and, to be honest, that BOTHERS me! But, the reality is, according to Hebrews 13:17, you and I will stand before God one day and be held accountable for how we led the church … and I would much rather a disgruntled person walk out than for God’s presence to go instead!

Don’t ever be held captive by a person who keeps threatening to leave.

#2 - The “Let Me Tell You How Much Money I Have” Person.

Pastors, you've GOT to make a choice early - are you going to be motivated by money OR are you going to resign to the fact that Jesus purchased you, thus making you not for sale? Will you be a prostitute or a prophet?

I remember a guy calling my wife and demanding that we come to his house for dinner. He told her where he worked, where he lived (a NICE neighborhood), the company he owned, the kind of car he drove and also told her he wanted to get more financially involved in the church … all I had to do was come to his house for dinner that night. I already had plans, but I also sensed in my Spirit that something was not right.

I didn't go. I don’t play that game. When people begin to dangle money in front of you … it is ALWAYS attached to an agenda.

I have served some incredibly generous congregations who gave faithfully every single week. Some of the most generous people I have served never asked me for one second of my time. They gave with a pure heart and with pure motives.

When people threaten to stop giving, that is an issue they will have to work out with God. Don’t let a person who has a lot of money keep you from doing what God has called you to do.

When a person begins telling you how much money they have … trust me, they ultimately desire to either buy you or control you. Don’t let it happen. Tell them you are excited they have money, ask them to give generously, challenge them to be faithful in their giving … but don’t EVER begin to let them dangle money in front of you, thus becoming your source of motivation.

3 - The “Feed Me” Person

I have never been able to keep one of these people around … ever!

You know the drill … they always come from another church (they weren't being fed there either) and they want you to know that they are sincerely seeking a church that teaches the Bible (and they will stay as long as you teach THEIR VERSION of the Bible.) They are experienced at this "not being fed" thing. They have used it to get their pastor moved (when the overseer would buy it), and when they can't get the pastor moved, they move.

Even at a new church, if they become displeased with the sermon direction … or dissatisfied with your particular view on a theological issue … or convicted of not doing what they know they should be doing – they will say you are not feeding them and try to get you removed, or they will leave.

Pastor, being honest here … I've NEVER encountered a person who claimed they weren't being fed that also had a dynamic personal walk with Jesus. If that were true then they would show up to the church FULL and not need to latch on to the breast!

It’s not our job to feed – but to lead to places where food can be found (shepherd).

#4 - The “At My Other Church” Person

I'm sorry, but I have ZERO tolerance for this guy/girl.

They come into your church and begin to say, “Well, this is nice, but at my other church we used to (FILL IN THE BLANK.)”

I say, without apology, to these people that we are not “your other church,” and … if you liked your other church so much – GO BACK!

Enough about them …

#5 - The “This Is Too Big” Person

These people amaze me. A church will begin growing, lives will begin to change … literally the Bible begins to come to life … and because a person finally has to face the fact that the church is not about them … they take off, saying that the church is TOO BIG.

Now, that same person will go to a college football game the day before with between 80,000 to 100,000 fans (99% of whom they do not know) and be absolutely PUMPED that the stadium is packed. (Usually a sign that the team is winning!)

BUT … they want to go to “God’s house” the next day and desire for it to be small and “intimate.” Hmm, they want the football crowd to grow and the church crowd to be small … sounds like some very messed-up priorities to me.

Bottom line … the church is SUPPOSED to grow – period! And if it gets “too big” for someone, I would say it’s because their heart is “too small.” Seriously, ask yourself, what spiritual force would motivate someone to get angry when large numbers of people are coming to Christ and being taught to walk in an intimate relationship with Him? Jesus … or Satan? Seriously – it’s NOT rocket science.

Let the “this is too big” person go … and don’t argue with them!

#6 - The “I Want To Know The Pastor If I’m Going To Be Here” Person

Most churches never break the 200 barrier because of the belief that the Pastor must have a personal relationship with every member. At some point, that becomes an impossibility.

Here’s the deal, pastor, you and I are called by God to lead His church. BUT … before that, is an even greater call on our lives to love Jesus, love our wife and love and disciple our children … and there is no way that you can do all of that and also grill hot dogs with everyone in your church!

For too long pastors have been manipulated by church people into a “a pastor ought to know his church people” mentality. A thought that sounds good on the surface … EXCEPT for the fact that it is COMPLETELY un-Biblical! (Acts 6:1-7 is just one example. Exodus 18 is another!)

If a person comes in claiming they need to know you – TRUST ME ON THIS ONE – they have an agenda a mile long!

Yes, we should have relationships with the people we serve … but those should be led by the Holy Spirit and should NEVER take away from the first four priorities that I mentioned earlier. Nothing wrong with the pastor leading a home group who are not currently on staff. Nothing wrong with the pastor going to lunch with lots of people in the church – but never allow yourself to be “guilted’ into doing so.

Pastor, let me warn you – there are church people out there who will allow you to spend all your time with them … and then when your marriage falls apart or your kid turns out to be a hellion or you begin to fall apart spiritually, they will turn on you so fast it isn't funny! I've seen it … so have you – that is why you must prioritize your life … and if you don’t have time for every social in the church … so be it!

#7 - The “This Place Is Too Judgmental” Person

I was reading the other morning in the OT that if a prophet doesn't preach repentance then he isn't a true prophet.

Pastor, any time you begin to call people out in their sin, you will be labeled as an intolerant, judgmental preacher.

BUT …

The only people who get angry when you preach on giving are those who bow before money.
The only people who get angry when you preach on sexual immorality are the sexual immoral.
The only people who get angry when you preach on adultery are those who are committing adultery … or those who really want to.
The only people who get angry when you preach on gossip are the people on the prayer chain … uh … I mean those who are gossiping.

Pastors, speaking about sin isn't easy … but it’s right. We are called to call for confession and repentance … and offer hope for those who are willing to follow Christ.

If someone isn't angry at you, then pray for God to set you on fire and lead you to preach a message that will hit the majority of your church between the eyes … and then HANG ON!

[Based on Perry Noble]

Four Rules of Influence

John Maxwell says that leadership is influence. You can't lead without it. You can drive people without it, but that won't work for long. Leadership by fear or intimidation is doomed for failure.

Chris Widner’s new book, The Art of Influence, gives the proper emphasis regarding the topic of influence. He says in this entertaining short story, that influence is a gift followers give you because you have become the kind of person they want to follow and be influenced by. He provides four rules of influence:

• Living a Life of Undivided Integrity. Notwithstanding that integrity is in fact being undivided, he writes that while leaders do make mistakes, followers “do expect their leaders to admit and correct their mistakes, mend the cracks in their integrity, if you will. Left unchecked, eventually a lack of integrity erodes the trust that is needed between a leader and a follower.”
• Always Demonstrate a Positive Attitude. People respond to optimism. Bad things happen. And when they do, you need to ask not “Why did this happen to me?” but “What’s next?” or “What good can come from this?” “You are choosing to believe that something good can come from negative circumstances and that the future will be better than the present.”
• Consider Other People’s Interests as More Important Than Your Own. “Even more important than being interesting, is being interested.”
• Don’t Settle For Anything Less Than Excellence. Widner encourages us to grow our influence by improving ourselves around seven areas of excellence: physical appearance, emotional health, intellectual growth, spiritual depth, relationships, financial success, and charitable giving. Excellence is in the details.

A Boycott of Mickey D's

Americans For Truth has called a press conference tomorrow with other family groups from across the country at the world headquarters of McDonald's - to support the national boycott of the fast-food giant and highlight its record of promoting homosexual activism.

The press conference will be held at Wednesday, July 16 at 10:00 AM at the McDonald's restaurant adjacent to McDonald's world headquarters - at the corner of 22nd and Spring Streets in Oak Brook, Illinois. Participating groups joining Americans for Truth include:

• American Family Association (AFA), which launched the McDonald's boycott
• Liberty Counsel
• Illinois Family Institute
• AFA of Pennsylvania
• Family Taxpayers Foundation

"AFA has focused its boycott on McDonald's $20,000 grant to a homosexual businessman's association -- calling for the company to return to neutrality in the culture wars," said Peter LaBarbera, president of Americans For Truth about Homosexuality (AFTAH). "We agree, but AFTAH will also be highlighting McDonald's daily promotion of unhealthy homosexual and transsexual lifestyles through corporate policies like funding unmarried 'domestic partner' (DP) benefits."

McDonald's scored an 85 percent rating on the homosexual lobby Human Rights Campaign's corporate scorecard -- indicating its support for DP benefits, policies that reward transsexual behavior, donations to homosexual activist groups, and failure to support pro-family groups (e.g., those defending traditional marriage).

"McDonald's has wisely chosen to alter its menu to promote healthy eating habits. Now it needs to examine its fiscal priorities and stop rewarding unhealthy lifestyles -- starting with an end to corporate subsidies for homosexual and transsexual behavior," LaBarbera said. "Homosexuality is unhealthy, especially for men: 71 percent of male HIV cases in 2005 involved men who have sex with men, according to the CDC. And syphilis and other STD's continue to afflict men practicing homosexuality at rates astronomically disproportionate to the rest of society."

Noting that a McDonald's recently suggested that pro-family critics of the corporation's homosexuality- friendly policies are guilty of "hate," LaBarbera said:

"Christians and religious people - and moral-minded Americans who are irreligious - cannot sit back while Corporate America turns them into second-class citizens by equating their traditional beliefs with 'hate.' Sadly, 'diversity' is becoming a corporate code-word for anti-Christian bigotry - forcing people of faith to imbibe politically correct ideologies that violate their beliefs."

Church Security Legal Boundaries

One of the concerns that many churches have when they look at establishing a Safety or Security Team is what are they legally permitted to do?

Putting aside the well known separation of church and state limitations that exist, we all know that churches are required to follow both state and federal guidelines on many issues such as fire codes, employment regulations, food preparation standards, etc.

When we look at the legal requirements, trying to understand what regulations apply to a church security team can be a very taxing experience. Adding to the situation is the fact that the laws and regulations in two neighboring states can be vastly different. Some states have minimal regulations while others are very extensive.

In some states a church team must be a “Safety Team” not a “Security Team."

Finally, being “paid” verses “volunteer” can also determine what regulation you operate under.

Be sure to do you research well with your state department of Public Safety.

[By Jack Justice]

Ministry-To-Childen.com

If you do ministry with children, if you have a passion for reaching and teaching kids, then you want to check out this website. Tony Kummer, the owner of Ministry-to-Children, is a children’s pastor from Indiana.

I have found Ministry-To-Children.com to continuously offer practical tips, fresh ideas and encouragement for those involved in children's ministry. You will find inspirational stories, how-to articles, curriculum reviews, Sunday school lesson plans, practical advice and straight talk about children’s ministry.

Ministry To Children is updated at least once each week and you can get all new articles by subscribing to Tony's free email newsletter.

Pastor - Stay Sharp

In his book, Practicing Greatness, Reggie McNeal discusses how great leaders need to stay very sharp mentally. Reggie gives us several ways that we can keep our brain chemistry healthy. Some are simple. Others take a little more effort:

• Adequate sleep (a sleep-hungry brain is subject to fuzzy thinking and poor judgment)
• Proper Diet (especially a good amount of protein)
• Moderate your use of alcohol, caffeine, nicotine (don’t use these to medicate your anxiety
• Adequate exercise (helps physically, but also mentally)
• Daily doses of positive human contact (leaders who are connected are keeping their brains "wired")
• Mental recreation (It helps from making your thoughts dull and tired)
• Muse time (time to ponder, noodle, reflect)

[By Todd Rhoades]

Pastor Arrested With Snakes

The pastor of a Kentucky church that handles snakes in religious rites was among 10 people arrested by wildlife officers in a crackdown on the venomous snake trade.

More than 100 snakes, many of them deadly, were confiscated in the undercover sting after Thursday's arrests, said Col. Bob Milligan, director of law enforcement for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife.

Most were taken from the Middlesboro home of Gregory James Coots, including 42 copperheads, 11 timber rattlesnakes, three cottonmouth water moccasins, a western diamondback rattlesnake, two cobras and a puff adder.

Think he'll loose his license?

From Adversity to Destiny

"The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position" (James 1:9).

Most of us avoid pain. We keep our medicine cabinets loaded with pain relievers. We couldn't imagine major surgery without an anesthetic. We are so averse to pain that we think God must desire that we will experience pain-free lives. After all, a loving God surely wouldn't want us to suffer pain, would He? Although God takes no pleasure in our pain, we have to acknowledge that He sometimes allows painful circumstances to occur in our lives in order to shape us and make us more like Christ. Sometimes our times of despair turn out to be a much needed light into our soul.

I once came across the following poem written by an anonymous Confederate soldier, a devout young man who fought in the American Civil War. The lines of this poem express the soul of a man who has learned to view his times of adversity from a different perspective:

I asked God for strength, that I might achieve;
I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey.
I asked God for health, that I might do greater things;
I was given infirmity, that I might do better things.
I asked for riches, that I might be happy;
I was given poverty, that I might be wise.
I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men;
I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life;
I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing that I asked for but everything I had hoped for.
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am among men, most richly blessed.

Do we trust God to lead us even though we can't see the pathway in front of us? Do we trust Him to be all-knowing, all-loving, and all-powerful? Do we believe He does all things well?

As Paul wrote, "Everything that does not come from faith is sin" (Rom. 14:23). That's why God leads us through the dark places.

Only in the darkness do we learn to walk by faith.

[By Os Hillman]

Bibles Join New iPhone

Apple's much-anticipated iPhone 3G arrived Friday, one day after Apple’s new program-selling store opened its doors.

The new iPhone, which went on sale in over 20 countries, updates the one launched a year ago by speeding up Internet access and adding a navigation chip.

Its debut Friday was tied to the Thursday morning launch of its online App Store, which is offering more than 500 mobile software applications such as games and reference guides.

"This is the year that the cell phone becomes an Internet-connecting machine," commented Masayoshi Son, president of Softbank Corp., the only carrier selling the iPhone in Japan, according to The Associated Press.

Simon Evans, a 39-year-old chef in Hong Kong, told AP that he was convinced his new iPhone would simplify his life.

"I can use e-mail, the calendar. It will help plan my day," he said.

In addition to the games, social networking apps, and sports programs, a surprising number of Bible software were also made available for the App Store’s launch.

“While other faiths seem left in the dark, Christian software design firms showed up in large numbers to repackage what is pretty much the same thing, the Bible,” commented Mark Wilson, the weekend editor for Gizmodo Australia, an online technology blog.

In his report, Wilson highlighted six different Bible software including Bible Xpress, Bible Verse, BibleScope, Holy Sword, Universalis, and Bibles2GO.

"At the moment, no other religious texts appear to be represented on iTunes,” Wilson commented. “That is, if you don't count the ‘Attaining Zen’ rock garden app.”

Perhaps one of the most talked-about Bible software currently available is the Bible App, powered by YouVersion, a revolutionary online Bible created by the multi-site church LifeChurch.tv.

A key feature of the Bible App is that it allows users to join YouVersion’s diverse online community of people who add “contributions” to any verse of scripture. These “contribs” range from personal notes and thoughts or even YouTube videos, all tied to that one verse.

“We’re thrilled to launch this new application that iPhone and iPod Touch users will be able to download for free,” commented LifeChurch Pastor and Innovation Leader Bobby Gruenewald in his blog Friday.

“iPhone users can now have the Bible via YouVersion.com with you no matter where you are, whether you need help remembering a verse while talking to a friend or you want to make the most of your time stuck in line.”

According to AP, Apple is more than halfway to its goal of selling 10 million iPhones by year-end, having already sold 6 million.

Some say the App Store could be the bigger draw to the iPhone than its other major selling points, namely prices that are $200 lower than the previous iPhone and the ability to run on a faster cellphone network.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs told the New York Times that one-fourth of the programs are free, with many of the commercial ones going for $9.95. One-third of the applications are games.

[By Josh Kimball]

Is your church healthy? Really?

How do you begin your checklist of a healthy Church? How do you measure church health? What are the qualifications?

Some might say to "Glorify God" should be on the top of every church's list.

Among the listing, "a strong leadership" is imperative of a healthy church. To ensure that you have a loving and caring church, strong leadership credentials are essential.

Below is a listing of several well-known leaders in the ministry and their view of a healthy church.

Bill Easum: Marks of church health:

1. Clear sense of mission
2. Authentic community
3. Indigenous worship
4. Lay mobilization
5. Organic structure
6. Kingdom oriented
7. Experientially focused on Jesus Christ

Leith Anderson - What Healthy Churches Do:

1. Glorify God
2. Produce disciples
3. Exercise spiritual gifts
4. Relate positively to their environment
5. Reproduce
6. Incorporate newcomers
7. Open to change
8. Trust God and prayer

George Barna - The Nine Habits of Highly Effective Churches:

1. They rely upon strategic leadership.
2. They are organized to facilitate highly effective ministry.
3. They emphasize developing significant relationships within the congregation.
4. They invest themselves in genuine worship.
5. They engage in strategic evangelism.
6. They get their people involved in systematic theological growth.
7. They utilize holistic stewardship practices.
8. They serve the needy people in their community.
9. They equip families to minister to themselves.

Willow Creek - Characteristics of a Healthy Church:

1. Active spiritual formation
2. Authentic community (not public)
3. Contagious evangelism
4. Mobilized spiritual gifts
5. Good stewardship
6. Strong leadership
7. Cultural relevance
8. Effective, generation-focused ministry
9. Collaboration and partnership

Natural Church Development - Eight Essential Qualities of Healthy Churches:

1. Empowering leadership
2. Gift-oriented ministry development
3. Passionate spirituality
4. Functional structures
5. Inspiring worship service
6. Holistic small groups
7. Need-oriented evangelism
8. Loving relationships

C. Peter Wagner - Vital Signs of Healthy Churches:

1. A positive pastor
2. A well-mobilized laity
3. Meeting members' needs
4. Proper balance of the dynamic relationship between celebration, congregation and cell
5. A common homogeneous denominator
6. Effective evangelistic methods
7. Biblical priorities

Leadership Network - Windows into the 21st Century Church:

1. Effective leadership
2. Lay mobilization
3. Cultural connectedness
4. Authentic community
5. Kingdom collaboration

[Composed by Ophelia Livingston]

Cry Out America

America needs a new spiritual Awakening!

God is calling us to sound the alarm!

In 2001, extremist enemies assaulted our nation with the terrorist attacks of 9-11. These acts of aggression signaled a physical wake up call for our nation as we entered the new millennium. America and many of our allies united together in immediate response. Vigilance increased. Security tightened. Reserves were activated and our nation was moved to action.

Now, seven years later, a new spiritual wake-up call will be issued on 9-11-08. This spiritual alarm will be sounded by Christian believers across America in a nationwide, simultaneous prayer gathering.

Cry Out America calls for us to gather at every county courthouse from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. on this notable day in a united response before the Lord. Together we will cry out for God's mercy at the place of justice and focus prayer on awakening our county for Christ.

The Awakening America Alliance believes that now is the time to unite for America's future. Supernatural intervention is our only hope of turning the spiritual tide in our day. In every great awakening throughout history, extraordinary, united prayer has been critical. We need your help in making September 11th an extraordinary day of prayer.

We would like for you to prayerfully consider becoming involved by coordinating your county's Cry Out America gathering(s). Many of the 3,141 counties in the United States still need coordinators to facilitate and lead this event. If you believe that extraordinary prayer is needed to awaken our nation and you are willing to be used of God in making it happen, then please take a moment to review the county coordinator job description, find your county and apply today.


Printnt and share details about the 9/11 prayer gathering:
Cry Out America!, Legal Size Poster - Color 8.5 x 14 Poster (PDF)
Cry Out America!, Bulletin Flyer - Color 6x9 Flyer (PDF)
July Prayer Guide (PDF)

Download and print this powerful prayer guide to assist you in praying for a Christ Awakening in America. This month’s guide focuses on restoring the highway of holiness.

Order the Awakening America Leadership Summit CD's. Please print the attached CD Order Form and return it to:
Awakening America
PO Box 3986
Cleveland, TN 37311

Articles and Program Resources:

Cry Out America Generic Letterhead (PDF)

Cry Out America Generic Envelope (PDF)

Cry Out America Letterhead (PDF)

Cry Out America Envelope (PDF)

Suggested Introduction for Cry Out America Courthouse Gathering (PDF)

Suggested Patriotic, God and Country Themed Hymns (PDF)

Scripture Readings (PDF)

Readings on Revival (PDF)

Cry Out America Job Description (PDF)

Sample Cry Out America Program Outline (PDF)

International Awakening Ministries Explore the cycles, marks and necessity of revival.
LifeAction Revival MinistriesAudio downloads, magazine publication, and articles on issues related to revival.

Solemn Assembly - A sermon, in PDF format, explaining the Biblical concept of Solemn Assembly by Richard Owen Roberts.

From the Founding Fathers - Quotes from America’s founding fathers on the spiritual heritage of the United States

Lincoln’s National Day of Prayer Proclamation - Abraham Lincoln’s call to a national day of prayer serves as a powerful example of what can happen to our nation when we humble ourselves and seek God’s face.

Cry Out America

Release The Anointing Conference

Ron Phillips Ministries Partner & Friends Weekend is only a few weeks away. This year's theme: Release the Anointing. The dictionary definitions of anoint are pretty simple: 1. To apply oil, ointment, or a similar substance to. 2. To put oil on during a religious ceremony as a sign of sanctification or consecration. 3. To choose by or as if by divine intervention. In the Bible, kings were anointed, sheep were anointed, Jesus is described as the anointed one. New Testament anointing brought healing and deliverance. Today, we say that people have "anointings" for different types of ministry. Who can be anointed? Is an anointing practical or spiritual? Can you transfer an anointing?

At Partner and Friends Weekend, Pastor Phillips will take you through history, the abuses and the biblical uses for anointing. This teaching is fresh, will challenge your faith, and make you hungry and thirsty for a personal outpouring. After you are taught what the Bible mandates in regard to anointing we will, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, release a personal anointing on everyone who attends.

Also, you will be led in worship at every session by anointed worshippers Anthony Evans, Lester & Holly and Abba's Army.

Visit http://www.ronphillips.org/ to register for the conference, to find a list of hotels and to plot driving directions to Abba's House.

Integrity - What Is It, Really?

Richard Dortch was an Assembly of God state overseer when Jim Bakker hired him to come to PTL before the demise. He was brought on board as an executive and member of the Board of Directors of PTL.

In his book, Integrity: How I Lost It, and My Journey Back, he describes how the position, prestige, and authority led him and Jim Bakker to believe they could bend the rules because they were anointed to do the work of PTL.

It's kind of like a God syndrome. Once one believes that God has put them on a pedestal, they then begin to believe that their thoughts are God's thoughts, their words are God's words, and they can do no wrong. If challenged, they react with the presumption that they can do no wrong. Everyone lacks integrity but them. It seems easier to defend actions than to honestly examine them. They are quicker to attack than to admit.

Admissions require courage! When we summon the courage to take ownership of our experiences, to see them just as they are, to feel them, we will recover the blueprints of our lives. We will face our fears and find the transparent beliefs that create them. Becoming more honest with ourselves means introducing more honesty into the collective consciousness of the world, and this lays a foundation upon which an enlightened planetary civilization can be built.

If someone tells you that they have not committed any transgressions, realize you are talking to either a saint or a liar. Human beings make mistakes. They are supposed to. That’s how they learn. Human knowledge is the product of mistakes. It is only when the mistakes are hidden or become intentional (as in a hidden agenda) that they lead to inflexible viewpoints. It is how you handle a transgression that is important, not why you did it.

The wrong way to handle a transgression is to hide it, or to justify it, or to deny it. These are the actions (hiding, justifying and denial) that harden consciousness into an inflexible identity. Hardened consciousness projects a reality that can be viewed only in one way. Listen to these responses. Would you make them?
“I don’t know anything about it.”
“I didn't do it.”
“They made me do it.”

Creating these beliefs is like pouring concrete into your mind.

The solution is to begin to practice self-honesty from this point forward. I will exert my best efforts to become less deceitful, to be more fair in my dealings, more sincere in my speech, more deserving of trust and MORE FORGIVING.

College Accreditation: Frequently Asked Questions

What Is College Accreditation?

Accreditation is a voluntary, independent review of educational programs to determine that the education provided is of uniform and sound quality. Being awarded accreditation ensures that an institution has been evaluated and that it met set standards of quality determined by the accrediting organization granting the accreditation. A college or university's accreditation is maintained by continued adherence to the set criteria.

What Type of Accreditation Should I Look For?

There are several reasons accreditation is important besides ensurance of quality and adherence to academic standards. Accreditation determines a school's eligibility for participation in federal (Title IV) and state financial aid programs. Proper accreditation is also important for the acceptance and transfer of college credit, and is a prerequisite for many graduate programs.

The most recognized and accepted type of accreditation in the United States is regional accreditation. Generally, college credits or degrees received at a regionally accredited institution are accepted by other regionally accredited colleges or universities (non-regionally accredited programs are not as accepted). However, this acceptance is not guaranteed; it remains with each institution to establish its own policies based on the determination that the credits accepted meet educational objectives comparable to their own programs.

What Are the Regional Accreditation Agencies?

There are six geographic regions of the United States with an agency that accredits college and university higher education programs:

The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Accreditation of colleges in the middle states region (Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico).

The New England Association of Schools & Colleges. Accreditation of colleges in the New England region (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont).

The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Accreditation of colleges in the north central region (Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, New Mexico, South Dakota, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming).

The Northwest Association Of Schools And Colleges. Accreditation of colleges in the north west region (Alaska, Idaho, Utah, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington.)

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Accreditation of colleges in the southern region (Alabama , Florida , Georgia , Kentucky , Louisiana , Mississippi , North Carolina , South Carolina , Tennessee , Texas , Virginia)

The Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Accreditation of colleges in the western region.
It is often difficult to find a school's accreditation when visiting their Web site or viewing their catalog or other information. You can find out if the college or university you are interested in is regionally accredited by visiting the regional accrediting board Web site for their area (above) and looking up the institution name.

What Other Types of College Accreditation Are There?

Generally, large well-known universities (i.e., Harvard and Princeton) and statewide colleges are regionally accredited. Smaller, private colleges may be nationally accredited. Programs of study that are regulated by national or state licensing boards may require specialized or professional accreditation (i.e., the National Council for Accredition of Teacher Education and the American Bar Association). The Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) maintain directories of nationally recognized and specialized accrediting agencies. Programs that are nationally accredited may not transfer to a regionally accredited college. One well known accrediting agency is the Distance Education & Training Council (DETC).

The DETC often accredits institutions offering correspondence or other independent study programs. However, programs accredited by the DETC are not as commonly accepted by regionally accredited colleges.

The U.S. Secretary of Education also maintains a database to check institution accreditation and lists approximately 6,900 postsecondary educational institutions and programs, each of which is accredited by an accrediting agency or state approval agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education.

How Can I Find Out if a School Won't be Accepted by Employers or is a Diploma Mill?

According to the Better Business Bureau, many fraudulent schools (better known as diploma mills) are profiting on the popularity of distance learning and are attracting students into their “degree programs”, often with the promises of a quick diploma. These types of institutions have been around for a long time, and use aggressive recruiting techniques (through telemarketing and direct mail), following-up on consumer queries through e-mail or their Web site. These schools heavily promote in print and on the Internet, and often have sophisticated looking Web sites. Marketing representatives take advantage of students lack of knowledge about college accreditation, and use the terms“fully accredited” , “nationally accredited”, or “accredited worldwide” to assure the student of the program's legitimacy. The school's "accreditation" is usually by unrecognized or bogus agencies.

The Better Business Bureau offers several signs to look for to recognize a diploma mill:

- The school advertises degrees that can be earned in less time than at a traditional college. There are legitimate ways to earn college credit through prior learning and collegiate level testing, but the credit offered through these schools does not meet recognized standards set by the American Council on Education and National PONSI, (the National Program on Noncollegiate Sponsored Instruction) the two major college credit recommendation bodies accepted by major colleges and universities. Generally, fully accredited schools will award up to 32 credits through examination and prior learning towards an undergraduate degree, but no reputable schools will award graduate degrees earned mainly through career portfolios.
- The school states that it is accredited, but lists organizations that (although impressive sounding) are not recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, or attempt to show official status by alleging state licensure or registration.
- You earn your "diploma" by tuition paid on a per-degree basis. Traditional colleges charge tuition by credit hours, or by course or semester. The school may offer admission only by securing your credit information, and does not require documentation of academic records.
- The school provides little or no communication with faculty, or the school’s Web site does not provide information on faculty or names faculty who have graduated from unaccredited schools.
- The college's name is similar to a well known university.
- The school provides addresses that are only post office box numbers or suites.

Your college education is one of the most important investments you'll ever make. If unsure of a school's status, check the Better Business Bureau or state attorney general's office to ensure the college is legitimate and if there have been any complaints.