Half of American Idol's Top Ten are Worship Leaders or Have Church Ties

According to www.MTV.com: "more than half of this year's crop of finalists — including Danny Gokey, Michael Sarver, Kris Allen, Scott MacIntyre, Matt Giraud and Lil Rounds — either have a strong affiliation with the church or are worship leaders in their communities.

"I think that Christians probably watch the show all the time but maybe don't admit it. But this gives them someone to root for in this cast who is not just talented but also follows their faith, and people want to get behind contestants who align with their views," said Joanne Brokaw, who writes the Gospel Soundcheck" column for the spirituality Web site www.BeliefNet.com. "Christian music has always had this cheesy label attached to it, and this shows that a Christian singer can have artistic integrity and they are people who can really sing."

You can read more here at MTV.com...

Pastor Robin Beets Arrested on Sex Charges

A trusted Pulaski, Tennessee Reverend is facing some disturbing charges.

42-year old Robin Beets is the pastor of the Welcome Valley Baptist Church in Giles County.

Beets is charged with rape and kidnapping. He was arrested earlier this week, now police say they found additional evidence against him. Folks who know the Reverend are stunned.

Beets was released Wednesday from the Giles County jail on $152,000 bond.

[from WAAY - WAAY News and Home]

Pastor Clarke Remains In Jail

A federal appeals court upheld the conviction of Birmingham, Alabama, pastor Gregory Clarke.

In 2007, a federal jury convicted the Rev. Clarke, pastor of the 6,000-member New Hope Baptist Church in Birmingham, on charges he filed false income tax returns for 2000, 2001 and 2002.

Prosecutors said Clarke underreported $100,000 in earned income and concocted schemes to deceive the government about the money. Clarke maintained at trial that he received gifts and love offerings.

Clarke's attorneys argued on appeal that there was not enough evidence to support a guilty verdict and that the jury was not a fair cross section of the community. He is serving his 21-month prison term at an Atlanta federal prison. Judges at the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that there were no errors at the district court level and that the conviction and sentence should stand.

Read the three-judge panel's opinion.

[from The Birmingham News - al.com by jmacdonald@bhamnews.com]

Setting the Environment for Success

Hopefully, every minister of the Gospel wants to be successful in their work for the Lord. Pastors have a heart for church growth, and hopefully Bishops and trans-local church leaders want to create an environment for growth in the Church and the Kingdom.

None of us do this alone. Our business is people. And we need staff, paid or volunteer, to come along side us and be a part of the team.

I believe the following suggestions are applicable to churches, ministries, denominations, and businesses.

What can a leader do to create an environment for success? Here are 10 ideas, in order of importance:

1. Create motivating work. THE most important thing any leader can do to create a motivating environment is to make sure the work every member of the team is doing is strategic. That is, the work is important to success. When you feel like what you are doing is making a difference, it’s energizing. On the other hand, there’s no worse feeling than knowing your work just doesn’t matter. Every leader has some degree of discretion in being able to eliminate or minimize the amount of “muda” (non-value-added work) that flows into a team.

Any job can be strategic. I’m sure you’ve heard the story of the two bricklayers; one of them saw his job as stacking bricks. The other saw his mission as building a magnificent cathedral. Same job – different worldview.

Making sure work is strategic is the best form of job security a leader can give a team. It’s every leader’s job to scrutinize every team member’s work like a CEO looking for jobs to cut. If the work is important, it’s less likely to be eliminated.

2. Recruit "A" players and move "C" players. A players (high performers) tend to be self-motivated to begin with. When you create a team of A players, they feed off of each other. The standards are raised, the energy level increases, teamwork improves, and there’s a low tolerance for anything less than excellence. On the other hand, one or more C players (poor performers or bad attitudes) can infect a team like a cancer, breed resentment, and drag everyone down.

God loves everyone and so do we. There is a place in the church for everyone. However, it is not God's divine purpose for everyone to be in leadership. Nothing is worse than people trying to do something they are not gifted or called to do. And, nothing is more successful than a team with each team member functioning in the role for which they were divinely called and gifted.

3. Don’t micromanage – get out of the way. "A" players don’t need to have a leader breathing down their necks – in fact, it drives them crazy. Show your people that you are interested in what they are doing, but you trust them to make their own decisions and do things differently than you might do them.

4. Promote your team’s work. As a leader, it’s your job to be your team’s PR agent. Make sure their good work gets noticed, recognized, and appreciated. Don’t worry about over promoting your team’s good work – most people love to get good news. Just make sure the bragging is about them – not about you.

5. Loosen up the rules and bureaucracy. As long as your team is focusing on what’s really important (see #1, strategic work), and performing at a high level (see #2, "A" players), cut them some slack. Don’t hassle them with minutia, give them flexibility in work hours, and protect them from useless programs (stupid mandates passed down from people whose job it was to push muda on everyone else).

6. Don’t be a jerk. Sounds simple, but as leaders, we’re all human. No one sees themselves as a jerk, and no one wants to be a jerk. But, there are many. The key is to be open to feedback. Ask a few trusted team members to let you know if you’ve done or said something insensitive or clueless.

I’m fortunate to have a few people who will (tactfully) tell it like it is to me – and while it stings, and I feel like a fool, I completely appreciate it. It gives me a chance to make amends.

7. Get personal. Get to know your people, learn about their families, their career goals, and truly care about them. I know a leader who when one of his team went above and beyond the call of duty, and put in extra hours, he would send a hand written note to the person’s spouse along with a gift certificate for a night out. He recognized the effect this extra work was having on his home life, and wanted to let the spouse know what a great job he was doing and how much he appreciated her support. While that may not be appropriate for everyone, it’s an example of showing your people you care about their personal lives, not just public ministry. Don’t let your team get carried away and miss out on important family events – let them know that family always comes first.

8. Set a good example. Be motivated, enthused, energized, and passionate about your own work and the work of the team.

9. Encourage camaraderie during work hours. Bring in a pizza now and then, go out to lunch, and celebrate milestones. Notice I said during work hours. While it’s OK if the team wants to go out together after a day at the church, or get together on their own time, I don’t believe a leader should intrude on people’s own time in the name of teambuilding.

10. Pay people for what they are worth. Yes, compensation is important, but I’ve listed it last. While pay is not a motivator, it can be a de-motivator if people feel they are underpaid. Do everything you can as a leader to fight for well deserved merit increases, promotions, and bonuses. Of all the entities in the world, Christians and Churches should pay best because they genuinely care about people.

[from Great Leadership by Dan McCarthy]

Children's Ministry Conference Draws Over 3,000 for Time to "Conspire"

Children’s ministry leaders representing 1,000 churches of varying styles, sizes, and locations are gathering this week with one common goal – to see every child that God sends their way launched into a lifetime devotion to Jesus Christ.

Starting Wednesday, more than 3,000 children’s ministry workers will be participating in the “Conspire” conference, hosted by the Willow Creek Association.

Amid the Mar. 18-20 event will be five main sessions led by speakers – including Veggie Tales creator Phil Vischer – on topics ranging from how culture influences children to how to bring out the strengths of children. Also included are 60 breakout sessions on a variety of practical topics such as event planning, effective budgeting, and rewiring ministry for digital learners.

“Those of us on the Conspire team believe very strongly in the power of community and relating with those who serve in ministry,” the conference organizers say. “Ministry is just too hard to do alone – without encouragement and empowerment none of us would survive.”

This year’s conference comes just a week after a study released by The Barna Group revealed that less than one percent of the youngest adult generation in America, those between ages 18 and 23, has a biblical worldview.

Furthermore, a study last month by LifeWay Research found that the majority of parents (60 percent) heavily rely on their own experiences growing up for parenting guidance but only one-fifth say they receive a lot of guidance from sacred text such as the Bible or Koran.

“We believe that when the church and home are working together in partnership, a child will be spiritually formed for a lifetime,” organizers of “Conspire” say.

For this year’s conference, organizers are trying to get people who are not able to attend to get connected to the conversations through social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, CM Connect, and You Tube.

There is also a blog for the conference on the event’s website, willowcreek.com/conspireconference, which will update parents and children’s ministry workers wanting to join.

The conference’s name, “Conspire,” is the combination of the words “connect” and “inspire.”
“Through our resources, events and communities we are encouraging connections between ministry leaders, churches and families, and children to the love of Christ,” conference organizers explain. “We are inspiring new ideas and many models with one vision–seeing children choose Christ for a lifetime.”

Since 2003, the Willow Creek Association has been hosting its annual children’s ministry conference in South Barrington, Ill. The association was founded in 1992 by megachurch pastor Bill Hybels, who currently serves as chairman of the board and senior pastor of Willow Creek Community Church.

[from The Christian Post by Eric Young]

Church Planting Quiz

God Grown has come up with a quiz to help one determine whether or not your heart is in the right place for going out and starting a new church.

Click here to take the QUIZ.

Church Planting Thoughts

Launching large is a key … there is a corrolation between launching large and reaching as many people as possible … for God’s dream for your church is bigger than your dream.

Launching quickly is a key, too. Start quickly, in 2-4 months beginning monthly services, then a few more months going to weekly services. Lost people are the same everywhere; they’re not going to come to your church until you start services.

A third key is launching from the outside in. Opposite from the Purpose-Driven concentric circles, you have no core when you start a new church. In fact, new churches shouldn’t have a core for about a year. Focus only on the community and the crowd … try to get people to come to your church/service. If you build a core, they become resistant to reaching more lost people and will become inwardly focused. You and your worship leader with everybody else lost is lots better than a bunch of disgruntled Christians from the church down the street.

There are a number of significant ideas to understand and implement, including the following:
- Your calling is the most important factor to your plant’s success.
- Resist the temptation to do everything first … do the weekend service/childcare and evangelism, no more.

Calling. There are no higher highs and no lower lows than in church planting. Most churches fail because they’re led by a non-called leader. In fact, the calling of God is the only thing that will keep you there at times. God ALWAYS calls both you and your spouse to church planting … but not necessarily at the same time. And you will most likely be called to reach people like yourself … 93% of planters do, since only 7% have a cross-cultural gift.

The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing as one of the 5 most important books church planters should read. This book, by Al Reiss and Jack Trout, will help you live out your calling and reach all ages. Music is the number one key. “The call” is a call to prepare to lead, to teach, to depend on God!

Focus on the “nuts and bolts” side of church planting. One of the focus elements needed is raising funds for church planting. The only people who don’t like you talking about money are people that come to you from other churches. God’s work done God’s way will never lack God’s provision. God wants you to succeed!

Funding. Start by knowing how much you’ll need to start your work. Plan on salaries that are comparable to the people you’re trying to reach. Get the only kind of equipment you need … not top of the line stuff … this is, in fact, one of the biggest mistakes planters make today. No monies are left to do evangelism or add staff! Lease equipment if you can, instead of buying it. Don’t just assume you know what’s happening in the city; find out by talking to business people in the community where you’ll serve. Plan for being self-sufficient as a new church in 2-4 years and be able to show potential donors how you’re going to do that.

The largest base of donors come from local churches across the country. A very few come from personal relationships. Most give $2,000-$3,000 a month for one to three years. Most came after you launch because churches like to fund success. And know that fund raising must continue through the years. Finally, don’t ever forget, you (planter) are the chief fundraiser for the new church; no one else can replace you with donors. So, over four years, you will need up to half a million dollars for your church plant. These skills used in raising this money will be used over and over again in the growth and development of your church.

Why do some churches succeed and others don’t? Leadership, planning and the spiritual blessing of God. There are probably lots of others. IN FACT, the most important factor is A HEALTHY LAUNCH … 80% of the time this is the key to success, just as a healthy birth is key to a child’s growth and development.

Planning Your First Service. Picking the right date for launch is the most important decision you’ll make after you nail down your call from God. Easter … when school starts back … these are good times, but not the best. The best time is February. This gives you a chance for a second launch at Easter, before the drop off in summer. Then you have a major push in the fall and you’re off to a great start. And don’t launch at any other time of the week than Sunday morning. Then back up 3-6 months to start your monthly services that will lead up to your launch. And by the way, your launch team commits to help you launch the church weekly, but it goes away after you’ve started weekly services.

Meeting Location. The location where you meet should match the people you’re trying to reach. Ideally, it will be a place like a hotel ballroom where you can move from one place to another. Movie theaters are also good, as are comedy clubs. Public school auditoriums are another option or community theaters, but they are pricey. But regardless, don’t sign a long-term lease.

Launch Day. Start a teaching series this day based on a felt-need important to your target group. Have your launch team inviting their friends to join you for this first weekly service. And don’t ever use a guest musician or band on this day! People need to see what’s going to be a part of the regular church life from this time forward. Finally, be sure to collect information from everyone who attends and followup on them right away.

Three Great Temptations You Must Overcome. First, you will be tempted to change the launch date. NEVER change it … NEVER. Second, don’t delegate too much control and authority to the launch team. You must lead, so take responsibility and make it happen. Third, you may be tempted to merge with another (dying) congregation that offers you resources but brings with it lots and lots of baggage. DON’T DO IT!

Staffing. The most important staff hire you’ll ever make is your worship leader … if done right, this hire will create incredible synergy. Hire from within when possible but make sure they’re called. Also, hire parttime before fulltime. And if you hire your wife as a staffer with you, find a counselor RIGHT NOW. Don’t wait till it damages your marriage to deal with it.

[from Church Multiplication]

Why the Church Needs to Develop Community

THE BIBLE constantly reminds believers that God has a soft spot for the poor and vulnerable, and those that help the disadvantaged and dispossessed will experience God’s favour and blessing. James also stated that those who followed religion which was true and pure were to "look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

There’s no doubt that over the years Britain’s black churches have provide a welcome respite for the disadvantaged in our community. When churches were first started by the West Indians who came to Britain during the 1950s and 60s, they provided black people with somewhere they could get practical support, encouragement and spiritual inspiration, as they came to terms with life in the UK.

Whilst the first generation of church leaders may not have had access to the finance and education that their modern day counterparts enjoy, they did the best they could to provide care and help for their congregations.

In order to surpass the achievements of that first generation of ministers, churches now need to start putting structures in place to establish full-time ministries, and employ professional staff who can meet the growing and demanding needs of their members. One complaint I hear often is that UK churches do not serve as the centre of the community, as is the case in the US.

American churches not only provide a platform for ministers to preach, they also provide numerous community services such as food banks, soup kitchens, counselling, housing projects and education establishments.

Some of the increased sums of money that now pass through several of Britain’s black majority churches should be used to set up initiatives that combat some of the key issues facing our community. The Church of God of Prophecy (COGOP) is a good example of what churches can achieve when they utilize the financial and human resources at their disposal to serve the community.

Over the years COGOP has established a housing association, based in the West Midlands, which provides homes for the elderly and single parents, three family centres that offer therapy and counselling services, and helped facilitate the establishment of the National Black Boys Can Association. The Association is helping to improve the educational achievement of black boys across the UK, and assist them in getting places at some of Britain’s leading universities.

READ MORE...

[from The Voice by Marcia Dixon]

Eight Steps to Getting Out of Debt

There’s no doubt personal debt has played a key role in the current financial crisis. Debt levels have been climbing for several decades. And pastor, more than likely, they’re climbing in your church.

You’ve got people in your church who are hurting – badly. A recent survey of Southern Baptist pastors by Lifeway Research showed that only one in four thought their parishioners were struggling with debt – well below the true national average. The average American is spending $1.25 for every $1 they make. My guess is that pastors from other denominations have the same false impressions of their congregation as well. Most of us have been clueless about the mounting personal debt among our church members.

Debt isn’t just impacting our church’s pews though. It’s impacting the pulpits as well. Many ministries are sunk because pastors are so burdened by debt they leave the ministry for more profitable work.

Debt is a problem we can’t ignore any longer. But how do we get out from under it? We’ve got to commit to these steps and help our congregations do the same.

1. Commit to becoming debt free now.
2. Start paying God and yourself first.
3. List all you own, owe, and earn.
4. Have a sale.
5. Set up a repayment plan to get out of debt.
6. Add no new debt.
7. Share the plan with your creditors.
8. Stick to it.

Learn how. READ MORE...

[from The Christian Post by Rick Warren]

The Message of Giving

Christian History has an interesting little article exploring the recent history of the offering in church services. The article covers government-supported churches (that's right, here in the U.S. of A. until 1833) and explains how the weekly passing of the collection plate during worship services didn't become common practice until 1900.

It's a little bewildering that a staple of the modern church service is such a recent addition. But it's also freeing, considering how that staple so often trips people up and prompts finger-wagging over churches only wanting your money.

Money and the church have always caused problems -- think lightning strikes, indulgences and selling pews, but maybe there's a way we could rethink this practice, still fund the church and do our giving. Without turning people off.

How do you go about doing your offering? And what message is it sending? Could you communicate more effectively by making giving less visible (online giving, pledge drives, etc.)?

Or should giving be an active and visible part of our worship, and if so, how do we deal with the naysayers?

Churches have varied on this from the book of Acts and up through the centuries. There's no right answer. But maybe it's time to reconsider how your church conducts its fund raising and whether or not your conventions are communicating your convictions.

[from Church Marketing Sucks by Kevin D. Hendricks]

ORU Project Takes a Look at Growth of Charismatics

Tulsa, long a global hub of Pentecostalism, is hosting an international study to look at what has become the fastest-growing arm of the Christian faith. Some 640 million adherents worldwide, across many denominations, practice Pentecostal/charismatic Christianity, with its emphasis on miracles, healing and speaking in tongues.

The Commission on Holy Spirit Empowerment in the 21st Century is sponsored by Oral Roberts University. It will culminate with a gathering of leaders and scholars from around the world April 8-10, 2010, in Tulsa.

READ MORE

Grace Alone

"Paul did not labor that he might receive grace, but he received grace in order that he might labor." (Augustine, De gestis Pelagii xiv, 36).

No distinction could be more important to our salvation.

Augustine knew what many over the years have not known — salvation is not of works; it produces good works.

He speaks of grace. Grace is something unmerited. It is an enabling power. Romans 8: 8 says that those who are “in the flesh [unsaved persons] CANNOT please God” (emphasis mine).” Yet people are always trying to do so by their own ability. The fact is that they are not able to do so: “Not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

That’s why they need the grace of God, regenerating and giving them the ability to believe the Gospel. Prior to that grace which brings spiritual life, one is dead spiritually; he cannot believe.
Roman Catholics have always believed that there is an element of ability left in man to which God may appeal. The Bible teaches otherwise. To be dead, isn’t to still have a little life left!

So, we are grateful to God, who provides for every aspect of salvation—from beginning to end. That provision is called grace.

Grace is an interesting concept — difficult for proud man to fathom. Men want to contribute something-if not everything — to their regeneration and justification.

There were some Puritans who believed by works, you could “prepare” yourself for regeneration, and they set people on long periods of becoming sensible to their sins, so that the Gospel could be given to them when ready. Not so. In Scripture, people are saved on the spot at having heard to GOOD News for the first time. Consider the Ethiopian Eunuch; Lydia who had to have her heart opened to believe, or the Philippian jailer.

Alleine’s Alarm to the Unconverted is a handbook of Preparationism and ought to be avoided at all costs. It talks about all sorts of works, but in the chapter called “Directions to the Unconverted,” he never once says, “Repent and believe the Gospel.”

People are saved by grace through faith — which leads to works as a result of conversion.

[from Institute for Nouthetic Studies Blog by Jay Adams]

Who Made You Right?

How about a word of caution from the apostle Paul that probably applies across the board to people in all sorts of churches — yes, even where the Bible is supreme.

Here is what he wrote under the moving of the Holy Spirit:
"Every charge must be substantiated by the mouth of two or three witnesses" (2 Corinthians 13:13).

Now, if that word were heeded in the church, there would be far greater peace.

There is nothing esoteric, confusing or difficult about this verse. There is no context to define it — except for the fact that the Corinthians were always at each other's throats about something or other.

It means what it says: don’t bring a charge against anyone without being able to substantiate it. The 2 or 3 witness clause refers back to the Old Testament rule for witnesses (Dt. 17:6; 19:15).

There are too many today, even those in authority, who seem to think it is legitimate (if they think about it at all) to talk negatively about others with impunity. Not so. It matters not your position nor title, it is a serious matter before the Lord. If there is something to be said about others, especially pastors, or about a member of the congregation, then do so formally (as this verse directs) or keep quiet! (I almost wrote “shut up”). File formal charges, or leave it alone. And, if formal charges are filed, the charges must be absolutely proven, or the accuser should be charged no matter their position or title.

The world is watching closely while the church mistreats one another. No wonder they want to have no part of it. Church members are talking about one another, or about the pastor, accusations are made, loose talk goes on, and slander is framed as prayer requests. Even denominational leadership can fall into the judgemental trap of imposing discipline based on talk or hearsay. How many times has a pastor been moved or not used at all based on rumors?

Perhaps a good rule would be to impose the same discipline on the accuser as would have been imposed on the accused if the accusation cannot be proven by two or three witnesses. Even a bishop is not right just because he is a bishop. If errors are made, they must be made on the side of grace.

Uncharitable talk is rife in the church — I mean genuine believers. Indeed, whenever you hear it, you ought not to become a trash can to receive it. Squelch it by reciting this verse!

BeBe Winans Arrested For Assault of Ex-Wife

Gospel music star BeBe Winans has been accused of assaulting his ex-wife and was held briefly at a county jail in Nashville on Friday before posting $1000 bond.

According to official documents, Winans, 46, and his ex-wife Debra Winans got into a "verbal altercation" on Feb. 13 over "custody issues dealing with their children." The two were married for 16 years before divorcing in 2003 and have a 13-year-old daughter and a 10-year-old son.

During the “verbal altercation” at Debra Winans’ Nashville home, BeBe Winans reportedly “became irate.”

“The defendant then pushed the victim to the ground,” court papers stated.

Though late in coming, Debra Winans said her decision to speak out was made with the hope that it would help other abuse victims who suffer through abuse rather than reaching out for help.

"Until you realize something's not changing, you pray all day long,” she told a local NBC affiliate.
“The power of God is real, but one thing He's not going to do is go against someone's will. We make choices," she added.

On Friday, an official statement released by BeBe Winans acknowledged that there was “a child custody right dispute” that arose out of his “desire to spend time with our children as court ordered.”

However, Winans said the allegations were “nothing less than heart wrenching” and “inconsistent with my character and the foundation upon which I was raised.”

He also said he would make no other comments for the time being having decided “to say nothing negative about my children’s mother.”

“I am prayerful that the matter is straightened out very soon for the sake of our children,” Winans stated.

A Grammy Award-winning gospel and R&B singer, Benjamin “BeBe” Winans is a member of the noted Winans family, which includes “Mom and Pop Winans,” brothers David, Ronald, Carvin, Marvin, Michael and Daniel, sisters Angie and Debbie Winans, and arguably the most popular, CeCe Winans.

A spokesman for BeBe Winans told NBC affiliate WSMV-TV that the singer is in Atlanta working as a judge on a BET program.

[from The Christian Post]

Bishop Tim Coalter at Greer, SC Today

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