Podcasts about evangelical council

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Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2024 48:38

On this episode of This vs. That, we welcome our good friend Jeff Dalrymple, founder and executive director of the Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention and Lumino Global, as well as chairman of Anchored Hope's board of directors. Jeff joins us to discuss the topic of stewardship versus complacency. We explore what it means to be a faithful steward of God's gifts in every area of life and how to identify and uproot complacency. Jeff shares his insights on stewardship, drawing from his extensive experience in leadership and coaching. We also talk about the challenges of balancing responsibilities, understanding personal capacity, and maintaining faithfulness in all aspects of life. This conversation is both enriching and enlightening for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of stewardship. Resources Mentioned: Every Good Endeavor by Tim Keller The Gospel at Work by Sebastian Traeger and Greg Gilbert Redeeming Your Time by Jordan Raynor First Things First by Stephen Covey ----- This vs. That is a podcast of Anchored Hope. Anchored Hope provides practical help to those hurting by anchoring their hope in Jesus and helping others gain a better understanding of his promises. We offer reputable, biblical counsel to those suffering or experiencing difficult seasons. Our counselors are highly trained and bring a vast experience in addressing the various issues of life. To meet with a counselor, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠anchoredhope.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and schedule an appointment today.

From Dairy Queen to Managing Partner in a National CPA Firm - Vonna Laue's Leadership Journey

Next Gen Nonprofit Leadership with Tommy Thomas

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2024 28:01

[00:00:00] Vonna Laue: I started working when I was 13 at Dairy Queen. And if you work at a fast food restaurant, at least at that time, more than six or nine months, you're in a leadership position and you've got a crew that works with you. So I had that opportunity. And one of the biggest things looking back on it, and I didn't actually realize that until our girls got involved, but 4H was huge in my life. And at the time it was fun. I used to horse show and did a lot of the competitions at the county and state level. But when I then took our daughter to a 4H meeting and realized, wow, this is where I learned a lot of my leadership skills. They operate with Robert's rules of order and the kids run the meetings and they're elected to positions. And so I had that opportunity at a really young age. +++++++++++++ [00:00:55] Tommy Thomas: Our guest today is Vonna Laue. Vonna is a distinguished leader in the nonprofit sector, particularly known for her extensive work with churches and ministries. Early in her career, she served as a partner for a national CPA firm specializing in audit, tax, and advisory services for the nonprofit sector. She later took on the role as Executive Vice President at the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, where she focused on enhancing trust within the church and ministry communities. Her experience is widely recognized. She has authored multiple articles, co-authored three books, frequently speaks at national and regional conferences, and in 2010, she was inducted into the Church Management Hall of Fame, underscoring her significant contributions to the field. [00:01:45] Tommy Thomas: Vonna, Welcome to NextGen Nonprofit Leadership. [00:01:48] Vonna Laue: Tommy, thanks for having me. It's great to be here. [00:01:50] Tommy Thomas: I've been looking forward to this for a long time. I first met you; I don't know how many years ago it was, but, Rich Stearns, the then President of World Vision had asked me to help him find some board members. [00:02:02] Tommy Thomas: He gave me some parameters and you were the one of the ones that identified. So, I guess that was our first encounter. [00:02:12] Vonna Laue: It was and that was 2016. [00:02:14] Tommy Thomas: In the words of Crosby, Stills, Nash Young, so much water has passed underneath the bridge since then. [00:02:24] Vonna Laue: Amen to that. [00:02:26] Tommy Thomas: Let's give us a few start up questions. I'm always curious, and I don't know these things about you. Before we get too deep into your professional career, take me into your childhood. What was childhood like? [00:02:39] Vonna Laue: I always enjoy telling people that think about birth order, that I'm a fairly complicated person because I was an only child and that automatically raises some red flags for some people. [00:02:53] Vonna Laue: And then when I was eight, my parents divorced and both remarried within about a one-year timeframe, and I became a middle child in two families. So, if you're gonna play the birth order game, I'm gonna give you a lot of information to mull over in that. [00:03:09] Tommy Thomas: Where was your childhood geographically? [00:03:13] Vonna Laue: Absolutely. I grew up in South Dakota, which is one of the smallest populated states in the country. There were two stop lights in the town my mom was in and one stop light in the town my dad was in. We may get into it more, but I had the privilege of going to a Christian school. And so, I tell people there were three in my graduating high school class. It was a definitely small-town America, and everyone knew what you were doing pretty much all the time. [00:03:46] Tommy Thomas: Now we've heard these stories; Even my parents who were raised in Alabama and Georgia, they didn't have the snow part, but they had the part about walking to school five to six miles a day uphill. In South Dakota, did you have to walk to school in the snow several miles a day? [00:04:03] Vonna Laue: I walked to the bus stop, and because I went to a Christian school, we wore skirts and dresses every day. And it didn't matter if it was 20 above or 20 below. And they also didn't have snow days when I was a kid. You went to school unless it was absolutely catastrophic. So yeah, I walked to the bus stop in the snow, in a skirt, many times, every winter. [00:04:30] Tommy Thomas: Thinking back, what was the greatest gift you think your parents gave to you? [00:04:36] Vonna Laue: Actually, it was that very thing of education. When my parents, even when they were still married and we were living in a small town, they wanted me to get an education. And the best way to do that in their mind was through the local Christian school. And so, while my parents were in a mainline denomination and didn't have a relationship with Christ, that's where I went to school. And those three years and the education and the relationships that the Lord gave me there were critical for me. [00:05:09] Vonna Laue: And then when life changed drastically and over the next four years, we moved multiple times and were in different education settings. I kept begging to go back to a Christian school. And so ultimately my seventh-grade year was able to do that, in a different Christian school. And again, they agreed to that because of the education that they felt like I would receive there, but it was through that I came to Christ. So, I'm a big proponent of Christian education. And subsequently, my parents, grandparents came to Christ. They didn't know it at the time, they weren't doing it for that reason, but that was by far the biggest gift they gave me. [00:05:50] Tommy Thomas: You turned out at least initially as a CPA, was that a dream from high school? [00:05:57] Vonna Laue: It wasn't. I don't remember, sometimes there are people that remember what they wanted to do in elementary school and that's what they did. We sponsored cadets at the Air Force Academy, and one of those wanted to be a fighter pilot from the time he was five years old, had every plane hanging in his room and to this day he is a fighter pilot. That wasn't me. I didn't have that idea when I was little. When I got into middle school, I was volunteering at a hospital and thought I'd go into nursing and then wasn't really wild about nursing. And so, when I initially started taking college classes, I thought that I would major in chemistry and physics. [00:06:37] Vonna Laue: And had a semester that I was able to go to Bible college in Minnesota and wanted to take that opportunity. I knew that I couldn't finish there, but wanted to go and take some foundational courses and take things that would transfer back to a state university in South Dakota. And when I went, one of the classes that I took was an accounting class. And I took that class and I thought, this is easy. And then I looked around and realized, not everybody in this class thinks this is easy. Maybe there's something to that. And so, it was then, and I to this day wish that I had gone back to that professor, and just let him know the way that changed the course of my career. [00:07:23] Tommy Thomas: Gosh, I remember my two accounting courses in graduate school. I couldn't say that they were easy. Probably the first one was easier. We were taught our first accounting course by the CFO of Coca Cola Bottling Company in Birmingham. He brought stuff from the office every day to the classroom at night. I think that made accounting maybe a little bit more tolerable for me. [00:07:45] Vonna Laue: Yeah. Real world application, I think does make it at least a lot more enjoyable. ++++++++++++++ [00:07:50] Tommy Thomas: What's something that people are always surprised to find out about you? [00:07:53] Vonna Laue: I usually can pull a few of those out. I would say the one I would share with you and your listeners today is, I was apparently the nation's youngest emergency medical technician and always will be because they passed a regulation not long after I got licensed, but I was 13 when I licensed as an EMT. [00:08:14] Vonna Laue: So that usually surprises people. [00:08:17] Tommy Thomas: That's a good conversation starter. [00:08:21] Vonna Laue: I thought you might like that one. [00:08:23] Tommy Thomas: So, you're out of college now. You're in accounting. Can you think back to your first management job and when you had somebody reporting to you? What can you tell us about that? [00:08:37] Vonna Laue: I'm thankful. I'm going to back up a little bit just in the leadership journey because I'm thankful for the opportunities I had even when it wasn't my career, if you will. I started working when I was 13 at Dairy Queen. And if you work at a fast-food restaurant, at least at that time, more than six or nine months, you're in a leadership position and you've got a crew that works with you. So, I had that opportunity. And one of the biggest things that looking back on it, and I didn't realize that until our girls got involved, but 4H was huge in my life. And at the time it was fun. I used to horse show and did a lot of the competitions at the county and state level. [00:09:23] Vonna Laue: But when I then took our daughter to a 4H meeting and realized, wow, this is where I learned a lot of my leadership skills. They operate with Robert's rules of order and the kids run the meetings and they're elected to positions. And so, I have that opportunity at a really young age. Obviously when I came into the CPA firm, I served there 20 years and over the course of that time, started as a staff accountant and just worked my way up from there into a senior role and a manager role, a partner role, and then ultimately when I left the firm, left as the managing partner at the time of the national firm, so a lot of opportunities and challenges along the way in that, but I think probably the biggest thing is just how important people are and the way that you treat them and the relationships that you develop with them, not in a way that you're manipulative. But in a way that you truly are investing in them, that will serve you and your organization well, but it goes with them wherever they go beyond there. [00:10:37] Vonna Laue: So I look at that as an opportunity to make an investment long-term in a person. [00:10:42] Tommy Thomas: So if we could go back to that last three or four years in the CPA world, and here you are the managing partner, and you let me come into your staff meeting one day and after about five minutes, we dismissed you and I was talking to the staff and I asked them, what's the most exciting thing about working for Vonna? What do you think they would have said? [00:11:04] Vonna Laue: It's a great and scary thought all at the same time. I think that I would take them on the people journey with me, if you will. When I left and moved from our Colorado offices to the California offices, one of the things that really blessed me was one of the staff people that I worked with said, when you traveled with Vonna, she invested in the people in the hotel. When we would go to visit the same client year after year, the hotel clerks knew her because she would take time to visit with them and invest in them. I think sometimes that was annoying to people, and sometimes it was good, but created some interesting and maybe even exciting things along the way. [00:11:52] Vonna Laue: We had a brand-new staff accountant one time, and we were driving back from an audit between Denver and Colorado Springs, and there was a wreck that happened right in front of us. And this poor staff accountant hadn't worked there for a week or two, and I pulled over and threw him the keys to the car and my cell phone and told him to call 911. And I just got out, and he had no idea what this accountant was doing. So I created some excitement, I think, just by the different ways that I would interact with people. [00:12:22] Tommy Thomas: If I flip that coin, what would they say was the most challenging aspect of working for you? [00:12:29] Vonna Laue: I tend to do a lot of different things. I think you've come to know that about me over the years, Tommy. And I try very hard to let people know that my busyness is my problem and not theirs, but I think that people often are concerned that they're a bother or they're concerned they can't get time. So, I try to work with the people closest to me frequently on how best to manage. And I'm sure that's not an easy thing. [00:13:07] Tommy Thomas: Successful people are often asked, what makes you so successful? I'd like to frame the question this way, what's a factor that's helped you succeed that people from the outside probably wouldn't be aware of? [00:13:20] Vonna Laue: I'll start off with the primary one beyond the obvious one and everyone's the Lord, right? And then, and I 100 percent agree with that. If God had only ever given me what I prayed for, I'd have sure missed out on an incredible amount of opportunity. So that is a given. Quite honestly. My husband is very instrumental in my success and a lot of people don't know that because Brian's behind the scenes and most people don't know him, but I talk about being raised in a small town and we still laugh about it to this day, but I was terrified to be around people. We went to a football game one time that had a couple thousand people at it. [00:14:08] Vonna Laue: And I said, would you go get me popcorn? And he said, you can get it yourself. And he wasn't being rude or mean. He just knew that I needed to grow. And I was like, no, I don't need it. And he's like go get your popcorn. And he just has had the foresight over the years to stretch and grow me. And now I think this year I will have probably seven international trips, have the opportunity to speak to hundreds of people at a time, just amazing opportunities and that's a big part of it. But on a personal front, I think that the key to that is being willing to be stretched. That's not easy. It's a lot easier to go with the routine, to go with the things that are known. But when you're willing to open yourself up to opportunities to be stretched, to take advantage of uncomfortable situations, you get a lot more opportunity that follows. ++++++++++++++++ [00:15:11] Tommy Thomas: I'm going to make the assumption here that you've had some good mentors in life. Can you take us down that rabbit trail? [00:15:17] Vonna Laue: I love to talk about mentoring. One of the things that I found throughout a good portion of my career was that it was really hard for me to find a mentor. And the reason that I say that is because I could find godly women who would invest in me personally and spiritually, but many of them had the perspective of a stay-at-home mom and that they didn't understand why I had the desire to have a career. I love my girls who are grown now, but always laughed that they would not have wanted me at home with them all the time because I don't care that you're two. You should be able to organize your closet by short sleeve, long sleeve, skirts, dresses, get it organized. So, I had that challenge, with those women that I wanted to speak into that portion of my life. And then when I looked for someone who professionally could invest and develop me, there was almost the opposite of that. [00:16:21] Vonna Laue: And it was, you got to give everything you have to the job. You're never going to get ahead if you try to balance family. Now, obviously both of those I'm saying to an extreme, but I just had a really difficult time for a long time finding someone who understood my faith and commitment to family, as well as my desire to be excellent in my career. And over time, I have done that. Tammy Heim has been a great mentor to me and a good balance of those things. And there have been others, but it has given me a commitment that we find that for other people. So, two things I would say, one is I have a distinction of my own between coaching and mentoring. Coaching I believe is professional in nature. [00:17:10] Vonna Laue: Men and women can work together in a coaching situation. I personally believe that mentoring often flows over into more personal aspects of your life. And it's a holistic approach to family and work and all of those things. And my idea with mentoring is that it should be the same gender, because I don't want to be talking about the difficulties I'm having at home with a male counterpart. That just isn't appropriate to me. So, I differentiate those two things based on that. And I know not everyone does, but over the last couple of years have had just the extreme privilege of starting some peer mentoring groups for young ladies. And each group is three young women in similar stages of life, but in different roles and in different organizations. [00:18:00] Vonna Laue: So, they don't come in and fix each other's problems by, oh, you need this software, or you need this vendor. They really listen and help each other problem solve. And then each group has a seasoned leader in it that can contribute maybe some of the stories that she's encountered over time, or even just to be the brakes like, but you could do that, but you might consider what could happen as a result. [00:18:25] Vonna Laue: Two years ago, we started with two of those groups, we're just wrapping up the second year with five, and next month will start 10 groups committed for the following year. So excited about the opportunity to invest in other young women. [00:18:42] Tommy Thomas: So, let me take that just a little bit further and we may come back to it later. Board service has been a big part of your life, certainly in the last 20 years. In your mentoring, are you talking to these women about board service and the pros and cons and if you serve, what's your best contribution kind of thing and trying to give them some opportunities to do that, right? [00:19:09] Vonna Laue: The first board I served on was not World Vision. I want to remind people, both young people who are getting into board service, get involved in a local community board, whether that is. I served our hospital in Colorado Springs on their governmental committee. Whether it's a local chapter of some organization, the church network and Christian Leadership Alliance served on some of those, taking the opportunities to get involved in that at a more local level and then work your way up just like you would in almost anything else you do. You don't take up woodworking and become a master craftsman overnight. You start small. So, encouraging them to do that and then encouraging boards and leaders to give young people opportunity and don't expect them to come in with 25 years of experience. [00:20:10] Vonna Laue: You open the opportunities for them to come in and the things that they will contribute to your board discussions you can't imagine. So, I'm excited about what the future looks like. [00:20:27] Tommy Thomas: So, going back to personal leadership for a minute, in the book, It's How You Play the Game: The 12 Leadership Principles of Dean Smith, leadership principle #10 is making failure your friend. Can you share something from your life where this has been in play? [00:20:45] Vonna Laue: Nobody likes to fail, but it absolutely is true and the things that you learn from that and I look back on my time as Managing Partner at the firm and what a blessing that was and how gracious those partners were with me, because I would say, at least one of my biggest failures was just in how I handled the people involved there. And I just got done saying I love people and I do, but I will say all of those leaders are incredibly successful people and, no, I don't mean anything bad by this for those that are in a professional service firm, but it is so true that it's like herding cats because they all have their own realm and their own domain. [00:21:33] Vonna Laue: And they're really good at that. And I wasn't really good at bringing them all together at times and helping us find a strategic vision to go forward in, in one direction where we were all pulling in the same way. And so when I hear that quote, that's one of the things that I think about. And that's been a benefit to me in the years after that to look at, how do we get people to pull in the same direction when they have vested interests in a number of different ways? And now I serve in a mission sending organization. And there's some similarity there when you've got global workers that have their own domain in many parts of the world. God used that to equip me for some of the decisions that have to be made in this setting. +++++++++++++++ [00:22:16] Tommy Thomas: Going back to your mentoring thing for a minute, are you introducing failure to these young women? [00:22:23] Vonna Laue: I would say what I have found is that they're introducing some of their own failures and learning from each other and encouraging each other and the opportunity that it provides those of us that are the season leaders is to say, hey, like this isn't a bad thing. This is difficult. And you would have wanted to avoid this, but this is part of your growing and part of your maturing as a leader and to provide some insights there and embrace it and let them learn from each other. I would say that's probably been the best part of the failure within those groups. [00:23:03] Tommy Thomas: Frederick Wilcox said progress always involves risk. You can't steal second base with your foot on first. What's the biggest risk you've ever taken and how did it turn out? [00:23:17] Vonna Laue: One of the things that I have thought about over the years and comes from the lessons that I've talked about where I was glad, I didn't know, taking the Managing Partner role was a huge risk at the time. I remember vividly sitting with my husband and saying that if I take this role, there's no going back. Like you don't just leave that and go back into the setting where you were before. And we prayed about it and really felt like that's what we were supposed to do. And that was a huge blessing. [00:23:52] Vonna Laue: It was a challenge, like I've just said, but it was a huge blessing. And then, even bigger than that was the year that I left the firm and that was God saying, you've done what I've called you to do here, and now it's time to leave. And I had three arguments for the Lord, and Tommy, I don't know if you've ever argued with the Lord. If you haven't, I don't suggest it. You're not going to win. So just save your breath. But I had three arguments for him. Number one was I was a lifer. I've told everyone for years, I'm at this firm until retirement. I love it. I'm here. And he said, no. And I said, my second argument was this is economically stupid because he wasn't calling me to something. [00:24:42] Vonna Laue: He was calling me away from something. And he reminded me of that cattle on a thousand hills. And I was like, ah, yep. He's got that too. And then my third argument was just a little more logistical and operational. And that was that our oldest was headed to college, but our youngest was headed to high school. And I just said to him, Lord, you can interrupt. My husbands in my life, but let's not mess with our daughter going into high school. Give me four more years and maybe, and he said, no. And so, without having a job, I was supposed to give 12 months' notice. I went to the partners September 1st of that year and said to them, I believe this is a matter of obedience. [00:25:23] Vonna Laue: And I think if I don't do it, it's going to be detrimental to the firm and detrimental to our family. And they were gracious and agreed. And so, I wrapped up in four months. I had 150 or so meetings to tell clients I was leaving, and the firm was fine, network people, that I had connections with that I was moving on. And of course, what's the first question everyone asks you is, so what are you going to do? And this left-brain analytical type A personality had to look at them all 150 times and say, I don't know. And that was a challenge, but it was exactly what God called us to do at that point in time. And I'm glad that while I'm not always faithful and following through, I'm glad that we did that. ++++++++++++++++ [00:26:14] Tommy Thomas: Join us next week as we continue this conversation with Vonna Laue. Vonna shares insights from her new book, Glad I Didn't Know, which explores lessons learned from life's challenges and unexpected blessings. She discusses the importance of having people who speak truth into a leader's life, the critical role of team dynamics, and the necessity of balancing personal and professional health. Vonna also reflects on the increasing significance of risk management and the impact of artificial intelligence in the nonprofit sector. Tune in for an engaging discussion on leadership, resilience, and growth. Links and Resources JobfitMatters Website NextGen Nonprofit Leadership with Tommy Thomas The Perfect Search - What every board needs to know about hiring their next CEO Connect tthomas@jobfitmatters.com Follow Tommy on LinkedIn Listen to NextGen Nonprofit Leadership with Tommy Thomas on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

Episode 73: Creating a Safe Environment for Everyone with Jeff Dalrymple

Kids Ministry Circle Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2024 44:28

My guest is Jeff Dalrymple. Jeff is the Executive Director of ECAP, Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention. ECAP was created in 2019 to provide awareness, accreditation and resources in order to help Christian organizations that serve kids protect the vulnerable in ministry. Some of the stories that Jeff shares in this episode are heartbreaking and based on the stats that you will hear Jeff talk about, there is a good chance that a few of you listening have experience sexual abuse or have journeyed alongside someone who has experienced sexual abuse. If that's you, feel free to pass this episode along to a friend or co-worker and ask them to give you the highlights. This is also an episode that I would not listen to with little kid ears listening. We believe that safety is at the core of everything we do in the local church and without it we can't do anything. ECAP is an incredible resources working to support and equip churches and schools to frankly do better. I am excited for you to listen and learn from today's conversation. Resources Mentioned: Child Discipleship Forum ECAP website – learn more about membership: https://ecap.netSafeguards 4 Kids www.safeguards4kids.org (virtual events April 4 and Sept. 21)Free checklists from ECAP: https://ecap.net/assessments/ECAP initial assessment (we assess for you): https://ecap.net/accreditation/initial-assessment/Learn more about accreditation: https://ecap.net/accreditation/Julie Lowe: https://julielowe.orgWatch this video about Shannon's story I mentioned: https://bit.ly/3SZV52y

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Surviving Abuse: Jennifer Greenberg

Theology in the Raw

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2024 65:14

As the author of Not Forsaken: A Story of Life After Abuse and the recently released Defiant Joy: Find the Hope to Light Your Way, Even in Darkness, Jennifer Michelle Greenberg has risen to become one of the foremost voices against child abuse in the church. She writes for Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, and the Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention. In this conversation, Jennifer tells her raw story of experiencing ongoing physical, emotional, and sexual abuse from her father and how she took steps toward healing. We also talk about how churches can do a better job at preventing abuse and addressing it when it happens. Get your copy of Jennifer's book: https://www.amazon.com/Defiant-Joy-Find-Light-Darkness/dp/0593445422 Get your copy of Exiles today! https://www.amazon.com/Exiles-Church-Shadow-Empire/dp/0830785787/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=5GIFQGLGIL72&keywords=exiles+preston+sprinkle&qid=1705940897&sprefix=exiles%2Caps%2C183&sr=8-1 Support Theology in the Raw through Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theologyintheraw

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Ep. 343: Zoning Laws Shut Down Church Ministries, How To Navigate Crypto More SBC Drama

spotify president leadership passion care accountability align ausha michael martin evangelical council

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2024 28:52

On today's program, an Arizona church is fighting to continue its food pantry ministry—but city zoning regulations threaten to shut it down. We'll have details. Also, the rise in crypto currency is forcing nonprofits to consider the pros and cons of taking crypto donations. We'll take a look. And, the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability announces a new leadership standard. But first, Adam Greenway is suing the Southern Baptist seminary he once led. Lawyers for Adam Greenway, who resigned as president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in September 2022, alleged in a complaint filed Wednesday (March 20) that the school and the chair of its trustee board defamed Greenway, violated the terms of a non-disparagement agreement and made him “unemployable.” Greenway's attorney had previously sent the school a demand letter for $5 million to settle the dispute. The school denies any wrongdoing. FINAL THOUGHTS: Next week I'm headed to the True Charity Conference in Springfield Missouri. If you plan to be at that event, please send me and email and I'd love to connect. I also want to remind everyone that we're offering an important new book this month to everyone who donates to MinistryWatch. It's called “End The Reign of Pain – Identifying and Treating Toxic Leadership. It's by Rickardo Bodden, and we'll send it to you absolutely free, as our thank you, for a gift of any size to MinistryWatch this month. That means we have just a few days before this offer ends. Just go to MinistryWatch.com and hit the donate button at the top of the page. A Few Thank-Yous: The producers for today's program are Rich Roszel and Jeff McIntosh. We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today's program include Bob Smietana, Tony Mator, Kim Roberts, Brittany Smith, Jessica Eturralde, and Bethany Starin. Until next time, may God bless you and Happy Easter. He is Risen. He is Risen Indeed!

Leadership Care: When a Passion for Accountability Aligns With Calling

Biblical Higher Ed Talk

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2024 32:08

Leadership care in Christian institutions is moving to the forefront of higher ed culture.According to Michael Martin, President of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), 94% of their members said leadership issues are having a negative impact on trust in their organizations.That's why ECFA has developed a new accreditation standard that monitors the well-being and accountability of school leadership. Michael shares how the new standard will affect member institutions and why boards must lean on their collective spiritual gifts to empower their leaders by monitoring their health and integrity.Join us as we discuss:[5:53] ECFA's mission to elevate trust in Christian organizations[13:08] How ECFA develops new higher ed accreditation standards[26:06] Keeping institutions accountable in leadership careCheck out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:ECFA StandardsBehind the Seal PodcastTo hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for Biblical Higher Ed Talk in your favorite podcast player.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Michael Martin: How Church Boards Can Help Their Pastors Be Healthy

The ChurchLeaders Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2024 35:36

Get notes on this podcast here: https://churchleaders.com/podcast/472857-michael-martin-church-boards-pastors-healthy.html ECFA president and CEO Michael Martin joins “The Stetzer ChurchLeaders Podcast” to talk about his organization's new leadership standard and how church boards can help provide pastors greater care and accountability. Last week, Léonce Crump Jr. joined us to talk about important ways that leadership has changed and to offer practical steps church leaders can take to develop teams that will be truly resilient. Check out our conversation with him here: https://churchleaders.com/podcast/472044-leonce-crump-jr-develop-resilient-teams.html ► Listen on Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-churchleaders-podcast/id988990685 Visit ChurchLeaders Website: https://churchleaders.com Find ChurchLeaders on Facebook: https://facebook.com/churchleaders Follow ChurchLeaders on X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChurchLead Follow ChurchLeaders on Instagram: https://instagram.com/churchlead/ Follow ChurchLeaders on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/churchleaders/ Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability ECFA.org/leadershipstandard Follow ECFA on Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter, and YouTube

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Is a bigger church a better discipling church? On The Disciple Dilemma

The Disciple Dilemma Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 28, 2023 22:29

Dr. Warren Bird, a Pastor, a Church Planter, [prolific!] Author and recognized megachurch researcher joins Dennis and Faith Radio's Carmen LaBerge to talk about the key challenges facing large churches in the years ahead. Spoiler alert: the challenges are in discipleship.- Why do we need an ECFA? (Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability)- How could Warren Bird possibly have written 34 books? And what about the latest one?- What are the pre-eminent challenges for large Western churches in the coming years?- Can discipleship be done digitally? #leadership #discipleship #evangelismJoin us at The Disciple Dilemma for videos, blogs and more conversation about the "hack" facing Western discipleship!

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Trevor Lui, COO of Global Trust Partners, on Strengthening Trust Among Givers Through Transparency (Ep. 87)

The Finish Line Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2023 51:03

Trevor Lui is the Chief Operating Officer of Global Trust Partners, an international ministry accountability organization. Trevor's remarkable journey began in Hong Kong, where his family's humble beginnings and the church's pivotal support laid the foundation for his lifelong commitment to Christian values and service. His education in business administration and information systems propelled him into the business world. It wasn't long before Trevor's passion for active business drew him back to Hong Kong to consult on management—yet his trajectory took an unexpected turn toward ministry with Global Trust Partners. GTP works to help countries around the world develop ministry peer accountability organizations, similar to the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) in the US. These organizations help raise the standard for nonprofits and ministries operating in these countries to better steward the resources entrusted to them. They also increase donor confidence in knowing they can trust the organizations they partner with. Topics include: What challenges and rewards come with transitioning from business to ministry? What does effective accountability look like for a Christian ministry? How does organizational accountability increase capacity for personal generosity? How can you find more information about the accountability of ministries based outside the U.S.? In what ways do church cultures vary internationally, especially in the context of generosity? What practical steps can individuals take to adopt an abundance mindset and effectively share their resources for a greater purpose? QUOTES TO REMEMBER “When a ministry aligns itself with this standard and commits to independent, verified compliance, it sets a strong foundation for accountability.” “Accountability flows through transparency. And that gives the trust to the giver.” LINKS FROM THE SHOW Global Trust Partners (GTP) GTP Peer Groups Directory (International Peer Groups) Generous Church (see our interview with founder Patrick Johnson) Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) The Finish Line Community Facebook Group The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! If you have a thought about something you heard, or a story to share, please reach out! You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. You can also contact us directly from our contact page. If you want to engage with the Finish Line Community, check out our groups on Facebook and LinkedIn.

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Is your ministry putting children at risk? Featuring Jeff Dalrymple

Counsel for Life

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2023 36:20

This episode features Jeff Dalrymple, executive director of the Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention (ECAP). Jeff talks with us about how this organization was formed and its benefits for churches who want to protect the children within their ministries. He gives us helpful signs to spot abuse and grooming behavior in perpetrators, and he reminds us of our responsibility to report abuse when we suspect it. For those who want to learn more about how to protect children, Jeff recommends the book Safeguards, by Julie Lowe. For more information about ECAP, visit http://ecap.net. Become a friend of the podcast by subscribing! Our subscribers are invited to quarterly zoom calls with the hosts, and they have exclusive access through Patreon messages which allows them to ask questions and make suggestions for episodes. Subscribers are also automatically entered into drawings for free books and resources given away by our sponsors. But most importantly, for just $3 a month you become part of the family of friends that keep the Counsel for Life podcast going! Your small membership fee helps to cover the production costs encountered by hosting a free podcast. Thank you for choosing to become a friend of the podcast we are glad you are here and are grateful for you! (Memberships are for one year and automatically renew each month.)To learn more, visit our website: www.counselforlifepodcast.com

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Ep. 297: Pregnancy Resource Centers Under Fire, The Ankerbergs Respond To Integrity Concerns, and Safety Concerns at Liberty University

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2023 29:49

On today's program, we take a look at legal and verbal assaults on Pregnancy Resource Centers in California and New Jersey. Famous Christian apologist responds to the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability's decision to terminate his membership. And a new report says churches and ministries kept more than $7 billion in Payroll Protection Plan funds. We'll look at some of the details. We also look at a report from the Department of Education about Liberty University. The report says they may have underreported campus assault incidents. We begin today with an update on a story we've been covering for a while—a Minnesota youth pastor accused of sexually assaulting multiple teenage girls has been arrested. FINAL THOUGHTS: MinistryWatch has published a booklet called “75 Red Flags To Consider Before Donating To A Christian Ministry.” We'll send you that booklet as our thank you for any gift to MinistryWatch during the month of October. This is a great tool for Christian donors. We use the questions in this booklet every day here at MinistryWatch to help us evaluate ministries. To get your copy, just go to the MinistryWatch website and hit the donate button at the top of the page. The producers for today's program are Rich Roszel and Jeff McIntosh. We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today's program include Paul Clolery, Tom Campisi, Kim Roberts, Christina Darnell, Rod Pitzer—and you, Warren. A special thanks to Tom Campisi of the Tri-State Voice and to The NonProfit Times for contributing material for this week's podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

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Our Four Core Values | Community-Renewing

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Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2023 21:57

In this episode, we finish our 4 part series on the core values that shape our counseling approach. Today, we explore the fourth core value of community-renewing counseling. This approach recognizes that counseling is part of the great commission and the call to make disciples. Join us as we explore how we aim is to provide a level of care that enables everyone experiencing it to be equipped to live on the mission God has called them to locally and globally and to see our communities renewed by the power of the gospel. -- We are a proud member of the ⁠⁠Confessional Podcast Network.⁠⁠ -- Next week at TGC23 in Indianapolis, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Gospel Care Collective⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ are co-hosting an event to equip pastors to care for the abused in their church. Find out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Come by our booth. -- For more information on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠online counseling⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ through the Gospel Care Collective. -- Intro and Outro Music by Pedro the Lion, 'Bad Diary Days' from It's Hard To Find a Friend (98)

Confronting vs. Covering in Love - Joe Keller

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Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2023 42:00

On this episode of This vs. That, we talk with Joe Keller about confronting versus covering in love. Joe has been in ministry and leadership development for over 20 years and currently serves as the executive pastor at Grace Baptist Church in Santa Clarita, California. We define what it means to confront in love, and how it involves living in a way that promotes and communicates the truth of God's word. We also discuss the importance of motivation and heart when it comes to confronting others. Joe shares the principle of bearing up under small offenses and when it is necessary to confront patterns of sin that are hurting others or the testimony of the gospel. Join us for a thoughtful conversation about how to love and confront well. Featured Article: To Confront or Not Confront? That is the Question ----- Trauma and Abuse. It's in the headlines. It's on social media. It's also in our churches. We live in a fallen world where Christians are not immune from the effects of sin and brokenness. How can we love the hurting and vulnerable in our ministries well? The Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention and Gospel Care Collective are partnering together to help equip ministry leaders to respond to this problem. At TGC23 in Indianapolis, we will host a panel event aiming to provide a biblical perspective on these issues, with a focus on the role of the church in healing trauma and preventing abuse. Join us as we hear from long-time practitioners in ministry and counseling, including Jennifer Greenberg, Eliza Huie, Jason Kovacs, Mike Kruger, and Dr. Jeremy Pierre, to make the church a safer place for vulnerable people. You can find out more and register at ⁠⁠⁠traumainformedchurch.co⁠⁠ ----- At Anchored Hope, we're committed to excellence. We believe that compassionate, biblically grounded, clinically informed counseling shouldn't be hard to find. That's why we are also committed to affordability and accessibility. To do this as a nonprofit, however, requires us to lock arms with people who care about the mental, emotional, and spiritual crisis happening all around us. If this is you, we need your help. This month we launched a brand new giving campaign and we are seeking to find a hundred people willing to give so that others might live. Whether it's $5 or a thousand dollars, we need your help. These proceeds go to men, women and families, pastors, ministry leaders, and missionaries across the globe in need of counseling care today. In order to join us, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠anchoredhope.co/give⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and join the cause for accessible, affordable, and excellent counseling care today. While our funds go to people in need of counseling and to support the growing ministry of Ingrid Hope, we have two specific financial needs. One is to serve ministry leaders in a foreign country that are caring and doing outreach to trafficked victims. The other need is a request to help and financing counseling for military families across the nation. If you would like more information about these two opportunities to give, send us an email@officebiblicalcounseling.online ----- This vs. That is a podcast of Anchored Hope. Anchored Hope provides practical help to those hurting by anchoring their hope in Jesus and helping others gain a better understanding of his promises. We offer reputable, biblical counsel to those suffering or experiencing difficult seasons. Our counselors are highly trained and bring a vast experience in addressing the various issues of life. To meet with a counselor, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠anchoredhope.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and schedule an appointment today.

Adultery: Knowing Too Much vs. Knowing Just Enough - Ellen Dykas

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Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2023 57:02

On this episode of This vs. That, we have a conversation with Ellen Dykas about the topic of adultery. We discuss the balance between knowing too much versus knowing just enough when it comes to adultery or pornography within a marriage. Ellen navigates this heavy topic with ease and provides insights on how to evaluate user feedback effectively. We also discuss the importance of understanding user needs and compiling user research methods into a document. Join us for this important and necessary conversation. Jesus and Your Unwanted Journey ----- Trauma and Abuse. It's in the headlines. It's on social media. It's also in our churches. We live in a fallen world where Christians are not immune from the effects of sin and brokenness. How can we love the hurting and vulnerable in our ministries well? The Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention and Gospel Care Collective are partnering together to help equip ministry leaders to respond to this problem. At TGC23 in Indianapolis, we will host a panel event aiming to provide a biblical perspective on these issues, with a focus on the role of the church in healing trauma and preventing abuse. Join us as we hear from long-time practitioners in ministry and counseling, including Jennifer Greenberg, Eliza Huie, Jason Kovacs, Mike Kruger, and Dr. Jeremy Pierre, to make the church a safer place for vulnerable people. You can find out more and register at ⁠⁠traumainformedchurch.co⁠⁠ ----- At Anchored Hope, we're committed to excellence. We believe that compassionate, biblically grounded, clinically informed counseling shouldn't be hard to find. That's why we are also committed to affordability and accessibility. To do this as a nonprofit, however, requires us to lock arms with people who care about the mental, emotional, and spiritual crisis happening all around us. If this is you, we need your help. This month we launched a brand new giving campaign and we are seeking to find a hundred people willing to give so that others might live. Whether it's $5 or a thousand dollars, we need your help. These proceeds go to men, women and families, pastors, ministry leaders, and missionaries across the globe in need of counseling care today. In order to join us, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠anchoredhope.co/give⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and join the cause for accessible, affordable, and excellent counseling care today. While our funds go to people in need of counseling and to support the growing ministry of Ingrid Hope, we have two specific financial needs. One is to serve ministry leaders in a foreign country that are caring and doing outreach to trafficked victims. The other need is a request to help and financing counseling for military families across the nation. If you would like more information about these two opportunities to give, send us an email@officebiblicalcounseling.online ----- This vs. That is a podcast of Anchored Hope. Anchored Hope provides practical help to those hurting by anchoring their hope in Jesus and helping others gain a better understanding of his promises. We offer reputable, biblical counsel to those suffering or experiencing difficult seasons. Our counselors are highly trained and bring a vast experience in addressing the various issues of life. To meet with a counselor, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠anchoredhope.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and schedule an appointment today.

Healthy Emotional Expression vs. Being Controlled by Emotions - Alasdair Groves

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Play Episode Listen Later Aug 23, 2023 65:14

On this episode of This vs. That, we dive into a discussion about Healthy Emotional Expression versus Being Controlled by Our Emotions with special guest Alasdair Groves. As the executive director of CCEF and a faculty member and counselor, Alasdair is well-versed in the topic at hand. We explore the pitfalls that Christians often fall into when discussing emotions, including the extremes of being defined by our emotions and completely shutting them down. We also discuss the importance of emotional intelligence and how it can be applied in a biblical sense. Join us as we gain insights from Alasdair's experience and wisdom on this important topic. ----- Trauma and Abuse. It's in the headlines. It's on social media. It's also in our churches. We live in a fallen world where Christians are not immune from the effects of sin and brokenness. How can we love the hurting and vulnerable in our ministries well? The Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention and Gospel Care Collective are partnering together to help equip ministry leaders to respond to this problem. At TGC23 in Indianapolis, we will host a panel event aiming to provide a biblical perspective on these issues, with a focus on the role of the church in healing trauma and preventing abuse. Join us as we hear from long-time practitioners in ministry and counseling, including Jennifer Greenberg, Eliza Huie, Jason Kovacs, Mike Kruger, and Dr. Jeremy Pierre, to make the church a safer place for vulnerable people. You can find out more and register at ⁠traumainformedchurch.co⁠ ----- At Anchored Hope, we're committed to excellence. We believe that compassionate, biblically grounded, clinically informed counseling shouldn't be hard to find. That's why we are also committed to affordability and accessibility. To do this as a nonprofit, however, requires us to lock arms with people who care about the mental, emotional, and spiritual crisis happening all around us. If this is you, we need your help. This month we launched a brand new giving campaign and we are seeking to find a hundred people willing to give so that others might live. Whether it's $5 or a thousand dollars, we need your help. These proceeds go to men, women and families, pastors, ministry leaders, and missionaries across the globe in need of counseling care today. In order to join us, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠anchoredhope.co/give⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and join the cause for accessible, affordable, and excellent counseling care today. While our funds go to people in need of counseling and to support the growing ministry of Ingrid Hope, we have two specific financial needs. One is to serve ministry leaders in a foreign country that are caring and doing outreach to trafficked victims. The other need is a request to help and financing counseling for military families across the nation. If you would like more information about these two opportunities to give, send us an email@officebiblicalcounseling.online ----- This vs. That is a podcast of Anchored Hope. Anchored Hope provides practical help to those hurting by anchoring their hope in Jesus and helping others gain a better understanding of his promises. We offer reputable, biblical counsel to those suffering or experiencing difficult seasons. Our counselors are highly trained and bring a vast experience in addressing the various issues of life. To meet with a counselor, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠anchoredhope.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and schedule an appointment today.

Our Four Core Values | Church-Partnering

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Play Episode Listen Later Aug 19, 2023 28:45

In this episode, we continue our 4 part series on the core values that shape our counseling approach. Today, we explore the third core value of church-partnering counseling. This approach recognizes the church as the primary place of care and transformation. We believe that the church has a vital role in providing support and guidance to individuals seeking counseling. Join us as we explore how the church can actively engage in the counseling process, walking alongside individuals in their journey towards healing and restoration. -- We are a proud member of the ⁠Confessional Podcast Network.⁠ -- There is still time to register for our Trauma-Informed Church workshop at McLean Bible Church Aug 25-26th. ⁠Register here.⁠ -- For Biblical Counseling Training our next course begins in September. Find out more information ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠. -- At TGC23 in Indianapolis, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Gospel Care Collective⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ are co-hosting an event to equip pastors to care for the abused in their church. Find out ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠. -- For more information on ⁠⁠⁠⁠online counseling⁠⁠⁠⁠ through the Gospel Care Collective. -- Intro and Outro Music by Pedro the Lion, 'Bad Diary Days' from It's Hard To Find a Friend (98)

Ep. 283: Maui Giving Recommendations, John Ankerberg Out at ECFA, and a $35 M Fraud

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Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2023 24:37

On today's program, Multnomah University in Portland, Oregon, drops its requirement that all students sign a statement of faith. We'll have details. Also, an update on sexual abuse within the Chi Alpha college ministry—victims are sharing their stories on a newly created website forum…and a church is threatening to sue if some of the comments aren't removed. Plus, giving to disaster relief organizations working in Maui—we'll tell you who we recommend…and who we don't. We begin today with news that the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability has terminated the membership of the Ankerberg Theological Research Institute—or A-T-R-I—the producer of the popular apologetics program “The John Ankerberg Show.” The producers for today's program are Rich Roszel and Jeff McIntosh. We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today's program include Daniel Ritchie, Jessica Eturralde, Kathryn Post, Bob Smietana, Kim Roberts, Christina Darnell—and you, Warren. Until next time, may God bless you.

Punishment vs. Godly Discipline in Parenting - Jared Kennedy

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Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2023 55:17

On this episode of This vs. That, we sit down with Jared Kennedy to discuss Punishing vs Godly Discipline in parenting. We delve into the distinction between law and gospel, the purpose of correction, and the importance of starting with the gospel in our own hearts before disciplining our children. Jared shares practical advice on how to discipline our children in a way that is restorative, corrective, and ultimately points them towards the grace of the gospel. Join us for this insightful and thought-provoking conversation. ----- Trauma and Abuse. It's in the headlines. It's on social media. It's also in our churches. We live in a fallen world where Christians are not immune from the effects of sin and brokenness. How can we love the hurting and vulnerable in our ministries well? The Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention and Gospel Care Collective are partnering together to help equip ministry leaders to respond to this problem. At TGC23 in Indianapolis, we will host a panel event aiming to provide a biblical perspective on these issues, with a focus on the role of the church in healing trauma and preventing abuse. Join us as we hear from long-time practitioners in ministry and counseling, including Jennifer Greenberg, Eliza Huie, Jason Kovacs, Mike Kruger, and Dr. Jeremy Pierre, to make the church a safer place for vulnerable people. You can find out more and register at traumainformedchurch.co ----- At Anchored Hope, we're committed to excellence. We believe that compassionate, biblically grounded, clinically informed counseling shouldn't be hard to find. That's why we are also committed to affordability and accessibility. To do this as a nonprofit, however, requires us to lock arms with people who care about the mental, emotional, and spiritual crisis happening all around us. If this is you, we need your help. This month we launched a brand new giving campaign and we are seeking to find a hundred people willing to give so that others might live. Whether it's $5 or a thousand dollars, we need your help. These proceeds go to men, women and families, pastors, ministry leaders, and missionaries across the globe in need of counseling care today. In order to join us, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠anchoredhope.co/give⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and join the cause for accessible, affordable, and excellent counseling care today. While our funds go to people in need of counseling and to support the growing ministry of Ingrid Hope, we have two specific financial needs. One is to serve ministry leaders in a foreign country that are caring and doing outreach to trafficked victims. The other need is a request to help and financing counseling for military families across the nation. If you would like more information about these two opportunities to give, send us an email@officebiblicalcounseling.online ----- This vs. That is a podcast of Anchored Hope. Anchored Hope provides practical help to those hurting by anchoring their hope in Jesus and helping others gain a better understanding of his promises. We offer reputable, biblical counsel to those suffering or experiencing difficult seasons. Our counselors are highly trained and bring a vast experience in addressing the various issues of life. To meet with a counselor, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠anchoredhope.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and schedule an appointment today.

Our Four Core Values | Clinically-Informed Counseling

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Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2023 22:16

In this episode, we continue our 4 part series on the core values that shape our counseling approach. Today, we explore the second core value of clinically-informed counseling. Clinically-informed counseling recognizes the complexity of each individual. It acknowledges that emotional, relational, mental, and spiritual needs all intertwine and impact one's overall well-being and that we are embodied souls. -- This is our first podcast as part of the Confessional Podcast Network. -- There is still time to register for our Trauma-Informed Church workshop at McLean Bible Church Aug 25-26th. Register here. -- For Biblical Counseling Training our next course begins in September. Find out more information ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. -- At TGC23 in Indianapolis, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Gospel Care Collective⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ are co-hosting an event to equip pastors to care for the abused in their church. Find out ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠. -- For more information on ⁠⁠⁠online counseling⁠⁠⁠ through the Gospel Care Collective. -- Intro and Outro Music by Pedro the Lion, 'Bad Diary Days' from It's Hard To Find a Friend (98)

Our Four Core Values | Christ-Centered

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Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2023 21:09

In this episode, we start a 4 part series that delve into the fundamental principles that define our approach, rooted in our four core values. Christ-Centered: We believe that the gospel of Jesus is not only the solution to sin and brokenness but also the foundation for lasting healing and restoration. Clinically-Informed: We understand that individuals are complex beings, and our counseling aims to address emotional, relational, mental, and spiritual needs. Church-Partnering: We see the church as the primary place of care and transformation. Community-Renewing: We believe counseling is discipleship and part of our mission to seek the welfare of our community and world. Today we unpack what it means to be Christ-centered and gospel-centered in our approach to biblical counseling. In the upcoming episodes, we will dive deeper into these core values. Join us as we navigate the journey towards wholeness and guided by the transformative power of the gospel. -- For Biblical Counseling Training our next course begins in September. Find out more information ⁠here⁠. At TGC23 in Indianapolis, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Gospel Care Collective⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ are co-hosting an event to equip pastors to care for the abused in their church. Find out ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. For more information on ⁠⁠online counseling⁠⁠ through the Gospel Care Collective. -- Intro and Outro Music by Pedro the Lion, 'Bad Diary Days' from It's Hard To Find a Friend (98)

The Resilience Factor: Insights from Léonce B. Crump Jr. & Warren Bird on Unbreakable Teams

unSeminary Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 13, 2023 32:06

Thanks for tuning in to the unSeminary podcast. Today I'm talking with Léonce B. Crump Jr. and Warren Bird. Léonce is an author plus the co-founder and senior pastor of Renovation Church in Atlanta. Warren is a repeat guest on unSeminary. He works for the Evangelical Council for Financial Ability (ECFA) and is also the […]

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Embracing Our True Identity in Christ with Jeremy Britton

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Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2023 60:20

Who am I in Christ? Who am I not? How does God see me? In this thought-provoking episode, join Jason Kovacs and Jeremy Britton, as they delve into the topic of a believer's identity and how God perceives them. While navigating their own personal experiences and complexities of understanding one's true identity in Christ they seek to uncover the transformative power of embracing God's perspective. As you listen, you'll gain valuable wisdom and encouragement to discover your worth and purpose as a beloved child of God. -- At TGC23 in Indianapolis, ⁠⁠⁠Gospel Care Collective⁠⁠⁠ and the ⁠⁠⁠Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention⁠⁠⁠ are co-hosting an event to equip pastors to care for the abused in their church. Find out here. For more information on online counseling through the Gospel Care Collective. For Biblical Counseling Training our next course begins in September. Find out more information here. -- Intro and Outro Music by Pedro the Lion, 'Bad Diary Days' from It's Hard To Find a Friend (98)

The Role of Community and Confession in Counseling and the Church with Jeremy Britton

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Play Episode Listen Later Jul 4, 2023 61:16

In this episode, Jason Kovacs and Jeremy Britton dive deep into the importance of community and confession in the life of the believer. They explore how these two aspects play a pivotal role in shaping one's spiritual journey and growth. Through personal anecdotes and biblical insights, they shed light on the power of vulnerability and the transformational impact it can have within a community of believers. By listening to this podcast, you can gain a fresh perspective on the importance of community and confession in your own walk of faith. -- At TGC23 in Indianapolis, ⁠⁠Gospel Care Collective⁠⁠ and the ⁠⁠Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention⁠⁠ are co-hosting an event to equip pastors to care for the abused in their church. Find out here https://traumainformedchurch.co/ For more information on online counseling through the Gospel Care Collective ⁠⁠⁠http://www.gospelcarecollective.com/counseling⁠⁠⁠ For Biblical Counseling Training ⁠⁠⁠http://www.gospelcarecollective.com/equipping⁠ -- Intro and Outro Music by Pedro the Lion, 'Bad Diary Days' from It's Hard To Find a Friend (98)

Trauma-Informed Care and the Church with Kevin Stratton, LPC, CCTS-I

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Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2023 52:29

In this episode, Jason Kovacs sits down with Kevin Stratton, Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Clinical Trauma Specialist, as he shares his personal journey in counseling and trauma-informed care. As a mental health professional, he shares his model of providing biblically-based trauma care and sheds light on the role of the church in trauma care. Kevin emphasizes the significance of holistic care and the need to address trauma as a whole, including the body and soul. We discuss the danger re-traumatization and trauma as a buzzword. This podcast is a must-listen for anyone interested in trauma care and holistic healing. -- At TGC23 in Indianapolis, ⁠Gospel Care Collective⁠ and the ⁠Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention⁠ are co-hosting an event to equip pastors to care for the abused in their church. Find out here https://traumainformedchurch.co/ For more information on online counseling through the Gospel Care Collective ⁠⁠http://www.gospelcarecollective.com/counseling⁠⁠ For Biblical Counseling Training ⁠⁠http://www.gospelcarecollective.com/equipping -- Intro and Outro Music by Pedro the Lion, 'Bad Diary Days' from It's Hard To Find a Friend (98)

A Personal Story of Abuse in the SBC with Chris Davis

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Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2023 58:08

In this episode, Jason Kovacs sits down with Chris Davis, a pastor, author, and survivor of sexual abuse in the Southern Baptist Convention. Chris shares his personal journey of abuse and how it has impacted his faith and life. He discusses his struggles with coming forward, the dynamics of power, and the advice he would share with his younger self. We also delve into the larger issue of abuse within the SBC and the need for change. Join us as we listen to Chris's story and gain insight into the ongoing fight for justice and healing. TGC Article https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/leaders-talk-power-protect-vulnerable/ World Magazine article https://wng.org/articles/beyond-the-billy-graham-rule-1639026447 At TGC23 in Indianapolis, Gospel Care Collective and the Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention are co-hosting an event to equip pastors to care for the abused in their church. Find out here https://traumainformedchurch.co/

SWAT - 06-01 - Week 209 - The Mission Continues

SWAT Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2023 56:39

Doug is gone for a couple weeks Brad is taking over Guest Thursday today with guest Jeff Dalrymple with Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention Who is Jeff? Investing in the next generation Some minor technical difficulties during the fix break Abuse in the church ECAP Child Safety What is happening this summer Cultural decay Northeast Florida Christian Chamber of Commerce Links: https://ecap.net https://neflchristianchamber.com/ ------------------ Acts 1-28 ------------------ 5 Core Values of SWAT 1. God's Word 2. Prayer 3. Evangelism 4. Discipleship 5. Community ------------------ https://swatradio.com/ SWAT - Spiritual Warriors Advancing Truth Call us Toll-Free at: +1-844-777-7928 Email Us a Question: ask@swatradio.com FIND A SWAT MEETING Woody s Bar-B-Que 226 Solano Rd Ponte Vedra, FL 10611 Wed. 6:30-7:30 am IHOP 3250 Hodges Blvd Jacksonville, FL 32224 Wed. Night 7-8 pm Salem Centre 7235 Bonneval Rd Jacksonville, FL Wed. 12:00-1:00 pm Jumping Jax House of Food 10131 San Jose Blvd #12 Jacksonville, FL Thursday 6:30-7:30 am The Village Inn 900 Ponce De Leon Blvd St. Augustine, FL Friday 9:00-10:30 am Woodmen Valley Chapel - Woodmen Heights Campus 8292 Woodman Valley View Colorado Springs CO 80908 Thursdays 8-9:15 pm

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Self-Awareness vs. Navel-Gazing - Ronnie Martin

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Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2023 42:04

On this episode of This vs. That, we chat with Ronnie Martin, about the difference between self-awareness and navel gazing. Ronnie shares his personal experience with introspection and how he combats its tendency to become all-consuming. From intentional curiosity in other people's lives to prayer and discernment, we discuss practical tips for cultivating godly self-awareness. We also discuss the importance of humility, the role of spiritual disciplines, and taking the first step towards self-awareness. Join us for a thoughtful conversation on this important topic. Ronnie Martin is the lead pastor of Substance Church in Ashland, Ohio. He is also the author of the Advent Devotional the The God Who Is with Us: 25-Day Devotional for Advent and a co-host of The Happy Rant podcast. ----- This episode of This vs. That is sponsored by: ⁠⁠Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention⁠⁠ - “Psalm 127:3 says, “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord…” Yet, today one in every three girls and one in every seven boys are sexually abused before they're 18. That's why Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention was formed. By implementing ECAP's child safety standards, Christian ministries create safe places for children and youth to hear the gospel and grow in discipleship, unhindered by abuse. Ministry leaders! Check out ECAP's free child protection assessments at ⁠⁠www.ecap.net⁠⁠. Parents! Contact ECAP through their website at ⁠⁠www.ecap.net⁠⁠ to get a free video resource by Julie Lowe, author of Safeguards.” Marketeering - Are you spending too much time managing your website, designing graphics, and trying to figure out how grow your digital platform? Maybe you know you should be focusing on these things, but you just don't have the time. At Marketeering, we believe that no brand should lack the creative tools needed to grow and thrive. We can help you uncover what makes your brand unique and develop a strategy for helping your brand stand out from the rest. Right now, we're offering a special rate to get started that is exclusively for This vs. That listeners. Visit marketeering.co and schedule a brand assessment with us and receive 50% off! Just mention This vs. That in the contact form. This vs. That is a podcast of Anchored Hope. Anchored Hope provides practical help to those hurting by anchoring their hope in Jesus and helping others gain a better understanding of his promises. We offer reputable, biblical counsel to those suffering or experiencing difficult seasons. Our counselors are highly trained and bring a vast experience in addressing the various issues of life. To meet with a counselor, visit ⁠anchoredhope.co⁠ and schedule an appointment today.

5LQ Episode 508 with Jeff Dalrymple

5 Leadership Questions Podcast on Church Leadership with Todd Adkins

Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2023 24:50

In this episode of the 5 Leadership Questions podcast, Todd Adkins and Dan Iten are joined by Jeff Dalrymple who serves as the Executive Director of the Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention (ECAP). In this episode, they discuss the importance of coaching and leading a team toward a shared mission, vision, and values. He shares his experiences in identifying gaps in knowledge and management surrounding child safety in the evangelical community and the challenges of leading a dispersed team during the startup phase of an organization. Jeff also emphasizes the importance of balancing work and family life and provides insights into his leadership approach in his home. BEST QUOTES "Advancing the mission and making things happen is important, but don't forget to care for and invest in the people around you." – Jeff Dalrymple "Shared experiences create relational deposits that are valuable in the life of a child and family." – Jeff Dalrymple "The mission is important, but how you go about accomplishing that mission is just as important." – Jeff Dalrymple "Constant communication and support with team members is necessary for successful leadership." – Jeff Dalrymple "God is calling us to a mission and a calling, but it's important to remember the relationships along the way." – Jeff Dalrymple "Modeling Christ's likeness and good leadership through presence and intentional words is important in the home." – Jeff Dalrymple "The key to leadership is coaching and leading a team towards the same mission, vision, and values." – Jeff Dalrymple RECOMMENDED RESOURCES The Conviction to Lead: 25 Principles for Leadership That Matters by Dr. Albert Mohler TRUST: The Firm Foundation for Kingdom Fruitfulness by Dan Busby This vs. That Podcast by Anchored Hope Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention

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5LQ Episode 508 with Jeff Dalrymple

1 Ministry Question Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2023 24:50

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Ep. 259: T.D. Jakes, John Ankerberg, And Christians Re-Think The Tithe

Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2023 28:09

On today's program, Dallas megachurch pastor T.D. Jakes launches a billion dollar community redevelopment project. We'll have details. And a former executive at Southeastern University in Florida pleads guilty to fraud. We'll explain how the complicated fraud occurred. Also, a new survey by Lifeway Research indicates that Christians' views on tithing are shifting. We'll have details from that study. We begin today with news that popular Christian apologist John Ankerberg has been suspended from the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. The producers for today's program are Rich Roszel and Jeff McIntosh. We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Emily Kern, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today's program include Bob Smietana, Yonat Shimron, Emily McFarlan Miller, Kim Roberts, Anne Stych, Jessica Eturralde, Rod Pitzer, Christina Darnell—and you, Warren. Until next time, may God bless you.

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Caring For the Body vs. Idolizing the Body - Lainey Greer

Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2023 50:33

In this episode of This vs. That, Dr. Lainey Greer joins the conversation to discuss the balance between caring for our bodies and idolizing them. We talk about the misunderstanding of the body in Christian circles and the importance of a biblical understanding of the body. We also discuss how caring for our bodies plays a role in our emotional and spiritual health. Dr. Greer shares her personal experience with an eating disorder and how it affected her mind and body. We also touch on the significance of the Trinitarian view of the body and how it impacts our Christian life. Finally, we discuss how to distinguish between caring for our bodies appropriately and idolizing them, and how to discern when our thoughts and actions have shifted to an unhealthy level. Dr. Lainey Greer is an author, speaker, and personal trainer with over 10 years experience working in the local church. She holds a PhD in Theology from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and is passionate about teaching how the scripture addresses the human body. https://laineygreer.com/ ----- Resources mentioned: Embodied: Living as Whole People in a Fractured World - Gregg Allison Be Well: Learning How to Steward Your Health - Lainey Greer Fitness Blender ----- This episode of This vs. That is sponsored by: ⁠⁠Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention⁠⁠ - “Psalm 127:3 says, “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord…” Yet, today one in every three girls and one in every seven boys are sexually abused before they're 18. That's why Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention was formed. By implementing ECAP's child safety standards, Christian ministries create safe places for children and youth to hear the gospel and grow in discipleship, unhindered by abuse. Ministry leaders! Check out ECAP's free child protection assessments at ⁠⁠www.ecap.net⁠⁠. Parents! Contact ECAP through their website at ⁠⁠www.ecap.net⁠⁠ to get a free video resource by Julie Lowe, author of Safeguards.” ⁠Women & Work⁠ - Are you a woman who wants to honor God with your life but aren't sure how your work makes an eternal difference in the kingdom of God? Women & Work is a faith and work organization that is for every woman in every season. They produce a podcast and countless resources to inspire women to confidently step into their God-given calling and leverage their unique potential for God's glory. They also have a new book releasing, Women & Work: Bearing God's Image and Joining in His Mission through our Work and you can preorder your copy today! Go to ⁠womenwork.net⁠ to learn more. ----- This vs. That is a podcast of Anchored Hope. Anchored Hope provides practical help to those hurting by anchoring their hope in Jesus and helping others gain a better understanding of his promises. We offer reputable, biblical counsel to those suffering or experiencing difficult seasons. Our counselors are highly trained and bring a vast experience in addressing the various issues of life. To meet with a counselor, visit ⁠anchoredhope.co⁠ and schedule an appointment today.

Ep. 257: John Ankerberg Sues Whistleblower, Hillsong's Brian Houston Pleads Guilty, and Hope For The King's College

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2023 23:12

On today's program, popular Christian apologist John Ankerberg has been under scrutiny after a former fundraiser for the organization filed a whistleblower complaint and shared it with both the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, and with MinistryWatch. Now, Ankerberg has sued the whistleblower. We'll have details. And Hillsong's Brian Houston has pled guilty to DUI charges following a 2022 incident in California. Later in the program we'll have the latest from The King's College. This Christian liberal arts college in New York City has been on the verge of closure, but dramatic developments last week are giving supporters of the school a glimmer of hope. We begin today with televangelist Perry Stone. A grand jury in Tennessee has ruled that an FBI investigation into sexual misconduct claims has not produced enough evidence to charge him with crimes. FINAL THOUGHTS: I want to thank those of you who attended our “Ask Me Anything” webinar yesterday. We had about 60 people on the webinar and we got more questions than I could get to, so we'll definitely be doing this again soon. I also want to mention that June will mark the 25th anniversary of MinistryWatch. We were founded by Rusty and Carol Leonard in June of 1998. Carol is still on our board. We plan to have both of them on the podcast in early June to talk about the early days of MinistryWatch, so I hope you'll keep an eye out for that, and pray for continued faithfulness for us as we approach this important milestone birthday in the life of our ministry. The producers for today's program are Rich Roszel and Jeff McIntosh. We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Emily Kern, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today's program include Shannon Cuthrell, Steve Rabey, Kim Roberts, Anne Stych, Jessica Eturralde, and Warren Smith. Until next time, may God bless you.

Ep. 256: Abuse Prevention with ECAP's Jeff Dalrymple

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2023 19:17

Regular listeners to this podcast, or readers of our website, know that we cover a lot of stories about sexual abuse. We take no pleasure in these stories, but we believe they are important. To explain why, I would use a simple analogy. I would ask you to imagine that you have a headache. If you think this headache is caused by sinus pressure, or perhaps too much coffee, you will take a couple of aspirin and go about your business. But what if that headache is the symptom of a brain tumor, and those headaches are a warning from your body to do something? That's why we cover sexual abuse stories: We believe that just as headaches can be a warning that something in our physical bodies is amiss, the stories we do at MinistryWatch – especially their frequency and severity – should be a warning to us that something in the Body of Christ is amiss, and we need to do more than take a couple of aspirin and get on with our lives. But we need more than a good diagnosis. We need a cure. That's why I'm delighted to have Jeff Dalrymple on the program. Jeff is helping the church to act in biblical ways. He leads a group called ECAP, the Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention. The group has been around for only a few years, but MinistryWatch was an early fan. More than 20 MinistryWatch stories at least mention ECAP and its work, and I'm delighted to have Jeff on the program today. Prior to joining ECAP, Jeff was a vice president at Southern Seminary in Louisville Kentucky. Jeff and I have mentioned a number of resources on today's program. Here are a few links to help you find them: First, here's a link to ECAP's website. Also, here's a link to MinistryWatch's coverage of ECAP's activities. Finally, here's a link to a book we mentioned today, Dr. Michael Kruger's Bully Pulpit. The producers for today's program are Rich Roszel and Jeff McIntosh. We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry. Until next time, may God bless you.

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Combatting Covetousness With God's Wisdom

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2023 24:57

“And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Covetousness doesn't get enough pulpit time these days. Pastors would do well to preach more about this sin that infects today's society. Rob talks about how you combat covetousness with God's wisdom.First a definition - Covetousness is a sinful desire for things. It's often confused with envy, which is actually directed toward another person and leads to covetousness when you want what they have.We make this distinction because the Bible makes it — by giving covetousness a SPECIAL place — forbidding it in the 10th Commandment.Envy is bad; it's a sin, but covetousness is even more dangerous to your soul.Paul answers why in Colossians 3:5 - “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.When you covet something, you make it an idol, putting it BEFORE God. This points back to the first two commandments. “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me."Followed by, “You shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation.”Now you see the danger. Covetousness is an emotion that drives idolatry and it's nothing short of a plague in today's society. Through the media and advertising, we're bombarded daily with images of things, many of which we can't afford — a bigger house, a newer car, or a skiing vacation in Vail.Covetousness is sometimes called “the mother of sin” because it leads to so many others, like greed, envy, hate and even murder. And there are special warnings when money itself becomes an idol.Jesus says in Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”In 1 Timothy 6:10, Paul writes, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.”God gave the sin of covetousness a special place in the 10 Commandments because He had to. As Paul relates in Romans 7 that without the law, he wouldn't have known that he was covetous. That's because our sin nature prevents us from seeing our greed, lust and materialism.How do you know if you've fallen victim to covetousness?First, by praying that God would reveal this sin in your heart. James 1:5 tells us, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”Second, by searching God's Word for the truth about covetousness and how it may be affecting your life. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 reads, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”Third, by asking yourself some difficult questions and answering them HONESTLY. Does God hold preeminence in your life? Have you placed other gods before him? You would never worship a golden calf, but what about your favorite sports team, or your TV, or even your spouse or children? Have you placed those things before God?Have you sought after earthly things instead of the Kingdom of Heaven? Jesus says in Matthew 6:10, “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.” In Luke 12:15, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”So, pray for wisdom, study God's Word, and guard your heart— that's how you combat covetousness. But as you do those things, keep in mind that money and possessions themselves are not evil. It's not a sin to have wealth, nor is it more holy to be poor. It's only when we put possessions above the God that gives them to us … that we fall into the trap of covetousness.Next, Rob answers these questions at 800-525-7000 or via email at askrob@FaithFi.com:Since it's often recommended to have 3-6 months living expenses as a personal emergency fund, what is recommended for an organization like a church?If you're a 2nd-career-minister, you don't have children so you're not looking to leave an inheritance for anyone, how should you essentially efficiently distribute your assets to yourself?Is it still a good time to buy I Bonds?Can you use a self-directed IRA to invest in real estate?If you're 30 years old, don't have much savings yet, have an emergency fund in place, just started a retirement plan with matching, how do you get started in saving for your future?External Links:ECFA, Evangelical Council for Financial AccountabilityOpen an I-BondBe sure to check out the rest of FaithFi.com to access our books and our many free helpful resources. You can also find us on Facebook Faith and Finance (Live) and join the conversation. Thanks for your prayerful and financial support that helps keep Faith and Finance (Live) on the air. And if you'd like to help, just click the Give button.

Diligence vs. Workaholism - Courtney Moore

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2023 52:45

This episode of This vs. That features a discussion with Courtney Moore about the topic of Workaholism vs. Diligence where we examine intersection of work and faith. We touch on topics such as the glorification of ministry over other forms of vocation, the importance of understanding God's view of work, and how to balance work and life. Courtney also emphasizes the idea of viewing work as worship and offers practical tips for recognizing when you may be working too much. Courtney Moore is the founder and president of the nonprofit organization, Women & Work, as well as co-host of the Women & Work Podcast. She holds a B.A. in Religious Studies from the University of Mobile and an M.A. in Biblical Counseling from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Courtney's book Women & Work: Bearing God's Image and Joining in His Mission through our Work is available for pre-order now. ----- This episode of This vs. That is sponsored by: Women & Work - Are you a woman who wants to honor God with your life but aren't sure how your work makes an eternal difference in the kingdom of God? Women & Work is a faith and work organization that is for every woman in every season. They produce a podcast and countless resources to inspire women to confidently step into their God-given calling and leverage their unique potential for God's glory. They also have a new book releasing, Women & Work: Bearing God's Image and Joining in His Mission through our Work and you can preorder your copy today! Go to womenwork.net to learn more. Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention - “Psalm 127:3 says, “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord…” Yet, today one in every three girls and one in every seven boys are sexually abused before they're 18. That's why Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention was formed. By implementing ECAP's child safety standards, Christian ministries create safe places for children and youth to hear the gospel and grow in discipleship, unhindered by abuse. Ministry leaders! Check out ECAP's free child protection assessments at www.ecap.net. Parents! Contact ECAP through their website at www.ecap.net to get a free video resource by Julie Lowe, author of Safeguards.” ----- This vs. That is a podcast of Anchored Hope. Anchored Hope provides practical help to those hurting by anchoring their hope in Jesus and helping others gain a better understanding of his promises. We offer reputable, biblical counsel to those suffering or experiencing difficult seasons. Our counselors are highly trained and bring a vast experience in addressing the various issues of life. To meet with a counselor, visit anchoredhope.co and schedule an appointment today.

Your Church Emergency Fund

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Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2023 24:57

The Bible tells us that only God sees the future, but it also says we should prepare for it. Does that include churches? The short answer is yes. Churches need to have an emergency fund just like individuals. In today's Faith and Finance Rob discusses exactly what that looks like. COVID caused a dramatic drop in church attendance and giving. If there was a silver lining, it was that the pandemic removed any doubt that churches need to have cash reserves. But the question remains, How much? The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability covers this in a great article, Church Cash Reserves: How Much Is Enough? Let's start with why a church emergency fund is so important. Just like with your personal finances, churches need a cushion to ensure that routine expenses are paid on time. Without it, they run the risk of getting hit with late fees. If there's a mortgage on the property, churches need at least a few months' worth of payments stored up to avoid foreclosure if giving suddenly drops. Why would that happen? Well, just one example - it's a sad fact that churches split, and if half the members leave, a church could soon be facing financial calamity. Also, no one wants to have to take a special offering to replace a worn out heating or cooling unit. Or have to start at zero if the church decides to launch a new ministry. So there are plenty of reasons why a cash reserve is essential for a church. The same scriptures that apply to individuals apply to churches. Proverbs 6, Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest." Also Proverbs 21, The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down. Let's say a church has a healthy cash reserve. The work doesn't stop there. Planning and wise management of that fund are necessary because there will always be pressures within the church about how it should be used. Should some of it go toward paying down debt early? Or to be more generous with the staff? Or to start new programs? This leads us back to the original question: How much is enough for a church's cash reserve? And just how do they come up with that number? Here there are two very different schools of thought. One says the church should have almost nothing in reserve, trusting in God, instead. The other says a church should have an entire year or more's worth of operating expenses in the bank. The correct answer is likely somewhere in the middle, and each church, with its leadership, has to decide what's best. What guides that process? Members need to understand that having a cash reserve is simply the faithful administration of God's resources. This honors God, and the church has to make it a priority, because it represents Christ in the world. Next, it's important to build up the reserve during the good times, especially when the church is growing. It should be part of the budget process - building a cash reserve as giving increases. A church can do that in two ways. One is to budget next year's revenue at, for example, 90% of this year's, or by simply putting a line in the budget for Additions to Cash Reserves. Whichever way a church does this, it's important to separate the reserve money from designated funds. In the event of a revenue shortfall, a church shouldn't be tempted to pay the mortgage with money specifically mandated for something else. And speaking of the mortgage, it's wise to keep mortgage reserves above what the lender might require. It's also important to be specific with cash reserve goals - things like servicing debt, capital replacement and ministry expansion. Also, for any of this to work, leadership needs to communicate the importance of having cash reserves to the congregation. It doesn't show a lack of faith - it's simply good stewardship. Properly communicating clear, specific goals and the progress made toward them might even inspire more faithful giving. And finally, leadership can challenge the congregation along the way to meeting a church's cash reserve goals. Malachi 3:10 comes to mind. It reads, Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. On this program, Rob also answers listener questions: What should you do with $57,000 in an old 401k if you are 58, $38,000 remaining on your mortgage, and you and your husband are employed full time. Should you buy or rent if you are a 73-year-old widow who recently moved to Tampa and are having second thoughts about having purchased a villa that is currently undergoing renovations? What are the benefits and potential costs of establishing a Revocable Living Trust and Medicaid Asset Protection Trust if you and your wife are recently retired and needing to update your estate plan? Should you pay off your mortgage if it would use most of your emergency reserves but then plan to replenish your savings? RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THIS SHOW: http://www.ecfa.org/Documents/Church_Cash_Reserves_(TCN%20Insight)_CHURCH.pdf Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000 or visit our website at FaithFi.com where you can join the FaithFi Community, and download the free FaithFi app. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1085/29

S8E02: Key Steps for Building Integrity and Accountability // Michael Martin, Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA)

The Flourishing Culture Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2023 42:59

We're all aware of high-profile moral or leadership failures; can these failures be avoided? In this episode, Michael Martin, President and CEO of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) outlines key steps to build integrity and trust with accountability for your organization's leadership. Find full show notes here: https://bit.ly/s8e02michaelmartin Share the love. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate it on Apple Podcasts and write a brief review. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-flourishing-culture-podcast/id1060724960?mt=2 By doing so, you will help spread our podcast to more listeners, and thereby help more Christian workplaces learn to build flourishing cultures. Follow our Host, Al Lopus, on Twitter https://twitter.com/allopus Follow our Host, Al Lopus, on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/allopus/ Email our host at info@workplaces.org

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Your Church Emergency Fund

covid-19 god jesus christ church lord bible planning proverbs tampa churches additions emergency funds financial accountability revocable living trust evangelical council

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 6, 2023 25:20

The Bible tells us that only God sees the future, but it also says we should prepare for it. Does that include churches? The short answer is yes. Churches need to have an emergency fund just like individuals. In today's Faith and Finance Rob discusses exactly what that looks like. COVID caused a dramatic drop in church attendance and giving. If there was a silver lining, it was that the pandemic removed any doubt that churches need to have cash reserves. But the question remains, How much? The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability covers this in a great article, Church Cash Reserves: How Much Is Enough? Let's start with why a church emergency fund is so important. Just like with your personal finances, churches need a cushion to ensure that routine expenses are paid on time. Without it, they run the risk of getting hit with late fees. If there's a mortgage on the property, churches need at least a few months' worth of payments stored up to avoid foreclosure if giving suddenly drops. Why would that happen? Well, just one example - it's a sad fact that churches split, and if half the members leave, a church could soon be facing financial calamity. Also, no one wants to have to take a special offering to replace a worn out heating or cooling unit. Or have to start at zero if the church decides to launch a new ministry. So there are plenty of reasons why a cash reserve is essential for a church. The same scriptures that apply to individuals apply to churches. Proverbs 6, Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest." Also Proverbs 21, The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down. Let's say a church has a healthy cash reserve. The work doesn't stop there. Planning and wise management of that fund are necessary because there will always be pressures within the church about how it should be used. Should some of it go toward paying down debt early? Or to be more generous with the staff? Or to start new programs? This leads us back to the original question: How much is enough for a church's cash reserve? And just how do they come up with that number? Here there are two very different schools of thought. One says the church should have almost nothing in reserve, trusting in God, instead. The other says a church should have an entire year or more's worth of operating expenses in the bank. The correct answer is likely somewhere in the middle, and each church, with its leadership, has to decide what's best. What guides that process? Members need to understand that having a cash reserve is simply the faithful administration of God's resources. This honors God, and the church has to make it a priority, because it represents Christ in the world. Next, it's important to build up the reserve during the good times, especially when the church is growing. It should be part of the budget process - building a cash reserve as giving increases. A church can do that in two ways. One is to budget next year's revenue at, for example, 90% of this year's, or by simply putting a line in the budget for Additions to Cash Reserves. Whichever way a church does this, it's important to separate the reserve money from designated funds. In the event of a revenue shortfall, a church shouldn't be tempted to pay the mortgage with money specifically mandated for something else. And speaking of the mortgage, it's wise to keep mortgage reserves above what the lender might require. It's also important to be specific with cash reserve goals - things like servicing debt, capital replacement and ministry expansion. Also, for any of this to work, leadership needs to communicate the importance of having cash reserves to the congregation. It doesn't show a lack of faith - it's simply good stewardship. Properly communicating clear, specific goals and the progress made toward them might even inspire more faithful giving. And finally, leadership can challenge the congregation along the way to meeting a church's cash reserve goals. Malachi 3:10 comes to mind. It reads, Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. On this program, Rob also answers listener questions: What should you do with $57,000 in an old 401k if you are 58, $38,000 remaining on your mortgage, and you and your husband are employed full time. Should you buy or rent if you are a 73 year old widow who recently moved to Tampa and are having second thoughts about having purchased a villa that is currently undergoing renovations? What are the benefits and potential costs of establishing a Revocable Living Trust and Medicaid Asset Protection Trust if you and your wife are recently retired and needing to update your estate plan? Should you pay off your mortgage if it would use most of your emergency reserves but then plan to replenish your savings? RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THIS SHOW: http://www.ecfa.org/Documents/Church_Cash_Reserves_(TCN%20Insight)_CHURCH.pdf Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000 or visit our website at FaithFi.com where you can join the FaithFi Community, and download the free FaithFi app. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1085/29

Ep. 230: United Methodist Meltdown, And Ministry Executive Salaries

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Play Episode Listen Later Jan 6, 2023 25:55

On today's program, Open Doors USA is changing its name and its focus. We'll have details. Plus, the Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention rolls out an accreditation program designed to help ministries protect children. And it's a new year, and MinistryWatch has published its annual list of Highly Paid Ministry Executives. We'll have a preview of the list later in the program. We begin today with more news about the slow-moving breakup of the United Methodist Church. A big thank you to those of you who showed up for us at year end. We had what was for us an ambitious goal of $81,000 for the months of November and December combined. We met that goal, with room to spare. I don't know exactly what the final tally is, since we are still getting checks postmarked Dec. 31 in the mail, I will share with you a final number next week. But until then, please know that I'm grateful, humbled, and a bit relieved – all at once. So, again, THANK YOU. Oh, and one final note before we go. In the past we've done a webinar entitled “How To Find and Read A Form 990.” This webinar has proven so popular that we've repeated it three or four times over the past two years. And we're going to do it again. It will take place on Feb. 1 at 4 pm ET. Just check the daily MinistryWatch email for a link to the registration page. It's absolutely free, but you do need to register to get all the links and details. The producers for today's program are Rich Roszel and Jeff McIntosh. We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Emily Kern, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today's program include Shannon Cuthrell, Jessica Eturralde, Anne Stych, Steve Rabey, Kathryn Post, Mark Tooley, Emily McFarlan Miller, Christina Darnell—and you, Warren. A special thanks to WORLD Opinions for contributing material for this week's podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

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GUEST: Christianity Today journalist Hannah McClellan on trends in evangelical giving

The Common Good Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2022 9:25

The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability just came out with the State of Giving Report, and Hannah wrote on the report for Christianity Today: “Evangelical Giving Goes Up, Despite Economic Woes.” Follow The Common Good on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Hosted by Aubrey Sampson and Brian From Produced by Laura Finch and Keith ConradSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep. 227: Matt Chandler Back in Pulpit, Christian Groups Vandalized by pro-abort, pro-LGBTQ Activists, and Evangelical Giving Is Up

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Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2022 22:15

On today's program, Christian groups are being vandalized by pro-gay and pro-abortion activists. We'll have two stories that highlight this growing and troubling trend. And a new report from the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability indicates that – despite uncertainties in the economy – giving to evangelical groups is up. We begin today with news that megachurch pastor Matt Chandler will be reinstated to the pulpit after a three-month leave of absence. Dallas-area megachurch pastor Matt Chandler returned to the pulpit Sunday (Dec. 4) after a leave of absence. The Village Church's board of elders reinstated him following disciplinary actions for Chandler's “inappropriate” social media relationship with a woman who is not his wife. The producers for today's program are Rich Roszel and Jeff McIntosh. We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Emily Kern, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today's program include Bob Smietana, Steve Rabey, Kim Roberts, Shannon Cuthrell, Anne Stych, Rod Pitzer, Christina Darnell, Kathryn Post, and Jessica Eturralde. Until next time, may God bless you.

Wise Year-End Giving

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2022 25:25

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. Hebrews 13:16 God's Word has a lot to say about being generous but it also repeatedly cautions us to be wise in our affairs. We'll talk about how you can be both wise and generous Despite uncertainties about the economy, let's look at how we can be generous at year-end. It's a time to be thankful for God's provision and to show our gratitude. Psalm 106:1 tells us, Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. We want to show our gratitude with our giving. But this isn't just about writing checks to various ministries with funds we have left over when all the December bills are paid. We must also be wise about our giving. Proverbs 3:13 teaches, Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding. The first step in becoming a wise giver is taking some time to think and pray about where to give. ● Your local church ● Ministries you are passionate about ○ Missionaries ○ Distributing Bibles ○ Crisis pregnancy centers that offer alternatives to abortion How do you find ministries that are doing the work you're passionate about? Make sure that the ministries you support are, first, efficient, meaning that administrative costs are kept to a minimum and, second, that they're effective and actually making a difference. The National Christian Foundation can guide you through the process and make excellent recommendations. Also Another at ministries through the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. ECFA provides accreditation to Christian businesses and ministries that adhere to standards of responsible stewardship, including doctrinal issues, governance, financial oversight, transparency, staff salaries and truthfulness. There are organizations claiming to be Christian ministries that are fraudulent, so be careful. Another good place to check for potential fraudsters is at MinistryWatch.org. MinistryWatch creates profiles for church and parachurch ministries. It identifies organizations and their leadership that may be engaged in misleading behavior, or wasteful spending practices. MinistryWatch also identifies ministries that operate in good faith and are run efficiently. You may want to do some giving outside of Christian ministries. Check out potential charities at Give.org. It's an arm of the Better Business Bureau that evaluates and accredits charities based on various standards including: complaints, donor privacy and conflicts of interest. Give.org also lets you file a complaint against a charity, read and write reviews, and get tips on giving. On this program, Rob also answers listener questions: ● I'm going to send a large sum of money to a relative. What is the safest way to do this? ● I have 5 rental properties and am looking into an LLC, but my insurance company suggested an umbrella policy. What's your advice? ● We're living with the in-laws until we can afford a house. We're close to affording a townhome, but now in-laws are in a financial deficit. How do I care for my immediate family and now extended family? Resources mentioned ● National Christian Foundation ● ECFA ● Ministry Watch ● Give.org ● Eventide Investments Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000 or email them to Questions@MoneyWise.org. Also, visit our website at MoneyWise.org where you can connect with a MoneyWise Coach, join the MoneyWise Community, and even download the free MoneyWise app. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1085/29

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Ep. 226: The State of Giving 2022 With the ECFA's Warren Bird and Jake Lapp

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Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2022 24:10

As we approach year-end, the thoughts of children turn toward Christmas, but the thoughts of ministry executives turn toward year-end giving efforts. And the thoughts of many donors turn toward those ministries they have given to in the past as they try to decide how much, or even if, they will be giving to them this year. One of the cliches in the philanthropy world is that the state of the stock market is a leading indicator of giving. A rising market doesn't CAUSE giving, but historically it has correlated with increased giving. But 2022 has turned that cliché on its head. This year has been really bad for the stock market, yet philanthropic giving has held steady, or even increased. Given all these conflicting signals, I find this year's State of Giving report by the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability to be particularly helpful. So I asked the two men behind the study, Warren Bird and Jake Lapp, to join me for today's EXTRA podcast. To see our article about the survey, and from there to link to the study itself, click here. The producers for today's program are Rich Roszel and Jeff McIntosh.   We get database, technical, and editorial support from Stephen DuBarry, Christina Darnell, Emily Kern, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth.     Until next time, may God bless you.

What Are the Best Predictors of a Church's Ability to Multiply Itself? A Warren Bird Conversation

unSeminary Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2022 38:16

Welcome back to the unSeminary podcast. We've got Dr. Warren Bird with us today. He's the Senior Vice President of Research and Equipping at the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), and an author of over thirty books. Warren is back to talk about the New Faces of Church Planting survey which was performed back […]

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Russian missiles fired on Ukraine, Skyrocketing elder fraud, Analysis of ministries to the persecuted church

The WorldView in 5 Minutes

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2022

It's Tuesday, October 11th, A.D. 2022. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Kevin Swanson Analysis of ministries to the persecuted church According to The Worldview's analysis of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability's numbers, Western Christian care agencies for the persecuted church provided 27% more assistance to the suffering body of Christ in 2021 than 2020. The five largest persecution aid ministries spent a total of $121 million in 2021, up from $96 million in 2020. Our analysis found Persecution Project, Barnabas Aid, and Open Doors ministries had the lowest ratio of administration and publicity to total expenditures ratio (over three years). Their efficiency with charitable funds ran 9.3%, 10.8%, and 9.7% respectively. Voice of the Martyrs maintained a ratio of administration costs at a ratio of 15.3%, and International Christian Concern maintained a ratio of 16.8%. Open Doors was retaining more of the income, with a 2021 expenditures-to-income ratio of only 65%. And Barnabas Aid indicated the highest need of funds, with an expenditures-to-income ratio of 108%. You can reference ecfa.org/Members to do your own analysis before funding these ministries. Jesus said: “Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail.” (Luke 12:33-34) The financial cost of the hurricanes Although Cornwall Alliance asserts that the incidence of forest fires and hurricanes are not necessarily worse than they have been in other periods of history, property damage does seem to be on the rise. In the providence of God, estimates for damage wrought by Hurricane Ian will total between $41 and $70 billion. The 21st century is shaping up to be hard on the United States. According to our Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2022 will turn out to be the eighth worst hurricane and fire season in recorded history. The fifth worst year was 2020. The fourth worst year was 2012. The third worst year was 2021. The second worst year was 2005, when Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana. And the worst natural disaster year was 2017, racking up $366 billion in losses, when American shores were slammed with Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Irma, and Hurricane Maria. The total loss of life caused by Hurricane Ian now exceeds 100, making this the deadliest storm hitting America since Hurricane Katrina in 2005, which killed 1,833 people, and Hurricane Agnes in 1972, in which 122 lost their lives. You can help the Hurricane Ian victims here. Samaritan's Purse organized 1,000 people for Operation Clean-up Samaritan's Purse has organized a clean-up operation for Southwestern Florida, reports The Christian Post. As of Monday, 1,000 volunteers are on the ground. Franklin Graham introduced the campaign, stating that, “Everything we do, we want to do it in the name of Jesus Christ. I want people to know that God loves them. He hasn't forgotten them.” U.S. stocks crater The U.S. stocks continue to crater. The NASDAQ lost 14% over the last month, and another 6% over the last four days. Since January of this year, the NASDAQ is down 34%, Bitcoin is down 60%, and gold is down 7%. Russian missiles fired on Ukraine The Ukraine war shows no signs of abating. Death rained from the sky as Russian missiles hit cities across Ukraine on Monday, right into the heart of Kyiv, the nation's capital. Russian President Vladimir Putin said the strikes were a consequence for the Ukrainian strike on a Russian bridge over the weekend. The U.S. has poised itself as a significant player in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, as the President approved another $12.3 billion of military aid to the conflict a week ago. This is in addition to $15.2 billion appropriated so far this year. The European Union has provided about $2.5 billion to the Ukraine war. The EU and U.S. contributions to the war is about twice the Ukrainian military budget. Communist Cuba greenlights homosexual faux marriage Communist Cuba has voted to legitimize homosexual faux marriage. Two-thirds of the nation showed up at the polls to approve a government-endorsed policy to allow surrogate pregnancies and unnatural sexual relationships. This comes exactly 100 years after the Bolsheviks were the first in the modern world to approve of homosexuality, with a revision of the criminal code in 1922. Skyrocketing elder fraud And finally, elder fraud is on the rise. The FBI reports a four-fold increase over 2017. Now, our elderly are scammed out of $1.7 billion per year. The most common scams are government impersonation (including IRS and Social Security scams), sweepstakes scams, robocalls featuring the question, “Can you hear me?, and the Grandparent scam, in which the voice begins with “Hi, Grandma, do you know who this is?” It usually involves a plea for overdue rent, car repairs, or jail bonds. God's Word reminds us this day: 'You shall rise before the gray-headed and honor the presence of an old man, and fear your God: I am the Lord.” (Leviticus 19:32) Close And that's The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Tuesday, October 11th, in the year of our Lord 2022. Subscribe by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ. Print story The Faith of Elvis Elvis Presley's stepbrother, Billy Stanley, has just released a memoir, entitled “The Faith of Elvis: The Story only a Brother Can Tell.” The author told The Christian Post that he is convinced Elvis was a Christian. “He constantly read the Bible. This guy read it every day of his life. He was always in the Bible.” Billy recalls the last conversation he had with Elvis two days before he died on August 14th, 1977. Elvis asked Billy if he believed that "God forgives you for all your sins?” Billy responded, “Yes he did.” Presley replied, "Good, I just wanted to hear you say that." Elvis Presley's life has been well documented for various scandals relating to drugs and breaking the seventh commandment, “You shall not commit adultery,” in Exodus 20:14. God is the Judge, and the Redeemer of His people.

Ep. 212: Chris Tomlin and Hillsong, Brother Andrew's Passing, and ECAP Rolls Out Abuse Prevention Program