Podcasts about parachurch

• Protestant missionary movements • The 20th century: Challenges of modernity • The impact of Methodism • The Pentecostals and the Charismatic movement • Parachurch organizations • Ecumenical movement • Churches and denominations • Reflections on the history of the Church • Append: Catholics, Mormons, Seventh Day Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses What led to the many divisions in Christianity? Listen to this message to hear about the four Great Awakenings led by men such as Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield. See that Charles Finney taught a number of false doctrines that led to events such as the Civil War. This was followed by broad movements such as the Holiness and Pentecostal movements. As a believer it is important that you are aware Satan is always trying to cause doubts about the authority of Scripture. Every believer needs to evaluate what they hear to see if it agrees with Scripture.

In recent decades, parachurch organizations have carved out an important space in church life and ministry.Karl Vaters talks with Dr. Angie Ward about why it's important for ministers to take a closer look at what the church is, what parachurch organizations bring to the mix, and how we can move forward more missionally, even as the emphasis on institutions diminishes.Dr. Ward is director of the Doctor of Ministry program and associate professor of leadership and ministry at Denver Seminary. She's also the author of Beyond Church and Parachurch: From Competition to Missional Extension, which is the basis for this conversation. Links:Beyond Church and Parachurch: From Competition to Missional ExtensionBeyond the Local Church: How Apostolic Movements Can Change the World, by Sam MetcalfThe Church and the Parachurch: An Uneasy Marriage (A Critical Concern Book), by Jerry E. WhitePolycentric Leadership: Church as a Discipleship Movement, with Dan White Jr. (The Church Lobby, Ep 039)Uncharted Leadership: 20 Case Studies to Help Ministry Leaders Adapt to Uncertainty, by Angie WardBONUS TALKThe Five Advantages Of Parachurch Organizations, with Dr. Angie WardEvery parachurch ministry needs to flow from and/or point to the local church. So why do we need parachurch ministries, at all?In this bonus conversation, Karl Vaters talks with Dr. Angie Ward about the five benefits that churches can gain from partnering with parachurch ministries in productive ways:ReachSpecializationLay involvementPromoting unityTo call the local church to mission Links:Beyond Church and Parachurch: From Competition to Missional ExtensionTo get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter.

In recent decades, parachurch organizations have carved out an important space in church life and ministry.Karl Vaters talks with Dr. Angie Ward about why it's important for ministers to take a closer look at what the church is, what parachurch organizations bring to the mix, and how we can move forward more missionally, even as the emphasis on institutions diminishes.Dr. Ward is director of the Doctor of Ministry program and associate professor of leadership and ministry at Denver Seminary. She's also the author of Beyond Church and Parachurch: From Competition to Missional Extension, which is the basis for this conversation. Links:Beyond Church and Parachurch: From Competition to Missional ExtensionBeyond the Local Church: How Apostolic Movements Can Change the World, by Sam MetcalfThe Church and the Parachurch: An Uneasy Marriage (A Critical Concern Book), by Jerry E. WhitePolycentric Leadership: Church as a Discipleship Movement, with Dan White Jr. (The Church Lobby, Ep 039)Uncharted Leadership: 20 Case Studies to Help Ministry Leaders Adapt to Uncertainty, by Angie WardBONUS TALKThe Five Advantages Of Parachurch Organizations, with Dr. Angie WardEvery parachurch ministry needs to flow from and/or point to the local church. So why do we need parachurch ministries, at all?In this bonus conversation, Karl Vaters talks with Dr. Angie Ward about the five benefits that churches can gain from partnering with parachurch ministries in productive ways:ReachSpecializationLay involvementPromoting unityTo call the local church to mission Links:Beyond Church and Parachurch: From Competition to Missional ExtensionTo get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter.

Is ministry destined to be lonely? Jason Ballard offers a hopeful vision for pastors and ministry leaders — one rooted in deep friendship, shared burdens, and collaboration between local churches and parachurch ministries. In this episode of the Lausanne Movement Podcast, Jason Ballard — lead pastor of The Way Church in Vancouver and executive director of The Pastorate — reflects on the challenges and joys of pastoral leadership. Drawing from his own journey in both parachurch and local church ministry, Jason explores how friendships sustain pastors, how parachurch leaders can walk alongside churches, and why flourishing relationships are essential for the witness of the gospel and the advance of God's global mission.   Main Points Friendship in Ministry: Why cultivating deep friendships is essential for healthy pastoral leadership. Pastoral Burdens: Insights into the unique weight pastors carry and how to share it. Church–Parachurch Dynamics: Practical ways pastors and ministry leaders can support and bless one another. An Ecology of Relationships: Building diverse friendships inside and outside the church for long-term ministry health. The Pastorate: Jason's vision for equipping pastors so that healthy leaders can lead healthy churches.   Call to Action If this conversation encouraged you, subscribe to the Lausanne Movement Podcast, leave us a review, and share this episode with your pastor or a ministry leader. Together, let's strengthen the bonds of friendship in God's mission.   Links & Resources The Pastorate: https://www.thepastorate.ca/ The Pastorate Podcast: https://www.thepastorate.ca/podcast (available wherever you listen) The Way Church Vancouver: thewaychurch.ca   Guest Bio Jason Ballard is Lead Pastor of The Way Church Vancouver, a community dedicated to “joining Jesus in the restoration of all things” in Vancouver and beyond. He also serves as Executive Director of The Pastorate (formerly the Canadian Church Leaders Network), where he hosts The Pastorate Podcast—connecting with pastors across Canada to strengthen their heart, vision, and resilience. Jason is passionate about making space for doubt and honest exploration of faith, and helping people grow as disciples of Jesus. He lives in Vancouver with his wife Rachael and their three children, Hudson, Mary, and Millie.

What happens when the institutions we've trusted start to crumble and we realize they were never meant to carry the weight we gave them? Today, I'm joined by Angie Ward. She invites us into a deep reimagining of the Church, not just as a building or an organization, but as a Spirit-formed people living on mission together. Angie has spent decades in both church and parachurch worlds, and she brings hard-won wisdom and clarity to a question many of us are asking right now: what is the Church supposed to be? We talk about the historical split between church and parachurch, what it would look like to move from siloed excellence to shared mission, and why this cultural moment might be the perfect time to rethink everything - not out of panic, but out of trust. We discuss institutional collapse, missional ecosystems, scarcity vs. abundance, and how to step into new paradigms when the old ones stop working. If you're sensing the shaking in the foundations and wondering what's next for the people of God, join us as we imagine an ecosystem of missional extensions. Angie Ward (PhD, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is director of the Doctor of Ministry program and associate professor of leadership and ministry at Denver Seminary. She is the author of Uncharted Leadership: 20 Case Studies to Help Ministry Leaders Adapt to Uncertainty and I Am a Leader: When Women Discover the Joy of Their Calling. Angie has over thirty-five years of leadership experience in church, nonprofit, and higher education ministry. A sportswriter in a previous life, Angie loves running, basketball, humor, and movies. She and her pastor-husband live in Denver. They have two grown sons and one very spoiled beagle.Angie's Book:Beyond Church and ParachurchAngie's Recommendations:Good AuthorityCompeting Against LuckSubscribe to Our Substack: Shifting CultureConnect with Joshua: jjohnson@allnations.usGo to www.shiftingculturepodcast.com to interact and donate. Every donation helps to produce more podcasts for you to enjoy.Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Threads, Bluesky or YouTubeConsider Giving to the podcast and to the ministry that my wife and I do around the world. Just click on the support the show link below Friar TimeThrough meaningful interviews and heartfelt conversations, Friar Time, hosted by Fr....Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the show

In this conversation, host Daniel Johnson welcomes Angie Ward to explore the themes of church and parachurch dynamics, the evolution of ecclesiology, and the impact of technology on community. Angie shares her journey of writing her book, Beyond Church and Parachurch: From Competition to Missional Extension, and discusses the historical context of church structures. They delve into the definition of church in today's landscape, emphasizing the importance of embodied community and the role of technology. Angie proposes a new understanding of parachurch as 'missional extensions,' highlighting the interconnectedness of all believers in a global ecosystem. In this conversation, Angie Ward discusses the principles of effective collaboration between churches and parachurch organizations, emphasizing the importance of open-handedness and a kingdom-minded approach. She explores the need for a collaborative ecosystem where different ministries recognize their roles and work together for a greater impact. The discussion also touches on the skepticism some church leaders have towards parachurch ministries and the necessity for these organizations to connect with local churches. Angie reflects on the current changes in the church landscape, likening it to a 'rummage sale' where old structures are being questioned and new opportunities for collaboration are emerging. Finally, she expresses hope for the next generation of leaders who are willing to learn from past mistakes and innovate for the future.Angie Ward (PhD, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is director of the Doctor of Ministry program and associate professor of leadership and ministry at Denver Seminary. She is the author of Uncharted Leadership: 20 Case Studies to Help Ministry Leaders Adapt to Uncertainty and I Am a Leader: When Women Discover the Joy of Their Calling. Angie has over thirty-five years of leadership experience in church, nonprofit, and higher education ministry. A sportswriter in a previous life, Angie loves running, basketball, humor, and movies. She and her pastor-husband live in Denver. They have two grown sons and one very spoiled beagle.

It's not your job, but it's also not what the church does. Christians are free to participate in any number of interchurch activities. We are better together than alone. But there must be a clear movement of the ministry toward the centrality of the church for every believer. Why is the priority of the church so important and how can we maintain that?

A Christian's job can also be thought of as a parachurch ministry. It's important to make a distinction between what the church does and what a Christian does, and a distinction between what the gospel is and what the implications of the gospel are. Thus Christians live out their faith in the workplace and around the world while maintaining the primary importance of the work of the church and church planting missionaries.

Churches have two kinds of ministries they operate: essential and support ministries. In this episode, we talk about how to make a distinction between the two and why that is important, along with some potential dangers and some helpful implications. Did you ever consider that your church operates parachurch ministries from within? Perhaps what your church has considered really important should be viewed as a non-essential parachurch support ministry. May all of God's churches be healthy in how we spend our ministry efforts.

Once we understand what the essentials of the church are, then we are able to define a parachurch ministry. The definition proposed in this episode will help us to keep the priority of ministry on the local church. It will help us understand why missions is important for churches as we compare and contrast all churches everywhere. And hopefully, you will be motivated in your own ministry to not exceed its mandate and see how it rightfully sits in submission to the local church. 

Getting the church right sets the foundation for understanding all Christian ministry. The church is God's institution for his purpose of global glory. The church is essential and when we see how important the church is, then everything else we do as Christians will fall into place. What is essential for a church?

Christians do a lot of things, most of it on their own as an act of faith that God has given them a ministry. Yet, Jesus warns us that many will claim having done many things in Jesus' name, but Jesus will reject them because he never knew them. How can we sort through what is a Christian ministry and what is not? Before we can answer that question, we must first understand what ministry the church does. Getting the church right will begin to help us sort through the confusion.

Part 3 - The rise of the ‘parachurch' and the role this places in the global Church going forward a chat about discipleship and the big questions about the future of church and what we can learn from our persecuted brothers and sisters. Thanks so much to Adam Holland for joining us for 3 big conversations about the persecuted church.

Need a simple framework to help you make disciples like Jesus? Check out The Pathway Series to learn more: https://www.intotheharvest.org/pathway Merch ► https://www.intotheharvest.org/shop/ Instagram ► https://instagram.com/intotheharvest Facebook ► https://facebook.com/intotheharvest Newsletter ► https://www.intotheharvest.org/newsletter/ Shelton Markham is back on the show to talk with Andrew about the Church and Parachurch organizations, and how they can/should best partner. It's a great show for anyone who is in an organization like the Navigators, YoungLife, or any other great parachurch organization, and is wondering how their giftings, and the things they're learning can best fit inside the Church. Shelton Markham is lead pastor of Paseo del Rey Church in San Diego, CA. To learn more about his ministry, please visit https://paseodelrey.org/ In this episode: • Why the Church/parachurch partnership is important • Andrew and Shelton's origin story • What makes a healthy church • 3D church RESOURCES MENTIONED: The Pathway Series Original Release Date: 02/06/25 SUBSCRIBE to our free weekly newsletter, Disciple Notes SHOP the ITH Store ******************** Want to Help Us Grow? •  Subscribe and give us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify •  Share this episode on Facebook •  If you believe in what we're doing and want to help us reach a wider audience, become a monthly supporter The post #230 – Making Disciples in the Local Church (Shelton Markham) appeared first on Into the Harvest

This lecture centers on the theme of "missio dei," or the mission of God, which emphasizes the church's calling to engage actively in the world as representatives of Christ. Sam, a pastoral staff member, reflects on the current sermon series titled "Vocatio," exploring concepts such as "creatio dei" (creation of God) and "capax dei" (the capacity for God) in relation to the divine mission entrusted to believers. He opens with contextual prayer, appealing for the Holy Spirit to guide the assembly as they delve into this critical topic.The foundation for today's exploration is the Great Commission from Matthew 28:18-20, where Jesus commands His disciples to make disciples of all nations. Sam emphasizes how traditional interpretations often associate this commission with missionary work in distant lands, but he seeks to broaden this understanding. He asserts that every follower of Jesus is also called to be a "sent one," commissioned to live out their faith in various contexts—at home, in the workplace, and within their neighborhoods.Sam references Leslie Newbigin, a prominent British bishop and advocate for the missional church movement, which encourages believers to understand their lives as part of God's redemptive work. He underlines the importance of being adaptable and open to God's calling, echoing the sentiment that the purpose of the church is inherently missional. Drawing on quotes from various theologians, he reinforces the message that followers of Jesus are invited to engage with God's mission by addressing the needs of the community and participating in acts of service.To illustrate practical applications of this mission, Sam shares insights from Dan Wilkinson, the executive director of World Relief Baltimore. Dan discusses the significant role of the church in supporting immigrants and refugees, emphasizing the biblical command to love one's neighbor. His work highlights the tangible impact of the church through initiatives that help settle new arrivals in the community, showcasing how these collaborative efforts embody the Great Commission in action.The dialogue continues with contributions from Megan Bailey, a Young Life leader in Baltimore County. She details her mission of connecting college students with Jesus through relationship-building and outreach efforts. Megan elaborates on creative ways to foster connections with young people and engage them in meaningful discussions about faith, illustrating a vital aspect of Christ's church: the call to shepherd the next generation.Sam continues to unfold the manifold ways in which St. Moses is actively partnering with local organizations, such as Barclay Elementary and various community outreach programs. He encourages congregants to participate in these initiatives, fostering an environment where church members can collectively meet the needs of their community and discover their unique contributions to the mission.Throughout the talk, a recurring theme emerges: the importance of collective action within the church. Sam urges participants to see themselves not merely as individual agents of change but as a cohesive body unified in purpose, leveraging God's resources to meet the myriad needs present in their communities. He concludes with an invitation for all congregants to reflect on their personal calling within the mission of Christ's church, encouraging them to open their hearts to God's guidance as they embark on this journey of faith together.Sam closes with a prayer, again invoking the Holy Spirit's guidance, and reiterates the hopeful message of renewal and reconciliation that defines the church's mission. He underscores the call to be involved actively, inviting attendees to consider how they might respond to the Great Commission in their everyday lives, thus highlighting the vibrancy and accessibility of this divine calling.

▶ Splash Page: https://i.mtr.bio/biblebashed ▶ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/BibleBashed ▶ YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMxYyDEvMCq5MzDN36shY3g ▶ Main Episode's playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtY_5efowCOk74PtUhCCkvuHlif5K09v9 ▶ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BibleBashed ▶ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BibleBashed ▶ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BibleBashed In this episode of Bible Bashed, hosts Harrison Kahrig and Pastor Tim Mullet, along with Pastor Conley Owens, delve into the controversial pricing of Ali Beth Stuckey's conference, particularly the $5,000 ticket for backstage access. They explore biblical principles regarding money in ministry, the implications of partiality, and the historical context of charging for church services. The conversation raises critical questions about the ethics of pricing in Christian contexts and the nature of spiritual teaching. In this conversation, the speakers delve into the themes of partiality in scripture, the role of parachurch ministries, and the implications of women teaching in Christian conferences. They discuss the broader applications of biblical teachings, the hypocrisy of charging for spiritual guidance, and the distinction between co-laboring and reciprocity in ministry. The conversation culminates in reflections on the current landscape of Christian conferences and the ethical considerations surrounding them. Takeaways The pricing of Ali Beth Stuckey's conference raises ethical concerns. Biblical principles warn against showing partiality based on wealth. Charging exorbitant fees for spiritual access contradicts Christian teachings. Historical practices like seat rents in churches have been criticized. The nature of what is being sold at conferences is crucial to the discussion. Partiality can manifest in various forms, not just financial. The concept of freely giving what has been freely received is central to Christian teaching. Celebrity culture in Christianity complicates the issue of pricing. Responses to high ticket prices often miss the underlying ethical issues. The conversation highlights the need for transparency in ministry finances. People often misapply scripture to fit their narratives. Scripture is meant for the edification of all, not just select parts. Jesus applied scripture broadly, challenging narrow interpretations. Partiality in church settings can manifest in various ways. Parachurch ministries may enable violations of scriptural principles. Women teaching in conferences raises questions about authority. Charging for spiritual teaching can be seen as hypocritical. Co-laboring in ministry should be prioritized over reciprocity. Conferences should be funded through voluntary donations, not ticket sales. The integrity of Christian teaching must be upheld in all settings. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/biblebashed/support

We sit and talk about ParaChurch ministries and the Pros and cons of them. For more info visit our website. https://4freedompodcast.com  For Merch visit this site. https://www.teepublic.com/user/freedom-ministries?utm_source=designer&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=Gq_E0abDp_8

In this episode of The Urban Mystic, we explore the often-complicated dynamics of 'church' and 'parachurch'. Engage with us in an insightful discourse as we shift focus from mere institutionalized church functions to the essence of its existence – the people. Discover how terms like 'church' and 'parachurch' have evolved over time, resulting in a complex tapestry of power dynamics and politics. We grapple with the conception of the church being purely a physical institution and highlight the importance of understanding its various functions and activities that fall under the term 'parachurch'. Immerse in spirited discussions around accountability, diversity, and identity within the church and join us as we reimagine a structure that roots its primary accountability in people. Participate in our exploration of societal and cultural evolutions, and their implications. Learn more about bureaucracy's stifling nature and how it appears not only in worldwide governments but also within church institutions. Delve into the concept of 'parachurch' and discover how it can effectively foster divine connections, particularly when traditional frameworks fail to evolve or adapt. Dare to question your perspectives regarding the current structures of church and engage in the possibility of your discomfort providing an avenue for introspection and thus, transformation. Unearth the potential to disrupt unwholesome dynamics, transform relationships, and instigate meaningful change by understanding the true nature of these structures as merely facilitative to a higher purpose. We invite you to explore how shifting focus onto tangible encounters with the divine and a deeper connection with God can foster genuine intimacy and dismantle unhealthy dynamics within institutionalized concepts of faith. Embark on a transformative journey with us and redefine your understanding of the dynamics of church and parachurch, fostering transformative engagement with God and each other. Support Urban Mystic Website | FaceBook| YouTube | PayPal

Parachurch ministries, political causes, and entrepreneurial enterprises seduce good men away from giving their lives to the Church and her pastoral work. How do we attract young men to the work of the Church during the formative years of their lives? College professors successfully shape their students, often in perverse ways. Why do pastors lack a similar zeal? What must pastors do to identify and draw men into working with Christ's sheep? As mentioned in the show, please check out the Psalm setting by My Soul Among Lions. Out of Our Minds Podcast: Pastors Who Say What They Think. For the love of Christ and His Church.Out of Our Minds is a production of New Geneva Academy. Are you interested in preparing for ordained ministry with pastors? Have a desire to grow in your knowledge and fear of God? Apply at www.newgenevaacademy.com.Master of DivinityBachelor of DivinityCertificate in Bible & TheologyGroundwork: The Victory of Christ & The Great ConversationIntro and outro music is Psalm of the King, Psalm 21 by My Soul Among Lions.Out of Our Minds audio, artwork, episode descriptions, and notes are property of New Geneva Academy and Warhorn Media, published with permission by Transistor, Inc. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

The parachurch was an innovation of entrepreneurially-minded Christians during the twentieth century. They considered the Church to be old and in the way. Efficiency was the gospel need of the day, so cumbersome mechanisms like denominations, ordination, and church discipline were bypassed. Pastor Bayly and Andrew Henry discuss the rise of the parachurch, the glory of the Church, and how reforming the Church—with all its ugly but necessary division and doctrinal distinctions—is the genuine need of the day.Read Bayly's The Church ReformedOut of Our Minds Podcast: Pastors who say what they think. For the love of Christ and His Church.Out of Our Minds is a production of New Geneva Academy. Are you interested in preparing for ordained ministry with pastors? Have a desire to grow in your knowledge and fear of God? Apply at www.newgenevaacademy.com.Master of DivinityBachelor of DivinityCertificate in Bible & TheologyGroundwork: The Victory of Christ & The Great ConversationIntro and outro music is Psalm of the King, Psalm 21 by My Soul Among Lions.Out of Our Minds audio, artwork, episode descriptions, and notes are property of New Geneva Academy and Warhorn Media, published with permission by Transistor, Inc. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

There is usually a tipping point where the ministry (and usually it's a corporation) gets big and the woman who founded it needs to re-evaluate her goals and realistically decide what to do next. It has been my contention that the above named women, and others, made the wrong choice. They invested themselves in their growing ministry, which inevitably took them away from their Godly role at home and church, and they became celebrities, with all that entails, which is usually negative.Read on to find out one woman who gave it up at its tipping point, in favor of her submission to elders, home, and her sphere. Links: Brooke Bartz' announcement about her online conference THE END TIME- The Issue with Parachurch organizations, especially ones founded by womenThe problem with parachurch organizationsI'm suspicious of parachurch organizations. Here's whyMany Christian Celebrity Moms are Distorting Biblical Motherhood; Part 1Are there too many conferences? Music attribution Track New York Music by https://www.fiftysounds.com Track London Music by https://www.fiftysounds.com

Glen Scrivener interviews Mikey Lynch about his new book 'The Vine Movement: Supporting gospel growth beyond your church'.See 321: http://321course.com/Subscribe to the Speak Life YouTube channel for videos which see all of life with Jesus at the centre:youtube.com/SpeakLifeMediaSubscribe to the Reformed Mythologist YouTube channel to explore how the stories we love point to the greatest story of all:youtube.com/@ReformedMythologistDiscord is an online platform where you can interact with the Speak Life team and other Speak Life supporters. There's bonus content, creative/theological discussion and lots of fun. Join our Discord here:speaklife.org.uk/giveContact the show: info@speaklife.org.ukSpeak Life is a UK based charity that resources the church to reach the world.Learn more about us here:speaklife.org.ukSupport the show

[00:00:00] John Sommerville: I was talking to somebody recently who was saying that you should never surround yourself with people who are just yes people. And I said to him, you don't want to surround yourself with people who are no people either. What we need is people who really love us and care for us and will do both. They will tell us and give us positive affirmation when we need it, and they will tell us the truth when we need to hear it, even if it's uncomfortable. +++++++++++++++++ [00:00:27] Tommy Thomas: Today, we're continuing the conversation we began last week with John Somerville. John is the Vice President for Finance and Operations and the Chief Financial Officer at The University of Northwestern St. Paul. John has served as the Board Chair at InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and currently serves on the Board of Trustees of Christianity Today. Some things you probably won't learn about John from the internet include he's an avid reader, reading on average 50 plus books a year. He's an avid runner. He's completed six marathons, including the 2019 Boston Marathon, and more than 20 half marathons. And he's the author of Making Room for Christmas, a Collection of 10 Original Christmas stories. John has served in senior leadership with four different organizations and has done a lot of hiring. On the flip side, he has had to release people along the way. I'm always curious about any magic bullets that leaders might have around successful hiring and necessary firing. Let's pick up the conversation there. [00:01:39] Tommy Thomas: Have you got a favorite or a go-to interview question? [00:01:43] John Sommerville: I don't have a question. I have a category of questions. I like to ask behavioral questions. In other words, what did you do? I like to hear what people have done. Now, I don't actually ask many questions like, tell me about yourself, what do you like or what are your qualities. Because I think people can develop answers to those that are not grounded in what they actually are. They're aspirational. They may say, I'm innovative or I'm a strong leader. I like to ask questions about things they've done and hear through that what I think they may do again in the future. [00:02:20] Tommy Thomas: You know I found in my business, it's easier said than done to get a hiring committee to do that. One of my favorite ways of going at that is I tell them to circle the action verbs on somebody's resume and then peel back the layers of the onion. What did that look like? But I never cease to be amazed that people don't want to do that. It's interesting that you develop that early in your career. [00:02:47] John Sommerville: Tommy, one of the things that I've appreciated about you and your organization is these motivated abilities, the kinds of surveys that you do. I think that's really wise because measuring qualities, whether it's introversion and extroversion, whether it's, whatever the test you have, if it just measures things that qualities about a person, you're still not getting at what are they going to do if I give them a job? [00:03:14] Tommy Thomas: So, you've given somebody a job, and for some reason, it didn't work out. What goes into your decision to terminate somebody and maybe what have you found to be the best way to do it? Hire slow, Fire fast! [00:03:26] John Sommerville: I think you hire slow, fire fast. I have to confess that I have found performance improvement plans virtually worthless. In other words, we do them because sometimes maybe we believe we need to do them legally, or in some other way we need to be fair. Maybe we've delayed too long in giving feedback we should have given earlier. I think if I've made any mistake in leadership and managing people over time, it's sometimes I'm too patient. I sometimes assume that this person's going to catch hold, but once we determine as leaders that someone is the wrong fit or doesn't have the abilities I think we need to call it quits. The other thing that I try to discern is their willingness and ability. What is it that is getting in the way? And if it's ability or skills, I'm more willing to be patient and let the person try to give the person the coaching they need. I once worked with someone who was struggling with our boss. And he and I were runners, and we were on a run together and he was complaining to me about our mutual boss and why he didn't get along. And halfway through the run, I said to him, you know what? I said the issue here isn't your ability to do what he wants you to do. It's your willingness. You don't want to do this. You don't like the direction he wants to take your role in the organization. And by the end of the run, he said, you're right. And he began to make a transition out of the organization. Discerning those things is really important. [00:05:00] Tommy Thomas: Let's go back to hiring for a minute. In this litigious world that we live in, what credence or stock do you place in reference checking? [00:05:10] John Sommerville: Some, but people choose who they give you. I try to ask questions that I think can get beyond the surface. In other words, I try actually not to ask as many open-ended questions as you might imagine. And I try to ask questions that get at, have they had conflict with someone? How did they resolve it? Have you watched them fail? And what did you learn from them in that instance? I try to ask questions that are as behavioral as possible and I may ask what are their greatest accomplishments, but also what things didn't they get done for you or what do you think they need to improve on? And sometimes they can't answer because they don't really know. The other thing that I do is if I know anybody who's in any way connected to them. If it's not on the resume, it's not a ref on their reference. I may call them anyway.  I may say hey I'm talking to so and I think you know them. I noticed on LinkedIn you're connected to them. Can you tell me anything about them? I'll go beyond the list of references to find out what I can about people. [00:06:18] Tommy Thomas: Where were you in your career when you felt like you were comfortable in your leadership skin, when you were comfortable that you were a leader? [00:06:28] John Sommerville: I think that I would say that in some ways, I don't know that we should ever get too comfortable. I think I have learned over the years things that I do well and things that I don't do well, and that's become clear over time. And so I would say that I got more comfortable maybe particularly early in the years that I was leading the church that we planted. And I would say during my time at General Mills, I was around a lot of great leaders, and I was young. And so, I probably felt more unsettled, or I was still learning and feeling and learning what I do well. But I've always found that every year I have a new insight, a different way of understanding what it is I do best. Try to do those things as much as I can and things I don't do as well. Try to either work to remediate or try to find somebody else who can complement me in that area. ++++++++++++++++++++ [00:07:22] Tommy Thomas: I'd like to get you to respond to a few quotes and then I want to go over into board work because board work is at the crux of the nonprofit sector. So, here's a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King. The ultimate measure of a person is not where they stand in moments of convenience, but where they stand in moments of challenge, moments of great crisis and controversy. I think that it is easy to lead when things are going well and much more difficult when things are not going well, and I think that we need to learn to be able to lead when we have less than full information, when things are murky. [00:07:47] John Sommerville: I think that it is easy to lead when things are going well and much more difficult when things are not going well, and I think that we need to learn to be able to lead when we have less than full information, when things are murky and sometimes that means pausing and waiting, not making a decision impulsively, and sometimes it means, like I mentioned with the elevator and our president, our division president, you just need to do something. So sometimes leaders have to give direction. You mentioned authenticity earlier. There are times when being too authentic can be unsettling for people. I felt like that at the beginning of COVID. And yet I knew I needed to lead with clarity and direction on what we were going to do as a church. And I'm sure many leaders felt unsettled. The future was not certain. So sometimes it's beginning to move in a direction and then improvise as you go. [00:08:44] Tommy Thomas: Here's one from C. S. Lewis. Pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains.  It's his megaphone to rouse a deaf world. [00:09:02] John Sommerville: One of the things that I've become more grateful for, and this will sound like an oxymoron, but I've become grateful for times of hurt and pain in the sense that they lead us toward growth. And also times when I feel inadequate. One of the things I told my wife a couple of years ago was that I'd gone through a season where I felt I had to live in daily dependence just because of what was going on around me. And I left that season and moved into a time where things felt a lot better. And I told her the one thing I did miss from that difficult time was that sense of dependence, daily dependence I had upon God. And I think that pain focuses us on things that we might need to change. Difficulty drives us to depend upon God. And I think whenever we begin to feel like we're adequate we're putting ourselves in a dangerous place because we're beginning to reassert our own control on living outside of the dependence that we need to have upon God. [00:10:09] Tommy Thomas: Here's one from Rob Hoskins.  He's the CEO of One Hope.  Surround yourself with people who know you better than you know yourself and will tell you the truth out of love. This is how we grow. I was talking to somebody recently who was saying that you should never surround yourself with people who are just yes people.  And I said to him, you don't want to surround yourself with people who are no people either. What we need is, and some of it has to do with people who really love us and care for us and will do both. [00:10:24] John Sommerville: I was talking to somebody recently who was saying that you should never surround yourself with people who are just yes people. And I said to him, you don't want to surround yourself with people who are no people either. What we need is, and some of it has to do with people who really love us and care for us and will do both. They will tell us and give us positive affirmation when we need it, and they will tell us the truth when we need to hear it, even if it's uncomfortable. And we all need people who have permission, and we give permission to speak that way into our lives. We will not grow. We will not have the perspective we need to have if we don't have people like that in our lives. And sometimes our spouses play that role, sometimes another leader, sometimes a friend. And I've had that and try to maintain that in my life all the time. Somebody just that I work with, a peer here, about three weeks ago said, by the way, John, and he then listed something he had observed, and he said, I think you need to do less of that. Absolutely right. And really helpful. [00:11:28] Tommy Thomas: Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they'll surprise you with their ingenuity. General George Patton. [00:11:38] John Sommerville: It's interesting that would come from Patton. My perception of him was he was a pretty directive leader. But I do think that what we need to tell people is what's the outcome we're looking for. There are a lot of different ways to accomplish things. And most of the time if we prescribe it, we may find that we're either thwarting an innovation that we might not have thought of, or we're asking somebody to do something and be a clone. So be very clear about the deliverable, and the outcome that you're looking for, and then let the process unfold. Now, the exception to that is somebody who's brand new. Sometimes what you need to do is do it with them. Watch them do it and then release them to do it. And that may take a little time. [00:12:19] Tommy Thomas: Sticking with our military theme and preparing for battle, I've always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.  President Dwight David Eisenhower. [00:12:31] John Sommerville: Once I had heard someone say that what we ought to develop is not plans, but fuzzy plans. And I think that the principle is what Eisenhower is getting at. And that is that what a plan provides is a general direction, but if you prescribe it as a step one, two, three, like a YouTube video telling you how to replace a lock or something what you'll find is that if you run into a challenge, something's broken or something's not right, then you're stuck. What we need to do is provide general guidance but let that plan unfold and improvise as we go. The best leaders do that in a way where they can lead even in the midst of uncertainty. [00:13:13] Tommy Thomas: When you're sitting around the table with your leadership team, you never want to be the smartest person at the table. [00:13:19] John Sommerville: You know the genius with a thousand helpers, or five helpers eventually will find the limits of their abilities. They'll find the limits of their wisdom but if you create a culture where there is collaboration, even if the leader is the smartest person in the room they are never going to be smart enough to see everything. So there always needs to be an openness to ideas. If you continually squash the ideas of others, you'll not be as effective. I think collaboration, developing diverse teams, and listening before acting is extremely important. [00:13:58] Tommy Thomas: Peter Drucker, the most important thing in communication is to hear what isn't being said. [00:14:06] John Sommerville: I think that's true. I think that this is one of the problems in this soundbite era. When we develop talking points, as we listen to what leaders, organizations and others say they're trying to shape a message. It's important to listen for what's not being said, and this is one of the problems we have, I think, with the lack of sustained reflection that this digital age has led us to, where you can summarize everything in a couple hundred characters, we miss a lot of nuances.  It's important to ask questions that maybe go beyond what's being said. [00:14:41] Tommy Thomas: Problems cannot be solved at the same level of thinking at which they were created. Albert Einstein. [00:14:49] John Sommerville: I've not heard that one before. I don't know what Einstein meant, but I can think of two ways that is true. One is that sometimes the problem is created at a level where there needs to be more detail and more understanding of what really is going on. A quote that I've used a lot and I found to be true is that there is simplicity on the near side of complexity that is overly simplistic. And then there's simplicity on the far side of complexity that takes in account all the complexity and finds a way to work beyond it. It may be that what Einstein's talking about is the idea that sometimes you need to dive deep into the details. And other times you need to lift yourself above the details to be able to see the big picture. And both need to be incorporated into good decision-making. But it's easy to get lost in the trees. And it's sometimes easy also at the same time to maybe lift yourself too high so you don't see. Some of the nuance and the details that are there. +++++++++++++++++ [00:15:49] Tommy Thomas: Let's switch over to board governance and board service. I know you've served on, I won't say countless, but certainly many boards. And I would imagine you've probably chaired two or three of them. When you think of a Board of Directors or Board of Trustees, what's their purpose? The purpose of the Board is to nurture and shepherd the mission of the institution. [00:16:02] John Sommerville: Their purpose is to nurture and shepherd the mission of the institution. And the people who are running the organization need to be managing and leading and all of that. But the board needs to do what it can to make certain that the mission is continuing. There's not mission drift that the organization continues to fulfill its purposes. When they see either a leader leading the organization away from its mission or being ineffective at accomplishing its mission they need to intervene. But they need to be leading at a governance level, making certain that the systems and structures are in place. So, the organization is equipped to accomplish what it needs to accomplish. [00:16:46] Tommy Thomas: When you think of the best board chair you've ever observed or served under, give me some words and phrases that describe that person. [00:16:53] John Sommerville: The people I've seen lead well are very clear about the difference between management and governance. They're very clear about keeping the conversation at the level of mission, vision, and values. They are very good at keeping the organization accountable. Particularly the senior executive. That's the linking pin between the board and the administration. And they are I think relentless about making certain that the board functions really well and doesn't start inserting itself. I've been on a couple of occasions around a board that was really a group of friends who liked hanging out together and they were they weren't paying attention, and then I've been in other boards, and this is probably more common, where they were trying to reach down into management and meddle, and that's ineffective and inappropriate. [00:17:52] Tommy Thomas: Maybe this goes back to your earlier comment you may know Dr. Rebecca Basinger she says, Governing Boards are charged with safeguarding an institution's ability to fulfill its mission with economic vitality. To this I add, responsibility for tending to the soul of the institution. [00:18:12] John Sommerville: I think that I would put it slightly differently. I think that there needs to be a heart in all that we do. This is not original with me, but the idea of orthodoxy. Ortho in Greek is the word for straight, and so orthodoxy is straight doctrine or, right doctrine. And then you often hear people talk about orthopraxy, that there also needs to be these actions that are consistent with your doctrinal position. But the third, which is a neologism, is orthopathy. Path, pathos is the word for passions or even the heart. All three need to be there in an organization. So there needs to be right, if you think about a Christian, we need right doctrine, we need right behavior. And we also need the right heart. And I have been around boards or been around, say, a church board or so, where people had all the right doctrine, they were focused on the right kinds of behavior, but they didn't really have a passion for the church or the ministry that they're leading. All three need to be there and the best boards that I've been around really believe in the mission of the organization, they're clear about the kinds of behaviors they want to see, and they also love it. They just love that organization or that church. And they want to see it achieve what it's meant to achieve. [00:19:37] Tommy Thomas: The Chair and the CEO must learn to dance together, and neither can stray very far from each other's gaze or proceed independently. The Chair and the CEO need to be able to find a balance between the accountability that the chair provides and the nurture and support and really encouragement and having that CEO or that board the organization's president's back. [00:19:49] John Sommerville: I have seen CEOs and Board Chairs have a relationship that is just incredible. And I think that the Chair and the CEO need to be able to find a balance between the accountability that the chair provides and the nurture and support and really encouragement and having that CEO or that board the organization's president's back. Leadership can be lonely, and a board chair can make a significant difference. Now, if the CEO gets out of line, the board chair is going to need to bring that kind of discipline and structure to it, but too many chairs either go to the extreme of not holding the organization leader accountable, but more often what they do is they forget that they need to be that cheerleader, encourager and support to help protect that leader. And I've seen board chairs do that in really effective ways.  [00:20:48] Tommy Thomas: Let's go to board size. This guy, Ernest Happel, said the fewer board members, the better. If it's 18, I'm just not interested. [00:20:56] John Sommerville: I think it depends on the organization, but I do think that there is a critical mass. You can get too small. Four or five, or six is probably too small for most boards in part, because if it has any geographic scope, if it's a national board, you're going to have a few that don't show up each time. But once you get beyond eight or ten, what happens is you think you're increasing participation, but you're actually decreasing participation. Because some people are either quiet or feel ill at ease speaking up when there are twelve or fifteen on a board. So your participation will go down. If you can, eight to 10 is I think the ideal size. Beyond that, I think it's a problem, but there are boards that do that are larger, if the philanthropic needs of the organization if you have people who are significantly investing financially in the organization and want to be active in a positive way. I think boards that are larger, particularly educational institutions tend to have larger boards for that reason. So I would say generally that's true, but not always. +++++++++++++++ [00:22:04] Tommy Thomas: Let's go to succession planning. That's something in my experience that not enough organizations do enough of in a timely way. I recently heard a nonprofit CEO say, “When they want you to stay is the best time to leave”. [00:22:20] John Sommerville: I think that there needs to be constant conversation with the CEO about the future. And sometimes they couch it as if you're hit by a bus, who would you recommend? That's the rudimentary way to approach that. That's really a transitional leader that you identify. But I think once a leader has been in an organization for four or five years there needs to be a beginning conversation about how's your energy. How are you feeling about this? The leader owes the organization enough time and it depends on the size and the mission of the institution, but sometimes that's a year or two years to say, I'm starting to sense from the Spirit that it's time for me to move on. And I'm not sure exactly when that will be. And then you have a conversation that begins to lead toward a transition. An orderly transition is invaluable in an organization when someone abruptly quits and there isn't that time and it's the responsibility of both the chief executive and the board itself to initiate that conversation. It can be hard because sometimes a leader is offended believing that question is coming because the board wants them to move on so it needs to be very carefully broached or vice versa the board believes that this person has lost interest in the job, and there needs to be some dialogue, but that transparency and honesty is both owed to each other.  [00:23:50] Tommy Thomas: Once the decision's been made, from your observation, how much time should go between the announcement and the new person being hired or promoted? [00:24:00] John Sommerville: I think it's different in different organizations. Churches sometimes need a gap, an intentional gap between the previous leader, especially if that person's been there for a long time, whether it's a founding pastor or a long-time successful pastor, there may need to be a gap and an intentional interim can be helpful. That's not always the way it is in para-church organizations and nonprofit organizations. There will need to be a time when you actually start the search. If the leader can stay through a transition, that can be really helpful. But generally, I think it takes about a year to do that process from the time that it's being announced. How long it takes to develop a new position profile and understand what the organization needs of its next leader may be a little different than the current leader. To be able to generate that, to be able to sort through possible candidates and make that it's generally, I would think, a year that's been my observation. [00:24:57] Tommy Thomas: Let's talk about the pros and cons of grooming and promoting from within versus hiring from the outside. See if you can debate both sides of that coin. [00:25:09] John Sommerville: I think the fork in the road has to do with what does the organization need? I do believe that many of the best transitions are internal candidates. They know the organization. If they are ready to take the step of moving up into that senior leader role, they already have trust. They already have experience. They understand things. And that can be, I would often lean in that direction. I think that's often the best way to go. But you can't compromise on what you need out of that next leader. And if that person doesn't exist in the organization, then an external candidate can be important. I think the other thing is if things are going well we definitely would lean toward an internal candidate, but if things have somehow gone off the rails for one reason or another, there's a significant challenge, then sometimes an external leader can be necessary. I will say that my observation is that insiders have a tendency to be slightly more successful than outsiders. There's just something about knowing the organization, both for the leader and for the organization. There's something about that knowledge of who you are and who the organization is that can be more. [00:26:28] Tommy Thomas: What about this idea that the CEO stays around as an emeritus or in some role? [00:26:34] John Sommerville: I'm not a fan of that. I think that that can feel like a cloud over a leader. I have seen cases emeritus. And what they do. I've heard of organizations where the Parachurch organization once I heard about where the previous president came to board meetings and expressed his opinion and the new leader took several years to be able to really assert his leadership. That was not healthy. Generally, I think in a church it's good for a pastor who's leaving to separate and allow the new leader to begin to take the organization in a direction that might be a new direction. And parachurch organizations, I think the same thing. I'm not a fan of that. [00:27:23] Tommy Thomas: Before COVID, I spoke several times to non-profits about succession planning, and one of the areas we talked about was the departing leader. One of my observations is that there's probably a lot more of the departing leader's identity tied up CEO than he or she might realize. Your observations. [00:27:42] John Sommerville: I think that is often true. I think that's a discipleship issue where I think all leaders need to be aware of how much their identity can get wrapped up in what they do, what they achieve, and what they accomplish. And our identity needs to be in Christ. I heard a leader one time say after leaving the organization that he was responsible for, he said, I no longer feel relevant. And I was disappointed to hear that. Now, I'm not judging him. I'm sure that's a process that I'll go through as I move into the next chapter of my life. But I think we need to teach people that they are more than what they do. And I think it's unfortunate if that happens, but I can see as a human we do get identified with what we do.  But it's not healthy most likely. [00:28:37] Tommy Thomas: So, if you get a call this week from somebody in the Twin Cities and they've been encouraged to join a board of a XYZ nonprofit they're coming to you for counsel. What questions are you asking them or what questions do you want to make sure they get answered? [00:28:55] John Sommerville: I would ask them first, is this an organization that you're passionate about? Do you support them financially already? Is this an organization where you respect the leadership? Do you feel like you have something to offer? Is this an organization that you're willing to give a few years to, because sometimes people say, I might do it for a year, just a year, just to figure out the basics of the organization.  I once was asked to join a board and the person who was assigned to be my mentor, I asked him, I said what's required on this board? He said it's really an easy board. He said I get on an airplane, and I read the board book on the way to the meeting. And then you go sit in committee meetings. It's really easy. It's the board I have to invest the least in. And I thought I'm not interested in this. And I found out when I got there that he was an ineffective board member and the best board members were really investing time. Don't go on a board unless you're willing to do some work, unless you're willing to spend the time to give it what it needs. +++++++++++++++++++++++++ [00:30:04] Tommy Thomas: Thank you for joining us today. If you are a first-time listener, I hope you will subscribe and become a regular. You can find links to all the episodes at our website. www.JobfitMatters.com/podcast. If there are topics that you'd like for me to explore my email address is tthomas@jobfitmatters.com.   Word of mouth has been identified as the most valuable form of marketing. Surveys tell us that consumers believe recommendations from friends and family over all other forms of advertising. If you've heard something today that's worth passing on, please share it with others. You're already helping me make something special for the next generation of nonprofit leaders. I'll be back next week with a new episode. Until then stay the course on our journey to help make the nonprofit sector more effective and sustainable.   Links & Resources JobfitMatters Website Next Gen Nonprofit Leadership with Tommy Thomas   Connect tthomas@jobfitmatters.com Follow Tommy on LinkedIn

An age-old tension within many churches is the extent to which they can or should join in with the reams of "para-church" organizations, mission agencies, charities, and evangelistic enterprises that do not fall under the governance of the Church but often seem to be far more fruitful in mission. Whilst the answer may seem obvious, it brings up far more questions and connects to numerous related issues. What is a church? Is it any group of faithful believers who happen to be on mission together within a given context? Do we even have a Biblical precedent for para-church? If we give our best energies to organizations beyond the Church, does this not undermine the local church's missional purpose? How can para-church enthusiasts retain a genuine love for and commitment to the local church whilst pioneering new ventures beyond it? Can local churches do more to support para-churches too? How might church leaders be challenged to be less territorial, recovering the apostolic heart for mission both within and beyond their local context? All this and more on this packed episode of Pod of the Gaps! RESOURCES: - Terry Virgo, Restoration in the Church (Kingsway, 1985) - Rhys Laverty, "Pastors all the Way Down" The New Albion Pastors All the Way Down? - by Rhys Laverty (substack.com) - Jon Bloom, "What is a Parachurch Ministry?" https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/what-is-a-parachurch-ministry - https://www.solas-cpc.org/about/ - https://www.spuc.org.uk/About-Us/What-We-Do

Whether we are the senior pastor, theological college lecturer, missionary, student worker, Christian publisher, or denominational leader - we all work within an evangelical ecosystem.And it's possible for us to make it harder or easier for our ministry peers to play their part in glorifying God. Mikey Lynch's new book The Vine Movement, published by Matthias Media (https://bit.ly/vinemovement), explores how churches, missionary organisations, evangelical student ministries, chaplains and denominations can all work together best.Mikey Lynch is a director of Reach Australia, leads the AFES staff team at the University in Hobart and is the editorial director for Gospel Coalition Australia. Support the show--To make a one off contribution to support The Pastor's Heart's ministry go to this link, or to become a regular Patreon supporter click here.

How should we view parachurch ministries through the context of the local church? What are some issues these types of ministries have? What is a better solution? Have a listen and hear our thoughts.JOIN THE PODLUCK: https://www.patreon.com/reformatorypodVisit us here: https://www.reformatorypod.comMukwano Coffee: https://www.mukwanocoffee.com (Use promo code "reformatory" for 20% off your order).Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reformatorypodTwitter: https://twitter.com/reformatorypod

In this episode with Conley Owens, we discuss his book on the Dorean Principle. The Dorean Principle, which is based on biblical concepts related to generosity and giving, takes aim at the commercialization of Christianity in the church today. We discuss the disruptive nature of such a principle as it pertains to conferences, seminaries, weddings, and para-church ministries. Owens even goes so far as to criticize the host's Patreon tiers based on the Dorean Principle! Enjoy!Conley Owens is a Pastor at Silicon Valley Reformed Baptist Church - https://svrbc.org/Get a copy of The Dorean Principle: A Biblical Response to the Commercialization of Christianity here - https://thedoreanprinciple.org/Conley Owen's bio from website - “Conley Owens is a software engineer by day, but hopes one day to do the work of a pastor full-time. He is the husband of one wife and the father of eight children. He enjoys cooperative games, couch surfing, casual skateboarding, and other peculiar activities. He has been a member of SVRBC since 2010, and a pastor since 2019.Conley was saved at an early age when he learned that blaming others for his sins didn't actually fix anything. Instead, he trusted in the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ and found true forgiveness. He discovered Reformed theology in college after accidentally getting involved with a cult and realizing he needed a better grasp on what the Bible teaches to keep such things from happening again.”Support the showSign up for the Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/chasedavisFollow Full Proof Theology on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/fullprooftheology/Follow Full Proof Theology on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/fullprooftheology/

Can a woman lead a parachurch ministry?

Increasingly, parachurch ministries are allowing women to occupy positions of spiritual authority once reserved for men. Do they have biblical warrant to do so?

Increasingly, parachurch ministries are allowing women to occupy positions of spiritual authority once reserved for men. Do they have biblical warrant to do so?This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3279340/advertisement

Increasingly, parachurch ministries are allowing women to occupy positions of spiritual authority once reserved for men. Do they have biblical warrant to do so?This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3279343/advertisement

Increasingly, parachurch ministries are allowing women to occupy positions of spiritual authority once reserved for men. Do they have biblical warrant to do so?

Increasingly, parachurch ministries are allowing women to occupy positions of spiritual authority once reserved for men. Do they have biblical warrant to do so?This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/4064350/advertisement

In this episode Oren Martin, Caitlin Van Wagoner, and guest Blake Holmes bring it back to the basics of the Church: the Church's purpose, structure, and history. Scripture: Acts 20:28, Hebrews, Acts 2, Matthew 16:15-23, Revelation 20, Ephesians 6:12, Leviticus 10 References and Helpful Links: Martin Luther's 7 Characteristics of the Church What is the Parachurch? A Christian faith-based organization which carries out its mission usually independent of church oversight Regulative Principle The Institutes of the Christian Religion Book 4 by John Calvin Oren's 100 Word Definition of the Church: 100 word definition of the church: The church is the new covenant people of God, brought about by the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ, consists of local gatherings of baptized believers, and is indwelt and gifted by the Holy Spirit to know, serve and glorify her Triune God. Her ministries include proclaiming the whole gospel of God, administering the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's Supper, and exercising church discipline. Her purpose is worship, discipleship, and missions as she makes the gospel visible and proclaims the gospel to the nations. Her biblical offices are elders/pastors (biblically qualified men) and deacons (biblically qualified men and women).  Learn more about Watermark Community Church at watermark.org

Interested in further study of the Bible? Join us at ⁠Logos Bible Software⁠. Are you interested in a rigorous and Reformed seminary education? Call Westminster Seminary California at 888-480-8474 or visit www.wscal.edu! Please help support the show on our ⁠Patreon Page⁠!   BEST OF SEASON 4 (4) Join the Guilt Grace Gratitude Podcast as we revisit your favorite episodes from Season 4, continuing with a discussion about parachurch ministries! ⁠Irwyn Ince⁠ (DMin., Covenant Theological Seminary) is Coordinator of the ⁠PCA MNA⁠and Adjunct Professor of Pastoral Theology at ⁠Reformed Theological Seminary⁠.   Have Feedback or Questions? Email us at: guiltgracepod@gmail.com Find us on Instagram: @guiltgracepod Follow us on Twitter: @guiltgracepod Find us on YouTube: Guilt Grace Gratitude Podcast Please rate and subscribe to the podcast on whatever platform you use! Looking for a Reformed Church? North American Presbyterian & Reformed Churches --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gggpodcast/support

In this episode mentor and good friend Chase Wagner joins Nick to discuss his decades of experience with parachurch ministries, and to ask the question, are parachurch ministries effective? Do they push forward the kingdom of God? Or are they getting in the way of the church? Chase served with Youth for Christ for over a decade and currently serves as the Executive Director of Greater Fort Wayne campus Ministries. Please welcome Chase Wagner to The Outlet! If you enjoyed the episode go ahead and leave a rating/review! Follow us on Instagram! @the_outletpodcast

The Man & The Mission Panel 4 - Manley, Robertson, Kirkland, Logsdon, Parks

While many parachurch ministries do well for the name of Christ, many of them do not. Sadly, many of these which are founded by women are simply steam valves for rebellious women to usurp, feed their flesh, and introduce false doctrine. I review one of them called The Transforming Center. Final part of a 3-part series on parachurch organizations. Here is GotQuestions with more information on Spiritual formation a la Richard Foster's Renovare. And more info on spiritual formation itself: What is the spiritual formation movement? Remember, Founder Barton earned her degree from a Jesuit Catholic University. Are Roman Catholics Christian? Is ecumenism good or bad? Answer: Together Against Ecumenism Gender Roles: What about Parachurch Ministries? Nine Marks of a Healthy Parachurch Ministry This episode is also available as a blog post: http://the-end-time.org/2023/01/28/the-issue-with-parachurch-organizations-especially-ones-founded-by-women-part-3/

The issue with Parachurch organizations – especially ones Founded by women part 2: Yada Factor It's easy to think that a parachurch ministry is doing a good thing when they tell you they will help you become closer to God through their teachings and methods, but many of them are focused on the woman rather than God. Watch out for parachurch ministries founded and led by women that are emotionally driven and focusing on our hurts, and end up just using God as a vehicle for navel gazing. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://the-end-time.org/2023/01/27/the-issue-with-parachurch-organizations-especially-ones-founded-by-women-part-2-yada-factor/

What ARE parachurch organizations? What do they do? Why are the ones founded by women so rife with false doctrine? Tune in for these answers and more! This episode is also available as a blog post: http://the-end-time.org/2023/01/26/the-issue-with-parachurch-organizations-especially-ones-founded-by-women/

Today, my friend Mark Fields and I have a very important and vulnerable conversation about pain, something we all experience in life. We talk about the understanding, resilience, freedom, and peace on the other side of pain if we choose to do the hard and intentional work of becoming aware of it, accepting it, and healing from it. We discuss the choice we have to heal from our childhood and adulthood pain, and to transform it into self-acceptance and love instead of transmitting it and hurting those we love.We also dive into how to break the cycle of toxic masculinity in our family and how Mark intentionally chooses to be a parent through the lens of unconditional love. Mark's life mission is to remind the world that we are really family and God is much bigger than we've been told in most American Churches. He has been a part of Christian Community Development Association organizations, Latino church-plants, Black megachurches, White megachurches, Parachurch ministries as well as foreign and domestic missions organizations.  He realized that there are many harmful understandings of God being communicated in the world. Many of the places people are going to encounter the peace and acceptance of God have become hallmarks of rejection, discrimination, and exile. Mark started The Kinship Collective to be a part of reminding the world that God is good, we are good and anything that doesn't feel or point to that image-of-God-goodness is simply missing the point. He believes when we are oriented by these truths, we can experience the world as family in ways we've always wanted and needed.Mark also enjoys speaking, success coaching, and DEI consulting. He has journeyed with his partner Caryn for 15 years, and they have 3 incredible daughters.  Resources:Oprah's podcast Super Soul: Glennon Doyle: First the Pain, Then the RisingYung Pueblo's book Clarity & ConnectionConnect with Mark on Instagram on @mark_fields and at thekinshipcollective.org.Connect with me @lucca_petrucci on Instagram or TikTok.This episode was produced by Lucca Petrucci and mixed and mastered by Joel Yoshonis.

Parachurch ministries, blogs, and podcasts are great, but when do they cross the line and usurp the church? Support us on Anchor! Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, and Overcast. Buy your guitar effects at westminstereffects.com. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/westminsterdoxology/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/westminsterdoxology/support

Everybody's got a story. Listen now as Jeff Bucknam talks with John Nichols who serves as the Campus Pastor of the Crystal Lake Campus at Harvest. “Conversations with Jeff Bucknam” is a production of Harvest Bible Chapel. Executive Producer: Wesley Cassford Host: Jeff Bucknam Co-host: Tommy Creutz Guest: John Nichols Video: Louis Go Sound design, mixing, and editing: Wesley Cassford Graphic Design: Wesley Cassford Social Media: Lindsay Olford Producer: Sherri Smith

Looking for a Reformed Church in Orange County? Check out Santa Ana Reformed (a United Reformed Church plant) meeting Sundays at 2 PM at Davis Elementary School! Please help support the show on our Patreon Page! Check out the ESBT Series & NSBT Series from IVP Academic! Get a copy of the Family Worship Bible Study, The Works of William Perkins, & the RHB Store! SEASON 4 EPISODE 23 Join Nick & Peter of the Guilt Grace Gratitude Podcast as they continue Season 4, The Reformed Church, with Episode 23, "Parachurch Ministries." Irwyn Ince (DMin., Covenant Theological Seminary) is Coordinator of the PCA MNA and Adjunct Professor of Pastoral Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary. Resources for this season: Recovering the Reformed Confession: R. Scott Clark Covenant, Justification, & Pastoral Ministry: Edited by R. Scott Clark How Jesus Runs the Church: Guy Prentiss Waters Welcome to a Reformed Church: Daniel R. Hyde The Creedal Imperative: Carl Trueman A Better Way: Michael Horton Theology for Ministry: Edited by Chad Van Dixhoorn, John C.A. Ferguson, & William R. Edwards Reformation Theology: Edited by Matthew Barrett Have Feedback or Questions? Email us at: guiltgracepod@gmail.com Find us on Instagram: @guiltgracepod Follow us on Twitter: @guiltgracepod Find us on YouTube: Guilt Grace Gratitude Podcast Please rate and subscribe to the podcast on whatever platform you use! Looking for a Reformed Church? North American Presbyterian & Reformed Churches --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/gggpodcast/support

Sending missionaries is the local church's job—so why start a new parachurch missions sending organization? Nathan Sloan, pastor and executive director of the Upstream Sending explains in this exclusive interview recorded at the final Together for the Gospel conference. Nathan has a Doctor of Missiology from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Previously, Nathan and his wife Sarah served as missionaries in Kathmandu, Nepal, training national pastors and working with an unreached people group. You can watch the video version of this episode on the Missions Podcast Facebook page. Hear our previous interview with Nathan here. Subscribe now to never miss an episode when it drops. Support this podcast and impact God's mission. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us.

It's time for another Glad You Asked episode! This is the second of a two-part episode and we’re digging into Scripture to answer questions from our listeners.

We're revisiting our previous discussion parachurch ministries in an effort to clarify.

Episode 927 | Adriel Sanchez and Bill Maier answer caller questions. Show Notes CoreChristianity.com Questions in this Episode 1. Is all sin equal in God's eyes? For example, is a white lie the same as a murder? 2. I am trying to decide which church I should start tithing to. We don't really have an established Christian church here. Things have not gone back to in person here yet it is still virtual. Then I thought of Core Christianity. I love the show. But I am not sure if it is a church. Do you consider Core Christianity to be a church? Would it be acceptable to tithe to the Inner Core? 3. How should we understand 1 Corinthians 15:54 mean? 4. Why are Christians so worked up about the war in Ukraine rather than abortion? Today's Offer Inner Core Request our latest special offers here or call 1-833-THE-CORE (833-843-2673) to request them by phone. Want to partner with us in our work here at Core Christianity? Consider becoming a member of the Inner Core. Resources Core Question – How Do I Choose a Church?

Joe and Jimmy answer a listener's email regarding the value of parachurch organizations and their connection to the local church.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/doctrine-and-devotion/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands