Trendwatchers and authors Reggie McNeal and George Barna have written recently of the impending challenge facing the Christian Church. Both are pessimistic about the Church's ability to survive without incorporating systemic change as soon as possible. Barna's book, Revolution, and McNeal's work, The Present Future, posit similar themes. Each author believes that traditional church growth and development strategies no longer work and that present organizational and operational models are inadequate for the postmodern era.

When women gather, they create a unique dynamic that enhances the overall impact of local church ministry. We can harness that power by meeting their complex needs. Then we can release these women for effective ministry. Ministry to and through 21st century women must be fresh, relevant, and transformational. Here are five keys to help your church create meaningful connections with women that will spark a vibrant, contagious spiritual energy in your faith community.
 

We stared in disbelief as the doctor spoke. After just one week of severe headaches, a CAT scan revealed that my presumably healthy husband, Tom, had a malignant brain tumor with a prognosis of only three months to five years of life left.

Have you ever heard a fellow Christian speak of receiving a rhema? Rhema is Greek for “word” or “utterance,” like an epiphany or spark of inspiration, from God’s word. This terminology may not be as popular today as it used to be, but the concept is very important. I am very thankful for the rhemas from Scripture that have shined in my life. When a rhema happens, the text becomes a precious treasure and I get a very real sense that the text was written for me.

You have a dynamic new preacher coming and you want to invite your entire community to the event. But you don't know how to approach your neighborhood newspaper. Or, you know your community health fair would be of interest to television news viewers-but the thought of contacting the TV station is a little unnerving. What should you do?
 

The tour guide introduced herself at the entrance to Linville Caverns and immediately warned us not to touch any of the stones inside. She explained that these were living stones and that the acid from the human touch would cause them to stop growing.

The Church of the Nazarene's approaching centennial is a good time to consider the role of congregational archives. A congregational archive has a distinct purpose: to preserve essential records and additional documents necessary for telling the congregation's story.

I once heard a Catholic priest tell a joke about a scene in Heaven. Jesus walks up to a Protestant and a Catholic and says to them, “I am glad to see you two getting along so well.” Then Jesus turns to the Protestant and says, “I would like to introduce you to my mother.  I don’t think you two have met!”

We Protestants in the crowd laughed, but it challenged me to take a closer look at what we as Christians – both Protestants and Catholics – can learn from Mary.   

Based on the Gospels, here are a few lessons that come to mind:

Every Christian has heard of baptism. Some Christian communities are firmly established on the mode of administering Christian baptism. I remember when I was a young pastor, some of my parishioners believed baptism could only be administered by immersion, while others preferred sprinkling. Some insisted baptism was most proper if administered in a nearby creek. This method was preferred over baptism at the sanctuary's baptismal font or in the baptistry. To all of our readers who were baptized in muddy creeks, cold rivers, or gravel-lined lakes, I have a confession to make.

Family stories are wonderful ways of transmitting family history and heritage across generations. Can you imagine what it must have been like to be a Hebrew child listening to the ancient tales of the great heroes of Israel? Every evening when the sun sank low and the evening stars began their dazzling parade across the heavens, it was time for stories.