The church in today’s world is like a canoe running rapids. In prior years, often labeled the “Christendom” years, the church drifted through smooth waters. Strangely, the fish were in a regular habit of jumping in the canoe.
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ABC of the Northwest continues to celebrate the progress that many of our churches are making as they've journeyed through the Church Unique process. Seven churches in Washington have completed a Co::Lab and are in various stages of working through their Vision Frame.
Read MoreSo have you slipped into thinking "too old"? What are some "old" versus "new" attitudes and behaviors? I visited with Pastor Bruce Young several weeks after their church's 150th anniversary celebration. He shared several significant ideas about "old" versus "new" thinking. Below are seven important places to replace old thinking with new thinking.
Read MoreA friend I have made who works at our local Barnes and Nobles told me recently of a woman in her neighborhood who decided several years ago she wanted to run in marathons, the full 26.2 mile marathons. She had never done much running before...
Read MoreAt the All Region Ministry Conference this past May, we had some great training and encouragement about sharing Christ within relationships we already have. I have become increasingly aware of the gaping gulf between where I am in my understanding and experience with Christ and where most other “not-yet-believers” I know are.
Read MoreMy 86 year old mom's computer still uses Windows Vista for its operating system. It’s slow as molasses. I’ve tried to fix it. It needs constant fiddling and rebooting to make it work properly. What happened to it? Sludge that accumulated over time.
Read MoreJust about daily Mike De Luca, pastor of FBC Darrington, WA, dispatches an update on what has unfolded on that particular day as he ministers in the aftermath of the Oso Landslide Disaster. The following reports provide an overview of the various ways Pastor Mike has shown the love of Christ to the hurting in his community.
Read MoreThe Sunday morning sermon is THE primary event in the rhythm of church life. But it has always been a mixed bag--sometimes highly effective, other times as boring as Lawrence Welk re-runs. In some eras educated ministers preached oratorial masterpieces.
Read MoreThe last two weeks of January I spent in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, for my two week PHD residency requirement with the International Baptist Theological Seminary. While there was much to be grateful for in those two weeks, there were several things that were sobering reminders of what is at stake for us on our mission together in the Northwest.
Read MoreOn January 25th Karen and I welcomed our first grandchild into the world. There’s little doubt Colton Charles Siegfried is the cutest baby on the planet. Hah! Karen had predicted he would arrive on her birthday, and she was right. Colton’s arrival was a super nice birthday gift!
Read MoreThis is the time of year many churches are setting their budgets for the upcoming year. Many of these churches make some common mistakes that affect their ministries.
Read MoreChoosing the right glue to hold disparate pieces together can be challenging. Try gluing plastic to metal. It’s an impossible task. A few years ago my fly rod was coming apart.
Read MoreAs American Baptists we have a long and storied history of mission engagement. There is much to celebrate. Many have come to know Christ and have experienced life-transformation through the dedicated work of our missionaries and our mission sending agencies.
Read MorePlan now to attend the Tools for the Trade event closest to your church. The day will be filled with practical training in the Oikos approach to outreach & evangelism, a natural, biblical way to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Read MoreA year or two ago a friend (not a pastor) from one of our ABC-NW churches decided that he wanted to study growing churches in the Puget Sound area. He visited six churches in five weeks. These churches ranged from 319 in worship attendance upwards to 2,400.
Read MoreJune is a great time of the year to plan ahead for stewardship education in the coming 6-9 months of the congregation’s life. Remembering that we don’t want to talk about finances simply to meet the budget needs of a church or program, but want to strengthen the relationship between people and their Lord
Read MoreA few weeks ago, a program on our local PBS station caught my attention. The presentation was a recording of a TED Talks* about education, which has always been important to me. One person presenting that evening especially caught my attention when she was introduced: Dr. Angela Lee Duckworth. (No kidding, and she's not related!)
Read MoreThe Office of Financial Aid for Studies, American Baptist Home Mission Societies, administers the American Baptist Financial Aid Program that supports ABC Clergy and other persons serving in church vocations with grants to enhance their skills for ministry.
Read MoreKatrina and Kyle Williams, from Everett, Washington, have been endorsed by American Baptist International Ministries (IM) to serve in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) with IM’s partner, the Baptist Community of Congo at the Pastoral Institute of Kikongo.
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