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  How should churches view holiday-only visitors?

  Church leaders try a variety of methods to stay in contact with holy-day-only visitors—social media, direct mail, deacon family ministry programs—with varying degrees of success.

  12/14/2012 - By Administrator

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  ECFA calls for more IRS guidance

  FAITH DIGEST: A commission created by the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability called for clearer IRS guidance and greater involvement among donors to address ministries and other nonprofits that are not being financially accountable. I

  12/12/2012 - By Administrator

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  On 200th birthday, there’s no ‘bah humbug’ for Charles Dickens

  This Advent season, many cities stage productions of Dickens’ most famous yuletide work, A Christmas Carol. But what were the author’s spiritual beliefs?

  12/05/2012 - By Administrator

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  ‘Missional’: Old wine in new wineskins?

  Experts generally define “missional” as ministry that seeks first to discern God’s ongoing mission in the world and then become aligned with it. But critics fear the trendy label has lost its meaning.

  11/30/2012 - By Administrator

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  Learning communities explore how to minister in new culture

  Missional Church Learning Experience programs are helping churches discover what it means to be missional and minister in a changed culture.

  11/29/2012 - By Administrator

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  CBF leader issues ‘missional’ challenge

  For former Cooperative Baptist Fellowship leader Daniel Vestal, understanding what it means to be “missional” begins with two phrases: “Christ is in me. Christ is in us.”

  11/29/2012 - By Administrator

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  Singer/ songwriter brings unique twist to Christmas classics

  Singer/songwriter Josh Wilson wants to help families reflect on the real meaning of the Christmas season through a unique musical experience.

  11/29/2012 - By Administrator

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  Pastor wanders streets seeking to understand homelessness

  Oklahoma Pastor Dustin Buff traded in his job, his house and his sense of security in a personal quest to understand the plight of the homeless.

   

  11/29/2012 - By Administrator

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  Alternative gifts counter holiday-related consumerism

  {mosimage}Churches and nonprofits report increases in shoppers who want to give meaningful gifts. The practice involves making contributions toward the purchase of goods and services for people in need domestically or internationally.

  11/29/2012 - By Administrator

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  Faith Digest: Church of England rejects female bishops

  Many of the 470 members of the Church of England’s three-tiered General Synod—bishops, clergy and laity—were stunned when the House of Laity couldn’t garner a two-thirds majority in favor of women bishops.

  11/28/2012 - By Administrator

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  Strong religious families less involved in civic activities, researcher discovers

  Blending religion with a strong commitment to lifelong marriage and childbearing dampens secular civic participation, according to research by a Baylor University sociologist.

  11/20/2012 - By Administrator

• Teen ordered to church for manslaughter

  An Oklahoma district court judge sparked national attention after sentencing a teenager to attend church for 10 years as a condition for avoiding prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter.

  11/20/2012 - By Administrator