Articles — Advent Christian Voices

The Importance of Preaching Classes and Practical Ministry Courses

“Are these practical ministry courses really necessary?”

This was the question that I asked throughout college and seminary. In college, I was a Biblical Studies major, and I was able to get out of preaching classes since I was not a Pastoral Ministries major. I didn’t have any practical ministry courses in college, but that was a different story in seminary. When I got to Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, I could not get out of the three required preaching classes, the required “mentored ministry” classes/credits (I had to be actively involved in ministry in some way, with a mentor to supervise me), and the practical ministry courses.

Needless to say, in the beginning I was upset.

Pastors, Catherine Rybicki, Church PracticesCatherine RybickiFebruary 12, 2021 Comment

How Can Advent Christians Leverage All Hallow's Eve?

Just over one-third of the way through the fall a holiday makes its annual appearance. For some it is a night of masquerade, mystery and the thrill of trick-or-treat, or harmless pranks. For others it is a night of spiritual significance, both good and bad; and for still others it holds nothing at all. That holiday is Halloween, October 31st.

Church Practices, TheologyDavid DavisOctober 8, 2020halloween, hallow's eve, martin lutherComment

Puddle Flavored Bubblegum

We. Are. Not. Walmart. Greeters. We are not here to smile and wave and hand out shiny stickers.

Ethics & Society, Church PracticesLuke CopelandAugust 10, 2020Jesus, Music, Sin, RealityComment

Twitter Is Not Real Life

Tweet tweet. Tweet tweet.

Welcome to 21st century American Christianity, a cacophonous medley of accusation, insinuation, and ultimately, distraction.

News, Unity, Church PracticesLuke CopelandJuly 31, 2020Grace Community Church, 9Marks, Leeman, John MacArthurComment

Finding Our Red Line: When Must the Church Gather Again?

We never thought we would be here. More than a month has passed and our church buildings remain shuttered, the members of the Body of Christ scattered and isolated from one another. Yes, on the basis of our duty to love one another and our neighbors, it is has been justified. Yes, God has been at work in the Body, revealing our weaknesses and idols, forging us in the flames of hardship to acquire a strength heretofore unknown. Yes, this whole season has the makings of a fast, if we would but embrace that aspect.

Miscellaneous Thoughts After Preaching my 16th Sermon in as Many Days at Two Campmeetings in New England

· I am weak, but He is strong. Camp is exhausting, but God never sleeps.

· Campmeetings are sweet and wonderful and used by the Lord in unique ways, yet are no substitute for local churches through which God is carrying His mission forward in this world….

Pastors, Church Practices, CampingAndy RiceAugust 6, 2019Andy Rice, Campmeeting, preaching, local church Comments

To My Fellow Social Rejects

I have become accustomed to the indoctrination. Truly, I have.

The Physics of Church Leadership (3/3)

Why are leaders always so shocked when they begin a new initiative only to discover there is “equal and opposite reaction”?

Church PracticesCorey J. McLaughlinJune 13, 2019Isaac Newton, third law, equal, opposite, Edmond Halley, Dale Carnegie, expectationsComment

The Physics of Church Leadership (2/3)

In articles across the web one finds titles like, “Overcoming Spiritual Inertia in Your Church,” and the like as though all inertia is bad (i.e. not changing is a good thing if “change” means compromise with the world!). Typically, only the first part of Newton is cited. Then the argument is made that the church is a ‘body at rest’ that needs us, pastors/leaders, to get it going and keep it moving. Such is most certainly…

The Physics of Church Leadership (1/3)

If getting out of the way is of first importance to remove friction and let God’s church burst forth, our main job thereafter becomes about either speeding it up, slowing it down (for good reason), or changing its direction.

The Physics of the Missio Dei (P2A)

When we speak of the church as a spiritual “force” we mean to borrow from the physical world in hopes of deducing principles and perspective for the modern church[…]some churches, like the boulder, have been sitting around for a long time to the chagrin of their pastors and leaders, yet, if the Spirit can add the velocity needed, that same church could become a powerhouse for the Gospel.

"Explore Missions" - Will Advent Christians Answer the Call?

Where are all our missionaries? As we come to the end of the second decade of the 2000s, we have zero full-time missionaries from North America serving through Advent Christian General Conference’s Department of International Missions. Zero!

MLK and Human Life: A Divided Church

We’re just through the Christmas season (and our fellow Anglican and Orthodox Christians celebrate a bit longer than the rest of us do). Winter break is over for schools. Most of us are trying to get back to normal and deal with holiday debt. Congregations begin to look ahead to Easter, which comes a bit later on the calendar this year.

The Ten Commandments of Leadership: Leadership Lessons for Church Leaders from my Time as an Army Leader

I have recently transitioned to a new ministry. In so doing, I have taken some time for reflection. After spending about four years in church ministry and eight years in the United States Army, I’d like to share with you some reflections on what I believe to be transferable leadership principles that guided me while serving in the world’s premiere fighting force. I could have made the list twice as long, there are things that are important that have been left out. However, these ten could help you as a leader of God’s people (I hope). Some you will see echo biblical principles, others are simply anecdotal and come purely from my experiences.

Pastors, Church PracticesErik ReynoldsNovember 27, 2018leadership, ten commandments, procrastination, complacency, mission, mediocrityComment

9 Lessons Learned in 9 Years of Pastoral Ministry

As I’ve concluded nine years in pastoral ministry and transitioned to a new season of ministry at the Berkshire Institute for Christian Studies I’ve taken some time to reflect on my experience as a shepherd of God’s flock – the ups, the downs, and the lessons I’ve learned along the way. I’m not at all claiming to have enlightened reflections, superior wisdom, or the keys to ministry success – and it didn’t take me nine years to figure that out. Nevertheless, by God’s grace and mostly through error, I have learned a lot. So I humbly offer these reflections as an expression of my gratitude for God’s sustaining grace and for the seemingly limitless patience of my Faith Church family.

BCC President: "Send your kids to BICS!"

News, Unity, Church PracticesThomas LoghryOctober 21, 2018leadership development, Berkshire Christian College, Berkshire Institute for Christian Studies, Antioch School, Andy Rice, Glenn Rice, Sam Cobb, Roger Brown, Gordon-Conwell, Matt Larkin Comment

Developing Leaders- My Current Experience at Community Church of Westfield

One of the challenges at Community Church of Westfield is developing leadership within the church. When Jean and I came to Westfield, there was one person that was holding things together. She is a dear lady and was doing everything in the church. But I knew that was not enough; to build a church, it would take developing leaders.

"Establishing Believers, Leaders, and Churches"- Resources for the 2018 Eastern Regional Annual Convention

Leading up to the 2018 Eastern Regional Annual Convention, Advent Christian Voices will be featuring a series of articles highlighting the central topic for this year’s convention, which invites us to consider what means to establish believers, leaders, and churches. This feature has been submitted by the Eastern Regional office and is intended to encourage conversation heading into the convention. The following is a set of helpful resources from BILD meant to inform and give context to the Region’s discourse at the convention. Articles from Advent Christian authors on pertinent topics will be forthcoming.

News, Church PracticesThomas LoghryOctober 8, 2018ERA, establishing, 2018, Jeff Reed, BILD, leaders, believers, churchesComment

The Cost of Planting...

Can you think of a good reason NOT to plant a church? There are a plethora of good answers: a declining community, a bad location, no church planter or core group and no vision for reaching the lost. I am sure you could add finances to the list. While the cost of planting a church can be significant, it largely depends on the context in which one is planting. In 2002, we planted Northside Community Church in Knightdale, North Carolina, a suburban community just outside of Raleigh.

"Is Our Denomination Dying?"

Thom Rainer recently published a new episode on his weekly podcast Revitalize & Replant that caught my attention. For those unfamiliar, Dr. Rainer is the President of LifeWay Resources, the publishing arm of the Southern Baptist Convention. Rainer is well respected across…

Unity, Church PracticesErik ReynoldsJune 22, 2018podcast, them rainer, denomination Comment

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