Perspectives

We all put off difficult decisions. It’s part of human nature. Churches and Christian organizations and leaders seem particularly prone to this failing. We want to appear loving. We want to be nice. But the consequences of delay may prove disastrous.

I don’t feel qualified to speak to the general group psychology of the entire generation of Millennials, but I have spent most of my time for the past decade or so around Millennial Christians, and I think the nasty caricatures of them are just not true.

China is experiencing the most massive urban migration in the history of the world. The relocation of nearly 300 million people from the countryside to the cities has helped raise millions out of poverty, contributed to the rise of a new middle class, and, along with the one-child policy, brought about irreversible change in the Chinese family structure. It is this transformation of the church into a dynamic urban movement that constitutes the real story in China today. How the church weathers this urban transition will have far-reaching effects not only on the church in China but upon the global church as well.n Leadership, Brent Fulton

At one point, I was a comer. One day in the future, I will be a leaver. But for the past twelve years, I have been a stayer. And I’ve passed through all the feelings: joy at new friends, sorrow at goodbyes, anger at goodbyes, self-righteous judgment of newbies, carelessness about my current circumstances, delight in my situation. It isn’t easy to stay well and to stay healthy emotionally, while staying. How can stayers, stay well?

The Bible tells us God sent Jesus to take all of humanity’s brokenness upon Himself; to bring healing to the broken-hearted; and to restore us into a right relationship with God. What a resource for a broken world. As children of God we are not broke, but broken people being healed by Jesus, and sent into the world following the example of Christ.

Foreigners often have access to hearts that are afraid to open up to friends, family, and even church members. May God help us all to be “quick to hear” and “slow to speak,” (James 1:19), that we may better express the love of God, who invites us to “pour out [our] heart before Him” (Psalm 62:8).

During a recent interview, Keith Yoder of Teaching the Word Ministries shared a bit of his background, what has changed in leader development, what he has learned, and challenges he has faced during his long career as a leader. His answers express a clear and continuing need for attention to clear identity and clear direction as cornerstones of healthy leadership.

Paul spoke to Athenians from Mars Hill, a prominent outcropping where philosophers “would would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new” (Acts 17:21). He faced the same kinds of unbelief, doubt, and “advanced thought” that the church faces today. Eric draws a stark comparison between two other Mars Hills.

Shalom is the biblical aspect of harmony within diversity. Frank’s startling insights describe community development as stemming from this biblical perspective. Typically an observer is drawn to the quality of the environment where people are. From a transformation perspective it is more important to wonder about how they relate to each other as they work; why they are doing this work; what consequences they envision for the way they do the work. He applies the definition of community development as loving God and neighbors, the first and second greatest commandments.