We’re into the second week of the Great Hunkerdown of 2020. Most pastors I know have spent the last week reworking their churches into some kind of new virtual reality. But we all know that pastoral counseling needs are out there awaiting our attention…
Read MoreIt’s become clear over the past couple of weeks that the COVID-19 pandemic would leave nothing in our lives untouched—including our Sunday gatherings. Since our pastoral team’s decision to live-stream a time of singing and teaching for our church, I’ve heard concerns about this practice…
Read MoreHey everyone. Welcome to the Mark Prater podcast, where we aim to connect our global family of churches to our Executive Director. Mark, a couple videos ago, we talked about the COVID-19 pandemic. It was just really starting. So perhaps some of our reflections on that weren't reflective of what is actually happening around this…
Read MoreWhen my sons were young, I would sometimes take them to construction sites on my day off so we could watch the big trucks and loaders do their thing. One day, we pulled up to a busy site and my young son jumped out of the car and yelled, “Wow!” His brother jumped out right behind him and shouted, “Wow! Wow!”…
Read MorePastors are men with a calling from God to serve His people as shepherds and overseers. Peter's exhortation is to "shepherd the flock of God that is among you." But how are we supposed to do that if we can't be among the flock that God has entrusted to us? How can we shepherd in a "social distancing" era?…
Read MoreOne of the ways that Scripture calls us to respond to trouble, like the COVID-19 pandemic, is to pray knowing that God will answer our prayers…
Read MoreIt’s honestly hard to know what to write about in times like this. If you are a Christian believer, I trust you are seeking encouragement and guidance from God and His Word, and strength and consolation through his Holy Spirit…
Read MoreThe COVID-19 virus (Coronavirus) has filled the news headlines for several weeks. The World Health Organization determined this week that it is a pandemic, the first our world has had since 2009. Without a doubt, members of your church are tracking these events and responding to them in different ways…
Read MoreExperts from one of the country’s premier medical research centers, Massachusetts General Hospital, took to their computer screens on Thursday for the first-ever “virtual Grand Rounds.” Their goal: to take stock of what’s currently known about the COVID-19 global pandemic and share information with the medical community…
Read MoreAfter the first case of covid-19, the disease caused by the new strain of coronavirus, was announced in the United States, reports of further infections trickled in slowly. Two months later, that trickle has turned into a steady current…
Read More