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Articles by Chris Crain
First person: The untold work of the local Baptist association
By Chris Crain Executive director, Birmingham Metro Baptist Association During my first week on the job in denominational work, I was contacted by a part-time pastor who had been terminated over the telephone without cause. As this committed pastor shared his story, I began to weep. Over time, God worked in the pastor’s life to help him regain his confidence and return to the pulpit.
Your Voice: Sabbaticals offer ministers time for rest, renewal, reflection
By Chris Crain Executive director, Birmingham Metro Baptist Association The concept of a sabbatical, traditionally associated with academic and professional settings, is increasingly recognized as a valuable practice within the local church. A sabbatical offers ministers a designated time for rest, renewal and spiritual growth, ultimately benefitting both the individual and their congregation.
Your Voice: 5 possible solutions to a power vacuum in the local church
A church, like other organizations, relies heavily on its leaders to guide and direct its mission. When a leader leaves, whether due to retirement, resignation or other reasons, it can create a power vacuum that can be detrimental to the church’s health and well-being. This power vacuum often results in conflicts and agendas among individuals who step into leadership positions, and these issues can lead to a decline in the overall functioning of the church.
Your Voice: 3 characteristics of godly leadership
From Bible times until today, God has put people in leadership roles in order to accomplish His purposes. Romans 12:3–7 addresses our various roles in God’s family on earth, including leaders: “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
Your Voice
Disciple-making culture nurtures new leaders Recently I had the privilege of meeting pastor and author Craig Etheredge of the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Etheredge serves as pastor of an influential church and stewards his talent as a voice of disciple making. He spent time in Alabama sharing insights with church leaders. Much of his content was from his recent book, “The Disciple-Making Leader.” The simplicity and practicality of the book are refreshing.
Your Voice
Ukrainian church ministers by sewing bulletproof vests for military One church in Ukraine has found a creative way to save lives — sewing bulletproof vests for soldiers.
Your Voice
‘Prone to wander’: Churches susceptible to idols too By Chris Crain Executive director, Birmingham Metro Association Unfortunately, [the church growth movement] fell victim to an idolatry as old as the Tower of Babel, the belief that we are the architects of the work of God. As a result, we have the best churches men can build, but we are still waiting for the church that only God can get credit for” (Reggie McNeal, “The Present Future”).
Powell endorsements
• Jacob Powell has shown in several ways that he has the ability, desire and leadership skills to be the person we need in District 5. As a member in the community, Jacob was active to aid victims during Hurricane Harvey. Jacob’s leadership and engineering skills will work together to provide the groundwork for decision making of all kinds. Jacob will provide the critical thinking needed to move our District forward. Jacob is a friend to citizens.
Opinion: Bringing reconciliation to brokenness: Five initial responses for the church
Opinion: Bringing reconciliation to brokenness: Five initial responses for the church June 23, 2020 By Chris Crain Executive director, Birmingham Metro Baptist Association Memorial services, vigils, marches and protests have spread across the world to remember George “Big” Floyd. Floyd, 46, was an African-American man who was killed when a police officer knelt on his neck for eight minutes and forty-six seconds during an arrest outside of Cup Foods in Minneapolis on May 25.
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