Evangelistic Fervor is Caught More Than Taught

Have you signed up to receive Anthony Wood’s mission updates? Dr. Wood is the lead evangelist and assistant director at River City Ministry – a work serving the poor in homeless in North Little Rock, AR.

Here’s the latest update Anthony sent out to supporters:

He came to RCM with barely any knowledge or understanding of the culture of poverty. He brought his sweet wife and small child. He came to give himself first to You, and second, to answer Your call on his life to be a missionary in this place.

He’d been pretty active in short term missions, served as a youth minister in a mid-sized church, had some reaching out, but his evangelistic opportunities and experience had been sparse at best. He was lucky to get to immerse the kids in his youth group. It’s not because of any lack of desire to assist You in saving souls, just mostly because he’s not been in an environment where leading the lost to You has been a priority. That’s changed for Chase, over the past 18 months.

Continue reading

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

What Today’s Jesus Followers Should Learn from the Early Martyrs

Did you know early believers were persecuted for being atheists?

They were.

Since the early Christians refused to believe or acknowledge the Roman gods, the primary charge against them was one of atheism, and in Roman culture that was a serious matter.

You see, the Romans were a very pious people who (unlike the Greeks) really believed in their gods. They believed one had to sacrifice to and worship them in order to avoid disaster, and if disaster came it was because the gods were not pleased.

The early Christians, by their refusal to bow knee to the false gods and goddesses of Rome, put themselves in position to be easy scapegoats anytime some sort of disaster struck. The Romans believed their refusal to worship put the entire community in danger, and this is why persecutions against the early Christians often followed a Roman loss in battle or a natural disaster like an earthquake. The gods were displeased, and it was the Christians’ fault – they had to be punished!
Continue reading

Tagged , ,

Formally researching locations for the new church plant

Last Sunday was an exciting one at The Crossings Church. Senior minister Robert Cox made the big announcement that between now and the end of the year our congregation will be researching locations for our next church plant.

Regular readers are already aware that Airiel and I aspire to be part of the plant team, and we are very excited this process is now formally underway – it’s going to be fun!

The Crossings has a unique approach to church planting that others can learn from, and I’ve been soaking up everything I can. Continue reading

Tagged