2020 Vision: What Does 'Getting to Zero' Mean?

What does “Getting to Zero” mean? Getting to Zero is the idea that we want to see zero children waiting for families here in our community — zero kids having to go to bed each night still praying for a mom and dad.No child should be left to wonder whether they are worthy of love.An ambitious plan to eliminate the number of vulnerable children without a caring family in Orange County by 2020 using a church-to-church partnership with the county was launched earlier this year.While this sounds like an outrageous goal, we’ve already seen the miraculous happen! The country of Rwanda has already modeled what Getting to Zero can look like, when they made the bold decision to close all their orphanages and get over 3,000 children into family care through the help of the local churches. Looking at their amazing progress – and the remaining challenges – helps paint a picture of what this vision could mean for Orange County.Now, five years into the work of Getting to Zero the country of Rwanda is approaching its goal of closing all orphanages throughout the country as children are being placed in families out of the orphanage or reunited with their families. Despite this progress, in some orphanages children remain waiting to receive a family – either because finding a willing family is a challenge or often times, there are orphans ages 18 and older who grew up in the orphanage, never learned life skills to survive on their own, and therefore feel unable to leave the orphanage setting. What does all this mean for the work of “Getting to Zero”? Even when orphanages have closed, the task of caring for vulnerable and orphaned children is far from done.The work of the Orphan Care Initiative goes far beyond simply “closing orphanages.” The tools and training we provide through the work of the local churches in Rwanda is developing a child welfare system for a country that will ensure that no children grow up outside of family care. If you take the case of the United States, we have no orphanages – in their place we have a system for identifying vulnerable and parentless children, sourcing families to foster and adopt them, and training and monitoring those families so that they are successful. If you look at Rwanda through that view, the work has only begun. There is now a stellar example in Western Rwanda – where the Orphan Care Initiative has focused our efforts at the request of the government – of what it looks like to reintegrate children into families well with the wrap around support of the church.However, much of the rest of the nation returned children to families without the wrap-around support of the churches, which is so critical to the long-term success of an orphanage-free child welfare system. Our most recent Orphan Care PEACE trip saw this firsthand as they conducted trainings in Kimonyi, an example of an area where the orphanage recently closed but families had never received any information on how to address the trauma their children have experienced in the institution. When the government realized these families were struggling, they specifically asked for the Orphan Care Initiative to intervene with training and support.Getting a child out of an orphanage and into a family is only the start of the journey of helping that child and family succeed long term. In that way, future Orphan Care PEACE teams remain critical to delivering several important, world-view shifting messages:1) The value and need for adoption in a culture coming out of dependence on orphanages.2) Teaching churches how to deliver the evidence-based adoptive parent training that allows families to help heal hurts of children who have come from the orphanage and other hard places.3) The truth that EVERYONE in the church is called to care for the orphan, and the church can help members get on mission in this area in a variety of ways.The Rwanda Orphan Sponsorship is a piece of this support system designed to help children remain in, reunite with or regain family through adoption. Families brought into the sponsorship program receive support to help care for their child in the form of a monthly amount from their local church. As part of sponsorship, parents become part of a savings group to learn how to grow and manage their money, and they receive lay social work support from the church and agree to attend parenting training. In return, the families agree to use the funds to pay their child’s school fees, enroll them in medical insurance and tithe back to their local church. Because these funds go directly to the family from their local church, many families receiving sponsorship don’t know there is a Western donor on the other end, they just see it as their local church coming alongside to support them.This post was originally published on the #ZEROby2020VISION site here.

Can the Anthem Become an Idol? MATT INGALLS COMMENTARY

In the year 112, two women led the Christian congregation in Bithynia (modern Turkey). We know almost nothing about them: neither names, nor stories. We do know they were enslaved, which meant their rights were limited—no right to marry, have control of their own bodies, keep their children, make money, etc.

BY MATT INGALLS/RELEVANT MAGAZINE

Their station in the world would have depended entirely upon the will of their master(s), who we know nothing about. But a pagan governor of the time, Pliny, wrote a letter to Emperor Trajan concerning these two extraordinary women and their flock. He tortured them for their confession of Christ as Lord. And though it is a bit up to interpretation, he likely executed them for their stubborn insistence upon the reign of Christ.These nameless heroes of the Church’s infancy help us capture the tenor of the early Church’s moment. They and Christians like them posed a threat to Rome’s order. In his letter, Pliny writes that the Christian message is so well-received in his region that the pagan temples go empty and the sacrifices to the pagan gods go undone—which up-ended the local economy that revolved around pagan sacrifice. So, he felt the need to send a signal to the Christian dissenters, that their obstinance and divisiveness would not go unchallenged.Pliny offered the women a chance to escape his wrath. They had only to curse Christ and offer solemn reverence to an image of Caesar. Instead, they held to their convictions. Thus, they lost Pliny’s mercy, while gaining a share in the suffering of Christ. I pray they found Christ’s joy in their final moments.THE DANGERS OF PLEDGING BLIND ALLEGIANCEThe sacrifice and “protest” of these women is a far cry from taking a knee at a ballgame, but I think we can learn a thing or two that might help diffuse the explosiveness of our current ruckus.First, we should be very wary of Christians telling people to follow their country blindly... READ FULL COMMENTARY AT RELEVANT MAGAZINE.

Christmas Comedy Movie Producers Share Film's Progress in Exclusive Journal

Producing and acting in a Christmas comedy movie simply has to be Jenn (Gotzon) Chandler's sweet spot.Jenn has quite an extensive resume of films that reflect her passion to share redemptive stories filled with hope — and in God’s perfect timing, the love found in a relationship with Jesus.Together LA has been invited to track with Jenn and the producers (which include her husband, Jim) of the family, Christmas comedy movie "The Farmer and The Belle" as they make the film to be released next year.The TLA exclusive journal will feature stories from the behind-the-scenes making of the movie from concept to the theater screen.“There is so much that goes into the making of a movie,” producers said. “Our goal as a collective team is to have as many members in the production share their experience, along with some honest, fun videos from behind the scenes of making The Farmer and The Belle, our family, Christmas comedy movie based on Christian values.”Filmmakers ask that TLA readers join them in prayer for all those involved in the ministry of making this movie.“Our prayer is to make The Farmer and The Belle into a Christmas perennial classic (like 'Elf' or 'Home Alone') with Christian values. The film is created to bring families together as a holiday tradition for generations to come,” producers explain. “It’s a funny and heart warming movie to watch around Thanksgiving to usher in the presence of Christmas and the real love of Jesus.”

A Real Life Fairytale: Actor/Producers Jim and Jenn (Gotzon) Chandler Tell Their Story

In addition to reading the movie’s journal at TLA, audiences can follow The Farmer and The Belle on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and get updates on the website at www.ChristmasComedyMovie.com.

FREE Promo Code for The Farmer and The Belle

Producers remind readers to be sure to share the ongoing journal posts and hashtag: #TheFarmerandTheBelle #ChristmasComedyMovie #RealLove.

Who Really Sponsored the Las Vegas Shooter?

IGNITE LA MEN'S CONFERENCEFor registration and more information go to the conference website: ignitela.net.There is nearly 100 percent agreement from all political sides and viewpoints that the horrific tragedy that transpired in Las Vegas was an act of evil. So, why does so much of the reactionary movement since that event drift away from the root of the problem to focusing energy instead on gun control or racial perspective or other issues?The vast majority of the reactions that took place after the mass shooting in Vegas are normal. After something like this happens we tend to deal with it from the outside in, but when we do that we miss dealing with the root issue.Let’s bring the discussion of how and why into the level at which it actually exists, which is the nature of evil. At the root of the issue: beliefs drive behaviors. If beliefs drive behaviors, who is sponsoring the beliefs?Kenny Luck VLOG#2 from Every Man Ministries on Vimeo.Somewhere along the way Stephen Paddock believed a lie, a justification, a rationalization, an evil belief that resulted in the loss of many lives. The devil sponsored that lie because he is a liar and a murderer seeking to control the flesh of men to produce what he wants, which is murder. Jesus talked with perfect clarity and perfect authority when he talked about the devil. In fact, he gave the devil two names: he is the father of lies and murderer from the beginning.In the Bible, God says very simple things about the mind:1) Your mind is made for God2) Your mind is evil’s target3) Your mind is going to make the differenceWe have to win the battle of the mind, which will ultimately bring behaviors that bring life and bless others.

READ MORE FROM KENNY LUCK VLOG: Could Today’s Activism Be Going in the Wrong Direction?

Steve McQueen's Missing Bullitt Car: The Big Reveal [EXCLUSIVE VIDEO]

In the process of working on a biography and documentary about Steve McQueen (with Marshall Terrill), Harvest pastor Greg Laurie took a special interest in the discovery of the long-lost car used in the film Bullitt.So much so, that Laurie sent car fanatic and pastor Steve Wilburn of Core Church LA to Mexicali, Mexico to witness the official validation of the iconic 1968 Ford Mustang GT.Wilburn, a former pastor at Harvest, took the recent opportunity to help promote the upcoming documentary (Steve McQueen: American Icon) at SoCal Harvest by bringing a member of his church, who is rebuilding the car, to the press room. The documentary helps to reveal McQueen’s journey to a faith in Jesus, not common knowledge about the actor described as Hollywood’s “King of Cool.”“When I called Ralph Garcia (Jr) about this car I’m thinking there’s no way this guy has the missing Bullitt. This car has been missing for 49 years,” Wilburn said. He told TogetherLA.net [WATCH EXCLUSIVE VIDEO BELOW] that Garcia was able to relay facts about the car, including photos, to him that began to convince him that the vehicle was authentic.Wilburn said that from the moment the conversation about the car began, Garcia conveyed that he simply wanted the car to help glorify God.Garcia had heard about Laurie’s effort to tell the story of McQueen at last year’s Harvest event. Five months later, Garcia found the Bullitt car and contacted Laurie and was then referred to Wilburn. He went to Core Church LA to meet with Wilburn and “fell in love” with the church and became a “Core Church family member.”Laurie wrote about the discovery of the car:This wasn’t discovering the Ark of the Covenant or the Ten Commandments, but the discovery stopped me dead in my tracks for two reasons.First, I own a 1968 Bullitt myself. Not the original, of course, but a very close replica. You can call it my “midlife crisis!” People either “get it” or they don’t. On more than one occasion, when I have parked it in the lot, I will return with two or more admirers (always guys) standing by it with lots of questions.Secondly, this story was of special interest to me because I’ve just spent a year of my life working on a new biography and documentary of Steve McQueen (with Marshall Terrill).McQueen was Hollywood’s “King of Cool” for a reason. His legacy lives on in a new generation as his image is ubiquitous in culture (especially hipster culture). He also still appears in modern films like the recent remake of The Magnificent Seven. Yet, for most boomers like me, we can’t forget when we saw the original version of The Great Escape as McQueen played Virgil Hilts in a role that propelled him to super-stardom. Then there’s his role as the detective Frank Bullitt.He literally flies his car through the streets of San Francisco in what is regarded by many as the greatest car chase scene in cinematic history. Steve McQueen was not cool because he drove the Bullitt car. The Bullitt car was cool because Steve McQueen drove it.At the time, Steve McQueen was the number-one movie star in the world, and he is still used as a point of reference for masculinity and “coolness” to this day. He was (and is) the definition of an American icon.Only in America – with America’s dream – could McQueen transform his hardscrabble beginnings into epic stardom. Yet, until late in his life he struggled to find meaning in life, and he suffered because of it.It might have been because he was born into a home of an alcoholic mother and a father that left him early in life, but eventually he found himself on the wrong side of the law more than once. Then, as his star began to rise higher and higher he began to chase harder and harder after every pleasure this planet had to offer.But notwithstanding all his fame and fortune, a colossal vacuum lived rent-free in Steve McQueen’s heart, a yawning chasm, a lack of purpose rooted in the absence of functional, involved parents. He spent his whole life avoiding his mother and searching for his father—searching for someone or something to stand in for him, someone to love him.He had the best cars money could buy, the most beautiful women at his beck and call, drugs galore, booze until the well ran dry, and much more.While still the top movie star on the planet, and with all the money and power in the world, he decided to search for more than this world could offer. That was the story I was interested in, and I chased it till I found it. Everyone knew about McQueen’s Bullitt! but I wanted to find McQueen’s salvation. Read full post here.READ>> Las Vegas Shooting: ‘Lord, We Need You Now;’ Firestorm of Reactions

Crowder on God, the Dodgers and Los Angeles

Well, maybe David Crowder didn't talk specifically about the Dodgers, but there are players on the team that agree with his perspective on sports, the entertainment industry, and faith in God.MLB All-Stars Clayton Kershaw, Adrian Gonzalez, and a couple of other Dodgers joined Crowder, a big name in the worship music genre, in being a part of Christian Faith Day. The postgame event was held after a game against the Colorado Rockies earlier this month.Crowder spoke with TogetherLA from the Dodger dugout after his performance with his band."First of all, to have access on a platform like this, you know, people are coming to the game, they got lots of stuff wrapped up in the entertainment side of it, but also there's passion that's directed towards an event," Crowder told TogetherLA. "To take that energy and point it in a direction that I feel is worth giving your life to and leveraging what you've been given on planet earth and to be a part of a group of people that believe in the same thing on the field and what they've been given. That's the best we can do."God puts stuff in your hands and as long as you keep your hands open, that's OK. He'll put stuff in and He'll take stuff away. As long as you keep your hands open. That's the way I'm getting by, anyways."

Dreamers are American in Every Way Except on Paper

The roughly 800,000 people who have benefited from the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program — more of whom live in Los Angeles than anywhere else in the country — are American in every way except on paper.

By Erwin Raphael McManus

Now the president has decided to not renew DACA, giving Congress a six-month window to find a permanent solution, through legislation, to this complicated issue. Christians throughout our country are raising their voices, calling on this administration and on Congress to set aside differences and quickly come together to ensure that these young people can continue to contribute and thrive in the country they consider their home.As a follower of Christ, I find myself with a moral imperative to speak out for these who are dependent upon us to advocate on their behalf.While I understand and respect the importance of borders and security, those protected by this policy are worthy of our compassion and concern. This is not a question of border security — these individuals have already been in the country for many years, some for decades.We know that these individuals are not a threat to public safety: each has already passed a criminal background check as a prerequisite to being granted deferred action.They are not to be feared but embraced as immigrants who define the American spirit... READ FULL STORY AT THE CHRISTIAN POSTErwin Raphael McManus is the founder of MOSAIC, a church with locations in Hollywood, Santa Monica, and South Pasadena, and the author of The Last Arrow.

READ: ‘There Is No Neutral Ground Here,’ Erwin McManus Says to The Church [Interview]

Dodgers, Fans Switch Focus From Slump To Faith During Post Game Event

LOS ANGELES — Several Los Angeles Dodger players and thousands of fans were able to switch focus from a nasty slump to a time of worship and testimonies during Christian Faith Day, an annual post game event at Dodger Stadium held earlier this month.

SEE VIDEO BELOW

“You’re going to spend more time with your faith than you are playing baseball,” three-time Cy Young Awards winner Clayton Kershaw told TogetherLA.net and K-Wave 107.9 prior to the event held September 10. “You can’t treat (life, a player’s life) like a pie chart — have Jesus in one part and then baseball in the other part because baseball is going to take over.“You just need to find a way to put Jesus into every part of your life. I try to do that with baseball, with a bigger picture in mind, and a bigger perspective in mind,” Kershaw continued. “It’s not always easy coming to the field every single day, especially the way it has been going for us now, but we just have to remember on a consistent basis that we are doing it for a bigger purpose.”While the Crowder band was setting up the stage and preparing to play before fans who gathered after the game (an 8-1 loss to the Colorado Rockies) on the 3rd-base side of the stadium, a panel of players, including Kershaw and Adrian Gonzalez, were interviewed by the team’s chaplain, Brandon Cash, on top of the Dodger dugout.As a pastor at Oceanside Christian Fellowship in El Segundo, Cash came to the Dodgers by way of the Baseball Chapel ministry that learned about his work with the L.A. Kings. He has helped host Christian Faith Day at Dodger Stadium for the last seven years.When asked by TLA about the importance of the event and sports ministry in general, he said, “In the culture we live in, sports and entertainment may be two of the biggest industries in cultural influences that we have and so to have guys that follow Jesus in either of those worlds is really a good thing. It’s encouraging to the faith of those who may be wavering and it’s a great voice for the gospel for people that don’t know Jesus.”Cash, an alumnus of Biola’s Talbot School of Theology, said that he is excited to serve as a chaplain and Christian leader in Los Angeles.“We have some 10 million people in the L.A. area so just the population — it’s huge, it’s diverse, the world comes to L.A. so if you reach L.A. [new believers] will go back out and reach the world,” he said. “I just think the opportunities in L.A. are incredible.”Cash said his hope for the annual event is that Christians are encouraged and that unbelievers would discover the truth about the gospel.“I think of when Apollos came to town (as described) in the book of Acts. He was more eloquent and he defended the faith. He was an encouragement to those that lived in the city,” he said. “Sometimes when they hear someone like a Clayton or an Adrian encouraging them in their faith then I would hope they leave encouraged. I would hope that people who don’t know Jesus would hear the gospel and see the truth.”Kershaw also described the importance of the event.“This is just a great way to maybe reach people who have never heard the Word before, never heard testimonies,” he said. “I know baseball is a great platform to be able to use that for Jesus. That’s why we do the faith day — maybe our stories can help a little bit.”Gonzalez, who has been on the injured list, appeared to enjoy the event not only as one of the players giving their testimony, but as a Crowder fan relishing the time of worship with his family by his side.“If we can be a blessing to one person in the stands, it made it all worth it,” Gonzalez said.

READ: Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw Return To Mound Includes His Best For God and Fans

Men's Pastor Aces Matthew McConaughey Lincoln Commercials in Retreat Promos

LAGUNA HILLS, Calif. — As a way to promote an upcoming men’s retreat, Men’s Leadership Pastor Kenny Luck teamed with his church’s creatives to knock out stellar video spoofs of a couple of the ethereal Matthew McConaughey Lincoln car commercials.

SEE BOTH VIDEOS BELOW

Complete with his impersonation of McConaughey as the introspective dreamer driving a Lincoln into the city night and also stalled on a 2-lane highway in front of a bull, Luck performs both a voiceover in thoughts and speech in the actor’s typical Southern drawl.“Sometimes, you gotta go to the mountain, get through the valleys,” Luck (in full McConaughey mode) says in the nighttime video produced by his Crossline Community Church team. “Not talkin’ about reminiscing or chasing ghosts. You stop making excuses. Dive in. Go to the men’s retreat. Can’t lead a family without God’s tools, God’s word, God’s spirit… that’s what we need. Get your questions answered. Who is God? Does He care? Does He hold the universe between His fingers?“Some say, ‘Can’t go to the men’s retreat.’ Yes, you can. I went to the men’s retreat long before they sold t-shirts. Not to be cool or to make a statement. I just like it.”Kenny Luck is the Men’s Leadership Pastor at Crossline Community Church. Prior to Crossline he built and led the Men’s Ministry at Saddleback Church. He is an ECPA Platinum Award Winning author who has authored and co-authored 20 books for men which include RISK, DREAM, FIGHT, & SOAR and his latest men’s movement book Sleeping Giant. As Founder and President of Every Man Ministries, Kenny personally reached millions of men and is spearheading the Sleeping Giant movement which is revolutionizing men’s ministry in the local church, freeing men spiritually, and empowering family health worldwide.

Passion to Ignite Spiritual Health – Every Man Show on Drive-Time

'Because of Grácia' True To Teen Life; Moriah Peters Shines Light

It's been a long time since I've been a teenager.However, while watching an advanced screening of Because of Grácia (film released this weekend) I was transported back to my high school days rather seamlessly in this engaging movie that challenges the commonly accepted focus of teens and offers up the truth in the form of one student in particular who is living out their faith in God.In its promotion, Because of Grácia may try too hard to avoid being tagged a Christian film. I root for efforts like these often, but mostly pray for a good film irregardless of its label.Chase Morgan would love to live up to his own name and pursue something great. It's his senior year and he’s still as insecure as ever but Eastglenn High's newest student is about to turn that around. Grácia is a girl with charisma, intelligence and conviction but she’s not as “put together” as Chase and his best friend OB might think. A dark past gives her a unique connection with Bobbi, a misunderstood classmate with a pushy boyfriend and disconnected father. As Bobbi struggles with a life-and-death decision and Chase risks rejection, Grácia challenges her friends, teachers and even herself to step outside the status quo. Because of Grácia’s inspiring strength, those around her are finding it easier to speak up and fall in love.In the end, it's not about how the film is packaged, but the fact that it is well made, funny, real, and carries an important message about life.Writer/director/producer Tom Sines, who teaches film in Canada, said he originally wrote the story as a stage play. When interviewed by the 700 Club, Sines said, "There is a demographic that I don't see in films that I see in my classroom every day and that's Christian young people trying to live out their faith. So, I started writing out a story about a kid named Chase Morgan and all I started with was the premise was that he was in his bedroom trying to get up the courage to call a girl and ask her out."Because of Grácia stars former American Idol contestant, Moriah Peters, who says her appearance on the show mirrors the experience of her character in the film.The Hollywood Reporter stated that Peters, then 16, tried out for American Idol and told judges Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson, Kara DioGuardi and Avril Lavigne that she was a Christian who was saving her first kiss for marriage.Peters said the celebrity judges praised her looks and her singing, but belittled her chaste lifestyle. One judge told her, "You're trying to be too perfect," while another told her, "Go out, kiss a guy, come back," she says.Peters' character is similarly saving herself for marriage. She also sings and is called “perfect” in the movie, just like on American Idol seven years ago."I honestly thought the director built Gracia’s character around my high school experiences," she said. “I was allowed to simply be myself, and it wasn’t difficult to dive into the controversial and tense circumstances."There is more than one hot button topic brought to the surface in Because of Grácia and that makes the film very gratifying to after-movie discussion lovers. Go see and discuss amongst yourselves.

One Voice Student Missions Hosts Vision Casting Valley Summit

One Voice Student Missions is inviting pastors, youth leaders, business partners and anyone who has a heart for sowing into the next generation to Together: The Valley Summit, a vision casting gathering planned for Saturday (9/16).Organizers say those in attendance will hear how high schools are being impacted and be given a chance to "be a part of the history making.""By the grace of God, One Voice Student Missions has existed in Los Angeles for the last four years, impacting the high schools and working closely with the local church here in the city where so much culture and influence flow in and out of," Valley Summit organizers said.In a Together LA interview with founder Brian Barcelona earlier this year (See video below), he explained how One Voice Student Missions has successfully established lunchtime Bible studies at more than 70 high schools in Los Angeles, other areas of California, and in other states.“This generation faces a unique hurdle that no other generation has faced and that is social media,” Barcelona said. “Adding to their own problems, people are now going through other people’s feeds and seeing what’s going on in their lives. Studies have shown that this is the ‘loneliest generation’ ever but no one feels lonely because everyone is connected...If that makes sense. The relationships are not really that deep. That’s what I see going on at schools.”When asked by TLA how he approaches high schools for the first time, considering that the current political climate includes a large adversarial component, he said, “I don’t think that there is as much hostility towards the gospel as there is towards religion. I think defining those two (gospel and religion) and separating them from the beginning and realizing that a religious agenda is not the same as living out the gospel.“What we find in going into a campus is that we bring the Good News of the Kingdom,” he continued. “The Good News at its core is that we don’t have to be bound and linked the same as we once did. There is freedom in Christ. That’s not just modeled in a sermon or ‘Let me do worship in your school’ or ‘Let me go preach to all your kids.’ That’s modeled first in my response to how I will serve an administrator or my willingness to obey even some of the laws that already exist.“Sometimes, it’s not even [about] laws, but confusion about what separation of church and state really means. When we go into a campus we are there to serve… whether they let me preach the first week or let me preach in 5 months, I’ll do whatever I can to serve that campus and to bring the love of Jesus onto that school.”For more information, go to One Voice Student Missions' page about Together: The Valley Summit.

Disaster Relief Revelation In USA TODAY: Churches Don't Just Hold Bake Sales

"It is impossible to keep your faith to yourself. What you believe impacts what you do," Tim Keller shared on Twitter with a link to a USA TODAY revelation that churches provide the bulk of disaster relief in coordination with FEMA.I've got news for USA TODAY: the enormous disaster relief efforts we've seen recently, and at most times in general, are provided by Christians, whether in churches, organizations, mission teams, or individually, and have gone way beyond the scope of "coordination with FEMA," but by working together with many.Be sure to watch video on "In Jesus Name" ministry below!

In a disaster, churches don’t just hold bake sales to raise money or collect clothes to send to victims; faith-based organizations are integral partners in state and federal disaster relief efforts. They have specific roles and a sophisticated communication and coordination network to make sure their efforts don’t overlap or get in each others’ way. - USA Today

The USA Today article serves as a critical piece of information to the world that mistakenly believes that the media is the problem. No it's not. We learn many factoids about Christians and disaster relief efforts, including this one:

"About 80% of all recovery happens because of non-profits, and the majority of them are faith-based," said Greg Forrester, CEO of the national VOAD. The money is "all raised by the individuals who go and serve, raised through corporate connections, raised through church connections," and amounts to billions of dollars worth of disaster recovery assistance, he said.

Below are five Christian relief organizations (along with contact information) that are most always at the top of disaster relief efforts in the U.S. and in many cases, internationally.Samaritan’s PurseFounded in 1970 by Bob Pierce, this evangelist and journalist traveled throughout Asia in the years following WWII. During a trip to China, he met a group of brave women who lived among the lepers and orphans in order to help them and share the love of Jesus Christ through selfless service. Pierce was so moved by these women that he dedicated his life to finding other Christians who were willing to care for the poor and suffering around the world. After seeing children suffering on the island of Kojedo, Korea, he created Samaritan’s Purse to meet emergency needs through evangelical missions. After his death in 1978, Franklin Graham took the reins and expanded the ministry for the next 30 years to help those suffering from earthquakes, hurricanes, famine, and wars, following the Biblical example of being the Good Samaritan.West Coast Regional (Operation Christmas Child) contact: 714-432-7030 or occwestcoast@samaritan.org Website: https://www.samaritanspurse.org/Salvation ArmyWe are all familiar with The Salvation Army’s bell ringers that pop up at every retail store around the holidays each year. However, have you thought about where your spare change is going and whom it is helping? The Salvation Army is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Their mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ while meeting global human needs through service and the love of God. With your donations, The Salvation Army provides hunger relief, housing assistance, homeless services, Christmas assistance, and after school programs for children and families throughout the country. They also support a variety of unique adult programs, such as substance abuse rehabilitation, veterans affairs, prison ministries, elderly care, anti-human trafficking programs, and missing person services.Southern California contact: 562-264-3679 or infosocal@usw.salvationarmy.org Website: http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/Convoy of HopeAs a faith-based, nonprofit organization Convoy of Hope has helped more than 85 million people throughout the world by sharing food, water, emergency supplies, agricultural know-how, and opportunities that empower people to live independent lives, free from poverty, disease and hunger. Convoy of Hope does this through the following: mobilizing tens of thousands of volunteers each year, partnering with churches, businesses, individuals and other humanitarian organizations who are intent on doing good work among the impoverished and suffering.In the past 20 years, Convoy of Hope has been active in 48 states and providing disaster response, conducting community outreach events, and directing nutritional programs and sustainability projects. Since Convoy of Hope was established it has brought help and hope to 114 countries and counting. This has been made possible, in part, thanks to Convoy of Hope Europe.Los Angeles contact: 562-412-8788 or convoyofhopela@gmail.com Website: https://www.cityofhope.org/Compassion InternationalIn 1952, the Rev. Everett Swanson went to South Korea to minister to the American troops who were fighting in the Korean War. While, in Seoul, he witnessed hundreds of war orphans living and dying in the streets, abandoned by society, he vowed to find a way to help them. Starting with a single orphanage, he created a program that provided food, clothing, medical care, shelter, and a Bible-based education to these unwanted children. Within two years, the mission grew into a sponsorship program where American individuals, groups, and churches could care for these children with small monthly donations. Today, with the support of 14 sponsor countries around the world, nearly 2 million babies, children, and young adults are released from spiritual, economic, social, and physical poverty through Compassion International’s Christ-centered, child-focused, church-based programs.Main Office (Colorado Springs): 800-336-7676 Website: https://www.compassion.com/Operation Blessing InternationalOperation Blessing was founded in 1978 by Pat Robertson as a way to help people in need receive the clothing, appliances, vehicles, and other items that were donated by the viewers of The 700 Club. As the need grew, the organization expanded to include a fleet of refrigerated tractor-trailer trucks to distribute disaster supplies across the U.S., and an L-1011 airplane named the Flying Hospital that was used to fly medical missions to other countries in need. Today, faith-based programs have been developed to provide disaster relief, medical aid, hunger relief, clean water, and orphan/vulnerable child care to suffering communities around the world.Main Office (Virginia Beach, Virginia) 757-226-3401 Website: https://www.ob.org/

Who Are The Key Players In The Lives Of Prisoners' Kids?

When teachers receive their roster each school year, they are handed more than a list of names—they receive an opportunity to invest in lives.

By Bethany McIlrath

It's likely that some of these lives are impacted by crime and incarceration. 2.7 million children in the United States have a parent behind bars.Teachers and school administrators play a significant role in creating a positive or negative experience for all of their students, but particularly those who come from more vulnerable backgrounds.Several strategies can help educators support prisoners' children in school:

TREAT STUDENTS AS INDIVIDUALS, NOT PRODUCTS

As an article in Education Week points out, students who have an incarcerated parent are statistically more likely to be incarcerated themselves one day. Students with incarcerated parents are often and unfortunately stigmatized as criminals (or on the path to becoming one) themselves. Sadly, bullying is common for children who have a parent in prison. Teachers should be on the lookout for this behavior and intervene.Other ways that educators can come alongside students with a parent in prison are highlighted by Project Avary, a program that supports children of prisoners:

• Addressing students' feelings about incarceration without focusing on the crimes of the parent
• Offering one-on-one attention and validation
• Praising and helping students grow in their talents and natural positive qualities
• Collaborating with caregivers positively to support students
• Avoiding generalizations that highlight the student's challenging situation

VALIDATE AND ENCOURAGE EMOTIONAL PROCESSING

Most children react with strong emotions to the incarceration of a parent. The emotions can be confusing, especially for younger children. Youth.gov explains that having a parent incarcerated is classified as an "adverse childhood experience" (ACE), just as abuse and other traumatic experiences are.School staff can help students with incarcerated parents by encouraging them to express their emotions in healthy ways. Behaviors should be corrected, but emotions should't be punished. Validating that a student has a right to experience their own feelings and develop their own opinions can help students take personal responsibility while also healing from the trauma.

MAINTAIN EXPECTATIONS WITH GRACIOUS FLEXIBILITY

School psychologist Eric Rossen outlines several elements of supporting students with incarcerated parents. One is that students need to be given flexibility without lowering expectations. He explains that teacher expectations influence student performance.When teachers maintain high expectations, students are challenged in a positive way to live up to these expectations. Due to lifestyle changes and hardship that may affect students' ability to focus or complete homework as quickly, some flexibility, such as extra academic support or understanding of the emotions behind a problematic behavior, is also important.ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION IN ACTIVITIESSince the incarceration of a parent can be isolating for a child and negatively affect a student's social relationships, educators can support students by encouraging participation in extracurricular activities. Before- and after- school activities give students:

• Personal interaction with adults and mentors
• Something in common to share with peers
• A space to relax and develop skills they desire
• Oversight that may be lacking at home during those hours

Students often benefit from involvement in activities and events outside of school as well. For instance, children with incarcerated parents may be especially blessed by attending summer camp such as Angel Tree Camping®. Educators can discover opportunities like these and share them with students. Some even choose to use their skills in education to support students at camps throughout the summer.RECOGNIZE THE ROLE OF EDUCATIONOne of the main reasons that an educator has an amplified effect on the lives of students with incarcerated parents is because these children often face a variety of significant obstacles. They lack not only the presence of a parent, but also may face instability at home, financial insecurity, little oversight or structure outside of school, inconsistency, and much more.For many students living with challenges like the incarceration of a parent, school is one of the only places that is stable and consistent. Educators have the opportunity to make that inherent structure safe and positive so that children who may not have support elsewhere have the opportunity to shape their lives for good.An important note: Children may not be aware that their parent is in prison. If a caregiver discloses this information, the educator should hold that information in confidence unless given permission to share it.ABOUT BETHANYA learner at heart, Bethany McIlrath loves to share about her Savior and ways to lovingly serve others whom God has so loved. You can find Bethany's writing on her blog: FirstandSecondBlog.com. She is a guest blogger for Prison Fellowship®.This article was originally published on the Prison Fellowship website and republished with permission.

DACA: Rev Samuel Rodriguez, Hispanic Christians Call For 'Unrelenting Pressure' On Congress

In reaction to today's decision by the White House to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC) led by Rev. Samuel Rodriguez posted the following on its website:

Hispanic Christians to Launch National 60-Day Campaign in Support of DREAMers,

Will Put 'Unrelenting Pressure' on Members of Congress Until 'Every DREAMer can Dream Again'

“We do not intend on letting a single member of Congress have a good night’s rest until they guarantee our young people can rest easy.” — Rev. Samuel RodriguezSACRAMENTO, Calif. — Today, in light of the White House’s decision on DACA, the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference and its affiliate churches and organizations, announces a national campaign intent on putting “unrelenting pressure” on “every” member of Congress until a permanent, legislative solution is provided for “DREAMers.”“Hundreds-of-thousands of Hispanic young people will be overcome with fear and grief today. Simultaneously, a multi-ethnic coalition of tens-of-millions of law abiding, U.S. citizens will begin to put unrelenting pressure on members of Congress to provide a permanent solution for DREAMers, whose fate is in question by no fault of their own,” said Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, President of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference.“For far too long in this country, Hispanic young people have been the political bargaining chips of our powerful politicians. This is an affront to the sanctity of life, it is inhumane, and the Hispanic community will stand for it no longer. Our elected members of Congress have time and again, professed concern for the Hispanic community and yet, have chosen to do nothing. We will not distinguish between Republicans and Democrats but between those who stand for righteousness and justice and those who do not.”Among other actions, the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference will be temporarily relocating additional staff to Washington, D.C., launching a national media campaign, rallying tens-of-thousands of the nation’s spiritual leaders, coordinating weekly meetings on Capitol Hill and in State Capitols. Additionally, the NHCLC will be organizing a “fly-in” of hundreds of prominent Hispanic leaders from throughout North America for a prayer meeting on the evening of Oct. 30, followed by a series of Congressional visits on Oct. 31.Of President Donald J. Trump’s decision to phaseout DACA, the Rev. Samuel Rodriguez says the following:“I am disappointed that these protections are ending and I’ve expressed that disappointment to the White House directly. I also understand why they chose this course of action. If the fate of DACA is any indication, then it was only a matter of time before DACA would face a similar fate in the courts and, in fact, the entire program could be ceased immediately by a court order rather than being phased out. Thankfully, it is the job of Congress to make laws, and now the President has provided Congress a six month window to legislate a more permanent and legally defensible solution for DREAMers. Six months is too long, we will demand action from Congress within 60 days. We do not intend on letting a single member of Congress have a good night’s rest until they guarantee our young people can rest easy. We will not be silent until every DREAMer can dream again.”The National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference is a non-partisan organization that has long been numbered among the nation’s foremost advocates for comprehensive immigration reform. It is the organization’s official position that it is primarily the responsibility of Congress to address the nation’s longstanding challenges with immigration policy. In that capacity Rev. Samuel Rodriguez has worked with Democrat and Republican majorities in Congress as well as with Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald J. Trump in advocating for comprehensive immigration reform.NHCLC's statement originally published here.

Perry Noble Apologizes to Gay Community, Says Nashville Statement Did More Harm Than Good

Sandwiched in between Hurricane Harvey and Labor Day Weekend, Desiring God founder and teacher John Piper released his commentary on the Nashville Statement, authored and approved recently by many leading evangelicals “in the hope of providing a biblically faithful standard in our day” in regards to the “new ethical landscape” of sexual ethics.TogetherLA.net published some of Piper’s piece, including links to the full commentary and statement, not necessarily as a point of editorial agreement, but to provide a platform for conversation. As stated in that post, we strive to be a platform that encourages unity, especially within the Church.In tracking the subsequent wave of reaction I found a Facebook Live post, "My Thoughts on the Nashville Statement," by Perry Noble, founder of The Growth Company and author of Unleash! Noble said he views the Nashville Statement as a wall builder, not representative of the Christian faith, and delivered an apology to the gay community as someone from the evangelical community.“Let me say just for the record and right up front that I am a solid believer in Christian marriage, a man and a woman,” he said. “I believe that with all my heart, however, I believe that the Nashville Statement actually did more harm in regards to Christianity. I believe it did more harm than good because it was a demonstration of how Christians are interested in building walls and not bridges.”After describing how a gay friend said to him after the Nashville Statement was released that he appreciated Noble’s stance on the issue of sexual ethics, but also appreciates that Noble speaks out “on behalf of people like me.”“And he went on to say, ‘I’m thankful for guys like you who are way [more] interested in preserving a relationship over winning the argument,’” Noble explained. “I think that’s one of the problems in Christianity today is that we are way too obsessed with being right and in our obsession with being right we have isolated ourselves from a group of people that we were not called to condemn but rather have a conversation with.“I believe we will reach way more people today if we enter into a conversation rather than condemnation.”Noble said the subject is one that definitely should be talked about in the Church, but it should be preached in compassion, grace, and love “rather than condemning people and saying, ‘You’re evil and shouldn’t be doing that.’”“Why in the world should we be drawing a line in the sand when we should be having a conversation,” he said. “Because, guess what, if someone is gay or someone is transgender they have a story and instead of trying to tell them our story, what if we actually sat down at a table and were willing to listen to theirs?”Addressing people that are gay or transgender, he said, “I want to offer you an apology on behalf of an evangelical Christian (points to himself), who does not believe what those people… I do not adhere to what they said for the most part. I do adhere to Christian marriage, marriage between a man and a woman, but you know what, if you don’t agree with that I can still be your friend. I can still see eye-to-eye with you … I can still sit down and have a conversation with you. You know why? Because Jesus said, ‘Let the one who is without sin cast the first stone’ and I don’t have any rocks in my pocket.“I want to tell you that I am sorry for the way you were treated, but I wanted to tell you that I truly do believe that the gospel is Jesus Christ, crucified on a cross, buried, [and] rose from the dead. That’s the gospel. Period.”

Is Hollywood Against Christians? Depends on What You Believe, Says DeVon Franklin

DeVon Franklin, President/CEO of Franklin Entertainment, wants Christians to know that Hollywood is not a bad place.In fact, striving for a successful career within the entertainment industry can lead to a fruitful life, says Franklin, whose book, The Hollywood Commandments — A Spiritual Guide to Secular Success, comes out later this month.“Too often we say Hollywood is against Christians or Hollywood is against that,” said Franklin during a session at Proclaim 17, the NRB (National Religious Broadcasters) International Christian Media Convention in Orlando earlier this year. “Let me tell you something, if you believe that, that’s what’s going to be the reality. I don’t believe that. I believe that if God has already gone before me he’s going to make a way.”Franklin, who has worked with some of the biggest names in Hollywood, said his desire to work in entertainment came early in his life, but words of discouragement from others, including friends and relatives were common.“You can’t go into Hollywood. Are you crazy? This is the devil’s playground,” he said, referring to what he was told. “It’s Sodom and Gomorrah. In fact, get the anointing oil, we are going to pass the demon out of this boy."In his message at NRB (below), he said, “What I really want people to understand is that if God is for us who can be against us, and we have to begin to shift our mentality and know that if God gave us this ambition and this dream that we have to live it out in the authenticity in which he gave it to us as an honor to him because he is the one who gave us the desire and the gift to begin with.”

About The Hollywood Commandments

Publicity about the book reads:You can be wildly successful without losing your faith. In fact, your secular success will strengthen your faith if you allow it. Too often we believe that success in secular environments contradicts the core principles of faith, but the opposite is true: Your faith was designed to thrive in the secular world and to transform it as a result. You may never experience the true fulfillment you were created for until you pursue the secular ambitions in your heart.New York Times bestselling author DeVon Franklin knows this to be true. In The Hollywood Commandments, the prominent Hollywood producer and spiritual success coach reveals 10 life-changing lessons picked-up from his over-twenty-year career in the entertainment business. You won’t learn these lessons in the church yet they will help you achieve an amazing life and thriving career that glorifies God. The Hollywood Commandments will help you:

• Identify how to use what makes you unique to propel your career.
• Overcome fear and build the courage to pursue new opportunities waiting for you.
• Gain the confidence to make important life decisions with greater peace and clarity.
• Negotiate the life and career advancement you deserve.
• No, you don’t have to work in Hollywood for this book to work for you, these "commandments" apply to every walk of life! If you are stuck, looking for the secrets to advance your career, or have a feeling there’s more to life, this book is for you.

On the Web: devonfranklin.com

Is Planting More Small Churches Greater Than Building Megachurches?

How did the church of Jesus grow for the first 1900+ years of its existence without any megachurches around?That’s how long it took for the first megachurches to appear on the landscape. They’re the new kid on the church block. Until the middle of the 20th century, the relentless growth of the church moved forward, not through growing bigger churches, but almost exclusively through the multiplication of smaller congregations. And that’s where most of the growth of the church still happens today.[ictt-tweet-inline hashtags="" via=""]Planting more small churches may be a greater tool for growing the church than building larger congregations.[/ictt-tweet-inline]In spite of this truth, there are those who insist that a healthy congregation will always increase numerically and that there’s something inherently wrong with a church that stays small – no matter what the reason.Indeed, many in the church growth movement focus almost entirely on growing individual congregations bigger. Supporting and strengthening healthy smaller congregations has taken a distant second place – if it’s considered at all.But there have been many church movements throughout history – and many today – that foster smaller congregations, including house churches. They channel their growth with great skill and intentionality through the multiplication of more congregations, rather than bigger ones.There are some strong stats showing that planting more small churches may be a greater tool for growing the church than building larger congregations.

Celebrate The Success, Support The Hurting

I’m glad for the recent appearance of megachurches and the church growth movement. The church growth movement has introduced or reinvigorated some much-needed principles that much of the church had all but forgotten, including the reminder that we must never settle for less.But it’s ignorant, hurtful and counterproductive to say that if a church is staying small, there must necessarily be something wrong with it. Just as it’s wrong to criticize bigger and megachurches merely because they’re big.Instead, let’s encourage, support and resource healthy churches of all sizes. The ones being planted, the ones that have existed for generations, and the ones that are hanging on for dear life.It’s hard to say we love the church when we ignore, discourage or belittle its weakest members.Real church growth doesn’t just support and celebrate our big, recent, but rare success stories – as great as those may be. Real church growth helps hurting churches, restores broken communities and celebrates the vast array small successes, too.This article first appeared on ChristianityToday.com. Used in its entirety by permission of author to republish.

READ Backyard BBQ Evangelism: True Story Of Outside-The-Church-Walls Ministry

A Real Life Fairytale: Actor/Producers Jim and Jenn (Gotzon) Chandler Tell Their Story

Ask a young girl what love looks like and most likely the answer will reflect something like a beautiful girl who can talk to animals, sing phenomenally, and who has overcome a large hardship...flawlessly — we call them princesses.Along with the girl you will also have a boy who is strong, handsome, and can fix just about any situation with a kiss — we call this a fairytale. But this image is not real because love is not a fairytale. It is so much more than that.Love is a word filled with so much meaning that it contains every emotion within it that seems to hit you all at once. It is something everyone strives for and something people will do anything to get. But we keep setting ourselves up for failure trying to obtain this idea of love, for love cannot be achieved without Jesus.For we must establish a relationship with Him to know what true love feels like. This is why looking for love just simply will not work. You see love is something that can’t be found because it is something that can only be given. And sometimes we have to fall completely apart in order to see that God is the only one who can give it to us.In a world filled with lies and temptations about love, you could imagine my surprise when I found out that a movie is being made going completely against every fairytale ever made. You see the difference between this movie’s love story and others is, it’s real. The movie is based on a real life love story where the main characters learn that worldly love isn’t what you want; what you want is an everlasting love. A love that makes you laugh louder, cry harder, and will overwhelm you in every way possible.The Farmer and The Belle not only shows us how to obtain the same romance and love found in made up fairytales, but also shows us how it is not possible without putting The Lord first. It’s honestly a breath of fresh air. The Farmer and The Belle, to be released in fall of 2018, it is jammed pack with comedy, romance, inspiration, and REAL FOOTAGE, this film is like none seen before.Yes, you heard me right, the movie holds real footage from the couples’ actual wedding — meaning you will see the real kiss from the wedding day!Finally, there is a love story we can all look up to, a real life fairytale.I had the chance to talk to Jim and Jenn (Gotzon) Chandler, whose love story is what inspired this film, all about their walk with Jesus and what it is like to film your wedding for a movie.Q: How did y’all two meet?We met on a movie set where we were cast as love interest.Q: So, why do you guys want to share your story?Jim: I want to share our story because I want to entertain people while, at the same time, show our viewers how to form a healthy relationship.Jenn: I want to help others realize what real love is and how to find it. I want people to know not to settle for just anyone.Q: How would you describe yourself before you found God? And how would you describe yourself now, after you found him?Jim: Before God, I was lost trying to do things my own way, only concerned with myself. I always knew God was still there because I grew up in a Christian household, but I abandoned him.Returning to him was shifting the focus off of myself, pouring into others and into my work, allowing God to be the thing that moved me forward in my career and in my relationships. If I am in control, then I experience misery, destruction, isolation and defeat. With him I can conquer all.Jenn: I grew up in a Christian household going to Catholic Church. I accepted Jesus at the age of 17 at a summer retreat in Stubenville, OH at St. Franciscan Center. This changed my life look and allowed me a childlike faith where I pursued my dream as an actor. My walk with Jesus became real and is my friend, provider, savior.Q: How long has this spiritual journey been for you? And what do you do now?The spiritual journey with God doesn't ever end, doesn't have a time stamp. We are committed to each other and our calling as actors to be lights in the entertainment industry to impact and inspire audiences.Q: Okay, one last question before you go. What is it like to have your wedding filmed? Did it add any extra stress? Did you have to film anything twice?Jim: We didn't have any added stress because we didn't want the focus of the filming to take away from the focus of our wedding. We were in agreement that whatever we shot and captured is what we got, no reshoots.Jenn: It was lots more stress (for me). There was one hour before the ‘I do’s that I turned into Bridezilla… because we were behind schedule for the magazine photo shoot I added during the wedding photography, in addition to the wedding and movie we were filming. We commissioned makeup artists (Celebrity makeup artist Brother Zhen from China, Cosmetic line owner Vicki Odeneal and her daughter Leah who we worked on “Saving Faith”) and designers. Everyone was excited to be part of the movie, magazine and wedding. Jeanette from The Bride’s Tailor custom made fairytale bell dress for the ceremony and Dalia MacPhee provided the reception dress. (yes, I wore 2 gowns). LaRae Mychel custom made the yellow bridesmaid dresses and my maid-of-honor (my sissy Shelly) wore a coordinating Dalia MacPhee in green, along with my sister-in-law Amiee. My sister in-law Shannon custom made the sunflower girls dresses and my mother-in-law Jennie did all the alterations. Leah Marie Photography and Stationery captured all the family festive fun, including Jim and my baptism the day before after our rehearsal. God is good! We were married by our friend and pastor David Burris from Freedom Counseling.We had 7 cameras set up for the wedding: JD brought GoPros that were hidden in hail bales, small consumer video cameras on tripods, a drone operated by Rich Goodwyn, my sneaky bridesmaid, Lisa Miosi Martin (filmmaker for Billy Graham Ministries) used her iPhone hidden in her dress jacket pocket (sneaky) and our Director of Photography (DP) Kacper Skowron had a steady cam rig that circled us for our actual wedding kiss. Sheila Munger producer of “The Princess Cut” managed the film production on site. It was a team effort by everyone. Our wedding coordinator was Jim’s mom Jennie. We were married on her century owned historical farm property Camp New Dawn with sunflowers and romantic haywagon pull, it was a day to remember!!! And all the funny moments will roll during our end credits.The newlyweds are offering a promotional code for the DVD release of their Family, Christmas Comedy Movie, "The Farmer and The Belle" by signing up on their website www.ChristmasComedyMovie.comGet the latest from “The Farmer and The Belle” by following them on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/TheFarmerandTheBelle.ChristmasComedyMovie.

John Piper: Precious Clarity on Human Sexuality - The Nashville Statement

It is with the strongest conviction that I want people to know that TogetherLA.net is about providing a platform that encourages unity, especially within the church. We are to learn from each other and when it comes to today's hot button topics we want to have a civil conversation about them. This is the place for that.The subject of sexual ethics today has already divided our country, but most alarmingly, our churches and fellowships. It is not without a bit of trepidation that I share John Piper's post published at desiringGod.org below today. However, Piper is one of the most respected Christian leaders and theologians of our time.That said, yes, the truth found in the gospel is about love, but the Bible can be a sharp sword and it can cut and divide quickly and precisely.The first paragraph of the Preamble in the Nashville Statement reads:

Evangelical Christians at the dawn of the twenty-first century find themselves living in a period of historic transition. As Western culture has become increasingly post-Christian, it has embarked upon a massive revision of what it means to be a human being. By and large the spirit of our age no longer discerns or delights in the beauty of God’s design for human life. Many deny that God created human beings for his glory, and that his good purposes for us include our personal and physical design as male and female. It is common to think that human identity as male and female is not part of God’s beautiful plan, but is, rather, an expression of an individual’s autonomous preferences. The pathway to full and lasting joy through God’s good design for his creatures is thus replaced by the path of shortsighted alternatives that, sooner or later, ruin human life and dishonor God.

I pray that you seek Jesus as you navigate in and outside your community. Please feel free to comment below. Let's keep the conversation going... together!

Precious Clarity on Human Sexuality - Introducing the Nashville Statement

By John Piper

In recent years, the celebration of attempts to transform oneself from male to female, or female to male, and the normalization of same-sex attraction, including so-called “same-sex marriage,” have reconfigured the global landscape of sexual ethics. It is timely and hopeful, therefore, that the Nashville Statement has appeared at this time. With a focus on this new ethical landscape, the statement aims to help clarify Christian convictions.

Compassionate Conviction

Last Friday, August 25, the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (CBMW) and the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) jointly hosted a gathering of Christian leaders in Nashville. The purpose of the meeting was to finalize and approve the Nashville Statement in the hope of providing a biblically faithful standard in our day on these particular issues of human sexuality. I read the statement with a kind of sorrowful joy, which seems inevitable when beautiful light is spoken into tragic darkness. I wrote the following endorsement when I received a copy of the final draft:

The Nashville Statement is a Christian manifesto concerning issues of human sexuality. It speaks with forthright clarity, biblical conviction, gospel compassion, cultural relevance, and practical helpfulness. There is no effort to equivocate for the sake of wider, but muddled, acceptance.It is built on the persuasion that the Christian Scriptures speak with clarity and authority for the good of humankind. It is permeated by the awareness that we are all sinners in need of divine grace through Jesus Christ. It affirms with joy that no form of sexual sin is beyond forgiveness and healing. It touches the most fundamental and urgent questions of the hour, without presuming to be a blueprint for political action. And it will prove to be, I believe, enormously helpful for thousands of pastors and leaders hoping to give wise, biblical, and gracious guidance to their people.

To read Piper's full post and the Nashville Statement go to desiringGod.org.

Child Service Agencies and Churches Unite to Find a Family For Every Child in OC

ANAHEIM, Calif. — An ambitious plan to eliminate the number of vulnerable children without a caring family in Orange County by 2020 using a church-to-church partnership with the county was presented at Vision Night For OC earlier this week.More than 100 people, some representing more than 30 churches, met to discuss the best ways to activate the plan, one that was successfully implemented in the entire nation of Rwanda, organizers said. The presentation of the initiative to help vulnerable children was held at Saddleback Church Anaheim on Tuesday and included six representatives of different areas of child care within the County of Orange program.“Find a family for every child in OC by 2020 and equip the Church to care for them,” Max McGhee, who is a pastor within the Orphan Care ministry at Saddleback Church, said towards the end of the evening presentation. “It’s that simple,” he said, as he pointed to the initiative’s goal projected on a screen which included “#ZEROby2020.”Michael Donaldson, who is the Director of Pastoral Care for Families at the Diocese of Orange, has committed to being a big part of the “Zero by 2020 Vision.” He said, “Whether people become resource families, organize fellowships or form opportunities for families, or even create prayer chains, each of us can make a difference in the lives of children needing a family of their own.”Scott Burdick, MFT Deputy DirectorDepartment of Children and Family Services, said that the county’s child welfare program recognizes the importance of partnering with churches and the initiative will help make vulnerable children and hurting families a “community issue.”“Churches have been such a foundational support to meet not just some of the physical needs but to meet some of the mentoring [needs],” said Burdick during a videotaped interview. “This has been something, that in my over 20 years with the county, that really has become such a passion: how we can begin to try to make this a community issue?”Child abuse is an innermost secret for families suffering from the problem, he said, and while they are in their most vulnerable moments it becomes “so important for these churches to really make connections with these families.”“It’s (the initiative) an amazing opportunity for us as a county and I really believe it’s an amazing opportunity for those churches and community members to really make a positive impact and to make a difference,” Burdick said. “If it’s just one life, it’s all worth it because it multiplies. Now we are looking at an opportunity to impact the county as a whole. My hope is that this is something that continues to grow and blossom, that it happens not just in Orange County, but Orange County becomes a model for us to do this across the state, across the country, and really, across the world.”Organizers said the “God-size goal” can be accomplished with the help of local government and a church-to-church strategy.“As long as just one vulnerable child is waiting for a loving family to take them home, we should not rest,” leaders behind the initiative said.To learn more, contact initiative leaders at 949.609.8555 or orphans@saddleback.com.