What we witnessed with Hurricane Harvey is a new breed of storm altogether. It was the most extreme rainfall event ever observed in the United States, that may prove to be the costliest natural disaster in our nation’s history. Meteorologist and Evangelical Environmental Network Board Chair Paul Douglas writes about the compelling evidence that the warming climate we’re experiencing could be turning up the volume of weather extremes. The pain, disruption and dislocation of a rapidly-changing climate will be felt most by the world’s poor. Douglas appeals to Christians to acknowledge our new climate reality as we have a spiritual obligation to pay attention and to care for the least of these. Hear more from Paul Douglas at Transform Ideas: Creation Care on Thursday, September 28 (7-9pm) at Elim Church, Minneapolis.

In recent months I’ve had the opportunity to hear directly from leaders in churches about life in ministry. I’ve hosted listening sessions with small groups of diverse church leaders, I’ve been a part of conference planning teams and retreats with pastors from rural communities and cities across our state, and I’ve traveled with 30 pastors on a 4-day civil rights pilgrimage. As we interact with and serve leaders in our evangelical network, I am heartened to know personally the many leaders who make up our evangelical network in Minnesota. These Godly pastors have hearts that ooze with compassion for people who need Jesus, and they accurately recognize that Christians must emphasize our identity in Christ and unity of the Body to bridge societal divisions.

[pullquote style=”left” quote=”dark”]…what fulfills many pastors even more is reaching lost people.[/pullquote] [pullquote style=”right” quote=”dark”]…I see a lot of reasons to be hopeful in the Church.[/pullquote]   [dropcap]T[/dropcap]here is a lot of pessimism within the Church about the state of ...

In the third Pastor’s Column in our Generosity Series, Brad Hewitt, the CEO of Thrivent writes about how generosity helps make us wise with money. He shares the importance of making acts of financial generosity as a way of imitating God, who gave us all. Read more about how a healthy relationship with money is part of the abundant, surplus, full life Jesus promised his followers.

In the second Pastor’s Column in our Generosity Series, Pastor Rod Carlson, Senior Pastor at Oak Hills Church in Eagan writes about similarities shared by churches that are the most generous. He shares a lesson he learned about what our giving reveals about our beliefs in the abundance of God or our fear of scarcity. Read more about how trusting in the Lord's generosity has allowed Oak Hills to bless missionaries, their community and their congregation.

Kicking off the first of our Pastor's Column Generosity Series, Pastor Bill Goodwin of Lighthouse Christian Church in Rosemount shares about the power of being generous, and how to get over the fears that hold us back from being more generous. Pastor Goodwin outlines Abram’s model of generosity, and challenges us to answer if we believe we are a good investment in God’s Kingdom.