How the Church Can Respond to the Nations at Our Doorsteps? “When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner among you must be treated as your native-born.” (Lev. 19:33) Arrive Ministries Executive Director Bob Oehrig offers some loving ways of how individual Christ-followers and our congregations can respond to our new neighbors, as such groups as Burmese, Iraqis, Ethiopians, Nepalese, Somalis and Liberians now join our children in schools and in our communities. Oehrig also shares practical examples of how Churches can partner with Arrive Ministries' programs to reach out with friendship and practical service, as we follow Jesus' command to “love the stranger."

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.

Portia Allen, Local Project Director at River Valley Church writes about how attendees at River Valley's 8 metro campuses make themselves available to their respective communities by being present and volunteering at community events and by partnering with local organizations to help them serve local residents. Allen shares the framework by which River Valley chooses to do local outreach in each community, and why it's important for a church to ask itself if outreach meets a real need in its community.

Nowadays, especially in light of the new president’s administration, virtually everyone wants to be a prophet. Discernment is of paramount importance. For those in the “school of the prophets” as well as those who are trying to discern the holy among all manner of uttering, Dr. Dennis Edwards offers four principles that guide his prophetic ministry.