Explore timeless strategies for developing your influence as a children’s ministry leader.
The following is an excerpt from Start With Amen by Beth Guckenberger. ________________________________________________________________________ In 1997, my husband, Todd, and I moved to Monterrey, Mexico, to serve orphans and vulnerable children full-time through Back2Back Ministries. Living in a developing country for a long time means you exponentially increase your odds of being robbed. It’s not unusual, […]
The following is an excerpt from Start With Amen by Beth Guckenberger. ________________________________________________________________________ Our guide, Bible teacher Ray Vander Laan, took us to a hill where we watched sheep graze under the careful eye of their shepherd. Â I asked why the shepherd was tending his sheep on a hillside without grass. Everywhere I turned, it
One year, I went back and counted the number of adult services I had attended. 6. That’s it. Some of you reading this right now are gasping because 6 is pretty low. Others are reading this right now and are a little jealous because 6 is how many services you’ve been to in 6 years.
Encounters: At the Empty Tomb Read More »
It’s natural to keep a comfortable distance from things that pain us if it is at all in our power. I think that is why Good Friday has always been so complicated to me in my adult life. Can we just breeze past this part and quickly make our way to the empty tomb? Good
Encounters: At the Cross Read More »
My Grandma Josie’s table was always set with a lace tablecloth. Most of the time my Grandpa Gene cooked the meal, but my grandma took care of the table. There was always a plate with bread and a ceramic butter dish. And lots of laughter and repetition, because Grandpa had trouble hearing. All at Grandma
Encounters: At the Table Read More »
My father is a Jewish believer in Messiah Jesus, so I had the amazing gift of getting to grow up with a deep appreciation for my heritage and the Jewish roots of my faith. One of the elements of this was the observation of all the Biblical feasts. As a little girl, Purim was my
Encounters: In the Temple Read More »
I remember the first ultrasound where we could tell things weren’t going according to “plan.” It was the event that thrust us into the roller coaster that was our youngest child’s pregnancy. The day I read her story, her words because my desperate anthem, too. On the north side of the Sea of Galilee, a
Encounters: With A Daughter Read More »
John the Baptist. You know all about him. Desert dweller. Different diet. In fact, we’ve seen the Daniel Diet fad and the Paleo Diet grow in popularity, but I’ve never heard anyone do a series of videos on the John the Baptist Diet Plan of locusts and honey. John the Baptist’s outfits were unrefined. He didn’t
Encounters: Jesus and John the Baptist Read More »
Leading up to Luke 5, Jesus has been speaking the word of God in the desert, the temple and the synagogue, driving out an evil spirit, and healing the sick. Up to this point in the story, Jesus did not have any disciples. I guess I always thought that when Jesus started his public ministry, the first thing he
Encounters: On The Shore Read More »
It was about forty days or so since the birth of Jesus. Mary and Joseph packed up what little they had brought with them to Bethlehem, and set out on the six-mile journey to Jerusalem. As a momma of littles, I am trying to fathom not being home recovering and settling into life with my
Encounters: In His Courts Read More »
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