pastors Archives - Page 2 of 4

Pastors’ Sermons Subpoenaed in Houston

The city of Houston has subpoenaed sermons given by local pastors.

Yes, you read that correctly.

It’s a chilling turn of events for those of us who practice our faith and value the self-evident right to religious freedom recognized by the First Amendment.

The reason why this subpoena is being made is especially ominous: It targets high-profile pastors who opposed the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO), which, among other things, gives people who identify as transgender the right to file a discrimination complaint if they’re barred from accessing a restroom.

Topics: Current Events Tags: news, pastors, policy, religious liberty October 15, 2014 by Jim Daly

How Mental Illness Impacts Families

Many of you commented on and shared my recent blog post, “Could Robin Williams’ Faith Have Prevented His Suicide?”

That’s not surprising because mental illness directly impacts about one in four individuals… yet sadly, it sometimes seems that the Christian community doesn’t talk about the issue as often and as thoroughly we should.

Focus on the Family is hoping to help change that by helping families and churches better understand topics related to mental health – things like depression, bipolar and schizophrenia.

Topics: Focus Events Tags: broadcast, church, faith, family, friendship September 18, 2014 by Jim Daly

VIDEO: This Pastor Forgave the Man Who Killed His Wife, Son in Crash

Sometimes, God’s biggest miracles are what He does in our hearts. Just ask Erik Fitzgerald and Matthew Swatzell.

Swatzell, then 20, was on his way home after working a busy 24-hour shift as a firefighter and EMT. He had slept only 30 minutes during his shift, and had fallen asleep at the wheel two miles from his house. What awoke him was the sound of his vehicle crashing head-on into a car driven by 30-year-old June Fitzgerald.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, news, pastors February 21, 2014 by Jim Daly

C.S. Lewis: Thirteen Quotes Fifty Years Later

His death wasn’t front-page news in America; in fact it wasn’t reported until three days later on page 18 in The New York Times.

That’s because the passing of the beloved Christian author Clive Staples (C.S.) Lewis fifty years ago today (Nov. 22, 1963) happened to coincide with the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

President Kennedy, of course, was murdered in Dallas while riding in an open car. C.S. Lewis died in Oxford, England, hours later, after struggling with heart trouble.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, faith, pastors, religious liberty November 22, 2013 by Jim Daly

Guest Post: Dear Parents with Young Children in Church

This stay-at-home mom’s blog post has already encouraged many parents who, week after week, faithfully attend church services with their young children. I hope it encourages you, too.

***

You are doing something really, really important. I know it’s not easy. I see you with your arms overflowing, and I know you came to church already tired. Parenting is tiring. Really tiring.

I watch you bounce and sway trying to keep the baby quiet, juggling the infant carseat and the diaper bag as you find a seat.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: church, kids, pastors November 12, 2013 by Jim Daly

This Operation Christmas Child Grew Up and Paid It Forward

In my post last week “How Shoeboxes Help Spread the Gospel,” I talked about how Operation Christmas Child provides children around the world with what might be their only opportunity to receive the Gospel message. I also shared pictures taken by a Focus staffer of the boys and girls in Senegal, Africa, as they received boxes.

One of the people who attended that trip was Damaris, a young woman who, herself, received a shoebox when she was 9.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family, friendship, pastors November 8, 2013 by Jim Daly

Happy Birthday, Rev. Dr. Billy Graham!

Happy 95th birthday, Rev. Dr. Billy Graham!

He’s been called “America’s Pastor” for a good reason: for almost 70 years, Dr. Graham has worked in ministry, preaching, evangelizing, counseling U.S presidents and meeting with world leaders. Millions have come to know Jesus as Savior through his sharing of the Gospel.

Even though he’s had to slow down over the past few years due to health reasons, he has a wonderful new project that will be unveiled today, “My Hope.”

Even at 95, God is using Billy Graham to preach the Gospel and bring men and women to Himself.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, pastors November 7, 2013 by Jim Daly

VIDEO: Did You Know Martyr Jim Elliot Had a Brother?

Most Christians are familiar with Jim Elliot, one of five missionaries killed in the jungles of Ecuador in the 1950s. Fewer people know about Jim’s brother, Bert.

Bert Elliott and his wife, Colleen, were missionaries in Peru. Their work there included starting more than 150 churches, leading Bible studies, helping at a Christian school, leading drug addicts to Christ and even pulling teeth for those with severe dental problems.

There was nothing glamorous about what Bert and Colleen did.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, friendship, pastors October 17, 2013 by Jim Daly

Is This One of the Toughest Jobs?

Serving as a pastor is no easy task. In fact, I can’t think of many more challenging callings in life.

Consider:

A lot of people think pastors work just one day a week. The reality is quite the opposite. Most pastors are fortunate to get one day off per week. Most are on-call 24/7. When it comes to an erratic schedule, a pastor is like a firefighter or a police officer, except he has to stop at red lights, often in a very used car or truck that’s seen better days.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, pastors October 16, 2013 by Jim Daly

No, the Church in America is Not Dying

To borrow and adapt a phrase from the late Mark Twain, reports of the Church’s death have been greatly exaggerated.

Christianity Today recently ran an article by Pastor Ed Stetzer, the president of LifeWay Research, that drives home this point. In “The State of the Church In America: Hint: It’s Not Dying,” Stetzer corrects this false narrative that the Evangelical Church is on an irreversible downward trajectory.

In doing so, he makes an important distinction – and I’ll quote Stetzer here: “Christianity is represented by people who live for Christ, not check ‘Christian’ on a survey form.”

As he fleshes out this idea, Stetzer separates the 75 percent of Americans who identify with one of three categories – those who say they are Christian because of their family history or heritage; those who do nothing more than attend church every now and then; and, finally, those who acknowledge a personal relationship with Jesus and have experienced a real life-change.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: church, pastors, religious liberty October 14, 2013 by Jim Daly