What Does the Church Need to Hear About Church?

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A sad reality is emerging in many churches: people are straying from congregational life. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what many of us have trained them to do! Now, we may be seeing the fruit from our lack of attention to discipleship, community, and bearing witness to the gospel in public spaces – even before the pandemic brought physical barriers to communal gatherings. Join us for a conversation with Rick Atchley as we explore what our churches need to hear anew, starting with the gospel, mission, community, and discipleship.

A part of our series Intersection: Where Theology and Practice Meet, this webinar took place on Tuesday, December 7, 2021.

We offer Intersection at no charge to you. If you find it impactful and would like to help us continue offering webinars like this, as well as other resources for churches and Christian leaders, we appreciate donations of any size. Thank you!

 

Recordings

  • Watch the webinar recording on YouTube

  • Listen to the audio (below)

 

Special Guest: Rick Atchley

Rick Atchley

Rick Atchley is the senior teaching minister at The Hills Church, a church with campuses in North Richland Hills, Southlake, and West Fort Worth, Texas. He has ministered at The Hills since 1989. Before moving to The Hills, Rick preached for the Southern Hills Church of Christ in Abilene, Texas, for 11 years. Rick holds a B.A. in oral communications and an M.A. in religious communications from ACU. He and his wife, Jamie, have three children. Rick loves golf and exercise and is a retired fantasy football champion.

 

Questions?

Contact Renee Paul with any questions about this webinar.

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The Enneagram and Spiritual Self-Care

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The Christian life is not a solo endeavor; we need to discern with, live amongst, and serve alongside a community. Even so, we also must tend to ourselves in ways holy and Spirit-breathed, and in manners consistent with the character and personality purposefully placed within us. Chelsie Sargent discusses with us how the Enneagram can provide intentional, spiritual self-care practices to church leaders who are busy caring for others.

A part of our series Intersection: Where Theology and Practice Meet, this webinar took place on Tuesday, November 16, 2021.

We offer Intersection at no charge to you. If you find it impactful and would like to help us continue offering webinars like this, as well as other resources for churches and Christian leaders, we appreciate donations of any size. Thank you!

 

Recordings and Resources

 

Special Guest: Chelsie Sargent

Chelsie Sargent

Chelsie Sargent is a licensed professional counselor and supervisor (LPC-S) specializing in self-care, depression, anxiety, grief, life-transitions, trauma, and the Enneagram. In addition to her therapy work, Chelsie meets regularly with corporate executives, nonprofit professionals, and church leaders. She teaches and consults on a variety of topics, including the Enneagram, healthy boundaries, and contemporary issues. She holds a B.A. from ACU and an M.Ed. from Hardin-Simmons University, is certified in the Enneagram Spectrum Training with Dr. Jerry Wagner, and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Professional Counseling. She lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband, Steve, and their daughter.

 

Questions?

Contact Renee Paul with any questions about this webinar.

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Everywhere You Look

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The church is on the edge of a new possibility at the very moment that it feels like it’s falling apart. Tim Soerens joins us to discuss his book, Everywhere You Look: Discovering the Church Right Where You Are.

A part of our series Intersection: Where Theology and Practice Meet, this webinar took place on Tuesday, October 19.

We offer Intersection at no charge to you. If you find it impactful and would like to help us continue offering webinars like this, as well as other resources for churches and Christian leaders, we appreciate donations of any size. Thank you!

 

Recordings and Resources

 

Special Guest: Tim Soerens

Tim Soerens

Tim Soerens is the co-founding director of the Parish Collective, a growing network and global movement of Christians reimagining what it means to be the church in, with, and for the neighborhood. His latest book is Everywhere You Look: Discovering the Church, Right Where You Are, and he previously co-authored the award-winning book, The New Parish: How Neighborhood Churches Transform Mission, Discipleship, and Community. Closer to home, he and his wife are helping to start South Park Neighborhood Church and are co-founding owners of Resistencia Coffee, a neighborhood coffee shop, as well as the South Park Idea Lab. He lives in Seattle, Washington, with his wife, Coté, and their sons, Lukas and Joaquín.

 

Questions?

Contact Renee Paul with any questions about this webinar.

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Inviting Others Into God’s Good News

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What do we do with this finding from a recent Barna study: “A startling six in 10 Americans believe that any ‘attempt to convert others’ to one’s own faith is ‘extreme’”? Priscilla Pope-Levison, author of the award-winning book, Models of Evangelism, bucks the statistics by introducing Christians to a wide range of models, from personal to media evangelism and from small group to prophetic evangelism. Join us for a conversation about how these models can inspire churches and individual Christians to convey the good news (euangelion) of the gospel.

A part of our series Intersection: Where Theology and Practice Meet, this webinar took place on Tuesday, May 11.

We offer Intersection at no charge to you. If you find it impactful and would like to help us continue offering webinars like this, as well as other resources for churches and Christian leaders, we appreciate donations of any size. Thank you!

 

RECORDINGS AND RESOURCES

 

Special Guest: Priscilla Pope-Levison

Dr. Priscilla Pope-Levison

Dr. Priscilla Pope-Levison is associate dean for external programs and professor of ministerial studies at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University. Before coming to Perkins, she was the first faculty person to be hired in evangelism at Duke Divinity School, then she taught theology at Seattle Pacific University for 15 years. Her most recent book, Models of Evangelism (2020), was named a Top Five Book of 2020 on the Jesus Creed Blog and Resource of the Year in Theology and Biblical Studies by Outreach magazine for 2020. She has recently been awarded two million-dollar grants by the Lilly Endowment to work on revitalizing congregations. The first grant is titled, “Reboot: The Congregation as Youth Worker,” and the second focuses on “Testimony as Community Engagement.” As a United Methodist minister, Priscilla has served in the local church, as a college chaplain, as a college and seminary professor, and currently as a seminary administrator.

 

Questions?

Contact Renee Paul with any questions.

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Welcoming the Stranger

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Refugees and immigrants have always played an important role in the conception of the American dream. Their reception, however, tells a different story. Sometimes welcomed, sometimes feared, depending on their place of origin and the dynamics of the current political moment, as Christians and church leaders, we dare not forget that refugees and former refugees are real people. Jessica Goudeau, author of After the Last Border: Two Families and the Story of Refuge in America, joins Randy and Carson for a conversation on how ministers can help their churches practice hospitality to strangers. Jessica brings real expertise and knowledge, as well as a deep commitment to the way of Jesus, to this fraught but important conversation.

A part of our series Intersection: Where Theology and Practice Meet, this webinar took place on Tuesday, April 13.

We offer Intersection at no charge to you. If you find it impactful and would like to help us continue offering webinars like this, as well as other resources for churches and Christian leaders, we appreciate donations of any size. Thank you!

 

RECORDINGS AND RESOURCES

 

Special Guest: Jessica Goudeau

Dr. Jessica Goudeau

Dr. Jessica Goudeau has written for such publications as The Atlantic, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and Teen Vogue, is a former columnist for Catapult, and is the author of After the Last Border: Two Families and the Story of Refuge in America. She produced A Line Birds Cannot See, a documentary about a young girl who crossed the border into the U.S. on her own, as well as Teen Vogue’s Ask a Syrian Girl web series. She has a Ph.D. in literature from the University of Texas and served as a Mellon writing fellow and interim writing center director at Southwestern University. Jessica has spent more than a decade working with refugees in Austin, Texas, and she co-founded Hill Tribers, a nonprofit that provided supplemental income for Burmese refugee artisans for seven years.

 

Questions?

Contact Renee Paul with any questions about this webinar.

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The Listening Side of Prayer

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We live frantic, busy lives that distract us from seeing and hearing God. Yet our hearts long to be centered on God. For centuries, Christians sought to release the reins of control and enjoy a more vulnerable, intimate life with God. They adopted postures in prayer to become more receptive to God’s agenda and leading. They learned practices for yielding their minds and hearts to God along with ways to allow Scripture to speak into their lives. Contemplative prayer fosters this deep, rich relationship with God in forms of prayer that are accessible to all. Join us for a conversation with Jackie Halstead about the practice of contemplative prayer for congregational leaders – both for themselves and in their leadership of the church.

A part of our series Intersection: Where Theology and Practice Meet, this webinar took place on Tuesday, March 30.

We offer Intersection at no charge to you. If you find it impactful and would like to help us continue offering webinars like this, as well as other resources for churches and Christian leaders, we appreciate donations of any size. Thank you!

 

RECORDINGS AND RESOURCES

 

Special Guest: Jackie Halstead

Dr. Jackie Halstead

Dr. Jackie L. Halstead (PhD, LMFT, MDiv) is the CEO of Selah Center for Spiritual Formation, a nonprofit offering a certificate program in spiritual direction and online courses in the Christian spiritual disciplines. She serves as associate director of ACU’s online Marriage and Family Therapy program. As a licensed therapist, she specializes in ministers and their families. Jackie is a spiritual director and speaks frequently on the topics of contemplative prayer, spiritual formation, and relationships. She authored Leaning Into God’s Embrace: A Guidebook for Contemplative Prayer. Jackie has been married to Randy for 39 years, and they live in Nashville and have two grown daughters.

 

Questions?

Contact Renee Paul with any questions.

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Breath Prayers: When the Heart Speaks but the Mouth Doesn’t

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What can we reasonably expect breath prayers to accomplish in the lives of those who use them as tools of formation? In this conversation, we’ll explore breath prayers through history – from ancient Israel through the Orthodox church to today. Along the way we’ll explore how Christians use this form of prayer, and we’ll practice with this spiritual exercise as well.

A part of our series Intersection: Where Theology and Practice Meet, this webinar took place on Tuesday, March 16.

We offer Intersection at no charge to you. If you find it impactful and would like to help us continue offering webinars like this, as well as other resources for churches and Christian leaders, we appreciate donations of any size. Thank you!

 

RECORDINGS AND RESOURCES

 

Special Guest: Houston Heflin

Dr. Houston Heflin

Houston and his wife, Karen, have been married 24 years and have four children. He teaches courses on spiritual formation and ministry for ACU’s Department of Bible, Missions, and Ministry and Graduate School of Theology. Houston has authored several books and articles on spiritual disciplines, including Pray Like You Breathe: Exploring the Practice of Breath Prayer and Teaching Eutychus: Engaging Today’s Learners With Passion and Creativity. He frequently visits churches for preaching, teaching, consulting, and seminars in the area of spiritual formation.

 

Questions?

Contact Renee Paul with any questions about this webinar.

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Light, Truth, and Fake News

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Two Christian journalists discuss their pursuit of facts in an age of polarization and conspiracy theories. They’ll offer wisdom on how church leaders can promote news literacy and a healthy understanding of what is true and false on social media and in the headlines.

A part of our series Intersection: Where Theology and Practice Meet, this webinar took place on February 23, 2021.

Recordings and Resources

 

Special Guests

CHERYL MANN BACON

After working in university public relations and chairing ACU’s nationally accredited Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, Cheryl is now a writer, editor, and consultant for churches and church-affiliated organizations, and a regular correspondent for The Christian Chronicle. As a Siburt Institute consulting partner, she conducts communication audits, guides churches through crisis management and media relations, and provides writing and editing services.

BOBBY ROSS JR.

Bobby Ross Jr. is editor-in-chief of The Christian Chronicle, an international newspaper for Churches of Christ with 135,000 U.S. print subscribers. Since joining the Chronicle in 2005, Bobby has reported from all 50 states and 15 countries. He also writes a weekly national column for the online magazine Religion Unplugged. He previously served as a religion writer for The Associated Press and The Oklahoman. He is a 1990 journalism graduate of Oklahoma Christian University.

 

Questions?

Contact Renee Paul with any questions.

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Adaptive Leadership for an Innovative Church

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The world is changing at an unprecedented rate. Church leaders are recognizing the need to adapt like never before. Scott Cormode, author of The Innovative Church, joins Randy Harris and Carson Reed for a discussion of how the never-changing gospel informs the challenging and life-giving work of innovation for the sake of God’s mission in the world.

A part of our series Intersection: Where Theology and Practice Meet, this webinar took place on February 9, 2021.

 

Recordings & Resources

 

Special Guest: Scott Cormode

Dr. Scott Cormode

Scott Cormode is an ordained Presbyterian minister and the Hugh De Pree professor of leadership development at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. He is also a senior fellow at the Max De Pree Center for Leadership and the Fuller Youth Institute. Scott founded the Academy of Religious Leadership and the Journal of Religious Leadership. He received an M.Div. from Fuller Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. from Yale University.

 

Questions?

Contact Renee Paul with any questions.

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What Is God Doing in the Brown Church?

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With the rise of Latinx populations in many parts of the United States, one blind spot for churches is the reality of Brown sisters and brothers. What could we learn about the gospel, mission, and justice by listening to how God is acting through the faithful witness of the Brown church?

A part of our series Intersection: Where Theology and Practice Meet, this webinar took place on January 26, 2021.

 

RECORDINGS AND RESOURCES

  • Download Alejandro Ezquerra and Omar Palafox’s Resources (PDF)

  • Watch the video on YouTube

  • Listen to the audio (below)

 

Special Guests

Alejandro Ezquerra

ALEJANDRO EZQUERRA

Alejandro Ezquerra has been the Spanish pulpit minister at Bammel Church of Christ since 2007. He is a journalist who is passionate about the great news. Before Bammel, Alejandro worked as youth minister at Westbury Church of Christ. Alejandro holds degrees in theology and journalism from Houston Baptist University and an M.Div. from ACU.

J. Omar Palafox

J. OMAR PALAFOX

J. Omar Palafox is a Mexican missionary from Guadalajara. Omar graduated with his Master of Divinity from ACU’s Graduate School of Theology and is a doctoral candidate in intercultural studies at Fuller Theological Seminary. His ministry is the expansion of ASHREI, a resource network for spiritual formation, while he ministers at the Colgate Bilingual Church of Christ. He has been married to his wife, Tana, for over 20 years, and together they have two children.

 

Ministering Among Post-Religious People

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As the decline of Christendom continues to shape North America, it is important to reflect on the new ways those outside our churches hear and respond to the story of Jesus. Drawing from his years of planting churches in the five boroughs of New York City, and from his new book, Lost Faith: A Practical Theology for Post-Christendom Ministry, Seth Bouchelle joins us to discuss the spiritual formation of new disciples in a religiously pluralistic context.

A part of our series Intersection: Where Theology and Practice Meet, this webinar took place on January 12, 2021.

 

Recordings and Resources

 

Special Guest: Seth Bouchelle

Seth Bouchelle

Seth Bouchelle studied missions and biblical text at Abilene Christian University and completed graduate studies in Christian spirituality at Fordham University. Since 2014 he has worked as a church planter and evangelist among a diverse group of global populations in the Bronx, New York. Seth is the director of equipping for Exponent Group and host of the Global City Mission podcast.

 

Questions?

Contact Renee Paul with any questions.

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