Ministry Time

When the Universe Cracks is a sweeping, multifaceted look at the role of crisis in the life of faith from an esteemed gathering of pastors, faith leaders, and experts. You’ll find honest and realistic reflections to help you navigate a present trouble or anticipate changes. Inspired by a global pandemic, these writers examine the whole history of God’s people and offer a fresh perspective for every time the universe cracks.

Do you want your children to be actively serving in the local church when they turn 30 and beyond? Why They Stay can help! Much has been written about younger adults and their departure from church involvement. Concerned parents and church leaders want to know what has caused them to depart. Instead of asking why young adults are leaving the church, Parr and Crites conducted a national research project of those who grew up in church and are still serving faithfully.

Following the example of John the Baptist and with a careful look at the teaching of Scripture, Tim Suttle dares church leaders to risk failure by chasing the vision God has given them - no matter how small it might seem - instead of pursuing the broad path of pragmatism that leads to fame and numerical success.

Most Christians resist the idea that we are to pursue happiness. We are more comfortable with the idea of finding joy or being blessed. But seeking happiness seems too superficial or too flighty for people of faith. In Happy Church, Tim McConnell offers a radical call for Christians to reclaim happiness.

During his time at Oxford, a friend asked Paget Wilkes one day, “I say, Paget, do you tackle everyone who comes into your rooms about his soul?" “Yes," answered Paget, “if he comes in alone." Wilkes was convinced that even the humblest Christian is responsible for bringing men to Christ. “If we have been forgiven and know it, if we have been made new creatures in Christ Jesus, then we...are commissioned to minister this same salvation unto men and to witness of all these things which Jesus our Savior has revealed to us. Hallelujah!"

Disobedience. It’s normal, right? For hundreds of years, the Church has struggled with how to overcome sin in the Christian life. We know that the cross takes care of our past sins at salvation and assures us life after death. But what do we do with the time in between? In Dead and Alive, Jim Wilson discusses the neglected requirement of obedience and explains God’s provision for it from Scripture. May the thoughts in it lead you into a victorious, obedient life in Christ.

It is said that the true test of a society is how it treats its most vulnerable members. As many as one in four girls and one in six boys experience sexual abuse during childhood, and it's estimated that as many as half of the incidents are never reported. This means that countless millions in our societies, both children and adults, carry this complex, often hidden pain. What does the path to healing look like for survivors? And how can ministry leaders, pastors, and counselors best help them as they walk this difficult road? Drawing on both his own experience and his wife's experience as survivors of childhood sexual abuse, minister and lecturer Tim Hein offers his expertise.

You may think you're not ready to make a difference in God's kingdom or that you're too young for others to take seriously. But that's not what God thinks. At some point, you have to understand your own purpose and significance in the kingdom of God. How does God want to use you? This book uses the Old Testament leader Joshua as a model for stepping up to God's big calling

If you’ve ever been discouraged by Christianity - whether you’ve been a lifelong churchgoer or someone who left religion a long time ago - this book will change your life. God only spoke twice while Jesus was on earth. (We should probably sit up and pay attention.) Both times he said: Jesus is “marked by my love.” No tattoo. No handshake. No team colors or logos or code words. The only thing that marked Jesus Christ and the only thing that would mark his followers - love.

I am not famous. I will never be rich. I will most likely never stand and speak before thousands of people. But, I have a story to tell. You could say this is an adventure. Once you begin listening to this you will see how God took an ordinary man from a little hollow in Johnson City, TN through many different trials; ranging from thoughts of suicide, drinking, and going from one bad marriage to another. During all this, the Lord was directing me (most of the time without me realizing it).

In the wilderness, Satan tempted Jesus in the most unlikely ways - through independence, religion, and success. The enemy's goal for us is the same, convincing us to enjoy the gifts of this world while making the Giver optional in our quest for life. But by learning to live in the Spirit, lies are exposed, and moments of temptation are turned into powerful displays of conviction and character, bringing us closer to Jesus and who we are to become.

Hearing God's call to serve as a missionary in the French-speaking world, Joe Portale responded with excitement, boldness, and humility. His lifelong dreams were being fulfilled, and the land God had promised was within reach. But the journey was not easy. From spiritual forces in France to the perilous Sahara desert to war and poverty in Southeast Asia, Joe and his ministry team persevered through many challenges. Their successes and failures provide a roadmap for all who would respond to God's call, an instructive account of pursuing one's life vocation and ministry.

This follows the wonderful success of the Weathering the Coming Storm series where Ron Matsen and Dr. Chuck Missler dealt with global, national, and personal issues impacting all of our lives today. Leadership for the End Times serves as the next step in equipping ourselves with the tools and insights we need to be a guiding light to a world coping in the last days' darkness of chaos and deceit.

Hope and encouragement for the family from Psalm Twenty-Three.

Ida B. Wells was a powerful churchwoman and witness for justice and equity from 1878 to 1931. Born enslaved, her witness flowed through the struggles for justice in her lifetime, especially in the intersections of African Americans, women, and those who were poor. Her life is a profound witness for faith-based work of visionary power, resistance, and resilience for today’s world, when the forces of injustice stand in opposition to progress.

In Searching for Spring, Christine Hoover takes listeners on a treasure hunt for beauty in both familiar and unexpected places. Framed by the changing seasons, this journey will heighten listeners' senses and awaken their affections for the creator of it all. For all who are in the midst of suffering, who find their faith withering, who are questioning whether God is at work - or even present - as they wait for something in their lives to become beautiful, this book will be a welcome reminder that God never stops his work and that there is a time for everything under heaven.

There is a big difference between being set free and living free. How do I know what to do with my life? How do I hear God's voice? Maybe the answer is easier than we think. When God led the Israelites from Egypt to the Promised Land, He gave them a cloud to follow. He led them in an intimately personal, ever-present way one next step at a time. He led them without revealing the whole picture because he wanted them to follow by faith.

On a summer day in 2001, accomplished OB/GYN physician David Wolf indulged in his passionate hobby, adult go-kart racing. During a race David swerved his go-kart and slammed into a concrete retaining wall. Within minutes an ambulance rushed him to the nearest hospital. So began David's adventure with God to overcome adversity. His inspiring story reveals how faith, prayer, friendship, and God's sovereign care provides assurance and hope for a life that makes a difference.

In Unshaken, Jeanne shares powerful, relevant, and inspirational teaching that answers the critical question we are all facing: How do I stand strong in these uncertain, turbulent times and not be controlled by fear, stress, apathy, or frustration?

It is countercultural. It is often costly. It is the way of Christ. In this biblical yet highly practical audiobook, Tim Tucker shows how Christ-centered servant leadership has helped the message become one of the fastest growing mission movements of the 21st century.