It is fitting to end our Focus on the Faithful series with John, the beloved disciple and author of the last book of the Bible. In the stories of the Gospels and Acts, we usually find John in Peter’s shadow. But as a writer, only Paul was more prolific. And as for distinctiveness (his Gospel, […]
On the outside, I am probably what many would deem an average millennial youth — aiming to get established into my career and learning to navigate the nuances of adulthood. However, those in my inner circle would attest that I have made some different choices from most youths around me. For one, I am 27 […]
Some experiences change you forever. When I was fourteen, my first boyfriend raped me. I was forever changed, and I didn’t tell anyone — especially not my mom because she had forbidden me to see him. I had disobeyed her when I went to his house with no one else home. In the short term, […]
When I heard that the Bible Advocate was spending a year on the Ministry of Reconciliation, I was thrilled. Some of my first Christian thoughts were those of reconciliation. Today, after seven years as a pastor, I still think we need to hear this message and spread it with the greatest resolve. I base my […]
Five-time cancer survivor, radio personality, and popular podcast host Erin Weidemann was discussing birthday gifts for her then five-year-old niece when she realized her niece knew every Disney princess, but not a single woman from the Bible. This epiphany became the catalyst for what has become the bestselling series for young girls, The Adventures of […]
Are you concerned about harmony within the church? Many of us are. How then can we be reconciled with our brothers and sisters in our congregations? What is the ministry of reconciliation that 2 Corinthians 5:18b talks about: “Christ . . . gave us the ministry of reconciliation”? After reading this text, I asked myself, Am […]
As the world moved into quarantine to curb the spread of COVID-19 earlier this year, more families planted gardens than ever before. Parents, many looking for worthwhile activities for their little ones home from school, found a unique educational experience as they planted seeds in soil and watched what happened. In her recent debut children’s book, Gracie’s […]
Have you ever noticed that in his famous list of love’s qualities in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, the apostle Paul begins and ends the list with the same trait: patience? Although he uses two different words, showing different aspects of this important quality, they both mean patience. It is often said that the Greeks had a […]
