By Dr. Nancy GoingDirector of Research & Resource Development It was a beautiful November day as we gathered in Floresville, TX, just south of San Antonio. Bit-by-bit they arrived—team members of the Thriving Congregations Project from three Methodist churches who drove about an hour to spend the day together planning for innovation at their churches. These …
Thriving Congregations: Experimenting Our Way Forward Read More »
By Fred Oduyoye and Rick Lawrence We’re well aware of the divisiveness that has already claimed many relationships and caused heartbreak in families and congregations. So much hurt has piled up that it’s hard to envision how to overcome the walls that have built up between people. But there is a “secret weapon” Jesus has given us to …
Reachable Reconciliation: The Leverage of Kindness Read More »
By Dr. Nancy GoingDirector of Research & Resource Development Research has told us for more 25 years that the faith lives of parents matter (and actually matter most) for the formation of faith in their children. That message and the impact of ongoing research for discipling and education ministries in the church was first identified by …
What We’re Learning: Why Parents Matter More Than Ever Read More »
By Fred Oduyoye and Rick Lawrence It makes sense that there is no bad time to bring reconciliation where there is wounding or division, right? Well, not so fast… Reachable Reconciliation Founder Fred Oduyoye says holiday gatherings of friends and relatives are actually the wrong time to try and bring repair our relationships. Watch our conversation below to learn why, …
Now Is Not the Time to Repair Your Relationships Read More »
By Fred Oduyoye and Rick Lawrence A popular Christian blogger just posted a curated list of 10 out-of-the-ordinary New Year’s resolutions—one of them is: “Make a plan to seek racial justice and healing.” Of course, that sounds like something we’d all like to “resolve”—but how do you go about “making a plan” for something so broad and deep? …
By Rev. Dr. Nancy GoingDirector of Research & Resource Development She teaches her daughters how to pray for people when they need support: “About four or five times my middle girl has had to come to ask me how to pray.” And daily she blesses her daughters. “Every day I always do the sign of the …
Why Christian Parents Matter MORE Than Ever. Part 2 Read More »
By Dr. Nancy Going,the Rev. Dr. Tanya Campen, andRick Lawrence A conversation between two researchers, Dr. Nancy Going and the Rev. Dr. Tanya Campen, on the surprising foundations of “meaning-making” and how young people experience God among children and adolescents. This is the kickoff for a month-long series of posts on the important takeaways from this research, …
By Fred Oduyoye and Rick Lawrence This week we’ve had two epic examples of unconscious bias (“social stereotypes about certain groups of people that individuals form outside their own conscious awareness”)… Whoopi Goldberg, co-host of The View, and Joe Rogan, controversial host of the podcast The Joe Rogan Experience, both made highly public comments that “outed” their unconscious bias. In …
By Rev. Dr. Nancy GoingDirector of Research & Resource Development “Yes, yeah. I want to. I believe I hold responsibility and I have to hold responsibility for the knowledge of God that my children have. If the church is replacing that because I’m lax in my job, so be it. Can they do it? Yes, they …
Why Parents Matter More Than Ever: One More Thing… Read More »
By Fred Oduyoye and Rick LawrenceIn the week of MLK Day, and on the precipice of Black History Month, Reachable Reconciliation Founder Fred Oduyoye offers up a challenge to everyone who marked the holiday with a post, a photo, a banner, or a Tweet… Post your comments, insights, and responses about our new video “The Downside of MLK …
