Our Blog Words of Encouragement & Useful Resources
Pastor Appreciation— In July?
In the typical “church calendar,” October has traditionally been marked as Pastor Appreciation Month. However, given the developments of the last few months, I’m suggesting all our church family members consider taking some time in these next few weeks to pass on some...
COVID-19 Pastor Update 12
Dear MCECR Pastors and Leaders, Let me begin by thanking all of you for seeking out God’s desire for your local church family in this challenging time and then working diligently to implement His plan in your local context. In the past month, I’ve understood that all...
Hope for Change…
“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28) As the COVID-19 pandemic situation plods on, a new crisis has drawn the nation’s attention. The George Floyd tragedy has...
The Antidote to Fear
One of the challenges many are facing as we experience the “COVID-19” world is “fear.” That word comes up repeatedly in news reports, Zoom discussions, and person to person exchanges. Fear is defined as “a feeling of dread or apprehension”; Roget’s Thesaurus lists...
Disguised Opportunities
“And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” —Esther 4:14 Esther is unique among the books of the Bible in that God is never mentioned directly in the entire book. Further, the namesake character endures a difficult arranged...
See The Need… Meet The Need!
“Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is...
Confidence in Chaos
As all of us deal with the life-disrupting challenges brought on by the coronavirus outbreak, I am reminded of Psalm 46. 1-3,7: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains...
The “Outward” Priority
The first parable Jesus shares in Luke 15 presents a formidable challenge to churches. There, Jesus tells of one sheep that has wandered from a fold of one hundred. Compare that with those presently not in church on any given Sunday, which David Olsen suggested in his...
With Jesus On Mission
“The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” —Steven Covey Mark’s Gospel packs a powerful punch in “getting to the point.” For instance, note Jesus’ first recorded words as He begins his ministry in Mark 1.15: “’The time has come,’ he said. ‘The Kingdom...
A Matter of Integrity
“Integrity” can be defined as “the quality of possessing and steadfastly adhering to high moral principles or professional standards.” It is an essential characteristic of anyone who would claim to be a disciple of Jesus. The necessity of integrity also extends to our...
Interested in Joining the Mission?
Interested in learning more about the work God is doing in our region and how you can become part of it? Our prayer is that God would use us to reach the almost 12 million people who call Ohio home with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We would love to help further explore how we can partner together with you to achieve this vision. Join us in ensuring everyone in Ohio has an opportunity to respond to the life-saving Good News of Jesus.