Episode 6: Tyre Nichols, ministers struggling in South Africa, and our two youngest guests ever

A Kansas City church runs toward gun violence, an Australian teen lost her mom and found her own faith, a puppet ministry bringing Bible stories to 50 million, and a bonus segment (Bible bowling with the Tryggestads).

SEGMENT ONE: A Kansas City church runs toward gun violence (Branden and Sharee Mims, Greater Metropolitan Church of Christ, Kansas City, Missouri)

Bobby Ross, Jr.’s, Christian Chronicle story on how the Greater Metropolitan Church of Christ is making peace in the most violent part of Kansas City

Link to Greater Metropolitan Church of Christ, Kansas City, Missouri

SEGMENT TWO: An Australian teen lost her mom and found her own faith (Jada Black, Redlands College, Wellington Point, Queensland, Australia)

This segment edited for brevity, clarity, and "flow." Note: The Christian Chronicle's Audrey Jackson was also along for this interview. You'll hear her ask some questions, too!

Link to Bobby Ross, Jr.’s, Christian Chronicle profile on Jada Black

Link to Bobby Ross, Jr.’s, Christian Chronicle feature on immersive learning experience for ninth graders at Redlands College

Link to Audrey Jackson’s Christian Chronicle report on chaplains at Redlands College

SEGMENT THREE: A puppet ministry bringing Bible stories to 50 million (Darla Robinson, The Puppetunes, Los Angeles, California)

Link to The Puppetunes

'Bethlehemian Rhapsody' is used by permission of The Puppetunes.


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TAGS

Kansas City, Kansas City Chiefs, mass shooting, gun violence, Greater Metropolitan Church of Christ, Greater Impact, Branden Mims, Sharee Mims, Australia, Queensland, Redlands College, Jada Black, Hillsong scandal, cancer, grief, faith, Psalty, Bobby Ross, Jr., Audrey Jackson, Puppetunes, puppets, Bible stories, Bible class, Sunday school, childrens ministry, Darla Robinson, pandemic, Bethlehemian Rhapsody, Bible bowl, Leadership Training for Christ, Lads to Leaders, Erik Tryggestad, BT Irwin

Dr. O.J. Shabazz (Church of Christ in Harlem, New York City), a congregational minister with more than 40 years of experience, talks about the practical wisdom he shares in his book, 'Excellence in Ministry: A Guide to Protocols and Etiquette for Church Leaders'.
 
Dr. O.J. Shabazz (Church of Christ in Harlem, New York City), a congregational minister with more than 40 years of experience, talks about his book, Excellence in Ministry: A Guide to Protocols and Etiquette for Church Leaders. 

Link to The Christian Chronicle’s review of Excellence in Ministry by Dr. O.J. Shabazz

Link to Excellence in Ministry: A Guide to Protocols and Etiquette for Church Leaders

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TAGS

Dr. O.J. Shabazz, ministry, leadership, preaching, evangelism, congregation, excellence, discipleship, training, education, Harlem, New York City, BT Irwin

Dr. Scott Thumma of Hartford Institute for Religion Research reveals how and why minister burnout is on the rise. Dr. Philena Myers (Woodland Place Church of Christ, Ocala, Florida) explains how Black history is Christian history.  Let's Start Talking has a waiting list of people who need volunteers to practice conversational English while teaching them the Bible. Leslee Altrock explains how people can volunteer.

SEGMENT ONE: Minister burnout is on the rise (Dr. Scott Thumma, Hartford Institute for Religion Research)

Link to the Hartford Institute for Religion Research report on rising clergy discontentment

SEGMENT TWO: Black history is Christian history (Dr. Philena Myers, Woodland Place Church of Christ, Ocala, Florida)

Link to Dr. Philena Myers’s submission to The Christian  Chronicle: “I am Black history”

SEGMENT THREE: Let’s Start Talking has a waiting list of people who want to learn English and the Gospel (Leslee Altrock, Let’s Start Talking)

Link to Let’s Start Talking Connect (where you can find out how to volunteer as a conversation partner for people who want to learn conversational English while using the Gospel of Luke as their textbook) 

Link to Bobby Ross, Jr.’s, report on the need for more volunteers at Let’s Start Talking

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TAGS

Minister burnout, clergy burnout, minister discontent, clergy discontent, minister shortage, Sacred Calling, COVID, pandemic, congregation, church, change, minister health, Hartford Institute for Religion Research, Dr. Scott Thumma, Black history, Black History Month, Dr. Philena Myers, Woodland Place Church of Christ, Ocala, Florida, evangelism, missions, Bible, English, Let’s Start Talking, Leslee Altrock, Bobby Ross Jr., BT Irwin 

Christian Chronicle contributor Cheryl Mann Bacon talks more about her recent report on how the cost of insurance is threatening the very existence of some congregations. Ethel Sherrill, a longtime member of the landmark historic Silver Point West End Church of Christ in Silver Point, Tennessee, shares an oral history with The Christian Chronicle’s Ted Parks. Christy Award-winning author Sara Watterson (Edmond Church of Christ, Edmond, Oklahoma) talks about writing Christian and clean fiction for young readers. 

SEGMENT ONE: Congregations are struggling to keep or pay for their insurance (Cheryl Mann Bacon)

Cheryl Mann Bacon’s Christian Chronicle coverage of insurance companies dropping congregations or more than tripling their annual premiums in some states

Cheryl Mann Bacon’s Christian Chronicle column on advice she collected for congregations from insurance industry experts

SEGMENT TWO: An oral history of a landmark congregation in the Church of Christ tradition (Ted Parks with Ethel Sherrill) 

Ted Parks’s Christian Chronicle story on the reunion of the Silver Point West End Church of Christ

Erik Tryggestad’s Christian Chronicle interview with Evelyn Buck, the keeper of the important and rich history of the Silver Point Christian Institute and Silver Point West End Church of Christ

SEGMENT THREE: Award-winning Christian fiction author talks about how to write a great book for teens and young adults (Sara Watterson) 

Link to Sara Watterson’s author page

Link to Sara Watterson’s Christy Award-winning Christian young adult fiction book This Dreamer

Link to Sara’s book recommendations and reviews website for Christian and clean teen and young adult fiction, including fantasy, romance, and science fiction 

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TAGS

Insurance, premiums, natural disasters, acts of God, church buildings, church finance, church administration, church budget, climate change, California, Florida, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas, Cheryl Mann Bacon, Black history, Black History Month, G.P. Bowser, Silver Point Christian Institute, Silver Point West End Church of Christ, Civil Rights Movement, segregation, integration, Silver Point, Tennessee, Ethel Sherrill, Ted Parks, Christian fiction, Christian fantasy, Christian romance

Dr. Greg Smith of the Pew Research Center talks about the latest data on "nones," Americans who claim no religious affiliation. Today, that make up 28 percent of all Americans, up from 16 percent less than 20 years ago. Who are they and why are they rejecting organized religion? Bobby Ross, Jr., visits Cuba to interview minister Tony Fernandez. The Church of Christ is growing by bounds and leaps in that Communist country. Tony explains how this is happening. Finally, Irene and Willie Masters were born five hours apart on January 13, 1934. They devoted their entire adult lives to serving the church and sharing the Gospel. They'll share their best advice for the generations now following them.

SEGMENT ONE: The “nones” are your neighbors now (Dr. Greg Smith, Pew Research Center)

Link to Pew Research Center’s new report on religious “nones” in the United States

Link to Bobby Ross, Jr.’s, Christian Chronicle report on the state of the Church of Christ in Cuba

Link to People magazine features story on Irene and Willie Masters (and their daughter, Charlotte)

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TAGS

Nones, religion in America, church membership, church attendance, religious affiliation, Pew Research Center, Dr. Greg Smith, demographics, Christianity and politics, Cuba, Herald of Truth, Tony Fernandez, Versallas Church of Christ, Matanzas, Tim Archer, Bobby Ross Jr., evangelism, missions, church planting, Communism, house churches, church growth, elder, deacon, Bible class teacher, Sunday school teacher, personal Bible study, Irene Masters, Willie Masters, 37th Street Church of Christ, Snyder, Texas, Burleson Church of Christ, Burleson, Texas, People Magazine, BT Irwin

Dirk Smith of Eastern European Mission describes how EEM will send 800,000 Bibles to Europe, including Ukraine and Russia, in 2024. Dr. Jeremie Beller explains why The Christian Chronicle's editorial board believes that the "Restoration Plea" is still valid. Jason Bivens is not only a deacon with a Church of Christ congregation in Tennessee, he is a bladesmith who won Season Ten of The History Channel's 'Forged in Fire.'


SEGMENT ONE: Eastern European Mission (EEM) is sending 800,000 Bibles to Europe in 2024 (Dirk Smith, vice president, Eastern European Mission)

Link to Eastern European Mission

Link to 55:11 Podcast

SEGMENT TWO: Why the “Restoration Plea” is still valid (Dr. Jeremie Beller, for The Christian Chronicle editorial board)

Link to Dr. Jeremie Beller’s op-ed in The Christian Chronicle

SEGMENT THREE: Church of Christ deacon who won Season Ten of The History Channel’s Forged in Fire reality competition show (Jason Bivens, Church of Christ at Unity, McMinnville, Tennessee)

Link to Audrey Jackson’s Christian Chronicle feature on Jason Bivens

Link to The History Channel’s Forged in Fire

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TAGS

Bible, Eastern European Mission, EEM, 55:11 Podcast, Dirk Smith, Ukraine, Russia, Europe, evangelism, humanitarian aid, war, invasion, Restoration Movement, Restoration Tradition, Restoration Plea, Restoration, Barton Stone, Alexander Campbell, unity, tradition, Disciples of Christ, Christian Church, church splits, disfellowship, opinion, op-ed, Jeremie Beller, editorial, deacon, Jason Bivens, History Channel, Forged in Fire, reality show, reality competition, bladesmith, Church of Christ at Unity, McMinnville, Tennessee, BT Irwin

On this one-year anniversary of The Christian Chronicle Podcast, we ask The Christian Chronicle news team to share what they think were the biggest stories they reported in 2023...and which stories they wish got more attention and started more conversations among Church of Christ folks. They'll also make their best guesses at what stories are most likely to get the most attention in 2024. Featuring Cheryl Mann Bacon, Calvin Cockrell, Audrey Jackson, Bobby Ross, Jr., and Erik Tryggestad.
 
Christian Chronicle stories from 2023 that the news team talks about in this episode:

After over a century, Lipscomb’s Austin Center to close (Cheryl Mann Bacon)

Bicultural teens enjoy unity at camp (Cheryl Mann Bacon)

Christian family inspired new movie ‘On a Wing and Prayer’ (Calvin Cockrell)

A diverse church full of conversion stories (Bobby Ross, Jr.)

Dwindling Church of Christ seeks new future at community church campus (Cheryl Mann Bacon)

For Cuba, a time of stress–and salvation (Bobby Ross, Jr.)

For newly arrived refugees, an unexpected Christmas blessing (Bobby Ross, Jr.)

“God is crying with us” (Audrey Jackson)

Harding School of Theology set to leave Memphis (Cheryl Mann Bacon)

How a grassroots ministry to Afghan refugees snowballed into something big (Bobby Ross, Jr.)

How a Russian immigrant came to serve Ukrainian refugees (Bobby Ross, Jr.)

“If they go into full-time ministry, they’ll go back into poverty” (Audrey Jackson)

In Mexican resort city, Christians care for homeless “angels” (Bobby Ross, Jr.)

It’s the same Jesus (Bobby Ross, Jr.)

A “love your enemies” test (Erik Tryggestad)

Making Jesus more accessible (Audrey Jackson)

Oklahoma Christian University closing its graduate school of theology (Cheryl Mann Bacon)

Racial healing bus tour touts peace, unity (Calvin Cockrell)

Resist the impulse (Evertt Huffard)

Author and theologian Curtis Chang talks about his book, 'The Anxiety Opportunity: How Worry is the Doorway to Your Best Self' and 'The After Party,' the new small group curriculum he created with David French and Russell Moore to help Christians practice "better politics" in 2024. 

Link to The Anxiety Opportunity: How Worry is the Doorway to Your Best Self (Curtis Chang)

Link to The After Party: Toward Better Christian Politics (Curtis Chang, David French, Russell Moore)

Link to Redeeming Babel

Link to Curtis Chang’s biography

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TAGS

Curtis Chang, Redeeming Babel, Anxiety Opportunity book, After Party, politics, anxiety attack, anxiety, anxiety disorder, panic, panic attack, panic disorder, worry, Donald Trump, January 6, Joe Biden, Republicans, Democrats, partisan politics, political violence, conspiracy theories, David French, Russell Moore, curriculum, church, congregation, small group, Christian politics, Christian nationalism, BT Irwin

John Johnson put on the red suit for the first time 40 years ago and he's been Santa Claus ever since. But it's not just a side job or role that John plays for a few months each year; it is his calling and his ministry. In this episode, the member of the Myrtle Beach (South Carolina) Church of Christ shares his secrets and some of his stories from 40 years of loving children, the elderly, the lonely, the poor, and the sick. This episode will make you cry and laugh. And after you hear it, we promise: You'll know for sure that Santa Claus is real. Merry Christmas.
Link to John Johnson’s book, Simply St. Nick

Link to Audrey Jackson’s Christian Chronicle story about John Johnson

Link to the International Santa Claus Hall of Fame

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TAGS

Santa Claus, John Johnson, Simply St. Nick, St. Nicholas, St. Nicholas of Myra, Westbow Press, Christmas, Myrtle Beach Church of Christ, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, giving, children, hospice, Audrey Jackson, BT Irwin