Help Sustain Powerful Christian Institution

Are you very rich and have access to about $10 million to help a well established Christian College?  The Washington Bible College, Capital Bible Seminary is having MAJOR financial problems and feel the need to SELL the campus.  If you are very well off and have the means to not only save the campus, but help them thrive in a society that really needs this institution, please give.

You can go here to contact the college:  http://bible.infusioncorp.com/2012_WBC_CBS/Donate/GiveAGift

Please give - we need as WBC/CBS to continue to train and educate people who are willing to take a principled stand for what is right.  The senseless killing (e.g. Aurora Colorado Batman movie killing) and evil in our world scream out that we need more institutions like  WBC/CBS , not less.

Thanks,
   Fuller

The "Why" of Church

If you know me, then you know that I am actively involved in a faith community; a local church.  Currently, we are looking for a full-time minister who will do the majority of the preaching as well as join us on our leadership team.  One of the questions that came to me during this search process is this:  Why do people get involved and stay involved in a local church?

This is NOT a new question by any means and there are multiple corollary's and related questions such as "why do people leave churches?", "why do people church hop", or "why do some people only attend church on Christmas or Easter?"

In reading a book entitled, "Breakout Churches", Thom Rainer took on the unenviable task of researching why some churches grow and other die base on people coming and getting involved or leaving for various reasons.  One of the key factors he found was simply the preacher.  The man behind the pulpit has a great deal of influence and has a great impact on the "Why" of church.  Rainer didn't like uncovering this fact because full-time preachers already have a great deal of pressure on them.

Anyway, I was thinking about this because the church I am with is (was?) primarily a white church but the preacher we will be hiring is black.  (The decision has actually been made and it was a significant majority - although I don't have the numbers - based on the ballots, to hire this guy!)  I wonder how many new "Why's" of our church will be impacted by the new preacher.  I look forward to getting to know him and working with him in ministry.  I'm confident that the "Why" of Church will continue to include many factors.  I have faith and I am praying that with the church I am with, race will not be a significant factor at all and we will continue to be a diverse congregation of people learning to love each other and celebrate the creativity of God in making all sorts of people!