Christian Church Search

There are always a variety of ways people use their skills or open doors to share their faith. Here is one that made it into the news.

[Tennessean.com: Picture and content] He can’t turn water into wine or walk on water, but put a pool stick in his hand and Eric “The Preacher” Yow can work wonders.

Yow can make a cue ball leap over obstacles and jump through a miniature basketball hoop, or zigzag around a billiard table as if under remote control.

He says it’s all part of using his talents for God.

“If God has blessed you with five talents, he wants you to use all of them,” said Yow.

Yow, 25, a pulpit minister at Chapel Hill Church of Christ in White Bluff, is ranked No. 10 in the world of artistic pool players.

The Dickson County preacher also practices law in Clarksville.

Even though he has only been playing for eight years, Yow has already been named a world champion in jump shots and masse, a trick shot specialty.

Yow took his “Trick Shot Madness” exhibition to the Hendersonville Church of Christ on Wednesday night.

During a 15-minute mini-sermon he told students: “You were not created on an assembly line … we were formed in the image of God for a purpose.”

Then he stripped off his suit coat to reveal the cranberry colored vest of a pool shark and got to work.

While performing trick shots behind his back and standing on one foot, he mixed in Bible verses and stories about how God was working in his life.

Yow says that pool can be “a mechanism for bringing people to Jesus.”

“When I go to a pool hall and do a trick shot — all of a sudden, I’ve got their attention,” Yow told the students on Wednesday night. “And you know what I do then? I preach Jesus to them. That’s really cool.”

Interesting piece of information. It comes from the LDS website so one may want to cross reference it if possible. Christian Churches/ Churches of Christ are in the top 25 in this list.

The two fastest-growing churches in the United States and Canada are Jehovah’s Witnesses and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, according to the National Council of Churches’ 2008 Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches.

Although Jehovah’s Witnesses currently rank 25th in size with over 1.06 million members, they reported a 2.25 percent increase in membership in a year. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints grew 1.56 percent and is listed as the fourth largest “church.”

The following are the largest 25 churches in the US and Canada (ranked by membership):

1. The Catholic Church – 67,515,016
2. Southern Baptist Convention – 16,306,246
3. The United Methodist Church – 7,995,456
4. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – 5,779,316
5. The Church of God in Christ – 5,499,875
6. National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc. – 5,000,000
7. Evangelical Lutheran Church in America – 4,774,203
8. National Baptist Convention of America, Inc. – 3,500,000
9. Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) – 3,025,740
10. Assemblies of God – 2,836,174
11. African Methodist Episcopal Church – 2,500,000
12. National Missionary Baptist Convention of America – 2,500,000
13. Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc. – 2,500,000
14. The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS) – 2,417,997
15. Episcopal Church – 2,154,572
16. Churches of Christ – 1,639,495
17. Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America – 1,500,000
18. Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc. – 1,500,000
19. The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church – 1,443,405
20. American Baptist Churches in the U.S.A. – 1,371,278
21. United Church of Christ – 1,218,541
22. Baptist Bible Fellowship International – 1,200,000
23. Christian Churches and Churches of Christ – 1,071,616
24. The Orthodox Church in America – 1,064,000
25. Jehovah’s Witnesses – 1,069,530

Ever wonder how your “ad” for a ministry position might be viewed by potential ministers? One interesting post from what appears to be a former minister in the church of christ. Interesting and would like to know what you think. Perhaps it will spur some thought the next time you post an opening in your ministry.

Considering this bizarre ad for a minister, I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. I have copied it in its entirety. The only changes that I have made are to remove identifying information, put the ad in blocks, and clean up the text to make it easier to read.  I have also inserted my own comments (not indented) between the copious requirements made by the church in question.

The _____ Church of Christ, a new congregation, seeks a dynamic full-time minister to come and minister to us. The church started in the ______ area almost two years ago and now has 150 members. We are now at a point where we need a full-time minister to come and join the team. This will be our first full time staff position. We still do not own a building, so please send your resume via email. If you are interested in a rewarding and successful ministry, then please apply. Here are the qualifications we are looking for:

Okay, nothing too weird so far, except for the bit about being interested in a rewarding and successful ministry. Apparently, they want to avoid those preachers who are only interested in failing ministries.

Professional: Leadership - Training and/or Understanding of the dynamics of leadership and management. Past experience and success in organizational management is a plus. Self-Starter - The candidate should be a self-starter, not requiring supervision.  Visionary - The candidate should be a visionary, having a clear vision for the church and the ability to realize that vision. Musical Ability - Though not required, the ability to train or lead in the praise and worship team and the music ministry is a huge plus. Technological - Familiarity with technology is greatly desired. Computer and PowerPoint experience is a must. Presentation - It is desired that the candidate have a strong and polished public presentation with a good public speaking voice. Supervision - The candidate should be willing to work under the direction and supervision of the leadership committee that is temporarily in place until the appointment of elders. Track Record - The candidate must have a track record of church growth and experience in a medium and large church environments.  

First, I love that they give the option of having “Training and/or Understanding of the dynamics of leadership and management.”  What would they do with the applicant who says “I have been trained in the dynamics of leadership and management, but I don’t really understand them”?

Next, they say that the candidate should not require supervision. However, 7 sentences later they say that “the candidate should be willing to work under the direction and supervision of the leadership committee that is temporarily in place until the appointment of elders.”  This reminds me of that great scene in Raising Arizona where John Goodman and William Forsythe rob the bank and shout, “Freeze! Everybody down on the ground!” and the old man says, “Well, which is it, young feller? You want I should freeze or get down on the ground? Meanin’ to say, if’n I freeze I can’t rightly drop, and if’n I drop, well, I’m-a gonna be in motion…”

And don’t forget the last part about the track record. That will be important below.

Picture: Herald Review

Interesting article on an old idea with a new twist. It comes from a minister in the Church of Christ. I am sure there can be some very interesting variations on this idea in your community. Read on.

DECATUR - One young minister is trying to change how people read and understand the Bible. And he’s willing to make house calls.

While most ministers visit the sick and aged or pray with those in need, the Rev. Joe Puckett sees a new calling to bring personal Bible study to your home.

Many people don’t make it to church, and some churches have people who are confused and frustrated, said Puckett, 34, pastor of Morningside Chapel Church of Christ. Other people have questions about the Bible but don’t know whom to ask.

“I believe in getting Christianity back to being the center of the home,” he said.

Long ago, he said, “Christianity was a personal and interpersonal religion. Now, I am looking to put the G and O back in the Gospel by going into the homes.”

He does not go door-to-door, however. The idea is for people to call the church if they would like Puckett and another church member to visit them to go over the Bible or answer any questions. Those targeted are homebound, old or disabled people who are unable to get to a church.

Puckett sees his mission as that of Jesus, who went out into the world. But in this case, he would be going to homes to share God’s message.

He also believes that people have become disheartened by institutionalized religion. He said people shouldn’t feel that the church is interested just in their money but in what’s going on in their lives.