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The church has always been regarded as a safe haven - a spiritual sanctuary where people can come to worship God free from worries about violence or unethical behavior by those involved in church ministry. But our culture is changing, and church leaders can no longer assume that "it won't happen in my church." Like the rest of society, churches need to ensure the safety and security of their facility, staff, and worshipers.This book provides a wealth of practical information on preparing for and responding to the challenges of a dangerous world. Robert Cirtin draws on more than two decades of law enforcement and investigative experience, and with his team of professionals outlines a "how-to" approach full of specific proactive steps churches can take to protect themselves and reduce the risk of costly lawsuits. Church Safety And Security is a must-have resource for anyone participating in or preparing for church leadership.Topics covered include: * Utilizing background screening to protect your congregation. * Safety and security issues for church-run preschool and day care programs. * Preparing for and responding to medical emergencies. * How to deal with issues pertaining to child abuse. * Legally mandated responsibilities of church staff members. * How to utilize security/surveillance cameras in the church facility. * Organizing a church security officer program. * Effectively coping with intruders. * Responding to violent acts when they occur. * How to conduct a thorough investigation.If you are a pastor, associate pastor, preschool director, church school principal, deacon, elder, vestryperson, or denominational leader - read this book, then read it again! Make it required reading for every leader in your church. Protect your congregation, your property, and your reputation in the community by doing all you can do to hire the right employees, to prevent physical and sexual misconduct for which your church may be liable, and to reduce the legal and financial impacts of such misconduct. This book will teach you what to look for, and how to take action today to protect the people God has given you to shepherd.Tim DuncanAssociate Pastor, Anglican Church of the ResurrectionSt. Louis, MissouriChurch Safety and Security: A Practical Guide is a valuable resource. Bob Cirtin has the unusual but important background mixture of service in full-time church ministry as well as being a certified officer of the law and an expert investigator. He has personal experience with every source of danger for the local church and has developed effective safeguards and defenses. His strategies are clear, simple, easy to implement, and will protect any congregation in the event of an unfortunate occurrence. This book is a must for every church office and library!Terry RaburnSuperintendent, Peninsular Florida District CouncilAssemblies of GodThis is a book written for our changing times, when the security of our churches must become a priority. Written by professionals who have a strong Christian influence in their lives, this book is a great tool for the security program of your church.Jack L. MerrittSheriff, Greene County, MissouriRetired Capt., Missouri State Highway PatrolRobert M. Cirtin is an assistant professor and director of the criminal justice program at Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri. He is also the president of Robert Cirtin Investigations, a company providing investigative and consulting services to churches, businesses, and government agencies. A former police officer and Missouri state investigator who has also served in full-time ministry, Cirtin is a frequent guest lecturer on a variety of safety and security topics. He is a graduate of Central Bible College and Lincoln University.

God intends for marriage to be one of the most satisfying relationships you will ever experience. Like our relationship with Christ, your relationship with your spouse should be a source of joy, peace, life, and love. But many marriages miss God's plan. The facts are that only about half the couples who go to the altar remain married -- and many of those who do not divorce find themselves in frustrating relationships full of pain and conflict. Maximizing Your Marriage is an interactive mentoring course for couples based on solid biblical principles about God's design for marriage. Ten weekly sessions provide plenty of tools that get couples headed in the right direction to experience and enjoy all God wants for them. And the course concludes with an overnight retreat which offers couples the opportunity to renew their vows. Maximizing Your Marriage is an adventure that will bring refreshment and encouragement to any marriage. It's a great investment for a healthy relationship that reflects Jesus Christ. Sessions include: * Mutual Submission To Christ * The Wonder Of God's Oneness * A Promise To Be Kept * Expectations vs. Godly Assignments * Stop -- Talk -- and Listen, Listen, Listen * In Pursuit Of Understanding * Finding A Firm Financial Foundation * The Reward Of Raising Children * Intimacy In Every Way * Fueling The Flames Of Your Marriage * The Getaway Daryl G. Donovan is currently the senior pastor of Sanibel Community Church in Sanibel, Florida. He has served in pastoral ministry for nearly three decades and been extensively involved in premarital and marriage counseling. Donovan received his D.Min. degree from San Francisco Theological Seminary. Other books by Donovan include Able To Stand, Men Mentoring Men, Men Mentoring Men Again, The Inheritance, and Mentoring For Marriage.

Forty Days And Forty Nights by Michelle Waters is bible devotion book with Christian devotionals. Here are some of the topics covered in this bible devotion book:- Daily devotions- Christian daily devotions- Christian devotions- Bible devotions- Daily devotions- Christian devotionals- Devotions for women- Spiritual devotions for womenThe first weeks of your baby's life can be overwhelming. You're exhausted. The house is a mess. You haven't been outside in days ? You wonder how in your wildest imagination you ever thought you were prepared for this thing called motherhood. Will your life ever be ""normal"" again?Well, just remember that God is even more concerned with your every need than you are with your baby's. Imagine that! He longs to take you in His arms and give you peace and comfort.A perfect gift for any new mother, Forty Days And Forty Nights is a book of 40 simple, affirming Christian devotions especially created to provide support and spiritual solace in those dizzying first weeks. As a young mother herself, Michelle Waters knows the emotional roller-coaster you're on - and her brief meditations, each accompanied by a verse or two of scripture and a prayer, will touch your heart and bring a smile to your face.So take a few quiet moments alone with God today and rest in the shelter of His wings. You'll be refreshed by His word and restored by His Spirit!This is a powerful little book for women. Michelle Waters has done a beautiful job of capturing the spirit of being a new mom. It will be helpful to women who are both celebrating and struggling with all the issues and aspects of new parenthood.Julie K. AagesonCoordinator, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Resource CentersWith wisdom and insight, Forty Days And Forty Nights will surely nourish and encourage the new mother as she pauses to draw upon God's strength.Marilynn M. MoeAuthor of The Godly Woman and mother of sixMichelle Waters is a graduate of Dartmouth College and Yale Divinity School. She lives in Fargo, North Dakota, with her husband and two young daughters. She is also the author of Through the Clouds, a Christian devotional book for new moms.Forty Days and Forty Nights is a bible devotion book with Christian devotionals covering topics such as daily devotions, Christian daily devotions, Christian devotionals, bible devotions, devotions for women, and spiritual devotions for women.

Does the idea of speaking without a manuscript in the pulpit make you feel like a trapeze artist trying to negotiate a high wire without a net? There you are, ly.balancing delicately in the stratosphere and holding on for dear life with nothing but you and your ballet shoes, wondering "Why, oh why, didn't I bring even a sliver of paper up here to catch me when I fall?" For many pastors, preaching without notes is a terrifying prospect -- yet reading verbatim from a manuscript prevents a sermon from being natural and spontaneous. This book shows how you can learn to preach freely without needing the net of written reminders, while still retaining full control over your material. It presents a concise and workable method for creating memorable sermons that connect with listeners. By focusing on delivery, Shepherd casts the entire sermon preparation process, including both study and composition, in a completely new light. Using this approach will make it easy to preach sermons without notes, because they were meant to be preached in the paperless pulpit. Featuring a user-friendly design, Without A Net is a convenient, instructive text for both beginning and experienced preachers. In addition to a complete system for constructing and delivering a sermon from start to finish, there's a brief outline of the entire process that allows you to quickly locate more details on specific topics. A concise "nutshell" summarizes each chapter's highlights, and there are plenty of pithy "hints and tips" to help you with the essential steps. Several sample sermons are also included so you can see how this approach actually works. Preaching without a net may seem like magic to congregations. But there's no real secret; the answer is right here in this book. With a little practice, one day they'll be asking you too, "How do you do that?" William H. Shepherd is an author, teacher, biblical scholar, and Episcopal priest who currently serves as an Interim Ministry Specialist in the Diocese of Connecticut. In addition to 19 years of experience in parish ministry, he has taught preaching and biblical studies at Candler School of Theology, Virginia Theological Seminary, George Mercer Memorial School of Theology, and Immaculate Conception Seminary. Shepherd's writing has appeared in Christian Century, Anglican Theological Review, Emphasis: A Preaching Journal for the Parish Pastor, and several other publications. He is a graduate of the University of Georgia, Yale Divinity School, and received his Ph.D. in New Testament studies from Emory University.

Acolytes can be much more than just cute little kids who light and extinguish the candles on Sunday morning -- they have a very important role as congregational worship leaders. But acolytes can only fulfill that responsibility if they understand what worship is, why it is important, and how we do it. Come, Follow Me is an excellent teaching tool that helps prepare young people to become effective acolytes. It provides a thorough overview of worship -- its specifics, its history, and its significance. Students will grow in knowledge and faith as they learn about the meaning of worship, the sanctuary, ritual and liturgy, Christian symbols, and the sacraments. The teacher's guide of this completely revised and updated edition includes extensive aids, such as practical suggestions on how to organize an acolyte program, a brief service of consecration, and several quizzes and tests that can be used "as is" or adapted to individual needs. And the material for students is presented in clear, easy-to-understand language appropriate for junior high age youth. Each chapter also includes a brief "How Much Do You Remember?" summary that facilitates review. Ed Womack has written a highly informative and interesting manual to help young people understand the liturgical traditions of the church as they seek to serve in worship as acolytes. The manual will aid both novice and seasoned acolytes in understanding their responsibilities and sharpening their skills. I highly recommend it. Tim Weitkamp Pastor, First United Methodist Church Huntingdon, Pennsylvania At first glance, this book may look like just a training manual for acolytes. In actuality, it is a life-changing opportunity for young people. It not only teaches them a comprehensive understanding of worship, it will also deepen their spirituality and appreciation of all that we are when we "gather as God's people." Mary M. Bullis Central West District Superintendent Desert Southwest Conference, United Methodist Church We use acolytes each week; but not until I used Come, Follow Me did I have acolytes that wanted to be carriers of Christ's light in worship. The enthusiasm during the teaching sessions was high, and after our learning sessions the momentum to serve was impressive. I have certainly appreciated this thoughtful, well-organized resource. Constance Sidebottom Pastor, First United Methodist Church Missoula, Montana Edwin B. Womack served as pastor of United Methodist congregations in Arizona, California, and Hawaii for over 40 years. Now retired, he resides in Cottonwood, Arizona.

Drawing on the rich imagery of rocks and stones in scripture, these powerful messages center around the compelling metaphor of stones (and our willingness to throw them) as representative of our sins. As worshipers enter the sanctuary they are invited to pick up stones as a concrete symbol of each sermon's theme; then as the message concludes the stones are placed at the foot of the cross. When the stones disappear on Easter (just like the stone sealing Jesus' tomb), it's a vivid illustration of how the Lord also removes our stones of sin. Each chapter includes several thought-provoking discussion questions to spur further reflection. With messages for Ash Wednesday, five weeks of Lent, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday, this is an excellent resource for Lenten midweek programming. Molin takes us on a journey of prayerful and honest repentance -- a powerful and life-changing journey of celebration, of grace, of awe at the miracle of the empty tomb and the promise of life.... Pastor Molin is one of the best sermon story-tellers I've heard. But each sermon and every story also teaches a biblical text. These sermons are grounded in the living Word of God... (from the Foreword) Glenndy L. Sculley, Bishop's Associate Minneapolis Area Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Steven Molin is the senior pastor of Our Savior's Lutheran Church (ELCA) in Stillwater, Minnesota. He has also served parishes in Oregon and South Dakota, and been an area director for the youth ministry organization Young Life. Molin is a graduate of Concordia University (St. Paul, Minnesota) and Luther Theological Seminary.

Sustained to Serve by Wava Burt is a book about worship services and communication prayers. Here are some of the topics covered in this book: -worship services -communion prayer -the prayers -prayer -prayers -the prayer -prayer requests "The inspiring prayers in Sustained To Serve open a window into the presence of the living Christ in our ordinary daily activities. Originally created for use during the communion and offering parts of worship services, these heartfelt petitions share deep feelings of awe and wonder at Christ's sacrificial love and offer thanksgiving for God's infinite gifts. With material for a variety of seasons and circumstances, this book is much more than just a collection of worship aids -- it's also perfect for devotional reading or just to help bring you closer to the Almighty amidst the bustle of everyday life. Wava Burt offers honest, moving prayers for all sincere Christians who are open to discover that everyday language and a desire to hear and speak with God is all one needs to pray. I highly recommend this lovely book to all who seek to experience God's grace and love as they gather around their family tables and at the Lord's Table. She helps us see the extraordinary in the ordinary and invites us to journey with the living Christ into ever-deepening faithful discipleship. Linda J. Vogel Professor of Christian Education Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary Wava Burt's Sustained To Serve speaks eloquently to the meaning of communion and offering in worship. With simple, direct language she evokes images that move your heart closer to God. Anyone searching for guidance in how to pray at the table and for the offering would do well to read these authentic prayers. Chuck Fisher, Area Minister Southwest?Hi-Plains Area, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) This is a beautiful collection of prayers and meditations centered around the Lord's Table. The prayers reflect the thinking of a dedicated servant of Christ who has a full and daily communion with God -- and share that direct intimacy without slipping into clich?s. Sustained To Serve is an excellent resource for personal meditation as well as for preparation for serving the community of faith. Danny L. Stewart, Regional Minister The Christian Church of Mid-America (Disciples of Christ) Wava M. Burt, born and raised on a farm in Clay County, Kansas, serves as an elder at First Christian Church in Liberal, Kansas. She has been licensed for lay ministry in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and currently is the director of the Liberal Area Rape Crisis and Domestic Violence Services, Inc. " Sustained to Serve by Wava Burt is a book about worship services and communication prayers. Some of the topics covered in this book include: worship services, communion prayer, the prayers, prayer, prayers, the prayer, and prayer requests.

If you want a new perspective on the ancient texts of the Hebrew scriptures, this comprehensive collection of inspirational messages based on the first readings from Cycle C of the Revised Common Lectionary is an invaluable resource. Five distinguished preachers explore passages from the Old Testament and the book of Acts that chronicle the work of the prophets and the apostles, and show how God uses them to help us see beyond a depressing past and a disappointing present to a better future. Drawing on diverse backgrounds and perspectives, this set of sermons for each Sunday and major celebration throughout the entire church year offers rich food for the spiritual journey, and inspires readers to grasp that despite our sinful nature, God has not given up on us and is always with us.This essential resource is useful for: ¿ Fresh homiletical approaches to the lectionary texts ¿ Inspiring preaching illustrations and sermon starters ¿ Understanding scripture passages ¿ Bible study and discussion groups ¿ Personal devotions and inspirational readingSome of the captivating sermons included in this collection are: ¿ Finding Redemption in the Midst of Judgment ¿ Hidden Potential ¿ Lessons from a Hurricane ¿ Anatomy of a Testimony ¿ The Gospel According to Pronouns ¿ A Tale of Two Peters ¿ The Naaman Syndrome ¿ When the Fruit Is Spoiled ¿ Parenting - Not for the Faint of Heart! ¿ In the Potter's Hands ¿ Not Another Rerun! ¿ Thanksgiving Is Nine-Tenths of Possession ...and many more!

The New Testament epistles offer us a unique look at some of the struggles faced by the early church, and how those first-century Christians worked through some of the theological and pastoral issues that divided them. In this anthology of insightful sermons based on the second readings from Cycle B of the Revised Common Lectionary, five distinguished preachers explore the epistles and show that their lessons on life and faith still offer valuable guidance for today's complex challenges. This volume includes messages for every Sunday and major celebration throughout the entire church year, and is filled with compelling stories and wisdom. It's a preaching, teaching, and meditation resource that will be a welcome addition to any library.This essential resource is useful for: ¿ Fresh homiletical approaches to the lectionary texts ¿ Inspiring preaching illustrations and sermon starters ¿ Understanding scripture passages ¿ Adult study and discussion groups ¿ Personal devotions and Bible studySome of the captivating sermons included in this collection are: ¿ Jesus - The Leader of Our Team ¿ Learning the Recipe for Life ¿ Show Me Your Credentials ¿ The iPod vs. the Larynx ¿ All in God's Time ¿ God's Chain Reaction ¿ Freedom Calling ¿ Killing What Is Already Dead ¿ Guarding the Treasure ¿ Living in Chains ¿ A New Resolve ...and many more!