In its short history (slightly more than one hundred years) Pentecostal/Charismatic Christianity has not only grown, but has made a significant contribution to Christian mission.
At the time of the 1910 Edinburgh Missionary Conference, which presented a master road-map to world evangelisation ‘in our [their] generation,’ the movement was only four years old (if we count from the 1906 Azusa Street Mission in Los Angeles, California). (more…)
Tait Berge encourages people who live with disabilities to be involved in their local church as he shares from his heart.People who live with disabilities cannot expect others to accept them if they don’t accept themselves. One way to do that is to remember you were made in God’s image, and another is to find a couple of life verses to help you.
Whether you have a disability or are a parent, sibling or friend of someone with a disability, God loves you! He knew you before you were born and designed your body (Psalm 139:13-16). You’re perfect just the way you are. You didn’t do anything to cause your disability. That’s the most important idea you can take away from this article. (more…)
In her book Doubt: A History, Jennifer Michael Hecht wrote, ‘Socrates counts among those great minds who actually cultivated doubt in the name of truth.’[1]
This seems like a contradiction: Doubt in the name of truth? If something is true, it is beyond doubt; facts are facts, right? And yet, everyone doubts at some point. But what if that doubt could lead you to discover a greater truth about God? Could doubt and truth have something in common? (more…)
Inspirational author Carol Round writes encouragingly for 2015…In her 1908 classic, Anne of Green Gables, author Lucy Maude Montgomery said, ‘Isn’t it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?’
Although each day is full of promise and expectation, New Year’s is the only day we celebrate with fanfare and excitement. Then, as the days pass, we often find ourselves forgetting January 1 isn’t the only day we can start anew. (more…)
The phone rang. The lady of the house answered. It was a salesman from a mortgage refinance company. ‘Do you have a second mortgage on your home?,’ he enquired.
‘No,’ she replied. The salesman then asked, ‘Would you like to consolidate all of your debts?’ to which she said, ‘I really don’t have any.’ (more…)
Martin Johnson, Special to ASSIST News Service, writes: Working in the police force was Australian Suzanne Spence’s dream job. At first it was everything she had hoped it would be, but when she came home every night in tears, her family and friends knew she wasn’t coping.
Diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Suzanne reluctantly resigned after a 24-year career and, aged 46, thought her working life was over. (more…)
Aimee Herd filed this article praising pastors and expressing a concern – one that could easily have far-reaching consequences in other nations:
ASSIST’s editorial note: The news of Oscar winning actor, comedian, humanitarian, and activist, Robin William’s death by suicide sent shockwaves around the world.
With whole episodes of morning news broadcasts (such as Good Morning America) dedicated to his life and suicide, social media pandemonium, and personal reflections abounding around the globe, ASSIST News Service felt to address the very sensitive topic of suicide.
In 2013, writer, musician, minister and Special to ASSIST, Brian Nixon, wrote about the topic (hereunder), using two notable individuals: Ian Curtis of the rock band, Joy Division, and Christian Apologist, Ravi Zacharias as a contrast. The article is reprinted as follows to help those struggling with this. (more…)
Question: How has faith shaped our view of mental illness?There are really two questions here:
1) How has your religious community historically seen mental illness? and
2) How does your faith, today, shape the way you see mental illness?
First, let me share some of my own perspective on this.
I believe that Christianity has historically a mixed report card on this subject. Fundamentally our faith has always valued people as inherently of worth because all of them were made in the image of God. Thus, when practised correctly, our faith should lead to compassionate care for the weak. (more…)
Connecting with You! 