Resources

Hold the Desserts: A Lenten Reflection

46 days. 1,104 hours. 66,240 minutes. 397,4400 seconds. This is how long I am fasting from desserts and sweets. The fast began on Wednesday — Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. Lent is observed in many Christian traditions over the course of the six weeks leading up to Easter…

Resources

Hope for a Relationship with a Sex Addict

Just this week, a couple of Christian guys told me about being found out while “watching porn.” The reason I heard about it was not that they felt bad about doing it. But because they got an email the next day saying that they had been filmed through the porn site…

Resources

Waiting: An Advent Meditation

As I've pondered Advent this year, I have been confronted with a convicting reality in my own life: I don't like waiting. I'll go further than that; I will do almost anything to eliminate waiting. When I do have to wait…

Culture & Perspectives

On Being a Third Way Church

Reposted from Shalom! journal, this article was based on a sermon from David Flowers, senior pastor of Grantham Church, given on November 12, 2017. Listen to sermon audio. Scripture Reading: Matthew 22:15-22; John 17:20-23; Ephesians 4:2-3 There really is nothing more divisive in this country and in the church today than politics…

Impact

From Anger to Hope

I woke up one morning not long ago to a Washington Post article about sexual abuse and misuse of power in a large Christian denomination (the denomination I grew up in). According to the article, a woman reported that while pursuing a degree at one of the denominational seminaries…

Impact

Madison Street Church’s Field of Dreams

Pastor Jeff Wright and Madison Street Church, a BIC U.S. congregation in Riverside, California, have an empty lot behind their church and an audacious dream — end chronic homelessness in their city. Such a dream is possible because the government and churches are partnering together…

News

Matching Grant Helped Eliminate Pension Deficit; Approximately $300,000 Remains to Be Matched

At General Assembly 2018, we celebrated meeting the first goal of the Honor the Past: Build the Future ministry campaign. Together, we eliminated the BIC U.S. pension deficit for the defined benefit plan (BIC Pension Fund), which was part of the retirement plan for Church leaders and missionaries…

News

BIC U.S. World Missions Welcomes New Regional Administrator

This June 2018, BIC U.S. World Missions was privileged to welcome John Reitz as regional administrator for Europe and the Middle East, following John Hawbaker’s retirement earlier this year. In the regional administrator role for Europe and the Middle East…

News

BIC U.S. World Missions Deploys Allison Conrad

In partnership with U.S. congregations and individuals, we celebrate that Allison Conrad deployed to Bogotá, Colombia, July 11, 2018, to teach at El Camino Academy this academic year. Thank you for walking alongside Allison through your prayers and financial support…

Profiles

Q&A: A Conversation with the Former and Current Board Chairs

On July 16, 2018, Cathy Musser assumed leadership of General Conference Board from chair Wanda Heise, who had led since 2014 and served on the board 12 years. Formerly board secretary, Cathy has served on the board for eight years. Thankful for their visionary leadership…

News

Kenneth Hoke: Legacy of Service

On behalf of the BIC U.S. family, we want to express our deepest gratitude for Bishop Kenneth Hoke’s years of servant leadership in the denomination. Following six years as bishop of the Susquehanna Conference, Ken retired July 31…

News

BIC U.S. World Missions Deploys Tony and Veronica Beers

In partnership with U.S. congregations and individuals, we celebrate that Tony and Veronica Beers, along with their daughters Lilliana and Natasha, deployed to Zambia, July 18, 2018, for a three-year term. Thank you for walking alongside the Beers through your prayers and financial support…