What the ALS Ice-Bucket Challenge Means for Christians

What the ALS Ice-Bucket Challenge Means for Christians

Craig Gross, known to many as the Porn Pastor because of his work withXXXchurch.com, is encouraging Christians to look at the viral "ALS Ice Bucket Challenge" as an example of the Christian life.

Over the past several weeks, social media has been flooded with one of the most effective fund-raising campaigns of all time. The "Ice Bucket Challenge" encourages participants to dump buckets of freezing water on their heads to raise awareness for the debilitating condition amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. It has become a national pastime to watch friends, family and favorite celebrities get wet in support of ALS research.

Participants are encouraged to donate $10 if they complete the challenge, or $100 if they don't. In the past few weeks alone, the ALS Association has earned more than $88.5 million, a monstrous increase from their donations of about $2 million in the same period last year.

9 to 5: The New Window for Missions

9 to 5: The New Window for Missions

Jesus probably spent more time in the marketplace than anywhere else. Of His 132 public appearances recorded in the New Testament, 122 were in the marketplace. Over 85 percent of the parables Jesus told had a workplace context.

This fall, business leaders will join other Christian leaders from every sector of society when they convene at Movement Day in New York City for the fifth consecutive year. The idea is to transform cities through "Gospel Movements" by showing marketplace leaders that their influence in the workplace is a fundamental key to that transformation.

Since vast numbers of people spend the majority of their waking time at work or work-related events, it makes sense that Christians in the workplace devote a significant amount of time investing in workplace relationships with the ultimate goal being sharing to introduce others to God and His ways.

6 Valuable Lessons for Youth Pastors

6 Valuable Lessons for Youth Pastors

1. Be flexible. Majority of our day-to-day tasks in youth ministry are very random. It isn't uncommon for my day to go from a brainstorming meeting, to a counseling session and then a hospital visit. Flexibility is one of the main ingredients to longevity in youth ministry, and it actually relieves the stress of ministry. Those who are a step-by-step, can't-miss-a-beat type of person usually don't last long in youth ministry. So be flexible.

2. Go the extra mile. Make things the best that they can be. Consider the task you are assigned as the bottom floor. When given a task or project, look for ways to save time and money. Sometimes that means making sure you don't have to make another trip somewhere or completing the whole task instead of just the part you where assigned.

- See more at: http://ministrytodaymag.com/index.php/ministry-life/youth/21165-6-valuable-lessons-for-youth-pastors#sthash.OMVIyGQQ.dpuf