Valentyn Svit shares three of the ways we can be assured we are following the voice of the Holy Spirit.

You’re driving on the way to work and you hear a voice speak to you in your mind:

“Move to California.” You look around. The radio is off and everything is quiet.

Now you’re wondering… where in the world did this thought come from?

Was this because I watched that documentary last night on Yosemite or is this God trying to say something to me?

In these crucial moments, it’s important to be able to know the real from the fake.

In this article, I’m going to show you 3 practical ways to discern the voice of God in your life so that you can know when He’s speaking to you with confidence.

Here’s what you need to know.

1. The Bible

If God truly is speaking to you, He will never contradict Himself. One of the best ways to confirm what you’ve heard is really from the Lord is to compare it to what the Bible says.

For Example: The Lord will never ask you to lie, steal, or sin in any way, no matter what the circumstances look like.

If you know that what you’re hearing goes against the Bible you can be sure that it’s either your voice or the voice of the enemy.

I know what you might be thinking…

What about an answer to a question that is more neutral? Something like:

“Yes, you should take that job offer.” How can you confirm that?

That brings us to number 2.

Image: Annie Spratt

The sun is heating up and that is cause for alarm for some cancer patients. Not everyone can get out and enjoy the weather, or work on outdoor chores.

For more information on Our Journey of Hope, or to speak with Rev. Percy McCray, please contact Mendy Nestor at mendy@infinityconcepts.net, or at 724.244.8008.

The following are a few tips on how to minister to your friends, family and congregation, who are dealing with cancer throughout the summer months.

1. Check in on them regularly to be sure they are staying cool. Bring a fan if they have no air conditioner, or raise money for an air conditioner unit.
2. Keep cold water bottles or ice in their refrigerator. Staying hydrated is extremely important for a cancer patient and can help to increase their comfort.
3. Bring together a group to take care of their yard/housework for them. Mow the lawn, water the flowers, vacuum or do dishes.
4. Bring them sunscreen (broad spectrum), and a hat for days when they do go outside.
5. If they have children, offer to take them to the park, or the pool. Walk their dogs for them, or take them to the groomer or vet.
6. Bring them encouraging and uplifting books or videos. Their friends and family may have more commitments out of the house during the summer and could leave them often alone, looking for entertainment.
7. If they are feeling up to it, offer to bring them to your church’s vacation Bible school, or other events.

The Our Journey of Hope^® cancer care ministry program, developed by Cancer Treatment Centers of America^®, offers many more helpful tips and ways to appropriately minister to cancer patients and their caregivers. Visit www.OurJourneyofHope.com for additional information and to sign up for a cancer care leadership training.

In this guest article by Rev. Percy McCray, he offers excellent practical suggestions for strengthening your local community of Jesus followers.

It’s the start of a new year and thoughts turn to eating better, getting more organized, or even reconnecting with old friends. But within your New Year’s resolutions, are you considering the health of your church?

For more information on Our Journey of Hope, or to speak with Rev. Percy McCray, please contact Mendy Nestor at mendy@infinityconcepts.net, or at 724.244.8008.

The following are five ways you can work to strengthen your church and to better serve your congregation and community.

Be the example. The country is feeling divisive and disjointed and it is the church’s responsibility to show love, compassion and empathy. Don’t be afraid to set the tone for your congregation.

Start a cancer care ministry. The unfortunate statistic is that one in two men and one in three women will be touched with cancer during their lifetime. By being equipped to minister to those people and their families, you will offer hope and a compassion understood by very few.

Become imbedded in your community. Many churches open their doors to those in the community for dinners, events and of course, worship services. But are you leaving your church doors? Get out and serve the community where they are instead of expecting them to come to you. Volunteer at a community festival, clean up a struggling neighborhood, offer free sports camps at the local park, but be willing to reach them where they live, no strings attached.

Put an emphasis on small groups. Attending church services on a weekly basis is good for the soul. But strengthening the connection with God and with like-minded people in your congregation builds both the church and the community through fellowship and deep, personal relationships.

Don’t forget the forgotten. Most churches focus on families since that represents the majority of its congregants. But in your ministry, don’t ignore the young college student, the widower or the single mother whose children have just left the nest. There are more challenges within your walls than you may recognize.

For more information on starting a cancer care ministry, visit www.OurJourneyOfHope.com.

There are innumerable presentations, articles, and books being written on the subject of the Millennials and the Church. These angles include the Church’s lack of connection with the Millennials and the Millennials lack of interest in the Church. Or, more specifically, the approach recently presented in an article by Joe Hepler in Vital Magazine, “Four Ways To Connect With College Students In Church.” While reading this article, I find simple insights that could assist the Church to see from the collegiate Millennial’s perspective. The author is recently out of College himself and offers a unique look at the topic at hand.

The reason for the article is stated clearly in the title, the intent being to connect with college students “in Church.” The practicum offered by Hepler in the first point of his article is on point. It makes sense that if college students are studying at a College or University near a Church of choice, they have some level of interest in academics and growth. Capitalizing on that interest to increase their spiritual formation is noteworthy.

Image: Inbal Marilli

In the last point that Hepler makes concerning involving college students in leadership positions or roles in the Church, the structure and phrasing of the paragraph is a bit ambiguous. I sensed he had much more to say on this point but the article was rushed at this point. Still, his point is a good one. He uses the statement, “Many will give their hearts and souls to the churches they attend during college, and still many more may stay long after they have earned their degrees.” There are many avenues to developing young adults to lead in the local Church, including those that can be used with a transient crowd such as college students. Hepler seems to be leaning toward patience in discipleship, waiting before involving them. This is definitely the safest way to assure that they are quality leaders of integrity and understand the mission of the Church once they do get involved and lead.

Reviewed by Jeff Grenell

Read the full article: https://vitalmagazine.com/Home/Article/Four-Ways-to-Connect-with-College-Students-in-Church/

Here is a video about the book Creative Ways to Build Christian Community. In this film you will meet the founders of the House of Prisca and Aquila publishing line, the editors, and some of the contributors. I was one of the co-editors so I make a brief appearance in the film.