Congregationalism & Churches
After an accident on a radio tower, Federico Magbanua went on to inspire a generation of pastors in the Philippines. When the late Federico “Fred” Mission Magbanua Jr. preached a radio sermon on offering one’s body as a living sacrifice, he probably didn’t imagine he’d one day hear these words again as a 10,000-watt radio… Read More
You’re part of the story of this dysfunctional family. And that’s a good thing! This is the first of a short “Genesis January” series helping people explore the complexity of the Bible at the start of a new year. My wife’s college roommate would sometimes tell people, “I’m a descendant of George Washington!” It was… Read More
After losing my father as a child, I learned to see the Incarnation as my true lineage. As a kid, I loved combing through the Christmas cards my family received each year. In the days before social media, those annual pictures in the mailbox helped me feel connected to long-distance friends and family. After my… Read More
The centuries-old tradition has returned to community theaters after a pandemic hiatus. If you attend this year’s performance of Handel’s Messiah by the Des Moines Community Orchestra, you’ll walk into the sanctuary of Grace United Methodist Church and notice the orchestra, of course. But there’s no choir. Isn’t Messiah famous for the exhilarating “Hallelujah” chorus?… Read More
Christian tradition diverges on the nature and meaning of the Lord’s Supper. Lent is a season of preparation in which Christians get ready to celebrate the momentous events of Christ’s death, resurrection, and ascension. Some use this season as an opportunity to draw near to God by engaging in confession, fasting, and meditation on Scripture.… Read More