Happy Reformation Day!
On this date in 1517, Martin Luther, an Augustinian monk and theology professor at the University of Wittenberg, posted his famous “Ninety-five Theses” protesting the sale of indulgences on the door of Wittenberg’s Castle Church.
Luther intended to reform the Catholic church from the inside. His critique of the church went beyond its corrupt practices to the bad theology underlying them, however. Over time, this critique led Luther and like-minded reformers to break with Catholicism and form new churches — Protestant churches.
In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I talk with church historian Charlie Self about the Protestant Reformation, why there are in fact five Reformations, and what Pentecostals should make of the event. I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host.
Charlie Self, Ph.D., is visiting professor of church history at the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary in Springfield, Missouri, an ordained Assemblies of God minister, and co-author with Johan Mostert and Jamé Bolds of Life in 5D: A New Vision of Discipleship.
—————
This episode of the Influence Podcast is brought to you by My Healthy Church, distributors of Bible Engagement Project.
Bible Engagement Project equips churches with free curriculum for preschool, kids, youth, and adults, available in both English and Spanish. The curriculum library provides you with discipleship resources that transform lives and anchor your church in the Bible.
Visit BibleEngagementProject.com to create your free account.
“Evangelical giving is down. Way down. Nearly every measure. Across the board.”
So states The Giving Gap: Changes in Evangelical Generosity, a new report from Grey Matter Research and Infinity Concepts.
The report goes on to say: “The numbers paint an increasingly bleak picture of evangelical generosity — a situation which has the potential to impact every church, every denomination, every parachurch ministry, and even many secular nonprofits.”
In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I talk with Ron Sellers about the details of the report, as well as what ministry leaders can do in response to the trend of declining generosity. I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influencemagazine and your host.
Ron Sellers is president of Grey Matter Research & Consulting, a firm that regularly serves Christian ministries, denominations, and churches to solve their information needs. He wrote “How Evangelicals Come to Faith” for the summer 2024 issue of Influence.
—————
This episode of the Influence podcast is brought to you by My Healthy Church, distributors of MEGA Sports Camp.
The MEGA Sports Camp theme for 2025 is In Your Element. This VBS invites kids to discover who Jesus has made them to be. This new theme is designed for kids to engage with the science that supports sports, and it will teach kids about faith and sports in a fun, engaging setting.
For more information about MEGA Sports Camp VBS, or to preorder In Your Element, visit MEGASportsCamp.com.
“Today, we see real trouble in America’s churches, and many wonder whether Christianity can survive,” writes Joseph Castleberry.
“I believe that we will not only survive, but we will see our greatest numerical growth, our greatest season of anointing, and our most important time of influence in the next 30 to 40 years — if Jesus tarries.” Impressive revivals will come to American churches over the next 25 years, setting the stage for the next Great Awakening —the sixth such Awakening in American history.”
In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I talk to Castleberry about why he thinks generational theory predicts a Great Awakening in the coming decades, as well as what Christian churches must do to prepare for it. I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host.
Joseph Castleberry, Ed.D., is president of Northwest University in Kirkland, Wash., and author of The Sixth Great Awakening and the Coming Renewal of the American Church.
—————
This episode of the Influence podcast is brought to you by My Healthy Church, distributors of MEGA Sports Camp.
The MEGA Sports Camp theme for 2025 is In Your Element. This VBS invites kids to discover who Jesus has made them to be. This new theme is designed for kids to engage with the science that supports sports, and it will teach kids about faith and sports in a fun, engaging setting.
For more information about MEGA Sports Camp VBS, visit MEGASportsCamp.com.
“Despite the Western church’s slow pace developing women leaders, Western culture is increasingly producing women leaders in business, the academy, entertainment, medicine, and government,” writes Anna Morgan. “If we do not provide leadership development opportunities for gifted young Christian women inside our local churches, then they may well pursue leadership opportunities outside the church, thus weakening it.”
In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I talk to Morgan about how egalitarian denominations such as the Assemblies of God can better develop the women leaders God has called and empowered for ministry. I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host.
Anna Morgan is an ordained minister with the Australian Christian Churches, a member of the World Assemblies of God Fellowship. She earned her Doctor of Intercultural Studies degree at Fuller Theological Seminary. She is vice president of academics at Ascent College and copastor with her husband, John, of Word of Life, an Assemblies of God church in the metro Washington, DC, area. She is author of Growing Women in Ministry, published by Baker Academic.
—————
This episode of the Influence podcast is brought to you by My Healthy Church, distributors of Made for This.
With Made for This, kids can intentionally engage in their own spiritual walk. In this easy-to-follow journal, kids will start their lifelong discovery of who God is and pursuing the adventure He has in store for their life.
For more information about Made for This, visit MyHealthyChurch.com.