“Christian ministry includes fully supported church workers, those bivocational only out of financial necessity, and those who have chosen to serve covocationally. All should be honored, but one’s attitude makes a difference.”
So writes Richard D. Oliver in his new book, A Covocational Attitude: Sharing the Motivational Convictions of the Apostle Paul.
In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I talk to Oliver regarding the apostle Paul’s attitude to receiving financial support, and how the apostle’s attitude should influence our own. I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influencemagazine and your host.
Richard D. Oliver is an ordained Assemblies of God minister with five decades of experience as a bivocational pastor in Michigan, Indiana, and Missouri. A Covocational Attitude draws on research from his Doctor of Ministry project at Assemblies of God Theological Seminary in Springfield, Missouri.
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This episode of the Influence podcast is brought to you by My Healthy Church, distributors of 30 Under 30.
In 30 Under 30: Young Adults in Scripture Who Heard from God, you’ll meet 30 young adults from the Bible who had their own defining moments. Heroes or cautionary tales—they all had a choice. This isn’t just a history lesson. It’s a call to action. God still speaks, and if you’re willing to listen, He’s got something to say to you.
For more information about 30 Under 30, visit MyHealthyChurch.com.
“Churches in North America face an uncertain future,” writes Joseph Lear.
“Seventy percent of churches have an average weekly attendance of under 100 people, which means that should nearly three-quarters of the churches in America lose a few families, they’d face a financial, volunteer, and leadership crisis.”
“God is not done with the small church,” he writes. “The kingdom of God is still present, which means there’s a path forward for renewal. It’s not going to come with marketing campaigns and managerial ingenuity. It’s going to come when small congregations get back to the basics of worshipping in Spirit and truth.”
In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I talk with Lear about what he calls “slow burn revival.” I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host.
Joseph Lear is pastor of theology and preaching at Resurrection Assembly of God in Iowa City, and director of theology and global church ministries at Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri. He is author of Resurrecting Worship: A Pentecostal Liturgy for Slow Burn Revival, published by Cascade Books.
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This episode of the Influence podcast is brought to you by My Healthy Church, distributors of the Ignite Parenting Conversation Cards.
Strengthen your family's relationships with God and each other with these easy-to-use Conversation Cards. Each card is uniquely designed with a question, faith builder statement, and a Bible verse to spark meaningful conversations that cultivate an open and nurturing environment in your home.
For more information about the Ignite Parenting Conversation Cards visit MyHealthyChurch.com.
Doug Clay is the 13th general superintendent of the Assemblies of God, which explains the title of his most recent book —13: Leadership Is More than Luck. The book explores leadership principles and stories from Clay’s predecessors in that office.
“As I studied the lives of our past general superintendents, I was inspired by their timeless insights and timely sensitivity to the Lord. Though each faced his own set of challenges, placing hope and trust in the Lord was a hallmark of each former leader,” Clay writes.
“We have been called by God for this moment. If we will have the humility to learn from our history and the faith to press ahead, we will see the Lord’s favor and anointing upon our Fellowship for decades, until he comes,” Clay concludes
In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I talk to Clay about leadership principles and stories from his book, but also about the state of the Assemblies of God. I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host.
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This episode of the Influence Podcast is brought to you by My Healthy Church, distributors of The Holy Spirit in the Life of the Discipler.
The Holy Spirit in the Life of the Discipler equips you with an understanding of the Holy Spirit's role in your life. As a resource for both laypeople and ministry leaders, it also imparts practical insight for anyone discipling others in receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
For more information about The Holy Spirit in the Life of the Discipler visit MyHealthyChurch.com.