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Our son Jonathan and bride Stacy at their wedding last weekend. Our children have been our priority in the process of disciple making for the last 30 years.

Church attendance in America has shown a marked decrease in the last decade, which has drawn ample media attention. Crowds that flocked to mega churches in the 1990’s are choosing other options. The four largest churches in the U.S. have shown significant decreases in attendance during the last two years.

In my book, Change the World: Recovering the Mission and Message of Jesus (Abingdon), due to be released in February 2010, I write about how the church has overemphasized church attendance and attraction programming to the neglect of Jesus’ mandate to make disciples. In our attempts to be relevant and crowd friendly, we have made a low bar offer of calling people to make a decision for Jesus instead of challenging people to consider the call of following Jesus in costly sacrificial discipleship.

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Posted By: Pastor Mike Slaughter on Jul 02, 2009 09:47AM Add Comment | View Comments [1]

Photo of a man flipping a pancake Each Sunday, servants at our Fort McKinley Campus cook and serve up a free hot breakfast for the community.

This is an excerpt from my upcoming book, Change the World: Recovering the Mission and Message of Jesus (Abingdon), that will be available in February 2010. All registrants to the Change the World conference, October 22/23, on Ginghamsburg’s Campus will receive a complimentary copy via mail as soon as it is released.

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Posted By: Pastor Mike Slaughter on Jun 25, 2009 10:00AM Add Comment | View Comments [4]

Photo of a young Sudanese child The “CHANGE the WORLD” Conference is October 22/23, 2009. Registration now open.

From time to time, I will post excerpts from my upcoming book, Change the World: Recovering the Mission and Message of Jesus (Abingdon) that will be available in February 2010. All registrants to the Change the World conference, October 22/23, on Ginghamsburg’s Campus will receive a complimentary copy via mail as soon as it is released. The first excerpt is below, along with closing thoughts.

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Posted By: Pastor Mike Slaughter on Jun 18, 2009 10:00AM Add Comment | View Comments [10]

Photo of Pastor Sue Nilson Kibbey speaking onstage Pastor Sue Nilson Kibbey teaching Tuesday morning at Annual Conference

A group of us from Ginghamsburg Church has just returned from spending the week at West Ohio’s Annual Conference held at Lakeside, Ohio. Pastor Sue Nilson Kibbey and I were invited to speak this year, and the Ginghamsburg Praise Team provided the music for the second straight year. This year’s conference was rather uneventful and inspiring. As any of you United Methodists know, these meetings can range anywhere from monotonous boredom to contentious debate over very divisive issues. I really value being part of a denomination where everyone doesn’t have to think the same way to belong. It is extremely refreshing to be embraced in a community where political ideology doesn’t determine one’s connection. It is our shared faith in the Lord Jesus Christ that unites us!

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Posted By: Pastor Mike Slaughter on Jun 11, 2009 10:00AM Add Comment | View Comments [5]

Photo of an old marked up bible

Yesterday I went to the Memorial celebration for Karen Smith’s stepfather, John Young. The pastor used John’s Bible for the readings. He noted how worn it was and read from passages that John had marked. He pointed out notes that had been written in the margins. “I always ask to see a person’s Bible before I preach their funeral,” the pastor stated. “It reveals everything about their life.”

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Posted By: Pastor Mike Slaughter on Jun 04, 2009 10:00AM Add Comment | View Comments [10]

Photo of a large wall with a guard tower Guard towers in Bethlehem

Many of you have asked me about the fruitfulness of our mission to the Middle East two weeks ago. Others have asked why I would be involved in a futile effort since the Bible predicts the continued deterioration of human relationships and final judgment. As the people of Jesus, we are called to be actively engaged in the mission of reconciliation and peacemaking. We are to stand against injustice at all turns and defend the oppressed and powerless. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

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Posted By: Pastor Mike Slaughter on May 21, 2009 10:00AM Add Comment | View Comments [9]

Photo of Ambassador Tony Hall Interview with Ambassador Tony Hall

I had the opportunity to sit down and interview former Congressman and Ambassador Tony Hall last week in Jerusalem. Tony was the congressional representative who sponsored the legislation for The National Day of Prayer during President Reagan's administration. He told me that Vonette Bright, wife of Bill Bright who is the founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, called him on a regular basis to encourage him to sponsor the legislation. Tony shared with me how influential the Brights had been in leading him to Christ and for following up with his spiritual development.

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Posted By: Pastor Mike Slaughter on May 14, 2009 03:00PM Add Comment | View Comments [1]

newspaper headlines on torture The debate on the usage of torture continues

I periodically receive emails from folks who disagree with me on how I have applied New Testament morality to current hot topic issues. Every time I speak against abortion or capital punishment, someone emails me with, “I was very offended by your narrow position addressed in a manner of biblical authority that should not have been presented as such in your sermon.” Or “Where in the Bible does it even mention abortion?” I received this email from a brother that addressed my message from May 3: “I wanted to let you know that I was very offended by your comment regarding the U.S. change in its stance regarding torture. I don’t think you should be sharing your personal views about a highly political topic from the pulpit.” My good brother went on to remind me that I am not a talk show host. Why do I address these issues from the pulpit? Here was my response:

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Posted By: Pastor Mike Slaughter on May 12, 2009 03:00PM Add Comment | View Comments [19]

main image for blog entryThe Garden Tomb

Our meetings here concluded on Friday so I stayed an extra day to visit the sacred Christian sites in the old city of Jerusalem. The Damascus Gate is about a 15-minute walk from my hotel. I ran into some United Methodist pastors who knew me as I passed the entrance to the Garden Tomb on the way. It always amazes me who you run into and where. Great reason to always be God honoring. I basically spent the whole day following the Via Dolorosa (The Way of The Cross). It has been 24 years since my last trip here and you never know when or if one might get back. I finished my afternoon at The Garden Tomb where I spent about an hour or so meditating on the word and prayer. This scripture reference on the sign in the garden sums up the hope for all nations of the earth (Rom. 1:4). I head home in the morning. Shalom!

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Posted By: Pastor Mike Slaughter on May 09, 2009 10:00AM Add Comment | View Comments [6]

photo of two men standing against the wailing wallPraying at the Western Wall

Click on the links to view brief videos about my afternoon in Jerusalem.

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Posted By: Pastor Mike Slaughter on May 08, 2009 04:00PM Add Comment | View Comments [4]

main image for blog entryIsraeli Soldiers in the Hebron Jewish settlement.

Hebron is an Arab community in southern Judea. It is the spot of greatest tension in this area of the Middle East. Two days ago a young man was shot and killed by an Israeli soldier as the young man was running up the stairs of the Mosque for the hour of prayers. The man had already passed through a security point manned by Israeli security forces and was carrying no weapons. The Mosque is an ancient structure built over the burial cave of Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebecca, Jacob and Joseph. It is a sacred site for all three Abrahamic religions. I walked up the stairs and saw the guard station from which the shots were fired. Centuries of fear and hate continue to breed violence and cause the degradation of God's children regardless of what side of the dividing wall you live on.

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Posted By: Pastor Mike Slaughter on May 08, 2009 10:00AM Add Comment | View Comments [6]

main image for blog entryJesus stood outside the city and wept over Jerusalem!

We spent the entire day in meetings beginning with a breakfast meeting with Rabbi Michael Melchior. Rabbi Melchior was a member of the Israeli Cabinet during the last administration and was also a member of the Knesset (equivalent to our Senate). He is a passionate Zionist who is committed to finding a solution to peace. It was interesting hearing from a highly respected Palestinian PLO leader last night in the West Bank and an Israeli Zionist today. Both are deeply committed religious leaders who are committed to finding a peace solution through the recognition of two states. The secular world doesn't grasp that peace will never be a reality if it is not led by religious leaders who have the ability to either fuel hate or reconciliation. This does not mean that we compromise our own faiths but that we commit to live to the highest standards of those faiths. Jerusalem means "city of peace." It is claimed as the holy city by the three Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam). The tension that exist in this city is like a match box ready to ignite. As Rabbi Melchior said, "This city can become a gate to heaven or a slippery slope to hell."

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Posted By: Pastor Mike Slaughter on May 07, 2009 10:00AM Add Comment | View Comments [10]

main image for blog entryPictured from left: Cardinal McCarrick, Sheikh Tamimi, interpreter

Our delegation traveled to Ramallah this evening to have dinner with Sheikh Tamimi and other influential Palestinian leaders of the PLO. Ramallah is an Arabic city in the West Bank, about a 30-minute drive north of Jerusalem. You must travel through a checkpoint to cross the boarder into the West Bank. Coming back from Bethlehem this morning, an Israeli soldier entered our bus to check our passports. The tension is much higher now than my last trip in '85.

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Posted By: Pastor Mike Slaughter on May 06, 2009 04:00PM Add Comment | View Comments [3]

main image for blog entryThese are two precious children in the Aida Refugee Camp in Bethlehem. We serve Jesus as we serve His purpose in the "least of these."

Here is a small photoblog along with some observations about my time in Bethlehem.

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Posted By: Pastor Mike Slaughter on May 06, 2009 10:00AM Add Comment | View Comments [1]

JerusalemI'm standing with Ambassador Tony Hall in front of the Dome Of The Rock on the Temple Mount

Today we crossed into the West Bank, which is considered “occupied territory.” Since 2005 large walls have been built to separate the territory from Israel and to keep Palestinians out. It is now very difficult for Palestinians to enter Israel to purchase food or other supplies or to seek medical care. In return, it is illegal for Israelis to go into the occupied territory. The meeting I participated in today was sponsored by an Israeli organization called the Council of Religious Institutions. It consists of Muslims, Christians and Jews who really care about creating a Holy Land that is for all peoples. The council meets in the occupied territory so that the Arab/Palestinian leaders can participate. However, this means that Jewish leaders who travel in from Israel to participate are technically entering the area illegally. Today we also visited Gush Etzion, a Jewish settlement near Beit Jala, for a tour. It is the oldest Jewish settlement within the occupied territory.

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Posted By: Pastor Mike Slaughter on May 05, 2009 04:00PM Add Comment | View Comments [2]