WHAT IS DRIVING THIS SPREADING MENTAL ILLNESS PANDEMIC IN AMERICA?

Media headlines report daily on the insane criminal behavior spreading across America, penetrating all social spectrums. (see FBI and other recent crime reports here). I would ask why, and what is going on here?

I asked Chatgpt and Google Search this question, and they similarly reported:

The primary drivers of the mental health crisis and crime in America heading into 2026 are a combination of long-standing socioeconomic stressors and evolving modern pressures. While crime rates actually showed a significant decline in 2025—with homicides down roughly 21% from the previous year—experts remain concerned about underlying factors like economic instability and inadequate access to mental health care. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Key Drivers of the Mental Health Crisis

 The United States is currently experiencing a mental health crisis affecting all ages, but particularly youth. [1]

• Economic Distress: Personal finances are the top source of anxiety for Americans in 2026, with 59% reporting significant stress over their financial situation.
• Technological Pressures: Rapid AI integration is causing job-related anxiety for 47% of adults, while the “always-on” nature of digital communication contributes to chronic burnout.
• Systemic Gaps in Care: Despite record demand, over 122 million Americans live in areas with severe shortages of mental health providers. High costs and insurance barriers prevent nearly half of those with mental illness from receiving treatment.
• Social Isolation: The erosion of in-person social connections, often replaced by algorithm-driven digital interactions, has increased feelings of loneliness and “dread,” especially among younger generations. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]

Factors Influencing Crime Rates

 Although overall violent crime decreased in 2025, several structural issues remain highly correlated with criminal activity and community safety. [1, 2]

• Socioeconomic Disadvantage: Poverty, unemployment, and housing instability remain the strongest predictors of crime. Communities with high rates of housing instability also report the highest mental health crisis rates (9%).
• The “Handcuffs Instead of Help” Cycle: Jails have become de facto mental health facilities. Approximately two in five incarcerated individuals have a history of mental illness, often arrested for non-violent offenses related to untreated symptoms.
• Substance Abuse: The ongoing opioid epidemic continues to fuel both public health and public safety challenges, though many states increased investments in 2025 to combat drug trafficking and expand recovery services.
• Youth Vulnerability: Disruption in education and limited entry-level career pathways due to automation have increased the risk of youth involvement in crime. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]

NPR, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Pyschiatry.Org, the Bureau of Health Workforce, CSG Justice Center, and the Behavioral Health News all report on and blame the symptoms of and the sad to disastrous results of mental illness on people and society, but completely fail – or refuse – to address the cause: The absence of traditional standards of morality and ethics. (And by ‘traditional standards’, I am referring to the long-held and thoroughly tested Christian Biblical standards).

I am speaking of a “Traditional Christian ethos” which refers to a set of moral values, habits, and ways of living that developed from the teachings of Jesus Christ and the long history of the Christianity. While it varies across denominations, there are some widely shared core elements:

(From ChatGPT)

1. Love as the Central Command

At the heart is the idea of love:

• Love of God
• Love of neighbor

This comes from teachings like “love your neighbor as yourself,” which shape how believers are expected to treat others—with compassion, forgiveness, and goodwill.

2. Moral Responsibility & Sin

Traditional Christianity teaches that:

• Humans are morally accountable for their actions
• Sin (wrongdoing) separates people from God

Ethical life involves recognizing faults, seeking forgiveness, and striving to live rightly.

3. Humility & Self-Denial

Humility is a major virtue:

• Avoid pride and arrogance
• Put others before yourself
• Practice self-control and restraint

This often includes the idea of sacrificing short-term desires for higher moral or spiritual goals.

4. Charity & Service

Helping others—especially the poor and vulnerable—is essential:

• Giving (charity, almsgiving)
• Acts of service
• Hospitality

This reflects the belief that serving others is a way of serving God.

5. Sanctity of Life & Human Dignity

Human life is seen as sacred because it is created by God:

• Emphasis on the inherent worth of every person
• Moral concern for issues involving life, suffering, and justice

6. Family, Sexual Ethics, and Order

Traditionally:

• Marriage is viewed as a lifelong union
• Sexual activity is expected within marriage
• Family is a central unit of moral and social life

Different denominations interpret these principles with varying strictness today.

7. Faith, Obedience, and Authority

Believers are encouraged to:

• Have faith in God
• Follow divine commandments
• Respect religious teachings and traditions (such as those found in the Bible)

8. Redemption & Grace

A key idea is that people are not expected to be perfect:

• Forgiveness is always possible
• Salvation comes through God’s grace, not just moral effort

9. Eternal Perspective

Life is viewed in light of eternity:

• Earthly life is temporary
• Actions have spiritual consequences
• Hope in eternal life shapes moral priorities

Big Picture

Traditional Christian ethos emphasizes:

• Love balanced with moral discipline
• Personal responsibility alongside forgiveness
• Individual conduct tied to a larger spiritual purpose

(From Google Search ai)

The phrase “traditional Christian ethos” generally refers to a set of core values and a “way of being” rooted in the teachings of Jesus and historical church doctrine. It’s less about a specific political stance and more about a foundational moral framework. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Key Pillars of the Christian Ethos

• Sacrificial Love (Agape): The central idea is putting others before oneself. This isn’t just “liking” people, but a commitment to their well-being, even at a personal cost.
• Human Dignity (Imago Dei): The belief that every person is created in the “image of God.” This creates an ethical baseline that every life—regardless of status, age, or ability—has inherent, infinite value.
• The “Golden Rule”: A proactive commitment to treating others as you would want to be treated, which traditionally translates into charity, hospitality, and service to the marginalized.
• Humility and Repentance: A recognition of human imperfection (sin) and the need for grace. This often manifests as a “spirit of meekness”—not weakness, but power under control.
• Stewardship: The view that talents, time, and the earth itself are not “owned” but are gifts on loan from God, to be used responsibly for the common good. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

The Internal “Moral Compass”

In a traditional sense, this ethos emphasizes virtue over autonomy. While modern culture often prioritizes “living your truth,” the Christian ethos prioritizes aligning your life with a higher, objective Truth through discipline and faith.

Would you like to explore how these values contrast with modern secular ethics, or perhaps how they apply to specific social issues?

In a June 2006 speech at the Call to Renewal conference, then president Barak Obama said, “Whatever we once were, we are no longer just a Christian nation; we are also a Jewish nation, a Muslim nation, a Buddhist nation, and a Hindu nation, and a nation of nonbelievers.”

He did not declare that Christianity was dead in America but that America would no longer be known solely as a Christian Nation – as she had long been known. It was at that defining moment that Barak Obama gleefully announced that the syncretizing (reconciliation or fusion of differing systems of belief, as in philosophy or religion, especially when success is partial or the result is heterogeneous) of America was now complete.

And the American psyche was shattered. As described in Isaiah 5:20, Good became evil and evil became what is good. Read what the the Bible says is the outcome of this defiance of God:

^{Isaiah 5:20,} 
Woe (judgment is coming) to those who call evil good, and good evil;
Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness;
Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!
^{Verse 21.}
Woe (judgment is coming) to those who are wise in their own eyes
And clever and shrewd in their own sight!
^{Verse 22.} 
Woe (judgment is coming) to those who are heroes at drinking wine
And men of strength in mixing intoxicating drinks,
^{Verse 23.} 
Who justify the wicked and acquit the guilty for a bribe,
And take away the rights of those who are in the right!

^{Verse 24.} 
Therefore, as the tongue of fire consumes the stubble [from straw]
And the dry grass collapses into the flame,
So their root will become like rot and their blossom blow away like fine dust;
Because they have rejected the law of the Lord of hosts
And despised and discarded the word of the Holy One of Israel.
^{Verse 25.} 
Therefore the anger of the Lord has burned against His people,
And He has stretched out His hand against them and has struck them down.
And the mountains trembled, and their dead bodies lay like rubbish in the middle of the streets.
In spite of all this God’s anger is not turned away,
But His hand is still stretched out [in judgment].

^{Verse 26.} 
He will lift up a flag to [call] the distant nations [to bring His judgment on Judah],
And will whistle for them from the ends of the earth;
And indeed, they will come with great speed swiftly.
^{Verse 27.} 
No one among them is weary or stumbles,
No one slumbers or sleeps;
Nor is the belt at their waist undone [as if unprepared for action],
Nor is the strap of their sandal broken.
^{Verse 28.} 
Their arrows are sharp and all their bows are strung and bent;
Their horses’ hoofs seem like flint and their chariot wheels like a whirlwind.
^{Verse 29.} 
Their roaring is like a lioness, they roar like young lions;
They growl and seize their prey
And carry it off and there is no one to save it.
^{Verse 30.} 
And in that day they will roar against them like the roaring of the sea.
And if one looks to the land, in fact, there is darkness and distress;
Even the light will be darkened by its clouds.

And finally, here is a prime example of allowing false gods taint and influence our belief in and obedience of the One True Living God:

In the Bible, King Nebuchadnezzar and King Saul are the most prominent examples of leaders who experienced significant mental instability or “madness” following their drift from God.

1. King Nebuchadnezzar: The King Who Became a Beast [1, 2]

Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon is the clearest example of a powerful leader being struck with a specific form of insanity as a direct consequence of pride and turning away from God’s authority. [1]

• The Drift: Despite witnessing God’s power through Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar’s pride grew until he boasted, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built… by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?”.
• The Insanity: Immediately, a voice from heaven declared his authority was taken. He was driven from human society and lived like a wild animal for seven years (often referred to as “seven times”).
• The Condition: Biblical descriptions say he ate grass like an ox, his hair grew like eagles’ feathers, and his nails became like birds’ claws. Modern scholars sometimes link this to boanthropy, a rare psychological disorder where a person believes they are a bovine.
• Restoration: His sanity was restored only when he humbled himself and acknowledged that the “Most High” rules over all earthly kingdoms. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

2. King Saul: The Tormented First King of Israel [King Nebuchadnezzar]

Saul, the first king of Israel, suffered from a gradual mental decline characterized by paranoia and deep depression after he repeatedly disobeyed God’s commands. [1]

• The Drift: Saul drifted from God through several acts of direct disobedience, including offering an unauthorized sacrifice and failing to follow divine instructions during battle.
• The Insanity: The Bible states that the “Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul,” and he was subsequently tormented by an “evil spirit”.
• The Symptoms: Saul experienced extreme paranoia—convinced that David was a threat to his throne—which led to violent outbursts, including multiple attempts to kill David with a javelin. Modern psychiatric analyses often suggest his behavior fits the profile of Bipolar I disorder or severe clinical depression with psychotic features.
• The Outcome: Unlike Nebuchadnezzar, Saul never fully repented or regained his mental and spiritual peace, ultimately leading to his tragic death in battle. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]

Modern psychiatric analyses often interpret these biblical accounts as early descriptions of severe mental health conditions, using the “medical file” of scripture to apply contemporary diagnostic criteria.

1. King Nebuchadnezzar: Boanthropy and Clinical Lycanthropy [1]

The transformation of Nebuchadnezzar into an animal-like state is frequently cited as a case of Boanthropy, a rare form of monomania or clinical zoanthropy where the sufferer believes they are a bovine (cow or ox). [1, 2]

• Clinical Lycanthropy: Modern psychiatrists often classify boanthropy under the broader umbrella of clinical lycanthropy—a rare subtype of schizophrenia or a psychotic manifestation of a mood disorder where an individual believes they are transforming into an animal.
• Alternative Medical Theories: Some researchers suggest the symptoms could also align with Porphyria, a group of metabolic disorders that can cause acute neurological symptoms, including hallucinations, anxiety, and paranoia. Others have proposed paralytic dementia caused by late-stage syphilis, which can lead to severe behavioral changes. [1, 2, 3, 4]

2. King Saul: Bipolar I and Combat Trauma [1]

Saul’s erratic behavior, shifting between deep affection for David and murderous rages, is often viewed through the lens of mood and personality disorders. [1]

• Bipolar I Disorder: Many psychiatric studies conclude that Bipolar I Disorder is the most likely diagnosis. Saul exhibited clear cycles: manic-like “hyperactive and aggressive” interpersonal reactions followed by periods of “morbid melancholy” and withdrawal.
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Recent interpretations emphasize the “combat trauma” Saul would have experienced as a lifelong warrior-king. His paranoia and violent outbursts are analyzed as symptoms of chronic anxiety or PTSD, exacerbated by the extreme moral stress of ancient warfare.
• Neurological Theories: Some scholars speculate that Saul may have suffered from epileptic-like fits or even a brain tumor. The description of him falling down and lying naked for a day and night (1 Samuel 19:24) is sometimes interpreted as a “postictal state”—the recovery period following a major seizure. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]

3. The Theological vs. Medical Lens

Modern scholarship also notes a “two-way street” in how these stories are interpreted. [1]

• Ancient Context: In the ancient Near East, behaviors like Saul’s were sometimes diagnosed as ghost-induced illnesses or “evil winds,” often treated with musical therapy.
• Socio-Cultural Factors: Some argue that medicalizing these accounts removes the cultural and ethical nuances of the original text. For example, Saul’s “paranoia” toward David could be viewed as a rational response to a genuine political threat (a successor already anointed to take his throne) rather than a purely clinical delusion. [1, 2, 3, 4]

(Sadly and alarmingly, we are seeing these same afflictions and maladies in our soceity today – and they are a growing problem).

There is truly only way back from this abyss and that is by way of The One True and Living God. Turn to (or turn back to) Jesus and obediently put yourself under His care. Follow Him, obey Him, serve Him and live.

Your Brother and Friend in Christ Jesus,

Mike Young.

“God has not given you a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind”

2 Timothy 1:7.

The Apostle Paul – vs – pastor John Hagee

“Women pastoring over men in the Church”

     VS 

1 Corinthians 14:33(b), As in all the churches of the saints, verse 34, the women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says. Verse 35. If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church. Verse 36. Or was it from you that the word of God first went out? Or has it come to you only?

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1281694657193540

Pastor John Hagee excuses and dismisses these plain teachings in scriptures when they do not fit his religious-secular worldview. Let me say that it would appear that John Hagee is now teaching heresy. He understands scriptures, but has decided to go his own way. He has now shown himself to be an arrogant blasphemer and sadly looks the fool. But, sadly, most of Pentecostalism and The Assemblies of God have gone this way – choosing man’s ways over the clear teaching of God. (Hagee says the sanctuary was divided by a curtain was by CUSTOM and TRADTITION, is a lie. Women were segregated to maintain purity, safety and order).

Read 1 Corinthians 14:33-26 again: As in all the churches of the saints, verse 34, the women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says. Verse 35. If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church. Verse 36. Or was it from you (John Hagee) that the word of God first went out? Or has it come to you only, (John Hagee)?

If Hagee denies and twists these particular scriptures for no good reason except to express and impose his own opinions, then how much more of God’s Word has he distorted?

This edict or teaching about women pastor and women being pastors over men actually begins with “subjection”, one to another in the Body of Christ and specifically about women wives being subject to their own husbands. (see Ephesians 5:21).

1. Part One – Here what and why the Bible says what it says about women pastoring over men:

Come, Let us Reason

“TIP OF THE SPEAR”

What does that phrase mean to you?

The “Urban Dictionary” puts it this way: “An American idiom commonly used in military operations to mean the first soldiers to go into a war zone. In common usage, it means the first to venture into a new endeavor. A trailblazer.”

The Bible uses a similar term to describe relationships between Christians in general and between husbands and wives in particular. The word is “Hupotasso“.

You will never find that word spelled, as such, in your Bible, though. It is the Greek word ‘hupotasso’ used for “Submit to” or “be subject to”.

The King James uses the word “submit” but, it reads this way in the New American Standard version of the Bible:

Ephesians 5:21, “and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.”

Verse 22. Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. Verse 23. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. Verse 24. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.

The word “Hupotasso” literally means:

1) to arrange under, to subordinate;

2) to subject, put in subjection

3) to subject one’s self, obey

4) to submit to one’s control

5) to yield to one’s admonition or advice

6) to obey, be subject.

HUPO – arrange under; TASSO – mutually agree upon

The intention of “submission or subjection” is found in the CONTEXT of the words in this chapter of Ephesians, which encourages us to be wise and moral, kind and pure, gentle and forgiving.

The context is also found in the meaning of the words in these verses.

Specifically, “Hupotasso” comes from a Greek military term meaning “to arrange [troop divisions] in a military fashion under the command of a leader”.

These troop formations were called a Phalanx. The Phalanx was the formation, usually in triangular form, in which The hoplite phalanx of the Archaic and Classical periods in Greece (c. 800–350 BC) was the formation in which the hoplites would line up in ranks in close order.

Hoplites were citizen-soldiers of Ancient Greek city-states who were primarily armed with spears and shields. Hoplite soldiers utilized the phalanx formation in order to be effective in war with fewer soldiers. The formation discouraged the soldiers from acting alone, for this would compromise the formation and minimize its strengths.

The hoplites would lock their shields together, and the first few ranks of soldiers would project their spears out over the first rank of shields.

Those at the front were, what we would call today, THE TIP OF THE SPEAR or the POINT MAN. They presented the first defense against the enemy and were the first to engage the enemy and the first to take casualties.

The phalanx therefore presented a shield wall and a mass of spear points to the enemy. Making frontal assaults against it very difficult.

It also allowed a higher proportion of the soldiers to be actively engaged in combat at a given time, rather than just those in the front rank.

This word, “Hupotasso”, in non-military use, is “a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden”.

The Bible gives this as an example for husbands and wives to cooperate and to successfully navigate life and in waging wars against ‘their common enemy’, Satan.

The wife is fully engaged in the marriage relationship, but, God says the husband is to be the Tip of the Spear in order to protect and preserve and, if necessary, the first to fall.

Interestingly, Ephesians 5:22, “be subject to your own” uses the word “idios” which means, uniquely one’s own, peculiar to the individual. It is “stronger than the simple possessive pronoun (‘own’). This emphatic adjective means ‘private, personal’ “.

God gives each husband a wife, designed by God, Himself, to fulfill a role specifically for that husband. God gives the wife gifts, talents, abilities and a calling uniquely designed to serve God and to compliment and to complete the husband.

This is why the Bible says “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.

“So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself”.

It is also why God says “Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord”.

Neither, the husband nor the wife, can be made complete as persons when finding refuge, protection and provision. But as a God given ability, you can mature and sustain one another, until you understand this Spiritual principal and follow it.

Marriage has mutual strength through commitment and cooperation with one another under God’s Steady Hand.

Please take this to heart, dear ones. This message is so important.

The world and the Devil are deceiving the family in to thinking ‘what works for you is OK”. It is NOT OK. God’s design, His plan and His Word is what gives life, and life more abundant. Stop following the world and REASON through God’s Word. Understand it and live!

So, how does this apply to women in the church, and specifically women as pastors in a church? In this instance, it is much simpler to explain from Scriptures and even easier to understand than the first half of this article. Allow me to lay the groundwork:

First, all Scripture is the Breathed-out Word of God, according to 2 Timothy 3:16-17. The Bible tells us that the Word of God is without any error, is dependable, revealing, powerful, piercing, and eternal. It is the lamp unto our feet and the light upon our path. John 14:14-18 tells us that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and that Jesus is the Word! Additionally, Jesus tells us that He came to tell the truth (John 18:37), and that He in fact is The Truth (John 14:6). So, it is safe and wise to believe and to do whatever the Bible says – especially the plain things!

Therefore, when the Bible says, “As in all the churches of the saints, the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.”

I have read the numerous opinions and commentaries on this matter of women being ordained as a pastor. Reading the pros and cons doesn’t take one long to determine what the varying authors believed before they wrote their opinion. One such opinion, found on Bible.Org, written by a Sandra Glahn, who holds a Master of Theology degree from Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS) and a PhD in The Humanities, Aesthetic Studies from the University of Texas at Dallas, tries to frame the Apostle Paul’s words in the context of spiritual gifts, specifically prophecy and speaking in tongues. I find her attempt clumsy and severely biased at best, and the use of eisegesis, a deliberate distortion of scriptures, at worst, connecting dots that don’t align, so to speak.

The context of Paul’s remarks are about orderly worship but come under the heading of submission to authority as a protective covering as described throughout the Bible

1 Corinithians 11:2-3, “Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you. But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.”

The rebellious and feeble attempts to change the meaning and the context of this matter and these verses, should cause the rebel to remember these words: “Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say…?

His Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. God sent His Son to seek and to save – to make safe, to make whole, to make healthy and sound, with a great purpose and direction in life! And to as many as received Him by faith, He has given them the right to be the children of God.

For your own sake and safety, don’t change even one letter or iota of His Word! Believe and Live!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

https://whitestone2020.com/2024/11/18/about-submission-and-women-pastors/

PART 2

1. Now for part 2 – Submission and Women as pastors – It isn’t what you think

(This is an addendum to the original article “About Submission and Women Pastors”)

I have recently been challenged by someone suggesting that “since the Bible cites women who prophesied in the Bible, and since prophecy can be defined as both ‘forth telling’ and as ‘foretelling’, and since ‘forth telling’ is the same as preaching, the women can be pastors.”

Wow! Wow, wow, wow. Okay. Since A equals B and B equals C and C equals D, there really is no A because it is really a D; or a B or a C?

Seriously, let’s begin by being reminded that Jesus fulfilled the old covenant and thereby has established the New Covenant in His Blood. For one (big) example, there is no longer any need for repeated animal sacrifices to atone for sin. Jesus, the Lamb of God, was and is the final sacrifice for atonement (made “at one”, reconciled) with God.

Next, the Apostle Paul explains that the law (the Torah, also known as the “Halakha” which translates as “the path that one walks”, also referred to as the “Mitzvot”, “Mishna” and the “Talmud”, was codified into what we call the Old Testament around 400 to 200 B.C.). Paul was clear when He said, “Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.”

This is important to remember when it comes to properly interpreting, reading and understanding Scriptures. We are to consider Scriptures in their original text and context, with the Old Testament as background and the New Testament as its fulfillment.

(Another example is found in Matthew 5: 21-26, “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not murder,’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be answerable to the court.’ But I (Jesus) say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be answerable to the court; and whoever says to his brother, ^‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be answerable to the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. Come to good terms with your accuser quickly, while you are with him on the way to court, so that your accuser will not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you will not be thrown into prison. Truly, I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up every last cent.”

The New Testament (the New Covenant) is built upon the Old Testament (the Law and the Old Covenants), and the New Covenant has fulfilled the Law. That Law is now written upon our hearts and minds (see Jeremiah 31:33 and Hebrews 10:16), and we have the Holy Spirit as our guide.

This should lead us to consider some misconceptions held by some who would co-mingle or syncretize the old and the new Covenants. Remembering that Jesus warned,“neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled, and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.”

Some say it is okay for a woman to hold the office of pastor and to preach in a general assembly of believers, over both men and women. They say the Old Testament says that women prophesied, and since prophesying is a form of preaching, they can be pastors. I am not certain how a person could or even would link those two thoughts, but let me be clear. Number one, the role of a prophet or prophesying has absolutely no direct tie or effect upon the role of a pastor. A pastor might prophesy, whether preaching or foretelling, and a prophet might preach, but the roles are distinctively separate.

FACTS:

1. Nowhere in the Old Testament do we find a woman as a pastor (although she may have been a teacher. Some say men in leadership was just a cultural norm, and that custom has changed in the modern world. That  allegation is never mentioned in scriptures. What is mentioned is that God (and His Word) are the same yesterday, today and forever.
2. As mentioned above, we live under the New Covenant.
3. The Apostle Paul and the New Testament teaches that The Spiritual Gifts of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers are offices but only the office / gift of pastor is restricted to men.

1. 1. Jesus and the Apostle Paul taught on differences between the role and office of prophet and gift of prophecy.
   2. The word Pastor is a term derived from a Greek word for “shepherd”, and is reserved for the male in the Bible – a role for men. Pastoral Gifts include integrity and compassion. A shepherd (i.e., a pastor), is the feeder, protector, and ruler of a flock of men. Figuratively, a pastor is someone who the Lord raises up to care for the total well-being of His flock (the people of the Lord).  (Strong’s Concordance). Pastor:   This term derives from a Greek word for “shepherd”.  Pastoral Gifts include integrity and compassion.

The term “poimén” primarily refers to a shepherd, one who tends, leads, and cares for a flock of sheep. In the New Testament, it is used both literally and metaphorically. Literally, it describes those who care for sheep, while metaphorically, it refers to leaders or pastors who guide and nurture a community of believers, akin to a shepherd with his flock.

The image of a shepherd was deeply embedded in the cultural and religious consciousness of the Israelites, often symbolizing leadership, provision, and protection. This imagery is prevalent throughout the Bible, where God is depicted as the ultimate Shepherd of His people, and leaders are often called to emulate this role.

(The tasks of a Near Eastern shepherd were to watch for enemies trying to attack the sheep to defend the sheep from attackers to heal the wounded and sick sheep to find and save lost or trapped sheep to love them, sharing their lives and so earning their trust.

​During World War II, a shepherd was a pilot who guided another pilot whose plane was partially disabled back to the base or carrier by flying alongside him to maintain visual contact.)

4. In the New Testament, the office of prophet is to equip the saints for the work of service through exhortation, edification, and consolation (1 Corinthians 12:28; 1 Corinthians 14:3 Ephesians 4:11).  The prophet’s corresponding gift is prophecy. Prophecy is “reporting something from God’s Word that God brings to your mind”. Prophecy is addressed to the human understanding “he who prophesies speaks to men,” Corinthians 14:1-25. The prophet “edifies the church” (14:4).

5. Preaching is a role of an Apostle, Apostle: The title apostle comes from the Greek word apostolos which means “a messenger, one sent forth with orders”.  It refers to one who has been delegated authority by another in a foreign land.  Apostles were the first leaders of the Church; they were commissioned by Jesus to initiate and direct the preaching of the gospel , andthey were all men. No woman has even been assigned as an Apostle in the Bible. And although the OFFICE of Apostle is closed, the gift of bringing the message of the Gospel is still active.

7. Preaching is a role of an Evangelist. Evangelist:   An evangelist is one who devotes himself to preaching the gospel. In the New Testament, evangelists preached from city to city, church to church.

8. Preaching is a role of a Teacher:  Someone who devotes his or her life to preaching and teaching the Christian faith. When teaching is provided for the Church by God, two gifts are actually given—to the Church is given a teacher and along with the teacher comes a divine capacity to teach.

9. Finally, the Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 14:33- 38, speaks to the matter of women speaking in Churches. “As in all the churches of the saints, verse 34, the women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says. Verse 35. If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church. Verse 36. Or was it from you that the word of God first went out? Or has it come to you only?“

“Verse 37. If anyone thinks that he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord’s commandment. Verse 38. But if anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.”

This is a matter of authority-covering, protection and authority over God’s Church. There are so many roles and only one is absolutely, by scriptural authority, reserved for men – that of the office of Pastor, his roles, duties and responsibilities.

If someone knowingly links or lumps these offices together, it is both a misrepresentation of scriptures and a claim that the Word of God in incomplete and is malleable, open to personal interpretation. (However, 2 Peter 1:20 clearly mandates, But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture becomes a matter of someone’s own interpretation.)

Next, this is also using the method of Eisegesis to make a personal interpretation of scriptures, an interpretation of a text, especially a biblical text, by reading one’s own ideas or biases into it, rather than drawing out its original meaning. This approach is often subjective and can distort the intended message of the text. And although eisegesis itself is not classified as a heresy, it can lead to heretical interpretations of Scripture by imposing personal biases rather than drawing out the text’s original meaning. This practice is often criticized in theological discussions for distorting the intended message of the Bible.

When a church or a pastor decides to do these things, he (and she?) are operating “in the flesh” and outside the boundaries of clearly defined Scriptural mandates. And there really is no need nor a good reason to add one’s opinion to scriptures to achieve a personal result or to suit a personal view – and besides, there would be consequences in the Body.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

https://whitestone2020.com/2025/10/28/submission-and-women-as-pastors-it-isnt-what-you-think-an-addendum/

“The serpent said to the woman, “You certainly will not die!” Yet they died – all of them and trillions more.

Scriptures, from the beginning, have said to wives, “Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.” Yet, like Eve and like Sarah, when things did not go their way quickly enough, the acted on their own impulses. And the curse and consequences of sin ensued. And we suffer those consequences to this day.

“And men, you are to love you wives as Christ loves the Church”.

https://simplebooklet.com/simplechristianity

Simple Christianity – PDF format

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

WARNING – this could be considered controversial.

Perhaps you have read some books on Christianity or read of some people’s testimonies about the benefits and goodness of Christianity. Or maybe you have read some church websites that describe their cultures, goals and offerings. From what I have read, it would seem these would be some of the friendliest, kindest, warmest, happiest, safest, most understanding places on the earth. So why not give it a try?

Typically (which will vary from church to church) you walk into a church and are met by trained greeters at the door. They will seem friendly enough. Then you might even be met by an usher who will help you find a place to sit. At some point during the service, you may be directed by the worship leader or pastor to ‘turn and greet one another’. Then, depending on the denomination and the size of the church, you might be greeted by the pastor or an elder or deacon as you exit the church.

Not all the time, but sometimes this can seem very scripted. Almost like attending a theatre performance or a play.

They were polite, for the most part. But it was like everyone was detached from the present moment and were in a “presentation of another reality”, they were greeting people, but it was just for the program; they may have seemed to be in a hurry so they could move on to the next ‘guest’.

My presence, as a visitor, seemed to make no difference to them after the “job of greeting” was completed. (Even my grocery store will absent-mindedly welcome me. as I walked in. But their intentions were up-front. They wanted to make sure I would make a purchase – help them make a profit. Maybe I should have entered or left the church saying “I plan on giving or I gave to the offering today?”)

On one occasion I ran into some of the greeters from a church I had visited earlier that Sunday at a restaurant. I approached them to say I had enjoyed my visit, only to be met with a distant stare and a nod of approval. “Odd”, I thought.

On a couple of other occasions, I went out of my way to return to a church I had visited to meet the pastor later during the week for a more personal encounter only to be left with a feeling that I might have intruded on his time. (I kept thinking, afterward, that I might have had a friendlier encounter at my local Elks club or at the local bar (although I don’t frequent bars).

During a Wednesday evening service at another church we had been attending, we watched a video on ‘sexuality in the Bible’. Afterward we had a question-and-answer period. A man walked around the auditorium with a microphone allowing those who wanted, to answer questions about experiences of improper responses to sexual situations with Christians and how we handled them. I volunteered to contribute a story. Half was through my story a woman in the back of the church began to shout at me, “you sound like a chauvinist!” She continued to rant stopping me from speaking. I had been at this church less than a year, so I thought it best to go silent. After the class dispersed, many people came to me thanking me for my remarks and lamenting that I could not finish. The woman was not censured – not even spoken to about her ‘lunatic’ behavior. Yep. Just like any old townhall meeting – except we were in church.

Another time during a rather large Sunday School class, I was chatting before class began with a person I was trying to befriend. Suddenly, the ‘teacher’ bellowed across the room at me in an angry tone, “Mike, sit down. I want to get this going”. Both I and my ‘almost friend’ were shocked. This guy is an elder in the church and the teacher – yelling at me to sit down and be quiet? Realizing our shock, he stammered, “he’s a neighbor, so it’s okay”. (Well, we are neighbors, but no, it was not okay).

At another church, (at which I served as an associate pastor) the pastor had been confronted with adultery charges. It had become overwhelmingly plain that there was credibility to the allegations. I asked him privately if a third-party mediator from the district would be a good idea and he shouted at me to mind my own business. Then I suggested a counsellor or a therapist and he suggested I leave the church – which I did, later. (He was eventually found out).

Another time a pastor of another church asked to have lunch. I agreed. He attempted to get me to proselyte members from my current church to his startup church. I refused, whereupon he began to shout at me, accusing me of not being a good person nor of being a good Christian. (Sometimes I think I must have imagined these things. But these are real accounts).

My wife and I had been visiting yet another church for a few Sundays, and at the last minute decided to go to a Wednesday evening service. I did not have time to go home to get my Bible, but went went into this church anyway. As chance would have it, we encountered the pastor in a hallway before the service. I greeted him by saying hello, we are new here. He responded dryly saying “where’s your Bible?” I explained the circumstances and told him we had just moved into the area and told him my vocation. He stared at me and finally replied, “Well, good luck on that”, and walked away.

(These experiences happened at three different Southern Baptist churches, a Nazarene church and a Presbyterian church. I could go on and on, from church to church. But hopefully, you get the idea. We were members of our first church as Christians from 1976 through 1978 during a temporary military assignment in Texas and it was friendly and biblically sound. It was like a big family. Then we became members of a church in Virginia from 1978 through 1987 and it became our family – but things were changing. We moved to a church closer to our home from 1988 through 2005 and it was like a family-business. We relocated to another city and became members of a church – and an associate pastor – from 2005 through 2008, and it had an agenda and a philosophical socio-political worldview. We relocated to Florida and visited a church from 2008 through 2010 and joined as members from 2010 through 2018. We have been at our current church from 2018 to current day).

My experiences and assessment have to be an aberration. Right? I talk to some regular church goers and they say their church isn’t like that. That their church is really, really friendly. (So, I visited some of their churches, and I found them to be polite. I found them to be nice. But no. They weren’t really, really friendly.) So, I am left feeling that maybe it’s just me? I just don’t fit in there…or there…or there? Or am I just complaining? Neither. Or am I just saying aloud, what so many of you have been thinking. But, I am offering a solution – if we are willing.

Many pastors and church leaders will attempt to explain or excuse this behavior saying something like “church is a place for people, and people are sinners (hypocrites, liars, cheaters, etc.) covered by the Blood of Jesus and being sanctified to be like Christ – they are in process”. But many of these folks have been considering themselves as Christians for decades. So how long does this process of “becoming Christlike” take before they stop overt and blatant sinful behavior and actually become “Christlike”? Or is another issue at work here?

Please read this from Galatians 5:16, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. Verse 17. For the desire of the flesh is against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, in order to keep you from doing whatever you want. Verse 18. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Verse 19. Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior, verse 20, idolatry, witchcraft, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, 21envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Verse 22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, verse 23, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Verse 24. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

I believe many are not taking seriously (or just don’t understand) what it means to walk by the Spirit, so that you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. I believe this behavior in the church is becoming or has become the “new normal” in churches across our nation. It would seem that most of us who go to church have just adjusted to this “new normal” and accept it..

We used to say “my church is my family”. Now it is “this is where I go to church – it is where I attend”. (I attend a church now and as long as I stay quiet and speak when spoken to, we get along just great! You know, friends-at-arms-length).

One of the most foreign and socially inept, dysfunctional, and alienating places I have been in the last 10 or 15 years may be church.

Jesus warned that this day was coming. He said, in Matthew 24:12, “And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.” This verse highlights that during difficult times, especially in the end times, people’s love for one another can diminish due to increasing wickedness and challenges.”

(These examples I have cited are the milder examples. It is getting worse. Much worse. (https://arrestedpastor.com/).

So, let’s move on from this negative approach of “having identified the problem”, and please allow me appeal directly to the Body of Christ – you, the Church, (and yes, I am referring to myself, also):

Having been warned that these things would happen doesnt’ seem to have done much for correcting the problem. But folks, this just ain’t right.

Please read about the CHURCH, according to Strong’s Bible concordance. The term “Church”, comes from the Greek word Ekklesia, and it means “the called; the called-out ones:; these are people called out from the world’s belief systems and to God’s teachings on how to think, act and behave; the outcome being the Church (the mystical body of Christ) – i.e. the universal (total) body of believers whom God calls out from the world and into His eternal kingdom. This is what we, the Body of Christ should begin to focus on and practice until we get it right. Until it becomes not just what we do, but what we believe and are compelled to do by our mind, conscience, will and emotions.

The basics of the Ekklesia is that we, the Church, are called out of this world and no longer part of this world. Please let that sink in. Get the best picture of that in your mind as you are able.

We as Christians, are to be the mystical Body of Christ. We are being made into a peculiar people, made as God’s own possession for His own use.

This is a radical departure or progression from ‘going to church’ to be a better person, to a becoming a peculiarity. We are people who, as Christians, live in this world as resident aliens, foreigners and sojourners, travelers in a foreign nation – we have become citizens of the kingdom of heaven, on mission upon the earth.

Therefore, and thereby, we do not adopt but we must adapt. We do not adopt, copy or resemble this world and its ways but we adapt as we spread the message of the Kingdom of God. (Now, please, stop, and consider how you dress, how you talk, the things you do for entertainment and how you adorn your body. Do you mimic this world’s standards? Please understand that we are not secret agents just fitting in. We are openly and brazenly ambassadors for Christ. This is the litmus test.).

We are not to conform to this world, but we are to have been transformed by the renewing of our minds by the word of God, mirrowing Biblical beliefs and standards, so we may prove what is the good, acceptable and perfect will of God to those around us. (This phrase is from Romans 12:2 in the Bible, which encourages individuals not to adopt the behaviors and values of the world around them, but instead to be transformed by renewing their minds to understand God’s will, which is good and perfect. It emphasizes the importance of inner change and spiritual growth).

1 Peter 2:9, from the King James Bible, tells us, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people (from the Greek word, ‘peridoiesis’ – a preserving, saving unto the soul, God’s own property or possession, He has obtained); that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light”.

1 Peter 2:9, in the New King James Version puts it this way, “you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light”.

And, 1 Peter 2:9, from the New American Standard Bible say it thusly: “But you are A CHOSEN PEOPLE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR GOD’S OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light”.

Also,

Again in

Then

Psalms 135:4. also tells us “For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.

Titus 2:14. repeats that, “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

1 Peter 1:1-2., puts it this way, “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who reside as strangers, (parepidemos – a resident foreigner, an alien, a pilgrim, stranger) scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen (electos – chosen, elect, favorite).

And Jesus, in John 17:14 makes it clear when He praying to His Father and says, “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Verse 15. I am not asking You to take them out of the world, but to keep them away from the evil one. Verse 16. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

Matthew 5:13, reminds us that“You (followers of Christ Jesus) are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by people.

Verse 14. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; verse 15, nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Verse 16. Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

We are to be counter-cultural to the world and its systems and beliefs.  We are to be cultural influencers, agents of change.

Like light is to darkness and salt is to infection.

Light shows the way, stays rot and decay, provides safety in travel and reveals that which is unknown.

Salt is essential for maintaining fluid balance in the body, aiding in nerve function and regulating muscle contraction. It also enhances the flavor of food and is used in food preservation. So is the life and teachings of Christ.

We live in the world, but we are not of this world. We walk, we talk, we eat, drink and breathe the air. We are bipedal, we have sight. On first glance, we look like everyone else, but upon closer observation, we are not like everyone else at all. Not even close.

We may be like the sheep being led to slaughter, but do not be deceived – we overcome the evils of this world mightily by the word of our testimony and by the Blood of the Lamb. And in that we have a message of bad news and of Good News.

The bad news is that this world is perishing and even now is in the throws like a mother in birth pains. However, these pains lead to death and destruction, the final judgements of God on a sinful and decadent world, always and only doing evil.

The Good News is that there is a way out of this spiritual anarchism and chaos. A way to be saved from the destruction that is at hand. A way to live now, in peace, love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and with self-control and ultimately in the kingdom of our God, in His presence where there are no more tears, no more sickness or death, no more hatreds. Where there is no need of the light of the moon or the sun because He will be our Light. In the place where the river of life flows freel

He is calling to you, now. He is saying “Come, follow Me. I am the Way the Truth and the Life. I am the Only Way to the Father and to the eternal home I have prepared for you.”

Just saying these things or saying they are so is not enough. We must live in them because we know it is so. People are watching and waiting and God has chosen us to be that peculiar people as a living example of what it means and what it looks like to be one of His Chosen.

For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing:  to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things? For we are not like the many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God. (2 Corinthians 2:15-17).

Please consider this as an appeal in humility.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young.

Plan, Purpose, Methods and Ways

(Concealed Church Name)

(Concealed City Name)

• Engage, Evangelize, Edify, Equip, and Encourage
• Introduce, inform, instruct, inspire, ignite
• (Reaching the Lost and Making Disciples for Jesus)
• Family, Individual and Youth Discipleship and Development

Objectives: Reach the lost and gather the straying sheep, build up the Body of Christ, His Church.

We are to be built up into the priesthood of believers, commissioned and sent as missionaries and ambassadors of Christ, to

(# 1), the lost, and,

(# 2), the straying sheep of God, and

(# 3), for the building up of the Body of Christ.

(In other words, we need to tell and show the lost and remind the straying sheep of God, the Gospel message in word, by our behavior and deed. Then, to make disciples, teaching and training them to also become missionaries (disciple-makers) for Christ. By this we establish the Church (Ekklesia, the called out ones) within our Church Body.

Jesus taught that “Foxes have holes and Birds of the Air have nests”. He is saying that we are to go out and make disciples. We are not to retreat to the comfort and safety of our ‘fox dens’ or our ‘feathered nests’. He never advocated a stationary and static church, i.e., a “legacy type of church”.

We should be careful to not prematurely integrate people into a static church (a legacy type of church). We should allow people to naturally gravitate into God’s fellowship of believers, but, while that occurs, we must provide fertile soil which comes from the mission Jesus gave the Church, the gamelan of ministry and the cycle of discipleship, i.e., the way Jesus taught and demonstrated.

Everything we do should point to making individuals, families (fathers, mothers and children) integral  participants in Jesus’ Mission, in our local Body.

We must change what ‘coming to church’ or ‘attend church’ means. We come to Church in order to GO OUT from the Church to reach our community and world, and that is how we are to GROW! 

To accomplish this, we probably need to consider reviewing or changing our attitude and paradigm of “coming to church”.

First of all, research shows that people come to church for specific reasons. And becoming an audience or an adherent is not on the list. But, they will leave if thier initial expectations are not met.

Here are the top 10 reasons given by Americans who attend religious services at least once a month, according to Pew. Survey. (For you information, respondents were allowed to give more than one reason.) The percentage refers to people who said this was a “very important” reason for their decision:

1. To become closer to God. (81%)
2. So their children will have a moral foundation. (69%)
3. To become a better person. (68%)
4. For comfort in times of trouble or sorrow. (66%)
5. They find the sermons valuable. (59%)
6. To be part of a faith community. (57%)
7. To continue their family’s religious traditions. (37%)
8. They feel a necessary obligation to go. (31%)
9. To meet new people or socialize. (19%)
10. Because the pastor knows my name. (added by author.)

People need to come to church to meet Jesus; to learn about Him, to come to know Him personally and intimately by the Word of God, and by our living example; they need to  learn how to follow Him – which is both taught and caught, and learn to become fully devoted followers of Jesus. Then, they and we, together, GO and live out our relationship with Him let that be our witness! Go and order to Grow!

(for the full ariticle see Please Don’t Leave).

We need to understand the demographics and discover ways to become more visible and find UNIQUE ways to serve the community – and that boils down to being like Jesus and doing what He did and taught.

GO OUT with activities: Churches tend to hold ‘events’ in order to attract people to Church. So, we invite people to Chruch on a holiday or a speical occasion, maybe once very few months, hoping we will attract some to come back. But unless there is something to keep them coming back, (about 25% will come back a second time if everything goes just right), it’s a one-and-done matter.

It is God who draws people and saves them. We are simply His Hands, Feet and Voice. We go in His Name. But,

#1. We need “Meet them where they live”. We take the Church to them. It can no longer be “Come Grow With Us”. It has to be “Let’s GO and Grow in Christ Together”. Find ways to keep them coming back, every week.

Many church-growth programs actually pander to the community, so they attract those ‘already saved’ who are shopping churches. That is, I believe, why baptisms are so low. We aren’t reaching a lost world, we are reaching a saved and straying world!

We can continue to do what is working. PLUS, here are some EXAMPLES of IDEAS to go OUT and build:

(1). Build a youth soccer program – Soccer wrapped in the Gospel – A uniquely Christian approach – teach and coach joy, to be peacemakers, kind, good, patient, gentle, self-controlled, yet, proficient, competitive, hardworking, reaching for excellence. Imagine the (Concealed Name) Baptist Church Family Youth Soccer Program!

(Just FYI, I have had experience and qualifications as national youth license, 15 + years experience.

Area Demographics known. Here is an examples of another church doing these very things: Shepherds.Org.

(1.a). Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in America! Kids love it, Dads and Moms love it and if you try it, you will love it too! It is a perfect FAMILY activity! Build a Soccer Program wrapped in the Gospel – a uniquely Christian approach to this sport and influence our area for Christ!

This is a kid and family magnet. Imagine, the (Concealed Name) Baptist Church Family Pickleball Club!!

(And by the way, I have been a pickleball club director and I am currently rated as an advanced player and coach)

(1b.) Bible Quzzing is another exciting and fun ways to get our kids and teens into memorizing the Bible. This is an exciting activity with a purpose! You would be greatly suprised how fun this is and how much the kids love it!

Imagine the (Concealed Name) Baptist Church Quiz Team!! (And by the way, my wife has been a Quizzing coach and organizer when our kids were adolescents and teens).

(1c). Offering public neighborhood and citywide conferences on subjects such as

“Is The End Of The World A Possibility?” (Eschatology – End Times),

“Is Peace Possible in this crazy world – And How About Me and My Family?”,

“How Can I Know That God Really Exists – And How Does That Change Things for Me?”

Future planning: There is a plethora of other means and a multitude of ideas, but the main thing is that we build continuity into our Family, Teen and Children’s ministry. Something parents and kids will come back for, week after week, and not just a seasonal or occasional ‘one-and-done’ activity which repeats quarterly or annually.

ALL OF THESE THINGS, AND MORE, TO INFLUENCE AND REACH YOUR HOME AREA AND BEYOND FOR CHRIST!

(2) We must intentionally ADOPT our visitors and new members as “being part of our family”, from day ONE.

(a). Greeting our visitors and getting to know our new members in ways that make them feel at home, can be intimidating for our MEMBERS. So, perhaps we should hold classes and teach, help and train our MEMBERS the “HOW TO techniques and methods” on greeting, creating conversations and making our visitors feel at home and part of our Church Family. (Improve our ‘meet and greet the people around you’ only to go back to ‘sitting in our own little groups, staring forward and listening to the sermon after our greetings.)

(3). Coming to church AS A VISITOR can be uncomfortable, and even intimidating for most people. We must remember that our visitors are just that: visiting us. And we only get ONE CHANCE at making a FIRST IMPRESSION, and that it is a 25-70 deal at best. So, we must turn that around and make it about them. We need to let them know how important they are to us and to Jesus. We need to make them feel as if they are at home, and it is as if we are the visitors in their house! We have to change the paradigm.

(4). Perhaps we could form Parent-children mentoring (discipleship) sessions early in the visitation process or “new member’s class” process. For example:  we begin meeting in special orientation sessions as a way to help them  integrate.

(4a). Design short discussion games with parents and kids.

(4b). Separate into parent groups and youth groups.  Teach from selected scriptures. Then, discuss achievements and needed improvement in behaviors, activities, family environments, etc., in light of selected scriptures.

Form and Technique: What is meant is that we must build the next generation by TRULY making disciples. I.e., “we must decrease in our influence so Jesus can increase through us and the others among us”. It means that we must teach, train, encourage and send; THEN we must begin to replace ourselves with THE NEXT GENERATION – on purpose!

We will be building a Family Ministry to young families and youth as  part of the main Body here at (Concealed Name) Baptist Church, yet separate from the routine – think of it as a Missionary Church Plant WITHIN OUR OWN BODY!

Our focus must be on Jesus’ mission, calling, plan, methods and ways. We should minimize our own creativity. We must constantly be on mission, teaching, instructing, training and inspiring fathers, mothers and children to become mature as living examples, teaching, and training in righteousness, so that they, as servants of God are thoroughly equipped for every good work through the Spiritual Gifts God has granted each one for the building up of the Body: (also see Pastor Vern Collins, UMC Boone).

1. Lead them to Christ; disciple them in His Name, His calling, His mission, His purpose and His ways;
2. Lead them to become fully involved, inspired, excited, devoted followers of Jesus, and
3. Teach them to become disciple makers,
4. Executing Jesus’ mission, His plan, using His method for His purpose.
5. Then, send them. They, then, ARE the Church. “It is no longer ‘we four, and no more’”.
6. Encourage and assist them in building His Church (not ‘our church’), and sending His church out (not ‘our church’). WE MUST DECREASE SO HE, JESUS, CAN INCREASE.

NOW THE BOMBSHELL. Plant a Church within our Church, just like Jesus did it.

We begin with those in our Church whom God has gifted to be disciple-makers. God has alredy Gifted and Equipped them. These will become our Church Planters (Family and Youth Ministry planters) within our Church. This will be and EXTENSION of our Body, new and separate, but fitted together with the Body.

God will provide the gifts and talents necessary, not only for our Church Planters but also for these new believers to – FROM DAY ONE – to become capable of leading the way forward!

God will provide the gifts and talents necessary, not only for our Church Planters but also for these new believers to – FROM DAY ONE – to become capable of leading the way forward! Please take a look at this list of Spiritual Gifts and the linked test below this list.

GIFTS                  MINISTRIES            EFFECTS             OFFICES

Romans 12      1 Corinthians 12     1 Corinthians 12:28   Ephesians 4:11

Prophecy           Word of wisdom        Apostle                    Apostle

Serving              Word of knowledge   Prophet                   Prophet

Teaching            Faith                          Teacher                   Evangelist

Exhortation       Gifts of healing          Miracles                  Pastor

Giving               Miracles                       Kinds of healing    Teacher

Overseer            Prophecy                    Helps

Mercy                Distinguishing spirits     Administration

(Click here for an online Spiritual Gifts Test).

I am providing an example here, of how new believers become “fitted together with the Body” when establishing a Young Families and Youth Ministry by Planting a church within a Church. (see Boone UMC – Vern Collins link below). My son and his family were living in Boone, NC. Their pastor was a man named Vern Collins.  I met him at my son and daughter-in-law’s house during a soccer related cookout. (My son and family were moving). Instead of leaving after the cookout, Vern stayed and helped them pack their moving van. Vern lives with and in Jesus’ Church body. They are his extended family. I visited their church after they moved and got to know Vern Collins just a little better. The Boone United Methodist church needed to attract and establish (grow) a youth group.

They started by building a group within the Church and ended up planting a new church INSIDE the existing Church and eventually they GREW TOGETHER and ‘co-mingled’. They are still doing that to this day! (Please view the LINK at the bottom of this page).:

We say that we are ambassadors for Christ which is just another way to say that we are missionaries for Christ. We are on mission, planting churches – first within our own Church Body, then OUTSIDE our walls in the future!

We say we are missionaries and ambassadors for Christ. So, let’s be that!

(And as an addition to my resume and experience: I have had decades experience working with youth, both in the church and outside the church).

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young (Pastor/Teacher/Evangelist/Church Planter).

(Additional resources):

AND YOU SHALL BE MY DISCIPLES

A PROPHETIC WORD FROM JESUS TO GIVE YOU LIFE

CHRISTIAN ETHOS IN ACTION – “IF YOU”…

Statistics show that we, the Church, are losing attendance, losing members, losing credibility, and we are losing the next generation to the world’s ways and beliefs. Some are dropping out from boredom, some from disappointment, others dont’ see the relevance. They are being influenced and trained by liberal and pagan social media outlets.

We have to engage them in Biblically sound and exciting ways. It has to be exciting, relevant, active, life challenging and life changing. It has to be the Gosple as Jesus taught it. People, families and kids want to be involved and not just an idle audience.

God is calling, and if we are willing, this is going to happen. We will be that “light of the world, a city set on a hill that cannot be hidden”.

Your pastor, brother and friend,

Mike Young

PS:

I would not be coming here to perpetuate a Legacy Church. I am called to do the will of God by following Jesus

By proclaiming and teaching His Message, His Methods and His Ways;

To execute His Plan by adopting and following his Purpose, Using His Methods.

I have no doubt in my mind that God is calling me, has commissioned and sent me to bring His Good News to the humble and afflicted;

That He has is sending me to bind up the wounds of the brokenhearted, and to release the mental, emotional, physical and spiritual captive from their confinement, condemnation and bondage and to set those prisoners free by the will and power of the Gospel of Jesus.

I am here to proclaim the favor of the LORD is to come upon this Church.

I am here to comfort all who mourn, to give them a new hope instead of living in the ashes of the past; I am bringing oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a cloak of praise instead of a disheartened spirit.

You would become known as oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.

We will rebuild the ruins of the postmodern Church, and we will raise up and restore the former ways of Christ Jesus.

We will renew the ruined sanctuary of God, and the memory of the glories our God to this generation and this in this day.

Henceforth, people you haven’t known up until now, will come and will give to you freely, and they will become your laborers in God’s Work here.

You shall be called the priests of the LORD in this place; people will speak of you as the ministers of God.

You will enjoy a new health and new wealth.

Instead of our former embarrassments or shame we will share in a double portion of God’s Spiritual Blessings; And instead of past humiliation we will shout for joy over this new portion from God.

Everlasting joy will be ours – for those who will trust and follow God in all of His plans, purposes, methods and way.