“And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.”  Jeremiah 3:15 Brian Kluth is a best-selling author of several books on generosity. He was a pastor himself for 10 years and is now the national spokesman for the annual Bless Your Pastor initiative, which is organized by the National Association of Evangelicals.   Tell us about the three-step program for blessing pastors and church staff. The three steps are: 1. Download free materials for your church and share them with church leaders, including a flier titled "50 Ways to Bless Y ..read more

Mark Biller is executive editor at Sound Mind Investing. Mark recently published an article in the latest SMI newsletter titled “Measuring the Market’s Valuation. "Market valuation" refers to the process of assessing the worth or value of the overall stock market or individual stocks within it. It involves determining whether the current prices of stocks accurately reflect their underlying fundamentals, such as earnings, assets, and growth potential. Market valuation is essential because it helps investors make informed decisions about buying or selling stocks.   Here's why market va ..read more

First, a hat tip to our friends at The Gospel Coalition for a great article on this topic. By 2030, Baby Boomers are expected to pass nearly $68 trillion in assets to their children, primarily millennials. Millennials are projected to hold five times as much wealth by 2030 compared to today. Concerns arise regarding the impact of declining church giving as Boomers pass away. Smaller and larger churches alike are experiencing a downturn in giving, with even larger evangelical churches seeing a drop during the COVID-19 pandemic. Younger generations prioritize charitable giving, potentially ..read more

Start with the differences between how men and women tend to think or approach life. Broad generalities about men and women in relationships don't apply to every couple. Contrasts between men and women: builders vs. beautifiers, risk takers vs. nest builders, task-focused vs. relationship-focused, big picture vs. detail-oriented, factual vs. intuitive, compartmentalized vs. centralizing. Men tend to be the head of the home, and women tend to be the heart of the home. Opposites often attract in couples, with one being more of a thinker and the other more of a feeler, both holding equal importa ..read more

Some statistics claim that 54 percent of American employees are happy with their jobs. Then again, apparently, 83 percent of us are suffering from work-related stress.   So, what does all this mean for you?  If work-related pressure is getting you down, what do you do? Quit? Re-train and change jobs? Grit your teeth and keep going? We suggest you step back and ask a different question: As a believer in Christ, why are you working in the first place? The desire to do productive, meaningful work is in our D-N-A.  In fact, when God created Adam and Eve, He immediately set them ..read more

Jerry Bowyer is our resident economist and author of The Maker versus the Takers: What Jesus Really Said About Social Justice and Economics Today, we’re continuing our series on just what a Christian economic worldview should look like and how we can return to God’s plan for a healthy economy. Last time, Jerry told us that we have to see and think clearly and understand that an economic system fits together coherently with cause and effect. We need to see that the God who made man and the God who made the earth is one God with one mind and we are compatible with one another.    ..read more

Brad Guffey is Chief Medical Director at Family Legacy Missions International where he specializes in treating infectious diseases. Family Legacy is the ministry changing the lives of around 13,000 orphans in Zambia. They do that through a 4-part program: helping children grow academically, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.    The physical and healthcare services that Family Legacy provides to Zambian children have grown tremendously in the last 10 years.  Emphasis on pragmatism and efficiency in their approach. Belief in being faithful in small tasks. Acknowledgment of ..read more

“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”  Ephesians 6:11 Chris Meyer is Manager of Stewardship Investing Advocacy and Research at Praxis Mutual Funds,  an underwriter of this program.    What exactly is shareholder advocacy and how does Praxis do it? Many people begin by screening or avoiding certain industries or companies based on their values. Screening is a valid approach but has limited power to create real change. Praxis uses seven different impact strategies for investments. Shareholder advocacy is one of these ..read more

The past few years haven’t been easy for small businesses in the U.S. The pandemic threw the supply chain, the workforce, and the economy into chaos, forcing many small companies to close their doors, and sending workers home by the millions. But small business owners are nothing if not resourceful, and many of you have pivoted into the new realities with determination and creativity. Of course, as Christians in business, we are called to a higher standard.  Colossians 3:23 – 24 says, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will rec ..read more

Family financial expert Crystal Paine is the creator of the amazing website MoneySavingMom.com.   SAVING MONEY WHEN PLANNING A WEDDING The biggest thing is you need a budget. How much money can you realistically devote to paying for this wedding? Really think about your priorities when it comes to that budget.    CREATE A BUDGET Create a budget by category and then decide what categories you want to prioritize and put a little bit more money in. And in which areas could you live with spending a little less? For example, perhaps you decide that spending a lot of money on pro ..read more