Blog Archives

Review of The Worship Architect: A Blueprint for Designing Culturally Relevant and Biblically Faithful Services, 2nd. ed., 2021

Constance M. Cherry. The Worship Architect: A Blueprint for Designing Culturally Relevant and Biblically Faithful Services. 2nd edition, 2021. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic. 340 pp. ISBN 978-1-5409-6388-8 ‌By Jay Dyrland, DWS With the rise of the church growth movement … Continue reading

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Is the Gospel (Really) for Everyone? Toward a More Inclusive Body

By K. Dubbeldam, BABGS and K.A. Pudlas, EdD Two questions are foundational in this article: 1. What is the Gospel? 2. Is the Gospel intended for everyone?  What follows is an exploration of these formative questions and a discussion of … Continue reading

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Review of Sandra Maria Van Opstal, The Next Worship: Glorifying God in a Diverse World, 2016

Van Opstal, Sandra Maria. The Next Worship: Glorifying God in a Diverse World. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2016. ISBN: 978-0-8308-4705-1 By Melissa Davis, DMA Sandra Maria Van Opstal’s book, The Next Worship: Glorifying God in a Diverse World, urges ministry … Continue reading

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Overture: The Qualities and Concerns of a Worship Leader

By Vernon Charter, DWS, and Mark Jonah, DWS This article explores the ministry of worship leaders in Canadian evangelical churches. While some churches have worship pastors, many churches in our country cannot afford to hire trained ministers of worship; but … Continue reading

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Spiritual Learning Challenges Related to Hearing: Are You Also a Special Needs Christian?

By Kenneth A. Pudlas, EdD 14 And in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says, ‘You shall keep on listening, but shall not understand; And you shall keep on looking, but shall not perceive; 15 For the heart of this people has … Continue reading

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Helping Youth with Anxiety

By Todd Dutka, MA, RCC Introduction  Today, whether consciously or unconsciously, many people feel a persistent sense that they are in some or many ways unprepared for what is coming their way, overwhelmed by the real or perceived demands placed … Continue reading

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Learning Disabilities and Spiritual Applications: Help, Lord! I Have a Spiritual Disability

By Kenneth A. Pudlas, EdD Tell them: ‘Hear this, you foolish people who have no understanding, who have eyes but do not discern, who have ears but do not perceive. (Jeremiah 5:2 NET) Introduction One of the most influential events of … Continue reading

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Review of Grant Macaskill, Autism and the Church, Bible, Theology, and Community, 2019

Macaskill, Grant. Autism and the Church, Bible, Theology, and Community. Waco, Texas: Baylor University Press. 2019. ISBN 9781481311250 By Laurel Archer, MA, MASF The pervasive incidence of Autism in the world should perhaps be enough for churches to formalize a … Continue reading

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Review of Disability: Living into the Diversity of Christ’s Body, 2021

Brock, Brian, 2021. Disability: Living into the Diversity of Christ’s Body, Baker Academic, Grand Rapids, Michigan, ISBN9781540964212 By Estera Boldut, MAMFT, RSW, PsyD After I moved to Canada, I worked as a support worker for people with developmental disabilities for … Continue reading

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Formation, Education, and the Always-On, Always-On You Smartphone

By Rob Rhea, PhD Introduction Smartphones are everywhere, can do everything, and are reshaping the ways people relate to one another. Making an actual phone call is almost passé. In Sherry Turkle, in her insightful book Reclaiming Conversation: The Power … Continue reading

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Cultivating Generosity at Home

By Ron Sing, BA Cultivating a culture of generosity radically and spiritually transforms individuals. It increases the believer’s love for God and secures treasures in heaven for all eternity. God wants only the best for his people as they handle … Continue reading

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From Us to Them to Family

By John Dyck, MA, and Ken Pudlas, EdD Introduction Earlier articles published in NIMER have dealt with the broad topic of diversity and inclusion. For the most part they discussed the church’s responsibility to be inclusive of all persons including … Continue reading

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Review of Recovering: From Brokenness and Addiction to Blessedness and Community, 2020

By Paul Beckett, MD, CCFP(AM), FASAM, Dip.ABAM Aaron White, 2020. Recovering: From Brokenness and Addiction to Blessedness and Community. Ada, Ml: Baker Academic. ISBN 9781540960825 I have worked in the ER managing overdoses, on the ICU and medical wards managing … Continue reading

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Toward Structurally Inviting and Inclusive Churches

Kenneth A. Pudlas, EdD Seminarians and others preparing for vocational ministry, whose calling is to minister to the Body of Christ on earth in some capacity, must bring into confluence their head, hand, and heart if they are to be … Continue reading

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Shrinking the Margins: The Church and Diversity

This article continues an ongoing exploration of inclusion and widens the biblical worldview lens to consider marginalization based on diversity in ethnicity, race, culture, and values. Continue reading

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