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“Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10-12). This really got my attention, so I wanted to share it with anyone interested in history. One of my friends told me about a powerful lesson in her daughter's high school class recently. They're learning about the Salem Witch Trials, and their teacher told them they were going to play a game. But first; The Salem witch trials were a series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts between February 1692 and May 1693. More than 200 people were accused. Thirty people were found guilty, nineteen of whom were executed by hanging (fourteen women and five men). One other man, Giles Corey, died under torture after refusing to enter a plea, and at least five people died in the disease-ridden jails. "I'm going to come around and whisper to each of you whether you're a witch or a regular person. Your goal is to build the largest group possible that does NOT have a witch in it. At the end, any group found to include a witch gets a failing grade." The teens dove into grilling each other. One fairly large group formed, but most of the students broke into small, exclusive groups, turning away anyone they thought gave off even a hint of guilt. "Okay," the teacher said. "You've got your groups. Time to find out which ones fail. All witches, please raise your hands." No one raised a hand. The kids were confused and told the teacher he'd messed up the game. "Did I? Was anyone in Salem an actual witch? Or did everyone just believe what they'd been told?" And that is how you teach kids how easy it is to divide a community. Keep being welcoming, beautiful people. Shunning, scapegoating and dividing destroys far more than they protect. Do not allow the political elite to divide us. We must remain united against those who would do so. PUBLISHER 6 September 2024 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida edition South Florida Edition • Good News • September 2024 • Volume 26, Issue 6 Advertising: We reach over 110,000 readers each month. 80,000 in print and 30,000 via our online digital edition. Placing an ad in our publication is affordable and effective to help grow your business. Call us today! Distribution: Available in more than 800 locations throughout South Florida. To become a free distribution point for the newspaper, please contact Shelly. The Good News is published by Good News Media Group, LLC, Reproduction in whole or part strictly forbidden without the consent of the publisher. Copyright 2024. All rights reserved. Good News Media Group, LLC. PO Box 670368, Coral Springs, FL 33067 954-564-5378 • www.goodnewsfl.org Publisher: Leslie J. Feldman [email protected] Editor: Shelly Pond [email protected] Advertising & Marketing: Robert “Buddy” Helland Jr. V.P. Sr. Marketing Manager [email protected] Art Director: Milton McPherson [email protected] Associate Art Director: Joseph Sammaritano [email protected] Social Media Manager: Ariel Feldman [email protected] Editorial Assistant: Eric Solomon [email protected] Cover Photography: Justus Martin [email protected] PERSPECTIVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Close Encounters of the God Kind – by Stephan N. Tchividjian IN THE WORD . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Declaring the Gospel on Capitol Hill – by Franklin Graham FOSTER CARE . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 4KIDS Announces New President YOU ASK WHY? . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 The Battle for the Mind – by Dr. Tommy Boland COVER ARTICLE . . . . . . .16 – 17 Among the Largest Congregations in America, Christ Fellowship Celebrates 40 Years of Impact – by Shelly Pond THE CODE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 A Prayer of Desperation – by Dr. O.S. Hawkins PARENTING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Teaching Children How to Handle their Emotions by Dr. Bob Barnes and Torrey Roberts CHRISTIAN COLLEGE GUIDE 2024 . . . . . . . . . . . .21 – 44 MARRIAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46 Blind Spots- by Lisa May GOOD NEWS WANTS TO KNOW . . . . . .48 – 49 Are you an early bird or a night owl? Why? LEGAL Q&A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 AI and Attorneys: An Enhancement, Not a Replacement - by William "Bill" C. Davell, Paul May and Manooch Azizi OPINION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52 WE GET LETTERS . . . . . . . . . . .54 COMMUNITY NEWS . . . . . . . .56 CALENDAR . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 - 59 CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . . .60 - 63 Don’t Let Them Divide Us On The Cover Among the largest congregations in the country, Christ Fellowship celebrates 40 years of impacting our community. Pictured are Julie and Todd Mullins, Senior Pastors of Christ Fellowship. Based in Palm Beach Gardens, the church now has campuses in 13 locations throughout Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast. Read the cover article on pages 16-17. Photo courtesy of Christ Fellowship. Leslie J. Feldman CONTENTS Good News • September • Volume 26 Issue 6
PERSPECTIVE 8 September 2024 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida edition In 1977, the famous movie producer and director Steven Spielberg introduced us to the character Roy Neary, who had a close encounter with aliens. Perhaps I am aging myself, but the five notes of G, E, C, D and F continue to ring in my head. My imagination was stirred, thinking about meeting someone from another planet, speaking a different language and sharing different values. I think, as humans, we are intrigued but terrified all at the same time. I recently saw a news story about a group of loggers in Peru encountering the Mashco Piro, an uncontacted indigenous tribe. The group had gathered on a riverbank in the Peruvian Amazon rainforest to see who had come to visit. Perhaps they, too, were intrigued and terrified all at the same time. Missions Many years ago, I had the privilege of leading the missions department of our church. Since high school, I had participated in several international mission trips and always appreciated the fact that they took me out of my comfort zone, made me question some of my assumptions and created opportunities to engage with new friends. The combination was powerful — it was a bit intriguing but terrifying all at the same time. Many of my earthly heroes are men and women who have devoted their lives to engaging people of different cultures, worldviews, perspectives, languages, dress, food, values and driving habits. I am always humbled by their intentionality and patience in going to hard places and doing the hard things (a tagline from one such person). These examples of fully devoted Jesus followers have always caught my attention because I am prone to ask myself if I would be willing to do the same. Am I willing to expose myself to such significant sacrifice and pain? I don’t believe God has called us all to venture out into some rainforest or desert to engage people — but has He not called us to engage with all people? “They” are different Recently, I was reflecting on how I’m surrounded by a culture, both in and out of the Church, that is very eclectic, diverse and sometimes hard to understand. Additionally, I couldn’t help but pick up on some of the divisive language used as people describe others who are different from themselves. I have been guilty of referring to the proverbial “they” on more than one occasion. I chuckle because I often wonder who the “they” are. I also know that my opinion of the “they” has often changed when I meet them, sometimes unknowingly. Several years ago, a longform ad for Heineken beer made such a point. Ouch! (Look it up.) Therefore, perhaps God has not called me into a foreign land thousands of miles away, but He has called me to approach my own neighborhood, place of work and community of family and friends the same way. Cross-cultural ministry My limited exposure to effective “cross-cultural” ministry (that’s a fancy phrase for missionary work) has enlightened me to some of the training and practices that go into preparing and engaging in the work that proves effective. Additionally, when we refer to “the work,” we mean introducing the life and teachings of Jesus so that the encounter with Him leads to a surrendered life. I have noticed many things, but there are a few that I can apply to my life now. First, I ask myself, how intentional am I? Am I willing to leave my comfort zone to enter the danger zone to share that simple message? Do I care so much that it affects my behavior? Second, if I discover a sliver of intentionality within my soul, am I willing to be a learner of what is around me? For example, Paul in the Bible noticed different idols in the city of Antioch, and that observation helped outline his conversations and teachings. A learner listens, asks questions, and acknowledges that they are often an invited guest and not the host of the conversation. A learner is humble, teachable and curious. Third, do I realize my job is to be the messenger and not the message? For example, when someone who thinks differently than I do is bold enough to ask for my opinion on a matter, do I respond with gentleness, humility and few words? Do I invite a similar response? Sometimes I feel the pressure to be so convincing of my point of view or belief that if a person does not respond favorably, I am tempted to double down with my rhetoric, sheer number of words, and “facts,” hoping to elicit a favorable response. Again, ouch! (Because it’s embarrassing!) Lastly, God encourages me to play the long game. I noticed that my heroes always played the long game. They are “lifers,” knowing that they may never see the response they were hoping for — not yet at least. Ambassadors Therefore, I am surrounded by people from another so-called “planet.” They speak different languages than I do, hold different moral values and have different dress, hobbies, foods and political views. Those around me can even possibly threaten my way of life too. However, God has called me to be, first and foremost, His sent ambassador. He has assigned me to a people and a place, and it’s my distinct privilege to see those around me the way He does. Perhaps there is much I can learn from my missionary heroes. God has invited me to experience a close encounter of His kind, and the five notes are F, G, A, C and D notes…which is His Amazing Grace. Stephan N. Tchividjian is the CEO and co-founder of the National Christian Foundation South Florida. Visit southflorida.ncfgiving.com to learn more. Close Encounters of the God Kind - Stephan Tchividjian - CEO and Co-Founder, National Christian Foundation South Florida
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10 september 2024 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • south Florida edition IN THE WORD In just a few months, Americans will go to the polls to elect our national, state and local leaders, including the next president of the United States. This summer, both parties held their 2024 national conventions to nominate their respective candidates for president. We all know that our nation is in trouble, as we deal with unchecked illegal immigration, escalating tensions around the globe and an alarming moral and spiritual decline. My grandchildren’s generation is facing an epidemic of “deaths of despair” — suicides and drug overdoses both now outnumber fatal auto accidents. It’s heartbreaking to see so many young souls living without hope. None of us knows exactly what will be the outcome on Nov. 5, when more than 100 million voters will cast their ballots. I encourage every voter to prayerfully examine the platforms from both parties and see how they measure up to Biblical principles. In addition to the presidential election, we need to pay attention to all the other races, from Congress to local school boards. However, the answers to our country’s fundamental problems are not to be found in the Republican or Democratic parties. Many of our ills are the result of our nation turning its back on God. I pray and hope that voters will seek God’s will, knowing that His sovereign wisdom and counsel will heal our nation. Recently I was in Washington, D.C., for the unveiling of a statue in the U.S. Capitol honoring my father’s lifetime of ministry. The bronze statue portrays him preaching the Gospel, with a Bible draping his left hand and his right hand open in an invitation to the lost. A plaque on the statue describes him as a “Preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” The pedestal, carved from pink North Carolina granite, conveys two powerful Scriptures. One side has John 14:6: “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” The other side has John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” My father called John 3:16 his favorite verse. He learned it from his mom, and it became a hallmark of his Crusades. He often described it as the Bible in miniature. The statue has another subtle message in the pages of his Bible, which is open to Galatians 6:14. This was a verse that Daddy had underlined in red in his study Bible. “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world” (KJV). Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson read that passage from my father’s study Bible during the dedication ceremony. Among the statues in the U.S. Capitol building, seven are of former presidents — including four my father knew. Others are tributes to the likes of Thomas Edison, Will Rogers, Rosa Parks and Amelia Earhart. Now, the Capitol finally has a preacher! My father’s statue is displayed in the Crypt, which was originally conceived as a final resting place for the father of our country, George Washington — though no one was ever buried there. Because public tours of the Capitol begin there, some 3 million tourists per year will encounter the truths of Scripture as they view my father’s statue. In these tense political times, it was good to see both political parties represented at the ceremony, including former Vice President Mike Pence, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, North Carolina Sens. Thom Tillis and Ted Budd, and my local congresswoman, Virginia Foxx. My father was a humble man and would have been uncomfortable having a statue in Washington, but I think he would have been glad to know our nation has made room for the Gospel on Capitol Hill. That’s a start. It’s a wonderful tribute to my father’s enduring legacy as a global evangelist who dedicated his life to fulfilling Jesus’ Great Commission. Jesus Christ is the hope of our nation and the world, and it is our mission to proclaim His Gospel to those who are lost. “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent?” (Romans 10:14-15, NKJV). The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association recently brought the Gospel to two of the largest cities in the United Kingdom: Birmingham, England; and Glasgow, Scotland. Earlier this year, we held Gospel Festivals in Poland and Mexico, and I preached in 10 cities along our Mexican border from Texas to California. Later this year, I will be preaching in Naples, Italy; and Can Tho, Vietnam. “For God so loved the world …” My father was a preacher of the Gospel, and that is precisely what the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association has been about for more than 70 years — and will continue to be as we proclaim the Lord Jesus Christ around the world. ©2024 BGEA Decision magazine, August 2024; ©2024 Billy Graham Evangelistic Association; used by permission, all rights reserved. Franklin Graham: Declaring the Gospel on Capitol Hill Jesus Christ is the hope of our nation and the world, and it is our mission to proclaim His Gospel to those who are lost.” “ Franklin Graham stands beside the state of Rev. Billy Graham, his father. - Franklin Graham - President and CEO Samaritan’s Purse and Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
FOSTER CARE 12 September 2024 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida edition After a four-month search led by the 4KIDS Presidential Search Taskforce, made up of board members and key community leaders, Andrew Holmes has been chosen as 4KIDS’ new president. The announcement was made on Wednesday, August 28th during a 4KIDS staff meeting by Karl Sprague, chairman of the board of 4KIDS, and was received by staff with a standing ovation and roaring applause. Andrew joined 4KIDS, a faith-based organization that helps children and families in crisis by providing Hope, Homes, and Healing, in July of 2018, launching their Family Advocacy Ministry (FAM) Program and serving through church engagement. Since that time Andrew has become a pivotal leader in church and community relationships, bringing innovation, energy and vision. Passing the baton Holmes steps into the position previously held by Kevin Enders. The former CEO and president returned to the technology sector full time in May after leading the foster care organization for seven years during a period of dramatic growth. However, Enders continues to serve on 4KIDS board of directors. Having mentored Andrew over the years, Kevin Enders shared his excitement over the announcement, saying, “It’s been clear to me all along that this is the one.” He went on to describe why Andrew “has a shepherd’s heart to lead this organization into the future.” Joined by his wife Michelle, Kevin Enders then ceremonially passed the baton to Andrew Holmes and his wife Rochelle, making the transition official. Karl Sprague also shed light on the search process, saying they reviewed 150 applicants for the position and contracted with a national agency to do a thorough background check, conduct assessments and reviewed seven references in addition to conducting multiple interviews. All this validated their convictions that Andrew Holmes was the top candidate for the role. A proven track record As director of community engagement, Andrew built systems that not only fostered strong community relationships but had the ability to track, scale and analyze the growth of 4KIDS’ reach. He has also been critical in leading the staff and maintaining 4KIDS’ spiritual identity. Andrew’s personal history as a previous Child Protective Investigator for Broward Sheriff’s Office has instilled in him a poignant passion to bring hope to hurting children and families. After working as a Child Protective Investigator, Andrew went on to serve as a founding team member to launch a Digital Substance Abuse Treatment Program. He later moved into the financial services sector where he served in leadership roles within two Miami-Dade County based financial groups, Transamerica and Western & Southern Financial Group. Andrew and his wife Rochelle are both active members of Abundant Life Church in Margate where they have served as youth pastors and worship leaders, overseeing the student ministry for more than eight years. Raised in South Florida, Andrew graduated from Lafayette College with a bachelor’s degree in government and law and a minor in religious studies. He was a member of the college football team and participated in Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He and his wife Rochelle have been married since 2014 and have three children. Looking ahead, Andrew Holmes said, “My hope is that we don’t miss a beat with what has already been built here at 4KIDS. That we will continue to grow on the foundation of foster care to become a holistic resource that can step into spaces with grace and wisdom.” Additional announcements 4KIDS also announced changes in the roles of three senior leaders. Mathew John, formerly executive vice president, will now serve as Chief Operating Officer. Tom Lukasik, formerly vice president of community engagement, will now serve as Chief Advocacy and Engagement Officer. And Kevin Granato, formerly assistant to the president at 4KIDS, will now serve as Chief of Staff. 4KIDS Announces New President Shelly Pond Good News Editor 4KIDS leaders and community members praying over Andrew Holmes Kevin Enders passes the baton of leadership to Andrew Holmes. Pictured from left to right: Rochelle Holmes, Andrew Holmes, Kevin Enders and Michelle Enders
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14 September 2024 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida edition YOU ASK WHY The Battle for the Mind “You were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts” (Ephesians 2:1-3). Three foes of the faith We battle three implacable enemies that seek to destroy us: the world, the flesh and the devil. Every Christian – from the newest “babe in Christ” to the solid, mature believer of many decades – must be prepared to resist the insinuations and temptations that are hurled at us by these three relentless foes of our Christian faith. The world We live in a world system that rejects God and celebrates sin. From the recent abomination of drag queens mocking the Last Supper to the preposterous notion that men can get pregnant to the abhorrent sight of a man pummeling a woman in the boxing ring to the arrogant abandonment of any notion that there is objective truth, the world screams at us to jettison all moral standards. Anyone who objects to this cultural hedonism is furiously denounced as a bigot, a hater or some sort of “phobe.” The world works tirelessly to deconstruct our minds; it demands that we embrace evil and reject all that is good. The flesh And it’s not as if our flesh needs any external encouragement to sin! “The sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want” (Galatians 5:17). This is not a struggle that only afflicts those who are immature in the faith; even the apostle Paul lamented that “What I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do — this I keep on doing” (Romans 7:19). Much like the obnoxious little girl in Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, the flesh yammers at us, “Don’t care how, I want it now!” – whatever “it” may be: power, prestige, prosperity, pleasure, or any number of other desires. Our flesh urges us to ignore our mind – to not think, not consider, definitely not pray – and to adopt the “If it feels good, do it” philosophy. The devil Then there is the devil, our vicious, remorseless enemy, who prowls like a roaring lion, looking to steal our faith, destroy our Christian testimony and ultimately to kill us if he can (1 Peter 5:8; John 10:10). Satan hates humanity with a murderous hatred because man is made in the image of God, but he hates the people of God most of all, because God has declared and demonstrated His love for those He chose before the creation of the world. Satan cannot take away our salvation and consign us to hell (John 10:28), but he can and does make life on this earth a living hell for many Christian believers. The devil is the master pugilist, whipsawing us with powerful left-right combinations, first dangling some sin in front of our eyes and promising that it will feel great, only to begin sneering cruelly at us when we succumb: “Look at you! I can’t believe you did that again! You are worthless to God!” If we remain standing after those devastating body punches of discouragement, the enemy unleashes the uppercut of pride, fawning over some success and assuring us, “Look at you! You deserve respect and praise! You are ‘the master of your fate’ and ‘the captain of your soul.’” And if we somehow beat the ten-count and stagger to our feet, Satan hits us with the knockout punch: doubt. “Has God really said . . .?” he hisses. Most Christians understand that the Bible exhorts us to live godly in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 3:12), but far too many no longer believe they have the power to actually do that. In my years as a pastor, I have sat with scores of Christians who have admitted to me, many of them with tears staining their cheeks, that they feel utterly desolate and defeated. How is it with you today? Perhaps you are aren’t at the point of despair, but you are painfully aware of the daily allure of the world, the flesh, and the devil. Or perhaps the battle is going against you to the point where you are ready to echo Paul’s anguished cry, “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?” (Romans 7:24). Power to win the battle Keep reading, beleaguered believer! Paul joyfully answered his own question: “Thanks be to God – through Jesus Christ our Lord!” On the night He was betrayed, Jesus told His disciples, “It is to your advantage that I go away.” Have you ever stopped to think about that? The disciples had been with Jesus for three years – sharing meals with Him, listening to Him teach, watching Him heal the afflicted and drive out demons. How could it possibly be to their advantage for Jesus to go away? Jesus explained, “If I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you” (John 16:7). The Helper, of course, is the Holy Spirit – the third member of the Trinity. Jesus was born to be “God with us” (Matthew 1:23); the Holy Spirit is sent to be God IN us. Even better than walking side-by-side with God is having God living inside us all day, every day! On our own, we are all but helpless against the onslaught launched by the world, the flesh, and the devil. For man alone, victory is impossible . . . but with God all things are possible! (Matthew 19:26). The Spirit of Truth will guide our minds into all truth (John 16:13), empowering us to resist the siege being directed against our minds, and He will give us power for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). With the Holy Spirit living inside us, we can rejoice that He who is in us is infinitely greater the than the forces arrayed against us (1 John 4:4). With all that said, however, recall that I titled this article “The Battle for the Mind.” On this side of glory, that battle for our mind must be fought daily . . . hourly . . . sometimes even moment by moment. Yes, “The mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace,” but we must yield ourselves to the control of the Spirit every moment of every day. It is not a single prayer uttered at the moment of salvation . . . not a “baptism of the Holy Spirit” . . . not even a prayer offered up at the beginning of each day. It must be a conscious, consistent, prayerful decision to submit ourselves to God and to resist the shrill, insistent demands of the world, the flesh, and the devil. And we way need to make that decision thirty or fifty or even 100 times each day. The enticement of sin is ever-present, and you will never resist it perfectly on this side of the grave. Only one Man did that. But if you have trusted in His atoning death on your behalf, He has sent His Spirit to you to give you the supernatural power you need to win the battle of the mind. “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Corinthians 3:17). My brothers and sisters, let us prayerfully stand together and encourage each other to fight and win the battle for the mind in His power. This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN! Dr. Tommy Boland is senior pastor of Cross Community Church in Deerfield Beach (www.thecrosscc.org). He blogs regularly at tommyboland.com. - Dr. Tommy Boland - Pastor, Cross Community Church
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COVER STORY 16 September 2024 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida edition Forty years ago, Coach Tom Mullins, then athletic director at Palm Beach State College, and his wife Donna, began a church meeting in their home with the simple premise, “Let’s love God with all of our heart and let’s love people at their point of need.” Today, Christ Fellowship, based in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida has grown to be the sixth largest church in America with 30,000 congregants gathering for weekly services at 13 campuses and thousands more viewing online, now under the leadership of Pastors Todd and Julie Mullins, their son and daughter-in-law. The ministry reaches throughout Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast, serving the most vulnerable, feeding the hungry and homeless, caring for widows and orphans and showing compassion toward those with special needs. They launched Place of Hope, a residential community for neglected and abused children in South Florida and Place of Hope International, which establishes homes and cares for children around the globe. Todd and Julie serve on the lead team of the Association of Related Churches (ARC), the largest independent churchplanting organization in America, and are founders of Church United, a partnership of local churches from various denominations who join together to transform our region. On an international level, they’ve partnered with organizations in alignment with their vision such as Convoy of Hope, bringing humanitarian aid and emergency relief around the globe, and OneHope, a ministry committed to engaging every child in the world with God's Word. Todd Mullins, Christ Fellowship Senior Pastor, said, “We believe our faith in Jesus better make a difference in our world. Our community should be better because the church is here serving, caring, meeting the needs, being an expression of Christ to the world and that happens through outreach.” They’ve most recently doubled down on their ministry to youth, launching the “Get There First” campaign, a multi-year strategy to reach the next generation, expanding discipleship programs and summer camps, investing in leaders through specialized retreats for students, developing partnerships with schools such as Trinity Christian School, and increasing their involvement in public schools through First Priority and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Their Palm Beach Gardens campus is also home to Southeastern University at Christ Fellowship, offering an accredited liberal arts education. “We realized that in the race for the heart of the next generation, the first one there wins,” said Julie Mullins, senior pastor, referencing the battle in 2Kings: 6. “If you look around at our culture right now, it could be said that the people of God are not winning. But we don’t see culture as our enemy. We see it as our mission field.” Pastor Todd added, “If we can help them understand who they are in Christ in the first grade and pour into their leadership, by the time they get to middle school, no one is going to tell them who they are. They’ll already know, and they’re going to be the ones influencing others.” Rob Hoskins, president of OneHope, senior advisor to the World Evangelical Alliance, and chairman of the “He Gets Us” campaign, said “The Mullins family and Christ Fellowship are a missional force, igniting positive change in local communities and worldwide. They make an incredible impact in South Florida through their worldclass foster care program and feeding programs, and they continue to invest in helping plant churches across the nation. Through their collaboration with ministries like OneHope, they share God's Word in the hardest to reach places on the planet, and generously invest in many other international ministries and initiatives totaling millions of dollars.” Shepherding the shepherds On a personal level, Hoskins added, “the Mullins have been incredible encouragers to many leaders. Despite their many commitments, they have never stopped being pastors and shepherds. So often I receive a text or call from them, checking in and offering an inspirational or encouraging word. They say 'I love you' so freely and authentically, that will be their ultimate legacy — the love they show through their words and actions, a love that I and thousands of others have experienced.” Jimmy Scroggins, lead pastor of Family Church, agrees. “When First Baptist Church of West Palm Beach (now Family Church) first called me to be their senior pastor in 2008, before I even moved down here, Tom Mullins called just to encourage me, pray for me and let me know that when I got there, I was going to have friends, and that Christ Fellowship was pulling for us. And they’ve been good at their word all these years.” In addition, Scroggins said Christ Fellowship regularly shares their resources with other churches in the area, displaying an extreme generosity of spirit. One way they do this is through their annual Christ Fellowship Conference. Launched in 2018 to encourage and equip church staff from around the world, Christ Fellowship Conference 2025 will be held February 12th and 13th, 2025, featuring NY Times best-selling author, speaker and leadership coach John Maxwell, who is a member of the Christ Fellowship teaching staff; Charlotte Gambil, an author and international speaker, who serves alongside her husband Steve in building Life Church in the UK and Europe; and the Mullins. The conference, which includes large gatherings and smaller breakout sessions, provides a platform through which they share what God has done at Christ Fellowship, and make tools and resources readily available to others. Stephan Tchividjian, CEO and co-founder of the National Christian Foundation South Florida, said, “I’ve had the privilege of knowing both Pastor ‘Coach’ Tom and Pastor Todd for many years, and the phrase I would use to epitomize their faithfulness and fruitfulness is ‘a long obedience in the same direction.’ In today’s culture, rarely do we see long term faithfulness and fruitfulness. However, with Team Mullins you do… and that cascades to their spouses, their team and their network. I love their big vision. I love how they execute with excellence. I love how they preach God’s Word without compromise, and I love how they love the difficult to love. Our culture in South Florida has been forever impacted by churches like Christ Fellowship. Lastly, the way Pastor Tom transitioned leadership to Pastor Todd is textbook; I wish more ministries would take note.” Generational blessing After leading the church he founded for 27 years, Coach Mullins stepped down as lead pastor in 2011, handing the reins to Pastors Todd and Julie. “In 2009, we stepped in as co-pastors for 18 months before,” noted Pastor Todd. “We went through a long transition, and this is an important part of the journey. I always say great leaders leave room for other leaders to lead, and my dad was a great leader because he left room for us to learn how to lead, didn’t take up all the leadership oxygen and created space for us to grow and get some legs under us.” Understanding their leadership styles would be different, Pastor Todd said, “My dad is the quintessential coach. Call the shots. This is where we’re going. We’re more collaborative in our leadership. We get to build off a great foundation he and my mom laid, but I feel God has given us more of a way to systemize some of the processes, so we’re able to take what was built and expand it to reach more people." Since Pastors Todd and Julie have taken the lead, the church has expanded from five campuses to 13 with the goal of reaching this entire region. Coach Mullins said he feels the church is thriving due to what he calls a “generational blessing.” “I go back to the 1890s when my great grandfather went full time into ministry as Among the Largest Congregations in America, Christ Fellowship Celebrates 40 Years of Impact Shelly Pond Good News Editor Julie and Todd Mullins, senior pastors, and Donna and Coach Tom Mullins, founders of Christ Fellowship
COVER STORY 17 September 2024 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida edition a circuit riding preacher, which led to my grandfather, which led to me, which led to Todd, which led now to his son, Jefferson.” Jefferson and his wife Cassie both earned ministry degrees from Southeastern University at Christ Fellowship. Jefferson is working in the worship department and Cassie serves in the kids ministry. “So we come from a long line of ministry, which is a generational blessing,” said Coach Mullins, “and I’ve always told Todd, ‘Let’s not mess this up. Let’s keep passing this on. It comes down to you must operate with integrity of heart and keep improving your skills. When they talked about David in Proverbs, he led them with integrity of heart and skillful hands. He shepherded them and we want to do that.” How it all started So how did a young couple from Ohio give birth to one of the largest churches in the nation? Tom and Donna first met at a youth camp. But it was Rev. Brooks Lynn, who introduced them to South Florida, offering them a summer internship at a local church in Palm Beach Gardens. Donna had been college roommates with the pastor’s daughter. After finishing their degrees, Tom was offered a coaching position at Palm Beach Gardens High School in the 1970s. He led the team to an undefeated season, ranked number one in the state before Mullins left for a position as head coach at Georgetown College in Kentucky. He later returned to serve as Athletic Director of Palm Beach State College and coached at the Benjamin School before he felt the call into full time ministry. It was during their first trip to Israel in 1983 on the Via Dolorosa in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher that Coach Tom “had an awakening of Christ’s love and sacrifice for us.” He spoke to Donna after that encounter and said, “I don’t know what God is calling us to in this next stage of life, but I want us to be fully surrendered to what that is.” After much prayer and consideration, a year later they began the church in their home, grew to about 40 people then moved it to Grove Park Elementary School where they remained for seven years with little growth. Looking back, he now refers to the “schoolhouse years” as a wilderness experience when they felt God was testing to see if they could be trusted with little before He could trust them with more. Finally, in 1991, Christ Fellowship purchased a “horse barn” that was transformed into their first permanent sanctuary due to the sacrifice of the founding families, and moved into it in 1992, doubling in size. Place of Hope Just a year later, Tom and Donna were on a mission trip to Russia and Romania when they encountered a little girl who had been rescued from a state-run orphanage where kids were literally kept in cages. At the age of five she could not talk, could not walk and had not been potty trained; however, they witnessed her radical transformation after being placed in a loving home environment as the little girl jumped onto the lap of her house father. Shortly after they returned, Donna received what she calls a vision from God during a prayer service and began weeping while reading Isaiah 1:17, which says, “defend the cause of the fatherless.” She pointed to the verse and said, “Honey, we need to do something about the hurting children right here.” That night, Coach Tom announced, “We’re going to build a Children’s Home right here in Palm Beach County,” which became Place of Hope. Since then, Place of Hope has served more than 30,000 foster children and foster youth living in Neighborhood Family Cottages. They have served human trafficking survivors and partnered with Crime Stoppers to help bring justice and healing for victims. Place of Hope's maternity home has cared for more than 87 mothersto-be and helped families find forever families through adoption. Special needs In 2001, Christ Fellowship’s ministry to special needs families began to provide a place of belonging and accessibility for those with disabilities and their families. Children with disabilities are assigned a caring volunteer buddy to guide them through the kids’ environment on Sunday mornings, so their parents and caretakers can participate in Sunday service. There is also a special needs shadow ministry for adults with disabilities, a virtual special needs Bible camp and ASL interpretation for the deaf. The ministry even offers a therapeutic horseback riding program where riders of all ages who are physically, intellectually or developmentally disabled experience improvements in coordination, balance, self-confidence and social skills. And in complete alignment with their ministry to people with disabilities, Christ Fellowship recently partnered with Ability Tree, a faith-based nonprofit devoted to equipping communities to welcome, include and support families impacted by disability. Ability Tree has a consulting branch that helps churches make their physical locations and programs more accessible and trains church staff and volunteers to better welcome and care for families impacted by disabilities. “Ability Tree has provided training for our Connections staff, and we are working to equip our volunteer teams this fall,” said Pastor Todd. Learn more at abilitytree.org/consultingbranch. Developing leaders In addition to their heart for the most vulnerable, Christ Fellowship has a strong focus on developing leaders. They launched Christ Fellowship Leadership College in 2012 to equip spiritual leaders in both ministry and the marketplace. Leadership College is designed for believers who are currently leading others spiritually, actively serving in the church, and sense a calling to grow in their spiritual impact by using biblical leadership principles within their sphere of influence. It is a 10-month program that meets on evenings and weekends to accommodate those working fulltime who have a desire to grow. The also opened Southeastern University at Christ Fellowship in 2016, an accredited Christian college experience on-site in Palm Beach Gardens that now hosts about 110 undergraduate students and about a dozen graduate students in a mix of online and in person classes, combined with experiential hands-on learning and networking opportunities within the church. Areas of study include ministry, education, digital design and business. Ty McMillan, site director of SEU at Christ Fellowship said the decision to partner with the Lakeland, FL, based Christian university to establish a site at Christ Fellowship came out of an understanding that students raised in church who go away to college have an incredibly high rate of falling away from the faith. “If we can offer an affordable Christian higher education but keep them rooted and planted within the church, we can significantly decrease that number and continue to cultivate their faith.” What really sets Southeastern University at Christ Fellowship apart is our focus on experiential learning, said McMillan. “We’re giving them opportunities to put their degrees into practice through special serving opportunities at the church and there are unique leadership development opportunities to sit down with incredible leaders like Coach Mullins.” We asked Coach Mullins what leadership advice he offers to others just getting started in ministry, and here’s what he said. 1. Be faithful in the little things. Take what God has placed in your hands and multiply it, like the prayer of the talents, and don’t compare yourself to others. 2. Develop ministry partnerships. Don’t stay isolated in your own silo. My philosophy is if you help enough other people win, that’s always going to come back around and help you. He who refreshes others will be refreshed. That’s the principle. 3. Empower your people within. Sometimes we think we have to hire a great team when really you just need to build with the team you’ve got. Take your players, empower them, build them, pour into them and God will do great through that. 4. Always keep your focus outward. Don’t ever get inward focused. That’s the worst thing in the world because that stops church growth. “To me, the greatest test of your leadership is the legacy you leave, and how strong are the teams coming behind you?” said Coach Tom. I look behind us and they’re leading from stronger, broader positions and just doing a great job! Not just at Christ Fellowship, but the Church – ecclesia. We look at the darkness and spiritual warfare in our country, but there is a light that is shining so brightly in the Church. I believe we’re going to see a great spiritual awakening. So we just want to run hard until we cross the finish line.” To find a Christ Fellowship campus near you or to learn more, visit christfellowship.church Sunday service at Christ Fellowship, based in Palm Beach Gardens
THE CODE 18 September 2024 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida edition “O Lord, how long shall I cry and You will not hear?” (Habakkuk 1:2). This question asked by Habakkuk was born out of a - "burden” that consumed him (Habakkuk 1:1). He faced a moral dilemma. How could a holy and loving God who had called Israel the "apple of His eye" (Deuteronomy 32:10) now allow the pagan, godless Babylonians to besiege and ultimately destroy the city of Jerusalem? If we are honest, most of us have felt like this at one time or another. We, too, have been burdened by what seems the inactivity of our God on our behalf. We, too, have bombarded the throne of God's grace with our cries and prayers for deliverance, only to feel as if they were bouncing right back at us from off the ceiling. Yes, at one time or another, who of us has not prayed, “O Lord, how long shall I cry, and You will not hear?" If a good and all-powerful God really does exist, why doesn't He answer our prayers for what we are convinced are good and right requests? Why does He continue to allow so much evil and suffering? It is the age-old skeptics' argument — either God is all-powerful but not all good (therefore He does not stop evil in its tracks), or He is all good but not all-powerful (thus He is powerless to stop the evil swirling around us). This seems on the surface so logical. If, in fact, He is really all powerful, then He could eliminate all evil, pain and suffering in an instant. Let's suppose for a moment He were to decree to do that, to eradicate all evil at midnight this evening. But is that such a wonderful idea? If He were to do that, do you realize that not one of us reading these words, not to mention the one typing them now, would be around at 12:01 a.m.? Jeremiah, the very one who warned of the coming captivity in Babylon, reminds us that our hearts are “deceitful... and desperately wicked" (Jeremiah 17:9). I, for one, am extremely grateful that “He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities" (Psalm 103:10). God has not stood idly by. In fact, He has done something dramatic about the problem of evil in our world. He did the costliest and the most loving thing possible; He sent and surrendered His own Son to die in the place of sinful human beings like us. Habakkuk left us a book in the Hebrew Bible consisting of only three brief chapters, but in them the prophet discovers and reveals to us that the real issue at hand is not evil, but the direction of our own prayer focus. Focusing on circumstances Some people place their prayer focus on their present circumstances. This is Habakkuk’s consuming prayer focus in the first chapter of this book. It is expressed in His prayer, “O Lord, how long shall I cry, and You will not hear?” Again, at one time or another, his cry has been our own. “Where are You, God? Why don’t You do something?” When unfair circumstances are swirling all around us and we place the focus of our prayers on them, it leads us to ask these questions that have no satisfactory answers. There is a better way to focus in prayer than by placing all our attention on our circumstances and situation? Focusing through circumstances Some people place their prayer focus through their present circumstances. The prophet changes his focus in chapter 2 when he climbs up on a watchtower to "watch to see what He will say to me" (Habakkuk 2:1). He begins to focus his prayers through his present challenges instead of on them. Perspective is vital in our prayer life. Habakkuk began to look at the issue at hand from God's perspective and not his own. This was the secret of Joseph's prayer focus in Genesis, when his brothers sold him into slavery and a series of difficult situations ensued. From the human perspective, nothing that was happening to him could be good or fair in any manner. Jealousy is wrong. Betrayal by your own brothers is wrong. Being sold as a slave is wrong. Being thrown in prison on a trumped-up charge is wrong. But when he was revealed to his brothers, he looked them in the eye and said, "Do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves ... for God sent me before you to preserve life" (Genesis 45:5). He added, "You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good" (50:20). How could he say this? His prayer focus was through his present circumstances, not on them. Placing his prayer focus through his circumstance led Habakkuk to conclude chapter 2 saying, "The Lord is in His holy temple" (Habakkuk 2:20). His focus led him to understand that God had not abdicated His throne, that in and through it all, He was still in charge. Focusing beyond circumstances Finally, some people place their prayer focus beyond their present circumstances. We find the prophet closing his book with these words: "Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines... the olive may fail... the fields yield no food... the flock may be cut off...no herd in the stalls... Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation" (Habakkuk 3:17-18). This is the same man who, three brief chapters earlier, was shaking his fist in the face of God and blaming Him for his desperate dilemma. What changed? In a word, focus; his prayer focus. The same thing can happen to you who are tempted to question, accuse and even blame God for what may feel like His coldness to you. Stop focusing your prayers on your circumstance and put your prayer focus through them. If you will do this, you will begin to focus your prayers beyond your present problems. Then you, like Habakkuk, can find the comfort only God can bring to your heart. Taken from The Prayer Code by O.S. Hawkins. Copyright © 2021 by Dr. O.S. Hawkins. Used by permission of Thomas Nelson. O. S. Hawkins is the chancellor of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has served pastorates, including the First Baptist Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and the First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, for more than 25 years. A native of Fort Worth, Texas, he has a BBA from Texas Christian University and his MDiv and Ph.D. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. For almost a quarter of a century, he served as president of GuideStone Financial Resources, with assets under management of $20 billion, serving 250,000 pastors, church staff members, missionaries, doctors, university professors, and other workers in various Christian organizations with their investment, retirement and benefit service needs. He is the author of more than 40 books and regularly speaks to business groups and churches nationwide. All of the author’s royalties and proceeds from the Code series support Mission:Dignity. You can learn more about Mission:Dignity by visiting MissionDignity.org. - Dr. O.S. Hawkins - Chancellor, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary A Prayer of Desperation
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