Here are five current events items that you should know about from the last 30 days. Each month, we compile a list of about 200 stories that you should digest and know about as a church leader.  We call it Ministry Briefing.  Here are five stories from this month’s issue.  Get the full issue here. Moving Sale at the Crystal Cathedral In preparation for its relocation from the Crystal Cathedral, Crystal Cathedral Ministries (CCM) hosted a moving sale where it sold office equipment, books, and other collectibles from the large California ministry that was founded by Robert Schuller. The Crystal...

Read what church leaders are saying about Ministry Briefing! CRAIG GROESCHEL Senior Pastor – LifeChurch.tv – Edmond, OK As a ministry leader, timely news and targeted information is incredibly important to me to plan for the future and respond quickly to opportunities in the present. But like most leaders, I don’t have a lot of extra time to dig for all of the information I need. That’s why I’m so thankful for Todd and Matt’s Ministry Briefing. Each month, they compile the latest church and ministry news, culture trends and best practices for leaders all in one well-organized place....

“Because of our love for the Scripture we’ve had some differences of opinion, but the problem is that while we are arguing about these topics, lost men, women, boys, and girls are dying and going to hell every single day…While we are arguing about these topics and debating about these topics, America is going to hell every day…Time is running out. We do not have time for debate. We do not have time for arguing. The world needs to know that Jesus saves … for the sake of those who are lost.” BOOM. More...

From CNN: Pope Francis said a “gay lobby” exists inside the Vatican, a surprising disclosure from a pope who has already delivered his share of stunners, and a resurrection of church conflicts that had bedeviled his predecessor’s papacy. “In the Curia,” Francis said, referring to Catholicism’s central bureaucracy, “there are holy people. But there is also a stream of corruption.” “The ‘gay lobby’ is mentioned, and it is true, it is there,” Francis continued. “We need to see what we can do.” Hints that the Holy See contained a network of gay clergy surfaced last...

“While we are deeply saddened over the crimes committed and asking God to bring healing to the victim and her family, we are convinced that Delaware Grace had no connection to Brian’s criminal activity.” That’s the statement from the Grace Brethren Church in Sunbury, OH. Their former Senior Pastor, Brian Williams, has been convicted of raping a 15-year-old girl. But the church had no part in it… according to the church.  At least that’s what they’re saying after they’re being sued for negligence. The prosecution’s case? Brian Williams, as a pastor, had two...

Are you up-to-date with all the latest news and cultural trends that relate to your job as a ministry leader?  June’s Ministry Briefing was just released… and here are the headlines that I really think you should be up on.  This month’s edition gives you the quick synopsis of each story (just one paragraph with just the facts you need to know).  There’s also a link for each story so you can drill down on the details of ONLY the stories that interest you the most. Moving Sale at the Crystal Cathedral Thousands Raised for Family of Pastor Imprisoned in Iran Missouri Funeral...

Bryant Wright is pastor at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church and a former President of the SBC.  Here’s his response to the Boy Scouts: What do you think?  A good and reasoned approach? What’s your take?  How will your church/has your church responded?  And do you feel that it is important that you DO respond as a church, or is it unnecessary? FOUND HERE:  Denny Burk Todd

Many churches this Sunday will talk about what happened in OK. And some will be looking to partner with organizations that are helping the people on the ground.  That’s a great thing. Here are some of my favorite ways that your church body can help the victims of the tornados, either corporately or individually: LifeChurch.tv Life Church.tv, which describes itself as “Oklahoma’s largest evangelical church,” says its Oklahoma City metro locations will accept donations of items over the next week, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., and distribute them to tornado victims....

From the AP:  Is Pope Francis an exorcist? The question has been swirling ever since Francis laid his hands Sunday on the head of a young man after celebrating Mass in St. Peter’s Square. The young man heaved deeply a half-dozen times, shook, and he then slumped in his wheelchair as Francis prayed over him. The television station of the Italian bishops’ conference said it had surveyed exorcists, who agreed there was “no doubt” that Francis either performed an exorcism or a prayer to free the man from the devil. Here’s the video: The Vatican was more cautious Tuesday. In...

That’s the advice that Pat Robertson recently gave a women who asked his advice on how to move on after her husband had cheated on her. “Here’s the secret,” he said. “Stop talking about the cheating. He cheated on you, well, he’s a man.” Again, Pat’s co-host should have her salary doubled.  Or tripled. CBN’s official response: The “intent was not to condone infidelity or to cast blame. We regret any misunderstanding.” SOURCE SOURCE...