‘Exegete The Culture’, Church Grows Through God’s Love & Creating A Healthy Culture For Your Organization

3How should the church engage a culture marred by effects of gun violence? A Philadelphia pastor says pray, study the culture around you and engage it with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Larry Anderson says he and his church in Philadelphia were shaken by the violence that spilled out in the streets of their city during the July 4th weekend.

Five people were killed by a gunman in Philadelphia. The shooting in the City of Brotherly Love was one of 22 mass shootings that took place of the holiday weekend.

Churches must understand and respond to the cultural impact of violence to effectively show society a better way, said Anderson.
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Mark Morton was a sergeant with the Reno Police Department when he was called in 2005 out of the congregation to be the pastor of Granite Hills Church in Reno, Nevada.

Since then he has baptized more than 365 people.

With a combination of biblical and transparent preaching, riveting storytelling and the pastor’s interpersonal skills, Granite Hills Baptist has grown from 65 – and two baptisms – in Sunday morning worship in 2005, to 225 – and 22 baptisms – in 2022.

“We stay on focus; we don’t get off the gospel,” Morton said. “We continue to tell people Jesus is the only way to have freedom and forgiveness and liberty to serve Him.

Morton was a young police officer when in 1988, driven by the emotional trauma of his job, he found refuge in God’s love at Granite Hills Baptist, then led by James Thompson. Over the years, Thompson taught Morton to turn “stuff” over to Jesus, such as the death of a 6-month-old who’d been pummeled by his father under the influence of meth.
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Good News for Today is made possible through our friends at The Voice of the Martyrs, a nonprofit organization that serves persecuted Christians around the world. Founded in 1967 by Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand, VOM is dedicated to inspiring believers to deepen their commitment to Christ and to fulfill His Great Commission — no matter the cost. Find out more and sign up for their free monthly magazine at vom.org/goodnews.
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Do you want to create a healthy culture in your church, organization or home? An article in the Baptist Press Toolbox looks to the culture Christ created as He led his disciples.

Here are four aspects of that healthy culture.

1. Communicate – Matthew 5-7; Jesus’ sermon on the mount teaching his followers what are the values and ways of the kingdom

2. Demonstrate – Mark 3:14; Jesus called the disciples to be with Him so they would see what He’s like, and He’d send them out to do the same

3. Celebrate – Luke 10:20; Jesus celebrated what matters most in His kingdom – love, forgiveness, holiness and humility

4. Tolerate – Whatever you tolerate will dominate.