Language Arts

Erika Marksbury on Connecting Testimonies to Scripture

Sometimes it is easier to use the Bible to look back at what God has done than to see what God is working toward. First Baptist Church of McMinnville, Oregon, includes testimonies in worship so that people can see how their lives are part of a story God is still telling.

June 26, 2018 | 5 min read
Methodist Pastor-Musicians on Gaps in Worship Music

Teaching an intensive songwriting class in a North Carolina prison for women made Susannah Long and Michael Conner reflect on gaps in what churches sing about.

February 14, 2018 | 5 min read
What Inside Songwriters Can Teach Outside Churches about Worship

A songwriting class in a North Carolina prison taught eight women to write biblical songs that touch congregations inside and outside prison walls.

February 14, 2018 | 10 min read


A Sweet Sound: Absorbing God's Word in the Language of the Heart

What changes when a person hears God’s Word in their own language as opposed to their second or third language? How does the translation of key theological terms into a person's mother tongue change their understanding?

February 14, 2017 | 44 min listen

When a Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words: Visual Program Evaluation

Most people are familiar with the phrase “a picture is worth a thousand words,” but few consider what it means. Photographs are able to tell stories, and they can help your congregation see its ministries with fresh eyes.

August 23, 2016 | 9 min read