Welcome to this month's edition of the Pastors' Briefing. I thought I'd start off focused on one of the most targeted member groups by the enemy, in your congregation - pre-teens and young adults aka; GenZ. In the Cultural Commentaries section of this Briefing, there are three articles to choose from on topics related to understanding Christian GenZ's. I pray at least one of them is helpful. AND, there's so much more Good News in this Briefing from the Church Ambassador Network to encourage and resource you, so be sure to peruse it all the way down to the last word.

Cultural Commentaries

• Actions, Invitations, Storytelling- How Gen Z Approaches Evangelism: This article offers research on how this group defines evangelism and feels while sharing their faith, offering necessary context for church leaders who are pondering how to activate this next generation in their faith-sharing endeavors.

• Church Pulse Weekly Conversations- John Mark Comer on Cultural Trends for the Future Church: Pastor John Mark Comer (author and pastor of Bridgetown church) talks about his thoughts on the challenging expectations pastors face when leading through the pandemic, recent cultural trends in the next generation and hope for the future of the Church.

• Church Pulse Weekly Conversations- Rachael Cruze on Financial Flourishing: Rachel Cruze (national best-selling author and financial expert at Ramsey Solutions) talks about mistakes every generation makes around debt, why pastors need to be preaching about finances and the real reasons people have reduced their giving during the pandemic.

Did you miss it? : Faith Friday- October 8

What a great and informative time we had on the October 8 Faith Friday Call with Ruth Edmonds, Director of Christian Engagement, Pastor Eric Tober, Pastor Ambassador and CCV’s General Counsel John Hart as they took a deep dive into a critical conversation on “What Pastors Need to Know to Protect Your Ministry From Government Overreach". If you missed it, you can take a listen below!

Prayer at the Statehouse- November 10

Mark your calendar for Wednesday, November 10, at 10:00 am for the next Prayer at the Statehouse.

Afterwards, feel free to stay and grab lunch with a new friend! There will also be opportunities for you to tour our Statehouse or sit in on a committee hearing, visit your State Representative or Senator and pray some more with them.
 
Registration is now open! Feel free to register below.

More Prayer Time!

As the legislators continued to join in the corporate prayer, and the prayers of those leading the topical prayers was extended, it was clear to us that we need adjust the program for more prayer time and add opportunities for prayer stations during the Prayer at the Statehouse encounter. Just as the Jesus declared in John 12:32, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”

 We’d love to get your thoughts on this adjustment, as well as praise reports from you on how God moved during Prayer at the Statehouse. Email Brittany Johnson, the Church Ambassador Network Coordinator, at brittanyjohnson@ccv.org.

Faith & Works: CCV Resource for the Church!

Faith & Works is a printed resource that aims to strengthen your Faith by keeping you informed of current events, and to inspire good Works by calling you to action. This free resource can be ordered at CCV.org/FaithAndWorks.

We want to provide you with a resource about current events that will inspire and encourage your Faith to be put to Work, so order these monthly bulletin inserts for your church today!!

Christian Business Partnership- Dayton Roundtable!

We want to invite you and your business-owner friends to our Christian Business Partnership Roundtable in Dayton on November 4th!

Christian business leaders are facing a multitude of threats to themselves and their business. Whether it be from the media, cancel culture, or the government itself, the threats you as a Christian business leader face are wide-ranging. That is why the Christian Business Partnership and CCV are pulling together leaders from across the state to discuss these challenges, and how we are here to help.

To RSVP for this informative event, just click the button below.

Christian Business Partnership

Dayton Roundtable

Thursday, November 4th

5:15 pm – 7:00 pm

Shaker Run Golf Club, 1320 Golf Club Dr, Lebanon, OH 45036

Hors d’Oeuvres Provided 

In this one-hour exclusive, business owners will:

Hear from the CCV Team and business leaders about the issues being debated at the Statehouse

Have a question and answer opportunity with the CCV Team

Network with other Christian business owners

Learn about the resources that CBP offers for you and your business.

To RSVP for this informative event, just click the button below.

American Leadership Forum

Join Center for Christian Virtue at our American Leadership Forum! Moderated by national radio talk show host and author Hugh Hewitt and CCV President Aaron Baer, the evening will focus on where the candidates stand on issues that matter to prolife, pro-family, and pro-freedom voters.

Sunday, October 24

7:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Genoa Baptist Church

7562 Lewis Center Rd, Westerville, OH 43082

Order tickets at ccv.org/forum or call the CCV office at 513-733-5775.

Legislative Updates

• Human Life Protection Act: Ohio Republican Senators Kristina Roegner and Sandra O’ Brien, who joint sponsored Senate Bill 123, also known as the Human Life Protection Act, gave proponent testimony 9-29-2021. Under the legislation, it would trigger an abortion ban in Ohio if the United States Supreme Court would overturn Roe v Wade. At that point, each individual state could decide whether to make abortion illegal.

• The Time Is Now - State House Members Introduce Backpack Bill Details: COLUMBUS, Ohio—State Representatives Marilyn John (R-Shelby) and Riordan McClain (R-Upper Sandusky), and Center for Christian Virtue (CCV) announced the introduction of a sub-bill to the CCV-backed Backpack Bill (House Bill 290).

• California AG Bans State-Funded Travel to Ohio Because It Protects Medical Providers' Religious Freedom: The Center for Christian Virtue in Columbus, OH called California Attorney General Rob Bonta's ban against Ohio "great news" seeing that it "is keeping California bureaucrats from coming to our great state!"

Resources

• Check out this article from the Family Research Council on How Should Christians Use Religious Exemptions for Vaccine Mandates?

• Check out this article from Christianity Daily on 101 Pastors Reject Joes Biden's Vaccine Mandate Via Letter, Declares ' We Have No King but King Jesus'.

• Be sure to listen to CCV’s podcast The Narrative at ccv.org/TheNarrative

• Learn more and order the Faith & Works monthly bulletin inserts at ccv.org/FaithAndWorks

Pray for Our Leaders

Join us this week in honoring 1 Timothy 2:1-2 by praying for these elected officials:

Prayer Points

Matthew 21:22 says, "And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith."

• Pray for Christians in media to find favor and be filled with creative ideas that bring kingdom principles and life-giving messages to the public

• Pray for Federal, State and Local government's wisdom

• Pray for a safe atmosphere conductive to learning for children this school year