Strength to Strength: Recent Episodes
Strength to Strength
Strength to Strength offers resources that will strengthen your love-faith relationship with King Jesus and give you solid footing in a shaky world.
- VISION: Inspire flourishing communities of faithful Jesus-followers around the world.
- MISSION: Advance Jesus’ kingdom by assisting the church in earnestly contending for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints, through tackling thought-provoking topics, by stimulating candid discussions, and by sharing faith-building testimonies.
- ACTION: We do this by providing multimedia resources including podcasts, videos, and books, and by pointing people to local communities of believers.
Our speakers and writers are supportive of a Christ-centered, kingdom-focused, Scripture-based way of life, specifically as modeled by the Anabaptist tradition. However, we will sell books not written by kingdom Christians when they are able to share a unique or challenging perspective. In engaging with any of our resources we encourage you to be a Berean.
Strength to Strength welcomed Sarah Knapp to share her testimony.
Sarah’s deepest longing, and life’s ultimate aim, is to honor God and live intentionally for the advancement of His kingdom. Sarah doesn’t offer her story as a model of perfection, but hopes that in sharing some of her journey – both strengths and failures, we can be drawn closer to Christ.
Some consistent themes in Sarah’s walk with the Lord are how to use her time wisely, how to truly seek first the kingdom in daily life, what it means to sacrifice for Christ, how to stay open to God’s refining work-even when it means rerouting her life. Sarah longs to walk faithfully and be as effective as she can be for Him.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Salt & Light is a Bible-based financial teaching course to help you demonstrate God’s kingdom locally. It helps you discover how to become better stewards of God’s resources and actively engage with your local community, church, and youth.
SALT reaches out globally to people in material poverty in dozens of countries through savings groups, agricultural development, microloans, and vocational training. We foster hope and opportunity to people in communities where life seems hopeless.
The Salt & Light course provides Biblical stewardship teaching and endeavors to bring this same hope to our North American communities. The course is designed with four “Tracks” tailored for investing in our own churches as well as for reaching out to others. Many Anabaptist communities have been blessed for generations with godly homes and biblical teaching. The overarching goal of the Salt & Light course is to provide a tool to help “Kingdom Christians” walk with their neighbors, coworkers, employees, and others, demonstrating Christ while providing sustainable, long-term way-of-life help.
contact@saltbooks.org
https://saltbooks.org/
Strength to Strength welcomed Susan Schlabach to answer the question: How do we become women who make wise choices in the marketplace of life?
Eve showed us that as women we are vulnerable to the voices out there. What happened at Eden also shows that even when we lack discernment, we have influence.
To know truth is to be attentive to God. This search is not so much the pursuit of an idea, but of intimacy with a Person. We are no more discerning than we are lovers of God.
In this talk we will explore how attainable discernment is. What does this search require from us? What are some ideas for building a life of discernment?
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
July 26, 2025
Strength to Strength welcomed a group of four panelists to answer your hardest questions on church history.
This Q&A is not limited to specific topics discussed in our Sacred Roots series, but is limited to questions of church history in the first 1500 years.
During this Talk, David Anderson was asked for recommended reading for non-scholars who wish to get into the early church. His compilation is found on our website at the link below:
https://strengthtostrength.org/sacred-roots-panel-1-q-a/
July 12, 2025
Strength to Strength welcomed Stephen Russell to discuss the events and background that led up to the Reformation.
The Reformation was an earthquake preceded by a thousand tremors. In this Talk, we will now look at numerous factors which were significant in setting the stage for the Protestant Reformation (1517–1648). First we will look at a number of people and events, roughly chronologically, which destabilized the Medieval world view. After that we will consider a number of reformers who predated the actual Reformation.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
https://strengthtostrength.org/sacred-roots-setting-the-stage-for-the-reformation/
Strength to Strength welcomed Carol Nisly to share about cultivating meaningful personal Bible Study.
"He to whom the Eternal Word speaketh is delivered from a multitude of opinions." —Thomas à Kempis
I find there is no shortage of opinions on most any topic under the sun, and many of them leave me anxious. With Simon Peter, I say, “Lord, You have the words of life.”
While the amount of time spent in personal, quiet Bible study varies with the seasons of a woman’s life, I believe it is always possible to meditate on and to internalize its truths. What are some keys to regular, nourishing, and satisfying Bible study? What keeps us from studying? What tools have others found helpful? Is there a difference between having devotions and being devoted?
I hope you will join me in discussion about how to cultivate this important habit and to be delivered from the opinions of men, including our own.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
https://strengthtostrength.org/personal-bible-study/
June 28, 2025
Strength to Strength welcomed Philip Hess to discuss the canonization of the New Testament.
Christians believe that the New Testament is not only a trustworthy record of historical events in the first first century but the inspired revelation of God’s Son and his new covenant with mankind. But how did we get the New Testament? How do we know that it is inspired? How do we know that we have the collection of inspired writings that God wanted us to have? Join us as we discuss these and other questions related to the canonization of the New Testament.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
https://strengthtostrength.org/sacred-roots-canonization-of-the-new-testament/
Strength to Strength welcomed David Anderson for a discussion of what monasticism contributes to a holistic and healthy life.
In its best form, monasticism was a form of resistance: not just against compromise in the church, but against hurry, distraction, and disordered desire in the soul.
This episode explores the history of monasticism and what it offers today: not escape, but attention; not performance, but formation. Through rhythm, prayer, and ordered love, monks sought to become fully alive to God. In this episode, we will explore how their wisdom still speaks to our distracted and restless age.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed four homeschooling mothers to share about their experience in their children’s formal education.
Can we effectively disciple our children through homeschooling? Join four experienced homeschooling moms for an interactive discussion on topics like academics, sustainability, structure and resources. There will be a time for you to share your questions. Come prepared to be inspired while gaining practical insights and encouragement for your journey.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
May 24, 2025
Strength to Strength welcomed David Anderson to discuss the nature of the church.
What kind of community did Jesus intend the church to be? Is it a place for the pure or the penitent – a gathering of the saints or a hospital for sinners? These questions are just as much alive for us today as they were in the time of the apostles. Join us as we explore how the Church has wrestled with these problems in the past and how we can engage with them today.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
https://strengthtostrength.org/sacred-roots-nature-of-church-assembly-of-saints-hospital-for-sinners/
Strength to Strength welcomed Luke Tiroly to share his testimony of life-changing shift of allegiances.
In this presentation, Luke shares his testimony on how he went from desiring to kill for the government to wanting to serve Jesus and advance God’s kingdom.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Resources:
- Document: CO letters by Luke Tiroly
- YouTube: “It’s Just War—Should Christians Fight?” debate
- Book: “Change of Allegiance” by Dean Taylor
https://strengthtostrength.org/my-journey-from-navy-to-kingdom-warrior/
Strength to Strength welcomed Bryant Martin to discuss the unlikely way to change the world.
We all want to be part of changing the world but let’s be real, many things—the world, the flesh and the devil, a.k.a., tech, tiredness and toys—can threaten this dream and make it seem distant and dull. How do we cut through the noise and stay true to our values?
We will dive into three mindsets that can make a real difference: subversive loyalty, unreasonable generosity, and patient love. Through stories from past failures and lessons learned, through examining Biblical themes, we will see that it’s not loud announcements, but through quiet, powerful, consistent action we change the world.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed Tara Foster to share her experiences sharing the Gospel on a college campus.
In this Talk, Tara explores various aspects of what it means to be a woman in ministry as an older single. We will talk about relational boundaries, respect for authority, and our own soul’s needs.
Tara’s perspective will focus on how this looks on American soil and in an academic setting. She would love to hear your reflections on this topic as well.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
https://strengthtostrength.org/being-effective-women-in-ministry/
Salt & Light is a Bible-based financial teaching course to help you demonstrate God’s kingdom locally. It helps you discover how to become better stewards of God’s resources and actively engage with your local community, church, and youth.
SALT reaches out globally to people in material poverty in dozens of countries through savings groups, agricultural development, microloans, and vocational training. We foster hope and opportunity to people in communities where life seems hopeless.
The Salt & Light course provides Biblical stewardship teaching and endeavors to bring this same hope to our North American communities. The course is designed with four “Tracks” tailored for investing in our own churches as well as for reaching out to others. Many Anabaptist communities have been blessed for generations with godly homes and biblical teaching. The overarching goal of the Salt & Light course is to provide a tool to help “Kingdom Christians” walk with their neighbors, coworkers, employees, and others, demonstrating Christ while providing sustainable, long-term way-of-life help.
contact@saltbooks.org
https://saltbooks.org/
Strength to Strength welcomed Stephen Russell to discuss the church during the medieval period.
Medieval Europe is often seen as the Dark Ages. It was a time of great changes and turmoil. G. K. Chesterton, referring to that period, wrote in Orthodoxy, "The Church was the only thing that ever brought us out of [the Dark Ages]."
Join us as we discuss the church in the medieval period, an era largely unstudied and misunderstood today.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed Ryan Grove to discuss the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
The current conflict in Israel and Gaza gets large amounts of attention by many people who have very different viewpoints. We recognize and mourn the ongoing and recent human suffering by the inhabitants of these lands that are full of history and religious significance. We will look at some history and the viewpoints of different sides of the conflict. Most importantly, how can we as followers of Jesus communicate the message that Jesus’ kingdom is good for all.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
https://strengthtostrength.org/understanding-the-current-conflict-in-gaza/
April 5, 2025
Strength to Strength welcomed Jennifer Miller to discuss how singleness can be a blessing.
Sometimes we get the message that a woman most truly fulfills her purpose as a woman when she is in the role of wife and mother. A more robust understanding of God’s purpose for marriage, however, reveals that both singleness and marriage are intended to showcase God’s plan for His relationship with His people. Rather than being a second-rate position or a Plan B that I just need to make the best of, singleness allows believers to fill a vital role in the kingdom of God.
This talk aims to empower both single and married women to embrace the role they are currently in and to encourage each other to do the same.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
https://strengthtostrength.org/gods-purposes-for-singleness/
March 22, 2025
Strength to Strength welcomed David Anderson to discuss the church’s development in understanding who Jesus is.
Is the Trinity just an abstract doctrine? Why did early Christians fight so hard to define who Jesus is? In this two-part episode, David Anderson breaks down the Trinity and Christology in simple terms showing how they are not just abstract ideas but central to our salvation, worship, and daily discipleship.
In Part 1, we will explore what it means to do theology, its risks, and why it’s a necessary Christian task. It will also explain why the Trinity and Christology aren’t just two doctrines among many: rather, they are the heartbeat of Christianity itself.
In this Part 2, we will explain the fundamentals of the Trinity and of Christology as well as exploring their scriptural and historical bases. It will, moreover, elaborate on both doctrines and explore why they are important for the Church. Ultimately, how can these realities help us grow in faithfulness to and fellowship with God?
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
https://strengthtostrength.org/sacred-roots-trinity-and-christology-part-2/
March 22, 2025
Strength to Strength welcomed David Anderson to discuss the church’s development in understanding who Jesus is.
Is the Trinity just an abstract doctrine? Why did early Christians fight so hard to define who Jesus is? In this two-part episode, David Anderson breaks down the Trinity and Christology in simple terms showing how they are not just abstract ideas but central to our salvation, worship, and daily discipleship.
In this Part 1, we will explore what it means to do theology, its risks, and why it’s a necessary Christian task. It will also explain why the Trinity and Christology aren’t just two doctrines among many: rather, they are the heartbeat of Christianity itself.
In Part 2, we will explain the fundamentals of the Trinity and of Christology as well as exploring their scriptural and historical bases. It will, moreover, elaborate on both doctrines and explore why they are important for the Church. Ultimately, how can these realities help us grow in faithfulness to and fellowship with God?
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
“The son of God became the son of man, so the son of man can become the Son of God.”
- Iraenaus
Recommended:
- “Life in the Trinity” by Donald Fairbairn
- “The Deep Things of God” by Fred Sanders
https://strengthtostrength.org/sacred-roots-trinity-and-christology-part-1/
Strength to Strength welcomed Anan Twijjukye to share an underappreciated historical reality: western Christianity has deep roots in Africa.
Christianity is often labeled a “Western export” to Africa. However, long before European missionaries arrived, African communities had embraced Christianity for centuries, forging movements and shaping a faith that transcends geography. This talk reclaims that narrative, highlighting why recognizing Africa’s contributions is key to healing divides and building a faith that truly unites all nations
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
https://strengthtostrength.org/sacred-roots-beyond-the-west-how-africa-shaped-christianity/
Strength to Strength welcomed Manya Hozen to share her testimony.
Join in on the story of God’s faithfulness in my life even yet while I fell, failed, feared, fought, and fled in ignorance. He ultimately brought me to the place of fidelity and faithfulness.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
February 22, 2025
Strength to Strength welcomed Stephen Russell to discuss how the apostolic church’s original stance towards their earthly nation shifted over time.
The first 300 years of the Church’s existence were marked by distrust and persecution of the Church by the Roman Empire. The next twelve centuries reveal an ever-closer entanglement of Church and State in western Europe (the core of Christendom). Why and what were some of the results of this?
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
https://strengthtostrength.org/sacred-roots-development-of-the-relationship-between-church-and-state/
February 15, 2025
Strength to Strength welcomed six brothers to discuss what their lives look like being a disciple of Jesus.
The unsung heroes of Jesus’ kingdom are the faithful disciples who serve their Lord without fanfare or applause.
Whether you are a warrior in secret prayer, a widow who casts in the last two mites, or a worker advancing the bleeding edge of the kingdom, you can rest assured that deeds of service do not escape the eye of our benevolent King.
-
2:38 Bryant Martin, for Extend Café (https://www.extendcafes.com/)
-
17:57 Saimir Braho, for Kingdom Connect Europe (https://kingdomconnecteurope.org/)
-
33:13 Luke North, for ADAPTech (https://adaptechmissions.org/)
-
48:01 Dallas Penner, for REACH 2025 - part 1 (https://www.fbep.org/attend/events/reach/)
-
50:59 Lucas Hilty, for REACH 2025 - part 2 (https://www.fbep.org/attend/events/reach/)
-
56:24 Patrick Matthews, for Tent Maker Travels (https://tentmakertravels.org/)
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
https://strengthtostrength.org/walk-the-talk-spotlight-on-kingdom-work-part-5/
February 11, 2025
Strength to Strength welcomed David Anderson to discuss the uniqueness of the Early Church.
The early church “turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:6) through their lives, teaching, and witness. This talk explores the practical distinctives of the early church from the New Testament era to the fourth century with a special focus on the nature of the church meeting, attitudes towards wealth, practical holiness, and involvement in the world.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
https://strengthtostrength.org/sacred-roots-practical-distinctives-of-the-early-church/
Strength to Strength welcomed Mary Ann Brechbill to share insights she’s learned.
Discover how to use the power of influence in your role as a woman, and allow your position as a woman in Christ to grow you personally and spiritually. Experience the beauty, freedom, and power found in embracing Biblical Headship.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
January 25, 2025
Strength to Strength welcomed Stephen Russell to discuss Gnosticism and its effects.
God has told us in the first two chapters of Genesis about the world he has made. It has a spiritual and a physical aspect. And, it is all good. But in the early days of the church there were those who rejected the truth, only saw the spiritual as good, and yet considered themselves Christians.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
https://strengthtostrength.org/sacred-roots-gnosticism-the-first-serious-threat-to-the-church/
January 25, 2025
Strength to Strength welcomed Stephen Russell to discuss Gnosticism and its effects.
God has told us in the first two chapters of Genesis about the world he has made. It has a spiritual and a physical aspect. And, it is all good. But in the early days of the church there were those who rejected the truth, only saw the spiritual as good, and yet considered themselves Christians.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
https://strengthtostrength.org/sacred-roots-gnosticism-the-first-serious-threat-to-the-church/
John Coblentz. Five hundred years ago, a group of seekers determined to follow the call of Christ in the Scriptures without regard to the cost. As they followed the New Testament pattern of repentance, baptism, and surrender to the Spirit, a believers’ church was born. In the years that followed, the commitment to follow Christ supremely was tested by pressures both within the church and from without.
Strength to Strength welcomed Sam Baer to discuss crossbearing.
What has it cost you to be a disciple of Jesus? Are you willing to make the sacrifice? What did Jesus mean when he asked us to bear our cross?
We readily agree that Jesus has asked us to bear our cross but are we willing to clarify what that means?
Jesus not only calls us to bear our cross; He offers the resources needed and great reward.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Dorcas Hoover. The Victor’s Crown of Glory takes the reader to the frontlines of the battle in the Middle East where God’s miraculous power is displayed in the midst of evil. Stories of God at work in the 21st Century feel as if they come straight from the book of Acts. Gripping accounts showcase daring, modern day heroes of the faith risking all to follow Jesus in the face of radical ISIS terrorism, kidnappings, bombs, secret police, and imprisonment. The book is filled with heartwarming eyewitness accounts of miracles of God at work in the midst of the darkest, most dangerous of circumstances.
Strength to Strength welcomed Marlene Nisly to share about the blessings and challenges of living in a population center like New York City.
Having grown up in rural Pennsylvania and now living in Brooklyn, NY, for nearly twenty-five years, Marlene will talk about the call and the challenge to live well as followers of Jesus, with specific focus on an urban setting.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
December 28, 2024
Strength to Strength welcomed David Anderson to discuss the value church history is to our lives today.
We are the product of, not only our reading of scripture, but two millenia of church history that has shaped our culture and experience. Only by knowing the past can we be informed to chart a way forward.
Skeptics of the value of church history are encouraged to bring their hardest questions for David.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
https://strengthtostrength.org/sacred-roots-why-study-church-history/
Salt & Light is a Bible-based financial teaching course to help you demonstrate God’s kingdom locally. It helps you discover how to become better stewards of God’s resources and actively engage with your local community, church, and youth.
SALT reaches out globally to people in material poverty in dozens of countries through savings groups, agricultural development, microloans, and vocational training. We foster hope and opportunity to people in communities where life seems hopeless.
The Salt & Light course provides Biblical stewardship teaching and endeavors to bring this same hope to our North American communities. The course is designed with four “Tracks” tailored for investing in our own churches as well as for reaching out to others. Many Anabaptist communities have been blessed for generations with godly homes and biblical teaching. The overarching goal of the Salt & Light course is to provide a tool to help “Kingdom Christians” walk with their neighbors, coworkers, employees, and others, demonstrating Christ while providing sustainable, long-term way-of-life help.
contact@saltbooks.org
https://saltbooks.org/
Strength to Strength welcomed Finny Kuruvilla to reexamine the record of the church as recorded in Acts.
Is the book of Acts an historical account which is not intended to be repeated? Or is it supposed to be the template for the Christian life? This talk will explore this age-old question and make a biblically grounded proposal.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
https://strengthtostrength.org/sacred-roots-the-book-of-acts-descriptive-or-prescriptive/
Books recommended by Finny particularly for those with Anabaptist heritage, in order of priority:
Book: “Conrad Grebel: The Founder of the Swiss Brethren” by Harold S. Bender https://www.amazon.com/Conrad-Grebel-Harold-S-Bender/dp/1532666683/
Book: “The Legacy of Michael Sattler” by C. Arnold Snyder
https://www.amazon.com/Michael-Sattler-Classics-Radical-Reformation/dp/0874862566/
Book: “The Anabaptist Story” by William Estep
https://www.amazon.com/Anabaptist-Story-William-R-Estep/dp/0802808867/
Book: “The Sources of Swiss Anabaptism: The Grebel Letters and Related Documents” (primary source)
https://www.amazon.com/Sources-Anabaptism-Classics-Radical-Reformation/dp/0874862620/
Book: “Writing of Pilgram Marpack” (primary source)
https://www.amazon.com/Writings-Pilgram-Marpeck-Classics-Reformation/dp/0874862582/
Book: “Complete Works of Menno Simons” (primary source)
https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Works-Menno-Simon/dp/1015480578/
Other recommendation by Finny in the context of continuationism:
Study: “Is There a Pattern to the Bible’s Miracles?” by Joel Arnold https://joelarnold.com/is-there-a-pattern-to-the-bibles-miracles/
Book: “A Story of God’s Faithfulness” by George Chavanikamannil https://www.amazon.com/Barren-Mango-Orchard-Faithfulness-Architect/dp/B0CTN4DNHC
December 14, 2024
Strength to Strength welcomed Finny Kuruvilla to explore how, and more importantly, why the earliest church flourished.
One of the themes of the Jesus’ preaching was the kingdom of God. In the book of Acts, we watch as the kingdom of God expands throughout the Roman empire. This talk will explore the biblical theology of the book of Acts and practical principles of the kingdom.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
https://strengthtostrength.org/sacred-roots-the-book-of-acts-the-kingdom-of-god-fills-the-earth/
December 7, 2024
Strength to Strength welcomed Gina Martin, Laura Smucker, and Delphine Martin for a panel discussion to share about lessons that walking through grief can teach us.
Can life ever be good again after devastating loss? What questions should I be asking God about the valley I have experienced? How can I look outward in my muddled state? Join us for this panel discussion on Navigating the Journey of Grief as the panelists discuss these questions, as well as how grief matures and helpful and harmful words and how they impact grief. They plan to share ways people walked beside them to support them in their grief.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
https://strengthtostrength.org/navigating-the-journey-of-grief/
On the one-year anniversary of S2S Books, the Strength to Strength team met to discuss the latest news and updates.
Sam is headed to Europe in 2025, leading a new initiate called “Kingdom Connect,” which is an effort to bring together European kingdom Christians.
S2S Books is collaborating with the Salt team from Christian Aid Ministries to bring new Salt & Light courses to the market.
Joining us was a special guest from Mexico, Phil Reiff, to discuss the latest developments with his new café in Creel, Mexico. This was previously introduced in November 2023 when he shared his vision for a during a “Walk the Talk” episode. Consider partnering with this ministry and help us spread the word about this opportunity to advance the kingdom. You can get more information at the link below, or check out their page on the Extend Cafés website.
- Click here for a newsletter (PDF) about the new La Cosecha café that Phil Reiff is starting.
Also, we shared an update on the Sacred Roots series.
All this and more in this episode. Thanks for being a part of Strength to Strength!
Gregory Weaver. Jesus told his Jewish audience, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” What did Jesus imply with this statement?
In this book, Gregory Weaver examines how Jesus and his apostles understood the promises made to Abraham. Rediscover the historic view of the promises to Abraham, and see how dispensationalism is exposed as a modern, errant innovation.
https://strengthtostrength.org/a-great-nation/
November 23, 2024
Strength to Strength welcomed Zack Johnson to discuss truth-telling and swearing of oaths.
Can the imitation of Christ truly involve oath-taking? This talk traces the evolution of oath-taking from the Old Covenant through the teachings of Jesus and James, the nuances in Paul’s writings, and the convictions of early Christians like Maximilian. It explores why James highlighted Jesus’ reversal of Mosaic teachings on oaths as essential for believers, demonstrating how early disciples were willing to die for this principle. Concluding with a call for contemporary Christians to embody integrity and consistent truthfulness, it challenges followers of Christ to reject society’s reliance on oaths as both a substitute for genuine honesty and faithfulness and as a means of pledging loyalty to anything other than Christ the King.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
https://strengthtostrength.org/sacred-roots-why-above-all-matters/
Strength to Strength welcomed David Bercot to discuss the purpose of studying the doctrine and practice of the earliest disciples of the faith.
Jude, the brother of Jesus, tells us:
I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.
Jude 3b NKJV
Why can we not just read our Bible and be confident we’ve got it right?
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
https://strengthtostrength.org/sacred-roots-why-study-the-early-christians/
Strength to Strength welcomed Mary Z. to share a testimony of living a life of wholehearted, passionate service to God.
We are created in the image of God. Mary will be sharing about how believing that with all her heart, changed her and led her to where she is today. Living on foreign soil for most of the past seven years has given her deeper insights into the heart of God and His will for the people she works among. She will be sharing about how she can keep her passion for the work alive.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
https://strengthtostrength.org/my-journey-to-living-as-a-faithful-emissary/
- November 2, 2024
Strength to Strength welcomed Melody Schrock to discuss beauty, designed by God, created for our enjoyment.
Whether we acknowledge it or not, we have a worldview of beauty. Beauty was God’s idea and He has a standard. As women, we are image bearers and we display the beauty of God, but how? When people see us, are they drawn to us or to worship of our Creator? What does it look like to veil ourselves spirit, soul, and body? Is beauty truly in the eye of the beholder? We’ll explore some of these questions in our time together. God has a design and it is good!
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
https://strengthtostrength.org/gods-design-for-beauty-our-creators-standard/
Alan Kreider. How and why did the early church grow in the first four hundred years despite disincentives, harassment, and occasional persecution? In this unique historical study, veteran scholar Alan Kreider delivers the fruit of a lifetime of study as he tells the amazing story of the spread of Christianity in the Roman Empire. Challenging traditional understandings, Kreider contends the church grew because the virtue of patience was of central importance in the life and witness of the early Christians. They wrote about patience, not evangelism, and reflected on prayer, catechesis, and worship, yet the church grew–not by specific strategies but by patient ferment.
https://strengthtostrength.org/the-patient-ferment-of-the-early-church/
Strength to Strength welcomed four brothers to discuss what their lives look like being a disciple of Jesus. They will share with us ways to pray and partner with them in their work.
The unsung heros of Jesus’ kingdom are the faithful disciples who serve their Lord without fanfare or applause.
Whether you are a warrior in secret prayer, a widow who casts in the last two mites, or a worker advancing the bleeding edge of the kingdom, you can rest assured that deeds of service do not escape the eye of our benevolent King.
“Where your talents and the needs of the world cross, there lies your vocation.”
- Aristotle
Shawn Miller joins to represent LifeQuest Community: a disciple-making ministry in State College, Pennsylvania. There is a huge gulf between what people know before they come to State College, PA and who we hope they will know when they leave State College. These people need a bridge. LifeQuest is a nonprofit organization that allows volunteers to be that bridge to point people to Jesus. With over 50,000 students attending Penn State University and 50 different countries represented, we have a golden opportunity to preach the Good News of our King to those who have never heard or seen genuine Christianity. Our goal is to be a local ministry with a worldwide reach. For more info, contact Ernest Eby by email at erneste@lifeq.org or by phone at (814) 325-7644.
Verlynn Eby joins to represent Christian Aid Ministries a channel enabling the church to minister to physical and spiritual needs around the world. He will be sharing about the devastation left in the wake of Hurricane Helene, and offering some ways we as Christians can seize this moment and use it to build the Kingdom. Join their Telegram/Cloudveil channel to follow updates: https://t.me/christianaidministries.
Jolan Sommers joins to represent Soldiers of the Cross, and providing a brief overview of the 10-day evangelism training they offer, developed with the purpose of equipping people to share the Gospel as a lifestyle. To contact, please call (330) 473-5145 or email soldiersofthecross2@gmail.com
Merle Weaver joins to represent Upward Way Response, a disaster response organization organized to facilitate the response of God’s people to major disasters internationally and domestically, including Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. UWR is currently actively involved in recovery efforts in Black Mountain, NC, under the umbrella of Plain Compassion Crisis Response (PCCR). You may follow Upward Way Response on Telegram/Cloudveil at https://t.me/+LxfiPR1CcM9lMGFh. To volunteer, go to https://form.jotform.com/242824523080047 or call (803) 953-0991. To contribute financially, go to https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/LDG2B29R8KTS4 or mail a check to: Upward Way Response, 230 Pleasant Valley Rd, East Earl, PA 17519.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
https://strengthtostrength.org/walk-the-talk-spotlight-on-kingdom-work-part-4/
Strength to Strength welcomed Tania Taylor to discuss how our communities can be a piece of heaven on earth.
Getting the bigger picture of our calling as sisters, to further Christ’s kingdom through the local church body.
One of the biggest threats to the church in any given age or place is that of nationalism. How easily we can become sidelined and distracted by the transient problems and interests of our earthly parent country, entangling ourselves with all manner of political causes and ideals that have absolutely nothing to do with our calling to be pilgrims and strangers in this life. When this happens, we ultimately experience confusion and impotence. Where does our allegiance lie? We as Christians have a distinct calling to represent the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. Our calling to represent Christ’s Kingdom is best promoted through the everyday expression of local church life. When we get this bigger picture, we can invest ourselves in our local churches with abandon, and in the process, fulfill our divine calling as sisters to help represent little embassies of Heaven—Christ’s Kingdom displayed on earth, just as it is in Heaven.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
https://strengthtostrength.org/little-embassies-of-heaven/
Strength to Strength welcomed Brandon Byler to discuss God’s kingdom and earthly kingdoms, specifically American politics, and how followers of Jesus should relate, especially in a hotly-contested election season.
In this meeting we’d like to consider several questions: Why have Anabaptists typically shunned national, political involvement? What sort of attitude should we have toward American leaders at all levels of government? Does the Bible give us any guidance for interacting with those in authority? Is there anything Anabaptists can legitimately do to influence the direction of nations?
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Recommended: YouTube video: “The Kingdom of God” by David Bercot
Recommended: “The Kingdom of God that Turned the World Upside Down” by David Bercot
Recommended: “Pilgrims and Politics” by Michael S. Martin
https://strengthtostrength.org/kingdom-pilgrims-and-american-politics/
Strength to Strength welcomes Wendell Martin to share lessons from his personal story of difficult experiences.
When bad things happen in life, we might console others or ourselves with reassurance that “it was God’s will” or that everything happens for a reason. But is everything that happens the will of God? Can I trust the goodness of God in spite of all the evil in the world?
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
https://strengthtostrength.org/when-bad-things-happen/
Strength to Strength welcomed Dylan Heidrich to share his spiritual life journey.
In this episode, Dylan shares his journey from growing up in an atheist household to being baptized in a Baptist church at 18. He reflects on his transition to house church life, his desire for missional living, and how discovering the early church led him to kingdom Christianity.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Resource: Follow Dylan and Abigail’s Youtube channel, “The Forgotten Faith.”
Strength to Strength welcomed Linda Amendt to take a closer look at what winning on this battleground may look like.
“Sow a thought, reap an action. Sow an action, reap a character. Sow a character, reap a destiny.”
“As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.”
Proverbs 23:7
Linda will share a bit of her journey in relation to her learning how powerful our thoughts are and where they can lead us. We will explore some ways that as daughters of God and yet soldiers, we can fight this battle and win. It is God’s will that we overcome the enemy of our souls, Satan, the father of lies, who can come as an angel of light. Is positive thinking enough to make our minds new as spoken in Romans 12:2? What does it actually look like to put on the armor of God? Let’s explore this together.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
https://strengthtostrength.org/battleground-of-the-mind/
We, as the admin team at S2S, met virtually to have another Roundtable discussion. We discussed some of the latest happenings, reflect on things such as the recent Kingdom Fellowship Weekend, and have a guest on to hear his story. Evan Smith joined us to tell his story about journeying into the kingdom of God and with fellowship with other kingdom minded folks.
Strength to Strength welcomed Marji Wagler to discuss marriage as God inteneded.
God designed an other-centered union for a me-centered world.
"With the unfading charm of a gentle and peaceful spirit which isn’t wrought up or anxious… adapting themselves to their husbands."
-adapted from 1 Peter 3:3–5, Amplified Bible
That inner person is reflected in your words and even your body language. There is only one way to have a peaceful and gentle heart – that is to yield to and trust our Father God.
"The biggest investment that a wife or a husband can make in their spouse is the investment they make in their own souls."
-John Piper
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed Justin Zehr to discuss Jesus’ interaction with Nicodemus.
In this talk we’ll be taking a look at the miracle of New Birth and the metamorphosis of one who is transformed into the likeness of Christ. The miracle of one who is dead in sin and trapped in the state of fallen humanity then becoming a new creature in Christ through the new birth.
We are going to let a little creature (the monarch) teach us big things of our awesome Creator and his renewal or redemption plan for all of us.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
David Bercot. There are hundreds of commentaries on Romans in print today, and thousands have been written over the centuries. So what is the point of still one more commentary? The reason is that this is not “still one more commentary.” In this commentary, the reader will be seeing Romans through the eyes of the Christians who lived in the first few centuries after Romans was written. Some of these men personally knew the apostles. They all lived in the same culture in which Paul lived. Their native tongue was koiné Greek.
This commentary enables the reader to share the same experience that a Christian living in the first four centuries would have experienced when hearing Romans explained on a given Sunday. You will hear the same explanations they would have heard. As you will see, those early Christians understood Romans quite differently than what most Christians do today. That is because they lived prior to the two major reinterpretations of Romans: that of Augustine and that of Luther. After hearing the early Christian understanding of Romans, the readers can then decide whether they think the entire church got Romans wrong from the very beginning—or if Christians today are badly misreading this important book of Scripture.
https://strengthtostrength.org/romans-commentary/
Strength to Strength welcomed Josh Wray for a discussion about discipleship modeled after Jesus.
As disciples of Jesus, we are invited to follow Him in fellowship with other believers. Through the joys and challenges of interacting with other disciples, we are being conformed into the image of Christ. In this message, Josh will share what practical discipleship has looked like in his life, and his dream of seeing equipped disciples rise up as mighty men and women in our day.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Resource: “Disciplecast” is a podcast about discipling, which is organized in part by Josh Wray. Join this Telegram group for updates and more! https://t.me/+EPbZDLhSoOhmMmJh
https://strengthtostrength.org/practical-discipleship-in-the-local-church/
Sherilyn Shirk. This delightful children’s book is a full-color, beautifully illustrated treasure for young children aged 2–10. “You Are Precious in His Sight” was designed by a mother of six, and dedicated to foster children. It introduces the child to Jesus as the Creator and Designer of all things good. Further, it assures the child that the hurts they face were never God’s intention, and that their obedience to Jesus’ way will lead to happiness and fulfillment.
Bryant and Lynelle Martin interview Andrew and Sherilyn Shirk to discuss Sherilyn’s new book, “You Are Precious in His Sight.”
https://strengthtostrength.org/you-are-precious-in-his-sight/
Strength to Strength welcomed Renita Petersheim to discuss a biblical view of what it means to be a person and why it is integral to our faith today.
In Genesis 1 and 2, when God created the earth, particularly mankind, He pronounced “very good”. Sometimes that is hard to believe as we experience life through our bodies, personalities, sexuality, and stories. We’ll talk about the incongruence we may feel at times and examine God’s creative design and purpose for us.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
https://strengthtostrength.org/gods-design-for-personhood-my-whole-self-unified-for-gods-glory/
Strength to Strength welcomed Glenn Martin for a discussion about the yoke of Jesus. What does it mean that Jesus’ yoke is “easy” and his burden is “light?”
In this Talk, Glenn discusses how our perception of God and the motivations for our obedience affect our joy – or lack thereof.
Many Christians believe there is “pie in the sky by and by when I die,” essentially supposing that while life is depressing now, our joy will finally be realized in heaven. What does the Bible say about that?
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
https://strengthtostrength.org/is-your-christian-life-hard/
Strength to Strength welcomed Benjamin Harris to discuss artificial intelligence, and how to relate to its implications as it affects everyday life.
Artificial Intelligence is ushering in a new era of questions, both in the workplace and in our lives. We’ll briefly work to separate the reality from the hype. Finally, we’ll touch briefly on how AI can be a double-edged sword in our lives and things we should consider in stewarding our work and lives well.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
https://strengthtostrength.org/into-the-ai-flood/
Strength to Strength welcomed Beth Byler to discuss God’s design for women to be nurturing those around them.
Do women naturally nurture? What is God’s call to us as women as we raise children, minister to our husbands, or reach outside our homes? How can we nurture each other as sisters? Can we nurture if we aren’t being nurtured? We want to raise children that are emotionally secure and well prepared to face life. We have a huge part to play in making that happen.
How can we be used of God as women to nurture life and what is our calling in that?
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
https://strengthtostrength.org/gods-design-for-nurturing-cultivating-life-in-those-around-you/
Strength to Strength welcomed Shawn Miller to discuss how the Gospel’s central tenant has been shaken, and how we can rebuild with a better understanding.
To be a “kingdom person” means to be under the reign of God. Like earthly nations, Jesus’ kingdom has four components including a leader, constitution, domain, and citizens. However, in contrast to the nations of the world, Jesus’ kingdom is international. He came as a King with all the intended consequences of that terminology. His citizens are dispersed among all nations of the world.
While this is the most common and important theme of Jesus’s teaching, it has been largely lost and forgotten. It is of utmost importance to return these foundational concepts and show the whole world what it would look like if we truly lived under the kingship of Jesus. Understanding the emphasis on the kingdom of God will change the way we think, live, and evangelize.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
https://strengthtostrength.org/communicating-the-forgotten-foundation-of-the-gospel/
Strength to Strength welcomed Sam Baer to discuss this relevant topic to our time: the proper role of men as God intentioned from the Creation.
For the second installment on God’s design for masculinity we take a look at who we are as leaders. All of us find ourselves in a leadership role whether it is in the church, home, or occupation. How do we respond when we run into problems with people? Let’s take an honest look at how we relate to those who are difficult to lead.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
https://strengthtostrength.org/gods-design-for-masculinity-part-2/
Strength to Strength welcomed Sam Baer to discuss this relevant topic to our time: the proper role of men as God intentioned from the Creation.
How does society view masculinity and how does that relate to God’s design? How much has society influenced the church in regards to masculinity?
Join us as we discover God’s design in the scriptures for men. My goal in this talk is to show that only in Christ can a man be the man God created him to be.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
https://strengthtostrength.org/gods-design-for-masculinity-part-1/
Resource: Strong Men, Caring Women research article
This is the first part of a two-part S2S Event called “God’s Design for Masculinity” to be held on April 20, 2024.
Also, see part 2 by Sam Baer.
Strength to Strength welcomed Anita Yoder to discuss mentoring – an underappreciated opportunity for the older to disciple the younger.
“Could I have your recipe?” Women ask each other this all the time. We are good at sharing tips about laundry and cooking. What if we could be just as eager to learn and share on a deeper level–“recipes” of prayer, relationships, and knowing God’s character? What have you learned from others, and how could you in turn give others what you’ve been given? Let’s explore the possibilities!
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Recommended book: “Life is for Living” by Anita Yoder
https://strengthtostrength.org/gods-design-for-mentoring-a-simple-term-for-older-women-teaching-the-younger/
Gary Miller. How can we make this world a better place? We watch with dismay as ungodly leaders are elected and evil advances. What can we do to bring change? What did Jesus do—and what did He refuse to do? Are there opportunities that we, like Jesus, should refuse?
https://strengthtostrength.org/what-jesus-refused-to-do/
Strength to Strength welcomed four brothers to discuss what their lives look like being a disciple of Jesus. They will share with us ways to pray and partner with them in their work.
The unsung heros of Jesus’ kingdom are the faithful disciples who serve their Lord without fanfare or applause.
Whether you are a warrior in secret prayer, a widow who casts in the last two mites, or a worker advancing the bleeding edge of the kingdom, you can rest assured that deeds of service do not escape the eye of our benevolent King.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength will typically host two Talks a year to spotlight Kingdom initiatives that can be an inspiration to others in the greater community of Jesus’ followers. If you know of a project that you would like to see spotlighted please contact us here.
https://strengthtostrength.org/walk-the-talk-spotlight-on-kingdom-work-part-3/
Strength to Strength welcomed Merle Burkholder to discuss how mankind best thrives in community with others.
God has designed us as social beings. We are relational and function not only as part of families, but also as part of a community. God’s design for community helps us to care for one another and represent the Kingdom of God to a world that has lost its way. In these talks we will look at God’s design for community and how we can use community to bring healing to a broken world.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
https://strengthtostrength.org/gods-design-for-community-part-2/
Strength to Strength welcomed Merle Burkholder to discuss how mankind best thrives in community with others.
God has designed us as social beings. We are relational and function not only as part of families, but also as part of a community. God’s design for community helps us to care for one another and represent the Kingdom of God to a world that has lost its way. In these talks we will look at God’s design for community and how we can use community to bring healing to a broken world.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
https://strengthtostrength.org/gods-design-for-community-part-1/
Strength to Strength welcomed Bryant Martin to share about practical ways to reach the hearts and minds of those we are called to serve.
Have you ever experienced a “table in the wilderness”? Have you ever created a “table in the wilderness” experience for someone?
We live in a “wilderness.” As our world descends into chaos, we have a powerful opportunity to be “servers of tables.” As many people retreat and defend, Jesus followers step forward and serve. But what does that look like? Join us on for a talk on subject that I believe is close to the heart of our King and our Father in heaven.
“Our primary task is not so much to give answers to impossible philosophical questions as to bring signs of God’s new world to birth.” -N.T. Wright
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength Sisters welcomed Rachelle Wenger to discuss why understanding your identity is essential to understanding your life.
Everyone has a story they live in—a narrative of where this universe came from, where it’s going, and how I fit in. The Bible’s long, tightly-woven story from Genesis to Revelation (which I believe is the true one, for reasons we don’t have time to go into in this talk) is more and more astounding the more I understand it. I am one of the (minor) characters in this story. You are too. And the hero of the story is God.
Unless we deeply engage with this story and see the Hero accurately, we end up living by one of the competing (false!) stories. I want to retell a bit of this story and highlight how, in my life and the lives of people around me, the story we live in makes all the difference.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
https://strengthtostrength.org/knowing-the-hero/
Strength to Strength welcomed John Byler to encourage healthy dynamics in husband/wife relationships.
God created marriage to be wonderful and beautiful. However, many people’s experience in marriage is sadly disappointing. Is there a way to experience what God originally intended?
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
https://strengthtostrength.org/gods-design-for-the-home-marriage/
This is the first part of a two-part S2S Event called “God’s Design for the Home” to be held on February 24, 2024.
Also, see part 2 “God’s Design for the Home – Marriage” by John Byler.
Strength to Strength welcomed John Byler to encourage healthy dynamics in raising our children into the fear of God.
Our children are faced with a world of challenges. Let’s take a look at our heavenly Father to understand how we can best prepare our children for life.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
https://strengthtostrength.org/gods-design-for-the-home-raising-children/
Strength to Strength welcomed Paul Garber to unpack how the long awaited prophecies have been fulfilled in the Messiah’s kingdom.
“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Those were the words of Jesus of Nazareth as he began his public ministry two thousand years ago. Could this humble man from the backwaters of Galilee really be the long awaited Messianic King who was to restore Israel and inaugurate a time of universal peace and justice?
How was this reign of God going to come to pass, by military might and power as the Jews expected? Or by laying down his life for his enemies and calling his followers to do the same?
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Jesus, not Jerusalem, would now become the central place within God’s purpose, the place around which God’s true people would be gathered.
Peter Walker
https://strengthtostrength.org/thy-kingdom-come-kingdom-promises-to-israel-fulfilled/
Strength to Strength welcomed Paul Garber to share about how the Messianic anticipation raised by the prophets shaped Israel.
Since the glory days of Israel’s greatest kings, David and Solomon, many prophets foretold a time when one of David’s descendants would rise to power and establish and restore God’s kingdom like never before. This descendant of David would be called the Messiah, the anointed King of Israel. His reign would be marked by universal peace and righteousness.
The prophet Daniel in particular gave prophecies that had to happen within a specific window of time. And time was running out. Where was the promised Messiah?
As the Romans swept through and conquered their ancient homeland, anticipation grew among the Jews. Was this the time when the Messiah would appear as the prophets predicted?
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
https://strengthtostrength.org/thy-kingdom-come-kingdom-promises-to-israel/
Strength to Strength welcomed Mariel Frost to discuss God’s design of womanhood.
This talk is specifically for sisters only. Thanks!
Whether you’re single or married, a mature Christian, or new to the faith, you probably have questions about what it means to be a woman. Throughout the ages, Satan has been equally satisfied with two opposite tactics concerning women. On the one hand, he has promoted the abasement of women. He wants them used, oppressed, and subservient. He wants them resigned, discouraged, and powerless. On the other hand, he has also encouraged the exaltation of women. He wants them to be independent, brash, argumentative, and discontent. Either way, Satan wins.
But what does God want? What is God’s design for womanhood? Let’s explore what the Bible tells us…and what it does not. Let’s look at what a woman is… and what she is not.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
https://strengthtostrength.org/gods-design-for-womanhood-valuable-gifted-feminine-meek/
In this interview, Strength to Strength (Sam Baer and Bryant Martin) interview representatives of Church Index (Darvin Martin and David Miller).
Church Index is a ministry with a vision for linking people in search of a church to a supportive community of believers and for facilitating connections with churches that are more isolated. There are many ministries, churches, and individuals who receive continuous requests from people who are looking for a church that is faithful to the teachings of Jesus. Our mission is to create and maintain a public database of Anabaptist and similar churches from around the world who strive to live out the teachings of the New Testament and who recognize other churches with similar faith and practice, as being part of the church of Jesus.
The Church Index website is created with a map, some location information, and a way to contact the churches that people may wish to visit (when you get a chance, visit https://churchindex.org/ and make sure your church information is correct and offer us any suggestions for making the site better).
Additionally, Church Index provides churches and organizations with a web code that they may wish to embed on their website.
Church Index‘s mission, in their own words:
Today’s online church environment cannot adequately provide what Jesus desires for us to experience in fellowship and community with His family on earth. It is for that reason we desire to see people engaged with a local fellowship; we designed this website to help the church accomplish this purpose.
Our mission is to create and maintain a public database of Anabaptist and similar churches from around the world who strive to live out the teachings of the New Testament. We endeavor to take the teachings of the New Testament seriously, intending to live and teach the doctrine and sound faith that was delivered to the apostles, as described in the New Testament. In general, we believe that churches today should believe and practice what was commonly believed and practiced by the New Testament church. To that end, Church Index humbly offers this database of churches.
You may access Church Index within Strength to Strength on our Find a Church page, or at https://churchindex.org/.
The initial cost for launching this website for the first year is around $15,000. After the first year, we expect the costs for keeping this database maintained, to decrease to approximately $8,000 per year.
This service is made financially possible by freewill contributions to cover the expenses. Would you or someone you know be willing to help us cover these costs?
Please consider making an online contribution at https://churchindex.org/contribute/, or by mailing a check payable to “Church Index” to:
Church Index
1017 Houserville Road
State College, PA 16801
Church Index administrative team: Glenn Martin, Darvin Martin, Ernest Eby, and David Miller.
Strength to Strength welcomed Paul Garber to think through the identity of the nation of Israel as the prophets conceptualized it in the Old Testament.
Throughout the Old Testament we read of a unique and special nation called Israel. God had a special relationship with this nation and even called them the apple of His eye. With the nation of Israel, God made special promises of land and prosperity if they continued faithful in His covenants. First with God’s covenant with their forefather Abraham, and secondly with God’s covenant given on Mt. Sinai to Moses, the nation’s founding prophet.
Reading about the special place that this nation has in God’s heart, we need to ask the questions: Who is Israel? What defined Israel as a nation in the Old Testament? And, what defines Israel as a nation today?
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
https://strengthtostrength.org/thy-kingdom-come-who-is-israel/
Strength to Strength welcomed John D. Martin to discuss his favorite topic, the Kingdom of God.
God’s kingdom here on earth is to be a colony of heaven that demonstrates how God intends the whole world to be. However, as humans there are times that we fail in being ambassadors that represent our nation well. After laying the groundwork for this marvelous kingdom, John will then look at three challenges we face in making this a credible present reality: two kingdom confusion, two kingdom clarification, and two kingdom caution.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Credit: In this Talk, John D. Martin shares the “Eight Powerful Effects of the Kingdom” by John Piper.
https://strengthtostrength.org/thy-kingdom-come-gods-kingdom-vision-for-the-world/
Strength to Strength Sisters welcomes Rosa Nolt to share on the difference between service and sensationalism and its impacts on ministry.
What is the difference between service and sensationalism and how do they impact ministry? Are some avenues of serving more glamorous than others?
Rosa will be sharing some about her experiences in Thailand and working with women at risk. She will also share about the transition she went through in serving overseas on the mission field to becoming a wife and mother and finding new avenues of serving. She’ll talk some about human trafficking and how we can be aware of our surroundings and aid in prevention, even as we go about our everyday lives.
We’ll zero in on what it looks like to minister with a servant’s heart in whatever role we find ourselves in right now, and on remaining faithful even when serving doesn’t look or feel as glamorous as we had hoped or envisioned.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
https://strengthtostrength.org/service-versus-sensationalism-our-response-to-human-trafficking/
Christians want good to triumph! Yet at times it feels we are doing very little to fight the growing darkness here in America. Should Christians vote, sign petitions, or boycott ungodly corporations?
Strength to Strength welcomes two brothers to share their stories of God’s leading in their lives in the past year.
The power of telling one’s story of God’s leading in our lives is often underestimated. The apostle John speaks of those who found victory by their testimonies:
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.
Revelation 12:11
In this talk, we welcome these two brothers to share their testimony of God’s work in their lives in 2023, with the hope to bring encouragement for each of us in the upcoming year.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed Adam Boyd to discuss the selection of Old Testament text sources.
In light of the increased attention the Septuagint has received in recent years, Adam discusses what role the Septuagint should have in translating the Old Testament into English and other languages, including whether or not it should replace the Masoretic Text as the primary source text for translation.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
“Righteous Lot?” is a historical retelling of the story of Lot, Abraham’s nephew, as recorded in the book of Genesis. The typical depiction of Lot portrays him as an example of selfishness, love of the world, poor parenting, and depravity—everything we should not be. Yet Peter’s commentary on Lot was stellar: he was a righteous man in Sodom, saved by his virtuous conduct.
What excuse can be granted for selfishly choosing the better land from his uncle? Or for acclimating to the vile environment of the doomed cities while serving at the city gates as their judge? How could any good father offer his daughters to a savage mob in exchange for his own security? No excuse can suffice for this.
In this book, Glenn Martin reexamines the biblical and historical narratives, and makes the bold conclusion that the modern telling bears little resemblance to the biblical character. According to the author, in Peter’s understanding of the narrative, Lot was guilty of none of the aforementioned things, and indeed, Lot was a righteous man and his conduct is defensible when the story is properly understood.
https://strengthtostrength.org/product/righteous-lot-glenn-martin/
https://strengthtostrength.org/s2s-books-02/
Strength to Strength Sisters welcomes three sisters, Edith Burkholder, Doreen Kurtz, and Tirza Kurtz to join a panel discussion on navigating our emotions and using them for God’s glory.
This talk is specifically for sisters only. Thanks!
Women were created beautifully as emotional beings, but these God-given emotions can sometimes be destructive. How can we navigate these feelings and use them for His glory? Join us as we hear from three sisters in different ages of life as they answer questions on how they are living well with their emotions.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Hector Troyer and his wife Lois have five boys and one girl. They are a part of the Followers of Jesus congregation in State College, Pennsylvania.
They are praying towards establishing an Anabaptist community in Hawaii. Because interpersonal conflict often derails fledgling church plants he has made a particular effort to understand how conflicts develop.
He believes that it is essential that the Gospel be presented in the context of a faithful community of believers. To that end he is particularly interested in church multiplication through the aggressive colonization of new territory. His desire is to assist and encourage those attempting to start churches in cities and areas previously unoccupied by the Anabaptist / kingdom church.
https://strengthtostrength.org/product/jesus-and-the-mennonites-hector-troyer/
https://strengthtostrength.org/s2s-books-01/
Strength to Strength welcomed Saher Haddad to discuss his journey of faith into Jesus’ kingdom.
Saher was born in Baghdad, Iraq, as a Catholic minority, and fled to the Netherlands in 1997. In this Talk, he will be sharing how God has changed his life from addictions to devotion to Christ, and his quest for true kingdom doctrine as he reads it in the Bible.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Reagan Schrock from Anabaptist Perspectives joins us at the table to interview us on how Strength to Strength got started (did you know what S2S was originally called!?). We lay out the vision and mission, and also get into what’s currently happening at here. We wrap up with talking about something we have been working on behind the scenes
Join us for our first-ever roundtable discussion with the S2S Admin and an invited guest. Enjoy!
Strength to Strength will typically host two Talks a year to spotlight Kingdom initiatives that can be an inspiration to others in the greater community of Jesus’ followers. If you know of a project that you would like to see spotlighted please contact us here. See part 1.
Strength to Strength welcomed three brothers to discuss what their lives look like being a disciple of Jesus. They will share with us ways to pray and partner with them in their work.
The unsung heros of Jesus’ kingdom are the faithful disciples who serve their Lord without fanfare or applause.
Whether you are a warrior in secret prayer, a widow who casts in the last two mites, or a worker advancing the bleeding edge of the kingdom, you can rest assured that deeds of service do not escape the eye of our benevolent King.
An interactive question-and-answer period follow
Strength to Strength Sisters welcomed Carol Nisly to share on how mothers can best build and strengthen their relationships with their daughters.
Carefully stacked in a little-used cupboard, the Homer Laughlin bluebird set from one great-grandma is nestled beside another pattern handed down from another great-grandmother. These old dishes are among the treasures our daughters will inherit – and yes, we use them for special occasions! But there are other, more durable treasures I hope they will cherish and put to good use.
Mothers shape family culture. What legacy will your daughters inherit? Are you unsure about the balance of work and play? How to cultivate healthy relational patterns? How to tell them the facts of life?
Our children will inherit something, and by God’s grace, it can be more than our failures and fears! In this talk, I want to explore some anchors to steady the soul in stormy seasons. I hope by stories from my house, to encourage you to use your influence to facilitate enduring faith in family, community and church life.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed Jon* to discuss reaching the unreached.
Many Christians are familiar with Jesus’ Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20. However, there’s another great commission in the gospels, and it occurs before the well-known “Go Ye Therefore.”
When Jesus saw the unreached multitudes, he gave a commission to all his disciples for all time: “Pray Ye Therefore.”
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
- “Jon” is a fictitious name being used for security purposes in this talk. Thank you for your understanding.
Strength to Strength welcomed Steven and Elijah to discuss the impact of the present Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
UPDATE: Sadly, Elijah was unable to join due to the tragic news that several of his close relatives were killed by an Israeli bombing in Gaza that occurred next to a church where they and hundreds of other Christians were staying. We hope to have Elijah join us at a later time.
Steven* is an Anabaptist brother working in Jerusalem; he joins us to help understand what life has been like there the last two weeks, and how Christians should think and respond to challenging conflicts such as this one.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
- “Steven” and Elijah* are fictitious names being used for security purposes in this talk. Thank you for your understanding.
Strength to Strength Sisters welcomed Dorcas Showalter to share on intentional growth, specifically through the ways of reflection with prayer and journaling.
Often amidst the difficulties in this broken world, we can feel stuck between what is our reality and what we wish our lives would be like. Through many of these times in her own life, Dorcas learned that reflecting deeply on certain intentional questions alongside prayer and journaling, she was able to continually move forward in growth.
Join us in this space to be inspired that growth is possible in any circumstance and how you can also incorporate the trio of reflection, prayer, and journaling as an aid in your journey.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Resource: Days of Month Verse Prayers
Strength to Strength welcomed Glenn Martin to explore a little-known Messianic prophesy.
What does the final plague of Egypt have in common with the Incarnation? What does the Wisdom of Solomon offer to bring together these two accounts? And what classic Christmas hymn do we sing that foretells the birth of the Messiah by invoking the death angel’s arrival at the Passover?
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed John D. Martin to discuss what sacrificialism in finances looks like.
Join us for a heart-searching message on possessions. This message is intended to encourage Christians everywhere to spend more on helping the needy. The kingdom calls for it. In this Talk, John D. Martin will challenge this generation to be the most sacrificial generation.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength Sisters welcomed Dawn Nolt to share on how to connect with others and help encourage rest for their souls.
Living in a world driven by technology, and in a culture devoted to family, productivity and ministry, many of us find ourselves busy and exhausted. Regularly quieting our hearts and replenishing our souls has become an elusive dream rather than reality.
Join us in this space to explore the possibility of living in a place of rest and belovedness of the Father, which empowers us to minister to those around us out of fullness rather than scarcity.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed Bill Shiley to discuss what church life should and can be, and how to get there.
Often, when we think about culture, our discussions center around dress, vehicles, technology, etc. The problem is that Jesus and the apostles don’t really spell out a lot of details on many of the specifics we deliberate over. But what DO Jesus and his apostles teach us about culture and how to create change in people? Is there a third way besides love and hope things get better, or lay down the law and drive people away?
While I don’t have the answer to it all, I will be sharing some culture foundations Jesus teaches that are often ignored in efforts to create culture causing us to be unsuccessful, as well as some lessons we have been learning as a brotherhood at Chambersburg Christian Fellowship that have helped us build unity in our diversity and accomplish intrinsic change as individuals and as a group.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength Sisters welcomed Lynelle Martin to share how we can “cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days,” and how this can relate to our finances.
Let’s look at some resources that God has entrusted us with and also at why He has done this. How should we use them? What should we spend our time, and money on? What about the Old Testament concept of tithing?
Do we look at money as a necessary evil that we need to have to live, or is it a tool that is to be used in advancing the kingdom of God? What are some ways to use our resources with eternity in focus? What is our place as sisters and what role do we fill with finances? How does our vision and values affect what we spend money on? Join us as we explore this subject together.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomes Stephen Russell to discuss radical peacemaking.
The early church and the first Anabaptists heard not only that God loves us and wants to save us, but they also heard, more clearly than many other Christians, that turning to Jesus has definite and clear implications, namely, that God’s people are to cooperate with Him so that His grace will change us on the inside, thus enabling us more fully and effectively to be His ambassadors to a lost, hurting world.
Today we will look at the biblical, historical, and theological foundations of nonresistance and perhaps consider some practical ideas for living as peacemakers (the literal word used in the Sermon on the Mount) in a very violent, hate-wracked world.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed Anan Twijjukye to share his testimony of coming to Jesus.
Anan lived a very chaotic life as young teenager, trapped in addictions, particularly pornography, which is a habit he caught when he was still a dancer and entertainer in clubs. Having grown up in nominal Christian family, he considered himself a Christian, and went to church. But his life took a turn when a Christian challenged his walk and introduced the Scriptures.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Resource: Antioch Resource Center
Strength to Strength Sisters welcomed Irene Bontrager to share helpful tools to strengthen your Bible study.
This talk begins by discussing how intentional Bible study can reflect God’s love to those around us. The Bible is the story how God made a covenant with Abraham to bless His people. The overarching theme is about God’s creation, fall, redemption, and restoration. This theme is found throughout the Bible and is still true today.
A book from the Old Testament will be used to learn how to study a book and what to do with difficult passages and stories. The study will conclude with ways to become good stewards of God’s Word by studying about who God is. He is the “I AM.”
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed David Bercot to discuss his book on the 20th anniversary of the first edition.
Join us for an interview/discussion of what led to the writing of this book, some of the concepts shared in this book, as well as David’s journey into his understanding of the centrality of this message.
If you’re a skeptic that Jesus’ message of the “Kingdom of God” is central to understanding God’s work in the world today, this Talk is for you.
Resources:
- Book by David Bercot: “The Kingdom That Turned the World Upside Down” available on Scroll Publishing and on Amazon
- Audio message by David Bercot: “The Kingdom of God” available on Scroll Publishing and on YouTube
Strength to Strength welcomed Zack Johnson to discuss how the early Christians viewed the governments of men.
In August of 2019 a well known American actor named Rain Wilson wrote on Twitter, “The metamorphosis of Jesus Christ from a humble servant of the abject poor to a symbol that stands for gun rights, prosperity theology, anti-science, limited government (that neglects the destitute) and fierce nationalism is truly the strangest transformation in human history.”
Has the Christian understanding of Jesus and empire undergone a metamorphosis?
In this talk, Zack Johnson explores some of the behaviors and thoughts associated with Christian nationalism and compares them with the early Christian understanding of the empire and its implications.
He urges Christ followers to return to sacrificialism instead of embracing Christian nationalism. He concludes that Jesus has imperium, not empire, and that the two are often incompatible.
Resources:
- “No Blood but Our Own” by Zack Johnson
- “Four Quadrants of Peace” by Zack Johnson
Strength to Strength welcomed Darvin Martin to explore how we can shed light on obscure Biblical passages.
In this Talk, Darvin first establishes a basic framework for sound interpretation. Then through examples of commonly misunderstood passages, he examines how context and author’s intent uncovers a more faithful interpretation.
If you think Biblical hermeneutics is an exercise for the experts, this Talk is for you.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength Sisters welcomed Kayla Rogers to share her testimony.
Kayla comes from a worldly, broken upbringing. While on her own in college at the young age of 17, God showed her the truth that she will share in this Talk: life is only worth living when you devote yourself to God.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed Delbert Weaver to discuss how our words precede our destiny.
No one disputes that our words are a window to our heart. Yet few recognize how our words steer our lives and ultimately our destiny. With amazing accuracy, the measure we use will be measured back to us (Matthew 7:1-2). In this Talk, Delbert encourages care in our critiques of those around us, and ponders what impact that could have on the fragmentation of our fellowships.
Life and death are in the hand of a tongue, and those who rule over it will eat the fruits thereof.
Proverbs 18:21 SAAS
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Recommended: “The Patient Ferment of the Early Church” by Alan Kreider
Strength to Strength welcomed Chuck Pike to explore the joy of finding and sharing Jesus through the Scriptures.
Do you have the Scriptures, but feel too weary to dig in? Has Bible study become a drudgery instead of a joy?
If that’s your experience, the good news is that there’s a goldmine awaiting your discovery. With the right tools, and a heart for the truth, God is waiting to reveal Himself to you.
In this presentation, Chuck shares how the Scriptures became alive for him and led him to faith in Jesus Christ.
Furthermore, he shares tips on how to lead Bible studies that encourage meaningful spiritual growth rather than fruitless and divisive debate.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength Sisters welcomed Janelle Glick to share on the blessings and challenges of intentionally creating peaceful relationships among ourselves.
This talk begins with noting friendship strengths of women in Scripture, and then moves on to explore the adventure of opening ourselves to God’s call to live at peace with ourselves, in one-on-one relationships with others, and in larger communities.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomes Lynn Martin to examine the claims of the oldest Christian denominations.
Today, many Christians are drawn to the ancientness of the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions, who claim to be the very church that was established by Jesus. This is an opportunity to bring people to kingdom Christianity, which is rooted in the true original faith. This talk will teach how to demonstrate how the apostolic faith differs from the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
This is the second part of a two-part series called “How to Answer Catholic and Orthodox Claims” to be held on May 6, 2023.
Also, see part 1: “How to Answer Catholic and Orthodox Claims – part 1” by Lynn Martin.
Strength to Strength welcomed Stephen Russell to explore a defense of Biblical authority against its critics.
Stephen begins by giving a summary of what the Scriptures consist of and how they were formed.
Following this, he speaks of all people’s quest to understand their own lives and the world around them. In our desire to share the Gospel with others, we should do so winsomely, drawing from Peter’s advice in 1 Peter 3:8-17.
The Christian’s defense should not use Scripture as a weapon. Instead, we should supersede confrontational apologetics with gentleness and respect, seeking to live an attractive Gospel message through our lives.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength Sisters welcomed four sisters to join a panel discussion on motherhood.
Four mothers in different seasons of life will answer questions on subjects like meeting God in mothering, serving with our children, and more.
Listen to this episode, thinking about your mothering and how God wants to grow you in your current season.
Speakers: Lindsey Kirkland, Janie Wagoner, Christina Baer, & Valerie Hurst
https://strengthtostrength.org/navigating-the-seasons-a-discussion-on-purposeful-motherhood/
Strength to Strength welcomed Finny Kuruvilla to explore the value of grasping the Biblical languages.
Are you reliant on commentators and online translation tools to inform you of the meaning behind the strange characters that consititute the original writings?
If you’re linguistically inclined, “It sounds like Greek to me” does not need to be your posture going forward. The Biblical languages are attainable, as demonstrated by history when learning Greek, Latin, and Hebrew was commonplace among academics.
Is Biblical language for you? Is the investment worth the return? Does a grasp on the language retain its valuable in a world of online tools? Finny will answers these questions and more.
For those who are not prepared to venture into this field, Finny will share tips for the use of interlinear tools, as well as caution in their limitations.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength Sisters welcomed Joy Weiler to discuss living with purpose and intentionality, and avoiding an aimless wandering through life.
For many people, the young adult years are a time of discovering who we are, what we are passionate about, and what gifts and abilities God has given us. Scripture calls youth to be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, and in purity.
These years are formational, and our choices can shape the trajectory of our lives. We will explore some ways to be intentional to use the young adult years well to serve and grow and build Christ’s kingdom.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed Lynn Martin to examine the claims of the oldest Christian denominations.
Today, many Christians are drawn to the ancientness of the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions, who claim to be the very church that was established by Jesus. This is an opportunity to bring people to kingdom Christianity, which is rooted in the true original faith. This talk will teach how to demonstrate how the apostolic faith differs from the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed Paul Garber to help us refocus our vision to better read Paul’s epistles in their historical context.
When we open our Bibles and read Romans, Ephesians, Colossians or Galatians, (or any book of the Bible for that matter) we must realize that these letters or books are part of a larger story, and that to properly understand their message we must read them as part of that larger story. The larger story is the entire story of human history from creation to new creation. But if we zoom in a little bit, a big part of this larger story is God’s covenants with Abraham and later the nation of Israel.
Through Israel, Jesus the long awaited redeemer and King, the Messiah, appears on the scene and announces the arrival of the kingdom of God.
Paul was an apostle of Jesus Christ, and as an apostle his message expounded upon the message of Jesus. The Good News of the kingdom of God as promised to Israel. And through Israel to the whole world.
With this history and context in mind, we approach the writings of the great apostle Paul.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Recommended: “Salvation by Allegience Alone” by Matthew W. Bates
Strength to Strength Sisters welcomed Edith Burkholder to discuss how to move on from difficult situations, make peace with our past, and grow through it all by learning to forgive eachother as God has forgiven us.
As we live and serve with other people, there are sometimes misunderstandings and problems in relationships. Edith will share about things that have helped her in times when she felt stuck in ruts of thinking and helped to bring her to more full forgiveness.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed Seth Mattson to discuss the intersection of Jesus’ constitution with Biblical counseling and Christian psychology.
The world of Christian counseling, ranging from integrated Christian psychology to direct biblical counseling, has a vibrant and ongoing history, although not without controversy. What do Jesus’ teachings in the Sermon on the Mount as well as early Christian ideas have to offer to this discussion?
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed Kyle Stoltzfus to discuss God’s perspective of our bodies He has given us.
What does your body have to do with your relationship with God? When Paul argues for a spiritual body in I Corinthians 15, does he mean a ghostly, disembodied spirit? We respond in this session by laying out the contours of biblical reflection on human bodies. Then, we evaluate five Christian claims about human bodies.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength Sisters welcomed Kristi Mast to share on the importance of discipleship among sisters.
If women are told to be silent in the church, keepers at home, and meek and quiet, what does it look like for them to participate in the life of the church? Why does the church need women to study God’s Word if they aren’t preaching and teaching the body? And what’s the connection between the Scriptures and a life of discipleship? We’ll wrestle with these questions and more in our discussion together!
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed David Bercot to explore the books of the Old Testament apocrypha.
These books from the so-called intertestamental period, largely written in Greek, have had a strong influence throughout the history of the church. This extended to Anabaptism in Europe, and significantly was a part of the King James Version of 1611. The Apocryphal books were often printed with the KJV up until about the 19th century.
David explores the history and controversy surrounding these books, and offers a great perspective for our consideration today.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed Micaiah to discuss the benefits of fidelity in prayer, fasting, solitude, and community.
In this Talk, we discuss the benefits of a disciplined life in the throws of our present cultural anarchy and spirtual numbness that has deadened our walk and service to the King.
The fidelity to daily rythyms of prayer and other practices will cause the life of the Creator to blow into the depths of our being leaving in its wake an army of well-trained disciples ready for active duty.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed three brothers on an off-Saturday to discuss what their lives look like being a disciple of Jesus.
The unsung heros of Jesus’ kingdom are the faithful disciples who serve their Lord without fanfare or applause.
Whether you are a warrier in secret prayer or a widow who casts in the last two mites, you can rest assured that deeds of service do not escape the eye of our benevolent King.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
“Where your talents and the needs of the world cross, there lies your vocation.”
Aristotle
Strength to Strength Sisters welcomed Laura Kuruvilla to share her journey in the area of modesty and headcovering and addresses some of the pressing questions that surround us in this age.
Why does God want us to dress modestly? How do we even come up with a definition of modesty? Is modesty defined by the culture in which we live? Are pants permissible for women?
Join us to explore God’s heart for his daughters on this practical subject.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed John D. Martin to discuss Jesus’ ultimate purpose of coming to this world.
God created a perfect humanity. All of us still carry the ideals of that humanity in our hearts. But attempts to fulfill those ideals in a fallen world usually end in disillusionment. Have these ideals been left to mock fallen man, or has God given us a way for their genuine fulfillment?
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed Micah Hozen to share his testimony of faith with us.
From the suburbs and beaches of Southern California, to the forests and rivers of Oregon, I was restless, always looking for something, for somewhere to belong, for what truly pleased God. But my sin was always there confounding my search. This is the story of how God brought me to the end of myself, set me free, and delivered me into His Kingdom.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomes Kyle Stoltzfus to discuss God’s perspective of our bodies He has given us.
What does your body have to do with your relationship with God? When Paul argues for a spiritual body in I Corinthians 15, does he mean a ghostly, disembodied spirit? We respond in this session by laying out the contours of biblical reflection on human bodies. Then, we evaluate five Christian claims about human bodies.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength Sisters welcomed Crystal Miller, Susan Schlabach and Charlene Stoltzfus for a panel discussion on ways sisters can serve others in specific roles.
- Crystal will be sharing on members on the foreign fields and the vital roles that sisters can play.
- Susan will speak on those in leadership positions and ways sisters can walk alongside, encourage, be there for, and minister to.
- Charlene will be talking about single sisters and their important role in the Kingdom and how we can serve them.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed Adam Boyd to explore the different manuscript families of the Greek New Testament and to present the case for why the text preserved in the vast majorities of manuscripts is to be preferred.
It is apparent that something is amiss. In Matthew 6:13 the King James Version concludes the Lord’s prayer with the words, “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” However, most modern English translations like the ESV and NIV exclude these words from the Lord’s prayer. Why do some translations include these words while others do not?
Which is right, and why does it matter? Join Adam as he addresses these and other related questions about the text of the Greek New Testament.
An interactive question-and-answer period will follow.
Strength to Strength welcomed Arthur Nisly to speak on the problem of sexual addiction among conservative Anabaptists.
In Part 2, he speaks about the tools and concepts that he has found most helpful in working with over 40 men who long to be free from sexual addiction. He has invested more than 1,000 hours in the trenches.
An interactive question-and-answer period will follow.
Strength to Strength welcomed Arthur Nisly to speak on the problem of sexual addiction among conservative Anabaptists.
In Part 1, he speaks to church leaders and those who want to help sexual strugglers, but don’t know how. He gives suggestions about how churches can make it safe to give help and to deal redemptively with those who come forward.
An interactive question-and-answer period will follow.
Strength to Strength Sisters welcomed Mariel Frost for a discussion of their family’s spiritual journey.
Leaving the culture in which we were raised can be unsettling. Finding our way to a Kingdom lifestyle is often especially difficult for us women. So, what is the secret to success? How can we help others in this transition? How can we ensure that our own journey won’t begin with enthusiasm but end in lukewarmness? And what should our attitude be towards those that walked with us for a time but have chosen a different path?
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed Chuck Pike to explore Jesus’ Bible with us.
Have you ever wondered why Jesus and the apostles misquote Old Testament texts? Are these sloppy quotations, sketchy transmission over the millennia, or shoddy translation in modern times? Or perhaps New Testament authors were trying to revise the Old Testament text to better represent their goals?
For example, Isaiah says,
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,
Because the Lord has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound.
- Isaiah 61:1 NKJV
But when Jesus quoted this in Luke, He inserted the phrase “and recovery of sight to the blind:"
The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed.
- Luke 4:18 NKJV
If these discrepancies concern you, join Chuck as he illustrates Jesus’ and the apostles’ frequent use of a different Old Testament text than the one most English Bibles are translated from today. If you’ve heard confusing terms like “Masoretic” and “Septuagint” – that confusion is about to melt away.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed Dan Ziegler on an off-Saturday to discuss the politics of Jesus’ nation.
According to recent research from Barna Group, more practicing Christians believe the government is responsible to create meaningful change, rather than the church.
Dan’s essay, “A Question of Power,” provides an outline of Jesus’ relation to the world as a model for His followers.
With Election Day in the United States only ten days away, this talk is not only timely but important for those who wish to follow the King Jesus while residing in a world with the church enamored by political power.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Recommended, also by Dan Ziegler:
- Essay: Following Jesus into the Bible – How Anabaptists Understand Scripture, Part 1
- Essay: Jesus means what He says and He is talking to us! – How Anabaptists Understand Scripture, Part 2
- YouTube video: Why Do They Live That Way, Part 1
- YouTube video: Why Do They Live That Way, Part 2
Strength to Strength welcomed Lamar Showalter to discuss God’s desire for relationships within the church.
What does it mean to bear with the weak? Am I weak or am I strong? The differences between the weak and the strong can cause some tension in church life. But as we read in John 13:35, it is critical that we learn to work together and support each other. This talk will share some thoughts and perspectives on constructively navigating this aspect of relationships.
We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
Romans 15:1 NKJV
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed Greg Weaver to introduce this series about God’s written revelation known as the Bible. Note how the apostle Paul brilliantly illustrates the path to faith:
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17 NKJV
Join us as we explore foundational concepts in our approach to Scripture. Consider these statements and ask yourself how you would respond:
- “Hermeneutics and interpretation is for those who don’t want to accept the plain words.”
- “The Bible is not the Word of God; Jesus is.”
- “Leave ‘Christocentrism’ for the theologians to discuss.”
- “The Bible is God’s love story (or, a history book; or, a science book).”
Do you feel confident responding to such statements?
In this talk, Greg portrays the Scriptures as a painting of an epic theme, drawing its readers into a cohesive understanding of a person as the unified center of the book.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength Sisters welcomed Jamila Kurtz for a conversation in missional hospitality.
Do you spend your days changing diapers, washing dishes and sorting through piles of laundry?
Does doing something to advance the kingdom of God seem like an elusive, distant dream?
My life was changed forever when I began to see our home as one of my greatest tools in bringing the kingdom of God to those around me on this earth.
I’m excited to share what God has taught me about welcoming the stranger and making room for others today … right where we are.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Pablo Yoder has dedicated his life to the furtherance of the kingdom of God. For the past twenty-seven years, he has worked among the Nicaraguan people to bring a message of Jesus’ love.
On August 15, 2022, he was diagnosed with stage-four kidney cancer. Now, in the sunset of his life, he shares life lessons he has learned with those of us who remain.
Pablo grew up in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and moved to Costa Rica as a child. After marriage, Pablo and his wife Euni were blessed with six children and moved to plant a church in Waslala, Nicaragua.
Of particular note, between 1995 and 2000, Pablo and his family have lived through dozens of tests of faith while encountering robberies and death threats in Nicaragua. His responses are predictably creative and consistently filled with love for his enemies.
Pablo lives in Nicaragua with his wife Euni and six children.
This interview has been done by Zack Johnson, along with the assistance of Clark Wray from the Followers of the Way church in Boston, Massachusetts. We thank them for the use of this production.
His books range from his love of nature such as “The Work of Thy Fingers,” biographical sketches such as “Unconditional Surrender,” inspirational works such as “Footprints of Christ,” and personal journeys such as “Angels Over Waslala," and many others available at https://tgsinternational.com/product-author/pablo-yoder/
and many others available at https://tgsinternational.com/product-author/pablo-yoder/
Strength to Strength welcomed Ryan J. A. Hoover to share stories, observations, and lessons learned from leadership in crisis.
In August 2003, 55,000,000 people in eight states and Ontario lost power – some for several hours, some for multiple days – because of three trees and a computer glitch. The ensuing cascade jammed traffic, released toxic chemicals into rivers, flooded subways, closed airports, cost more than $ 10 billion, and caused the death of a hundred people.
While the global COVID-19 pandemic has been a significant challenge for society over the past 2+ years, it has been acutely difficult for the healthcare sector. When that healthcare facility is operated by volunteers that live in dorms, infectious diseases are more difficult to manage. Further, the intersection of Anabaptists, government regulations, individual rights, and infectious disease, has been complex.
As the Administrator of Mountain View Nursing Home through this time, Ryan Hoover has seen much, failed often, and learned some in organizational leadership during crises.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed Hector Troyer to survey causes of and solutions to interpersonal conflict.
Hector will look at healthy and unhealthy responses to conflict-triggering situations. Even more importantly, he will be exploring simple techniques that can reduce the negative power of conflicts in our lives.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Recommended book: “Radical Collaboration” by Jim Tamm
Strength to Strength Sisters welcomed Lisa Peters to discuss their family’s journey into the unchartered territory of homeschooling.
My husband and I were both public schooled, I never even dreamed of homeschooling my own children… that is until our first child was born. The love and responsibility we felt to train him up in the Lord weighed heavily on our hearts, and we only wanted what was right.
When he was five, after a long battle of deciding which route to take, we finally made the decision to homeschool. I was so excited, yet so scared. I felt privileged for the opportunity, yet anxious for the responsibility. What if I did something terribly wrong? What if I neglected to teach a very important concept? What if…???
I want to share what we’ve learned over the years, though we’ve made many mistakes. I want to share our homeschool journey, though it’s far from finished.
My prayer is that someone might be inspired, be encouraged, be strengthened, as I often have been when listening to other moms share their journey.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed John D. Martin to share some words of Jesus as a reminder to those who diligently seek Him.
The Sermon on the Mount presents Jesus’ ideal, a colony of Heaven on earth as visualized in the Lord’s prayer, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
In Matthew 7, Jesus presents four rules of life for those on the kingdom road:
- “Judge not”
- “Do not cast your pearls before swine”
- “Ask, seek, and knock”
- “Whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them”
Put aside your pat interpretations, and allow yourself a fresh perspective from Jesus’ Constitution.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength Sisters welcomed Natasha Sweazy to contrast the worldviews from women in the Bible to the world today. From the cries of women saying, “give me children or I will die” to “give me children and I’ll die”.
No matter what stage of life you are in, whether it be women with a lot of small children, a child who has walked away from God, or women unable to have children of her own, God sees us and he knows our heart.
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3:20-21
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed five brothers on an off-Saturday to introduce and discuss ministry opportunities in 2022.
Jesus said,
Do you not say, “There are still four months and then comes the harvest”? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! John 4:35 NKJV
Our goal with these updates is to raise awareness of ministry opportunities around the world, and also to serve as inspiration for you to seek out opportunities for outreach in your area.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed Darvin Martin to discuss what Peter meant when he said:
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts…”
1 Peter 3:15a
The primary command that God has given us is to love Him with all of our being. But how can we love a God whom we mistrust?
From the garden of Eden to our present day, Satan’s scheme has been to deceive people into believing that God is not working in their interest.
In this Talk, we want to learn from Peter’s exhortation, and explore why it is so important, and how it relates to becoming an overcoming Christian.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Recommended: Darvin is developing this topic more extensively with a series of short videos on his personal YouTube channel.
Strength to Strength welcomed Lynn Martin to discuss how we can encourage intellectual sustainability in our thought processes.
Are thinkers necessary to Anabaptist culture? Should we care that the most talented young people often leave the Anabaptist community? This talk will address these questions.
Lynn suggests ways that our communities can support better thinking without losing our values and distinctives.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Resources:
- Think Truth blog and podcast: “Thinking more so we can better love God and others.”
- The Trailhead (subscribe by email at thetrailhead20@gmail.com):
- “From breakfast to bedtime, marriage to business management, preaching to parenting, . . . the delights and dilemmas of manhood.”
- The Curator blog for literature and the arts: “building a community of writers, readers, and thinkers.”
- Anabaptist Viewpoint (subscribe by email at contact@anabaptistviewpoint.org):
- “addressing issues facing conservative Anabaptist leaders”
- and more on our Resources page
Strength to Strength welcomed Conrad Eby to discuss his experience in understanding and dealing with behaviors resulting from trauma.
Trauma, defined as any extraordinary disruption of a person’s inner world, can be the beginning of emotional distress and mental illness. Anxiety disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can be a result of trauma.
Scrupulosity is a form of OCD that gets wrapped up in conscience issues, making it difficult for very good people to be at rest. Join us as we unpack why, what, when, and where, along with how to treat it effectively.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed Marvin* to discuss the story of the Bible as the story of God’s love towards his people, in which God condescends—takes on weakness—to form a special people set apart to him.
This paradigm of God’s purposes being accomplished through seeming weakness, is also the paradigm adopted by Jesus, Paul, and the early church. It is also the paradigm that we are called to follow. But how should that look in cross-cultural contexts? In this talk we explore the examples we have from Scripture and the early church, and then provide a few practical suggestions for what this could look like in overseas ministry.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
- alias used for security purposes.
Resource: see Marvin’s interview with All-Nations Bible Translation
Strength to Strength Sisters welcomed Bernice Troyer to share lessons from the experiences of Sarai and Hagar.
Full of frustration with her own her faulty plan to help God, Sarai deals hardly with Hagar. Hagar runs to the desert to escape the abuse, but the Lord’s angel asks her to return to her mistress and submit under her hand. (Genesis 16)
Why? And how does this apply to the difficult relationship in my life? What can I do about the woman who controls / manipulates me and makes my life difficult? Let’s talk about it in this next session.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed Conrad Eby to discuss his experience in understanding and dealing with behaviors resulting from trauma.
Trauma, defined as any extraordinary disruption of a person’s inner world, can be the beginning of emotional distress and mental illness. Anxiety disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can be a result of trauma.
Scrupulosity is a form of OCD that gets wrapped up in conscience issues, making it difficult for very good people to be at rest. Join us as we unpack why, what, when, and where, along with how to treat it effectively.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Resource: diagram to accompany this talk
- Strength to Strength Sisters welcomed Marcia Zimmerman to share about seeking God’s heart for ways to minister in the brokenness that comes with trauma and prenatal exposure to substance abuse.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed Brackin Kirkland to share his life testimony.
In Brackin’s own words:
I grew up in a Christian home, but I made many bad decisions in my teenage years, which led me into a life of sin and rebellion. But the Lord was with me all along the way, and His grace brought me back to life again in my early 20’s. As a result, now I’m thankful for the opportunity to share His grace – His power– with a lost and dying world.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed Adam Boyd to discuss the dangers of dispensationalism, and how a Biblical perspective can inform our understanding of where we are in God’s plan.
Part 2 is a critique of the teachings of Classic Dispensationalism based on the teachings of the New Testament.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed Adam Boyd to discuss the dangers of dispensationalism, and how a Biblical perspective can inform our understanding of where we are in God’s plan.
Part 1 is an overview of the teachings of classical dispensationalism, particular as it relates to Israel and the church.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
This was the first part of a two-part S2S Event held on May 21, 2022.
Also, see part 2: “Critique of Classic Dispensationalism” by Adam Boyd.
Strength to Strength Sisters welcomed Christina Baer to share her life testimony.
Christina grew up in a home with her mom and younger sister in Calgary, Alberta. She had little religious influences and God was not part of their home. Christina struggled with depression and in her search for joy, she found it in a place she didn’t even think of looking, Jesus Christ. Join us as Christina shares her testimony.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows
Recommended: Testimony by Christina Baer’s husband, Sam Baer
Strength to Strength welcomed Bryant Martin to discuss how we can be ambassadors of radical welcome.
What on earth is hospitality anyhow? Is it a hallmark of our King and his kingdom? If so, how are we going to remove the bottlenecks to be obedient citizens?
My goal is to convince you that at the heart of Christianity and kingdom advance is bringing-heaven-to-earth hospitality.
There are two mandates in the New Testament. One is witness, the other is service. To ignore either of them is to seriously cripple the church . . . to engage in evangelism of soul without recognition that those souls also have bodies is foolish and unreal . . . love which is demonstrated in tangible acts of Christian caring is irresistible.
-Stanley Mooneyham
Jesus wants a society of redeemed people to show the world what the whole world would look like if everybody obeyed the King.
-John D. Martin
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Bryant recently shared a topic with Anabaptists Perspectives called “Christian Hospitality and Why It Matters.” Listen to these two episodes for a foundation for this talk.
- YouTube: Episode 1
- YouTube: Episode 2
Strength to Strength welcomed Edsel Burdge to discuss God’s vision of how economics should work within His nation.
Where is your treasure?
This survey of the Old Testament and the teachings of Jesus and the apostles will demonstrate a consistent attitude toward economics and the accumulation and distribution of riches.
His talk highlights some of the teaching he presented in this four-part series.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed Bill Shiley to share about Christian singlehood.
Is singlehood a season to be endured? Does God, in fact, place a premium on marriage?
Is the common perception that singles need to “find their fulfillment in God” an adequate response? In this presentation, Bill shares about where the New Testament teaches fulfillment is to be found.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
This poem, shared during the presentation, captures an important reminder to all:
As the King Passed By
As the king passed by, thro’ the narrow street,
With a thousand menials in his train,
Ready to catch the downcast rein,
Or lie in the dust at his princely feet,
A peasant sat in his lowly door,
And the sunshine lay on his cottage floor,
As the king passed by.
And unto himself the peasant said,
As he caught the shimmer of purple and gold,
And saw the menials young and old
Attend each turn of the royal head:
“How enviable a man is he —
A life of ease and minstrelsy!”
As the king passed by.
As the king passed by, his eyes beheld
The peasant sitting by his door,
And the golden sunlight on his floor.
And beneath the purple his weary heart swelled,
And he sighed: “What were it worth to be
Like yonder peasant, trammell free”
As the king passed by.
Charles Stebbins
https://strengthtostrength.org/singlehood-a-calling-to-be-stewarded/
Strength to Strength Sisters welcomed Linda Miller to share on how God redemptively lightens the dark journeys of our lives.
In a world of brokenness, we experience pain and hardship. We shy away form suffering, longing for healing and relief from the pain. How can there be beauty in my difficult circumstances? Can any good come out of the hard situation I’m in? God is our Redeemer; He makes all things beautiful in His time. He walks with us in our suffering, to bring about His purpose.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
https://strengthtostrength.org/beauty-in-suffering/
Strength to Strength welcomed Josué Moreno to share his testimony of faith as a disciple of Jesus in Mexico.
Josué tells his life story of growing up in a happy evangelical home. Growing up, he experienced doubts and fears, and departed from the Lord for a season of his life. He came across the Anabaptists at age 15.
In his words, “The Lord brought me home again. I just want to follow and serve My King here in Mexico!”
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
https://strengthtostrength.org/serving-the-king-in-mexico/
Strength to Strength welcomed Shawn Miller to share an overview presentation of the kingdom of God.
To be a “kingdom person” means to be under the reign of God. Like earthly nations, Jesus’ kingdom has four components including a leader, constitution, domain, and citizens. However, in contrast to the nations of the world, Jesus’ kingdom is international. He came as a King with all the intended consequences of that terminology. His citizens are disbursed among all nations of the world.
How can we present this idea of God’s kingdom to the world around us? A visual presentation can help people firmly grasp the meaning of this concept and open the door for deep discussions about what it means to be a part of the marvelous kingdom of God.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
https://strengthtostrength.org/patriotic-ambassadors-the-kingdom-message-visually-presented/
Strength to Strength Sisters welcomed Darla Weaver for a practical topic for women of all ages.
What happens when we bring God into the secret longings of our heart? What does emotional purity look like for a young woman? How does God fit into that vulnerable part of our life and what do we do with these desires for intimacy and connection?
Join us as we talk about God’s heart for purity, His desire for a relationship of intimacy with His daughters, and the why’s behind His standards of holiness.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Mothers, please be conscious of the age and maturity of your listening daughters. Thank you!
Strength to Strength welcomed four brothers from four different countries on an off-Saturday to join us to discuss the current Ukrainian crisis. Each of the four brothers are directly involved in providing assistance through various channels.
Jesus’ words in the Judgment scene are a reminder that while we serve others, we are serving Jesus:
“Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.”
Matthew 25:40 NKJV
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed Zack Johnson to discuss how those politically uninvolved are to remain active in effecting change in the world.
Given voting is an abdication of responsibility, then how should Christ followers be reclaiming responsibility? This talk explores Christianity’s burden in global poverty and world change. Together with David Anderson, the two introduce James Hunter’s paradigms in To Change the World: The Irony, Tragedy, and Possibility of Christianity in the Late Modern World.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed Charlton Sweazy to introduce and discuss a new Bible study course.
Many people don’t have a comprehensive understanding of the storyline of the Bible. As a result they blindly follow false teachers who strip them of their money, life and dignity while fanning a false hope of a better future. We believe everyone should understand the storyline of the Bible from creation to new creation, freeing them to love and create a better world without being stripped of their possessions by scamming pastors.
The new “Creation to New Creation” (C2NC) Bible study course is no ordinary course where you go and do as you please. Instead, the goal is deep, biblical transformation over time.
We want to empower and equip Gospel-informed disciples of the Kingdom to answer the call to a serious and holy witness for our King Jesus.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength Sisters welcomed Deborah Bercot to reflect on characters whose lives are worth replicating.
Running the race faithfully to the end, even unto death. Our sisters and brothers have done this through the ages. Deborah presents a glimpse into the lives of some early Christian and Anabaptist sisters who faithfully ran their race toward
Christ and eternity.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed Dean Taylor to discuss the atonement.
When it comes to the doctrine of the Atonement, most theologically minded Anabaptists (including myself) would consider ourselves a “Christus-Victor-guy.” What I mean by this is that we believe that the story of what Jesus accomplished on the cross includes the bigger picture of Christ’s victory over Satan and all of Satan’s kingdom. That’s good. However, what’s not good is that in the process of championing Jesus’ victory over Satan, we have often thrown the sacrifice of Christ under the bus.
As a historical theologian, I feel that many in the neo-Anabaptist world have gone way too far with “Christus Victor” and “Ransom Atonement” theories of the Atonement. I think I understand why we have done this. But we were wrong. For this reason, I wrote a paper (see link below) where I discussed a few possible reasons why this reductionism occurred. I called this problem “Kingdom Reductionism.”
The current rhetoric among neo-Anabaptist (and many in the academic world) is that the sacrifice themes of the Atonement, commonly known as “Penal Substitutionary Atonement (PSA),” started centuries after the early Church with Anselm in the middle ages. In my paper and in this presentation, I look at several critical early Christian passages related to the Atonement. In doing so, I demonstrate that from a historical perspective, this rhetoric is complete nonsense.
In saying that, please understand that I will not be trying to claim that PSA was the exclusive view of the early Church. All that I am saying is that PSA was very clearly one of the metaphors used by the early Church to describe the miracle of the Atonement. From a historical perspective, this is easily proven.
As a conclusion, I argue that pastorally I believe that the loss of PSA has hurt our churches producing unnecessary division, a loss of holiness, spiritual pride, and anemic worship.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Download: Kingdom Reductionism by Dean Taylor
Strength to Strength welcomed four brothers on an off-Saturday to introduce and discuss ministry opportunities in 2022.
Jesus said,
Do you not say, “There are still four months and then comes the harvest”? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!
John 4:35 NKJV
Our goal with these testimonies is to raise awareness of ministry opportunities around the world, and also to serve as inspiration for you to seek out opportunities for outreach in your area.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed John D. Martin to share about music and what it means to “Sing the New Song.”
In the first part of the discussion, John D. spoke about the importance of music and what it accomplishes in the life of the Christian.
In the second part of the discussion, he covered more practical aspects of what our music should be like, using Revelation 5:9 as a model for the music of the redeemed:
And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
Revelation 5:9 NKJV
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
https://strengthtostrength.org/sing-the-new-song/
Strength to Strength welcomed Lamar Showalter to encourage us to rise up in this new year.
Hunger and starvation are not new tragedies. But did you know people are dying of starvation right in your own town? This is a challenge for 2022 to rise up and feed the “starving” people around you with the fruit of the Spirit.
Rise up, O men of God!
Have done with lesser things;
Give heart and soul and mind and strength
To serve the King of kings.
William Merrill
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.https://strengthtostrength.org/rise-up-o-man-of-god/
Strength to Strength welcomed Sam Stoltzfus on an off-Saturday to share about his experiences during the highly-publicized Haiti hostage crisis.
On October 16, 2021, the 400 Mawozo gang kidnapped seventeen volunteer missionaries serving in Haiti under Christian Aid Ministries. Most remained captive until their miraculous escape on December 16, 2021.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
https://strengthtostrength.org/experiences-as-a-hostage-in-haiti/
Strength to Strength welcomed Leonard Hege to discuss bringing the written word of God to unreached people groups.
Being an effective ambassador requires a familiarity with the society in which we represent our King. What about our host culture is hostile to the message we bring? What provides an open door for ministry? This talk provides a case study in thinking about strategic ambassadorship.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
https://strengthtostrength.org/patriotic-ambassadors-crossing-cultures/
Strength to Strength Sisters welcomed Darla Weaver for this important and timely topic.
What does it mean to walk in grace as a woman of God? In a conservative Christian culture that embraces obedience to the Word of God, grace can easily get lost in the details. My personal journey from obedience rooted in fear and a desire for perfection, to obedience rooted in love, relationship, and freedom has been long and varied, but it’s also been life changing in the best kind of way. Legalism demands perfection from everyone, especially ourselves, but grace points to the finished work on the cross, enabling us to walk in obedience with a heart of joy and surrender.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
https://strengthtostrength.org/god-grace-and-godly-womanhood/
Strength to Strength welcomed Gary Miller to discuss his recent book, Reaching America.
Few of our unbelieving American neighbors are coming to faith and joining our conservative Anabaptist fellowships. Does our culture lack spiritual interest, are we doing something wrong, or should this be considered normal?
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed Verlynn Yoder to provide hope to those struggling with depression, and answer.
Some of us may ask ourselves, why am I feeling down so often lately? Circumstances and pressures can feel large and looming. Stress levels rise without us identifying how they affect us. We should be asking ourselves honestly, am I depressed?
The world of depression is an awful world. It is a lonely place. A place that seems to have no end in sight. Everyone else seems to come out of their lows except me. Is there some switch to flip so that life can be like it was before? Yes, there is hope. There is a journey out of depression. For most it is a steady process that requires discipline, hard work and humility. With God’s promise of grace to the humble there is hope. With depression can come anxiety and much insecurity but this too can be overcome.
Others have walked this dark valley and have come out better than before. I know because I have been there and by the grace of God, I have come back. There is hope.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Recommended book: “The Secret of the Singing Heart” by C. W. Naylor
https://strengthtostrength.org/hope-in-depression-a-mental-health-challenge/
Strength to Strength welcomed Chuck Pike to discuss expanding the borders of the kingdom of God.
Join Chuck as he shares practical insights on evangelism based on decades in a very evangelistic, church-planting movement that emphasized repentance, commitment, and discipleship.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
https://strengthtostrength.org/patriotic-ambassadors-plundering-the-strong-mans-house-part-2/
Strength to Strength welcomed Chuck Pike to discuss expanding the borders of the kingdom of God.
Join Chuck as he explores how we can use the Old Testament prophecies to convince unbelievers.
We can learn from the earliest Christians how we too can do the same today to great effect.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
https://strengthtostrength.org/patriotic-ambassadors-plundering-the-strong-mans-house-part-1/
Strength to Strength welcomed John D. Martin to discuss his favorite topic, the Kingdom of God.
God’s kingdom here on earth is to be a colony of heaven that demonstrates how God intends the whole world to be.
God’s righteous rule is just, and kind, and good, and right. The problem is that the gospel is presented a lot of times as a “save me” gospel. Salvation is a means to an end, not an end in and of itself.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
https://strengthtostrength.org/patriotic-ambassadors-advancing-jesus-kingdom/
Strength to Strength welcomed Dwight Nisly to discuss his experiences with expanding the kingdom of God.
Have you ever wrestled with the role of politics and culture in advancing God’s Kingdom? The Apostle Paul answers these questions with a call to “the ministry of reconciliation” and a profound political analogy!
What is the message Christians should be communicating to the world?
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
https://strengthtostrength.org/patriotic-ambassadors-politics-culture-and-kingdom-church-planting/
Strength to Strength Sisters welcomed Tania Taylor for our first S2S Sisters’ topic.
Is your heart’s deepest longing to advance the kingdom of God, right where you are today? Join us as we explore with Tania what a woman’s role should be in the kingdom of God. And come prepared – we want to hear your questions and input afterward!
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
https://strengthtostrength.org/the-womans-role-in-the-kingdom/
Strength to Strength welcomed Marlin Sommers for a discussion about stewardship.
Christians talk a lot about stewardship. Being stewards is indeed a biblical idea (though “servant managers,” or “household managers” may be better terms). We know that what we are entrusted with is ultimately God’s resources.
What we may miss is that stewardship also describes our social roles in our various communities. We are stewards of God’s resources for the individuals or communities he intends those resources to bless.
This broadens our perspective on stewardship to include our skills, roles, and responsibilities, not just our money.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Resource: Business People Are Stewards
Resource: Stewards Are God’s Household Managers
Strength to Strength welcomed Tony Zook to discuss his experiences with parenting children with special needs.
Have you struggled with your children’s disabilities? Do you wonder “Why me?”
Tony will share things that encouraged him and his wife Martha when their daughter was born with down syndrome. He will also share tips from their family’s experience on how to relate to families with special needs.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed four brothers to discuss the refugee flow from Afghanistan.
There are urgent and long-term opportunities to provide physical, emotional, and spiritual support to needy people-groups arriving at our doorsteps.
Join us as we explore ways help immigrants in our communities arriving from Afghanistan. How can we offer assistance to the most needy among us?
I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.
Matthew 25:35 NKJV
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Resource: Plain News: Helping Afghan Refugees #2
You can help: contribute to Christian Aid Ministries
You can help: contribute to Advance 1040
Strength to Strength welcomed Darvin Martin for a Bible study of John 14.
Are you looking forward to a mansion in heaven? Waiting for Christ to come again and take us to the place which He has prepared?
Scores of Gospel songs feed this anticipation. But what specifically did Jesus promise in John 14?
2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
John 14:2,3 NKJV
Join me as we listen once again to Jesus’ last words with the disciples before going to the cross. Let us believe the promise that He gave! It may be better than you thought!
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomes Aaron Crider for a Bible study of God’s name.
The name of the LORD is a strong tower;
The righteous run to it and are safe.
Proverbs 18:10 NKJV
Join us for a worshipful meditation on “The Name We Trust.” Does the name of our God matter? Why is it hidden in most of our Bibles? What happens to The Name after the Old Testament?
Read the Bible with fresh appreciation, and marvel at who our God really is. A study of The Name is a study of our God Himself!
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.Resource: “How Shall We Translate THE NAME?” by Aaron Crider
Resource: “Pronouncing & Translating the Divine Name: History & Practice” by Andrew Case
Strength to Strength welcomed Joel Nisly and Dru Lattin to discuss the so-called New Apostolic Reformation.
The New Apostolic Reformation, also known as Independent Network Charismatic Christianity is a rapidly-growing and influential global movement led by so-called apostles and prophets who claim an authority like that of the Twelve. While many groups have traditionally used the term apostle to mean one gifted or commissioned as a church planter, this movement views these offices as speaking directly for God.
The teachers and theology from this movement are exerting an influence upon the Anabaptist faith tradition. Our goal is to expose these errors, and call us to contend earnestly for the faith once for all delivered to the saints.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Recommended article: Dangerous Doctrine: The New Apostolic Reformation in Plain Clothes by Joel Nisly
Strength to Strength welcomed Austin Lapp to discuss practical steps for how knowledge workers can better manage their digital world.
Digital tools and toys continue to permeate every corner of our world introducing new issues that require new, creative solutions. Knowledge workers, which include educators, students, pastors, authors, analysts, consultants, administrators, and others, depend on uninterrupted, focused time during which their minds can operate at optimal capacity.
Unfortunately, the digital world wasn’t designed with knowledge workers in mind. As a so-called knowledge worker, you have likely experienced an overwhelming barrage of emails, instant messages, interruptions, and notifications keeping you from maintaining your commitments and from dedicating sufficient focused time on your most important projects.
In this talk, we will better understand the nature of the problem and be introduced to systems and tools you can use right now to overcome the overwhelm, freeing you from the tyranny of the urgent to be fully present with your family, walk with integrity towards your commitments, and produce high quality work.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Download: Slides and Resources
YouTube: The Social Dilemma
Recommended book: Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World
Recommended book: Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity
Strength to Strength welcomed Zach Barkman to discuss reaching unbelievers through apologetics.
Here’s Zach’s burden for this talk:
After years of street/open-air/campus evangelism, I surveyed all of Jesus’ Gospel conversations — and compared them to methods of evangelism that I’d been taught. The results surprised me and provided me with a few principles that I hope can help us have conversations about Jesus in the current culture.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed Sam Baer to discuss the seventh and final segment of this “King and Country” series.
What is the final victory of our King? Has His victory been won, or is it coming? What does the victory of Jesus mean for us, His followers? These questions are addressed in this final installment of the “King and Country” series.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed Bill Shiley to discuss reaching unbelievers through apologetics.
Always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you.
1 Peter 3:15
In this talk Bill relayed lessons he has been learning from his personal reliance on and use of apologetics, as well as its typical use in the public arena. Also, he shared the most productive and often neglected apologetics of the Christian faith.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomes Leo Eby to discuss the sixth segment of this “King and Country” series.
A King and a country without humanity wouldn’t be a kingdom at all! The bride of the King is His “purchased possession,” His “inheritance,” human beings whose transformation transcended race, language, gender, culture, bondman or freeman, Jew or Gentile. They live to please their King and to bring Heaven to His country in spite of the hostility of Satan, the world, and the flesh!
The “new humanity” rejoices in tribulation, uses crucified flesh to do the will of their King, speaks truth in love, overcomes evil with good, loves their enemies, and is obsessed with obeying and worshipping their King!
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
1 Peter 2:9, 10
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed Ken Miller to discuss the fifth segment of this “King and Country” series.
How does the Resurrection of Jesus Christ “inaugurate” Jesus as King of kings and why is the resurrection central to our faith? Can the resurrection be documented historically, and if so, how? What difference should the resurrection make in our lives at 9:55 on Thursday morning?
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed Shihua Zhu to describe his spiritual journey into the kingdom of God.
Shihua is a former atheist whose life has been completely transformed by God. His story of salvation is full of God’s love and work in his heart, and a worthy example to all.
In his testimony, he discusses his life in China, his immigration to the United States, and most importantly his experiences of being introduced to Jesus and his subsequent coming to faith.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed Matthew Milioni to discuss the relationship that God wants his people to have with the kingdoms of the world.
How is a Christian to relate to a national holiday such as Independence Day and the celebration of the American Revolution? What is our role as Christians who belong to the Kingdom of Heaven?
Join us for a very important conversation around the Christian and the empire.
Thanks to Kevin Brechbill who helped to develop this presentation, but was unexpectedly unable to participate.
Strength to Strength welcomed David Adams to discuss the fourth segment of this “King and Country” series.
When the promised King became flesh to dwell with man, He brought with Him a new constitution with new laws. He also came telling stories, wonderful stories. These stories, He told His followers, contain the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven.
We will explore the parables of the King, what are they, how Jesus used them, and how they fit with His other teaching. As an example, we will look at an unusual parable, the parable of the unjust steward in Luke 16, plumbing its depths for the King’s wisdom as to how His followers are to use their money.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed Daniel Willis to discuss his spiritual journey from nominal Christianity into Jesus’ kingdom.
His testimony is that “although the Kingdom of God was right in front of me, I was so nearsighted, believing the lies of the worldly church, that I could not see the narrow gate. I kept seeking, wanting to know the truth, and I believe God brought me to China so that I can see that Jesus actually means everything He says.”
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed John D. Martin to discuss the third segment of this “King and Country” series.
The Sermon on the Mount is often referred to as the constitution of the Kingdom of God. Is that just an oft-repeated phrase, or is there reason to understand this sermon as foundational?
When Jesus concluded this sermon, “the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes” (Matthew 7:28, 29). If we understand Jesus’ authority in these words, how will it affect our lives?
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed Joseph* for an interview of his church planting work.
Bryant Martin, representing All-Nations Bible Translation, interviews Joseph* on his work of Bible translation, community development, and church planting among a large unreached Muslim people group in Asia.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
- alias used for security purposes.
Resource: see Joseph’s interview with All-Nations Bible Translation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffC0o6BX4JI
Strength to Strength welcomed Wendell Martin to discuss the second segment of this “King and Country” series.
From Alexander the Great to Julius Caesar to King James, rulers have grabbed power and controlled empires. But Jesus of Nazareth was made in a different mold. As Pilate asked: “Are you really a King then?”
Let’s look at the arrival of King Jesus and how He controls creation, governs his citizens, and conquers his enemies.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed Philip Hess to discuss the implications of Jesus’ atonement.
Does it matter how we understand Christ’s death? How do our views about this topic affect our view of God and the Christian life? In this talk we discuss biblical teaching about the atonement, and historical developments in the doctrine. In particular, we will look at the popular Protestant understanding of the Atonement, known as “Penal Substitution.”
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Recommended audio message from David Bercot of Scroll Publishing about the atonement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTdv-fI3VR4
Recommended bookby Philip Hess: Penal Substitution on Trial.
Recommended book by Keith Crider about the atonement: Sacrifice or Penalty.
Strength to Strength welcomed Siraji Adomati to share his testimony.
Born and raised as a Muslim, Siraji shares his journey from Islam to a follower of Jesus Christ. He is now an active church-builder in a kingdom church in Uganda.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomes Chuck Pike to discuss the first segment of this “King and Country” series.
For centuries, the Holy Spirit pointed to an eternal kingdom that would come, and the great King who would reign over it.
In this session, we explore many prophecies that reveal clues about this kingdom: beginning in Genesis, sweeping throughout the Old Testament, and ultimately fulfilled by Jesus in the New Testament. This will show the importance of the kingdom in God’s plan, and lay a solid foundation for sessions to follow.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed Zack Johnson and Clark Wray to discuss the ministries of The Historic Faith, and Sattler College.
Clark Wray joined to discuss The Historic Faith, a project by Sattler College in collaboration with Scroll Publishing to deliver online courses that combine intellectual honesty, spiritual integrity, and sound scholarship.
Zack Johnson discussed Sattler College in Boston, Massachusetts. Sattler College was founded upon the biblical vision of Christian discipleship that addresses the mind, soul, and heart. Their mission is to provide an education that instructs the mind, discipleship that shapes the soul, and inspiration that inflames the heart.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Join Finny Kuruvilla as he outlines how business can be leveraged for advancing Jesus’ kingdom.
In the last ten to twenty years, business has come to the foreground for its potential to alleviate global poverty in a more sustainable and dignified manner compared to traditional charity.
In this talk, Finny Kuruvilla outlines the potential of using business for the advance of the church. This two-part talk will include theological foundations and applications.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Join Finny Kuruvilla as he outlines how business can be leveraged for advancing Jesus’ kingdom.
In the last ten to twenty years, business has come to the foreground for its potential to alleviate global poverty in a more sustainable and dignified manner compared to traditional charity.
In this talk, Finny Kuruvilla will outline the potential of using business for the advance of the church. This two-part talk will include theological foundations and applications.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows in Part 2.
Strength to Strength welcomed Mike Fisher to effective ways to reach prisoners.
There are more than two million people locked up in prisons and jails of the USA. Many of these people are hurting and looking for answers.
Mike introduces the Loaves and Fishes Magazine, which is a free Christian discipleship magazine for prisoners. Also, he discusses implications of Covid-19, as well as trends of violent crime and incarceration rates in the past sixty to seventy years.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed Jimmy Nsanze to share his testimony.
Here he shares his life story, and particularly how God in recent years has brought him from the Pentecostal tradition into a kingdom church. Among other factors, he notes the impact that The Historic Faith online courses have had on his faith journey.
He also speaks about the importance of an obedient love-faith relationship with Jesus, and accountability in Christian community.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomes Clyde Zimmerman to discuss practical evangelism. What would the the impact if our churches became intentional about being missionaries as part of our daily lives?
Are our neighbors in North America a new “unreached people group”?
Has the Anabaptist community simply accepted the lost around us as normal, and believe we need to board an airplane to be a missionary?
Using tools like SALT Microfinance by Christian Aid Ministries, Clyde has worked among the poorest communities in the world. In the past few years, be started asking, “What about our neighbors afflicted in generational poverty at home? Can’t these same Bible principles work at home?”
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Join Pablo Yoder as he outlines what it means to be “wise as serpents and harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16). This two-part event highlights proactive peace-making and loving your enemies, illustrated through first hand experiences.
In the afternoon session, Pablo’s presentation is accessible to younger children. Besides story-telling, he shows a collection of items left behind by the robbers.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Join Pablo Yoder as he outlines what it means to be “wise as serpents and harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16). This two-part event highlights proactive peace-making and loving your enemies, illustrated through first hand experiences.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed Tim Kuepfer to open conversation around sexual sin in the church.
We know pornography and other sexual sins are a big problem in the church because we’ve heard scary statistics thrown around. How can families and churches safely navigate the age of the internet in a sexualized world? What tools are effective for setting men and women free from addictive sexual sin?
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed Merle Burkholder to discuss how stories connect with people in a wholistic way. They communicate a truth, connect with our emotions, and bring understanding that leads to change.
Merle also shares his personal experiences through his YouTube channel with 180+ stories (and counting), many from his time in Haiti, and all with valuable instruction.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomes John D. Martin to discuss what Jesus intended for his followers in relation to finances.
Using the Sermon on the Mount as his text, he explores the difficult words of Jesus. Can we make sense of these passages without dodging its plainest meaning?
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomes Brian Martin to discuss his experiences as “Chief Brian” at the Bald Eagle Boys Camp and the Allegany Boys Camp.
Using stories, he shares Scriptural discipleship lessons drawn from many years of experience discipling boys.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomes Philip Hess to discuss the history of vaccines, as well as the health and moral implications.
Of particular relevance in the Covid-19 era, Philip helps to carefully sort through the known data, while identifying popular myths circulating online.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Join Dean Taylor as he surveys the landscape of Christian involvement in politics. Dean takes a historical approach to expose the devastating results when Christians get involved in the political arena.
Constantinianism was not only a fourth, twelfth, or sixteenth-century problem for the church. It is still a corrupting influence in the twenty-first century. Dean will challenge you to reconsider how the Church should engage the culture today.
Recommendations of books shared during the presentation:
- “The Anatomy of a Hybrid” by Leonard Verduin
- “The Reformers and Their Stepchildren” by Leonard Verduin
- “How Christians Made Peace with War: Early Christian Understandings of War” by John Driver
Though this presentation used a PowerPoint presentation, you will still be able to glean a lot if listening to audio-only.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Join Dean Taylor as he surveys the landscape of Christian involvement in politics. Dean takes a historical approach to expose the devastating results when Christians get involved in the political arena.
Constantinianism was not only a fourth, twelfth, or sixteenth-century problem for the church. It is still a corrupting influence in the twenty-first century. Dean will challenge you to reconsider how the Church should engage the culture today.
Though this presentation used a PowerPoint presentation, you will still be able to glean a lot if listening to audio-only.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed Glenn Martin to discuss the story of the twelve spies who were sent into Canaan.
When they returned, Joshua and Caleb were ready to face the giants and conquer: “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.”
The other ten said: “There we saw the giants… and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight.” What was the root of their “grasshopper syndrome?” too risk-averse? or faithlessness?
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed Adam Boyd to share about his journey into kingdom Christianity.
Join us to hear the story of Adam’s journey over the past 20+ years. From an early life growing up in the church, to a season of hostility towards Christians, and ultimately to a radical surrender to Christ, his story shows the unrelenting pursuit by God. After growing disillusioned with evangelical Christianity’s support of Trump, he and his wife began a spiritual search that eventually led them to embrace many of the tenets of Kingdom Christianity. Adam and his family live in Papua New Guinea where he serves as a Bible translation advisor.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed Arnold Eby to share about his experiences in Bangladesh.
We believe God orchestrates the events of life but many times it is hard for us to tie the story line together. Other times, the narrative seems to jump at you in very obvious ways. Join us as we retrace this story of God at work.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
2020 has been a year like none other. Who could have imagined the Covid-19 pandemic, rioting in the streets, a contested election, and restrictions of freedoms we’ve always taken for granted – all in one year!?
2021 has opened with high tensions culminating with violence in the US Capitol.
This has resulted in an abundance of fake news, conspiracy theories, and a highly divided society.
In this second session on January 9, Strength to Strength welcomed David Bercot to help us navigate through these challenges, and project a way for the Kingdom of God to move forward in these times.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
2020 has been a year like none other. Who could have imagined the Covid-19 pandemic, rioting in the streets, a contested election, and restrictions of freedoms we’ve always taken for granted – all in one year!?
2021 has opened with high tensions culminating with violence in the US Capitol.
This has resulted in an abundance of fake news, conspiracy theories, and a highly divided society.
In this first session on January 9, Strength to Strength welcomed three speakers to share about practical ways in which you can exploit the challenges of our time for the purpose of advancing the Kingdom of Jesus.
- Patrick Matthews lives in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. In the past ½ year, he has organized a “Matthew 25 Project” and has distributed 10,000,000+ pounds of free food to organizations within a four-state area that can then distribute those food resources to their local ministries.
- Andrew Kurtz lives in Granby, Massachusetts, and has organized a distribution with his church family to address food-insecurity in their local area. He will share how with minimal effort you can reproduce this model in your own community to establish connections and turn strangers into relationships.
- Jonathan Heisey lives in Pueblo, Colorado, and will be sharing about his interactions in ministry with international students at their local college. Now with the pandemic, they’ve utilized Zoom for an international reach. Learn how he is stewarding this crisis as an opportunity for the advancement of the Kingdom.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed John D. Martin to share about the Lord’s Prayer, as recorded by Matthew:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Matthew 6:9-13 KJV
How is this easily memorized and commonly recited prayer applicable to us? How did the early believers use this prayer? Is this a prayer for us to pray, or is Jesus illustrating the types of concerns to be prayerful of?
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed Ken Miller to share about “The Moravian Option.”
The Moravian Option is one response to Rod Dreher’s “The Benedict Option.” Despite their doctrinal problems, what can the 18th century Moravians teach us about “Strong Group” community life, and worldwide mission enterprise?
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed Leo Eby to share about the Kingdom of God as described by David:
They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power; To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom. Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.
Psalm 145:11-13 KJV
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed Aaron Crider from All-Nations Bible Translation. He shared about how this organization partners with Anabaptist churches for the unreached, pursuing the All-Nations’ vision: Communities of believers in every language group living out the Word of God.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Though this presentation used a PowerPoint presentation, you will still be able to glean a lot if listening to audio-only.
Check out more information about All-Nations Bible Translation on their website.
Strength to Strength welcomed Harold Troyer to speak on the topic of prayer life, which he referred to as the fuel that drives.
What is driving your life and how do you get from point A to point B? Is your life filled and driven by fervent prayer in the Holy Ghost? In this topic, Harold shares a few thoughts on how to obtain and maintain a passionate prayer life.
Harold Troyer also spoke about an endeavor to have folks commit to a 24/7 prayer chain. Learn more at Eternal Prayer Flame.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed Bryant Martin to share a message on the hope of the world, “Cultivating Kingdom Communities of Faithful Practice – part 2.”
What is the answer for our world? How does God’s Kingdom get advanced?
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed Bryant Martin to share a message on the hope of the world, “Cultivating Kingdom Communities of Faithful Practice – part 1.”
What is the answer for our world? How does God’s Kingdom get advanced?
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed Philip Hess to share about the importance of family in perpetuating the faith.
Closely tied in is the change from the historic church’s teaching about family planning and birth control, and how that change has opened Pandora’s box toward the destruction of society and the family.
Not advised for children.
Strength to Strength welcomed Sam Baer to share about his faith journey. He grew up in Alberta as a conservative Mennonite, but left that about twelve years ago.
He shared the story of his journey, and how in the past two years God has brought him and his wife into the Kingdom and is leading them in the paths of King Jesus.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.
Strength to Strength welcomed Zack Johnson from Sattler College to share about peacemaking.
He has previously served in the US Air Force, but was granted dismissal after coming to an understanding of Jesus’ teaching of peacemaking.
An interactive question-and-answer period follows.