Two teams from Gray Road were busy this summer serving fellow saints and learning about God’s work around the world. The first trip was to an orphanage that operates in conjunction with a local church in Belize, a small country in Central America that was formerly a British Colony. Pastor Smith is friends with a man involved in the ministry. The team included a number of teens and afforded them an opportunity to come alongside children without parents and an extended church

“Am I my brother’s keeper?” With that one question, Cain’s rebellion displayed how far sin could take men in one generation. Adam and Eve had rebelled against God, and the curse of sin entered into the world. Just a short time later, for the first time in human history, one man kills another man. This is what sin does. Sin drives man to love himself to care for himself while he ignores the needs and concerns of others. Cain’s dad did the same thing. When Adam recognized

About 3,500 years ago, the following words were given to Moses by God: “…you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.” (Leviticus 19:18b) In the preceding verses, there is a quite a list of “shall nots”: you shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; you shall not lie; you shall not oppress you neighbor or rob him; you shall not curse the deaf; you shall not put a stumbling block before the blind; you shall not be partial; you shall not slander; you shall not

Many of the moral and ethical issues being bantered about in society today come down to the issue of authority. Who has the authority to define marriage? Who has the authority to assign gender? Who has the authority to tell a woman what she can and cannot do to the human being conceived in her womb? Who has the authority to tell me what is right and wrong? Good and evil? In 21st century America, the answer to questions like these is overwhelmingly consistent. Who is the

If you come through Entrance One anytime between Sundays, it is pretty easy to think that nothing is going on. The pastors are hidden in their offices and a friendly, albeit quiet face greets you in the church office. But head about 70 meters to the west through Entrance Four, and you’ll quickly perceive the controlled chatter and hubbub of hundreds of school age children! You’ve now entered Gray Road Christian School. Gray Road Christian School’s stated mission is to “build

As the city continues to diversify in terms of residents from around the world, one Gray Road member is a good model for us in how we can shine a light for Christ among the nations without even leaving our home. Norma Andrews will be mortified at any reference to her being a good example of a Christ-follower, but there’s no question about it. Her giving of time, effort and love to internationals through her ministry of teaching English as a Second Language, is a true outreach

It was five years ago when Susan Johnson and Liz Tyra were talking as they sat by the pool at Kevin and Polly Shingleton’s home. The discussion turned to the subject of adoption, and Susan said something that surprised Liz. “I still remember her saying, ‘You would make good adoptive family,’” Liz recalls now. “At the time. We were dealing with two, and I kind of gave her a look to say ‘Do not go there.’ “I had no idea what was coming.” She really didn’t. Neither did her husb

“Yes, I’m saved. When I was seven years old, my teacher told us to repeat this prayer if we wanted to go to heaven when we die. I knew I was a sinner and deserving of hell. I believed that Jesus died for my sins, and I asked Jesus to come into my heart, and then I was baptized by my pastor… No, I don’t go to church. No, I don’t read my Bible, but I know I’m saved because I prayed that prayer and was baptized.” Barna Research Group reports that three out of every five of o

The old hymn that my grandparents sang began with, “When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore, And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.” The roll call imagined in this song would be from a perfect listing of the true followers of Christ. Contrast this roll with the membership roll of any local church, and you will find yourself confronted with some harsh realities. While the membership of a given church may be made up of many true believers, the r

The idea the Lord’s half-brother James led off his epistle with, is particularly counter-intuitive to our modern, Western mind set. “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” – James 1:2-4 It’s a familiar passage to people who have been in a Bible-teaching church, but it may seem