Category Archives: Church Attendance

Jesus: The Black Deliverer

Posted on February 28, 2025 by russellmckinney

“The Jesus You Know” series (post #3) I was born October 3rd, 1966, which means that I am very much a product of the 1970s and ’80s. When I was young, one of my favorite television shows was “Good Times,” … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Church Attendance, Heaven, Racism, Salvation, Series: "The Jesus You Know", Slavery | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Selling Hamburgers

Posted on February 7, 2025 by russellmckinney

I have never served as the pastor of a megachurch, and I don’t figure that I ever will. My pastoral ministry has always involved small, rural churches. Still, I’ll admit that, like megachurch pastors, I feel the internal pressure to … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Church, Church Attendance, Music, Pastors, Personal, Preaching, Worship, Youth | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Look Out for Those Unequal Yokes

Posted on January 20, 2025 by russellmckinney

Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what … Continue reading →

Posted in Abortion, Business, Choices, Church, Church Attendance, Commitment, Decisions, Discernment, Discipleship, Doctrine, God's Will, God's Work, Government, Homosexuality, Influence, Lesbianism, Marriage, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Two Different Bible School Meetings

Posted on January 8, 2025 by russellmckinney

After a relatively successful V.B.S. at one of my former churches, I called for a meeting of the teachers and workers who had been involved with the effort. My purpose for the meeting was to assess what had gone well … Continue reading →

Posted in Attitude, Backsliding, Brokenness, Christian Unity, Church, Church Attendance, Confession, Criticism, Extending Forgiveness, Forgiveness, God's Work, Humility, Ministry, Pastors, Personal, Pride, Problems, Reconciliation, Restoration, Worship | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Worship Wars

Posted on January 3, 2025 by russellmckinney

I once met with the pulpit committee of a certain church about the possibility of me becoming that church’s next pastor. I don’t normally take Tonya along for such meetings, but this committee wanted to meet her as well. So, … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Balance, Change, Christian Unity, Church, Church Attendance, God's Guidance, God's Will, God's Work, King James Only, Ministry, Music, Pastors, Personal, Sunday School, Worship, Youth | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Church Attendance Through the Ages

Posted on December 28, 2024 by russellmckinney

I’m a pastor, and so the goal of writing a blog post that gives anybody an excuse to attend church less is pretty far down on my “to do” list. However, with that said, I would like for us to have a … Continue reading →

Posted in Church Attendance, Discipleship, Salvation, Sunday School, Worship | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A Profound Question

Posted on December 16, 2024 by russellmckinney

A missionary was once asked if he liked his work in Africa. His reply was as follows: Do I like this work? No. My wife and I do not like dirt. We have reasonably refined sensibilities. We do not like … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Children, Choices, Church, Church Attendance, Commitment, Discipleship, Doing Good, Dying To Self, Faithfulness, Giving, God's Will, God's Work, Love, Mercy, Ministry, Perseverance, Problems, Prosperity, Sacrifice, Service, Stewardship, Suffering, Sunday School, Trials, Witnessing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Helene

Posted on October 2, 2024 by russellmckinney

Thursday night, September 26th, the remains of Hurricane Helene came roaring across the mountains of western North Carolina, bringing 20+ inches of rain and winds over 50 m.p.h. with it. By the following night, all 25 counties in our region … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Church Attendance, Current Events, Death, God's Sovereignty, Personal, Problems, Suffering, Trials, Trusting In God, Weather | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Church Attendance in the Summer

Posted on May 28, 2024 by russellmckinney

Memorial Day in America has long been called “the unofficial beginning of summer.” With that in mind, I’d like to talk to you about the “summer slump” most churches experience in regards to attendance in June, July, and August. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Balance, Choices, Church, Church Attendance, Commitment, Discipleship, Faithfulness, God's Will, Memorial Day, Pastors, Personal, Priorities, Sports, Worship | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

That’s What Christians Do Now

Posted on May 10, 2024 by russellmckinney

Here’s a piece that was written some time ago by the late Donald E. Wildmon, who at the time was the President of the American Family Association. The piece has been passed around for several years now, and so maybe … Continue reading →

Posted in Abortion, Church, Church Attendance, Current Events, Divorce, Gambling, Government, Homosexuality, Politics, Sex, Sin, Witnessing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments