A recent Wall Street Journal article highlighted a long-term trend in the American church: the decline and even closing of Sunday Schools across the nation. While the article really offers no surprises, it summarizes well the reality of this venerable institution. Sunday School is not on the cutting edge of church practices for many congregations. Or, as one young pastor really told me: “Face it, Dr. Rainer, Sunday School is just not cool.”

He was right. At least he was right in that many affirm his perspective. The problem is that, without a healthy Sunday School, the long-term outlook for churches is not positive.

The Name Problem

We have found in our research that one of the problems is the name “Sunday School.”  I guess one of the reasons that some shy away from the name is its age. Robert Raikes (1736-1811), a newspaper editor, started Sunday classes as a way to reach out to England's impoverished children in the 1780s. The Wall Street Journal article notes that, in Protestant circles, the Sunday School movement was "the greatest lay movement since Pentecost. Sunday School traveled across the pond in the 1790s, eventually becoming the Protestant norm here.”

Because of its antiquity, and because poor practices and curriculum have often been a part of Sunday School, some rejected the program and its name, and relegated it to the history books. The baby was thrown out with the bath water.

The Definition Problem

Another common issue is the lack of consensus on what Sunday School really is. For some mainline churches, it was a program for children only. And evangelical churches have lacked clarity on the type of small group Sunday School should be. Is it an open group or a closed group? When should it meet? Does it have to meet on the church campus? What depth of study should characterize Sunday School?

The Opportunities Abound

Somewhere in the midst of the conversation, confusion, and debate, the value of Sunday School has been lost. Do you realize that a person in a Sunday School class is five times more likely to be assimilated and discipled in a church than a person who attends worship only? Did you know that Sunday School increases biblical literacy and encourages personal Bible study? Are you aware that churches with the healthiest Sunday School organizations are likely the healthiest churches evangelistically?

The evidence of the efficacy of Sunday School is clear if not overwhelming. Yet for many church leaders, it’s not edgy or cool. And it therefore is devalued and minimized.

It’s time for the cool factor to return to Sunday School.

A Healthy Sunday School

What are some of the characteristics of a healthy Sunday School? For one, it is the priority of the leadership of the church, particularly the senior pastor. And the plan of study or curriculum is not haphazard where all are doing their own thing. What takes place in Sunday School is no less planned than what is preached in the pulpit.

A healthy Sunday School is an open group, where anyone can attend at any point. A healthy Sunday School has the best teachers who are trained and capable. And a healthy Sunday School is well organized and given a prominent place in the life of the church.

Though some churches simply do not have the facilities to accommodate large numbers of persons in Sunday School at one time, the highest attended classes are those that precede or follow a worship service on the church campus. But if the church does not have sufficient education space, off-campus classes are certainly better than no classes.

The Cool Sunday School

One of the most encouraging trends in the American church today is the way in which young leaders are embracing the primacy of preaching. Strong text-driven and expositional preaching is now a priority among some of the most respected young pastors today.

I pray that the small group Bible study called Sunday School will begin to be embraced with similar fervor. I’m not hung up on the name assigned to it. I just pray that men, women, boys and girls will return to the experience of regular group Bible study.

It’s the trend of some of the healthiest churches in America.

And that’s really cool. 

The hour is late. I have been involved, seemingly nonstop, in matters of my denomination’s annual convention. My inclination was to refrain from writing further about the Southern Baptist Convention. I am not smart enough to add any further insights to the volumes already written.

But I can’t seem to move too quickly from the topic of this annual meeting. I have matters yet to be resolved.

The Major Topic

The central issue at this convention was the Great Commission Resurgence. It was a topic of much discussion both before and during the meeting. On a show of ballots, Southern Baptist Convention messengers overwhelmingly voted to authorize their president, Johnny Hunt, to appoint a task force to study how Southern Baptists can work "more faithfully and effectively together in serving Christ through the Great Commission."

We now wait until the Orlando meeting to hear the report and recommendations of this task force. Again, we can anticipate that next year’s meeting will be one of expectation and discussion.

The Reason for Uneasiness

But writing on the closing night of the convention, I found myself uneasy. The nation’s largest Protestant denomination made a clear statement about its priority. But voting for a motion, even one of this significance, means little unless true action follows. "What," I wondered, "would we really do in the SBC to move toward a Great Commission Resurgence? What would the task force recommend? What would they do?"

Then it hit me. I knew the reason for my uneasiness. I was asking all the wrong questions. I found myself waiting and wondering because I was leaving the onus of responsibility on someone else. The question is not what they will do. The real question is, “What will I do?”

The Example of a Worthy Man

During the SBC, I spoke about Coach Joe Hendrickson, the man who shared the gospel with me. It was his witness that was used by the Holy Spirit to bring me to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. It was his boldness that was used to change my life for eternity. And, if God has ever used my life to be a positive witness for Him, it is because Joe Hendrickson followed a Great Commission path of obedience.

And I realized that my commitment to a Great Commission Resurgence would only be as real as the actions in my life that follow. Perhaps God can use me to be a fraction of the influence of my high school coach named Joe Hendrickson.

The Prayer of an Unworthy Man

So I made my own commitment to the Great Commission Resurgence. It was a commitment beyond a vote and a denominational task force. It was my prayer to the only One who can truly make a difference.

I prayed to be a better man of prayer, specifically to pray fervently for the lost around the world and in my own backyard.

I prayed to be a man of greater humility, recognizing that I can do nothing of my own strength and power.

I prayed to be a man of a more gracious spirit, acknowledging that the words that flow from my mouth can be used for good or harm.

I prayed to be a man of more diligent study of the Word of God, knowing that, at age 53, I still have much to learn.

And I prayed to be a man who is unashamed of the gospel, eager to share about the saving power of Jesus Christ with people every day.

Let It Begin in Me

I do hope and pray that the Southern Baptist Convention will experience a Great Commission Resurgence.  But before I start judging the deficiencies of anyone else, I realize that there is still much work to be done in me. I am often sinfully busy looking at the speck in the eyes of others without seeing the log in my own eye.

Please Lord, send a Great Commission Resurgence.

But Lord, I know where some of the greatest work needs to be done.

So, please, let the resurgence begin in me. 

The annual Southern Baptist Convention begins this week. Nellie Jo and I have already arrived in Louisville, Kentucky for this year’s meeting. Many people will be writing from the convention, so I don’t pretend to add much with my brief missive.

It is always good to see many good friends when I come to this annual gathering. Since my arrival on Sunday, I have shared many great conversations. But there is one group of people that has particularly encouraged me. A bit of background information is in order before I talk about that group.

The State of the Denomination

Much has been written about the state of the Southern Baptist Convention in recent years. Indeed, several years ago, I wrote a journal article that lamented the waning evangelistic effectiveness in our churches. Most who have looked at the state of the SBC have rightly concluded that the denomination is on a trajectory of decline and aging. We are reaching fewer, losing more, and aging faster.

It is that latter issue that has been one of the foci of the discussion. The leadership in the SBC is aging. I know. As a 53-year-old leader, I have seen more and more of our young leaders leave for a variety of reasons. And I have lamented their departure, knowing that they could have been great and positive forces in the SBC.

A Reason for Encouragement

But last night, I had dinner with some young leaders. While there were several of us oldies at the dinner table, it was these younger people that caused me to listen intently.

I heard them talk about their passion for the gospel. I heard them express their love for the local church. I heard them speak with excitement about the mission of God around the world.

And I was encouraged.

They had no axes to grind. They weren’t mad at anyone. They just love Jesus and want the gospel to spread to ends of the earth.

And for a moment, I thought that these young leaders represented a great future. Then I realized that they really represented a great opportunity for the present. The numbers of young leaders may not be nearly as great as they once were in our denomination. But these few gave me hope. Real hope.

Two more young leaders will join me today. My sons Sam and Art will come with that same enthusiasm and that same hope that I heard expressed last night.

My Personal Commitment

These could be construed as tough times to be a Christian in America. Some call our culture postmodern. Others label it post-Christian. And even others say the days are anti-Christian.

Yet I refuse to lose hope. My hope is not based on cultural realities or declining denominations. My hope is based on the Savior who died for me. And in Him, I can never be discouraged.

Still, it can get challenging. We can look at the statistical realities of the denomination’s decline and the cultural forces that we confront, and it could be easy to get discouraged.

Then God in His grace sends some young leaders our way to remind us that He is not yet done with us, that we have a promise of great future.

So, in my latter years of ministry, I have made a commitment. I will encourage these young leaders. I will express my thanks for them. I will seek their counsel and their wisdom. And I will gladly pass the baton of leadership to them.

These are tough days.

But He is a great God.

And He is using a new generation of leaders to bring us to His future. 

Friends often tease me about it. “Rainer can’t speak for five minutes before he starts talking about his sons,” they say. Others know that all of my writings are infused with stories about my family, particularly my sons.

Indeed, in a recent book, I wrote these words: “Anyone who has heard me speak or read anything I wrote knows how much I adore my three sons, Sam, Art and Jess. And it just occurred to me recently: Even though they are still young men in their twenties, they have surpassed their father in character, intellect and godliness. Such is a statement of reality and not false humility. The sons have surpassed the father.”

Anticipating Children

It may be strange, but I can remember looking forward to having children when I was a child. I thought it would be so great to be able to raise a child and influence his or her life. And when my three sons each came into this world, I remember the unspeakable joy of becoming a father.

What a gift. What an incredible gift.

Every expectation I had about fatherhood has been exceeded. Every anticipated joy surpassed. Of course, I have been incredibly blessed because Sam, Art, and Jess are such great sons. I could not imagine fatherhood being any better than I have experienced.

The Reason

The Rainer family does not deserve the blessings we have received. And I certainly am the least of those who should receive such blessings. So the first reason we have been so blessed with godly children is grace. Undeserved. Unmerited. Just grace. God’s grace.

Yet an additional reason can be best explained in a recent conversation between Sam, Ed Stetzer, and me. Dr. Stetzer asked how the three Rainer boys turned out so well with a father like me. I think he was trying to be funny. I hope he was trying to be funny.

But, as soon as he asked the question, Sam responded with certainty: “Mom.” We laughed for a moment, and then all of us realized the truth behind the punch line. These Rainer boys, in large part, turned out so well because Nellie Jo is one of the godliest and greatest mothers we have ever known.

The Joy of Grown Children

I have loved every phase of my children’s lives. I have often been lacking in patience and right priorities, but I still have loved each phase: infants, toddlers, young children, older children and even teenagers.

But I must admit that this time of enjoying grown children has been the best. Hardly a day goes by that I don’t talk to one of the boys. They will now call me for advice and counsel, but I find that their wisdom and insights well exceed mine. These are the “good old days,” and I wouldn’t trade them for anything.

I know. This blog has been a bit of a ramble. I wanted to write something about Father’s Day. But we who are fathers have that title because we have children. And they are the blessing. They are our joy.

So, Sam, Art and Jess: There is no need to buy me a gift or send me a card. Having you as my sons is the greatest gift I could ever have. You are my best friends. You give me laughter. You give me hope. You give me encouragement. You give me love.

There is nothing more to give.

Happy Father’s Day to you dads.

And Happy Children’s Day as well.

For you are the reason we are so blessed.

The emails come to me in greater frequency. They are from search committees or similar groups at established churches around the United States. The church has been without a pastor for a long period, and there are few realistic candidates for consideration. The church has been in a modest decline for several years, but the period without a pastor has exacerbated the erosion. A crisis is imminent.

The Dilemma

Sometimes they are called traditional churches, but I prefer the nomenclature “established churches,” because of the confusion often associated with “traditional.” Simply stated, an established church has been around for at least ten years, sometimes well over 100 years. It has become established in the way it “does church,” and is often resistant to change.

I know that such a definition is nebulous. Sometimes I refer to these churches as “County Seat First Churches” because it communicates the stereotype of established churches. The church may not literally be in the county seat, but it was once the hub of the community, and now it is declining. Newer churches are perceived  by many to be more relevant. The established church is also seen as change resistant with old ministries and programs. Committees or similar groups wield the power in the church, and are fiercely determined to keep control.

Now I realize that there are hundreds of exceptions to my stereotyping. Still, I estimate that there are as many as 250,000 churches in America that come close to fitting the description above.

The Pervasive Stereotype

I hear more and more pastors and seminary students say that they don’t want to go to a church like County Seat First Church. They have heard about the difficulties others have experienced at these churches. They have heard the condescending comments like: “It is easier to birth a baby than to resurrect the dead.”

Of course, the comment refers to the preference of church planting over leading an established church. And thank God for church planters. We need more of them. A new church is more likely to reach people than an established church. In no way am I suggesting that we have too much emphasis on church planting.

But I am not ready to give up on established churches.

The Problem with Giving Up

If church leaders across America decide in large numbers to give up on established churches, we simply will not replace them fast enough with new churches. The most optimistic church planting projections fall well short of replacing more than one-half of the churches in America.

Another problem with giving up is that many of the established churches do have great potential with the right kind of leadership. While many will resist change to the point of death, many are ready to move forward.

Finally, the new churches will soon be established churches. Most churches begin to demonstrate resistance to needed change within ten years of their founding.  We will always have the challenge of County Seat First Church, regardless of location, denominational affiliation, or demographics.

A Call for Incarnational Leaders

Let us continue to train and send as many church planters as God provides. Let us continue to start new churches in an abundance of locations.

But please don’t give up on the established church.

We need leaders who will have a long-term perspective, who realize that, while change may be slow, it is possible. We need leaders who will love the existing congregants and lead them at a pace that will not divide the church. We need leaders who will love and live among the church members. We need leaders who will live and love in the community.

Jesus had an incarnational ministry. He lived and loved people where He was in His time on earth.

We need a missional mindset for the established church.

There is a crisis at County Seat First Church. But in the power of Him who sends, it is truly possible to see the crisis become the miraculous.

May God raise up a new generation of church planters and a generation of those who can love County Seat First Church.

We need both types of leaders. The need is urgent and the time is now. 

I am a bit reluctant to articulate the characteristics of effective church leaders for fear that some may take the information and reduce it to a neat, quick-fix formula, and that others may see this approach as human-centered, denying the reality of a sovereign God. Nevertheless, in our studies of churches that are reaching people and retaining them through biblical discipleship we have seen a very clear pattern develop, especially in contrast to leaders in other churches that did not meet our criteria.

Keep in mind that it is the total and the composition of these traits that distinguish the effective leaders from other leaders. Many of the less effective leaders share some, but not all, of these traits. I will refer to these leaders as pastors, though some of the churches used other nomenclature, such as ministers.

1. Fierce biblical faithfulness. Without exception, these pastors held to the total truthfulness of God’s Word. Not only did they believe the veracity of Scripture, they passionately lived out their beliefs.

2. Longer tenure. The leaders we studied are willing and even want to have long-term ministries at one church. While longer tenure itself is not the key to effective leadership, a series of short-term pastorates rarely allows one time to establish lasting leadership in a church. In one of our national surveys of pastors, we found the average pastoral tenure to be 3.6 years. But in different studies of effective leaders, those pastors had an average tenure ranging from 11.2 to 21.6 years.

3. Confident humility. In our subjective interviews with effective church leaders across the nation, our interviewers repeatedly reported that the leaders had a clear and compelling confidence about their own leadership. But that confidence was not arrogance. To the contrary, their confidence centered more on what God was doing and less on their own inherent abilities.

4. Acceptance of responsibility. We did not hear of excuses for ineffective ministry from these effective leaders, even though many of them experienced prolonged periods of struggles. Instead, these pastors accepted the leadership responsibility that comes with their position, and they refused to blame circumstances or others when the inevitable times of conflict and challenge occur.

5. Unconditional love of the people. Ministry can be dirty and Christians can be jerks. It is often difficult to love those who complain and attack you. But these effective leaders, with no claims of perfection, still expressed an intense love for the members of their congregations. In some measure, they have learned to love as Christ loved us.

6. Persistence. Because these leaders have a long-term perspective of their ministries at the churches where they serve, they are able to lead toward progress one incremental step at a time. That is not to say they have a laissez-faire attitude; to the contrary, these pastors are incredibly persistent.

7. Outwardly-focused vision. An integral part of the lives of these effective leaders was their passion and vision to reach people who were not Christians and who were not a part of their churches. To say that these leaders are evangelistically focused would be an understatement. They are passionate about reaching the lost and unchurched, and the visions they communicated inevitably reflected this priority.

8. A desire for a lasting legacy. The ambition and drive of these leaders cannot be denied. But that ambition is not limited to their personal successes. They are ambitious for their churches to be thriving and healthy well beyond their ministries and even their lifetimes.

In the final analysis, we cannot know how much of leadership skills are innate and how much can be acquired. These leaders will tell you, however, that they have made significant strides in becoming better leaders. Such are their testimonies. And perhaps, in God’s strength, we can follow these examples and become the types of leaders God wants us to be. 

In July of 1856 James Petigru Boyce set forth a vision for theological education that included three key components. First, he said, it must be open to all who are called to and gifted for ministry regardless of their educational background. Second, theological education must produce the best-trained ministers in the world. Finally, Boyce articulated, such education must be anchored to a clear and convictional confession of faith.

Three years later that vision became a reality. In 1859 the fledgling institution included only four professors. Today, 150 years later, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary has over 4,500 students enrolled, making it one of the largest seminaries in the world. But, even more than its numbers, Southern Seminary includes some of the premier faculty members in the world; and its students and alumni are a part of a Great Commission force around the world.

A Reason to Celebrate

This month the Southern Baptist Convention will be held in Louisville, Kentucky. This location was chosen because Louisville is the home of Southern Seminary, and the seminary is celebrating its 150^th anniversary.

We will not just be celebrating an institution that has weathered one and a half centuries. We will be celebrating 150 years of trained pastors and staff impacting local churches. We will be celebrating 150 years of teachers and professors training yet another generation for more faithful ministry. And we will be celebrating 150 years of missionaries taking the gospel message “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

Thank you Southern Seminary.

A Leader to Celebrate

R. Albert Mohler became the ninth president of Southern Seminary in 1993. His early years at the seminary were tumultuous as he led the institution away from its leftward drift to greater biblical fidelity. Today Al Mohler is, in many ways, the unofficial spokesman for evangelicalism in a post-Christian culture that is moving toward becoming anti-Christian. His clear and biblical responses in a plethora of national and international venues represent well those of us who hold to the total truthfulness of God’s Word.

Dr. Mohler’s leadership and intellect will be remembered for generations to come. His passionate defense of the gospel and biblical values are already being recorded in the annals of history. One of the primary reasons Southern Seminary is among the leading theological seminaries today is the leadership of R. Albert Mohler.

Thank you Southern Seminary.

A Testimony to Celebrate

It is presumptuous for me to highlight my connection to Southern Seminary, and to give my own testimony when much more worthy people could do a better job. Nevertheless, I will take the personal prerogative of my own blog.

I have been a part of Southern Seminary for nearly 18 years, more than any other place where I have lived or served. I was a student for six years in the early and mid 1980s, earning two degrees. Those were the best of times and the worst of times. The years were difficult because the Southern Baptist Convention was in the heat of the battle for the Bible, now known as the Conservative Resurgence. I was and am a conservative, and my theological stand for the inerrancy of Scripture was a decided minority position. Southern Seminary was the epicenter of that battle, and I often felt the pain of attacks on me both theologically and personally.

But it was the best of times as well. I was an eyewitness of and a participant in history in the making as America’s largest Protestant denomination turned back to its biblical roots. And some of the friends I made at that time became friends for life.

I would return to Southern Seminary in 1994 to serve as a dean in the Mohler administration, a position I held for nearly twelve years. Those years were some of the most rewarding of my life. When I left the seminary to become president of LifeWay, I left with great memories and a thankful heart. And just two years after I left, my oldest son, Sam,  graduated from Southern. I have so much for which to be thankful.

Thank you Southern Seminary.

A Future to Celebrate

The story of Southern’s past is one of remarkable sacrifice, faithfulness, and blessings. But we celebrate on this 150^th anniversary not just a past of victories, but a future that is poised for even greater victories. While we never presume upon God’s plan, we do see a seminary whose faculty and students are impacting the world. And we have no reason to doubt that such faithfulness and influence will grow in the years ahead.

I am among the many who are celebrating this milestone for The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and the leadership of Al Mohler. And I am among the many who are thanking God for the great history and heritage of Southern Seminary, but also for a future that is exciting and filled with hope.

Thank you Southern Seminary.

You have been found faithful.

To God be the glory.

This month we celebrate the three-year anniversary of Simple Church. I am thankful to my co-author Eric Geiger, who is really the brains behind the research and the concept. And I am thankful to the readers who made this book one of the bestsellers in its genre. The responses far exceeded our expectations.

It is also a good time to reflect on those responses, and address those areas that have been the major points of interest of the Simple Church concept. I assume in the writing of this blog that you have read the book. Of course, I realize that many have not. Still, feel free to listen in on this conversation.

It’s All about Discipleship

Simple Church began with these two sentences: “Relax. This book is not about another church model.” Though we weren’t really surprised, some church leaders tried to make this concept another “plug and play” model. They wanted step-by-step instructions so they could emulate the model for their churches.

But it’s not a model. Here is the essence of the book. If someone were to ask you how they could become a more committed follower of Christ through the ministries of your church, how would you answer? What is your process for discipleship? In many churches we encourage people to get involved in a plethora of activities, but we don’t really know how all those activities work together to help someone on the process of spiritual maturity.

Simple Church seeks to simplify (redundant, I know) the process of discipleship. It seeks to make it clear so people understand it and eagerly embrace it.

Illustrations but Not Formulas

In Simple Church we gave some possible illustrations of mission statements that could serve as a clear process for discipleship. That was one of the most intriguing aspects of our research. The purpose statement could also be a process statement.

We then provided the fictitious example of Cross Church and its mission statement: “Love God, love others, serve the world.” Some unfortunately concluded that all mission statements could only have three components like Cross Church. Some also concluded that it left no room for different types of small groups in the same church, such as home groups and Sunday School.

Fortunately, most churches understand that a Simple Church can have more than one type of small group and more than three components of a mission statement. The key is not a formulaic mission statement, but one that reflects the process of discipleship in the church.

Simple Means Clear

The concept of “simple” in the book was that the process of discipleship could be clearly understood, and that all of the activities, ministries, and programs of the church aligned with that process of discipleship. If some area of the church did not align, consideration should be given to eliminate that area. We called this part of simple church “focus.”

“Simple” is not necessarily a synonym with “few.” Some churches perhaps did need to eliminate a lot of their busyness, but others did not see the need to do much elimination. Instead they needed to concentrate on aligning the current ministries of the church with the clearly stated process of discipleship.

“Show Me the Model!”

Eric and I have received thousands of requests to provide examples of the Simple Church model. We struggle with that request because Simple Church is not a model. It is a concept that helps churches focus on disciple making that aligns with activities. And no church will ever “arrive.” It’s a process. It’s ongoing. There is no perfect example. There is no model church because there is no model.

An Expression of Gratitude

Eric and I are deeply appreciative to those of you who made Simple Church one of the most widely read books on the church. We are grateful for the praise you have given the book, and we are grateful for the constructive criticism we have received.

Above all, we are grateful for the countless testimonies of the churches that took the heart of the Simple Church message and applied it to their congregations. We are overwhelmed with the stories of churches that moved from activities to disciple making. We are often moved to the point of tears when we hear of lives that have been transformed in these churches.

That’s what made this research and writing so worthwhile. Churches transformed. Lives transformed. Glory given to God through it all.

That’s what made the effort worth it.

That’s what it’s all about.

It’s just that simple.

Almost a year ago I joined the microblogging phenomenon called Twitter. As common with many people, I doubted its value at the onset. What could one possibly communicate in 140 characters or less?

But I did join the Twitterverse, and its value has far exceeded my expectations. My oldest son, Sam, introduced me to this new world, and uber-tweeter Ed Stetzer (@EdStetzer) has mentored this aging baby boomer in the world of Twitter.

It seems a bit strange that I now identify people with “@” in front of their names. But it is even stranger that it seems normal to do so now.

My purpose in writing this treatise is not to persuade you to join Twitter. Some find little value in it; some find great value. And I don’t intend to suggest that my reasons for valuing Twitter would be the same as yours. But perhaps one of two of these reasons may give you pause to consider how you may benefit by being a part of this community.

The ten reasons are not listed in a preconceived order of importance. Rather they are listed in a chronology that shows how the value of Twitter has grown with me.

1.   Family connectivity. My sons live hundreds of miles from Nellie Jo and me. I joined Twitter initially so I could follow them and keep up with their lives better. Now all three sons (@SamRainer, @ArtRainer, and @JessRainer) are a part of the Twitterverse, as well as my wife (@NellieJo). Recently one of the son’s dogs joined Twitter.

2.   Community. My experience with Twitter is that most of the people are friendly and social. I have made friends that I would not likely ever know outside Twitter. One of my favorites is @RDBones, whose real name is Roy Polmanteer. Roy is a full-time deputy sheriff and a volunteer firefighter living in central Arizona. And he is one of the greatest encouragers I’ve ever known.

3.   Information. Twitter offers a wealth of incredible information. If I want to find out about a topic of interest, I enter the topic in the search and I receive more information from fellow tweeters than I could ever use.  Most of the tweets have great links that guide me to even more information.

4.   Immediacy. When I received word that my friend and former student, Fred Winters, had been shot and killed while preaching, I turned to the Twitterverse to get on-the-scene and immediate information. The tweeters I read were always ahead of more traditional media.

5.   Listening. Sometimes I just need to be quiet and hear what others are saying. Whether I’m following particular people or a particular topic, I often get a strong sense of how the grassroots think.

6.   Prayer. I would guess the representation of Christians in Twitter is similar to that of the general population. I do know that anytime I request prayer, I am overwhelmed and humbled by the responses of tweeters.

7.   Sharing my beliefs. I am unapologetic about my Christian faith, but that does not mean that I have to be abrasive. I find that on Twitter I can enter into a great conversation with non-Christians as long as I show common courtesies and kindness. I really love being a “Twitness.”

8.   Representing my organization. I am well aware that when I tweet, I am not just Thom Rainer; I am LifeWay Christian Resources as well. I have many opportunities to share the message of LifeWay, but I have to be careful not to be crassly promotional. Perhaps the best aspect of the LifeWay connection is simply listening to the input of others.

9.   Crossing generational barriers.  I recently engaged in a fascinating conversation with someone who had incredible insights. I went to this person’s Twitter profile and discovered that I was communicating with a 16-year-old male. What an opportunity! I was honored that he was willing to spend time with an old geezer like me.

10. Having fun. Twitter is often fun. I really enjoy interacting with those who have a healthy and clean sense of humor. And sometimes they think I’m funny.

As the Roman road system opened the way for the spread of Christianity in the first three centuries, Twitter can be another great opportunity to communicate far beyond what we thought possible. Like any other medium, Twitter can be used for evil, but it is not intrinsically bad. To the contrary, I see it as a wonderful tool and a wonderful opportunity. With that said, I will conclude this blog.

It’s time for me to tweet again.