Happy first Monday in August. ☕️ While you grab that next cup of coffee, here are some of the latest articles we think you'll enjoy. Have something to add? Join the Insiders Facebook group.
Podcast
Adapting to Change | Ep. 34
Today’s guest: Mindy Lawyer
From Bowling Green First Church of the Nazarene, Bowling Green, KY
The role of church communicator is ever-changing. Communicators are quickly learning new ways of communicating all the time. So how do you remain nimble enough to quickly adapt? We’re talking about adapting to change in today’s episode.
Olympics
Simone Biles’s Critics Miss the Bigger Story of Bodily Abuse
From Christianity Today
The Olympics always hold surprises and this first week of competition in Tokyo was no exception. Simone Biles, captain of the USA Olympic Women’s Gymnastics team and the most decorated American gymnast of all time, withdrew from the competition, citing the need to give attention to her mental wellbeing. With an almost guaranteed chance of dominating the games, Biles’s choice models something rare in both competitive sports and broader culture: the humility and courage to say, “Enough is enough.”
Pop-Culture
Lupin and the Master Planner
From Think Christian, part of the ReFrame Ministries family of programs
If you haven’t enjoyed the French drama Lupin yet, now is the time. Lupin hit international screens via Netflix earlier this year and proved filmmaker Bong Joon-Ho right: “Once you overcome the one-inch-tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films.” The series is a reminder that God knows the blueprint of our lives.
Fast Tips
Vision + Fall Ministry
As you start to turn the chapter toward fall ministry season, remember that you cannot over-communicate vision. Chances are, things are different this fall than they were in the fall of 2019. Over-communicate what you’re doing (celebrate the wins!) and how it ties into the overall vision for your congregation. Remember, you live in the vision every day. Your average churchgoer hears about vision—at very best—once a week. It takes a while for people to catch the vision.
Social Media
Pinterest Loses 24 Million Users as Lockdowns Ease and Physical Stores Re-Open Around the World
From Social Media Today
After reporting 11 quarters of consecutive user growth, Pinterest has taken a hit, with the platform seeing a decline in overall users in Q2, though its revenue results remained strong for the period.
The loss, Pinterest says, is largely attributable to the global vaccine roll-out, and the re-opening of physical stores, which has impacted the adoption of eCommerce and online browsing.
