To the casual observer, Allendale lacks the marks typical of a beautiful city; Allendale isn’t marked by the amount of pretty buildings, Starbucks on every corner, or a surplus of grocery stores, but anyone who has spent time there will agree the people are what...
We are just coming out of election season, a time notorious for anger, disenchantment, or passive resignation, depending on your views. Often times we as Christians are perplexed when it comes to engaging culture through politics; separation of church and state, choosing the lesser of...
Today marks the 25th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre. I was exactly 24 days old at the time. For me, Tiananmen is something I read about in history books, yet the implications still affect our world today and as Christians, we have a distinct...
"Actually, you have to be a resident of Kenya for 7 years before you can legally adopt." Bernard's words surprised me as we ate dinner with the team one night in Kenya. His statement surprised me not because I was hoping to return to the States...
It’s Saturday night, May 3rd, which means it’s Hands on Greenville (Community) day at Grace Church. Grace primarily participates in HOG day to build credibility within our communities. By working to better the community and working along side those within our communities, we are able...
Much has been written of late about "finding God at the movies" or what it should look like for Christians to have a proper, God-honoring relationship with Hollywood. And rightly so. Ever since the inception of motion pictures, the church has had questions and debates...
Why do we participate in HOG Day? It’s a question I receive around this time every year. Especially for those of us who have read When Helping Hurts or Toxic Charity it may seem a little contradictory to espouse both a belief in the principles...
Thursday, April 3, 2014. Opening Day of Cabela's in Greenville, SC, right on Woodruff Rd., where the traffic gods decided we needed a bit more traffic. Apparently, there's been an expansion effort on the part of Cabela's and there are cities all over the country...
This is one of the happiest weeks of the year for a lot of Americans, which may be a serious problem, but I would like to be sympathetic to them, because this week is pretty high on my list of good weeks as well. It's...
One of the harsh and undeniable facts of the universe is that you will rarely, if ever, observe someone observing Lent really well. Think about it. By definition, someone observing Lent well will not make a grand display of their self-denial and penitent spirit because...
Between work and family, it takes discipline to find time to read the Scriptures, discipline that at times we all lack. But this difficulty is an option we have the blessing to struggle through. In 2011 Joseph and Elizabeth Osborn moved their family to Papua...
Show me a culture's art and I will tell you what that culture values. My history professor in college would say something along these lines and then show how certain pieces of art reflected the cultures that produced them....
Photo Credit: Washington Post Ukraine. A country most people don’t think about on a regular basis, but one that has a storied. Recently, however, Ukraine has been making headlines in the midst of escalating political turmoil, violence, and uncertainty. After a few news cycles, it is not...
The Upstate of South Carolina recently survived our 2nd snow storm of the year – quite a feat for those of us who don’t always see snow each year. The 2nd time around we were all ready – bread, milk, and kayaks for sledding!...
This blog is part of our OVC: Kenya series. Over the next month we will be launching our campaign to establish advocates for orphans and vulnerable children in Kenya through our local partners....
The plight of an orphan in biblical times was bleak. In a patriarchal society, those without a father were defenseless; left at the mercy of those from whom they begged. Orphans, widows, immigrants, and the poor were all at the bottom of society, little above...
My roommates and I moved into a new neighborhood just in time for the holidays so we decided to make treats for our neighbors as a way to introduce ourselves. Lest you think I’m awesome at meeting my neighbors because it is my job to...
This weekend we heard from the Espinosas on their time in Allendale. Their family has lived in Allendale for the past two and a half years and will be looking to transition out the area the summer of 2014. Though their time in Allendale is...
If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? We often speak of missions as something we do, go on, or experience. Many a college counselor has read the dreaded my-summer-mission-trip-experience-changed-my-life essay from high school seniors. ...
I love the energy, rush, and excitement of big cities. I love the people, cultures, languages, and ideas that constantly buzz around a city. Recently, I went to Starbucks and in the first 5 minutes I heard no less than 4 languages, the last of...
“I think God wants us to sell the house.” That wasn’t exactly what I expected to come out of my husband’s mouth on a Sunday afternoon about a year ago. We had purchased our first home with the idea that it might just be our...
This week we had the opportunity to hear the stories of several Lapilo men as they share their testimony of the work God has done in their lives and the lives of their families through Joseph Osborn. We are honored and excited to be a...
Kelly Swift has been attending Grace Church with her husband John for seven years. Mother of three, she has always had a special heart for those around her who are in need....
Social media channels like Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter and the like provide a window into what our country’s populace finds worthy of note. Interestingly, we are hearing from newscasters such as John King, formerly of CNN, and from renowned author on leadership Steven B. Sample...
I’m the kind of person that gets to the theater early, not so I can snag the best seat, but so I can watch all the previews for upcoming movies, especially when they’re as captivating as the trailer for Magnolia. I love movie trailers!...