Lifeway provides full slate of Advent resources for families, churches
By Jill Waggoner/Lifeway
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — As churches and families prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ, Lifeway Christian Resources has released a robust lineup of Advent Bible studies and resources, including an online event, designed to equip worshipers of every age to mark the season with Scripture, reflection and community.
While 9 out of 10 Americans celebrate Christmas, only 53% think they can accurately tell the story of Christ’s birth, according to Lifeway Research.
“These resources from Lifeway invite each of us to slow down, understand and reflect on the significance of Christ’s birth, with the hope that this holiday season will gain a greater meaning and purpose,” said Becky Loyd, vice president at Lifeway Christian Resources.
Lifeway Bible studies serve men, women, girls
Written by the teams at Lifeway Women and Lifeway Men respectively, “Behold the Savior” is the title of the four-week, verse-by-verse studies of Luke 1 and 2 created for women’s and men’s groups. Both editions include suggested group activities and discussion guides crafted to deepen understanding of the Christmas story and foster spiritual growth.
“Love Came Down” is a resource created by the Lifeway Girls team to meet the needs of this demographic. The four-session Bible study helps teen girls explore the gospel message through the lens of Advent. It emphasizes God’s holiness, the cost of His love and the transformative power of Jesus’ coming.
Resources for the family
Lifeway Kids has also provided a free family Advent guide that moves through Luke 1 and 2, coordinated with the “Behold the Savior” releases.
“The One We’re Waiting For: An Illustrated Advent Devotional for Families,” written by Taylor Combs and illustrated by Aedan and Natalie Peterson, is intended to create a daily Advent experience for families, with a Bible story, simple discussion questions and illustrated ornaments for each day.
Other Christmas- and Advent-focused devotionals are also available for readers on Lifeway.com. B&H Publishing recently released “Christmas for the Heart” from Cheryl Baker, and “Advent for Exiles” was recently honored as a finalist in the Christian Book Awards in the new author category.
Prepare Him Room virtual event
Churches and small groups are invited to host or attend an immersive Advent experience called “Prepare Him Room,” featuring teaching from Bible teacher Kelly Minter and worship led by Lindsay McCaul. The event explores the lives of Mary and Elizabeth and encourages participants to make space for Jesus in their hearts and homes.
“I love the story of Mary and Elizabeth,” said Minter. “Things did not go as planned for them that very first Christmas, and yet both of them were so fully satisfied by the experience of Jesus Christ.”
The virtual event streams Nov. 14-Dec. 31. Tickets for the Oct. 16 live taping in Nashville, Tenn., are available as well.
More information about all Advent resources is available at lifeway.com/advent.
Southwestern receives Lilly Endowment grant
By Michelle Workman/SWBTS
FORT WORTH, Texas — Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary has been named a recipient of a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative. The $871,074 grant will be used over the next five years.
“Southwestern Seminary is deeply grateful to Lilly Endowment for this generous expression of support to strengthen our efforts to resource pastoral ministry in the Southwest,” Southwestern President David S. Dockery said. “I know that our faculty and academic leaders, who worked so hard on this grant application, will offer outstanding oversight for this project as they steward faithfully these resources.”
The Pathways initiative, which aims to help theological schools in their efforts to support and prepare pastoral leaders, launched in 2021. This year, Lilly Endowment approved grants of up to $1 million each to support efforts at 58 theological schools.
“Theological schools have long played a central role for most denominations and church networks in preparing and supporting pastoral leaders who guide congregations,” said Christopher L. Coble, Lilly Endowment’s vice president for religion. “These schools are paying close attention to the challenges churches are facing today and will face in the foreseeable future. The grants will help these schools engage in wide-ranging, innovative efforts to adapt their educational programs and build their financial capacities so they can better prepare pastors and lay ministers to effectively lead the congregations they will serve in the future.”
Provost Madison Grace said he and Southwestern leadership are “pleased to receive this grant as it provides greater support to Southwestern’s work on equipping and training pastors to engage in local church ministry. Through this funding we will be able to develop more avenues for students as well as increase our partnerships with Southern Baptist churches.”
Chandler Snyder, vice president for institutional relations, said Southwestern had previously received a $50,000 planning grant from Lilly Endowment that was used to conduct an assessment process, which included surveys and meetings with Southwestern alumni in pastoral roles around Texas. Those regional meetings gave Southwestern an opportunity to hear from pastors directly about their continuing needs.
The findings led to a long-term strategy that will help the seminary prepare and support pastors through continued education in a certificate program, which will uniquely stack within the master of divinity curriculum. Also, the strategy will guide seminary efforts to provide pastoral engagement as it remains available to alumni in need of support.
“When we prayerfully built this grant proposal, it was with the eye of leading and helping Southwesterners and others flourish where God has called them in their place of service,” Snyder said. “And through the survey findings, we found that they need continued support. In addition to their local body, they need connection that will continue to develop their abilities and capacity. We need to continue to provide to them, in addition to the brotherhood of the Southern Baptist Convention, a partnership of Southwesterners who are helping to equip them in their field of service, and that’s what’s led us to this.”
In addition to the curricular change through the certificate program, the second goal of the proposal includes building a pastoral support network that would encourage alumni engagement through listening sessions and annual mentoring gatherings.
Southwestern will use funds from the grant to renovate a recording studio that will be used to produce digital learning content.
Snyder said Southwestern is grateful for the grant, promising “we’re going to steward it well and we’re going to report well on it. The grant is truly in service of Southwesterners and their churches and their communities.”
