From ‘serve us’ to service

From ‘serve us’ to service: For a 120-year-old church, growth coincides with a renewed focus on Kingdom building and community outreach (reporting from Mt. Juliet, Tenn.). Churches That Work.

MT. JULIET, Tenn. — Forgive David Shannon if he sounds like he’s boasting.

It’s just that he’s impressed with the young man at the end of the table.

“He’s probably as smart as you and me put together, you know what I’m saying?” said Shannon, pulpit minister for the Mt. Juliet Church of Christ, a growing congregation 20 miles east of Nashville.

The young man’s name is Alan Cantrell.

He’s a freshman Bible major at Freed-Hardeman University in Henderson, Tenn., studying to become a preacher.

“Young and old alike love hearing Alan preach because of the way he brings unique insight and application to a text,” Shannon said.

Like a dozen students majoring or minoring in ministry at Freed-Hardeman, Cantrell grew up in the Mt. Juliet church and receives help from the congregation with his tuition.

After the tornado: $2 million short: An Alabama congregation played a leading role in disaster relief efforts after a killer twister, but now the church finds itself in need of help (reporting from Tuscaloosa, Ala.). Second Front.

Ministry matchmaking: Students find churches (reporting from Lubbock, Texas). Partners.

Pain, suffering and God’s will in wife’s suffering. Inside Story.

Power and joy of reconciliation. Editorial.