Domestic Violence Education in Pop Culture

Last updated on: August 6, 2025 at 12:08 am By Lee Ann B. Marino

Domestic violence is an aspect of everyday life for many people worldwide. It is the physical, emotional, verbal, economic, spiritual, or sexual abuse of an individual by an intimate partner, parent, or close associate (usually in the same household). As ministers, it’s something we will inevitably see. Whether a member of our congregation, someone who reaches out for help, or someone we know personally, domestic violence is difficult to confront, and even more challenging to understand. When faced with the... Read more

Signs of False, Modern Day, End Times Prophets

Last updated on: August 4, 2025 at 11:31 pm By Lee Ann B. Marino

One of the stories I remember best from childhood is that of “Chicken Little” (also called “Henny Penny). An apple fell on Chicken Little’s head and she believed the sky was falling. She didn’t check her data, or look around to find out what might have happened. Instead, she took it upon herself to become a false prophet. Concerned, she made a trip to warn the king the world was going to end. In the process, she also convinced some... Read more

Identifying False Christs and False Messiahs

Last updated on: July 31, 2025 at 10:29 pm By Lee Ann B. Marino

I still remember standing in front of the television as I watched the seize at Waco in my Catholic school uniform. People were abuzz about a madman named David Koresh. People said he claimed to be the messiah. He would be one of a few people in my lifetime who we went on to label as “false Christs” or “false Messiahs.” It’s an accusation sometimes made with cause, sometimes without. We usually hear the accusation in light of a new... Read more

Crossing Borders is Part of Our Faith

Last updated on: July 30, 2025 at 1:51 pm By Lee Ann B. Marino

Lately I’ve been thinking about the Hillsong United song, Oceans. Even though it’s several years old, it remains a very popular song. I heard it a few times recently, on the radio. It’s circulated over and over again on the internet, especially in memes where lyrics from it are placed on ocean-themed backgrounds. It’s a pretty song, calming and quiet, and very popular. When it starts to play, the emotional responses build as people cry…for exactly what reason? Is it... Read more

Words of Wisdom to Unlock Leadership Potential

Last updated on: July 22, 2025 at 4:43 pm By Lee Ann B. Marino

The majority of my 25-year ministry has been spent in leadership training, development, maintenance, and encouragement. I am what we would call a “leader’s leader,” one who has always been there for leaders. Leadership development is one of the most important areas of church growth. If we do not have solid leadership, churches fall apart. If leaders fall into the extremes of too controlling or too lax, churches cannot operate in ministerial effectiveness. Wisdom for leaders – in our work... Read more

The Process of Spiritual Pruning

Last updated on: June 14, 2025 at 3:28 pm By Lee Ann B. Marino

Spiritual pruning. Cutting off. Trimming back. Rearranging. Elimination. Whatever you want to call it, removing people, practices, or unnecessary things from your life is a process. It is a process that every leader will face at several points in their walk, especially as they move higher and achieve new places in Christ. Sure, we love to talk about moving higher and moving on, but we don’t often consider the necessary maturity needed for decisions that come along with this process.... Read more

How Leaders are Humbled by Ministry

Last updated on: June 13, 2025 at 11:06 pm By Lee Ann B. Marino

Years back, I worked with a minister who was a great man of God. He was inspiring, energetic, and enthusiastic. He was ready to go, go, go. Then there was the other side of things: he wasn’t walking in humility. He didn’t listen well, because he thought he knew everything. Criticism was a sore spot, no matter how gently applied. As many good qualities he had, they weren’t tempered with humility. He thought he was the exception to the rules... Read more

Personalizing Prison Ministry

Last updated on: June 12, 2025 at 10:48 pm By Lee Ann B. Marino

In 2002, my ministry (then known as Apostolic Fellowship International Ministries) began publishing what would become Power For Today Magazine. Back in those days, it was a simple six-page newsletter. It was printed without frills, mostly written by myself (we didn’t have a guest column at that time). It was a basic update newsletter, informing people about things going on at our church with featured articles based on sermons I would preach. Wow, it was hard getting started. People were... Read more

Seven Notable Youths in the Bible

Last updated on: August 8, 2025 at 6:15 pm By Lee Ann B. Marino

August 12 is International Youth Day. This United Nations awareness day focuses on cultural and legal issues specifically affecting individuals aged 12-24. Though often overlooked in society, youth often face their own unique needs and challenges. While some brush off the issues of youth, the difficulties, stresses, and everyday life explorations can prove challenging for them. For this reason, youth ministry matters in the lives of Christian youth. It’s important that Christian youth have programs, education, and spiritual insights that... Read more

Working With People You Don’t Like (and Vice Versa)

Last updated on: June 12, 2025 at 12:03 pm By Lee Ann B. Marino

Getting along with others. The phrase alone makes us sigh. We love the idea of unity, but not when its application requires us to get along with others. In my ministry experience, I’ve truly loved some of the people I’ve worked with over the years. Some were good, important, fun, spiritual, and special in my life. We’ve all worked with people who were game changers, trail blazers, and had profound impacts on our lives and work. Some were leaders, mentors,... Read more

My beloved is mine and I am his; he browses among these flowers. What flowers represent purity and beauty?