Five Women Ordained First in their Denominations

Last updated on: April 22, 2024 at 4:08 pm By Lee Ann B. Marino

March is Women’s History Month. This means school curriculum will attend to important women in history. Commonly studied women include Susan B. Anthony, Rosa Parks, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Hillary Clinton, and others. These women made political and social strides, although few realize they also made spiritual ones, as well. Given most educational platforms don’t speak about church history, most kids – and church members alike – are unaware of the important advances women have made in Christian history. This includes... Read more

Five Women of Faith who Revolutionized History

Last updated on: February 20, 2024 at 8:39 pm By Lee Ann B. Marino

It’s almost March 8, which means it’s almost International Women’s Day! For those unfamiliar with this day, it is a women’s rights holiday that focuses on issues of concern to women worldwide. These include universal suffrage, domestic violence, gender equality, and reproductive rights. Many churches acknowledge this special day, each in their own way. This day reminds us women are in the image of God, each one unique and special in purpose. It’s not a secret to say the rights... Read more

The “Who’s Who?” of Mary in the Bible

Last updated on: January 24, 2024 at 8:26 pm By Lee Ann B. Marino

Most Bible students are familiar with notable Bible figures…especially when there’s only one with that name. For example, there is only one Apostle Peter, one Apostle Paul, and one Apostle Thomas. We know of Moses, Abraham, Samson, Delilah, Deborah, Gideon, and Bathsheba…but things get complicated when people share names. When we see shared names, we start to write in characters within a story, and before you know it…we’ve got that specific Bible experience all wrong. This is especially true with... Read more

An Aromantic Looks at Aromantic Relationships

Last updated on: February 21, 2024 at 5:52 pm By Lee Ann B. Marino

In honor of Arospec Awareness Week, I felt led to dedicate this week’s column to something personal. In early 2022, I realized something important about myself. I already knew I am demisexual, but at that time, I realized I am also aromantic. It was both shocking (it shouldn’t have been) and insightful, helpful in understanding more of myself as a person. I am from an earlier time when people identified as gay or straight. Not identifying as gay, I assumed... Read more

All About Valentine’s Day

Last updated on: January 24, 2024 at 4:25 pm By Lee Ann B. Marino

Ah, Valentine’s Day. It’s a day people either love or hate, depending on their personal perspectives. A largely commercial holiday, Valentine’s Day emphasizes dates, flowers, candy, and honoring loved ones. While traditionally a day focused on the love between romantic couples, modern expansions also include love between family and friends. Many wonder, though, how did love become associated with Valentine’s Day? What do the two have in common, and how do they overlap. Does it have anything to do with... Read more

More Things I Wish I’d Known Before I Went into Ministry

Last updated on: April 22, 2024 at 4:10 pm By Lee Ann B. Marino

In part 1 of this series on ministry, I discussed eight specific things I wish I’d known before going into ministry. As I stated, I didn’t know very many people in ministry back then and I went in rather wide-eyed and unassuming. To say the “human component” of ministry was sometimes a shock is a bit of an understatement. As one who has spent all of my adult life in ministry, I’ve learned (sometimes the hard way) that God doesn’t... Read more

Things I Wish I’d Known Before I Went into Ministry

Last updated on: April 22, 2024 at 4:16 pm By Lee Ann B. Marino

I’ve spent all of my adult life in Christian ministry. Sure, I have had side jobs and now run companies that I own or cooperatively own with others, but my consistent, primary job has always been ministry. I didn’t know many ministers starting out. As a result, I didn’t know much of what to expect. Like many ministers, I went into ministry wide-eyed and hopeful. I anticipated a life full of meaning and purpose, expecting God to work everything out... Read more

The Story Behind Ten Favorite Hymns

Last updated on: December 28, 2023 at 6:23 pm By Lee Ann B. Marino

If you follow me on Facebook, you’ll note I occasionally ask everyone about their favorite hymns. As much as I love the modern Christian worship scene (and many others do, as well), there’s something special and timeless about our favorite hymns. The long-held tradition of congregational singing inspires a sense of spiritual unity; connection both to God and one another. Far from being boring or tired, the exploration of hymns tells the story of faith. Whether written in times of... Read more

A Crash Course on the Baha’i Faith

Last updated on: January 25, 2024 at 3:00 pm By Lee Ann B. Marino

January 21 is World Religion Day. If you’ve never heard of this day, you’re not alone. It’s an observance for people of the Baha’i Faith, a religion originating in Persia that now has followers worldwide. The major focus of the Baha’i Faith is religious unity, believing all religions share the same value. World Religion Day acknowledges this value, celebrating their belief in the oneness of all religion and the idea of progressive revelation found therein. In honor of this day,... Read more

Christian Trivia for the Trivia Fan

Last updated on: December 27, 2023 at 6:10 pm By Lee Ann B. Marino

Do you enjoy the world of trivia? If you’re anything like me, a good trivia game is both exciting and interesting. Learning various facts through the world of trivia tend to stick with us and pop up in conversations later in time. This is also true as people of faith in the world of Christian trivia. Personally, I love Christian trivia – facts of the faith we can drop here and there that help others to learn more about their... Read more