CN Morning Rundown: WATCH: Pastor Todd Smith and ‘The Revival of the Pulpit’

Here’s a quick summary of the top stories on cn.mycharisma.com:

WATCH: Pastor Todd Smith and ‘The Revival of the Pulpit’

The North Georgia revival has entered its fifth year with 30,000 people having been immersed in baptismal waters. “God has never asked us to grow His church…that’s something we shoulder and wear because that’s just the culture,” says Christ Fellowship Pastor Todd Smith.

Smith says pastors nationwide have given themselves to growing the Western church, but what they need to be doing is giving themselves to God in prayer. Smith believes a resurgence is coming back into the church, and pastors and leaders are emphasizing prayer again.

“If preaching could have thrust us into the next Great Awakening it would have happened decades ago,” Smith says in an interview with Charisma News that every significant move of God has started with prayer.

Study: Pastors Divided on What Tithing Should Look Like for Christians

For most, an occasional sermon about tithing is standard fare. As it turns out though, most American pastors aren’t convinced Christians need to give the customary 10% of their income to the church.

Newly published data from Barna’s “Revisiting the Tithe & Offering,” a section in its The State of Generosity series, found pastors are divided on what tithing should look like for most churchgoers.

Most pastors don’t define giving outside the church as a form of tithing, but a clear majority—70%—said such giving does not need to be solely financial. And when it comes to monetary giving, only 33% believe the traditionally accepted 10% is proper.

Hillsong: Building Back Stronger

“This is not necessarily an inspiring night,” Hillsong Interim Global Senior Pastor Phil Dooley says during the churches update meeting on Aug. 23.

After a string of scandals rocked the Hillsong community, leadership says they are working to build the church back stronger focusing on regaining the congregation’s trust in leadership.

The Sidney-based church is looking at new board members and an oversight committee. Throughout church history there has been issues in the style and model of church governance in the body of Christ. Hillsong says they are working on a new framework with greater accountability. “A board charter that says what the board is responsible for, and who they are responsible to,” says advisor Murray Baird. {eoa}