Author Archives: Bart Whitman

My Respone To Critics: Unity and getting over yourself

Unity seems like a good idea, right? Most people I’ve talked to, including some who do not regularly attend church, think the idea of churches working together to share God’ love to those who need it is a good thing. For most it is, as my mother would say, a “No Duh!” kind of thing.Continue reading “My Respone To Critics: Unity and getting over yourself”

You can’t spell ‘Unity’ without ‘U’…and some other stuff

It is now over 9 months since I began my push towards a more unified community of faith in and around Martin County, MN. The early months were spent in preparation and vision-casting among some trusted ministry leaders. That push was followed by a concerted effort to spread the word, especially focused on our countyContinue reading “You can’t spell ‘Unity’ without ‘U’…and some other stuff”

Our Attempt At Unity – The Unity Station

An excerpt of this article was published in the Fairmont Sentinel, September 2014. This year’s Martin County Fair saw a new attraction – the Unity Station tent. Unity Station was a cooperative effort between The Gathering, Martin County Youth For Christ, and over a dozen other local churches and ministries from the Martin County, MNContinue reading “Our Attempt At Unity – The Unity Station”

The Beginnings of Unity

An excerpt of this article was published in the Fairmont Sentinel, May 2014. While playing football for Granada-Huntley-East Chain High School in the late 1990s I had the opportunity to experience something that seems to have become commonplace in our area now – school sports-sharing. I played for the Granada-Huntley-East Chain-Martin Luther Mustangs. That’s quiteContinue reading “The Beginnings of Unity”

Rewind: HOPEless

In 2011, my wife Charmaine and I spent over two weeks in Thailand, meeting with refugees and pastors, learning more about the Karen people group and about international missions work with our friend Joanna, a missionary that we support. We came back in the middle of July and, 4 days later, I took a groupContinue reading “Rewind: HOPEless”

“Crazy Love” – Francis Chan

I grew up believing in God without having a clue what He is like. I called myself a Christian, was pretty involved in church, and tried to stay away from all the things that “good Christians” avoid-drinking, drugs, sex, swearing. Christianity was simple: fight your desires in order to please God. Whenever I failed (whichContinue reading ““Crazy Love” – Francis Chan”

Bring It

When you get excited about something – I mean really excited about something – what do you do? Do you sit back, hide it, and try not to let anyone know about it? I suppose if it’s something embarrassing you might hide it. I know I didn’t let too many people know when I watchedContinue reading “Bring It”

“Understanding the Big Picture of the Bible” ed. Grudem, Collins, and Schreiner

…God has a unified plan for all of history. His ultimate purpose, ‘a plan for the fullness of time,’ is ‘to unite all things in him [Christ], things in heaven and things on earth’ (Eph. 1:10), ‘to the praise of his glory’ (Eph. 1:12). God had this plan from the beginning. -Vern S. Poythress IContinue reading ““Understanding the Big Picture of the Bible” ed. Grudem, Collins, and Schreiner”

“Explicit Gospel” – Matt Chandler

For some reason – namely, our depravity – we have a tendency to think that the cross saves us from past sin, but after we are saved, we have to take over and clean ourselves up. This sort of thinking is devastating to the soul. We call this the “assumed gospel,” and it flourishes whenContinue reading ““Explicit Gospel” – Matt Chandler”