Alex O’Toole
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15 Easter Bible Verses to Center Your Heart on Christ’s Resurrection
How do you celebrate Easter? Easter has always been a busy and exciting holiday for me. As a child, my family usually attended at least two churches (ours and my grandmother’s) for Easter productions and hosted family meals. I’d participate in overly competitive Easter egg hunts with my cousins and compare prizes with them afterward.…
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Four Ways to Share the Gospel Through Media This Christmas
Do you have any unique Christmas traditions? As Christians, many of us practice Christmas traditions that center around remembering and honoring the birth of Jesus. One of my favorite traditions is unique to us. Every year, my family kicks off December and the Christmas season by gathering around the TV with popcorn and a warm…
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Ripples That Reach the Nations: 5 Stories of Gospel Impact
“Mama, can I please have a quarter?” My mother opened her black handbag and rummaged around before pulling out a shiny silver coin and dropping it into my waiting hand. She gave another to my little sister, who was only about five years old at the time. Holding both our hands, she led us onto…
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Unlocking the Power of Digital Evangelism: 7 Ways You Can Share the Gospel Online
Several years ago, I read a book on lifestyle and nutrition that I really enjoyed. So I did what many readers do—I looked up the author and followed her on Instagram. At the time, she was not a follower of Jesus. One day I noticed she was posting questions about spirituality and sharing her curiosity…
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Evangelism (A Definition): Exploring What It Means
Growing up in an American Evangelical church, I have encountered that word, “evangelism,” more times than I can count. Like many other words I only heard in the context of church, it was something church leaders said, but that carried little personal meaning for me. In fact, if I’m honest, I didn’t really understand what…
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Great Commission in Community: What a Garden Can Teach Us About Mission
Hands in the dirt, a floppy hat on my head and the Florida sun beating down on me––that’s how my workday started today. As a writer, this is not what my typical morning looks like. But for Robin Greaves, who serves in Cru’s community garden, it is. Robin is an agriculture specialist with Unto, the…
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10 Bible Verses On Missional Living
Every morning, rain or shine, I walk my dog through my neighborhood, praying silently for the people in the homes we pass—the retired couple next door, the woman caring for her husband in hospice, the young family with a newborn across the street. Later, on my way to work, I often pass a man on…
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The Meaning of Easter: Beyond Eggs and Bunnies
What is Easter? For many, Easter Sunday is a day to get together with family, hunt for Easter eggs and maybe get a visit from the Easter bunny. Your family might share a special meal like roast lamb, or baked treats like hot cross buns. My family celebrates Easter with a lunch where everyone–including my…
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5 Ways to Use Prayer Guides in Your Prayer Time
What Is Prayer? Prayer is communicating with God, and it’s a key part of our lives as Christians. But have you ever had trouble knowing what you should pray for, or even how to pray? I’ve certainly struggled with that question from time to time. For many of us, whether we’re new to the faith…