Growing up Roman Catholic, Matt Maher never imagined that his childhood interest in music would lead to a career as a chart-topping Christian rocker — let alone a crossover artist featured in evangelical worship.

Does communication make much difference in churches? Can’t most members find out what they need or want to know? The complex answer often boils down to the distinction between “need” and “want” — and who controls the desired information.

Frank Page, former president of the SBC, was getting ready to work in the yard in the fall of 2009 when the phone rang. His daughter was on the line. Daddy, I love you, she said. Tell Mama and the girls I love them, too. Then she was gone.

Beneath the stereotypes of preacher’s kids as either goody two-shoes or devilish hellions lies a tense and sometimes taxing reality, the children of clergy say.

Just because Jesus told his disciples God alone knows when he will return, that hasn’t prevented 2,000 years of Christian speculation, especially during times of cultural crisis.