In ministry, it always seems easier to critique rather than celebrate. The sermon might be critiqued, or maybe the song selections for a worship service. Someone may critique the food at a fellowship or the temperature in the sanctuary. I was once told the music was way too loud, only to hear from someone a few rows down that it sounded perfect. In ministry, there’s no shortage of critiques, and at times it’s appropriate, but for April I would like to consider three great reasons to … [Read more...]
Better Together, Stronger Together
At our annual meeting in Branson this past October, Messenger Cody Harlow, who serves as the pastor of First Baptist Church, Camdenton, made the following motion: “The messengers of the Missouri Baptist Convention request that the Executive Board and Executive Director Treasurer prepare and present in the MBC Pathway and the MBC website, by the end of the calendar year, a statement or report on “Plan B” giving to the Cooperative Program by MBC churches, reaffirming that churches giving … [Read more...]
Let’s Worship!
As Missouri Baptists gather each week, at least two things happen all across our beautiful state: we worship in song and we worship through the proclamation of the Word. We certainly add other meaningful and scriptural elements to our services, but singing and preaching are foundational. With this in mind, several months ago Brad Newbold and I discussed the possibility of offering a conference specifically focused on musical worship. Why do we sing each Sunday? What is the foundational … [Read more...]
Let’s baptize 8,000 across Missouri!
At our annual meeting in Branson, I encouraged Missouri Baptists to baptize 8,000 in 2026. Each year, there are many worthy goals we can, and should, strive towards. We can set goals for new church plants, worship attendance, Sunday School, Cooperative Program giving, Missouri Missions Offering, Annie, and Lottie – these are all good, healthy, and impactful aspects of faithful ministry. The most critical metric, though, is baptisms. How many people are making professions of faith in Jesus … [Read more...]
Underestimating Ordinary
Luke 2:8-14 reminds us of a well-known and incredibly interesting story used throughout the Christmas season. Take a moment and re-read the verses below: “And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the … [Read more...]
Why we gather
Each year, our affiliated Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) churches gather for an annual meeting, and this year we had well over 1,700 registered messengers and guests! It literally takes hundreds of hours of preparation, costs thousands of dollars, and for many, it requires hours of driving to attend and participate. Once we all arrive, we spend countless hours in a room listening to reports, conducting business, raising ballots, listening to preaching, and enjoying worship. For the past … [Read more...]
October is pastor appreciation month
Although most churches have a general appreciation for their pastor, October provides a wonderful opportunity to express gratitude in a more tangible way. Why is this important? Well, thank you for asking! Let me provide a few foundational reasons for expressing gratitude and appreciation for your pastor. 1. Your pastor has been called by God to lead, love, and shepherd. 2. Your pastor spends hours in study and preparation to preach – for your benefit, and for your sanctification. 3. … [Read more...]
Recovering sanctity
Lately, my heart has been heavy. On Aug. 22, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee, Iryna Zarutska, was viciously stabbed to death on a rail system in Charlotte, N.C. The attack was random, unprovoked, and absolutely senseless. Ironically, Iryna left war-torn Ukraine in 2022 because she wanted to live in peace, but instead she was tragically murdered while simply traveling home after work. Although I haven’t watched the entire video (and I have no desire to), the portion I’ve seen displays a … [Read more...]
Not worth the gamble
On Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, 52 percent of Missourians voted to reject Amendment 5. Interestingly, many may not even remember Amendment 5, most likely due to the attention Amendment 3 received (and rightly so!). Simply put, Amendment 5 would have amended the Missouri Constitution to allow for a casino at Lake of the Ozarks. Thankfully, we voted to reject the amendment! So, I suppose the issue is settled? I suppose we can move forward knowing that a new casino won’t be built? Well, not … [Read more...]
Trusting the One who calls us
On Thursday, June 26, 2025, Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine held a press briefing to explain how the United States bombed three nuclear sites in Iran. The general’s description of the planning and execution of Operation Midnight Hammer was fascinating. He detailed how the sites were selected, the training involved to prepare for such a mission, and the anticipated impact of the massive 30,000lb GBU-57 bombs. Throughout the years, I’ve listened to multiple briefings, but I don’t … [Read more...]
The blessing of staying
Oftentimes, I have the blessing of spending time with young men relatively new to pastoral ministry. I love their energy, excitement, and passion. I’m encouraged by their willingness to sacrifice deeply for the sake of the gospel. And I’m thankful for their desire to serve, love and devote their lives to the local church. I leave these interactions hopeful for the future of the church. I believe these young men will steward their ministries incredibly well. From time to time, though, I’ll … [Read more...]
It’s not always easy, but it’s worth it!
Recently, I had the honor of sharing with several pastors and their wives at the “Baptist Building” in Jefferson City. They were attending the New Ministers and Wives Retreat (which was wonderful!), and at the time, we were providing a tour of the building. The goal of the tour is to learn about the ministries that use the building to help MBC churches serve Missouri. As a group made its way to my office, I shared about the value and importance of cooperation. Prior to my calling to … [Read more...]
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