Dear Missouri Baptist Pastor: I pray you are well and anticipating a blessed Lord’s Day this weekend. As you prepare to lead your congregation in worship and feed them on the Word of God, you also may be wondering how best to address – or whether to address – the controversy in which our Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee is currently embroiled. No doubt, you’ve read accounts of the EC’s actions, and inactions, from news sources and social media. While there seems to be … [Read more...]
Trusteeship – a sacred trust
Just this week I returned from serving on the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee. Our February meeting was full of important decisions impacting the cooperative work of churches that identify themselves as Southern Baptist congregations. My fellow trustees listened to amazing reports about our international missionaries and new church planting in North America. We were challenged to hear how our six Southern Baptist seminaries are adapting their work of equipping tomorrow’s … [Read more...]
Strong loving relationships key to healthy discipling churches
Even as you receive this column, “Valentines Day” is occurring or has just occurred. This time of year sets many to thinking about caring for someone other than himself or herself and that is always a healthy stream of thought. Rather than post a list of things a guy can do to demonstrate that he loves his bride, I reflected on principles I’ve learned from influential church leaders and their healthy marriages. Perhaps you could do the same. There does appear to be connection between … [Read more...]
Weather poses an adventure of faith
Looking out the window the first week of January, I watched as the snow and swirling wind around the house created an eerie scene. It was cold – so much so that even the young at heart exercised caution. Some of our churches suspended Sunday worship services. As a pastor, I always hated not having a scheduled service because of weather. But there are times that warrant prudent caution over proceeding with what one might consider as normative. I read a post by pastor/evangelist Bill … [Read more...]
2014 means more intently focusing on our churches
Thom Rainer, president of LifeWay, gives us some powerful insight into why it is healthy for churches to look outside themselves for solutions to particular challenges. I asked him if I could share this word with you in my column, and he graciously agreed. Here’s what he said: “The pattern is conspicuous. Churches that are insular are not as healthy as churches that are regularly seeking outside perspectives. Of course, there will be exceptions. But, as a rule, those churches whose … [Read more...]
We all have a role to play as we cooperate in ministry
One of my favorite recollections of being with my dad was a cool morning in December. I may not get all the details right, but this is how I remember what took place. We were on Christmas break, and I was riding in my dad’s ’58 Ford pickup. As we approached a neighborhood intersection, we saw a little girl ride her bike out of a side street and into oncoming traffic. One of the cars ahead of us slammed on the brakes to miss the young girl. The driver was too late and ran over her and her … [Read more...]
Bible in the bird’s nest; support our missionaries
The Nov. 15 Wall Street Journal featured an op-ed from Melanie Kirkpatrick in which she tells about North Korean families fleeing that nation’s horrific violations of human rights and, specifically, religious rights. While the young dictator, Kim Jong Un, is intoxicated by his authority to wield the power of government over the millions in his country, there are those in his nation and in ours who believe there is a greater authority. Kirkpatrick tells the story of a believing family … [Read more...]
Sending a gift for disaster relief? Maximize your gift’s effectiveness with prudence
As I write today the images from Tacloban, Philippines, are unbelievable. Massive relief efforts are underway to assist those who survived the howling 200+ mph winds and the estimated 20-foot storm surge generated by super typhoon Haiyan. The death toll is rising. We all have seen the images of thousands of survivors attempting to leave the area where water, food and medical assistance evaporated within a matter of hours after the storm. Yet, the roads and flights into Tacloban and other … [Read more...]
God is moving, working in Missouri, let’s join Him
One essential part of an Annual Meeting is greeting the people we know and meeting new people who have joined us in our cooperative ministries. This year was no exception, as godly men and women gathered and fellowshipped. Sure, we had business to do, but this year it was obvious that we took away from the meeting a much deeper understanding of the ways of God. The meeting in Kansas City is now history. However, if you haven’t watched from the website the executive director’s address, … [Read more...]
Let’s celebrate the past and the present, too
I’m so glad the pastor invited me to participate in his church’s 190th anniversary. Can we even begin to imagine the kingdom impact of a rural congregation over the course 19 decades of ministry? Think about the total number of people saved and baptized or the number of Vacation Bible School cookies eaten on the premises or the total number of chickens that were fried for all the church luncheons. The numbers are unfathomable. The drive to this worship service was breathtakingly … [Read more...]
October: A great time to bless our pastors
Several decades ago a movement started to use October as a month to bless your pastor and/or staff members. According to Ephesians 4, a pastor’s role is to equip people in the church and encourage church members to reach their godly potential. This is both the most satisfying and daunting task you could ever imagine. A pastor can lead the flock of God but he cannot make the sheep consume all that God has for them. That is the role of the great motivator, the Holy Spirit. There are days in … [Read more...]
‘Woo pig! Soooie!’
There is a story about an Arkansas pig farmer told by Ron Dunn, the international Bible teacher and pastor of a previous generation whose message continues through his books and recently released biography. During the days of Ron’s boyhood, he and his family lived in Arkansas, where “hog calling” is an art form. You may have heard about the hog calling competitions where both men and women belt out at the top of their lungs, “Woo pig! Sooooooie! Woooooooo pig!” Now that the University of … [Read more...]