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The Dangers of Passive Leadership

I read a statement in a leadership journal that points to one of the dangers of passive leadership. The requote from Catherine Rymsha was given at the HR Specialist Summit this past year. She said, “The culture of any organization is shaped by the worst behavior the leader is willing to tolerate.” Pastors, as aContinue reading “The Dangers of Passive Leadership “

Leading Effectively in 2025

As we begin a new calendar year, it is a great time to think through one’s leadership priorities for the next 12 months. Every leader in Christian ministry, whether a local church pastor or an organizational leader, must care well for people, address emerging problems and advance the mission of their church or organization. KeepingContinue reading “Leading Effectively in 2025”

Year End Priorities

In his book “Leadership Gold,” John Maxwell challenges a long held personal development assumption. He writes, “What I had been taught all my life was not true: experience is not the best teacher! Some people learn and grow as a result of their experience; some people don’t. Everybody has some kind of experience. It’s whatContinue reading “Year End Priorities “

A Thriving Local Church

The Kentucky Baptist Convention is made up of 2,350 local and autonomous Baptist churches in voluntary cooperation to reach Kentucky and the world for Christ. What if all those churches were thriving churches? I recently preached revival services in a normative size Kentucky Baptist church. The church is rural in its geographic context. It hasContinue reading “A Thriving Local Church “

5 Ways to Take the Gospel to Every Kentuckian

There was a time in our not-too-distant history when most Kentucky Baptist churches scheduled a weekly time for outreach. We were then told that programs like that were no longer effective, but we instead needed lifestyle evangelism: church members sharing the gospel where they work, where they live and where they play. This shift inContinue reading “5 Ways to Take the Gospel to Every Kentuckian”

Living in the Fourth Quarter

I turned 60 on Nov.3, and was more excited about that pending birthday than any other since turning 16 or 21. The reason for the excitement is the potential for this season of ministry leadership. Those who are living in the fourth quarter have gained a lifetime of experience and should know themselves well enoughContinue reading “Living in the Fourth Quarter”

My Takeaways from the Annual Meeting

The 187th Annual Meeting of the Kentucky Baptist Convention is in the books. The KBC was organized in 1837 by churches for churches to help churches reach Kentucky and the world for Christ, and this year’s celebration continued to move that mission forward. Here are five takeaways from this year’s meeting. 1. Cooperation matters: ThisContinue reading “My Takeaways from the Annual Meeting”

Practicing Reconciliation

“A happy marriage is the union of two good forgivers.” That comment by Ruth Bell Graham, wife of evangelist Billy Graham, is a reminder that people can disagree, and that conflict is inevitable in most human relationships. When I am preaching in various churches, I often ask for a show of hands of those whoContinue reading “Practicing Reconciliation”

The Cooperative Program Serves Churches, Too

The Cooperative Program is the unified funding tool for Southern Baptist ministry and missions all over the world. Through the Cooperative Program, Southern Baptists fund more than 3,500 gospel missionaries in 155 countries, plant churches across North America, train more than 20,000 men and women for ministry through our six seminaries and respond to naturalContinue reading “The Cooperative Program Serves Churches, Too “

Reaching Your City or County

I think international missionaries have at least one advantage over local church pastors in the states. Don’t misunderstand—those who leave their homeland and loved ones to relocate to a foreign country as missionaries experience challenges that most of us will never know. Those challenges can only be met successfully by a clear call from GodContinue reading “Reaching Your City or County “