Not all opportunities present themselves as such. One showed up recently as a record-setting snowfall, and a good dose of ice that canceled most church services in our neck of the woods. My home church did not cancel services (no judgment here for those who did cancel because it is always a difficult decision). Continue reading “From Adversity to Action”
Category Archives: Leadership
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”
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”
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 “
5 Secrets to Ministry Longevity from a Seasoned Pastor
Many of us in ministry leadership are grieved by recent revelations of high-profile pastors who were discovered to have been unfaithful in their marriage. These discoveries continue to shock us and serve as a reminder that we are all in a battle against the flesh and the devil. The overwhelming majority of pastors, however, areContinue reading “5 Secrets to Ministry Longevity from a Seasoned Pastor “
Fear of Man
I heard a sermon 32 years ago that I have not forgotten. In fact, there has probably not been a year that has passed since then that I did not think about this message or at least its implications for my life. The sermon was preached by Evangelist Del Fehsenfeld Jr., founder of Life ActionContinue reading “Fear of Man “
Things That Make Us Pray
What drives you to your knees in prayer? A pastor friend said, as I was listening to him describe a remarkably difficult time in his pastorate, that this event was certainly causing him to pray, and in his words, “anything that makes you pray is a good thing.” While the analogy could be pushed tooContinue reading “Things That Make Us Pray”
Dr. Todd Gray 