In 2020, as churches were coming out of Covid-related ministry adjustments and thinking about how ministry might look different moving forward, I remember a pastor friend saying that his church was going to need to raise up “persecution-proof disciples.” He was seeing changes on the cultural horizon and discerned the church might not be ready.Continue reading “Persecution-Proof Disciples “
Category Archives: Pastor helps
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”
We are Together for the Mission in Kentucky
Measuring the full impact of Kentucky Baptist churches working together to reach Kentucky and the world for Christ is impossible. Only heaven itself will reveal the full measure of our cooperative efforts. We do, however, get occasional glimpses of the fruit of churches working together to advance the gospel. Kentucky Baptists have a greatContinue reading “We are Together for the Mission in Kentucky”
These Men Can Preach!
The CAPS Program (Cumberland Area Pulpit Supply) at Three Forks Association in Hazard, Ky., was born 17 years ago out of a concern from two local pastors to raise up supply preachers for churches in their community. These pastors put together a one-year course that included a monthly meeting, a hot meal, an hour ofContinue reading “These Men Can Preach!”
The Pipeline
There are currently 303 Kentucky Baptist churches searching for their next pastor. These churches are located throughout the commonwealth and represent our unified effort to advance the gospel in Kentucky. Most of those churches are looking for a bivocational pastor and are discovering that are very few, if any, qualified men in their area toContinue reading “The Pipeline”
Marital Advice
Occasionally someone will ask me for marital advice. It’s most often not counsel on specific marriage issues, but rather marriage advice in general — something like, “What have you learned about marriage?” Connie and I have been married more than 31 years and we have a great marriage. We love each other and we enjoyContinue reading “Marital Advice”
Peer to Peer Relationships
Disciple-maker Waylon Moore was known for saying every Christian needs three people in his or her life: pacesetters, pupils and partners. A pacesetter is someone you are learning from who is living the Christian life in an exemplary manner, a pupil is someone you are helping to grow and a partner is someone running aContinue reading “Peer to Peer Relationships “
The Ministry Doldrums
There is an oceanic experience known as the doldrums, which refers to certain regions of the ocean marked by the absence of strong winds. Pastors and ministry leaders also experience what feels like ministry doldrums a season when the wind is not filling your sails and things feel flat. These can be discouraging times —Continue reading “The Ministry Doldrums “
Vacations Can Be Resets
Vacations are not only a great time for rest, relaxation and investing in important relationships, but they can also be a time of reset. To reset something, according to Webster’s dictionary, is to set again or anew. In life we need to occasionally reset our routines and vacations can be a strategic time to doContinue reading “Vacations Can Be Resets “
Who is God in Your Life?
On a recent Sunday, Connie and I were able to attend our home church together and reconnect with some of our friends. We heard a great sermon from Dr. Andy McDonald, who is serving as our interim pastor while we search for our next pastor. Bro. Andy introduced a sermon series from the Book ofContinue reading “Who is God in Your Life? “
Dr. Todd Gray 