The Kentucky General Assembly has many followers of Christ. These are men and women who love Jesus and have answered a call from God to endure the rigors of politics. They campaign, raise funds and sacrifice time away from their families and vocations so they can make laws and shape public policy in a way that promotes human flourishing. These brothers and sisters are a gift from God and are making a differenceContinue reading “Should You Run for Office?”
Tag Archives: church
Funding the Great Commission
“Massachusetts independent movie theatre turns 100 — and shows how to survive and thrive.” That was the headline from a Nov. 25 episode of a national radio show featuring The Capital Theatre in Arlington, Mass., identifying it as a success story in the context of 5,000 similar venues closing their doors since 2020. What did this theatre do differently from their movie showing peers? They provided good service, expandedContinue reading “Funding the Great Commission”
Ministering to Mr. or Mrs. No
‘Mr. or Mrs. No’ are fictional names of real people in many Baptist churches. They are people who possibly mean well but over time have developed a stranglehold on the growth and health of their church. They possess an outsized influence and people either like them, are afraid of them or are determined to overlook them. Mr. or Mrs. No make life difficult for pastors. Not because they always say “no” to everything the pastor wants to do, but because they have never learnedContinue reading ” Ministering to Mr. or Mrs. No”
I am thankful for…
Nothing changes one’s attitude like saying ‘Thank you.’ Giving thanks is the quickest route out of discouragement, anger, fear and so much more. The psalmist reminds us of our opportunities and responsibility to give thanks to God. “Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us comeContinue reading “I am thankful for…”
I Love the KBC
I love the KBC. While that is my sentiment, it is also what I hear back regularly and consistently from Kentucky Baptist ministry leaders and church members from across the state. Kentucky Baptists are enjoying a sweet season of unity, joy, provision and gospel impact. At the 188th Annual Meeting in Cold Spring weContinue reading “I Love the KBC”
Healthy, Faithful, Effective
I have had the honor of rubbing elbows with men and women I consider to be great leaders. Whether it be in Christian ministry, nonprofit organizations or business, these are leaders who lead with vision, energy and impact. But I never looked at leadership the way I heard a seminary professor describe it recently. InContinue reading “Healthy, Faithful, Effective”
Are You Important?
Unfortunately, many leaders in churches across Kentucky do not feel that they matter or that the church they serve is significant. But, when it comes to being part of the Kentucky Baptist Convention, every leader is important and every church matters. In fact, our daily prayer is that every church will be a thriving church,Continue reading “Are You Important?”
Why We Associate
On a recent Friday night, I was invited to bring a message of encouragement to an associational gathering of some of our finest pastors and their spouses. While it would seem odd for any of those pastors to get together to show appreciation for themselves, it was completely appropriate for their local Baptist association toContinue reading “Why We Associate”
Who Will Replace You?
I pastored a military church for 11 years and witnessed regular leadership turnover like I had never seen. While the average church may have an annual attrition rate of 10%, this church saw roughly 25% of its members leave each year — mostly by transfer to other military installations. That high turnover prompted us toContinue reading “Who Will Replace You?”
Leaders Need Anchors
My first real job growing up — apart from farmwork —was as a dock worker at a marina on Lake Barkley in western Kentucky. The job responsibilities included pumping gas for boats, dipping minnows for fishermen, taking out garbage and preparing fishing and sailboats for rental customers. When it came to preparing the rental boats,Continue reading “Leaders Need Anchors”
Dr. Todd Gray 