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”
Tag Archives: church
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”
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 “
Join Us in Paducah
On Nov. 10, Kentucky Baptists from across the state will begin gathering in Paducah for a variety of ministry-related activities, culminating in the 187th KBC Annual Meeting being held at Paducah’s First Baptist Church. Many from our state convention have been to more annual meetings than they can count, while for others this annualContinue reading “Join Us in Paducah “
Persecution-Proof Disciples
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 “
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 