For a long while now, I have been praying for pastors — but maybe not in the way you might think. I pray for many pastors by name because some are facing ministry challenges. I pray for others seeking guidance on their current place of service. I pray for some who see great open doorsContinue reading “Praying for Pastors”
Tag Archives: Evangelism
Associations and Church Planting
Last week, while attending an annual meeting in a Kentucky Baptist association, I witnessed something I had never seen before. Half of the churches represented in the meeting had been planted in the past 10 or so years. The Purchase Area Baptist Association in west Kentucky has eagerly embraced church plants and church planting. Continue reading “Associations and Church Planting”
Benefits of a Scheduled Revival
I still remember attending revival services at Northside Baptist Church in Indianapolis, Ind. I was a 24-year-old Christian — excited about Jesus and His church. I looked for opportunities to be with God’s people and saw every gathering as a blessing. During that week of gathering, singing and preaching, we witnessed God move the heartsContinue reading “Benefits of a Scheduled Revival”
Mistakes I have made
Every pastor and church leader can sympathize with the first line of a Queen song which says, “And bad mistakes, I’ve made a few.” The number and severity of those mistakes may be commensurate with the number of years one has spent in vocational ministry. Many of us tire of hearing the success stories ofContinue reading “Mistakes I have made”
Flood discoveries
On Tuesday, Aug. 2, I toured as much of the southeastern Kentucky flood area as I could in one day — starting in Hazard and swinging through Hindman, Whitesburg, Neon, Martin, McDowell, Myra, Jenkins, Carrie and more. My sole purpose was to encourage pastors, leaders and Disaster Relief volunteers in the good work they areContinue reading “Flood discoveries”
As the flood waters recede: How to love your neighbors
Like me, many of you are watching the unfolding devastation of the flooding in southeastern Kentucky. As of the writing of this post, we know that the death toll has reached 35 and is expected to rise. Thirteen Kentucky counties received a disaster declaration allowing them to receive federal aid. Four hundred people were rescuedContinue reading “As the flood waters recede: How to love your neighbors”
Equipping the called
When only about 10% of the churches in your association are served by full-time pastors, you need a strong bench of biblically qualified men to fill the pulpits of the churches. That is the case with the Three Forks Baptist Association in eastern Kentucky, led by AMS Jamie Reynolds. In 2005, two local church pastorsContinue reading “Equipping the called”
Hispanic ministry stronger than ever in Kentucky
Did you know that there are many thriving Hispanic churches all across Kentucky? I had the honor of preaching at one such church recently in Mayfield, Kentucky. Primera Iglesia Bautista Hispania began as a ministry of First Baptist Mayfield and later became an autonomous church under the leadership of Pastor Jaime Masso. During the service,Continue reading “Hispanic ministry stronger than ever in Kentucky”
Rejoicing over 7,128 baptisms
This past year’s Annual Church Profile was just tallied, and Kentucky Baptists have reason to rejoice! With 77 percent of convention churches reporting, Kentucky Baptist churches baptized 7,128 professing followers of the Lord Jesus Christ this past year. That number is much lower than years past, but higher than the previous year. As churches continueContinue reading “Rejoicing over 7,128 baptisms”
She had never heard the gospel
She can see the church building every time she walks through her front door to get on the school bus, but she had never heard the gospel. The 12-year-old girl with four siblings lives in a mobile home a couple hundred yards behind the church building. I met her and her mother recently while doingContinue reading “She had never heard the gospel”
Dr. Todd Gray 