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”
Tag Archives: Evangelism
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”
Engaging in digital evangelism
For a guy who came kicking and screaming into the smart phone era, I never imagined myself engaging in digital evangelism. However, a recent lunch meeting with a sharp, forward-thinking Kentucky Baptist pastor changed my perspective. Digital evangelism is defined by the Center for Online Evangelism as “strategically using the internet, mobile and social mediaContinue reading “Engaging in digital evangelism”
In our own backyard
I recently met a young man in Kentucky who claims he never heard the gospel. I haven’t been able to get past that experience. Here’s how the interaction happened … I was doing front door evangelism with a Kentucky Baptist pastor when we came to this young man’s door. We knocked on the door andContinue reading “In our own backyard”
Learning from leaders
I learn more about ministry leadership by watching other leaders lead than I ever did in the classroom. I have always benefited from seeing others do something before I do it. I may not do it exactly the same way — but it gives me a pattern to follow. The Apostle Paul must have beenContinue reading “Learning from leaders”
REACH 2022 – A Big Hit
I have vivid memories as a 27-year-old pastor of attending a KBC Evangelism Conference. I remember feeling inadequate in my ministry position. But sitting with a crowd of preachers at Immanuel Baptist Church in Lexington, I heard some incredible preaching. One sermon focused on God’s unconditional love, and it met me right where I wasContinue reading “REACH 2022 – A Big Hit”
What will you improve?
I did it again. Even after saying I never would. I told a customer (in my former work in sales) that I was hoping to drop by his business next week if time allowed. What he heard was that I was planning to drop by next week. That poor communication was a bad habit IContinue reading “What will you improve?”
5 observations from a church anniversary
This past Sunday, Connie and I had the honor of attending the 10th anniversary service of Crossroads Baptist Church in Elizabethtown. What an exciting time to see a 10-year-old church that has survived its early days, only to thrive in its current ministry. The anniversary gathering contained all the elements of a typical Kentucky BaptistContinue reading “5 observations from a church anniversary”
Thank you, Kentucky Baptists
We just completed the 184th meeting of the Kentucky Baptist Convention held in Elizabethtown, Ky. This year’s meeting included an array of Crossover evangelistic events, the “Press On” Pastors’ Conference and — of course — the Annual Meeting itself. By all accounts, it was an incredible gathering of Kentucky Baptists. It felt like a timeContinue reading “Thank you, Kentucky Baptists”
Aging with grace
Last week I celebrated my 57th birthday. When I was in my early 50s, I remember having a conversation with a medical doctor that went something like this: He said, “Welcome to your 50s. There are three surprises coming your way. You will receive an invitation to join the AARP (American Association of Retired Persons).Continue reading “Aging with grace”
Dr. Todd Gray 