I participated in two Cooperative Program celebrations in the past two weeks. One in Murray, Ky., at First Baptist Church recognizing the origins of the Cooperative Program and the other in Memphis, Tenn., commemorating its adoption by Southern Baptists nationally as our primary Great Commission funding tool. Both events were well planned and inspiring.Continue reading “Why celebrate CP?”
Tag Archives: pastor
Numbers Tell a Story
“Numbers do not tell the whole story about a church or Christian ministry, but they do tell a story.” I have heard those words vocalized for years by one of our well-known Kentucky Baptist leaders, and I agree with him. For instance, if a church has annual undesignated financial receipts averaging $400K per year andContinue reading “Numbers Tell a Story “
When Giving is Soft
Pastors and ministry leaders pay close attention to several numbers in their ministry leadership context. Two of those — worship attendance and financial giving — can serve as early warning signs of the health of a church or Christian ministry. What should pastors, elders and ministry leaders do when giving is soft in the churchContinue reading “When Giving is Soft “
God Honors Work
We are not saved by our work, but we are saved to do good work. Paul makes both points crystal clear in Ephesians 2:8-10. And God honors our work. Proverbs 12:11 reminds us, “Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense.” Since work pays off inContinue reading “God Honors Work”
Growing into Your New Role
I’ve never accepted a ministry position that — in the first six months — I didn’t want to go back to what I was doing before. In fact, if your new ministry position doesn’t require you to grow into it, then I wonder whether the Lord called you to that role. The Lord stretches HisContinue reading “Growing into Your New Role”
I Want to Pastor
It is not unusual for young men who serve on church staffs to reach a point in ministry and leadership development where they start thinking about becoming senior pastor of a church. Not every senior pastor has his first ministry experience in a church staff position, but many will. Others, however, discover along the wayContinue reading “I Want to Pastor”
When the Fruit Doesn’t Come
Here is some good news: God does not evaluate us by our fruitfulness, but by our faithfulness. God reminds us in 1 Corinthians 4:2 that, “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” Faithfulness in doing the right things consistently with trust in the Lord often leads to fruitfulness. But whatContinue reading “When the Fruit Doesn’t Come”
From Adversity to Action
Not all opportunities present themselves as such. One showed up recently as a record-setting snowfall, and a good dose of ice that canceled most church services in our neck of the woods. My home church did not cancel services (no judgment here for those who did cancel because it is always a difficult decision). Continue reading “From Adversity to Action”
Leading Effectively in 2025
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”
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 “
Dr. Todd Gray 