Dr. Tim Searcy, former KBC president and Kentucky Baptist pastor, often tells the story of his call into the Christian ministry. He was 12 years old, attending the church where his father was the pastor. The church had scheduled a revival and one of the older deacons did some research on the last timeContinue reading “Is God Calling You?”
Tag Archives: prayer
Praying for Pastors
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”
Give Thanks Anyway?
One verse changed my perspective of hard times: “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). I came across these words during a particularly challenging time in my life, and they brought great comfort. I was hearing God say through His word that itContinue reading “Give Thanks Anyway?”
Where Do We Go from Here?
Where do we go from here? Sometimes that phrase is heard after a family tragedy, or an upending life or business event such as a divorce or bankruptcy. Many Kentucky Baptists and their neighbors were asking that very question after the historic west Kentucky tornadoes on Dec. 10, 2021, and the eastern Kentucky flooding thisContinue reading “Where Do We Go from Here?”
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”
What Happened Here?
Usually the question, “What happened here?” comes on the heels of a crisis — a natural disaster, an automobile accident or a puppy left alone for too long in its owner’s kitchen. In this case, it has to do with a Kentucky Baptist church. Viney Fork Baptist Church of Tates Creek Association, in the SpeedwellContinue reading “What Happened Here?”
Do not believe everything you read
We may never know who first said, “Do not believe everything you read,” but we can be reasonably sure the person was trying to correct some erroneous print piece about something important. Just recently, I reached out to a national leader after seeing a blog post accusing him of heretical beliefs. I shared the articleContinue reading “Do not believe everything you read”
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”
Pray for Christians in politics
Kentucky has many outstanding Christian legislators, both in the House and the Senate. Kentucky Baptists will be pleased to hear that several of them are active members of KBC churches. These legislators are involved in politics because they believe they can pass laws that honor God and are good for people. I applaud these menContinue reading “Pray for Christians in politics”
Preventing sexual abuse in the local church
It is hard for many Kentucky Baptists to imagine that sexual abuse could happen in their church. Churches are places where strong, healthy and trusting relationships are developed with other redeemed people and where we are taught to believe the best about one another. However, anyone who has watched the news or read aContinue reading “Preventing sexual abuse in the local church”
Dr. Todd Gray 