Many Baptist churches schedule a homecoming each year. A homecoming service can be a great opportunity for a congregation to celebrate God’s past faithfulness over the congregation, recognize the present ministry of the church and look to the future in hopes that the best days of the church are ahead. Like anything else the churchContinue reading “Taking homecomings from good to great”
Tag Archives: prayer
Why attend the annual meeting?
There are few invitations easier to ignore than an invitation to a church business meeting. Not that the meetings are unimportant. In fact, the opposite is true. Church business meetings, or members meetings as some call them, are vitally important. Much good and important work is addressed at these meetings. Plans are made for theContinue reading “Why attend the annual meeting?”
Compare and Despair
Do you compare yourself to other pastors or leaders? If so, who is the object of your comparison? The person who comes to mind may reveal whether your battle with comparison is a struggle with pride or insecurity. Prideful people tend to compare themselves to others they view as lesser than themselves while insecure leadersContinue reading “Compare and Despair”
Healthy Reflection
Have you ever spent time reflecting on your ministry? In a recent gathering where Tod Bolsinger, author of Canoeing the Mountain, spoke, he began his time with the group by asking us to reflect on what we had heard from a previous speaker. Tod even shared a list of questions to begin our conversation. HisContinue reading “Healthy Reflection”
Stretched beyond repair
Have you heard the rubber band analogy? The idea is that a rubber band kept stretched out for an extended period will eventually lose its elasticity and never return to its original shape or strength. The point of the analogy is that leaders are like rubber bands. We cannot remain stretched out with busy schedulesContinue reading “Stretched beyond repair”
In this together
Ministry is lonely and friends are needed. However, many pastors struggle to build close friendships. A 9Marks article by Pastor Thabiti Anyabwile claims that 70% of pastors do not have someone they consider a close friend. This is both a tragic and startling statistic. Matthew Spandler-Davison, a Kentucky Baptist pastor in Bardstown, recently wrote anContinue reading “In this together”
The value of a good name
On a recent hot July day, a pastor and I went into his community to knock on doors and share the Gospel. We visited several homes, had engaging conversations, and shared the good news of Jesus with residents of nearly half the homes we visited. One of the highlights of the day happened at aContinue reading “The value of a good name”
Are you living an intentional lifestyle of evangelism?
While in Savannah, Georgia, a few weeks ago, I noticed a unique convenience store and wanted to stop in and check it out. I had prayed that morning, like every morning, for the Lord to use me as a witness for Jesus, but I was not mindful of that prayer as I walked in theContinue reading “Are you living an intentional lifestyle of evangelism?”
5 Ways to Celebrate Baptism
Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are abuzz with pictures of Kentucky Baptist Pastors baptizing new believers in Christ. Just this past week I saw snapshots—some on social media and others provided by friends—of a lady in Hopkinsville robed up, standing next to her pastor, and ready to enter the baptistry. I also saw a man inContinue reading “5 Ways to Celebrate Baptism”
Sharpening your axe
Ecclesiastes 10:10 says, “If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.” Do you find yourself working harder and harder in leadership with little increase in effectiveness? Many ministry leaders around Kentucky work diligently each week to further the gospelContinue reading “Sharpening your axe”
Dr. Todd Gray 