Strengthen: Takeaways from a church revitalization panel
We recently had the privilege of hosting at Falls Creek a group of leaders from across the Southern Baptist Convention who are striving to assist churches in their state and regions in need of revitalization. I have had the opportunity to participate in this State Revitalization Network for the past four years and have noticed a common thread in our group. This is the thread: church revitalization is hard work, and there is a great...
Strengthen: Encourage church-wide Bible reading
As another year draws to a close, our thoughts naturally trend toward the celebration of the gift of God’s Son at Christmas. It’s a special time of the year that I pray will be blessed in your family and church. It is also a time of the year when we start to consider the New Year and what it has in store. In the life of the church, that often means new committees and budgets with new emphasis and initiatives. I want to challenge you...
Strengthen: How to communicate change
A couple of Sundays ago was a great day in my world. The church where I am currently serving as transitional pastor heard dynamic testimonies of how God is changing lives through the Celebrate Recovery ministry they sponsor. The church I previously served in called a new pastor with excitement and anticipation for the future. Leaders of the church I served prior to that were at an event where I spoke, sharing the good things God was...
Strengthen: CrossTimbers at 10
CrossTimbers Children’s Mission Adventure Camp stands on the shoulders of the rich legacy of Camp Nunny Cha-ha for girls and Camp Hudgens for boys and their heritage of teaching children the value of missions. In 2006, while I was serving on the BGCO board, as a pastor, I was asked to chair a task force to make recommendations regarding the future of the children’s mission camps. Both camps had experienced a decline in participation...
Strengthen: What pastoral candidates should ask
Last month I shared some questions that pastoral search committees should ask of candidates. This month I want to turn the tables and share some questions that I think pastors should ask of the committees. I heard a pastor say years ago that “all pulpit committees lie.” While I do not completely agree with that statement, I do believe that committees tend to paint a preferred view of reality. The people who are selected to serve in...
