‘…And still there is room’
I recently posted a baptism challenge to our Oklahoma Baptists youth ministry network. You may be aware, but in a recent report released by the North American Mission Board, youth baptisms since 1999 have declined in Southern Baptist churches by an average of 38 percent annually. Our Oklahoma numbers over that time tell a similar tale. Declining rates are not great news, but there exists an opportunity to change the direction of the...
4 reasons church leaders can’t afford to neglect rest
I grew up in a great church. When I reflect on my childhood and church youth group years, I have fond memories. So when God called me into ministry, I saw it as a positive. Even 20-plus years later, I have an exceptionally fond view of ministry. However, one area that has been a struggle in my ministry journey is taking time off to rest and pray. Looking back at my early years in ministry, I didn’t have a healthy model of time...
Becoming a person of prayer
Years ago, God put questions on my heart that changed my prayer life. First, I asked myself, “What would happen if I prayed more and did other things less?” What if I prayed more and slept less, checked the news less or watched television less? Today, I might also ask: “What if I prayed more and followed social media less?” Next, I considered: “Is there any area of my life that would suffer if I prayed more?” Would more prayer make me...
3 basic ways to care for the lonely
It’s rare that people will come right out and share that they are lonely. Perhaps, for some, it might seem needy—and unfortunately neediness is a taboo in our society. Yet, didn’t Jesus come for the needy? If we are honest, we are all needy. We are all longing for something else, something better. We have eternity planted on our hearts (Eccl. 3:11). We know that there’s a better future ahead—something lasting. Our understanding that...
