Praying for your witness
King Jesus has called all of us to be witnesses for Him. He told His first disciples, “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel” (Mark 16:15). The word translated “preach” simply means “to proclaim.” Unfortunately, many of us struggle to witness. I personally believe that our breakdown is primarily a breakdown in prayer. Consider four prayers we can pray to become more faithful and effective in this area. Pray for open doors. When...
Showing your appreciation to a multi-vocational pastor
Pastors are a gift from God to the church, and we should show our appreciation. Eph. 4:11-12 says “And He gave some to be… pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” Pastors and their families are dear to my heart because they are gifts from God to the church. It was a pastor of a small church who led me to the Lord, and it was a pastor who mentored me...
Powerful prayer: The power of student & parent prayer groups
In praying for students, revival history provides some encouraging lessons. The Second Great Awakening in America owed some of its beginning to students’ prayer groups. Though, at the time, college campuses were intensely anti-Christian. Small groups of students began to gather in prayer for a move of God. In some churches, godly pastors and parents were gathering to pray for spiritual awakening in their youth. Consequently, in the...
Not Reformed, But Transformed
Incarceration and prison reform have become hot topics in Oklahoma over the past few years, but not ones that have affected me personally. That changed dramatically when I met Sara (not her real name). She began attending our church and joined a “Step Study” in our newly formed Celebrate Recovery ministry. There was just something about Sara that drew me to her. We were total opposites. She was a tall Native American woman, and I’m a...
9/11: Security, protection & prayer
NASHVILLE (BP)—America has not been the same since September 11, 2001, when terrorists attacked our nation, resulting in nearly 3,000 deaths, 400 of which were first responders. A generation has been born since this horrible day in our history and we must never forget how that day changed America in our generation. Since this day, it seems that enemies within our nation and enemies outside of our nation have continually threatened the...
BAPTISM SUNDAY: Repent, believe & be baptized
EDITOR’S NOTE: Baptist Press is releasing a series of articles and columns leading up to Sept. 8, which is Baptism Sunday in the Southern Baptist Convention. For resources, go to namb.net/baptism-sunday. CLEARWATER, Fla. (BP)—Acts 2 says that Peter not only proclaimed the Gospel, he concluded with a clear call to repentance, faith and baptism. “Do it now,” Peter seemed to say. He “strongly urged” (CSB)...
