A Personal Word About My Dad and Our Home Church
For the last thirty-three years my dad has faithfully served as the pastor of Cranberry Baptist Church in Beckley, West Virginia. He and my mother have labored tirelessly to reach...
8 Signs of a Healthy Church
Tammy and I sat in a service recently and listened to believers in a local church give spontaneous testimonies. It was evident from what the people said that they had...
5 Lessons I’ve Learned
(The following article is by Chase Whitten. He is now serving as an associate evangelist with ETJ and assisting with a number of gospel projects. You may read more about...
No Substitute for Faithfulness
This week I have been speaking in a church in south Georgia. (Let me say that I am grateful it is not an outdoor meeting - it is hot!) In...
Dear Pastor – An Open Letter to Faithful Shepherds
Dear Pastor, The last two years have been full of challenges that none of us have ever faced and few of us could have imagined. The physical, emotional, and spiritual...
7 Ways You Can Help Your Pastor
During the month of October many churches celebrate a pastor appreciation emphasis. Other congregations do this during another time of year such as the pastor's anniversary or a special day...
3 Things Your Pastor Needs Now
Every week I speak with pastors who are trying to keep their local church moving forward in the face of intense opposition. Pastors are called on to feed and lead God's...
Regathering the Flock
Sometimes God scatters His people. This is seen in the early church when believers were scattered because of persecution (Acts 8:4). But there is a huge difference between the scattering...
4 Things You Can Do To Help Your Pastor At This Time
These are unusual days for everyone and unique days to serve in a church. Over the last few weeks I have spent a great deal of time talking and praying...
Thank God For The Shepherds!
In crisis hours we are all reminded of what is most important in life, and who truly watches for our souls. We are all living through a season that reminds...
This Is Not The Time To Rob God
First let me say that I am not a pastor. I do not have the responsibility of shepherding one flock and overseeing the needs of a local church. As an...
5 Things Every Church Member Can Do For Their Church Today
I rarely post on the Lord’s day, but this Sunday is an unusual day for many churches and church members. Social media has been filled this week with updates, instructions,...
Stop Blaming The Pastor
We all want someone to blame. When things go wrong in life - and they inevitably do - it is human nature to point the finger at someone else who...
Today Is The Deadline!
We are so excited about the Conference On Revival And Evangelism (CORE) , January 7-9, 2020. This is a powerful way to begin a new year of ministry. The theme...
In Honor Of Pastors
This month has been designated as "Pastor Appreciation Month" in many places. I am grateful to God for the faithful pastors who have influenced me. The Lord has used them...
Pray For A Preacher
Tammy and I are spending the day with a great group of preachers and their wives at The Preacher's Rest. I thank the Lord for calling me to be a...
A New Generation Of Deacons
A few days ago I had the joy of speaking in a local church to a group of deacons and their wives. It was a wonderful meeting of true servants....
GUEST POST: “The Pastor Is Not Supposed To Cry”
Pastors have their own hurts as they seek to help hurting people. A minister who cannot grieve does not have the heart of the Chief Shepherd. I thank the Lord...
GUEST POST: Virtual Solutions For Local Churches
Gayle Washington was a fellow-worker for many years in the ministry. Her burden is to help pastors and churches and the Lord is using her. She and her husband, Dave,...
Tribute to An Encourager
There are a few men who are admired by believers of all backgrounds. These are special men. Men who make an impact far outside their immediate realm of influence. They...
Praying for the Preacher
In January we began offering a free downloadable resource each month. (If you missed the first one, a 30 day prayer guide, you may access it here.) This month we...
The Kindest Thing You Can Do for Your Preacher
Recently someone asked me what the kindest thing was that had been done for me as I traveled from church to church. That was easy. Pastors and people have been...
Thank God for My Pastor
For the last two decades I have had the joy of being under the same faithful pastor. Recently I spent some time reflecting on what a joy it is just...
