By Garett Wall
Pastors and church leaders must first understand the need for intentional ministry for individuals and families impacted by disability so that we can share the hope we have in Jesus Christ. If we don’t believe there’s a need, then we won’t see a reason to take action. In this article Garrett gives 4 practical and biblical ways pastors and churches can better serve individuals and families with disabilities.
Read MoreBy Garett Wall
There are many factors contributing to this failure by our churches today. It likely begins with the lack of biblical theology on the topic of disability, which minimizes the level of appreciation for God’s plan and purpose for our friends with disabilities. There may also be an absence of understanding and empathy for the challenges, demands, and limits encountered in day to day life for individuals and families impacted by disabilities.
Read MoreBy William Marshall
While praying, the Lord gave me a crazy idea: what if we merged our churches together? I knew that Kenny and I were very like-minded in our beliefs (in fact, I hadn’t found anything that we disagreed on), so I thought that could work. But being like-minded and joining our congregations together were two different things. Even so, I felt like I should at least bring it up and see what he thought.
Read MoreBy Brian Croft
It is helpful for pastors to look back and recall the impact of the people who personally invested in them, who spoke God’s word to them and taught them about ministry.
Read MoreBy Brian Croft
I’ve spent most of my adult life hating silence—and didn’t know it. It was a major blind spot. I always dismissed my desire to be with people and avoid being alone as being an extrovert and loving people. I excused my talkative nature to my heightened relational instincts. These qualities also seemed to help my interactions with people as a pastor, so I thought nothing more of it. It wasn’t until I began my own counseling journey out of a personal crisis where I was confronted with this long-held deception in my life
Read MoreBy Jon Hawkins
“But I spoke hastily. We must not be hasty. I have become too hot. I must cool myself and think; for it is easier to shout stop! than to do it.” Heed the words of the wise Ent and don’t be hasty lest you have unintended consequences from acting in haste.
Read MoreBy Brian Croft
I am writing to share with you an exciting update on my plans to move into a full-time ministry role with Practical Shepherding. This ministry continues to grow and expand in many amazing ways. As a result, I believe I should take what seems to be a strategic opportunity to commit myself to this important ongoing work fully. Therefore, after much prayer and counsel and with the support of my family, my fellow pastors of Auburndale Baptist Church, and my Practical Shepherding Board of Directors, I believe that this is the right time to move forward with this decision.
Read MoreBy Jon Hawkins
As I’ve reflected on the last 6 years, I’ve been amazed to see God’s grace and faithfulness. No we haven’t experienced dramatic numerical growth or expanded to multiple campuses but we have grown in health. I’ve thought back on what I wish I had known walking into this and that is the genesis of this series of articles. 6 reflections on 6 years of church revitalization.
Read MoreBy James B. Carroll
There is no “ideal” profile for a church planter. A church planter is a pastor who invests his time and energy to till new soil, plant fresh seed, cultivate growth, and celebrate a harvest.
Read MoreBy Brad Walker
Did I kill my sending church? This is a complicated question, one that can hardly be answered in a quick yes or no. Before I attempt to answer that and provide some lessons that we’ve learned, a little background.
Read MoreBy Brad Bell
Right now there is a buzz about churches and sending. Although missions involvement over the past few decades for many churches has simply looked like donating money, things are starting to move in an exciting way. Pastors and churches are recognizing there’s more to God’s mission than “Pay, pray, and stay out of the way.” It’s an exciting twist in the narrative of the church and missions.
Read MoreBy Brian Croft
Pastors and aspiring pastors, a church not having folks your age in the church generally should not be a deal breaker. In fact, you and your faithful energetic ministry may be exactly what God uses to turn the church around. But, make no mistake, it is hard, hard work.
Read MoreBy Brian Croft
How does a fast work? The simplest way to explain it is to say that the moments we inevitably feel unfulfilled hunger pains of food should instead move us to pray. We translate our natural hunger for food, which is necessary for life, into prayer. Our physical yearnings are transferred into spiritual hunger for God, for the life we have in him, and for him to do what only he can do.
Read MoreBy Matthew Spandler-Davison
There are two key factors that often lead to a pastor’s short tenure: loneliness and a feeling of ineffectiveness. As our association was revitalized, pastors began to pray for each other. We’d meet, often informally, for lunch or breakfast, simply to check in with one another.
Read MoreThe antidote to much pastoral discouragement can be found in deliberate and purposeful fellowship with other pastors. Not just any pastors, but likeminded pastors. Fostering this kind of fellowship was our aim when 3 other pastor friends and I started a pastoral fellowship eight years ago, which we now call the Pastoral Fellowship for Practical Theology. In this article I will explain how we started this fellowship, who we intend to bring together, what we hope to accomplish, what our meetings consist of, and the fruit we’ve seen so far.
Read MoreIt is a common scenario. You move to a new area. You get settled at your new residence and job. You get the kids settled in school. Where you settle in a local church often times becomes a longer, more drawn out task. After checking out all the churches you desire to visit, here are 4 questions to ask yourself as you narrow the search to make a decision.
Read MoreA simple and straightforward answer to this question…yes. There are no caveats and no disclaimers. Just, yes. Take a day off each week. Here are a few reasons I feel so strongly about this.
Read MoreI recently realized that I have come to use the term “revitalization” as a means of insulating myself from failure and isolating myself from my flock’s imperfections. This realization has brought me face-to-face with my own failures and imperfections. What happens when your ministry philosophies fail to be the magic bullet you had imagined? What happens when you employ best practices and wise council with fruitless and even adverse results? What happens when you have to face your own inabilities and short comings?
Read MoreSome pastors go way over the top, while others do nothing trying to make a statement about how church is not a place to celebrate your country, but worship God. Regardless where you find yourself on this spectrum, most churches have men and women who have served in the military who are present on Sunday. How does a pastor encourage these members in his church?
Read MoreA widow is a unique lady who, now that her husband is gone, not only has this once very special day (wedding day)transformed into a very painful day, but has also added another anniversary to her annual calendar—the anniversary of her husband’s death. Both become very painful days, days which pastors and the church need to be aware are coming in the lives of the widows in their care
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