FIRST-PERSON: Equipping the called
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP) – When only about 10 percent of the churches in your association are served by full-time pastors, you need a strong bench of biblically qualified men to fill the pulpits of the churches. That is the case with the Three Forks Baptist Association in eastern Kentucky, led by AMS Jamie Reynolds.
FIRST-PERSON: In our own backyard
I recently met a young man in Kentucky who claims he never heard the Gospel. I haven’t been able to get past that experience.
FIRST-PERSON: Compare and Despair
Do you compare yourself to other pastors or leaders? If so, who is the object of your comparison? The person who comes to mind may reveal whether your battle with comparison is a struggle with pride or insecurity.
FIRST-PERSON: An encouraging statistic
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP) – Seldom do I find statistical information encouraging. In fact, the opposite is usually true. But my reaction was strikingly different when Lifeway’s research director, Scott McConnell, shared with a group of leaders some statistical discoveries about churches from earlier this year.
FIRST-PERSON: Invite people to follow Jesus
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP) – Sometimes I know the best way to answer a great question about 30 minutes after the conversation is finished. That was the case recently when I was asked about an element of evangelistic preaching known as the invitation.
Warren Association: Reversing the Trend in Baptisms
With a few exceptions, annual baptisms reported by Kentucky Baptist churches have been in decline since at least 1980. In that year, Kentucky Baptist churches reported 20,457 baptisms.
