By Kyle McClellan

That is the spirit in which I hope to offer the following observations: I’m the fun uncle trying to help you not make a total hash of this wonderful and maddening vocation of ministry. If I sound like “get off my lawn guy” it’s unintentional, and probably due to a certain amount of fatigue that sets in when you’ve seen the same thing over and over for 4 decades of ministry (90’s-00’s-10’s-20’s).

By Brandon Scroggins

He reminded me that I am not God, but I do need to look to the One who is and simply take responsibility for what I could do. I felt like ten planets had been lifted from my shoulders with that sobering statement. I was challenged with this: “What if God truly is sovereign … and what if God is planning to use all of these unknowns with covid to do something in your life and church that He wouldn’t accomplish otherwise?” I was struck. And I was reminded that the Lord truly is my Shepherd and that He really does have the whole world in His hands. However, I still wrestled with many doubts.

By 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.

By Brian Croft

I am consistently asked about the circumstances surrounding weddings. What makes it permissible or not to conduct a wedding in ”this or that” situation? I am very aware that there are strong opinions and lively disagreements about whether an evangelical pastor should marry Christians, non-Christians, and everything in between. Certainly with recent decisions, the debate does not end there. Then you have to determine if it is wise to marry two Christians in “this particular circumstance” as opposed to “that particular circumstance.”

By 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.

By Brian Croft

My wife and I promised each of our children when they turned 13 years old, they would get to take a special trip with one of us. My son with me and each of my daughters with my wife. The purpose of these trips is to first have fun and enjoy each other’s company, which is why they each get to pick the destination (must be within a day’s drive) and determine much of the agenda.

By 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

By 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.

By 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.

By 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.

By 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.

By 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.

By 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.

By 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.

By 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.

By 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.

The 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.

Picture four pastors from America traveling to the southern Philippines together, working with persecuted pastors and spending a week in the jungle teaching biblical theology and equipping the local saints for ministry. Two of these men have never before traveled overseas and serve in churches that have never engaged in international missions. It can, does, and should happen. How, then, does a small church in a small town develop a commitment to the nations?

It 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.

A 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.