The Ministry Equivalent of Ford Making Ventilators

When the COVID-19 hit, much of our economy came to a screeching halt. While some industries have prospered, most have struggled. Due to the uncertainty of the coming months, Ford did something unexpected: they started making ventilators. When Henry Ford started the company back in 1903, he wasn’t anticipating an assembly line churning out ventilators, yet that is the reality

How Your Church Website Needs to Change

Your church’s website is important to how you will reach people. It is not the only way, but it is a very helpful way. I firmly believe that the gospel is the power of salvation to those who believe (Rom. 1:16). A church doesn’t need a website to reach people with the news of Jesus, but it is a fantastic

Don’t Pause During a Pandemic

Crises have a way of clarifying who we are. Trials do change us, but they often reveal us more than anything else. The same is true for churches and ministries. When trials come, the health of a ministry is clearly seen. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, I personally was in disbelief. “Surely this isn’t happening. No, we are going to

Leading Towards Regathering Practically

I was honored to discuss “Leading Towards Regathering Practically” with fellow pastors in South Carolina who are all also great friends. It was a part of the South Carolina Baptist Convention’s Advance Anyway podcast they have started during the COVID-19. As pastors, we need to learn from each other without pressure to conform to another’s plans. You are called to

Questions to Answer Before Reopening Church Gatherings

As a culture walking through the uncharted territory of an international pandemic, we know that we have to begin the process of reopening businesses, parks, restaurants, schools, and even churches. While plenty of measures have been taken to flatten the curve of the COVID-19, we all acknowledge that, at some point, we have to reverse operational trends, yet we must

Creative Quarantine Ideas for Your Church (That Actually Work)

I would have pulled out my notebook from seminary on how to lead a church through an international pandemic, but, like everyone else, I didn’t have that class. I am making it up as we go along. You are too. I have benefitted from hearing ideas from other places, and I thought maybe this list could help you. As a

Ministry Has Times to Plant and to Pluck

King Solomon wrote that life is full of differing seasons. A time to be born and a time to die.  A time to weep and a time to laugh.  A time for war and a time for peace.  Life provides the opportunity to walk through all of these polarized experiences. Like life, the ministry has differing seasons. In the ebb

The Right Person in the Wrong Spot

On January 13, 2020, Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow led the LSU Tigers to defeat the Clemson Tigers for the National Championship. As a Clemson fan, it was a disappointing loss but one that provided plenty of respect for the solid LSU team. They figured out how to get it done on both sides of the ball and had a

Marvelously Helped Until He Was Strong

The story in 2 Chronicles 26 is chilling. Uzziah is King in Judah who originally “set himself to seek God” (2 Ch. 26:5). It says that “God helped him” (2 Ch. 26:7) in many amazing tasks as king. And as “long as he sought the LORD, God made him prosper” (2 Ch. 26:5). But there arose a problem. This next line

10 Traits of Bad Staff Meetings

All of us have been present at bad staff meetings. Many of us have led bad staff meetings! Instead of accepting it as the norm, have you ever considered changing some things up to improve the time spent together? Whether your meetings happen at a company or church, poorly organized meetings can waste time and deplete morale. Your stressful meetings