Leadership
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Pastors vs. Deacons: Brethren, This Should Not Be
The role of deacons in churches varies significantly, with healthy churches viewing them as supportive leaders and unhealthy ones seeing them as burdens. Properly serving deacons enhance a pastor’s ministry and promote church unity. Biblical definitions and duties emphasize their servant leadership, assisting the pastor while addressing practical congregation needs. Continue reading
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What David Platt Taught Us
On Sunday June 2nd as Pastor David Platt was near the end of the 1:00PM worship service at the McLean Bible Church in Virginia something very unusual took place. He received word that the president of the United States was on his way to the church. With the tragic events of the previous week in Continue reading
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Open Letter to the Wearied Pastor
I purposefully write this article to you on a Monday morning because that is when a wearied pastor needs it the most. Every pastor I know has at one time slouched in his desk chair on Monday morning feeling completely exhausted both mentally and physically. Sometimes you suffer from Monday fatigue because you had Continue reading
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5 Qualities of Effective Church Leaders
It seems these days I have become a professional observer. For years as a full time pastor, I was totally engrossed with my own church. I was aware of other great ministries and admired many great pastors, but I never had the opportunity to study them and find out what made them effective. When Continue reading
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Old Wineskin Baptist Church
One day some people said to Jesus, “John the Baptist’s disciples fast and pray regularly, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees. Why are your disciples always eating and drinking?”Jesus responded, “Do wedding guests fast while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and Continue reading
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How to Encourage your Church Staff.
“I want you to know how much I have agonized for you and for the church at Laodicea, and for many other believers who have never met me personally. I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s Continue reading
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When the Shepherd Fails what are the Sheep to do?
The fallout from the public release of Ashley Madison users continues. I have not personally viewed the list but I know those who have viewed it. It has come to my attention that guys that I know and have served with can be found on the list. Ed Stetzer estimates that over 400 pastors and Continue reading
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Myth Busters: Debunking the 5 Most Common Myths of Serving the Church
…from the whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which EVERY PART DOES ITS SHARE, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. -Ephesians 4:16 I admit that it really rubs me raw. The common excuses that I Continue reading
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The Greatest Sign of a Healthy Church may not be Baptism Numbers
How many baptisms has your church had this year? Pastors hear this question all the time. It is a figure that gets prominent attention when the annual church profiles are released each year. Pastors get bigger churches when this figure is up, they are more respected by peers and can even win denominational awards. Yet, Continue reading
About Me
I have been in ministry for 31 years serving in various capacities including senior pastor, youth pastor, education, and associate pastor. I serve at Samford University as Assistant to the President and Executive Director of the Ministry Training Institute. I am co-author of the book, Cultivate Disciple Making and my new book, Repairing the Missional Breach, will be released this summer. I received my Bachelor’s Degree from Samford, a Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and a Master of Theology from the Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. My D.Min project was in the area of church health and revitalization. I earned my Ph.D. from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. My dissertation title, An Analysis and Critique of Disciple Making Within Ecclesial Movements in the United States, 1970-2020, With a View Toward Implementing a Faithful New Testament Missio Ecclesia.
Dr Kevin Blackwell 