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Increasing Diversity in SBC Churches
This past Sunday I had the pleasure of taking part in a Solemn Assembly hosted by a local Baptist Association. The gathering was special for many reasons, but the diversity of the participants and the audience was encouraging. On the platform were White, Black, Hispanic and Asian church leaders each sharing scripture and calling the Continue reading
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What Cancer CANNOT Do!
Over the past 3 weeks I have performed two funerals both involving people who received cancer diagnosis in the prime of their life. I have personally seen the devastating effects that this disease has on people and their families. I have been inspired by the determination of many who have faced treatments, surgeries, MRI’s and Continue reading
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Does your Church have Authentic Community?
“If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, sharing the same feelings, focusing on one goal. Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as Continue reading
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The Christian Dilemma: Balancing Grace and Truth
In 1997 pastor Ken Smith of University Reformed Presbyterian Church sat down and wrote a letter to the most unlikely recipient. Dr. Rosaria Champaign was a tenured English professor at Syracuse University and widely renowned as a scholar in feminist theory. Dr. Champaign was a lesbian, a LBGTQ activist and outspoken critic of the “religious Continue reading
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Lessons of a Failed Governor
During the 2010 Gubernatorial race I was intrigued by the dermatologist from Tuscaloosa on the Republican ticket, Dr. Robert Bentley. He seemed so un-political, so genuine and well, nice. He captured the hearts of many Alabamians with his clever slogan, “Alabama is sick and it needs a doctor” and his promise to not take a Continue reading
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A Cyrenian, a Criminal and a Centurion: The Power of the Cross
Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we 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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Overcoming Attendance Plateau
Every church has a life cycle. Aubrey Malphurs represents this by using the bell curve approach or as he calls it “the sigmoid curve”. The bell curve of church life involves a start (birth), growth, various levels of plateau, decline and eventually death. Everything has a life cycle, even churches. The key is to create Continue reading
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Why Plant New Churches?
This was a question posed to me in a phone conversation with an associational leader. I didn’t call him to speak about church planting, but I guess he just needed to vent. “I have many established churches that are struggling to keep their doors open. We need to focus more on revitalizing these churches and Continue reading
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The Greatest Miracle of Christmas
For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 This prophecy by Isaiah was given over 600 years before the birth of Christ. The titles listed for the 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 