James A. Cress

Public evangelism is under attack. Too of ten we hear the same cry: "New members don't stick—they're here today, gone to morrow." "Schedule that crusade in some other church." "Most baptisms are hurried." "We are spending more and getting…

Recently I asked a group of collegues to reflect on the Year of the Pastor by contemplating the question: What is the fear of the pastor? Their responses show "the hopes and fears of all the years."

• / wonder…

New Members Need...

James A. Cress

• Acceptance.

The new birth produces spiritual infants. Even at baptism, members are not spiritually mature, nor should we expect them to behave…

I believe in literature ministry. I've served as a literature evangelist (LE), presented training classes and motivational seminars for LEs, and worked closely with LEs in pastoral and evangelistic work. In fact,…

And I saw another an gel . . . having the everlasting gospel to preach ... to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people" (Rev. 14:6). Although I have preached these words and prayed for the results, I'm not certain I ever dreamed…

Like ripples from a rock dropped into a quiet pool, the trauma of clergy sexual misconduct spreads well beyond the personal life of those directly involved.

The toll, of course, is heavy for the one who has…

Love deserves better than the gutter. But there it was right in the filth of the streets. Last January, Sharon and I received invitations to attend the inauguration of the President of the United States. It was exciting to join the thousands…

Some believe pastoral visitation is dead. However, when members describe qualities of the ideal pastor, they typically list visitation as a high priority.

While societal trends may change expectations, most…

All pastors are busy. Some are too busy. I was busier than Jesus.

Now, don't castigate me for blasphemous presumption: how could I could be busier than the Creator of the universe? Well, I am not the only one who has found himself…

Jesus called them one by one—Peter, Andrew, James, and John. These disciples in turn called others to ministry. Recruitment to the gospel ministry was one of the earliest tasks of the Christian church.

How is a person called to ministry?…

When Jesus likened evangelism to fishing, He probably wasn't thinking of a line on a pole dropped into a quiet stream with a bit of attractive bait. Jesus envisioned winning great numbers---the gospel going to the…

Have you ever been held hostage by slander, surmisings, suspicions, misunderstandings, or circumstances beyond your control?

Whether it is the extreme ordeal of an untrue accusation of murder, as was faced by an Australian pastoral…

Your church school's success depends on your personal sup port. Pastors have both the privilege and the responsibility to pro mote Christian education. As this school year concludes, now is the time to help make next…

Why did you preach last Sabbath's sermon? Did you expect your listeners to do something in response? Or were you just filling the time between offering and benediction?

Perhaps it's time we rethink preaching. Perhaps the times demand…

The same commandment that instructs us to keep the Sabbath also tells us to work six other days. If God is so interested in our use of His holy day, He also wants us to utilize effectively our ordinary days.

Even…

Earthquake! If the word sounds ominous, the experience is even more so. At 4:31 a.m., January 17, Sharon and I were nearly thrown off our hotel bed. During the next few seconds of horror we simultaneously held each…

I was the proverbial hot water. That should have come as no surprise. Had I been alert, I would have known I was in trouble even before arriving home two hours later than promised. Worse, the difficulty was not my wife's intolerance of the…

It happens every time we preach a sermon, every time we conduct a Bible study, even every time we tell a story to the cradle roll toddlers. We are being evaluated. All day long and everywhere we go, people who know…

Long-term benefits from 1993' s Year of the Pastor largely depend upon whether church leaders intentionally increase their encouragement of pastors. Try the fol lowing suggestions:

Pray for pastors.…

How am I doing?" Everywhere he went Ed Koch would question his constituents. As a politician the former mayor of New York City wanted instant feedback from the people who mattered most the ones who would vote for…

I collect Noah's Arks and interesting quotations. My collection of arks, on display in the Ministerial Association Office, has become a favorite stop on the General Conference tour. I hope some of my favorite quotations…

The condition of those who are lost is not always apparent. Three parables in Luke 15 deserve a closer study, as several areas of our world field launch an intensive search for former and inactive members.

Although their individual…

My friend and colleague, Eldon E. Carman, who directed the Adventist dental mission program for many years, recently discussed his postretirement ministry of counseling HIV-positive individuals.

Comparing…

When  I heard that 1993 had been designated the Year of the Pastor, my initial reaction ran along the lines of wondering if this was some new method to extract more work from the most overextended group of professionals that I know anywhere.…

What do pastors most need to accomplish their ministry? After personal spirituality—a daily walk with Jesus Christ—I would suggest the next essential is common sense.

The very term, common sense, is an oxymoron…

Diligent personal work and the Holy Spirit's role in the con version process are sometimes obscured as we focus on technology, human ingenuity, and bright light ideas that spring to our minds.

As at least…

"Being the featured speaker for a 10 meeting evangelistic series (October 20-28) among the people of Pusan, Korea was one of the most significant experiences of my life," says Will Eva, our newly appointed editor of Ministry magazine.

Pusan…

What do Adventists read? Monte Sahlin, assistant to NAD president Al McClure, has surprising answers. Monte gathers data for the division, and his surveys show that:

• 62 percent of American Adventists state that they receive…

Abuse. The word is so ugly that we want to believe it could never happen in our church. But it does—in every denomination, including ours.

Adults are the victims of some abuse. More often, however, children are the targets. Child…

"For by grace you have been saved . . .not of works, lest any one should boast" (Eph. 2:8, 9, NKJV).

Long before television's The Waltons popularized the angst of a college-age writer, I experienced the agony and ecstasy…

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. So…

That's right! When the goals of Global Mission are fully understood, the only possible hope that we have for accomplishing this great challenge is to abolish the laity altogether. Before you dismiss this idea as radical…

The Seventh-day Adventist Church is entering a new and exciting ministry of rekindling the hope that Jesus brings. Ray Dabrowski, director of communication for our world church, says, "In 1996 Seventh-day Adventists…

What do your symbols say? Christians have always employed meaningful symbols to describe their faith, to identify their understanding of mission, to embrace an ideal, or to rally the faithful to spiritual warfare.

Likewise,…

"The Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two" (Luke 10:1).

When Jesus sent His disciples out two by two, His pairing of partners was more intentional than accidental. "None…

"Much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary; and those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour" (1 Cor. 12:22,…

The axiom is accurate! One thing you can depend upon is that things will change. Currently our Ministerial Association is under going quite a change of personnel which couples the pain of saying fare well with the joy of welcoming new team…

When desiring to encourage, or even to mandate, increased Scripture study, pastors and evangelists everywhere have utilized Paul's admonition to the young minister. With typical proof-text fervency, we have used the…

Herb Larson, Jr., is an industrial design engineer, musical composer, arranger and performer, educational consultant, artist and illustrator (see our cover).

He is also a church planter. Recently I talked…

What destroys leadership? A boring committee meeting recently turned into a gold mine when a group of leaders turned from the routine to focus on issues that destroy leadership. Their points were enhanced by practical…

Admittedly, preaching on stewardship seems only slightly more exciting than watching grass grow. We pastors too quickly assume that little new light can be brought to a biblical topic that seems so crystal-clear, and we erroneously conclude…

During the Wyoming camp meeting, I was privileged to meet with the Junior group who used Noah's ark as their theme. They shared their enthusiasm with me, just as many of you have shared your favorite quotations to help my collection of quotes…

It is rare for me to address the same issue three times in a single year. However, in response to my previous articles (June and July 1998), a former denominational financial officer, well-versed in retirement issues…

Preaching the Word of God is life changing. As I write this column, I have recently completed presenting a series of public evangelistic meetings on the great themes of Scripture. About two dozen individuals responded…

"And worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the fountains of water" (Rev. 14:7, RSV).

As a people who understand the importance of worship in the prophetic context of last-day issues,…

The largest printing project in the history of the Review and Herald Publishing Association will offer The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary to workers in economically challenged areas. Commissioned by the General Conference…

"All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth" (Matt. 28:18).

Since Jesus first uttered those words, His followers have tried to appropriate some of this power for themselves. Jesus' own disciples…

The gospel's account of Jesus healing the demoniac of Gadara offers some fascinating insight into human nature. People resist change. People resist change even for the better.

Consider the demoniac. He lived a hellish existence. He…

If we build it, will they come? If they come, will they stay? If they stay, will we run them off? Adventists are preparing to launch another evangelistic thrust via satellite downlink, our greatest such project in…

A sermon is one of the most important parts of the Sabbath worship hour. It brings the Word of God to His people. It mediates a message, offers comfort, directs lives, and shows meaning for the present as well as the future. Yet how often…

Recently I listened as several administrators debated whether they could extend the scheduled cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA) increase to their pastors in view of shrinking tithe income. I know pastoral families desperately need this small…

Over the years, I have had the privilege of observing some pastors who retire with grace and others who make a disgrace of this transition. Some ministers eagerly approach retirement with well-tailored plans while…

Who is the Adventist woman of the nineties? She is full-time mother, job holder, struggling single parent, widow, handicapped, spouse of a nonbeliever, single, financially secure, impoverished, divorced, abused, foster parent, church leader,…

When one leader, who has never served as a pastor, recently suggested that there are no expectations for pastoral spouses, it is appropriate to ask whether we should we lower our expectations?

Have we really…

1997 my collection of Noah's arks has grown and continues to be a favorite stop on tours of the General Conference headquarters. My quotation collection has also expanded, and I share a number of my favorites with you at this year's end.

"You…

Are we free to pick and choose what inspired counsel we will follow and what we will ignore?

For over one hundred fifty years, Adventists have affirmed the gift of prophecy given to our church through the…

AIthough Seventhday Adventists do not ordain women to the gospel ministry, more than 200 women serve in pastoral and ministry leadership roles throughout the world. In fact, not one division of the church is without women functioning in some…

Recently I sat down with a group of colleagues to discuss how to build trust. We divided our work into two topics: (1) the qualities of a trustworthy individual and (2) the qualities of a trustworthy organization. Whether conference or congregation,…

In the fireplace of life, Spangler is pure cedar. Cedar catches fire quickly and burns brightly. And so does Bob. His creative genius and burning enthusiasm will be greatly missed by all of us as he enters retirement." So wrote Robert Spangler's…

Are you trustworthy? Recently I sat down with a group of colleagues to discuss how to build trust. We divided our work into two topics: the qualities of a trust worthy individual and the qualities of a trustworthy organization. Characteristics…

Preacher's Kids (PKs) are special people! As a PK myself, I can describe benefits and challenges of growing up in a pastoral family from my own experience.

Because both my brothers and Sharon's sister have…

Ministerial Association secretary James A. Cress recently sat down with his former boss and mentor, Don Gray, to discuss how new technological advances can improve our presentation of the gospel.

Jim: Don, when I began public…

Perhaps the assertion that I truly enjoy raising money sounds strange. However, the fact is, I find real joy when inviting others to give generously to a program or project in which I believe.

Early in my ministry I had the privilege…

A "preacher's kid" myself I always thought I knew just how PKs ought to be raised. However, since I am not a parent, I have seldom acted on my inclination to advise pastoral parents how to raise their children best.

Over recent years…

How do you handle hate mail when the senders are too cowardly to identify them selves? Recently three people filled their pens with poison and targeted me. Praise God! At least when they were attacking me they were not after you. But although…

People in crises turn to pastors. But what happens when pastors or their spouses find themselves in trouble?

During our recent World Ministers Council in Australia, Archibald Hart of Fuller Theological Seminary identified five crises…

No doubt he would have gone far if he had not gone bad. He had unlimited potential, except for the tragedy he inflicted upon himself.

Humble origins were betrayed by high-octane ambitions. He grew up in a humid little backwater, a…

"All politics are local." So said Tip O'Neill, former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. The same is true for the church. Effective, life-changing ministry occurs in local congregations, not bureaucratic structures or committee…

At our creation, Jesus took a great risk to grant humanity freedom of choice. That risk, of course, meant that we might choose slavery to sin over freedom. Unfortunately, we made the wrong choice, and one on going consequence of our rebellion…

When the Frederick, Maryland, Adventist Church suffered a tragic electrical fire and their building burned to the ground, a neighboring congregation, the Church of the Brethren, graciously offered the use of their…

In pastoral and evangelistic work, I was often requested to provide a summary of Adventist beliefs. A book, even one as excellent as the Ministerial Association's own Seventh-day Adventists Believe, seemed too ponderous.

I had also…

These two women could not have been more different. Mary K. was a pastor's wife. Karla Faye was an ax murderer. Mary K. was a woman of virtue. Karla Faye was a woman of violence.

For nearly 60 years, Mary…

More than a half million free copies of the Danish New Testaments were given away in just 10 days in a massive interfaith project timed to coincide with the celebration of Copenhagen as the 1996 European Cultural Capital.

This project…

Just when you thought you had lived through all the millennial hype and hysteria, those clever marketers discover that December 31 does not really usher in the third millennium.

Instead, the new year will dawn, along with the realization—"how…

Flash: Pastor of major Adventist church leaves denomination to establish a new congregationally based church, and half his members leave with him.

Flash: Pastors of multiple-church…

Every individual we associate with is surrounded by issues or activities that preoccupy their thoughts and prevent our communication from getting through. Such issues may include work, health, study, family problems, entertainment, sports,…

What a convention! Imagine!  Really prioritizing pastors. South American Division (SAD) leaders recently conducted a week-long consultation and training process for ministerial secretaries, shepherdess coordinators, and administrators from…

I've got to show you something, pastor," Joe exclaimed as he unrolled a long strip of paper across my desk. On it he'd drawn an elaborate time line of prophetic events, from ancient times to the present and well into…

Behavioral sciences have demonstrated that humans typically act according to five basic motivations: money, recognition, self-preservation, romance, and achievement.

All of us have each of these basic motivations present in our daily…

Colleagues who specialize in youth ministry assure me that any church determined to reach their children and youth can make a real difference, not by producing ever more sensational spectator programming, but by involving…

When Jesus sought leaders, He looked beyond externals and considered potential more important than pedigree.

Pastors have the great privilege and responsibility to discover and recruit the very best laity leaders (elders, deacons,…

What is your idea of a church library? From my view point, the typical church library consists of a shelving unit, small cupboard, or locked, antique bookcase filled with a few dusty old books which someone once "donated" to the church.

In…

Are you ready to die?" When my colleague and long-time friend, Harold Baasch, confronted me with this question, I initially thought he was enquiring about my salvation.

My response was quick and blessedly…

What are your responsibilities for the future stability of those marriages at which you officiate?

The greatest impact a pastor can make on the establishment of a new family is prior to the wedding ceremony during premarital counseling.*…

Who among us wouldn't jump at the opportunity to expand our staff. We would readily prepare a proposal for our judicatory committees and eagerly await release of treasury funds to increase our pastoral team.

Since the likelihood of…

Perhaps no evangelist in history has preached to more people in more countries than Billy Graham, who, during more than a half century of public ministry, has avoided even a hint of scandal or impropriety.

When…

Along with Peter Prime, our new Associate, I recently was privileged to participate in a historic ordination service, the first-ever on the Caribbean island of St. Maarten.

The conference president, Jansen Trotman, and his team constructed…

Jesus' generosity toward sinners out raged the establishment of His day just as quickly as this column will aggravate some religious practitioners today.

In fact, Jesus' grace was so extravagant that He expressed…

The letter made my day! A colleague whose ministry I've observed for over fifteen years recently submit ted the names of 100 fellow pastors to receive a complimentary subscription to Ministry.

He wrote, "I have been in this…

Whenever inter act with pastoral colleagues, I learn much more than I teach. In fact, I discover fresh approaches to ministry wherever I find pastors. I hope these good, practical ideas will awaken excellence in pastoral…

Typically, we fear something new and different for those very reasons. All humans embrace the familiar and routine and resist that which challenges our comfortable, long-established patterns. “After all,” we reason, “we have always done it…

During the early 1950s in segregated North Carolina, for a black minister and a white minister to become friends was perhaps not unheard of, but certainly unusual.

As a child, I watched my father and his pastoral colleague, Edward…

During October in many areas of the world, churches of all denominations honor their pastors for faithful ministry. Typically, this involves a public acknowledgment of gratitude during the worship service or even the presentation of an appropriate…

Thirty years ago, June 7, Jesus gave me the greatest gift beyond His saving grace. Sharon be came my partner in marriage, ministry, mischief, and mission.

Because Sharon likes flowers, I often plant rose bushes…

Memorial Day, America’s first of the summer holidays— celebrated at the end of the month of May—is a time to remember our fallen soldiers, share family reunions, and enjoy picnics, baseball, popcorn, and the arrival of summer’s warm weather.

This…

During our first years of ministry, my wife, Sharon, and I were invited to associate on a short-term assignment with a veteran evangelist who would teach us the finer points of obtaining spiritual decisions. We eagerly planned for the six…

Whether the church has a large membership with a pastoral staff or is a small church with a pastor and local church elders, a team effort becomes necessary to have a successful ministry. Although they are colleagues in sharing the gospel,…

During the course of a grading period, students receive periodic assessments from their teachers. These progress reports accomplish two purposes: they tell the students what they’ve accomplished thus far, and they help the students to see…

Most pastors would affirm the great need for revival in their churches. Few, if any, pastors or lay leaders would describe their congregations as experiencing all that God intends.

The question becomes, How…

You cannot visit all the members all the time. The reality of overcrowded schedules and overstressed ministers often leaves an awesome expectation gap between intention and reality.

In my own family, for example, immediately following…

We pastors seldom visit too much. Only once did I know a pastor who overvisited—from first thing every morning until too late into the evening. His colleagues often repeated jokes about his reputation for visiting at such odd hours,…

Your congregation needs some big deals—events that highlight the presence and ministry of your church.

This concept may offend some individuals who see no justification for the church to use marketing principles.…

Today, January 20, as I watch the inauguration of President Barack Obama, I recall the anecdote about the Hispanic kid returning from his first-ever ball game to proudly report, “Mama. They were singing about me at the game. They were singing…

As we launch this year of evangelism, we must confront the reality that many who once worshiped with us, now, for a variety of reasons, no longer fellowship with our church, or any other denomination. While we emphasize reaching the lost-sometimes…

Scriptures compare the outpouring of the Holy Spirit to rain; special, abundant quantities of the Spirit preparing the soil for harvest. Consider dedicating the beginning of this new year to leading your congregations in special prayer—thirty…

The hatred that welled up within me was shocking. I could not believe that I could despise total strangers with such vehemence.

As I stood in the grocery check out line behind parents and their two rambunctious…

We could do nothing more appropriate for the new year, or any new venture for that matter, than to call our congregations together in prayer.

In our last pastorate, we launched each new year with a Call to…

Taking the denomination's name to the public is part of the evangelistic arm of the Church. There is power in the name of our church. "The name Seventh-day Adventist carries the true features of our faith in front and will convict the inquiring…

Will the world listen differently now? Believers have always been called to preach in the face of unspeakable evil; to confront the worst wickedness, to proclaim good in the midst of bad news, and to offer a message…

Who is responsible when towers topple? In tragedy's aftermath, we seek to explain the unexplainable.

Unfortunately, even some clergy plunge into speaking without carefully studying…

A falsehood can run around the world before truth can even get its shoes on. Some people perpetuate prevarication just for the joy of saying something sensational. Others strategically plan to deceive. Untruth need…

Nearly thirty years after seminary my favorite professor gave me a new assignment. A few months ago, Dr. Raoul Dederen asked me to write about the Handbook of Seventh-day Adventist Theology, Volume 12 of the commentary…

A few months ago I was asked to email a brief philosophy of ministry to be shared with seminary students. The request directed that my submission should be short enough to be read aloud as part of a worship service.

Convinced…

If a belief or practice never makes impact beyond intellectual assent to take root in daily life, we have fallen far short of evangelism's goal for new believers to experience new life in Christ.

The process…

What a wonderful concept! Many conferences and local churches select a special time of the year to emphasize the importance of the pastor to the local congregation. Pastors should clip this article and read it to…

I had believed that I prayed for my members every day. Without fail I would ask a hurried blessing for my congregates as I rushed to the office or to attend some urgent duty.

Then one day, as I analyzed my…

Ordination sermons intrigue me. Having observed and participated in a number of them through the years, I have noticed that the sermons usually follow a pattern of attempting to clearly define the role of ministry,…

Recently, Greg Nelson, pastor of the 2,000-member College View Church at Union College, surprised his congregation and shocked most of his colleagues by announcing that he was leaving the comfort zone of Lincoln,…

First the bad news. My aunt died yesterday while Sharon and I are traveling a third of the way around the globe. We have just begun our journey and have found it is impossible to return for the funeral services.

As…

Ron and Sue Carlson are pastoral heroes to Sharon and me. Several years ago we learned that a dear friend had moved to their area.

As a young, discouraged widow, our friend had left the church and we were…

Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world." You know the tune you learned as a child. Today's blight of clergy child molestation might force us to reword the tune: "Jesus used to love the children;…

When planning and organizing a meeting for pastors, a poor meeting is simply a mediocre meeting gone bad. Good meetings take real effort with intentional planning for excellence. Here are some suggestions for producing the best.

Plan…

Sexual misconduct by clergy has dominated the headlines in recent months. Predatory violation of children is particularly reprehensible and demands for punishment and reform have come from laity as well as fellow…

At the opening of a new millennium, it seems particularly significant to return to the beginning.

Perhaps no portion of Scripture has been more challenged or derided than the simple declaration of Genesis,…

Approaching year end and anticipating opportunities and challenges in 2004, I'm praising God for several partnerships.

First, I praise Jesus for Sharon, my partner in marriage, ministry, and mischief. Details…

Recently we attended a meeting that refused to end. The sermon had concluded. Choirs had sung. Prayers, praise, and promotions were exhausted and two offerings had been taken. Yet the platform activities dragged on. Sharon whispered her diagnosis,…

When Judge Roy S. Moore, Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, surreptitiously sneaked a 5,280-lb. granite monument depicting the Ten Commandments into a state court house, he defended his illegal action by…

Every minister's recurring question is "What shall I preach?" I hope you ask earlier than the evening before your sermon. Friday-night specials are as deadly as a handgun to your church.

Our approaching Year…

As I've said before, one of my big blessings comes from seeing and sharing practical ideas.

Baby Bonds. When parents bring infants for dedication, Sligo school principal…

Your most effective ministry for any group in your congregation is not what you do to them or for them, but rather what you do with them. This is especially true for singles.

As we noted in a previous article,…

Under the overall theme "Our Portion of the Power," North American Division's (NAD) Festival of the Laity combined a cornucopia of spiritual food and training seminars with an abundant array of resources for practical…

Anyone who equates work-related travel with fun has yet to endure their third trip. Mind you, I love my work—especially when I arrive and can interact with pastors and their spouses, local elders, and ministerial…

When Pastor Tercio Sarli, president of the mega-size Central Brazil Union, writes me twice about the same issue, the matter is clear ly important. When this twice-scribed topic is expressing appreciation for pastors,…

When my college mate, Ted Mohr, invited me to visit Penang Adventist Hospital (PAH) where he serves as president, I anticipated nothing more than one more tour of another denominational facility. Frankly, I expected…

Evaluate your congregation and the ministries it provides. One often overlooked group consists of single individuals. You may not immediately recognize some of these individuals because they have stopped attending,…

The followers of John the Baptist questioned Jesus, "Are you the One? Or should we look for another?"

Since I was a young pastor until today, denominational leaders have recurringly called the church to deeper…

I'm encouraged! Here are a few great ideas which may bless your own effectiveness in ministry.

Honoring heroes. Following the tragic loss of the Columbia space shuttle, Sligo Church included…

Daddy, Mommy, are you going to die?" During the sniper attacks that terrorized metropolitan Washington, D.C., last October, more than one parent had to calm the fears of their children with assurance that may have…

Several months ago we discussed the power of a visit in the life of a non-attending friend who was reclaimed to the church by the initiative of a caring pastor. Expanding on this concept, I encourage you to implement…

Everywhere our team travels we get questions, often variations on the same theme. Sometimes the questions are submitted in search of information, and other times individuals are in search of a platform to espouse…

Jesus is under attack. This somber fact has profound and far-reaching implications for believers and unbelievers alike. Jesus has always been under attack, of course. From the day Herod sought to destroy the infant…

For Adventists to celebrate the 75th anniversary of any venture seems incongruous with our name. Although personally pleased with Ministry's continuing contribution as we reach our publication's diamond jubilee,…

Not all ministry is on the public platform. In the spirit of honor ing those to whom honor is due, I salute a sizeable group of individuals who serve God's cause unheralded and, typically, away from public notice.

My…

Too often we act as if confession means nothing more than a quick acknowledgment of our propensity to sin coupled with a standardized apology for affronting God's holiness.

Sometimes we are prompted by the…

Prophecy indicates God's church of the last days will experience the same challenges as the early church. "Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves"…

Our Lord never instructed us to pray for the harvest; instead He instructed us to pray for the reapers of the harvest. He asks us to make it a matter of prayer that the Lord of the harvest will send forth reapers.…

When an administrator telephoned to describe a congregation's warfare over their minister's platform dress, I remembered an illustration I had seen posted in scores of vestries over dozens of years. Researching the…

Christ's great commission to spread the gospel to the whole world before He returns envisions far more than merely a checklist of "nations warned" as a result of bold proclamation. Jesus intends that new born believers…

One of those letters arrived last week. Full force vitriol came from the writer's suppositions that I had stolen a sermon outline from him which he had cited from another minister at a seminar he believed I had attended.

Had…

Soon after the death of my brother and four other colleagues in a tragic plane crash, I began seeing a psychiatrist to help me process the awesome loss and overwhelming pain.

Friends and colleagues, as well…