Archive | Baptist RSS feed for this section

Joe Phelps: Flinging Open the Doors Turns Around Decline

Taking over a faithful but dormant congregation 17 years ago, Joe Phelps began preaching an image of openness to the community and acceptance of those who are different. Today, people are flocking to Highland Baptist Church in Louisville, KY to hear a progressive message that is not only inspiring folk, but giving them a new [...]

Continue Reading

Earl Randall: The Church as The Youth Center

Deacon Earl Randall has one part of the Great Commission down pat: Go! Earl, a youth leader at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in New Orleans, LA, is joined by his wife as they reach out to the impoverished community around them. In this interview, Earl tells us how his ministry has started taking on [...]

Continue Reading

Amy Butler: Mainline Turnaround Takes Fortitude

Ten years ago Calvary Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. was near death’s door. With less than 40 people in the pews, nearly all well-past retirement, many thought the church would close. But, God had a different plan. Thanks to a new stadium built nearby, neighborhood gentrification, and a renewed sense to do ministry in context, [...]

Continue Reading

Don Denyes: Relocate, Rename – Whatever It Takes to Last 120+ Years

‘We’ll do anything to lead someone to Christ but sin!’ is the sentiment behind Sr. Pastor Don Denyes South Church in Lansing, Michigan. Under his leadership, that’s meant changing the church’s name (dropping the ‘Baptist’ from South Baptist Church), and doing some extensive renovation to accomodate the growth this megachurch has seen in an otherwise [...]

Continue Reading

Dwight Moody: Let the Young People Preach!

Raising up the next generation of Christian leaders is something today’s church 1) needs, and 2) is not doing well – so says Dwight Moody, which is why he’s doing something rather substantial about it. Dwight runs The Academy of Preachers and says it’s the most ecumenical outfit in North America – attracting hundreds of [...]

Continue Reading

George Bullard: Is Your Church Captivated by Its Vision?

A vision isn’t something that’s memorized, it’s something that’s memorable – so says experienced church leadership coach and consultant George Bullard. George has consulted for 35 years in 50 denominations and one of the most frequent problems he comes across are congregations that are simply not taken with their vision. George says a key is [...]

Continue Reading