In many ways, Southern Baptists are stronger than at any time in our history. For example, we have record enrollment across our six seminary system. Our efforts over the past decades have produced the most well-educated clergy in Christian history. Our six seminaries now have the largest...
While preaching in a southern state this past weekend, the invisible yet tangible support Southern Baptists give their entities revealed itself in a meaningful way. After my message, an older gentleman came up to talk with me. He said, “It was good to hear about Gateway. We have always prayed...
This past spring, Gateway had a successful social media-driven fundraising campaign. We raised $75,000 in seven days to launch our 75th anniversary celebration. The money was mostly donated by text message. It was a contemporary approach to fundraising that resonated with donors – particularly...
Over this past weekend, the shootings in El Paso and Dayton (just after Gilroy) left many of us numb – devastated at the pain of the victims and angry about our cultural milieu contributing to random acts of violence. We have lost our spiritual, social, moral, and ethical moorings – no news...
The major method for motivating people in the American workplace is money. That’s not part of the equation in motivating volunteers. How then can ministry leaders effectively motivate volunteers?
Every ministry leader knows the pressure and frustration of not having enough workers. The question then is, “how do we find more volunteers?”
Over the next three weeks, I want to address the issue of volunteers in churches and ministry organizations. Next week, we will consider issues related to recruiting volunteers. The following week, motivating volunteers. Each week I will also be addressing these issues in greater detail in my...
John Maxwell is credited with saying, “Culture eats vision for lunch.” He may have been quoting someone else (if so, let me know and attribution will be given!). Whoever said it, they got it right. No matter how grand your vision, organizational culture can crush it. This was first evident to me...
My friend Steve Parr (along with Tom Crites) has written a helpful book addressing the issue of why some young adults stay – and others stray – from church participation and/or Christian commitment when they leave home. The book is based on a research project which involved data gathering and...
It’s been my privilege and delight to spend the past several days working with a Gateway team of students and faculty in partnership with the IMB and national personnel in South Asia. God is moving in many places around the world and it was good to join him – and see him – at work.