My grandson Camden is just beginning to walk, and our entire family delights in helping him in this new adventure. From encouraging his unsteady steps along furniture to holding both of his little hands and walking with him, everyone wants to have a part!

No one expects a little child to learn to walk on his own, but sometimes we forget that baby Christians need help in learning to walk in the Spirit. This is the bottom line of discipleship. It requires a lot of time and a great deal of energy. But the rewards of seeing a new Christian take his early steps of faith are worth every sacrifice along the way.

What kind of support do new believers need to learn how to walk in the Spirit? (more…)

The past week at Lancaster Baptist Church has been one of the greatest soulwinning weeks in our church’s history. It has been a great joy to me, as a pastor, to see our people sacrificially planning their time to seize the special soulwinning and outreach opportunities of Open House week.

Over the past several days, our people knocked on every door in our valley—leaving an invitation to Open House Sunday and the Gospel in print at every home. At many of these homes, we were able to verbally share the Gospel, and we saw over three hundred people trust Christ at their door. (more…)

A good relationship with a wise mentor is like having personal access to a goldmine. It’s an opportunity anyone would be foolish to not take advantage of! Proverbs 1:5 reminds us, “A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels.” (See also Proverbs 11:14; 12:15; 15:22; 19:20; 20:5; and 27:9.)

But just as a goldmine must be discovered, wise mentors must usually be sought out. They don’t hold a sign reading, “I am a wise mentor!” (And if they do, they likely aren’t!)

So, what do you look for in a mentor? How do you discern between truly golden wisdom and fool’s gold? The Lord has blessed me with wise and godly mentors over the years. The following characteristics are descriptive of each of their lives and are what you can look for in a mentor: (more…)

This past Sunday I read with joy the report from one of our West Coast Baptist College graduates about a church that has been planted in Fresno, California. Brother Ricky Owens, a 2001 graduate, planted the Victory Baptist Church, along with assistance from Brother Mark Irmler and his church planting ministry, a team from West Coast Baptist College, and a tremendous group from the Ambassador Baptist Church in Fresno.

I thank the Lord for Brother Owens and for others like him who are stepping out by faith to plant churches in America in this needy hour. If we will support the missionaries of tomorrow, we must continually plant churches today.

I remember planting and pastoring my first church at the age of nineteen. This church plant began while I was still in Bible college. I was asked to lead a team and preach to a small group of ladies outside of Coachella, California. To my surprise I was asked to return and preach the following week. Over the next several weeks, through soulwinning and preaching, God began to gather a group together. (more…)

One of the most frustrating things to watch is a sports team in which one individual wants to be the star—even at the expense of the team’s success. The famed football coach Vince Lombardi said, “The only true satisfaction a player receives is the satisfaction that comes from being part of a successful team, regardless of his personal accomplishments.”

The church is a team, and each person must yield his personal rights for the success of others and the cause of Christ.

“If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” (Philippians 2:1–4)

Teamwork makes serving together enjoyable. First Thessalonians 5:11 tells us, “Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.”

So what attributes make for great team players? (more…)