In a recent blog post, I pointed out the convictions of urgency, eternity, and salvation that motivate the passionate soulwinner. Yet the heart of a soulwinner must carry more than conviction to be effective. The heart of Christ, the greatest soulwinner ever, overflowed with compassion for the lost.

Matthew 9:36 records, “But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.” Simply put, compassion moves us to passionate action. Genuine compassion will be tangibly expressed.

A soulwinner with the heart of Christ will express compassion in two ways: (more…)

This week was filled with unexpected challenges. Although these challenges were unexpected by us, they were, of course, known to our sovereign and loving God.

Our son, Larry, preached a powerful message at Coastline Baptist Church Sunday morning, where my brother Steve pastors. After the service, Larry became extremely ill and for the next thirty-six hours was in intense pain. After meeting with the doctors, they felt that Larry would need to have emergency surgery for what appeared to be an obstruction in his bowels, perhaps related to his previous surgeries.

We made the very difficult drive back down to Los Angeles to one of the major hospitals of our HMO. After spending twelve or thirteen hours in the emergency room, we met with surgeons, and through various therapies, they were able to avert the need for emergency surgery. (more…)

Have you ever considered the basic convictions that motivate a soulwinner to be faithful? Convictions are the spark plugs that keep the engine of faith going forward. And biblical convictions regarding the eternal souls of men and women move us forward in reaching the lost for Christ. (more…)

This past Sunday I was privileged to preach the 50^th anniversary services of the Grace Baptist Church in Columbia, South Carolina. What an honor it was for me to stand in the pulpit of the great men of God who started and have pastored this church—Moody Roberts, Marshall Godfrey, Floyd Paschall, Dr. Clayton Shumpert, and, my good friend and mentor, Dr. Bob Kelley. Brother Bill Egerdahal currently serves this church as pastor. (more…)

If you were to advertise in the classified section of a newspaper in search of a  leader, what qualifications would you ask for? Knowledge? People skills? Ability to assume and maintain control?

One person suggested the following classifieds ad:

HELP WANTED: SERVANT—Someone to do the often undesirable work for the sake of others. Needs strong sense of [worth] in God’s eyes and true compassion for others. Must be personally acquainted with the greatest Servant of all in order to continue his training. Work requires being on call 24 hours a day to meet needs of family, friends, and even strangers. Must be willing to give up his rights—no experience necessary—job begins today, right where you are.

Yes, leaders must continually grow in a wide variety of skills, but the baseline of spiritual leadership is a servant’s heart. Without it, no other skills will produce eternal fruit.

Our tendency is to want to be served far more than wanting to serve others. Yet Jesus Himself said, “…the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

Could you answer an ad for a servant?