One of the annual aspects of Spiritual Leadership Conference that I most anticipate is the large release of new resources from our publications ministry.

We release materials throughout the year, but the Striving Together team works especially hard to have a large batch of new resources from multiple authors ready for the conference.

For a quick overview, here is a list of new releases. Click any title for more information. (more…)

If there was ever a time that Christians and local churches needed to strive together for the faith of the gospel (Philippians 1:27), it’s now! This is not the time for independent Baptists to divide and splinter; it is the time to reach out and turn the world upside down once again.

This is where Romans 14 comes into play. In this chapter, God guides us through the troubling issues of nonconformity within our ranks. It gives us a biblical perspective of understanding those who interpret Scriptural standards a bit differently than we do. Most importantly, it provides us with seven principles on how to have unity with our brother where there are differences in certain practices.

The infographic below lists these principles. (more…)

Over the past several months, I’ve been writing a book for independent Baptist pastors and leaders—The Road Ahead.

This book shares personal midcourse adjustments the Lord has worked in my spirit and ministry philosophy. Particularly, it addresses the needs I see in independent Baptist leaders and churches to look to Jesus and serve with authenticity.

As I travel, I’ve met hundreds of Bible-believing pastors who love God, are faithful to their families, and have a pulpit ministry that is grace-based and Bible-centered. Some of these men have shared with me their concerns about the testimony of Christ and the future of biblical Baptist churches.

As with other institutions, and even other denominations, we serve in a day when the actions and reactions of a few have been broad-brushed over all of us. In these times, it is more vital than ever that we understand our biblical position and allow the Holy Spirit to thoroughly search our lives for imbalances in ministry.

Packaging these thoughts into book form with written steps of action has been a challenge. In fact, I haven’t written a book with more prayer…or a greater passion to clearly communicate. (more…)

As we approach Spiritual Leadership Conference, I’ve asked a few of the conference speakers to participate in brief interviews regarding what is involved in launching out by faith. I believe you’ll find their perspectives both helpful and faith-building.

This interview is with Dr. Tom Farrell. Dr. Farrell has served as an evangelist since 1979. We are looking forward to his session at Spiritual Leadership Conference on “Preaching that Pleases God.”

What is an area in the past five years in which you’ve launched out by faith, and how has God blessed?

In the last five years we have launched out in three specific areas of ministry:

• Caribbean Project, evangelizing the Caribbean Islands and helping to plant churches and Bible institutes. One Bible institute has been started in Nassau, Bahamas, and a second will open this fall in Grenada.
• Advanced Ministry Training Internship Program for male Christian College graduates. This one year intensive mentoring program puts young preachers in three independent Baptist churches for three months each, involving them in every aspect of ministry. There are two one-week modules during which leading pastors spend a day with the interns equipping them for ministry. The men travel with me in evangelism and then finish the program on the mission field of Uganda. Most all of the graduates have launched out into full-time ministry.
• Elijah’s Harbor Retreat Center for preachers and wives who need to be refreshed and refocused for ministry. We were privileged to help start this center. Many pastors have been encouraged and helped, and some have stayed in ministry because of this program.

How have you seen Satan target leaders who launch out? What is your counsel to others to overcome those challenges?

Any time you launch out, Satan will oppose. Someone said, “When God’s people say, ‘Let us rise up and build,’ Satan will rise up to oppose.” Paul wrote, “Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us” (1 Thessalonians 2:18). (more…)

As we approach Spiritual Leadership Conference, I’ve asked a few of the conference speakers to participate in brief interviews regarding what is involved in launching out by faith. I believe you’ll find their perspectives both helpful and faith-building.

This first interview is with Dr. Kevin Folger. Dr. Folger serves as the senior pastor of Cleveland Baptist Church in Ohio. I’m thankful for his friendship, and I’m looking forward to seeing him here in Lancaster next month.

How long have you served in your current position of ministry?

The end of this month marks thirty-five years that I’ve been serving at Cleveland Baptist Church. For seventeen years I served as an assistant pastor, associate pastor, and (for the final five of those years) as a co-pastor. I became the senior pastor of Cleveland Baptist on September 3, 1995, so I will complete my eighteenth year in that position this September.

What is an area in the past five years in which you’ve launched out by faith, and how has God blessed?

In 2009 we completed a one million dollar capital stewardship campaign that allowed us to pay off all of our debt, to finish the remodeling of our auditorium, to turn two homes on our property to mission homes, to update twelve buses in our fleet, and finally to complete a master plan of the property. (more…)