Blog Archives

There is life after the storm

Posted on May 24, 2013 by Barry Howard — No Comments ↓

In 1994 I was serving at the First Baptist Church of Williams near Jacksonville, Ala. when a tornado touched down on Palm Sunday near Ragland and cut a trail to Rome, Ga., demolishing hundreds of homes, destroying five church campuses,…

Tagged with: Alabama, Oklahoma City, Tornadoes
Posted in Death, Faithful Living, Grief, Leadership, Ministry, Suffering

Young ministers want to be mentored

Posted on May 20, 2013 by Ircel Harrison — No Comments ↓

Starting out in any field is not easy, but ministry has its own challenges. Most congregations expect that their new pastor or staff member will “hit the ground running” and be ready to deal with both the routine and the…

Tagged with: leadership, ministry
Posted in Education, Leadership, Ministry, Young Baptists

Gene Puckett, my father, and the best member of our family!

Posted on May 14, 2013 by George Bullard — No Comments ↓

In 1978, Gene Puckett was the major speaker at the retirement dinner for my father, G. W. Bullard, as executive director-treasurer of the Baptist Convention of Pennsylvania-South Jersey. He and dad had gotten to know one another in 1966 when…

Life balance for clergy remixed

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Mark Tidsworth — No Comments ↓

Life balance is important and necessary for sustained ministry over time, but there are some things that life balance is not.

Tagged with: Balance, clergy, Donald Hands, life balance, ministry, normal, Spiritual Wholeness for Clergy, Wayne Fehr
Posted in Faithful Living, Health & Wholeness, Leadership, Ministry

You don’t bring me flowers anymore

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Barry Howard — No Comments ↓

When it comes to observing Mother’s Day at church, traditions vary around the country. Factors influencing a congregation’s contextual practice include geographic location, denominational heritage, liturgical preference, and congregational precedent. In my first pastorate, I inherited that southern tradition I…

Tagged with: Mother's Day
Posted in Faithful Living, Leadership, Parenting

Don’t call your next pastor. Draft your next pastor.

Posted on May 1, 2013 by George Bullard — 2 Comments ↓

The pastor search process might be a whole lot more fun (or funny) if it was run like the National Football League draft. Why go through months—even years—of searching for the right pastor when you just need to be ready…

The Church Draft

Posted on April 26, 2013 by Alan Rudnick — No Comments ↓

As millions of football fans will undoubtedly will be glued to their televisions and social media, they will hunger for the latest information about NFL draft picks. The NFL draft is part pageantry and part celebration for football teams and their…

Three questions for worship

Posted on April 17, 2013 by Bob Burroughs — No Comments ↓

Who is watching? Who is singing? Who really cares?

Tagged with: contemporary worship, worship, worship leaders
Posted in Leadership, Worship

Attracting a new generation of leaders in ministry

Posted on April 16, 2013 by Lydia Hoyle — No Comments ↓

When I was growing up, Christian ministers were widely held in high esteem. Although a few Elmer Gantrys may have been in the mix, churches and communities generally received their ministers with respect and honor. As a result, many Christian…

Why Pope Francis is good for Christianity

Posted on April 15, 2013 by Alan Rudnick — No Comments ↓

As Pope Francis starts his papacy, it is very clear that his leadership will set a very different tone for the Catholic Church. Upon leaving Rome, Pope Francis paid for his own room, rejected lavish apparel, and referred to himself more as…