tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72342054193464950252012-01-14T19:12:00.130-05:00But Peter and the apostles replied, "We must obey God rather than men." Acts 5:29 (HCSB)bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.comBlogger1401100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-55794337634786580022012-01-14T19:12:00.001-05:002012-01-14T19:12:00.192-05:00

In only a few weeks, Andrew and I are returning to see some pastor friends in Southeast Asia. We would love to share with you about our trip. E-mail me at bgilstrap@bscm.org to receive details of our trip (and photos of our last visit). While visiting our Good News sharing friends, we want to share God’s Word with them in a way they can understand and share. Many of the villagers where they

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-52970315815281566522012-01-14T15:31:00.001-05:002012-01-14T15:31:12.990-05:00

Is there any value in changing the name of the Southern Baptist Convention? That debate has been raging in recent months across the convention since SBC President Bryant Wright appointed a special committee to study and report back to him regarding the issue. I would personally be supportive of a name change, as I have repeatedly seen the negative impact of the convention’s name in our northern

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-35530884834842951132011-12-21T02:47:00.012-05:002012-01-14T15:32:39.717-05:00

WOULD YOU LIKE TO GIVE A SPECIAL GIFT THIS CHRISTMAS? This January, Andrew and I are returning to see some pastor friends in    Story Teller                       Envoy Player  Southeast Asia. We want to share God’s Word with them in a way they can understand. Many of the villagers where they live cannot read so we are taking several dozen solar-powered, digital audio players to give them as

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-20454107202245921802011-11-21T12:31:00.003-05:002011-11-21T12:44:06.906-05:00

After personally dealing with more than 100 search committees, I developed a training to use with the pastorless churches of our association in 2001. After almost 11 years of working with these teams, I saw a trend among search teams that led me to condense this training into a 1-hour, simplified approach to helping a church search team as they seek God's direction for a new staff leader. This

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-89830763141127368862011-10-31T00:06:00.001-04:002011-10-31T00:27:09.390-04:00

Born in Texas, our family moved to Guatemala to serve as Southern Baptist missionaries when I was an infant. At six, we returned to Georgia. Although I was young, I understood my sin was what separated me from an eternal relationship with God. At six, I felt convicted of my sinfulness and knew I needed a relationship with Jesus. So, I accepted Jesus to be the ruler of my life. Because I

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-51863858306414748012011-10-28T12:45:00.001-04:002011-10-28T12:45:00.363-04:00

The church starters who came from Jerusalem contributed to the church start in Antioch in at least three ways: They were especially suited to reach the Jewish people, They were knowledgeable of the inception of the Jerusalem church and how it operated, and They had been good students of "the Apostles' doctrines" and were now ready to pass on that doctrine to the new Christians at Antioch.

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-11873027629297410962011-10-28T09:15:00.001-04:002011-10-28T09:15:00.080-04:00

Antioch was the capital of the Roman province of Syria and the third largest city of the empire. It possessed magnificent temples and other public buildings that were erected by the Romans after they conquered the city in 64 B.C. Antioch was an impressive city to view but immoral pagan religious rites had degraded it (G. Edwin Bontrager and Nathan D. Showalter, It Can Happen Today! Principles of

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-39952923130992387222011-10-28T01:42:00.000-04:002011-10-28T01:42:39.978-04:00

"Those who were scattered because of the persecution" in Acts 11:19 refers to the believers who had to flee the persecution but who wanted to preach the Gospel at Antioch (Bruce calls them "Hellenistic refugees from Jerusalem.") (Frederick Fyvie Bruce, ed., Paul: Apostle ofthe Heart Set Free (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Publishing House, 1991). So in Acts 11:20 it confirms that the Apostles were not

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-43487528599587592712011-08-30T14:30:00.017-04:002011-10-19T20:30:55.643-04:00

I am excited to recommend to you a variety of possible ON Mission ID's. If you have ever participated as a disaster relief team member or gone on an international mission trip, having readily accessible identification is critical. Below you will find where I have gathered some of the best tools for you to use for the purpose of identification while traveling around the world or into the heart of

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-80788826516410707272011-04-30T19:02:00.003-04:002011-04-30T19:22:30.303-04:00

One of the churches destroyed by the storms. Only a few days ago tornadoes erupted in an enormous way across several southern states. The toll has risen by the hour as communities have been leveled and hundreds of lives have been lost. The hardest hit area has been in our state-to-state partner state, Alabama. Dr. Rick Lance, their Lead State Missionary has written HERE about the impact of

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-78850302143648904672011-04-08T11:07:00.007-04:002011-04-08T11:22:17.886-04:00

A Cooperative Program Emphasis in Michigan Baptist Churches Help your congregation understand how they are supporting missions through the Cooperative Program… What is CP Sunday? Cooperative Program Sunday is simply a day to highlight and celebrate the Cooperative Program, the plan Michigan Baptist – and all Southern Baptists – use to fund missions causes at the state, national and

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-14067242822434729422011-04-05T12:29:00.000-04:002011-04-05T12:29:35.389-04:00

I am product of your cooperative giving through the Cooperative Program (CP). Long before I became your Lead State Missionary, supported by your Cooperative Program giving, God was growing me through Southern Baptist investment in me through the Cooperative Program. I was born to parents who were attending one of your SBC seminaries, who quickly after graduation went to Central America as your

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-70589931669317071082011-03-23T00:09:00.000-04:002011-03-23T00:09:16.461-04:00

There are FOUR “F’s” that we try to remember to help us effectively resource the churches of our convention. They are: Fast Flexible Focused, and Friendly We want to respond FAST to specific needs. When there is a request for resourcing, we want to respond within hours if possible. We trust and empower our leadership to make decisions so they can respond quickly.   Our convention is

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-45485362845840472272011-03-17T03:16:00.001-04:002011-03-17T03:17:05.614-04:00

A few years ago I had the privilege of traveling to the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul to meet with local Southern Baptist leaders. During that visit I was first exposed to Dr. John Mayer and the ministry of City Vision (http://www.cityv/VisionTC.org). For 16 years, this strategic ministry has been helping to effectively equip and mobilize the Evangelical Church in the Twin Cities metro

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-2506123323845731832011-03-02T18:15:00.000-05:002011-03-02T18:15:06.739-05:00

During my first week as your Lead State Missionary (Executive Director), I decided to rearrange the furniture in my new office. Several of our staff members joined me in discussing where things should go and helping me move things to new places. After moving the desk, someone noticed the impression left in the carpet. Even weeks later, the impression is still in the carpet from where the

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-90224562781076735902011-01-31T08:35:00.002-05:002011-01-31T08:35:00.277-05:00

A Report to the Executive Committee and Executive Board of the Baptist State Convention of Michigan January 25, 2011      “So how’s the transition going?” the pastor asked me as we gathered for an associational pastor’s breakfast. Many things raced through my head as potential responses … especially since I still haven’t figured out which closet the paper clips and paper are in or where

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-90608975776126649942011-01-03T20:10:00.006-05:002011-01-03T20:10:00.264-05:00

Today starts a new journey in my 30 years of ministry. This morning is my first day to serve as the Lead State Missionary or Executive Director/Treasurer of the Baptist State Convention of Michigan. It is a ministry that I would have never imagined God would place me in, but His direction has been undeniable. If you'd like to see some of the journey click HERE and HERE. My 10 years as an

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-72192045437623597042010-10-31T20:17:00.001-04:002010-11-01T01:34:30.053-04:00

Thank you to so many that have been praying for me and our family during these significant days of decision regarding the new ministry opportunity to serve the Baptist State Convention of Michigan as Executive Director and Treasurer. If you have not already heard, during its meeting for the 53rd annual state convention, the Baptist State Convention of Michigan elected me to serve as its fourth

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-3029060254752787112010-09-24T01:00:00.009-04:002010-09-29T02:22:14.056-04:00

The following is the announcement made yesterday regarding the future ministry opportunity for me to serve the Baptist State Convention of Michigan. I am grateful for God's direction, but greatly humbled by this opportunity to serve. --------------------------------------CLICK TO READ: Bio Presented * Recommendations from Search Team -------------------------------------- September 23, 2010

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-44236099466186074762010-09-17T08:18:00.001-04:002010-09-17T08:18:00.149-04:00

This week, I discovered that one of the few sermons that I have posted on SermonCentral.com is top rated in its category. What a blessing to know that people have been so encouraged through God's Word being preached. If interested, read or listen to the message by CLICKING HERE.

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-8967830342140670802010-07-08T00:01:00.001-04:002010-07-08T00:11:59.201-04:00

As recently as tonight, I was asked to explain how our association is able to resource the vision of our churches. Let me take a moment and tell you the story ... When I arrived as the new Director of Missions for Huron and Southeastern Baptist Associations in January 2001, both associations were structured with a program-focused model that utilized outdated systems and structures. We were a

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-90377218516989203052010-05-25T23:56:00.001-04:002011-10-28T01:47:18.786-04:00

I received this Google Alert tonight and saw where another church is using the 5/52 Church Start Funding Plan. Check it out. I connected with Scott via Twitter. If you are a Church strart partner (or want to be), you need to consider implementing the 5/52 this year? I would encourage you to strongly consider it to help a new church as they reach their community. Here is the link from the Google

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-2959413910476736592010-05-25T15:52:00.001-04:002010-05-25T23:51:07.645-04:00

Watch this 7-minute preview of David Olsen's DVD "Where are the People? The American Church in Crisis." The statistics are remarkable.

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-25271564227772169592010-05-25T15:49:00.000-04:002010-05-25T15:49:06.721-04:00

Have you ever wondered why you should participate in social networking? Does it all seem like a waste of time? If so, you are among a growing minority that have yet to move into this new cyber-room for communicating and networking. I have had the priviledge to develop a workshop on "Social Networking in Ministry" which I have now presented live in Texas, Alabama and Arkansas. My prayer is that

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-62751098689170126592010-03-19T08:30:00.003-04:002010-03-22T20:50:18.461-04:00

Here is a quick note to be sure you are aware that the Audio Conference with the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force, (GCRTF) which our association co-sponsored with the Network of Baptist Associations, is posted at http://NoBAsbc.org. After listening to the conference, give your opinion and tell us if you'd like to hear another tele-conference before and/or after the final report of the GCR

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-29452129108979480212010-03-03T02:09:00.005-05:002011-10-28T01:48:41.626-04:00

A vision to reproduce is a value that many churches and pastors do not have. Today, I introduce you to one of our area Korean Church Planters, Pastor Sang Park, of Campus Town Church of Ann Arbor. Not only are they starting the new church on the campus of the University of Michigan, but recently they launched a new ministry on Michigan State University (Campus Town of Lansing). Watch this

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-45562235557860241802010-02-18T23:11:00.004-05:002010-02-18T23:19:17.631-05:00

The Network of Baptist Associations recently recorded my 30-minute orientation for "Social Media and Ministry." As soon as the video is posted I will let you know, but until then, consider this brief video on Socialnomics. As you watch, consider the incredible power of this new form of communication for reaching people with the eternal, life-saving message of Jesus' love. How can we harness the

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-37174009589125546742010-02-11T13:47:00.005-05:002010-02-11T13:55:02.970-05:00

Are we lacking in the discipline of prayer? Personally, I would have to admit that I fall far short of where I need to be when it comes to an active prayer life. The Network of Baptist Associations (NoBA)has just posted a challenging article by Larry Richmond on "The Need to Return to Serious Intentional Prayer" at http://noba-blog.blogspot.com/. Take just a moment to review his thoughts and then

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-41017158400998541792010-02-02T16:38:00.004-05:002010-02-02T16:53:50.355-05:00

I have long contended that there should be no communicator that is more skilled at the craft of communication than the one proclaiming the eternal truth of God's salvation through Jesus Christ. Too many times, Christian communicators (including pastors and teachers) lose their edge of effectiveness.Today, I watched a brief video that reminded me of the power of the story we tell. It also reminded

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-20972817703245103242009-12-30T21:21:00.006-05:002010-01-17T22:00:07.793-05:00

Shawn Lovejoy writes:News about Urban Meyer, the Florida gators football coach, has sent shock waves of every kind through the sports world over the last few days. How could a guy resign in the midst of a highly successful career? How could he renege on the same resignation within 24 hours? Regardless of your opinion on the whole deal, I think ALL PASTORS could learn something from all of this.In

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-36512509406664018192009-12-09T13:22:00.003-05:002009-12-09T13:26:56.676-05:00

Are you tired of religion? Hear this testimony of a boy who "escaped religion" as a child but found a relationship with Jesus Christ as an older teenager. David Nasser shares his story of escaping religion to surrendering his life to God's grace.

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-57969621933874217052009-11-11T23:44:00.009-05:002011-10-28T01:49:10.958-04:00

Any church can afford to support a church plant. Most churches can afford to be the sole sponsor of a church plant if they will engage their member’s hearts into church planting and use a strategy that is proven to work. Of course, there will be members who will see sponsorship as an impossible venture because “the church is barely meeting budget, and there is the debt to pay off, plus we

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-51971406892077431622009-10-13T00:06:00.004-04:002009-10-13T00:28:08.464-04:00

As I travel, I usually have MP3 player earbuds in and some kind of teaching, training or preaching running through the wires to stimulate my brain. What do I listen to? It varies. But when I find a good place where I can snag multiple recordings, I grab them immediately. One such location is Union University's archive of their “Future of Denominationalism” conference. You can listen to this

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-24920809972099992522009-10-07T21:52:00.003-04:002009-10-07T22:05:49.821-04:00

It's a good thing that Jesus led by example. Where did we lose the ability to follow His model in evangelism. His example for evangelism was through relationships and not a three point sermon and a fancy poem. Don't misunderstand me, I am certified and trained in a variety of witnessing tools but none of those tools are very helpful without a relationship to "lost" people. Sometime we are

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-70387753018367407822009-10-03T13:27:00.017-04:002009-10-03T17:03:05.056-04:00

Often, I will be with my wife driving through a neighborhood and hear her say, “Oh, I love that house.” She loves wrap-around porches, old fashion frame houses or log cabins. We all look at houses and form our opinions about the house. Frequently, we make observations about what we see. We comment, “I’d do this differently,” or “I’d change that” about a particular house.Usually, we state our

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-46901114544718210472009-08-30T00:13:00.003-04:002011-10-28T01:49:45.644-04:00

A training session with Ed Stetzer for leaders of small communities (groups, classes, and churches) that want to empower people to live on mission. Videos provided by the BGCO. Get more info about the whole set of videos here: http://bgco.org/oneday. Missional Small Communities from Ed Stetzer on Vimeo.

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-81999146505983154632009-07-31T21:02:00.034-04:002011-10-28T01:48:05.358-04:00

Here are some recent AUDIO CONFERENCES that will definitely be of interest to you. We have done a series of interviews with experienced church planters and strategist on what it takes to LAUNCH A NEW CHURCH. Each guest was asked the same five questions on: How do you know if you have ENOUGH . . . time money people community momentum, and awareness to LAUNCH your new church? What I

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-5057331536302665892009-07-29T13:21:00.010-04:002009-08-01T01:52:24.831-04:00

This training was designed to encourage associational and church leaders to explore practical tools that will aid them in communicating unity and cooperation in their organization. I presented this 20-minute workshop at the 2009 Summit of the Network of Baptist Associations (http://www.NoBAsbc.org).Ideas presented include creating a visual idenity of cooperation, practical tools to use (

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-36491243466997910142009-07-27T11:45:00.002-04:002009-08-01T01:53:38.911-04:00

On July 5th, Ed Stetzer shared this message the week before the church where he was interim was to have a prospective pastor come in view of a call. His focus was on helping the church to consider both the qualifications and call of a pastor. Click on http://vimeo.com/5720967 or watch the embedded video below:What's a Pastor to Do? from Ed Stetzer on Vimeo.

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-36760817748668389992009-07-27T09:35:00.002-04:002009-08-01T01:54:06.037-04:00

The following message was preached by Ed Stetzer while preaching at the Innovate Conference, sponsored by Thomas Road Baptist Church. Since the message was to pastors and church leaders, it is written and communicated that way.The video and notes are at http://tinyurl.com/lpwzod or watch the embedded video below. It is a message for all of us to hear in a world of compromise and mediocrity."

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-21907883683553906222009-07-07T01:18:00.013-04:002009-08-01T01:55:30.984-04:00

Enjoy this AUDIO CONFERENCE for PASTORS with Josh Hunt. The topic for this conference was "Doubling Your Group Size".CLICK HERE to go to our host website to listen and/or download.Hear a discussion of:1. The potential of doubling groups2. Five steps to doubling groups3. The secret of the doubling process4. Encouraging impementation of these ideas5. Strategies to overcome objections for creating

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-45661699749761354972009-06-09T08:14:00.010-04:002011-10-28T01:50:19.667-04:00

Each year, our association provides training for the leadership of mission teams that are coming to our area at a Mission Leader Orientation (MLO). The MLO is only a part of our strategy to partner with other churches and associations throughout America. As a part of this year's MLO, I had the privilege of doing a brief training on how to use multi-color, evangelistic balls for sports

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-32002933630160829212009-05-07T08:48:00.009-04:002009-05-07T09:07:50.178-04:00

Today is the National Day of Prayer. The theme of 58th annual National Day of Prayer is "Prayer ... America's Hope." The national emphasis is based on Psalm 33:22, which reads: "May Your faithful love rest on us, Lord, for we put our hope in You." (HCSB) Why does America need a National Day of Prayer?Because there is much to be praying for in America. Most recently, we have seen the instability

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-64232703741633895462009-05-04T12:14:00.009-04:002009-06-09T09:34:59.230-04:00

They ask, “Would you be willing to write a letter of recommendation for me?” How do you respond? We realize that when we are asked to write a letter of reference someone trusts and respects our opinion. However, most of us immediately think of two issues related to this request. We wonder what to say in such a letter and we question how to say it. (See TIPS articles HERE and HERE).In an effort to

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-52865827174228279082009-04-14T22:15:00.006-04:002009-04-15T00:20:46.272-04:00

Are the priorities of church members the same as the pastors that lead their churches? A recent study reveals pastors' ministry priorities. From the article found at http://tinyurl.com/cjm36n, we learn in part that,"While Southern Baptist pastors are quick to name evangelism as a priority, they indicated in their responses that they may struggle to get an effective leader in place to make it

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-91698500563395733252009-04-14T00:39:00.004-04:002009-05-04T10:45:19.230-04:00

Effective Recommendation Letters . . . Provide specific information about the candidate related to their competency for the potential position. Provide basic relationship information. How does the writer know the candidate and how long have they been acquainted?Describe specific examples of what the candidate has done using strong active verbs. Discuss why the applicant would be a strong

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-12965873284896889002009-04-13T22:53:00.005-04:002009-05-04T12:53:06.036-04:00

When you are asked to write a letter of recommendation or reference for a friend or church member, it is important to remember these 6 Formatting Tips. TIP 1: Address your letter to an individual if at all possible, or to the team/committee as a whole (“Dear _____________ Team”).TIP 2: Make sure the letter is dated and printed on your business letterhead. TIP 3: Your letter should be

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-90223085109668692132009-04-11T19:44:00.006-04:002009-05-04T11:56:45.941-04:00

Many ministers find themselves writing letters of reference or recommendation on a regular occasion. In addition, they must keep a personal biographical sketch (or resume’) updated for times when they are asked to speak for various events. In a future article, I will write some tips for ministers to help them write effective reference letters. However, this short article is intended to help

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-70235171888970286742009-04-06T12:26:00.009-04:002009-04-06T15:04:28.932-04:00

There seems to be a good bit of "buzz" about the condition of our Southern Baptist Convention. Many have forecast the demise of the current systems and structures of the convention within the coming decade. In part, the reasoning for such a demise is due to the aging and continued decline of so many churches. Can this trend of decline be reversed? There are many within the system and SBC

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-57838908683973129422009-04-01T01:51:00.002-04:002009-08-01T01:57:13.368-04:00

Obtain strategies and resources for recruiting mission teams, hosting vision tours, and preparing mission team leadership for effective, evangelistic, contextualized ministry.CLICK HERE to view this video trainingPresented for the January 7, 2009 North Central States Rally, Indianapolis, IN.

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-91217614096916174602009-04-01T01:46:00.004-04:002009-08-01T01:57:56.100-04:00

Based on hundreds of legal cases, 8 critical areas will be discussed that can cause liability concerns for churches and associations related to their Constitution and Bylaws. In this overview workshop, discover recommended solutions from the presenter's experience and the lawyers of the Christian Law Association.CLICK HERE to watch this video trainingPresented at the 2009 Summit of the Network

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-72707326400651757882009-03-30T11:39:00.009-04:002009-03-30T12:05:28.966-04:00

For several years, I have been supportive of Internet Evangelism Day. It is an opportunity to highlight the tremendous opportunity we have to use this powerful tool for God's glory. Here is a press release from IED that will inform and provide you with valuable resources to make your ministry website much more evangelistic. I encourage you to use thes tools and principles.~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~Many

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-42749633129358796742009-03-26T20:35:00.003-04:002009-03-26T20:41:30.378-04:00

I recently received the following note from a friend that I haven't seen in several years. You can hear the pain and hurt in the tone of the note. How would you respond to the concerns mentioned? "If a person received Christ and lived as a Christian for most of their life, but has decided that he no longer believes in the supernatural (God) and has also decided after much studying of science that

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-15096504815884840652009-03-22T21:53:00.001-04:002009-03-25T17:47:42.782-04:00

"We must depend on the performance of the promise when all the doors leading up to it are shut." -Matthew Henry

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-8642627297694239792009-03-15T22:39:00.003-04:002009-03-25T17:47:05.057-04:00

"Every time you get to a new level, you meet a new devil."Pastor Kevin JamesNew Community Bible FellowshipCleveland, Ohio.

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-41198479296940695222009-02-22T14:07:00.004-05:002009-02-22T14:25:50.702-05:00

What suggestions would you have for helping a new pastor feel welcome? Over the years, I experienced several things in a new ministry that made my transition smoother as I started ministry with a new congregation. What have you seen that has worked in your church or some other church? Here are three ideas from my experience:Planted a tree: On the first Sunday of my ministry at the church, we

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-48266929297973533892009-02-09T10:20:00.004-05:002009-08-26T21:37:56.516-04:00

Should membership in a local church grant you “forever status” in that congregation until you choose to “move your membership” or withdraw?In recent conversation with the several attorneys, it was strongly recommended to me that an automatic termination of membership for nonattendance be included in a church’s constitution and bylaws. This provision would automatically, and without any further

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-11053986759190932532009-02-04T11:19:00.000-05:002009-02-04T11:21:35.529-05:00

"The preaching that this world needs most is the sermons in shoes that are walking with Jesus Christ." --D.L. Moody

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-12104185307319319942009-01-29T01:07:00.002-05:002009-01-29T01:09:30.388-05:00

"Remember you pave the future through your choices."Pete Wilson, PastorCrosspoint Church, Nashville, TN

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-79049366626635628432008-12-20T07:32:00.002-05:002008-12-20T07:32:00.570-05:00

According to FOX News, a Florida Woman says her former church plans to make her sins public. CLICK HERE to read their story. According to the Fox News report, she is no longer a member of the church. She left the church when they made it clear they disapproved of her continued sexual relationship outside of marriage. It is sad that a "believer" would consider living in sin over living in right

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-49764176732686894842008-11-14T07:30:00.001-05:002008-11-14T07:30:03.967-05:00

Continued from the previous post on“Robert’s Rules of Order, Or Not” found athttp://acts-5-29.blogspot.com/2008/10/roberts-rules-of-order-or-not_21.html~ ~ ~ ~ ~I tend to agree with Les that Robert’s Rules of Order are rules that are intended to help conduct an orderly meeting. I further agree that the ultimate outcome of any meeting is contingent upon the hearts of each participant.Although it

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-38985152069171275212008-10-28T01:10:00.003-04:002008-10-28T01:21:12.553-04:00

Have you ever thought about what it means to be a member of a local church? To many of us, it is a simple formality that gives us the right to vote at the annual business meetings and might even give us a sense of ownership in the programs. But is that really all there is to it? What exactly are you saying or committing to when you put your name on the membership rolls?Nine Marks Ministries has

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-14293940779908742352008-10-24T23:54:00.021-04:002008-10-28T08:28:10.492-04:00

Message presented for 2008 Associational Annual MeetingsHuron & Southeastern Baptist AssociationsMichiganWhen I was a teenager, I led the children’s church ministry for first through third graders in our church. I remember one of the favorite songs the children loved to sing was “I’m in the Lord’s Army.” They loved to stand up and do the motions and get excited to be in the Lord’s army.The

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-17716172365233629662008-10-21T19:33:00.002-04:002008-11-13T23:41:42.754-05:00

I have spent a good amount of my time recently dealing with revising or studying Church Constitutions and bylaws. As a part of that process, I submitted a current Constitution and bylaws to our lawyers for review and critique.As a part of their evaluation, they told me the following:"We do not recommend Robert’s Rules of Order specifically because they can prove to be too complicated, inflexible

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-26345325034511886212008-10-14T23:45:00.004-04:002008-10-14T23:57:48.531-04:00

(From the Introduction of theSAMPLE Church Constitution & Ministry Bylawsdocument produced by the Christian Law Association) Every church, must have an operational document. This is the internal ministry document that sets forth how the organization will operate, i.e., the purposes of the organization, the election of officers, when organizational meetings will be held, if and how members will be

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-52168938499742989962008-09-19T14:11:00.002-04:002008-09-19T14:16:22.276-04:00

A church decides to start an exercise and fitness class as an outreach to the community. The class meets one night each week. While church members conduct the classes, many of the participants are not members of the church. The group agrees to pay the church a "rental fee" of $500 per month. Some church leaders have expressed concerns over the legal and tax issues associated with these

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-35557277533222602702008-09-16T15:10:00.016-04:002010-09-15T22:23:28.991-04:00

(Help for Associational and Church Clerks) STEPS TO TAKING MINUTESMeetings may be conducted formally or informally, depending on the objective of the meeting and the circumstances. The following guidelines for taking minutes for committees, ministry teams, or for business meetings are based on Robert's Rules of Order. STEP 1 – The clerk needs to obtain the meeting agenda, minutes from the last

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-31192829572112278242008-09-08T10:26:00.006-04:002008-09-08T10:31:40.731-04:00

How exciting it was to watch Michael Phelps win eight Olympic gold medals in swimming a few weeks ago. Every night, our family gathered around the television to watch the drama. We were so proud to see this University of Michigan swimmer make history.For a number of years now, Michael has been a resident of Ann Arbor, Michigan. First as a student then as a resident who continued to train at the

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-26670746890637548482008-09-01T01:56:00.004-04:002008-09-01T02:06:18.253-04:00

According to estimates by the Alban Institute in Washington, D.C., at least 17 percent of clergy suffer from stress or burnout."The Charlotte Observer" reported. About 1,400 ministers a year call a toll-free hot line of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), which counsels ministers through its LeaderCare program.LeaderCare estimates that nearly 100 SBC pastors leave their ministry every

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-34164969944616033992008-08-26T16:15:00.005-04:002011-10-28T01:50:54.538-04:00

This is a good, practical article with ideas for effective use of welcome folders for your worship service/church guests. Here are the main headings of the article: Are you looking for ideas of what to put in a welcome folder for church visitors? Choose the Church Visitor Folder Preparing the Church Visitor Packet Audio recordings in Visitor Packets Distributing the Welcome Folders to Visitors

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-62492118737212317482008-08-01T23:19:00.006-04:002008-08-01T23:36:34.165-04:00

Following excerpts are from“The Dynamics of Small Church Ministry”by John M. Koessler,published in The Master’s Seminary Journal (Fall 1992):The majority of churches is North America are small - i.e., the small church is the normative institutional expression of the worshipping congregation among the Protestant denominations on the North American continent. One fourth of all ... (More) The

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-10112476815193686472008-08-01T22:39:00.003-04:002008-08-01T22:44:13.147-04:00

From the "Confessions of a Small-Church Pastor" BlogMost of my ministry has been in small churches and I love them! But I grew up in a church with over 500 in worship, so my first small church pastorate was almost a disaster. Out of that experience, I quickly developed some rules for pastoring a small church:Rule #1: Realize a small church is not a miniature big church. Remember “Mini-Me” in

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-89164280498402698542008-07-31T16:59:00.002-04:002008-07-31T17:01:34.627-04:00

Severe drought affects churches in northern Alabama,Tennessee, and northwest Georgia.Did you know that because of the drought in these areas,church budgets are greatly affected?Baptist churches are having to sprinkle for baptisms, theMethodists are using wet wipes for their baptisms, and theCatholics are praying that God will turn the wine back intowater.Received from Tim McNulty.--Brought to you

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-44075065770874599312008-07-23T17:43:00.001-04:002008-07-23T17:47:05.534-04:00

The foundational theological distinctive among Baptist Christians is a commitment to a regenerate church membership. My colleague John Hammett goes so far as to call regenerate church membership “the Baptist mark of the church.”[1] Proponents of this position argue that a local church’s membership is to be comprised only of individuals who have been born again and placed their faith in Jesus

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-63918342272073226182008-07-19T18:38:00.003-04:002008-07-19T18:54:32.890-04:00

One of the beautiful gifts the Lord gave the early church is the ministry of the deacon. In Acts 6 we find in the birth of the deacon its instigation, its initiation, its integration, and its inspiration.The deacon's instigation (vv. 1-2). The instigation of the deacon was to maintain unity in the early church.The deacon's initiation (v. 3). Certain qualifications were needed to be designated as

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-81235332656913724652008-07-18T14:14:00.001-04:002008-07-18T14:19:12.668-04:00

What is a healthy church? That’s a critical question for which all of my church friends seem to be trying to answer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . So with all of these varying thoughts on the matter, I thought why don’t I take a shot at defining a healthy church as well. Hence, with no further ado, here are Lash’s ...Seven Vital Signs of a Healthy Church(CLICK HERE

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-8279332858715796012008-07-18T11:55:00.001-04:002008-07-18T11:58:33.800-04:00

From "What is a Healthy Church Member?" by Thabiti Anyabwile (Posted on www.Crosswalk.com) When people who encounter for the first time the idea that church membership is necessary and important, many want to know, “Is the idea of church membership important? Where can I find it in the Bible?”As with so many things, you can’t turn in the Bible to “the Book of Church Membership” or to a chapter

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-66692766675733618902008-07-17T23:28:00.004-04:002008-07-18T00:00:29.944-04:00

Why it's time to raise the bar(An interview with Ken Sande by Leadership Journal)Membership is not all that important at our church, about a third of respondents to a recent Leadership Weekly poll said. While 38 percent said attenders were frequently urged to join, and 34 percent said the membership appeal was occasionally given, the remainder said their church placed little or no emphasis on

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-72879562598964504872008-07-10T20:43:00.004-04:002008-07-10T22:34:20.916-04:00

If we are to reach young people for Christ, we better understand them. This is easier said than done. Our dinner table is often confusing (at least on my side of the table) as my two teenage sons bounce around on topics and ideas that I sometime fail to follow. Why? They are of another generation. My sons were born to be a part of what is often called the Millennial Generation (born from 1980-

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-50450342339134091092008-07-10T20:21:00.003-04:002008-07-10T20:25:51.587-04:00

As an administratively gifted kind of guy, I remember the old rancher deacon in my first pastorate who said to me, "Preacher, we all need our bones, we just don't want 'em showin'."I have often remembered those simple words. Even though I still believe that Church structure and systems are all very important to accomplish our tasks ... it's usually not a good thing for it to be showing.

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-46742077770711952332008-07-09T00:54:00.006-04:002008-07-09T01:06:54.992-04:00

What condition is today's pulpit really in? When I was a pastor, I would sometime say to individuals that one of the struggles of the local church pastor was that he couldn't compare with that "slick" preacher on the T.V. Then, I would say ... "but when they are sick or dying, who will come minister to their needs?" The local pastor obviously. I pose another thought ... if the congregation is

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-56284699077126614292008-06-18T23:03:00.010-04:002008-11-13T12:26:06.694-05:00

Last week, my 15 year old son, Robert, and I went to the Flat Rock Speedway to watch the races. A fellow sitting almost directly behind us reminded me of that big bully in High School. He was mean spirited, vulgar, sexist, condescending and much more. By the end of the night, he was so drunk that his behavior was worse than ever.I thought of Jesus as he sought out the sinners of his day. I

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-52700625971823474452008-06-14T01:30:00.008-04:002008-06-14T11:42:15.330-04:00

On thinking about regenerate church membership and church member restoration, I tend to be more logical and less theological. Admittedly, there are many who have championed the theological arguments of this issue to which I agree; however, I am inclined to my simple yet logical thought process.It just makes sense to me that every local congregation is made up exclusively of believers who are

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-68632882057753165242008-05-30T00:25:00.002-04:002008-05-30T00:28:54.616-04:00

Our convention is statistically beginning a decline, especially looking at our declining baptisms over the past several years. It is time to do something about the condition of our convention. CLICK HERE to read entire article).

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-13069278160233660592008-05-27T22:23:00.005-04:002011-10-28T01:51:26.370-04:00

I came across this interesting video blog by Ed Young, Jr. Watch it and see what you think. Pastor Ed makes some good points. Following his analogy ... businesses go out and start additional franchises ... other locations ... right? Churches can also be a part of expanding through a ministry of "franchise expansion." In other words, when a church intentionally plans to expand (or reproduce)

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-84063190264438552762008-05-26T23:14:00.004-04:002008-07-19T18:38:17.009-04:00

Conflict resolution is important to the body of Christ. It is important to work through the knots of interpersonal relationships in the church without just cutting them off.There is a time to back off. (vs. 7) Sometimes the best thing we can do in conflict resolution is back off and give serious thought to the matter.There is a time to stand up. (vv. 5-7) Conflict resolution does not mean giving

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-90677563176997255292008-05-19T09:07:00.001-04:002008-05-19T09:09:33.557-04:00

1. Begin your message with the phrase, "You know what's wrong with you people..."2. Place the student Sunday school space near the "Ruth class" for ladies 70 and above.3. Move business meetings to Sunday morning and open up the floor by asking, "So does anybody have a beef?"4. Begin that year-long sermon series on the 40 weeks of Daniel.5. Place a polygraph machine on the front pew to be used

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-73344547084636348052008-05-16T02:05:00.008-04:002008-05-16T08:50:14.649-04:00

We are living in an era of opportunity. Michigan is suffering from an extreme economic downturn and many of our friends and neighbors are hurting. When people are hurting and in crisis, they are more receptive to hearing what Christ can do for them. It makes me think to ask …What is your church doing to reach people for Christ? What a simple question that has such eternal consequences for persons

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-36151149200018423512008-04-28T08:17:00.001-04:002008-04-28T08:17:56.175-04:00

After the church service a little boy told the pastor, "When I grow up, I'm going to give you some money.""Well, thank you," the pastor replied, "but why?""Because my daddy says you're one of the poorest preachers we've ever had."Credit: Doc's Daily Chuckle

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-26966824694873051412008-04-21T10:41:00.001-04:002008-11-13T12:26:06.919-05:00

A dog is truly a man's best friend. If you don't believe it,just try this experiment.Put your dog and your wife in the trunk of the car for anhour.When you open the trunk, who is really happy to see you?Received from Trey Nolen.------------------------------------------------------------------Brought to you by GCFL.net: The Good, Clean Funnies ListA cheerful heart is good medicine... (Prov 17:22a

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-32861450410248831472008-04-05T23:33:00.006-04:002008-11-13T12:26:07.151-05:00

Guest Column by Pastor Rob FreshourFirst Baptist Church, South Lyon, MIPublished on February 24, 2008_________________________________________Brad Powell, the lead pastor at the dynamic NorthRidge Church in Plymouth, writes: “I believe that the church is the hope of the world … when it’s working right. And therein lies the problem. Most aren’t!” (Change Your Church for Good: The Art of Sacred Cow

bobby gilstraphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729558075870244139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7234205419346495025.post-38656999267533798802008-04-05T23:27:00.009-04:002008-11-13T12:26:07.271-05:00

Guest Column by Pastor Rob FreshourFirst Baptist Church, South Lyon, MIPublished on March 2, 2008 _______________________________________________Last week I introduced a new concept, new at least to me – “tipping sacred cows.” What a crazy notion! I took the phrase from the sub-title of Pastor Brad Powell’s book, Change Your Church for Good: The Art of Sacred Cow Tipping. I share Pastor Brad’s

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Presented at the April 4, 2008 Annual Spring Meetingof Southeastern Baptist Association._________________________________________________ Soon after becoming your associational Director of Missions, I began to search for a way to communicate what I perceived to be the primary goals and objectives of a cooperative network of churches. I asked myself “What would be a God honoring reflection of

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One Sunday afternoon, the pastor's wife returned home withan expensive dress in hand. When her husband asked her aboutit, she explained."Well, I was on my way to put the church's offering money inthe bank, but I saw this amazing dress in the shop window. Iwas just trying it on when the Devil appeared and startedtempting me to buy it."At this point, the pastor was beginning to become angry."Why

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Internet Evangelism Resources

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My Father has reminded me often of my Grandfather's frequent prayer ..."Dear God, prepare us for whatyou are preparing us for."Rev. Thomas William GilstrapRev. Thomas Gilstrap was a bi-vocational pastor for many years in the Atlanta, Georgia area. He worked at the GM plant in Atlanta while pastoring the Mt. Zion Baptist Church. He and his wife, Flonnie Nation, were married in Floyd County on June

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This column was originally published in unedited form in the2007 Associational Book of ReportsSoutheastern Baptist Association, Monroe, MichiganOctober 5, 2007This week I called home to discover that Brenda had accidentally dropped her favorite casserole dish while preparing our dinner. She was in the process of trying to pick up the pieces, knowing that she could never reassemble the dish.When I

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My grandmother is a computer geek. She also has troubleremembering quickly sometimes. One day she couldn'tthink of what she wanted to tell us. Mom explained, "Your grandma is trying to retrieve theinformation, but it is taking awhile. Evidently shehasn't defragmented her hard drive lately." Received from Louise Norman. Brought to you by GCFL.net: The Good, Clean FunniesListA cheerful heart is

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2005 DIRECTOR OF MISSIONS REPORTThere is one thing that our home can never do without … glue. Virtually every week one of our family members searches the house for glue to stick something together. My two boys always want to glue together everything from paper to cardboard to wood. They collect paper towel rolls, film canisters, pipe cleaners and assorted other pieces of “junk” to create

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"There are only two options regarding commitment. You're either IN or you're OUT. There's no such thing as life in-between." -Pat Riley"Setting a goal is not the main thing. It is deciding how you will go about achieving it and staying with that plan." - Tom Landry"The country is full of good coaches. What it takes to win is a bunch of interested players." - Don Coryell"The will to win is

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