‘Worthy of Double Honor’? Opinions 3:16 and Pastoral Poverty

In his first letter to the church in Corinth, Paul writes, “So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel” (1 Cor. 9:14). A few verses prior, Paul rhetorically asks, “Do we not have a right to eat and drink?” (1 Cor. 9:4). In his letter to […]

Two Bible Texts to Strengthen a Pastor on Monday

Church ministry — whether you’re serving as a preaching pastor, an elder, a missionary, or otherwise — is a lot like baseball. It’s an exercise in managing failure. Here’s what I mean: Ted Williams, arguably the greatest hitter in professional baseball history, finished with a .344 career batting average. This means the “Splendid Splinter” succeeded […]

It’s Good for Church Members to Be Good to Their Pastors

An odd thing happened at my ordination council 48 years ago. As participants offered advice to me, a 21-year-old serving on a church staff and heading for pastoral ministry, one man’s counsel set off an inner alarm: “Don’t get close to your people.” What? I thought pastoral ministry was about engaging people. How does that […]

10 Ways to Encourage Your Pastor

Pastoring a church is not an easy job. Here are 10 ways you can encourage your pastor (or pastors): 1. THANK HIM (OR THEM). It’s not easy to preach every week. It’s not easy to carry the burden of ministry every day. A pastor rarely hears “thank you.” A good pastor isn’t in the ministry […]

Hagood church members show faith is greater than fire

Losing their building to a fire has only further ignited the faith of the members of Hagood Avenue Baptist Church in Barnwell. As the building burned Aug. 11 following a lightning strike, church members and leaders gathered in the parking lot to pray and support one another. On Aug. 12, the congregation held a prayer […]

Fire guts Camp Creek’s sanctuary, but members’ spirit undaunted

Their sanctuary is gone — now only a charred shell. A lightning bolt likely ignited the blaze that gutted the building on Sunday, July 2. But “the church is the people,” interim pastor Joe Hayes Jr. maintains, and the spirit of Camp Creek’s members remains undaunted. They will continue to worship on the northern Greenville […]

Churchgoers still watch livestream services, at least occasionally

As many churchgoers continue watching livestream church services at least occasionally, they also recognize limitations in its validity and utility. According to a Lifeway Research study, nearly 2 in 5 Protestant churchgoers (39 percent) say they have watched a livestream service instead of attending a church service in person on more than five occasions over […]