The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a disaster as, "a sudden calamitous event bringing great damage, loss, or destruction." As these events come raging into our lives, people need someone to come alongside them, if they are to survive and recover. What comes to mind when you hear: Katrina Moore, Oklahoma Tornadoes Colorado Wildfires Hurricane Sandy 9-11... Continue Reading →
Growing Churches Engage Their Communities
In Autopsy of a Deceased Church, Thom Rainer explores consistent themes among churches that have died. Then, in response to those themes, and most importantly, he walks the reader through the “radical paths necessary to keep the church alive to the glory of God.” One of the consistent themes he discovered was that dying churches... Continue Reading →
Hope for the Brokenhearted
When disasters come roaring into our lives, loss follows. The loss can be material possessions: our home, vehicles, household belongings, income, photos, and keepsakes. Even more devastating, the loss can involve loved ones. Those who have been affected by these disasters are left to cope with feelings of: Loss Intrusion Vulnerability Escape We must have... Continue Reading →
I’m Not Trained, but I Did Stay at a Holiday Inn Express Last Night
Believers often ask in Disaster Relief, “Why do I have to go through training to serve as a volunteer? Why can’t I just go help people?” Preparation is important in any area of ministry, because it enables us to be more effective in ministry. The wisdom writer in Ecclesiastes 10:10 declared, “If the ax is... Continue Reading →
Is Your Association Missional?
Baptist associations have been around since 1707, and there were already 125 local associations of Baptist churches established by 1814. Over the years, associations have served a variety of purposes and still do today because each association operates autonomously from the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) or state convention. The direction and mission of each... Continue Reading →
Earthquake Preparedness
Experts continue to predict that the New Madrid Fault Line, which includes portions of Kentucky, will eventually produce an earthquake of 7.7 magnitude or greater. A quake of this degree would generate 21 times the energy of the 2010 Haiti earthquake, and would likely cause significant structural and infrastructure damage. It would also potentially displace... Continue Reading →
Winter Readiness
If you have never prepared for winter, you may want to begin this year. Many experts are predicting an early winter with potential for harsh temperatures and large amounts of snow and ice. Severe weather is more than an inconvenience, it can be life-threatening if you are unprepared. Here are a few tips to help... Continue Reading →
The Bucket Project
Kentucky Baptists have a "Great Commission" opportunity at the 2014 Kentucky Baptist Convention Annual Meeting on November 11. How? Bring a bucket of hope to the annual meeting. This will help us to push towards the finish line of our 2014 goal of collecting 5,000 hospice care buckets. These will offer compassion to people in... Continue Reading →
Healing and Hope
What is our calling as the church of Jesus Christ? If we look to the ministry of Jesus, we see that He demonstrated equal zeal for the ministries of preaching the Gospel and bringing healing to the broken. Luke 4:40-44 gives us a great example of the spiritually balanced ministry of our Savior: "When the... Continue Reading →
Well-Meaning?
While serving with a mission construction team, a friend of mine volunteered to install light switches. I was not sure that my friend had experience in electrical work, and so, in a few minutes, I went to check on him. I found him standing in a puddle of water, as he was working with the... Continue Reading →