Ten Marks of a Church God Uses in Evangelism
Years ago, during my time in seminary, I came across a comprehensive book on church evangelism, titled “Evangelism Through the Local Church.” One chapter stood out to me: “The Church God Uses in Evangelism.” It was a powerful challenge for the church to be used by God to reach others with the Gospel. Now, years later, the […]
Rembert’s cohort helps pastors, associations serve urban communities
Dewayne Rembert said over the past few years, he’s gotten the same phone call several times. “They would say, ‘We really need a Flatline Church in our area,’” he said. “And I would ask, ‘Have you spoken to your pastors about what it would look like to support this type of church in your association?’” […]
Gilbreath: Give invitations at the end of services with compassion, urgency
Sammy Gilbreath said if a pastor woke up on Sunday morning and God told him, “Today is going to be Joe’s last Sunday,” he bets the message and invitation “would have a sense of urgency about it.” “Because we don’t know who will be back, approach every invitation with that kind of urgency,” said Gilbreath, […]
Evangelism leaders encourage passionate sharing of the gospel
“We’ve always had a goal of inspiration,” said Rob Jackson about “E3: Evangelize, Establish, Equip,” the state’s annual evangelism conference held at Lakeside Baptist Church in Birmingham on Jan. 26–27. Jackson, who serves as director of the office of evangelism and church health with the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions, said the goal of […]
Gainey: Perspective shift can make disciple-making natural part of daily life
Mark Gainey said disciple-making would be simplified for many people if they could think of it as one daily act — moving the people around them one step closer to Jesus. “I was trained to think of evangelism as an event where I have one conversation and at the end of it I am hoping […]
Dowdy said he believes evangelism begins in heart of pastor
Tim Dowdy told attendees at the Alabama Baptist State Evangelism Conference that the key to church evangelism is the heart of the pastor. “A pastor once told me he was just trying to keep his head above water,” Dowdy said. “I was a pastor for 31 years, and I know the pressures are enormous. But […]
Phil Waldrep leads off 2025 State Evangelism Conference
Alabama evangelist Phil Waldrep was the keynote speaker at the opening session of the State Evangelism Conference at Lakeside Baptist Church in Birmingham last night (Jan. 26). In his introduction, Rick Lance, executive director of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions, said Waldrep for 50 years had been both a “minister of encouragement and a master of encouragement.” During his sermon, […]
Clifton: Baptist churches in every neighborhood must make gospel impact
Mark Clifton chooses not to use the adjective “small” in describing most Baptist churches, but rather “normal-sized.” “Forty-six percent of our churches have fewer than 50 on Sunday morning, and 70% have less than 100,” he said. “I often talk about the number of Southern Baptist pastors who preached to more than 1,500 last Sunday. […]
Reavis says the Holy Spirit gives power for Kingdom work
Herb Reavis attended Moody Bible Institute and often saw a plaque there that read, “Near this place Dwight L. Moody knelt and asked God for a school.” “Moody wasn’t educated or ordained, but biographers said he ‘shook two continents for God,’” Reavis told participants at a Jan. 29 luncheon at the 2024 Alabama Baptist State […]
Reach more in ’24 for Christ, urges Rob Jackson
If Alabama Baptists want to “reach more in ’24,” we need to do less talking, open our eyes to the lostness in our communities and “commence going,” said Rob Jackson, director of the Office of Church Health for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions. Jackson explained the importance of doing these things during the 2024 […]