An incredible church, a great church planter!
I recently attended a retreat with several church planters from around the United States. There I was introduced to Chris Edwards, pastor of Grace Baptist Church in South Charlotte (N.C.), who has planted an incredible church in a very affluent area of the city. That intrigued me because Independent Baptists typically avoid those two demographics – large cities and affluent areas. I decided to visit his church and check it out for myself.
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Grace Abounds in Sin City
Some things you have to check out for yourself. You know, they say, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”
I recently attended a retreat with several pastors from around the United States. There I met a young church planter named Mark Neal. A pastor at the meeting mentioned that Mark’s church in Las Vegas had experienced some pretty phenomenal growth after he planted it about five years ago.
That intrigued me, because I have been conducting a large-scale research project about Independent Baptists and knew very few church-planting projects in the United States had experienced substantial growth — much less “phenomenal growth.” So I decided to check out Oasis Baptist Church for myself. Read more
The Girl
It is official. After a string of five boys….we finally have a girl.
Her official name is “Abigail Kate”
To me she is just sweet “Abbie”
India and the Philippines
I had the privilege to visit two countries with my friend Zack Polyak in the month of April.
In India, we visited with Missionary Sam Thomas. We were blessed to spend time with Sam and his brother Paul. Sam and Paul are second generation missionaries; their father, K.C. Thomas served the Lord many years in India. Sam and Paul have done a great work for the Lord, laboring in a difficult country for many years.
We had the privilege of teaching and preaching sessions with many of the national pastors who have been trained in the Bible colleges started by the Thomas family. Each time I visit foreign countries and spend time with national pastors, I feel like I learn far more from them by listening to their testimonies and seeing their boldness to serve Jesus. Many of these men have been severely persecuted for their faith, yet they have unbelievable joy and greatly desire to do more for the Lord. During our short visit with Brother Thomas, we also attended an evangelistic service in the church of one of the pastors we had taught that day. I preached a simple message about the cross and several Hindu people trusted Christ as Saviour. We did some sightseeeing in New Delhi the next day and saw many of the historical attractions around the city.
From India, we flew to Iloilo, Philippines. We spent the next three days teaching and preaching at Brother Rick Martin’s Youth Conference. Zack and I had a great time with Brother Martin and his son and fellow missionary, Ricky. Hundreds of pastors attended the teaching and preaching sessions, and God did a marvelous work during the conference. While we were there, we travelled to a couple of churches outside of the city to visit with national pastors that have recently started churches.
I am amazed by the different cultures as I travel the world– the smells, the sounds, the electrical wiring, the food… (Thank God America does not dump everything on top of a bowl of rice!) God reminds me each time I travel that these very different people are precious souls that Jesus died to save. He has commanded me to love them just as much as my next door neighbors in Texas.
Pray that God would continue to open doors for church planters all over the world to take the Gospel to people who have never heard.
Champion Baptist College
It was a blessing to speak at Champion Baptist College in Hot Springs, Arkansas during the chapel hour. It was great to visit with the students and to get to know many of them! Champion is a special place where God is doing a great work in the lives of many young people. Praise the Lord for Dr. Mitchell, Brett Capaci, and the Dick Vitale of Fundamentalism…Eric Capaci! Read more