by Robert Earl Houston

I have not been in my office or in any church meetings since the end of May. I’ve been on sick leave because of a discovery of melanoma (cancer) upon my body following two biopsies, and removal of said cancer (praise God), and subsequent aftermath of a two hour surgery.

However, I want to share with you three things (among many) that I have learned during this time off as a pastor:

#1 – I Have Learned The Show Must Go On

This is going to rub a lot of pastors the wrong way – please forgive me for that – but when the senior pastor is down, the congregational life still (and must) roll on.

Meetings still have to be held. Rehearsals still have to be conducted. Sunday School still has to meet. Morning Worship still has to continue on. And yes, preaching still has to still be performed Sunday after Sunday. Bible Study still has to be taught as well.

If you’re ego is so large that you think you are the end all, be all of the lifeblood of your congregation – whether you’re the founding pastor or one in a great lineage of pastors – illness will teach you quickly that the church must still roll on.

I live right next door to the church and I get the benefit of hearing the car doors shut every morning that lets me know that church staff is there, in the afternoons that let me know that meetings are still being held, and evenings that corporate activities are going on.

Things should never stop with the Church just because the Pastor is ill.

# 2 – I have Learned That What You Taught Rises to the Occasion

I have noticed that my teaching and preaching is now reverberating through the congregation and they are doing what they’ve been taught.

Every Sunday we run a sick and shut in list in the weekly bulletin with an admonishment from me to visit them and send them cards. I now have accumulated a collection of beautiful cards of encouragement. This is a high-tech era, so I’ve gotten text messages, emails, tweets, and even electronic greeting cards.

Not only that, they have provided food and loving care. Just yesterday a couple of men from the church came over to change air filters and lighting – which I can’t perform due to being in a leg splint and under doctor’s orders to stay off my feet. The ladies of the church have brought meals to the house or given me and my wife money to purchase meals. This morning one of my Deacons came to the house and visited with me before worship because “I just had to lay eyes on my pastor.”

When you are a pastor who cares about the people and are known for getting up out of bed in the middle of the night to see about my members, I’m now the same recipient of that same love that I gave out.  My chairman of Deacons came to me and said something that I’ve said in many different settings, “I’ll handle it.” It’s comforting to know that the teachings of “loving one another” and “caring for one another” have resulted in watching it being performed.

#3 – I Have Learned That Being Missed Is Temporary but One Day will be Eternal

As I open the cards and emails, I keep reading these words: “We miss you.”  And when I can, I write back or communicate back, “I miss y’all too.” And hopefully in just a few short weeks, I will be returning back to my old routine (Lord willing).

When I get back, I expect to see stacks of stuff – papers, letters, requests – you know? The usual pastoral paperwork that 99% of the congregation is not even aware that takes place. I’ve had to cancel speaking engagements, teaching engagements and have to catch up with members and staff and to find out what’s going on at the church.

But a day is coming. If the Lord tarries, there will come a time when a future absence won’t be temporary, but it will be permanent. Whether it’s by death or relocation or adverse circumstances or the Lord’s direction – one of these days, Pastor Houston won’t be coming back. This illness has reminded me that none of us who serve as Pastors are permanent. We are in the long procession of men and women that have come before us and will follow after us.

As much as I love my church, I also owe it to my church to make sure that I’m not the focus of their worship and work – because I’m temporary. I followed a beloved minister who was temporary – albeit 46 years – he was guaranteed to be with the church forever. I’m just 53 and if I served as long as my predecessor I would be in my early 90s. Even if the Lord gave me unusual strength and zeal even with a pep in my step at 93 – there is still coming a day when my tenure is completed.

So, I am glad that we all remember that Pastors serve in seasons – but my job is to preach every Sunday, Christ and Him crucified. When I teach, the lesson is never about me – it’s about He who died, was buried, and rose with all power in His hand. It’s my job to remind everyone that pastors are human but Jesus is eternal.

In Conclusion, I can’t wait to get back on my feet. I thank the Lord for what I’m learning while off my feet.

Your comments are welcomed.

by Robert Earl Houston

It is 3:45 a.m. EST and I’ve just went through a physical episode. Sometimes you go through these kinds of things post surgery. It’s been a whirlwind of the last few weeks. From a suspicious mole, two biopsies, confirmation of a cancer (melanoma), surgery which entailed removal of a portion of skin down to the fat layer, grafting of skin from my groin to my foot, being placed in a durable splint, prescribed pretty strong medicines and a knee scooter, unable to walk up stairs, having to turn our living room into a bedroom, and basically unable to move and function.

But she’s been there.

My wife, Jessica Georgette Houston, deserves some well deserved props. This has been the most stressful season in our years of marriage, but she has confirmed to me that (a) the Holy Spirit truly led me to her and (b) He who findeth a wife, findeth a good thing.

She has had to take off from her job to take care of her husband – and let me say, I know, I’m not a day at the beach to deal with. But she does it with a smile and grace that is incredible. She has done so even with her own mother being hospitalized days before my surgery. I wanted to send her home to Sacramento to see about her mother and she refused, “I need to be with my husband.” 

Today, she went to church and represented me today and brought greetings and an update to the church. She has cooked, cleaned, prepared a diet for me during this downtime and made sure that everything’s in place. Our master bedroom is upstairs and the day before surgery, we discussed that I wouldn’t be able to make the stairs and she said, “we’re going to sleep downstairs.” She gave up the comfort of our new King Sized Bed (we had just purchased a new mattress) to sleep on an oversized love seat.

She’s had to assist her 6’2, 300+ pound husband out of his chair – because I can’t rise of my own strength. She’s prepared sponge baths for me to utilize because even if I could go up the stairs, I can’t take my normal showers right now due to my surgical dressing.

I just want to put on the record that I appreciate and am thankful for my wife. She’s a gorgeous, godly woman. She is the First Lady of First Baptist Church and she does it with style and elegance. She’s my confidant, my right arm, my left arm – she’s all that and a bag of chips.

So, I just want to give the girl her props. You hear a lot about dysfunctional pastor-wife relationships, but I’m grateful to God for the woman of God that He has brought into my life. We’ve come this far by faith and the best part of it is, we’ve been leaning on the Lord, trusting in His name, He’s never failed us yet.  Please keep Jessica in your prayers as she ministers to her husband.

Your Comments are Welcomed.

by Robert Earl Houston

My heart is very heavy to hear of the homegoing of my friend and my mentor, Dr. Tony Lloyd Lewis, retired pastor of the Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church of Los Angeles, California and former pastor of the Macedonia Baptist Church of Pomona, California and the church where I was baptized, the Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church of Portland, Oregon.

He was a native Louisianan, where he went home after a lengthy illness. He was a proud graduate of Bishop College and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, where he earned his D.Min. Dr. Lewis was one of the original contributors to The Sermon Sharing Service and even after he formally retired, his written sermons were heard around the world.

Dr. Lewis inspired and theologically challenged and stretched me – many a late night evening was spent on the phone jousting with him about politics (he was a political junkie of the highest order), life, marriage, church, and church life.  It was not unusual to hear him pivot mentally from one subject to the next and he had a tremendous sense of humor.

Academically,  he was one of my profs at North Portland Bible College (briefly) and he is the one who told me about a church in Fresno, California, the Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church. We became quick friends when he was called to pastor the Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church, succeeding the Rev. LeeArthur J. Madison. Morning Star was the church where I gave my life to the Lord under the founder’s leadership, Rev. Sylvester McCullumn and where my mother and sisters are members to this day.

He was on the ordination council when me and Rev. Walter Monroe Brown, Jr. were ordained. We pastored together and fellowshipped together when I became the pastor of the Greater St. Stephen Missionary Baptist Church succeeding the late Reverend Amzie Bailey, Jr.

Dr. Lewis was the author of the “Battlefield” and “Pallbearers” trilogies published by R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation in Nashville. He was kind enough to include me in several of the introductions of his books, and I had the priviledge of doing so upon publication of my first book, “See You In the Morning,” in return.

Denominationally, Dr. Lewis was the Vice Moderator of the Union District in Portland, and when he moved to Pomona, he discovered there was no local fellowship of Baptist Churches and he organized and served as the First Moderator of the San Gabriel Valley District Association (I believe that was the name of it).

When I was a young pastor, I was asked to produce the Musical for the General Baptist Convention of the Northwest, and we had a packed-out house. I invited the Governor and the Mayor and I made one mistake – I forgot to include a photo of the State President. Several of the local pastors wanted the State President to hang me to the wall for this “unforgettable act.”  It was two people who “saved” me that night. One was Portland’s Mayor J.E. “Bud” Clark, who said, “Dr. O.B. Williams – I know you are proud to have young men around you like Pastor Houston, who has worked hard to make this event successful.”  Then Dr. Lewis got up and said, “Brother President, we don’t need a photo of you in the program, we already have your image in our hearts.” Whew, I was saved!!!

He suffered with illness and had to retire from active pastoring but he always told me – “Bob (that’s what he called me), man, make sure you take care of your health.” After moving from Los Angeles, he went home to his native Lake Charles, Louisiana. He would be asked by a local church to teach every now and then and he relished the opportunity and prepared for the classes with the zeal of a true soldier in Christ.

He passed away last night. Today, Dr. Lewis is healed throughout eternity. My condolences and the prayers and support of the First Baptist Church (which is the only church I pastored where he didn’t stand in the pulpit and preach due to illness) in Frankfort, go to his family. This is a great loss on the earth and a great addition in the heavenlies. T.L., I’ll see you in the morning.

HOMEGOING INFORMATION WILL BE INCLUDED ONCE IT IS RECEIVED.

Your comments are welcomed.

June 14, 2013

Dear Friends,

On Wednesday, June 12, 2013, our dear friend and brother in the Lord, the Reverend Dr. Tony Lloyd Lewis went home to be with the Lord.

Many of us are familiar with Dr. Lewis’ life and ministry. He was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, educated and gave His life to Lord and surrendered himself to ministry. He was educated at historic Bishop College in Dallas, and completed his D.Min. studies at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.  While in Dallas, he was Minister of Christian Education under the leadership of the late Senior Pastor, Dr. E.K. Bailey.

He went on to serve as Senior Pastor of three congregations: The Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church in Portland, Oregon; The Macedonia Baptist Church in Pomona, California and finally, The Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church of Los Angeles, California. He wrote sermons for the Sermon Sharing Service, which were literally preached around the world. He retired from Zion Hill, due to health concerns, and relocated to his native Louisiana and united with the First Presbyterian Church, where he joyfully served as one of the Adult Bible Teachers, when his health allowed.

This letter is to ask you for your support. His family is in need of your financial assistance to complete his burial services, as he did not have life insurance. At present, those costs are approximately $12,000.00.  Many of us who are pastors have had to come to the aid of a brother pastor – and this family needs our support – immediately.

There are three ways to help:

1) You can send an immediate PayPal gift to the family by going to www.paypal.com and selecting “send money online.” All payments should go directly to Dr. Lewis’ daughter, Kimberly Lewis Stidum, by using her email address, KimberlyStidum@yahoo.com.

2)  You can request from your local bank a bank transfer to an account which has been created at Chase National Bank. The account number is 223367328 and please note “Dr. T.L. Lewis Fund” in the notation. This will go directly to Kimberly and the Family for expenses.

3) You can mail a gift directly to: Kimberly Lewis Stidum, PO Box 103, Katy, Texas 77449.  Again, make all checks payable to Kimberly Lewis Stidum.

Pastors, please respond with the best gift possible!  Men and Women of God, whose lives were touched by Dr. Lewis, please respond with the best gift possible! He who has sown into our lives with spiritual food – it’s now time to return back a portion of those blessings with our gifts to this family in need.

On behalf of the Family, we wish to make the following announcement concerning the Homegoing Services. All services will be held at the First Presbyterian Church, 1801 2^nd Avenue, Lake Charles, Louisiana 70601,  (337) 433-4667, Rev. Chandler (Chan) Willis, Senior Pastor.
Friday, June 21, 2013 – 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (CST)
Visitation Period and Viewing of Remains
During this service, a period of remembrance will be held, allowing all Pastors and Friends to have expressions and remembrances.

Saturday, June 22, 2013 – 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (CST)
Visitation Period and Viewing of Remains

Saturday, June 22, 2013 – 11:00 a.m. (CST)
Homegoing Services – Rev. Chandler (Chan) Willis, Officiating

We pray that you will keep this family in your prayers and ask the Lord’s comfort upon them as they walk through this season of sorrow. May the Lord bless you for your response.

Sincerely,

Pastor Robert Earl Houston
Frankfort, Kentucky

Pastor Michael Moore
Oakland, California

Mt. Moriah Baptist Church located in Starr, South Carolina (Anderson County/Upstate South Carolina) is

seeking a Pastor called by God dedicated to the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Pastor shall be guided by

the principles set forth in I Timothy 3:1-7. The Pastor shall instruct the congregation in religious truth and

guide the church to internal order. All candidates must be licensed and ordained in the Baptist Church and

seeking to lead the 200 – 250 congregation as a visionary of God to further grow the church. The Pastor shall

be a believer in the basic doctrine of the regular Missionary Baptist Church and a Preacher of the Gospel.

Theological education and work experience shall be such as to provide with the ability to exercise intellectual

and spiritual leadership for the congregation. All such education and work experience shall be verified.

A successful candidate will meet the following minimum criteria:

- Licensed and Ordained Baptist Minister

- Bachelor Degree in Theology, Divinity or Biblical Studies from an accredited institution

- Pastoral experience (3 – 6 years significant related ministry experience which includes experience in

church administration (e.g. Assistant Pastor, Senior Pastor, Associate Minister, Ministerial Leader)

- Candidates’ personal character and financial standing must be above reproach

- Demonstrated ability to deliver biblically sound (stimulating, inspirational, spirit filled) sermons

The following are primary duties of a pastor:

- Serve as a spiritual leader for the congregation

- Provide guidance and support for all ministries of the church

- Effective Preacher & Teacher

- Effective Administrator

- Effective Communicator and Listener

- Plan and conduct worship service

- Officiate weddings, funerals, baby dedications, etc.

- Pastoral counseling

- Lead in administering the Holy ordinances of Baptism and Communion

- Provide pastoral ministry to those experiencing illness, bereavement or other conditions

- Demonstrated ability to work with a diverse population

- Support and Commit to the Mt. Moriah Baptist Church Covenant, By-Laws, and Mission Statement

- Able to collaborate with the deacons, trustees, officers and others to administer church business

- Strong supporter of Youth Ministries/Programs

- Community involvement

- A love for the congregations’ spiritual care and welfare

- Perform other duties as may be required

All interested persons should submit cover letter, resume, 8 page application, degrees/certifications/licenses,

and a DVD of a recent sermon postmarked by August 7, 2013 to:

Mt. Moriah Baptist Church

Attn: Pastoral Search Committee

P.O. Box 13006

Anderson, South Carolina 29624

Missing information may result in automatic disqualification.

To view the application form go to:  http://resources.razorplanet.com/510611-8783/pastoralsearch1370724311.pdf

History

The Second Baptist Church of Ypsilanti, Michigan prior to 1860 worshiped under the First

Baptist Church of Ypsilanti. In late 1860, eleven founding members organized themselves to

form the Second Baptist Church of Ypsilanti. Since then the church has grown to become an

anchor in the Ypsilanti community, spawning many other local churches from its rich heritage.

For more than 152 years we have witnessed growth in the lives of our congregation. It is our

desire to continue that growth by preaching and teaching the abiding Word of God as we reach

out to welcome all, to Second Baptist.

Position Overview

Second Baptist Church of Ypsilanti, Michigan is seeking a full-time pastor called by God to

serve as the spiritual leader of the congregation. The pastor is responsible to God and the church

to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, to teach the Bible, to provide Christian leadership in all

areas of the church and to engage in pastoral care of the congregation. The pastor is also

responsible for the overall leadership of the day-to-day operations of the church, staff, services,

membership and promoting the spiritual interest and growth of the church.

Qualifications

• The Pastor shall meet the New Testament requirements for office as listed in 1Timothy

3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9

• Must be a Man of Prayer, Good Faith, Divinely called to Ministry and Godly in Character

• Ability to deliver biblically sound, inspirational, and Spirit-filled sermons

• Must also be licensed and ordained in the Baptist church

• Must be an effective leader / administrator

• Must be accessible and sensitive to the needs of all demographics within the congregation

• A visionary in church growth

• Must be a strong supporter of Bible Study, Sunday school and youth ministries /

programs

• Effectively work with, train and lead deacons, church officers, and ministries as they

perform their assigned responsibilities

• Must be married

• Must have six plus (6+) years of pastoral experience

• Must have at least a Bachelor’s degree

All interested and qualified persons must submit an initial Candidate Package consisting of

copies of the following information:

• Cover letter and current resume to include Pastoral experience (6+ years)

• Copy of ordination certificate and ministerial license

• Copies of all educational degrees including accredited theological seminary

• One reference letter from each (clergy, professional, and personal)

Additional Information may be requested and/or required.

For instructions about how to submit your candidate package and to learn more about Second

Baptist Church, please visit our web site at http://www.sbcypsi.org. All résumés must be submitted

by or postmarked no later than July 1, 2013

Triumph Missionary Baptist Church is seeking a born-again licensed/ordained Pastor with the following qualifications: • Pastoral experience preferred. • Willing and qualified to preach and teach God’s word. • Strong church Administrative abilities • Must meet the qualifications of 1st I Timothy 3:1-7. • Concerned about the spiritual growth of all members. • Willing to work with all organizations. • Willing to attend conferences and conventions. • Counsel Parishioners and visit the sick and shut-in • Bi-vocational. • Available to teach Bible Study. • Willing to support the Church Sunday School. • Must have a Missionary Baptist Church background. • Must promote stewardship and tithing. • Bachelor’s degree preferred. All applicants must submit a resume and three (3) verifiable references by June 30, 2013. Triumph Missionary Baptist Church Attention: Pastoral Search Committee 1250 Sticks Road Washington, NC 27889

Cornerstone Missionary Baptist Church in Greenville, NC is seeking a Senior Pastor with Transformational leadership skills and excellent preaching and teaching abilities. The senior Pastor should possess evidence of strong administrative, organizational and community leadership gifts. Applicants should demonstrate personal and theological maturity with a commitment to Baptist doctrine and principles. Candidates should possess a Master of Divinity degree from an accredited seminary and a minimum of five (preferably ten) years of pastoral experience. Salary and benefits are commensurate with education and experience. All interested persons should submit resumes by August 1, 2013 to: Kiplan Clemmons, C.M.B.C. Pastoral Search Committee P.O. Box 8623 Greenville, NC 27834 or Email: CMBCPastoralSearch@gmail.com

St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church in Oak City, NC is seeking a Senior Pastor with excellent preaching and teaching abilities. The senior Pastor should possess evidence of strong administrative, organizational and community leadership gifts. Applicants should demonstrate personal and theological maturity and commitment to Missionary Baptist doctrine and principles. Candidates should possess some pastoral experience. Salary and benefits are commensurate with education and experience. All interested persons should submit resumes and three verifiable references by August 1, 2013 to: St. Mark Pastoral Search Committee (sorry, we don’t have a listing for the address – working on it).

by Robert Earl Houston

Today marked the end of a 40 year pastoral career in San Diego, California. Today is the final Sunday as pastor of the Bayview Baptist Church for my friend, and friend of all preachers, Dr. Timothy James Winters.

I met Dr. Winters many years ago. I knew of him from afar and became one of his colleagues at the California Missionary Baptist State Convention and then we became quick friends when the Lord moved me to San Diego in 1995. Dr. Winters was president of the Baptist Ministers Union and one of the first pastors in the area to reach out to me and welcome me to the area.

We exchanged pulpits on several occasions. My congregation was about 1/10th of the size of Bayview, but that was never an issue in our fellowship. When I came to San Diego and people were joining there by the droves, Dr. Winters spoke highly of it, and I think he respected the fact that I wasn’t try to “sheep steal” but just preach and let the Lord send whomever He would send.

Matter of fact, when I decided to leave my congregation in San Diego – Dr. Winters was one of the first to hear it and he gave me great counsel. He encouraged me, brought me back to Bayview on several occasions to preach. And when he was in the area, I made it a point to find him, if for nothing else, to break bread. He is a walking encyclopedia of pastoral knowledge.

I appreciated the honesty in his counsel. He was the pastor that encouraged me to step out on faith, especially in the area of personal stewardship. Anyone who knows me, knows that I have no problem with giving – at my church, in my General Association, even in my National Convention – and it’s because I watched Timothy J. Winters – even in his building programs, be one, if not the, biggest givers in San Diego.

He reached out to younger pastors. When I came to San Diego in the 1990s, it was known for having the “younger pastors” who had at least 10, 15, and 20 years of experience. He was a city-wide icon – but he still had time for younger pastors like myself, Charles E. Price, G.A. Williams, E.M. Williams, Edward Johnson, and others. He added me to the staff of the Baptist Ministers Union, when he was President, and we served together in the Progressive Baptist District Association.

I never will forget he was the guest speaker for New Hope Friendship Baptist Church’s Church Anniversary. The place was packed. During the offering he said this – “We can’t celebrate the bride (the church) without celebrating the groom (the pastor) . . .” and he reached over and gave me a generous check. It brings tears to my eyes because he didn’t know how needed those funds were.

In ensuing years, I’ve been a guest of Dr. Winters and Bayview (and of course his wonderful wife, Betty Winters) and he never put me up in a Motel 6 type of hotel. He was always generous and put me in beautiful hotels and great venues.

Dr. Winters’ monogram is easily that captain’s cap he wore around the country. You always  knew that Dr. Winters has a love for being near the ocean and from the highest point of Bayview, you could look down and see the ocean. He planted congregations with the “view” name attached, all thriving to this day.

An author and lecturer on Church Growth and a specialist on Stewardship. He took stewardship to another level and taught “grace giving” that meant that giving should not be restricted to just the tithe. In his tenure, Bayview built a beautiful sanctuary (and recently did a major remodel) and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Educational Building that houses offices, classrooms and a world-class dining hall. Additionally, the church owns significant amounts of property in the neighborhood. It’s a far cry from the day he became the pastor 40 years ago.

I pray that my friend will enjoy his well deserved retirement. He has hosted some of America’s best preachers. He has been a denominational leader within National Baptist Convention of America, Inc. International, and supporter of causes. He is an entrepreneur of the saved kind. And knowing him, retirement means he’ll have more time to devote to writing, travel (especially to Greece), and spending his golden years with Sis. Betty.

Whatever his next chapter will be, his gospel will remain the same . . . giving.

YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

From Philly.com:

Former Congressman William H. Gray, III, a giant in Philadelphia politics who mentored a generation of African American leaders, died Monday in London, according to his office in Washington. He was 71.

No cause of death was immediately available.

Family spokesman Bill Epstein said Gray was attending the tennis matches at Wimbledon with his youngest son, Andrew. “Apparently, it was a sudden death,” said Epstein, who served as press secretary when Gray was first elected to Congress.

In Harrisburg, the House stood and paused in a moment of silence. Friends struggled to grasp the news that he was gone – he seemed strong, an avid tennis player. Others who knew Gray for decades – colleagues, political allies and church members – recalled him as a respected Philadelphia pastor, a fighter for justice and a man of keen political sense who put his charisma to good use.

“He could walk down the hallway, and everybody knew him, he knew everyone,” said Congressman Bob Brady. “I’m absolutely positively shocked. It’s a major, major loss to the city, to the area and to the nation.”

At the time of his death Gray was chairman emeritus of Gray Global Advisors, a business and government consultancy. Prior to founding the firm, he was president and CEO of the United Negro College Fund, for which he raised over $2.3 billion for minority institutions.

His home was the pulpit of Bright Hope Baptist Church in North Philadelphia, one of Philadelphia’s most elite and best known black churches. In 1972, Gray succeeded his father, who had succeeded his own father. Gray remained pastor during the time he served in Congress, from 1979 to 1991, commuting from his home in the northern Virginia suburbs of Washington to preach on Sundays.

“If you look back over the last 50 years, there’s a handful of people that stood out as transformative leaders in Philadelphia and Bill Gray is one of them,” said George Burrell, a former city official and longtime political ally who attended Bright Hope under Gray.

Burrell counted Gray as one of his two or three closest friends. Their children grew together. Burrell got involved in Gray’s first campaign for Congress, spending almost every day with him. They played tennis on a regular basis.

In 1991, Gray surprised political watchers by leaving Congress to lead the college fund. He continued to run the church as pastor.

Friends reacted with shocked surprise Monday evening to news of Gray’s death, noting his relatively young age.

Gray represented the Second Congressional District of Pennsylvania and rose to become Majority Whip of the House of Representatives, the first African American in the 20th century to assume that leadership post. He also served as chair of the Budget Committee, and member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation and Foreign Operations.

“He was a trailblazer. He was a pioneer,” said state Rep. Dwight Evans, who considered Gray a mentor and teacher. “I learned a lot from him about building relationships with rural legislators. He set a tone, not just for Philadelphia and Pennsylvania, but for the nation.”

In Congress, he helped shape the direction of U.S. foreign policy and pushed government resources towards international aid and development.

“I think he could have been speaker of the House if he had stayed in,” said Peter Vaira, a former U.S. Attorney and longtime friend. “Everybody – no matter which side you were on – could work with him.”

Vaira served as Gray’s attorney during a 1991 federal investigation that resulted in no charges. Federal authorities were seeking evidence in a criminal investigation that focused on the congressman’s finances, according to published accounts. On Monday, Vaira dismissed the investigation as “purely political.”

Gray’s influence in Philadelphia was enormous. He worked relentlessly for social justice and mentored a generation of young African American leaders.

The Rev. William B. Moore felt numb last night after hearing the news. The two met in 1974 in Philadelphia, and Moore worked for Gray in Congress. He would fill in at Bright Hope when Gray was not available.

“A great humanitarian,” Moore said. “He loved people. He loved helping people. He loved helping the city.”

Gray would say he was a politician but then add “first and foremost, I am a Baptist preacher,” Moore said.

“We would end each conversation telling each other how much we loved each other and appreciated each other,” Moore said. “He was very loyal to his friends.”

Philadelphia City Councilwoman Marian Tasco worked as Gray’s campaign manager in 1977 and 1978 and went on to work as his director of constituent services in Philadelphia between 1979 and 1983, when he was in Congress.

She was still trying to process the news of her mentor’s death on Monday.

“He’s just not somebody I would expect not to be here,” said Tasco.

Gray was always there, said Bill Miller IV, whose 50th Ward organization in Northwest Philadelphia helped elect Gray to Congress and remained closely allied with him over decades. Gray was so attentive to detail, even as the U.S. House majority whip, that he would call his people in Philadelphia in the middle of the night to talk strategy in elections.

“He rose to the highest level of Congress, and yet he would still call you about ward and division politics,” said Miller, a public-relations executive and veteran political consultant. He and his wife Linda, the former ward chair, were at Tasco’s house Monday to try and process the news.

They would strategize, always over lunch, all over the place – Holmes’ Restaurant in Camden, Susanna Foo in Center City, Tobin’s in West Oak Lane – where he would play Pac-Man between feasting on fried chicken and fish. He loved Pac-Man so much that he bought a real arcade version for his house.

Tasco said Gray discussed his health during a conversation last week. He told her he was following his doctor’s orders “because I want to be here a long time and enjoy my grandchildren,” Tasco recalled.

Gray doted on his two grandchildren, she said. And he was a great orator, she noted. “Short, sweet, to the point. He left you feeling good,” Tasco said.

“I think Bill Gray was the most significant African American political figure in Philadelphia in the past 35 years,” former Mayor Wilson Goode said Monday night. “His accomplishments as a Congressmen, as budget chair and majority whip put Philadelphia on the map. did incredible work in so many ways for this city.”

Goode said he and Gray met 42 years ago. They worked together on Gray’s unsuccessful campaign for Congress in 1976. Gray was a significant supporter when Goode ran for mayor in 1983.

The two had met four times during the past year, including twice for lunch in Washington.

Goode rattled off names – Burrell, Tasco, Evans, Bishop, Chaka Fattah. “There is a whole list of people who got elected becasue Congressman Gray supported them”

“He was a supporter of women in politics,” said Rep. Louise Bishop (D., Phila.). “I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for him. I did not dream I would ever be serving in House of Representatives. There is a void, Congressman Gray has been called to another assignment.”

Gray “built a very significant and formidable political organization in this town,” said Carl Singley, former dean of the Temple Law School, referring to Gray’s helping develop prominent political figures such as U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah and former State Rep. John F. White Jr.

In 2004, after spending half his life as pastor of Bright Hope Baptist Church of North Philadelphia, Gray decided to step down, ending three generations of successive family leadership.

“We’ve had five pastors – and three of them were named William H. Gray,” said a friend and member of Bright Hope, Augusta Clark.

Gray had preached at Bright Hope since 1972, after the death of his father, William H. Gray Jr. The plan was for Gray to be succeeded by Rev. Cean James, the church’s executive pastor.

But in 2005 the church was jarred by two revelations and Gray besieged with questions: Why did Bright Hope, widely considered Philadelphia’s proudest and most elite black church, fail to detect false academic claims made by the young preacher who was designated to succeed Gray? And why did the church allow a choir director recently accused of sexual offenses with underage girls to remain in his job?

Gray found himself on the defensive and was forced to cancel his plan to retire from the church, even though he had already had begun a new job as a consultant at a major law firm in Washington.

On a freezing cold day in February 2007, Gray gave his farewell sermon at Bright Hope Baptist Church. Hundreds of parishioners and guests braved bitter cold and jostled for pew space to hear him.

Standing on the same pulpit from which the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once preached, the then 65-year-old former congressman read a verse from Joshua. He used the transfer in leadership of the Israelites from Moses to Joshua as a metaphor for the passing of church leadership to Kevin Johnson, a former assistant minister at Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem.

“We must grow and evolve into what God intended us to become,” Gray shouted, his arms reaching toward the often cheering crowd. “Our new Joshua is well-trained and filled with the holy spirit.”

Gray said afterward that he planned to spend more time with his family, and would remain active with the church as pastor emeritus.

by Robert Earl Houston

I saw this subject shared by an Apostolic  friend on Facebook, and did some adapting for those of us in the Baptist family:

–The Baptist Ministers Pledge–

I pledge to God that I will preach in season and out of season the tenants of the Christian faith. I will preach the whole counsel of God. I will not neglect the necessary time of prayer, devotion, meditation and preparation to give to the people of God the very best of my service.

I will preach . . . even when it hurts the congregation and/or me personally.

Knowing that I am in a lineage of those who have carried the gospel of Jesus Christ and proclaimed it at great personal peril and price, I will not barter away my participation in preaching the Word of God. I will preach the Word faithfully, impassioned by the knowledge that every word must count, every sentence can be life and death to the hearer and that salvation is not through the power of my presence but by the excellency in Christ Jesus.

I will preach . . . even if my life is in jeopardy and my possessions are few.

I will preach the Word of God and be prepared at all times to preach the Gospel. My preaching is subject to the leading of the Holy Spirit and I refuse to abdicate my duty to preach using every available tool at my availability. I will preach the Gospel to those who are in high authority, those who have achieved academic or public success and yet I will preach to those who are outcasts, overlooked and outside of the social stratosphere.  This gospel is protected by the Holy Spirit but must not be censored from the hurting, the displaced and those who are going through the trials of life.

I will preach . . . even if there is only a handful to hear me.

I recognize that preaching is not a vocation, it’s the calling that God has upon my life. I was born to preach – even if I didn’t recognize in my earlier years, God has prepared me, to preach the gospel, for such a time as this. Therefore, this Gospel will not be bought, bartered nor purchased to change it’s ramifications. This Gospel cannot be coerced to be palatable. This Gospel cannot be presented watered-down, sugar-coated and must never be proclaimed without including the death, burial, resurrection and return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  I preach a gospel that is inclusive of the presence of the Godhead – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit – always eternal, always faithful, and always seeking reconciliation with mankind. Not only will I preach it, I must apply it’s principles to my own life.

I will preach . . . and support others who do and help those who will come after me in this lineage of ministry.

YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELCOME

by Robert Earl Houston

LOUISVILLE, KY – 20 years ago several charismatic baptist pastors organized what many traditional baptist convention leaders dismissed oft-hand, the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship.  I remember having reservations about my local district association which decided to teach an entire week “against” their foundational statements and structures. There were many National, State, and District leaders that went on the record and/or in private discussions that said “(Bishop Paul Sylvester) Morton and them ain’t going to last ten years.”

I was in attendance at the very first session of the Fellowship in New Orleans and to be honest – I had some doubts but time has told the tale. I remember sitting way up near the top of the New Orleans Superdome and never having seen that many black baptists gathered together in one spot. The worship was unlike anything I had ever seen. Nomenclatures were used that I had never heard before in the Baptist Church – Bishops, Overseers, Tiers of Leadership, Presiding International Bishop, a Policy and Procedures Manual, Protocol – and a plethora of terms never used among us “good baptists.”

There was a sound from the music ministry that hadn’t been heard or seen before. There was jubilation. There was movement. There were keyboards and hammonds and drums and horns and then, praise and worship – which is now a staple in most of our churches. That act alone was amplified at Full Gospel.

Twelve “founding fathers” – many of them who were supporters of the traditional baptist conventions – stepped out and stepped away to partner with Bishop Paul Sylvester Morton, pastor of the St. Stephen Baptist Church, New Orleans. Joining Bishop Morton was Bishop Odis A. Floyd (who had folded his Free Spirit movement in with Full Gospel) of Flint, MI; Bishop Larry D. Trotter of Chicago; Bishop Carlos L. Malone of Miami; Bishop J.D. Wiley of New Orleans; Bishop K.D. Johnson; Bishop Larry D. Leonard of Houston; Bishop Kenneth Robinson of Little Rock; Bishop Kenneth Ulmer of Los Angeles; Bishop Fred Caldwell of Shreveport; Bishop Robert Blake of New Orleans; Bishop Eddie Long of Atlanta; and Bishop A.R. Williams. (Sorry I don’t have all of the hometowns for the Bishops). These men constructed a new structure – from scratch.  Gone were District Associations, District Congresses, State Conventions and State Congresses, gone were even national “conventions.” They even had the “nerve” to change the administration of a national group of predominantly black baptists from a democracy to a theocracy.

“It’ll never work”
“It don’t take all that”
“All they want is a collar and a title”

The answer from Bishop Morton and the Founding Fathers was simple – “Baptists have a right to choose.”  While denominational leaders cursed them, the Fellowship grew. Younger pastors, who had no allegiance to the historic conventions or who saw no value in the conventions, left in droves. This was also around the time of the demise of Bishop College – where young seminarians were introduced to and received support from the National Baptist Conventions. Even pastors who questioned the necessity of supporting conventions where denominational leaders were not responsive or appeared concerned about them personally but were too engaged to operate corporately – that pastors and their congregants. Nobody wants to be a member of a convention and the leadership act as though they don’t care about empowering or encouraging the local pastors.

20 years later, Full Gospel is still around. Vibrant. Alive. They met this week in Louisville in their annual 6 in 1 Conference – a Pastors Conference, a Men’s Conference, a Women’s Conference, a Youth Conference, a Young Adult Conference and a Worship (Music) Conference. When I parked my car at the Galt House – something impressed me. I saw license plates from literally all over the country. Bishop Neil C. Ellis announced that he led a delegation of 500 persons from The Bahamas, who paid over $750 each to attend the Conference. Inside the hallway I saw something else – pastors from the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., the National Missionary Baptist Convention of America, the Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc., and the National Baptist Convention of America, along with pastors from other baptist and non-baptist traditions. Even with Bishop Morton preparing to retire as International Presiding Bishop in 2015 . . . the Fellowship will, no matter who’s in charge, will survive.

I saw young pastors, adult pastors, and elder pastors.
I saw singers and recording artists.
I saw an exhibit hall that offered resources that outweighed hats, shoes and suits.
I saw resources from colleges to insurance to information.
I saw giving on a level without brow-beating and coercing.
I saw corporate sponsorships coming from the likes of McDonald’s.
I saw a technical savvy like I’ve never seen before.
I saw youth and children stopping and praying for each other.

Full Gospel is open to all. There is no such thing as women being in subservant or secondary roles. There are pastors who don’t have women in ministry, but they aren’t protesting the vision of Bishop Morton, by allowing women to serve, preach and teach.

What you don’t hear are the chaotic reports, the excuses for dwindling attendance, the motions and seconds, and you don’t hear any pastor bashing – it is never tolerated. The people are taught to honor the men and women of God at the pastoral level. I have been strengthened this week, I’ve been encouraged this week, and I’ve been helped this week.

I don’t know about the four traditional conventions – but I think the paradigm has been challenged by Full Gospel and maybe the order needed a good holy kick. I predict that we may see, in this generation, either consolidation of some of the tradition conventions or in order for them to survive – a drastic change is in order.

by Robert Earl Houston

Last night I went to bed angry. I know, the scriptures are very clear about not letting the sun go down on your wrath – but I had one thing on my mind after watching a nationally televised denominational meeting: what to do after the sermon.

I grew up in a church where the sermon was half-way during the service. After the minister preached, the invitation to was extended, then the announcement clerk came forward, some people got to make an appeal which echoed the announcements, then the pastor had something to say, then the choir would sing a closing number, benediction by the minister, shake three hands, and go home.

However, that method of the sermon being at the top or middle of the service is long passé.  Normally in most worship experiences, the sermon is at the end of the service – it’s the main event of worship. If you want to judge how well your praise team or devotional period is working – watch how many people come in late without a problem.  However, I digress.

When a pastor or minister has preached the gospel of Jesus Christ, my father in the ministry, Dr. A. Bernard Devers, I, taught us to extend the invitation.  I want to share what he shared with us to help, I pray someone who “doesn’t get it.”

Your job is to give people the opportunity to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior or renew or establish a relationship with the local church or in some cases, come forward for prayer or altar call (if the pastor’s directives are of such).  You don’t have to re-preach what has already been preached. And you don’t have to squall, whoop, or try to “coat-tail” on another preacher.  Just stand there sincerely and talk to souls that have been challenged by the word of God.

When I served at Westwood Baptist Church, University Center in Nashville as Assistant Pastor, my Pastor did something unique there. I was the only one who was allowed to extend the Invitation. That literally was placed on my job description. He felt that I had a gift for extending the invitation. I thought it was odd at first, but now I know this – everyone can’t extend the invitation.

You have to pay attention to the sermon being preached. You have to know and sense the flow of the Holy Spirit through the proclaimer. You have to been keen enough to sense what the Lord was doing through the sermon - was He challenging? Was He encouraging? Was He breaking fallow ground? Was He calling for repentance? Was He calling for celebration?

You cannot extend the Invitation if your sole purpose is to magnify yourself. You can be gifted as all heck and have the gifts to “slay the house” – but your job is not to make this a “me moment” – it’s to make it a “Him moment.” Your job is to make sure that after the sermon that you don’t make a fool of the preaching moment with self-serving buffoonery. If people can sit there and imagine you with facepaint and a cane – you’ve made a mockery of both the preaching moment and the Invitation.

Every sermon does not need an advertisement for dancing and praise. Some sermons cut like a knife and cause the hearer to perform the ultimate test – how should my life change in respect to the preaching of God’s word that I just experienced?  How do I need to respond to a word that has challenged my whole being?  Every Invitation is not an invitation to dance.

Finally, if you’re receiving an offering – receive the offering. You don’t need to create a funding campaign on the spot, nor do you need to announce your own preaching agenda for the next few weeks. Offerings don’t have to be eternal to be effective. An offering that is as long or half as long as the sermon should be examined under a very keen microscope.

YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED

by Robert Earl Houston

Convention politics is a ruthless animal. I don’t care which national baptist convention or methodist or COGIC or apostolic or any Christian or non-Christian group – when you get people together who worship together flawlessly, once the worship is over, human nature kicks in and a political atmosphere can easily divide what a spiritual atmosphere has produced.

Last week in Louisville, (and weeks beforehand), the talk of the nation was the transition of leadership in the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship.  Bishop Paul Sylvester Morton, Sr., International Presiding Bishop (IPB), had previously announced his “retirement” in 2015 and his desire to name his successor in 2013 in order that the new IPB could “learn the ropes” and that there would be a seamless transition. Literally, Bishop Morton would be IPB one day and there would be a new IPB the next day. It was a grand plan that apparently the Bishop Council approved.

Unfortunately, politics kicked in.

From laypersons to Pastors to Overseers to Bishops – camps started forming. There were all kinds of names being bandied about – because the initial word was that Bishop Morton would hand-pick his own successor. Even pastors and denominational leaders who didn’t “have a dog in the fight” were speculating on who would succeed the charismatic IPB from Louisiana/Georgia. Names were floated and scenarios were drawn:

- What IF Bishop Morton called Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer and asked him to return to Full Gospel?
- What IF Bishop Morton decided to look outside of the Bishops Council?
- What IF Bishop Morton chose a leader of a smaller group and sought a merger?

Names were thrown around at will and then as Louisville drew closer the talk settled down to two names:  Bishop Neil C. Ellis of Nassau, The Bahamas and Bishop Joseph Warren Walker, III of Nashville, Tennessee. I have met and worshipped with both men and have respect for both of their ministries and they are both trailblazers in their respective areas.

Bishop Ellis’ native country is The Bahamas, which is recently (within 50 years) set “free” from the Colonial rule of Great Britain, but still retains a strong influence which means that worship is along the line of Anglican (Church of England) worship. That style of worship is not a typical U.S. baptist worship, but lends itself to a more sedate worship. He broke the mold at Mt. Tabor Full Gospel Baptist Church and his ministry literally changed a generation of worshippers there. In Full Gospel he rose through the ranks and, in my opinion, is one of the top 5 preachers in Full Gospel.

Bishop Walker, a native of Shreveport, Louisiana, is a mega-pastor in Nashville of the Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church that was “in the hood” – right by Fisk, Meharry and Tennessee State Universities and “blew up.” Everyone in Nashville is aware of the growth of that 28,000 member plus congregation. Although they relocated the main worship centers to three different areas outside of the original property, they continued a commitment to that neighborhood and has a standing room only worship on Wednesday afternoons for the College and community, they maintain mission work in that area, and have strong ties to TSU and provides transportation, food, and ministry to the students. Of course, like Ellis, they both have national TV ministries. For the last few years he has given directions to the Pastors Conference.

The camps had compelling arguments, which were actually articulated by one of the transition team leaders during his lecture about “How to Transition Your Ministry:”

If you choose Bishop Ellis it would have been a sign of continuity. He has been one of the prime forces in assisting Bishop Morton in theme selection and the flow of the Conference. He would have taken a very strong stance on spiritual issues and he was very familiar with the protocols of the Conference since he helped author many of their protocols and marketing strategies.

If you choose Bishop Walker it would have been a sign of change. He has the largest congregation in the Fellowship and he has had direct dealings with the younger pastors and has been instrumental in assisting many of them with transitioning their congregations from traditional baptist settings to Full Gospel. Because he is familiar with mega settings, he would have been able to tap into the process of Conferences and is used to seven figure budgets.

And then it happened. Bishop Morton called together the Bishops Council who went into sequestration to deliver to him a name. Bishop Ellis did something that no one saw coming.

He took his name out of the process.

Before a packed house at the Louisville International Convention Center and before a national television audience (unfortunately the naming of the IPB was not televised because the speaker after Dr. Jamal Harrison Bryant decided to take up 40 minutes of time and bumped the most important moment of the week off of the air), Bishop Ellis explained that during the meeting, he voluntarily withdrew his name from consideration because the politics of the choice had wearied him and grieved him spiritually. He said that because of his love for the organization, he would rather move out of the way in order to keep the unity of the body. To a stunned crowd, who sat there, some with bowed heads, some with tears, Bishop Ellis became the epitome of humility and showed that he doesn’t just talk the talk, but he walks the walk. In the words of a friend, “he became St. Ellis” to me.

Bishop Ellis has become for all denominations and even for local churches, especially pastors – Exhibit A.

What has happened to us that we are willing to either split or allow the rumors of splits to go on without reprimand, that we would allow ourselves to become bigger than our purpose?  I’ve been preaching for 35 years and a student of black baptist history and I’ve seen it on all three levels – Nationally, States (Regions), and Districts, when politics has ripped apart our organizations and after 133 years of National Baptist history not one convention owns a hospital; not one state convention operates a hotel; not one District runs a seminary; not one convention has a stand-alone retirement program; not one State has a national TV broadcast; not one District has (to my knowledge) a child development program, like momma used to say in most cases, don’t have two red nickels to rub together.

We have leaders that are only concerned about their election or re-election. I’m a State President of a state body in Kentucky, which I never campaigned for, and I’m not looking for nor am I campaigning for re-election. I’ll tell you why – hell, this is not easy. It’s a drain of your time. It’s a drain of your resources. It’s a drain of sometimes having to reset a group. It’s a drain of your family time. It’s a drain of your work with your church. It’s not an easy task. And the higher you go, where the group is larger and larger – unfortunately many times the selected man is not the most godly man. Or the leader becomes what he previously campaigned against.

I’ve seen candidates for convention leadership waste resources with buttons and pins and billboards and sheets and middle of the night stuffing of door entries with campaign flyers while being in hotels in cities where no evangelism was done in that community by the group because the priority of a convention overruled the priority of the Savior. I’ve seen conventions waste more money on getting someone elected as leader and then report a paltry sum of money was given to missions, education and evangelism. I’ve seen “Survivor” styled alliances formed. I’ve seen national convention split over personality instead of scripture, power instead of ministry, and it’s left us with four badly battered national baptist conventions which numbers that can’t even draw the attention and calendar of the President of the United States to a meeting. Several groups have gone to court about who will be their next leader, and attorneys have gotten paid well for perpetuating the fight which is costly and winds up putting brother vs. brother. It’s ungodly and has turned off generations of preachers of all ages.

But Bishop Neil C. Ellis stood, flat-footed, measured, and not emotional – but spiritual. He gained a national dialogue about humility. For all the talk of those who were going to leave FGBCF if Bishop Ellis became IPB saw first hand that if he were selected, he had the integrity, spirituality and love for the fellowship that was worthy of following. He never raised his voice. He never turned it into a “look at me” moment and he didn’t use that precious time to make it a platform for self-grandizement. He stood there, before the world, and declared that he is Exhibit A for humility and that a Convention is not worth losing your soul over.

On Wednesday evening, Bishop Ellis asked a question of the FGBCF that I want to amplify in this discussion. What happened to the people of God praying? Praying is the ultimate act of humility. In prayer you have to humble yourself beneath the almighty hand of God. Maybe the reason why many of us are not humble is because we haven’t submitted ourselves fully to God. Bishop Ellis showed us all that humility is not a catch phrase – it’s a lifestyle.

Bishop Neil C. Ellis is Exhibit A. I pray that others of us who want to climb or are climbing in leadership will pick up that same spirit.

YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELCOME.

MACEDONIA MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH 

715 Martin Luther King Boulevard

Panama City, Florida 32401

The Pastoral Search Committee

July 10, 2013

PULPIT VACANCY: The Pastoral Search Committee of Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church officially announces a vacancy for the position of a full-time pastor at our church. Based on the consensus of the church body at Macedonia, our search is for a pastor who can effectively lead our congregation to new heights of spirituality through worship, the study of God’s Word, outreach, mission, fellowship, and service in our community.

WHO ARE WE? Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church is a historical landmark in the community where it is located. The congregation is predominately African American with approximately 200 active members. We are a church who claims to be “The Church Where Everybody is Somebody, and Jesus Christ is Lord”, and embrace the core values of our church purpose which is “to present the Gospel of Jesus, the Christ, to the lost and un-churched people of our surrounding community in a culturally sensitive way, and to bring the sinner into a personal relationship with the Lord.” We desire to build people through Discipleship Training and help them see the love of Christ through our witness. We seek a leader who can help us to make this vision a reality.

Macedonia is located in the city of Panama City, in the panhandle of Northwest Florida approximately 100 miles west of Tallahassee, and 100 miles east of Pensacola. Panama City is primarily a tourist town and has light industry. There are two military installations, Tyndall Air Force Base, and the Naval Support Activity (NSA) located within the immediate area. There are two main institutions for higher education in Panama City; Gulf Coast State College, and the Panama City Campus of Florida State University. Gulf Coast Seminary is the one accredited religious institution in the city.

MINIMAL QUALIFICATIONS (FOR ALL APPLICANTS) 

 The applicant must be a man who possesses a servant’s heart that is controlled by the Spirit of God. Have a good reputation in the community, and is able to control his natural behavioral tendencies. Not be consumed with greed, and is a good steward of his God entrusted possessions. Possess natural Godly compassion for God’s people.

 We desire him to have an earned college degree, or have received religious training from an accredited religious institution, or have at least 5 years of pastoral experience in the Baptist denomination to have gained the desired knowledge.

 Must possess preaching and teaching skills that will aid God’s people in better understanding the Gospel of Jesus Christ and help renew the minds of both the traditional and contemporary crowd.

 Have a clear vision for church expansion and growth

 Possess the observable and demonstrated ability to lead God’s people in a manner that will develop their gifts and skills and will help unify the church body.

 Possess knowledge and the ability to connect with today’s un-churched culture using biblical techniques that will include youth, both within the church and the local community.

PACKAGE REQUIREMENT/DEADLINE: If you believe this pastoral profile fits you, and you are interested in this vacant position we are asking that you provide, if you have not done so already, the search committee with a package containing (1) a copy of your ordination credentials, and if applicable to you, your college degree (2) a resume, (3) an audio or videotape of one of your most recent sermons, and (4) at least three letters of reference. The deadline for submission of this information is Wednesday, July 24th. Your package must be post marked not later than this date to be accepted.

Thank you for your prayers and interest in Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, and we look forward to working with you in our search for God’s servant.

We are serving the Lord with Joy & Gladness,

Deacon Emmett Hill,

Pastoral Search Committee Chairman

Mail your package to: Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church

c/o: The Search Committee Chairman, Dea. Emmett Hill

P.O. Box 35125

Panama City, FL 32412

by Robert Earl Houston

I am now 40 days removed from successful cancer surgery. As part of my procedure, a two inch diameter of skin was removed from my right foot and replaced with a skin graft of skin from my right hip. I have been blessed beyond measure and you have no idea what it felt like to be back in the worship at the First Baptist Church and in the pulpit one more time.

Prior to this surgical procedure I had a very busy schedule. I’m the senior pastor of a great congregation here in Northern Kentucky, I’m a member of one of the largest District Associations in Kentucky, I’m the State President of the Kentucky State Convention of the Progressive National Baptist Convention (PNBC), I’m Chairman of the Publishing Board of the General Association of Baptists in Kentucky, Member of the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship and Board Member of the PNBC as well as their webmaster. I don’t list all of these for purposes of bragging  . . . this story is going somewhere – hang on!

As much as I’d love to give great attention to all of these responsibilities and keep up with my preaching engagements and calendars – right now, I just can’t do it. I feel like a frustrated prophet – I want to be there, I want to preach and preach and preach and preach . . . but there is something called common sense.

I’m not out of the woods by any estimation. This surgery requires rest. I’ve actually stopped going to bed at 2 and 3 a.m. I’ve learned that I can’t eat on the run anymore. I’ve learned that I’ve got to slow down. I’ll let you in on a secret – my body will not give me any other choice. When my foot says “whoa” – it’s whoa.

Today I had to call a son of FBC, Dr. William Calhoun, of whom we are all very proud. He was licensed and ordained here by my predecessor, Dr. K.L. Moore, Jr., and we serve together as members of PNBC. Months ago he invited me to preach for him on this coming Sunday at his church in Baltimore. Had the plane ticket, he had made hotel reservations. Baltimore/Washington is one of my favorite areas and I was looking forward to going to Largo, Maryland and dine at one of my favorite seafood establishments. Plus I love history and enjoy going to see the monuments and the Washington mall.

But when we talked today, I had to tell him that I couldn’t make the trip. My foot is immensely sore, I still have an open wound on my foot,  and I don’t have a lengthy timespan to be able to stand. When I preached at FBC on Sunday, I literally sat through most of the sermon (and oh yeah – you can be seated and preach). After worship, my wife and I hosted our graduates – from kindergarten to high school to trade school to college – at Hometown Buffet in Louisville.  Since then, my foot has been killing me.

It’s just 40 days from surgery. I’m trying to get in the swing of things again, but I realize this is not going to be a quick sprint – it’s going to be marathon and patience is required. I’m looking at my calendar and looking at several events upcoming – a district association, a general association and a national convention – and thinking if I attend, I’m not going to be there gavel to gavel – I need to take it easy.

Pastor Calhoun made a common sense statement – “there will be another time.” That’s what my goal is – to finish this season with some common sense and be around for those “other times.” Cancer and Surgery is nothing to play with and I have to do what’s in the best interest of myself, my wife, my family, and my church family – and I can serve them best by exercising common sense.

YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

This is an EXCELLENT read and want to share it with you.

Autopsy of a Deceased Church: 11 Things I Learned.
by Thom S. Rainer (www.thomrainer.com)

I was their church consultant in 2003. The church’s peak attendance was 750 in 1975. By the time I got there the attendance had fallen to an average of 83. The large sanctuary seemed to swallow the relatively small crowd on Sunday morning.

The reality was that most of the members did not want me there. They were not about to pay a consultant to tell them what was wrong with their church. Only when a benevolent member offered to foot my entire bill did the congregation grudgingly agree to retain me.

I worked with the church for three weeks. The problems were obvious; the solutions were difficult.

On my last day, the benefactor walked me to my rental car. “What do you think, Thom?” he asked. He could see the uncertainty in my expression, so he clarified. “How long can our church survive?” I paused for a moment, and then offered the bad news. “I believe the church will close its doors in five years.”

I was wrong. The church closed just a few weeks ago. Like many dying churches, it held on to life tenaciously. This church lasted ten years after my terminal diagnosis.

My friend from the church called to tell me the news. I took no pleasure in discovering that not only was my diagnosis correct, I had mostly gotten right all the signs of the impending death of the church. Together my friend and I reviewed the past ten years. I think we were able to piece together a fairly accurate autopsy. Here are eleven things I learned.

1. The church refused to look like the community. The community began a transition toward a lower socioeconomic class thirty years ago, but the church members had no desire to reach the new residents. The congregation thus became an island of middle-class members in a sea of lower-class residents.
2. The church had no community-focused ministries.  This part of the autopsy may seem to be stating the obvious, but I wanted to be certain. My friend affirmed my suspicions. There was no attempt to reach the community.
3. Members became more focused on memorials. Do not hear my statement as a criticism of memorials. Indeed, I recently funded a memorial in memory of my late grandson. The memorials at the church were chairs, tables, rooms, and other places where a neat plaque could be placed. The point is that the memorials became an obsession at the church. More and more emphasis was placed on the past.
4. The percentage of the budget for members’ needs kept increasing. At the church’s death, the percentage was over 98 percent.
5. There were no evangelistic emphases. When a church loses its passion to reach the lost, the congregation begins to die.
6. The members had more and more arguments about what they wanted. As the church continued to decline toward death, the inward focus of the members turned caustic. Arguments were more frequent; business meetings became more acrimonious.
7. With few exceptions, pastoral tenure grew shorter and shorter. The church had seven pastors in its final ten years. The last three pastors were bi-vocational. All of the seven pastors left discouraged.
8. The church rarely prayed together. In its last eight years, the only time of corporate prayer was a three-minute period in the Sunday worship service. Prayers were always limited to members, their friends and families, and their physical needs.
9. The church had no clarity as to why it existed. There was no vision, no mission, and no purpose.
10. The members idolized another era. All of the active members were over the age of 67 the last six years of the church. And they all remembered fondly, to the point of idolatry, was the era of the 1970s. They saw their future to be returning to the past.
11. The facilities continued to deteriorate. It wasn’t really a financial issue. Instead, the members failed to see the continuous deterioration of the church building. Simple stated, they no longer had “outsider eyes.”

Though this story is bleak and discouraging, we must learn from such examples. As many as 100,000 churches in America could be dying. Their time is short, perhaps less than ten years.

What do you think of the autopsy on this church? What can we do to reverse these trends?

by Robert Earl Houston

On Sunday, July 14, 2013, I faced what most pastors faced – crowds of people that were disillusioned by the verdict rendered in the George Zimmerman case. It cannot be understated that most African-Americans feel that this was a mis-carriage of justice. And I concur – the verdict was not justice. Justice is getting what you deserve in spite of personality. He received mercy from the jury. Mercy is not getting what you deserve.

I had a sermon already prepared to preach but my congregation was hurting. Hearts were shaken and a fundamental belief that justice is blind was shaken in a way that I haven’t seen since the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. But I’m a pastor of a great, historic church in Frankfort, Kentucky, many miles from Sanford, Florida, but I have something to say about this – “I’m Angry.”

I want to share this sermon from this past Sunday and I hope it will at least offer a voice in the dialogue that we’ll all having, of all colors and hues, this week. I pray that we can protest without violence taking over. I pray that we remember that honoring Trayvon Martin is not done by looting and exercising violence upon the innocent bystander. God, have mercy.

I’m Angry from Robert Earl Houston on Vimeo.