SENIOR PASTOR JOB DESCRIPTION – LOVE CENTER MINISTRIES – To download application: http://www.lovecenter.org
Description: The Senior Pastor is to provide spiritual and pastoral leadership to the congregation of Love Center Ministries (LCM), and to lead us in broad based evangelism to the surrounding community. This includes providing spiritual leadership through example, preaching/teaching; working with the Board of Governors in establishing and implementing the vision of the church, equipping the congregation for the various works of ministry, and through the shepherding of the people in partnership with the Board, Ecclesiastical Council, and Ministry and Auxiliary leaders. Accountability: The Senior Pastor reports directly to the Board of Governors. This position will be evaluated annually under the direction of the Board of Governors and General Overseer in addition to informal, ongoing reflection and re-evaluation.

Qualifications
• Professes faith in the work of Jesus Christ for salvation and has a solid personal relationship with Christ • Demonstrates a life submitted to Christ through lifestyle choices, words, and practice
• Master’s Degree of Divinity
• Proven leadership in an outreach minded church
• Ordained pastor with 10+year of pastoral experience with background in a metropolitan or urban church setting preferred.
• Be computer proficient and able to relate to and participate in social media.

Leadership/Leadership Development & Discipleship – (25%) The Senior Pastor is:
• A cooperative, self-confident motivator
• An inspirer of all with the vision of the church
• An effective team builder to bring other disciple-makers alongside
• Someone committed to developing the congregation to their highest level of spiritual maturity
• A spiritual leader who provides ministry workers with the direction and tools for their jobs

Duties/Responsibilities:
• Works alongside the board in the maintenance of a compelling vision, and acts as the key implementation champion for the strategic plan
• Schedules and participates in the planning and leadership of an annual Pastors and Board retreat that educates, motivates, and supports Pastors and Board members alike.
• Leads the Ecclesiastical staff/volunteer team
• Will create a leadership process that is implemented across the ministries of the congregation which strategically develops key leaders, next level leaders, and emerging leaders for the discipleship process.
• Will train or arrange for the training of the congregation through teaching and in workshops, discipleship experiences, mentoring and coaching.
• Teaches a New Members Class at least twice a year that provides a forum to integrate new congregants into an understanding of LCM’s vision and mission, and various opportunities for service within the church and the community
• Other duties as assigned

Preaching/Worship – (30%) The Senior Pastor is:
• An effective communicator in accurately taking the whole word of God and providing avenues of application that the congregation understands
• Someone whose genuine spiritual life shows through in preaching
• A Spirit-led, mature believer who speaks from experience
• A disciple-maker who leads others into greater commitment
• An evangelist who speaks the message of Jesus to those who wish to hear

Duties/Responsibilities:
• Plan and implement a weekly teaching schedule that allows attendees to learn the whole truth of God, and to mobilize their daily walk of faith, and become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
• Prepares preaching schedules in advance, and reviews with the Board of Governors and Ecclesiastical Council quarterly
• Meets weekly with the Ecclesiastical Council and Ministers to evaluate and plan all regular and special services
• Ensures that worship services are effective regarding content, style, structure and design
• Creates regular opportunities for people to respond to the message of Christ through evangelistic messages with the result of growth in the Sunday service

Outreach/Community Engagement – (15%) The Senior Pastor is:
• A model of interaction with the community
• A spokesperson for LCM and the church within the wider community Duties/Responsibilities:
• Engages in the community through involvement in clubs, committees, as a speaker and/or facilitator or volunteer in key community endeavors according to passion, giftedness and interest
• Equips and mobilizes the membership within the church in the role of evangelism and in the development of strategic outreach ministries and initiatives.

Congregational Relations/Pastoral Care – (25%) The Senior Pastor is:
• A compassionate and empathetic shepherd
• A discerning peace maker Duties/Responsibilities:
• Inspires the congregation to spiritual maturity through personal example
• Provides care for spiritual, emotional and physical needs in partnership with other church leaders
• Administers Lord’s Supper, with Minister/Pastor, outside of church services as necessary for shut-ins in their homes etc.
• Proactively identifies problems/ challenges and offers creative solutions for resolution (conflict management) • Hospital visits as needed
• Provides minor counseling (supportive listening), and refers to professionals for those needing more extensive counseling as needed
• Conducts baptisms and funerals, pre-marriage counseling, and weddings as required.

Professional Development/Personal Growth – (5%) The Senior Pastor is:
• A life-long learner Duties/Responsibilities:
• Devotes time to spiritual, mental, physical development and well-being through personal disciplines
• Attend courses/workshops as appropriate
• Attend a small group as a participant, and/or lead a small group
• Will develop an annual plan in cooperation with Board of Governors and Overseer. Key performance indicators will be reviewed biannually with the Board of Governors.

A full performance evaluation will be completed annually Compensation and Benefits Salary is commensurate with education and experience. Insurance coverage and other benefits are set forth in LCM’s Policy & Procedure Manual. Anyone applying for this position will be granting Love Center Ministries, Inc. permission to do background checks. These checks will only be done if the applicant is chosen as one of the candidates for the position. Completed applications can be mailed to Love Center Ministries, Inc., 10440 International Blvd, Oakland, CA 94603; Attn: Senior Pastor Search. Please mark envelope CONFIDENTIAL or sent to Applications@lovecenter.org. All applications must be postmarked and/or received by September 26, 2014.

Love Center Ministries, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity at all levels of its workforce. JOB APPLICATION LOVE CENTER MINISTRIES, INC. 10440 International Boulevard Oakland, California 94603 (510) 567-0586 Love Center Ministries, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. This application will not be used for limiting or excluding any applicant from consideration for employment on a basis prohibited by local, state, or federal law.

The Zion Missionary Baptist Church of Fort Worth, Texas is now accepting resumes to fill the position of Pastor.

Please mail resumes to:

Zion Missionary Baptist Church
PO Box 101145
Fort Worth, Texas 76185
Attention: Pulpit Search Committee

RESUMES WILL BE ACCEPTED UNTIL NOVEMBER 30, 2014

We are located in Fort Worth’s historic Lake Como community. The Zion Baptist Church has a strong emphasis on serving God and HIs people. The church has historically been involved in the spiritual growth and civic development of the local community. Established in 1919 the Zion Baptist Church has shared the good news of Jesus Christ for over 95 years.

A successful candidate must meet the following qualifications: Be a Born-again, baptized believer in Jesus Christ. Candidates must be Holy Spirit filled and guided by the Biblical principles set forth in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9.

by Robert Earl Houston

I am concerned about division. I’m concerned as a believer, as a preacher, as a pastor, as a church member. I don’t like to see nor experience division in the body of Christ. I’m not a proponent of splits especially in our denominational structures that have taken us from one convention in 1914 to well over 20 conventions, reformations, and fellowships in our African-American baptist context. We are so divided it’s hard for any one group to make an impact upon society because of our fragmentation.

I’m reminded of when the National Baptist Convention of America split in 1989. I was a young pastor, just started my pastoral ministry in Portland, Oregon and then watched my home convention split and the reverberations spread across the country. Those who had served together for years and many of them icons were now drawing borders and fellowships that had existed for years were now laid bare on the ground. 

There was an incident that occurred when a pastor from NBCA wrote a pastor from NMBCA and stated that since the National was splitting, a decades long fellowship between the two local churches was no longer in his best interest. I said it then, it was a sad day when we can’t worship together on a local level.

However, there is a move afoot and I think it’s worthy of mention that it seems that we are becoming increasingly divided due to stances of theological proportion. Back in the day, E.V. Hill could preach in Los Angeles in his pulpit on Sunday morning, appear on the Charismatic TBN broadcast with Paul and Jan Crouch Sunday evening, fly to Denver to preach to a Focus on the Family event and then wind up at a City-Wide revival at the end of the week. In other words, he had no problem flowing from reformation to reformation. He preached for liberals, conservatives, pre-trib, post-trib, pentecostals, baptists, methodists, episcopalians without any hesitation, in order to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The problem, as I see it, is that many pastors are willing to die on ant hills instead of mountains. We have too much in common in the word of God to sacrifice it on a small list of differences that will either cause us to express disdain or withdraw fellowship because, frankly, what we think is a sacred cow is nothing more than putting personal ideology over biblical practice.

Hot button issues aside, we are becoming the Baptist Hatfields and McCoys. I can’t come preach for you because your people shout. You can’t come preach for me because I have women in the pulpit. I can’t come preach for you because you don’t have a higher degree. You can’t come preach for me because you aren’t conservative enough in your theology. I can’t come preach for you because your church is not large enough. You can’t preach for me because all you’ll do is squall at the end of your sermon. And while we play these ecclesiastical games, our churches are thinning out and pulpits are dying.

Even if a stance evolves or shifts there is no reason to cut off fellowship completely. I had a friend that was “ride or die” and when I changed a stance, all of a sudden I became an anathema to him. I tried several times to call – not to chop it up theologically, but just to call and say hello. No response. Called several times. No response. So I had to write off a friend that I had worked closely with for many years because of the foolishness of an ant hill mentality.

I long for the day when denominations will cease. But I long more intensely for the day when division among baptists will cease.

YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church is seeking a God-Called, Ordained Baptist Pastor to edify through God’s Holy Word, and to direct our congregation by divine example, strong leadership abilities, and Scriptural teaching. Submit the candidate package by mail.

Candidate Package must contain:

1.  Current Resume including summary of relevant ministry, professional and educational experience;

2.  Copy of Ministerial License(s), Ordination Certificate, and Degree(s);

3.  Three Recommendation Letters: Two from fellow clergy and one personal.

Address:

Pleasant Grove Baptist Church
Pastor Search Committee
PO Box 8496
Paducah, Kentucky 42002

From the American Baptist Newspaper of the General Association of Baptists in Kentucky:

by Robert Earl Houston

COLUMBUS, OHIO – One of Columbus’ senior sages has entered into eternal rest on Tuesday. The Reverend Dr. G. Thomas Turner, pastor of the Friendship Missionary Baptist Church went home to be with the Lord on October 7, 2014.

Dr. Turner was the third pastor of the Friendship church in the 92 year history of the congregation. He pastored there for over 41 years, after being called in September of 1973. His grandparents had served in the church – his grandfather was Deacon John Martin and his grandmother was Sis. Susie Martin, a faithful member of the Missionary Society.

Under his leadership, the congregation experienced tremendous growth, most notable are the souls won to Christ. He led them in erecting a new church edifice in which the Friendship family entered in March of 1984. Just 9 years later, he led the congregation in liquidation of the mortgage.

In 1995, they expanded the church edifice by adding a balcony, an educational wing, enlarged the parking area, and opened the Friendship Christian Learning Center, a daycare center serving the entire community.

Dr. Turner was active in denominational work. He supported the Ohio Baptist General Association, the Lott Carey Foreign Mission Convention, and was a stalwart and one of the original founders of the National Missionary Baptist Convention of America. Under the administration of Dr. Melvin Von Wade’s presidency, the trend-setting Early Morning Prayer Service was created and Dr. Turner was appointed to lead the entire convention in prayer and praise. His model endures to this day and has spread to various national, state and district levels.

During his leadership of that hour, it was not unusual to see people standing in the outer hallways because they could not fit inside of the service. He introduced the Convention to songs that had been forgotten in the modern era with pep and energy. His signature song became, “It Could Have Been The Other Way.”

Dr. Turner was a supporter and former board member of the National Baptist Sunday School and Baptist Training Union Congress and during the Parade Day it was not unusual to see him dressed in all white with a matching straw hat.

Most of all he was a worshipper. He was bapticostal before the name became popular. He was old school but he was a praiser and a dancer before the Lord. A very strong theologian and yet in the hallway he had a wry sense of humor. Many of us remember him walking away from a discussion, waving his hands and saying, “shoot . . .”  He didn’t just go to a convention and hang out. He was in every session and encouraging others to do so as well. He was beloved in the National Missionary Baptist Convention of America.

He leaves to mourn his homegoing his beloved wife, Dr. Robert Turner, his son, George, Jr. and his daughter, Patrice.

STATEMENT FROM THE FRIENDSHIP MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH:
We regret to inform you that Pastor G. Thomas Turner, Sr., B Th., L.H.D., D.D., the esteemed pastor of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church for 41 years, passed away this morning.

Pastor Turner was a spiritual icon recognized globally for his dedicated work in the ministry of Jesus Christ.

Arrangements are pending. Please continue to pray for his wife Dr. Roberta Turner, their son George, Jr., their daughter, Dr. Patrice Turner, grandson, Seth and the Friendship Missionary Baptist Church family.

For further information, please contact Marcia Brown, Church Secretary at 614-279-0008, fax # 614-279-0424, email address, friendship@fmbcoh.org.

FRIENDSHIP MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH
1775 West Broad Street
Columbus, Ohio 43223

Moody Dubenion,
Chairman, Deacon Board

Preston Stearns,
Chairman, Trustee Board

Dr. Turner’s own words speak volumes: Click Here (from his church website).

His homegoing services are pending. Once they are announced, they will be updated on this site. 

YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

by Robert Earl Houston

I have had the joy of having one or two associate ministers to over 15 at one time. It’s like being a coach, advisor, and air traffic controller at the same time. Right now I have four active associate ministers and one of them is preaching at several churches this month, with my blessing, because I know that over the past five years, he has been faithful in his attendance at the church where I serve and he’s traveling with my prayers and spiritual support.

There is something amiss with an associate minister who is gone all of the time – especially in those crucial developmental years – the first three. Let me relay a story to you. I had just finished my first sermon in April 1978 and saw my “grandfather in the ministry” (my pastor’s pastor) the late Dr. C.E. Williams, pastor of the New Hope Baptist Church of Seattle, in Tacoma, Washington at our General Baptist Convention of the Northwest Spring Board Meeting. He asked me how my first sermon went and I told him, and then I pulled out a sheet of paper showing all of the churches I planned to visit and fellowship with since “I’s a preacher now.”

I had on that list I was going to visit several churches in the city, churches in Seattle, Tacoma, Walla Walla, Boise, Spokane, Pastor, and of course, his church. Dr. Williams, who I deeply respected and loved dearly, stood there gnawing on a toothpick, as was his custom. I gave him the grand presentation of the list and he looked up (he was about 5’8″ and I’m 6’2″) and said “are you done?” I said “yes sir.” He proceeded to share a few choice, harsh words with me and basically said, “You need to keep your crazy behind at home.” He walked away. My pastor was sitting in the car and I was riding with him. I came to the car in tears running down my face. He looked at me and said “Doc gave you the speech didn’t he?” I said “Excuse me?” He said, “He gave me the same speech years ago.”

My pastor was a gifted singer. He was young in his 20s and Rev. A. Bernard Devers had joined the Electrifying Mighty Warriors of Seattle. He quickly became one of the lead singers and even produced and was featured on two albums. He came to church one Sunday after being gone for several weeks and Pastor Williams kicked him out of the office. His words to my pastor were chilling – “when you decide if you were called to preach, you can come back.”

That’s when I learned the value of staying home.

One of the best things that ever happened to me was that encounter with Dr. Williams. I had to have someone who cared for me to tell me, straight up, that an associate minister is in the incubator of ministry. You haven’t arrived and you really don’t know your way around the pulpit or preaching ministry just because you preached one sermon. That first sermon is that – it’s first, but if you intend to preach again, it takes the humility of submission to a pastor to validate the learning process.

I saw my pastor deal with a multiplicity of issues, events and actions that I would have never learned on the road. Sometimes, I admit, I was chomping at the bit to preach, but my first ministry as an associate is to be an apprentice. To learn, to hear, to accept, to be challenged, to be stretched and to learn by observation.

I’m afraid of this new crop of preachers that preach one sermon and they are out on the road doing something else. Your job is not to go support another associate minister preaching, visit other churches, establish your own ministry, pass out business cards and start networking. You need to develop a Kizzy Spirit (from the Roots series. Kizzy means “stay put”). You can lose valuable insight and preaching opportunities because you’re never at home.

Again, I have a group of associates that I’m very proud of. This current group is consistently there. When they are out, it’s generally for reasons of illness and not “looking around” or “making themselves a name.” That will come with time. I strongly believe that the reason I was candidating for congregations to consider me as Pastor at the age of 18 was because I thought it not robbery to stay under my pastor’s wings and “learn of him.” I learned that I didn’t want to be singer who happens to preach or a musician who happens to preach. I wanted to be a preacher who happens to sing or play an instrument. 

Remember, there is a benefit in staying home.

YOUR COMMENTS ARE APPRECIATED

by Robert Earl Houston

I thought it was a really stupid joke.

Many of us, who first heard of this through the medium of social media (because you only hear about ebola on my major cable news outlets) passed a gem on, initially, that said that the Mayor of Houston, Texas, Annise Parker,  had subpoenaed sermons from four pastors regarding sermons, preached across their respective pulpits, on the subjects of homosexuality, gender identity or on the mayor herself. Further, that any of those ministers who failed to comply could be held in contempt of court.

I thought it was a faux Fox News Story. I look at Fox News like I look at a fun house. Lots of clowns, shooting canons and mirrors, and of course, all anti-Obama all the time news coverage. When I saw Fox News’ brand on the report, I dismissed it as a gag and joke. But then, more of us started digging into the story and found out – it was true.

The subpoena was the result of a lawsuit filed by Pastors Jared Woodfill, Steven F. Hotze, F.N. Williams, Sr. and Max Miller against the Mayor, the City Secretary (Anna Russell) and the City of Houston. The subpoenas target five pastors in Houston – Pastors David Welch, Steve Riggle, Khan Huynh, Magda Hermida, and Hernan Castano. The lawsuit was filed due to their opposition to an ordinance known as HERO (Houston for Equal Rights Ordinance” which bans discrimination among businesses that serve the public, private employers, in housing and in city employment and city contracting. A petition drive was enacted (17,269 signatures were required for ballot approval and 50,000 signatures were submitted) and the city ruled thousands of signatures ineligible and did not place the contesting item on the ballot, triggering the suit by the ministers.

Oddly, the law firm representing the mayor, in preparation for the January 2015 court case, issued a subpoena requesting all types of items (see the link), but it is item # 12 that has created a firestorm:

“12.  All speeches, presentations, or sermons related to HERO, the Petition, Mayor Annise Parker, homosexuality, or gender identity prepared by, delivered by, revised by, or approved by you or in your possession.”

This is wrong on so many levels. First off, there is no precedent in American Jurisprudence that allows a municipality to sue or contest a congregation or a pastor on the basis of their speech. I will agree that some pastors are loose canons or suffer from preaching a gospel that is not in print – HOWEVER, even dumb speech in this country is protected speech. Even speech that I may not agree with still is protected by our U.S. Constitution, which gives no authority to a Mayor to subpoena SERMONS.

This seems, to me, to be extra-constitutional. The outcry from Pastors and Ministers across the country is defeaning (oddly, I’m yet to hear or read of any official statements from any of African-American Christian conventions, although at least two of the suing ministers are black and baptist).

The right to preach is sacred in this country. This nation which has produced orators, revivalists, prophets, and encouragers has also produced crazies, idiots, flimflam artists, bigots in robes, as well. However, it is all protected free-speech. I may not agree with what you have to say, but I have to understand that you have the right, if it’s your pulpit, to espouse it. It may not be pretty, but it’s how things are done in this nation.

The Mayor has been doing spin control. But this may be too little, too late. She began to blame her opponents for the broad original language to “deliberately misinterpret the city’s intent.” City Attorney David Feldman called it “a media circus.” But in this case, the circus did not come to town, the city by subpoena, brought the town to the circus.

This post is not to comment upon the HERO ordinance. (I don’t live in Houston, I live in Kentucky) No, my goal is to enlighten and condemn the city of Houston for coming after ministers and demanding their sermons. Religious beliefs are protected beliefs, even when they are considered anti-government. Our own Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Dr. Ralph David Abernathy, Dr. William Augustus Jones, and other ministers rallied against policies of the government including war, poverty, racism, etc., but not once was a city municipality so stupid to request copies of their sermons, as if to send out a “warning shot” to other ministers, don’t try this in your pulpits. It may not be the intent, but it is the appearance.

On Friday, Mayor Parked announced that the city (these are attorneys that are contracted) had refiled its subpoenas. On twitter she wrote: “City just refiled subpoenas in #HERO. Clarified our intent. No mention of sermons. All about petition process instructions. Never intended to interfere w/pastors & their sermons or an intrusion on religion. Our discovery motion now clearly focused on petition.”

Too much.
Too little.
Too late.

YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

by Robert Earl Houston

On this past Sunday, October 26, 2014, I had the joy of going back to my adopted church home, the Westwood Baptist Church, University Center in Nashville, Tennessee, where Minister Barton Elliott Harris is the senior pastor, as they celebrated their 94th Church Anniversary.

Jessica and I were joined by the people of First Baptist Church, Frankfort, KY, who made the trip from Frankfort to Nashville and what a time we had! In worship, the Men of Praise of FBC sang and the WBCUC Fruit of the Spirit dance ministry performed. The Spirit of the Lord was, as the saints of old used to say, “was high” and from Praise to Worship to Benediction, God’s spirit was moving. The Lord “was kind” to the preaching moment. I preached from Revelation 3:8 with the subject, “The Doors of the Church are Open.” God blessed Westwood with the addition of two new members. God be praised!

I have a very special warm spot in my heart for Pastor Harris and Westwood. After pastoring on the West Coast for over 15 years and experiencing a painful, wounding transition in ministry, it was this pastor and congregation that ministered me back to spiritual health. I became introduced to Westwood by one of their associate ministers, Minister Brian K. Wilkins, who knew me through my internet ministry. At the time he was over the Men’s Ministry and they brought me in to do a Men’s Revival during the summer of 2005. After preaching there for a weekend, Pastor Harris called me to ask me to come back and preach for their Church Anniversary.

During the call he extended to me the idea of becoming his second full-time assistant pastor. My job description was complimentary to the other assistant pastor and he flew me to Nashville to discuss the matter face to face. At the conclusion of our meeting and after prayer, I agreed to accept his gracious offer and as of October 1, 2005, I began my ministry as Assistant Pastor of Westwood Baptist Church, University Center – my first time living somewhere other than the west coast.

Admittedly, it was a culture shock. People from the south take church differently than on the west coast. I had never been a part of what was a literally 7 day a week congregation. Every morning at 6:15 a.m. and 7:15 a.m., prayer was held at the altar. I had never seen such a large Vacation Bible School and seen the kind of planning and investment. I had never witnessed a pastor who was comfortable in his skin to share his pulpit with two assistant pastors and a plethora of associate ministers. It was a teaching and learning environment and I learned more about pastoring in four years than I had ever in my life.

Pastor and First Lady Carolyn Harris modeled what a Christian marriage looks like and it made a tremendous impact upon me and my wife, Jessica. Jessica and I were engaged during the summer of 2005 and while we were making wedding plans, I was candidating at congregations in Richmond, CA, Oakland, CA, and Stockton, CA – however, God had other plans for us and after I had driven/moved across country to Nashville, I flew back to California for the wedding on October 22 and after our honeymoon in Reno, Nevada, we flew to begin our new life in Nashville.

I was faithful at Westwood. Never complained publicly. Never took issue with leadership, because I knew the secret of leadership – a leader follows and then becomes a leader. Pastor Harris gave me tremendous opportunities. He entrusted me with the Mid-Week Adult Bible Study (after 100 students in the class), the Young Adult Sunday School class, VBS (photographer), Graphic Art flyers, leadership of the Men’s Ministry, leadership of the Evangelism Ministry (and we set a record by the help of the Lord and He added 100 new members), and then finally, I became the music director for the Men of Praise Choir, which grew from a handful to a choir stand full. I enjoyed the MOP and we rehearsed every Wednesday evening after Bible Study. I consider these men my dear friends even to this day.

Westwood was organized in 1920 in a small storefront building  on the corner of an alley between Albion and Alameda Streets at 26th Avenue North.  As they grew, they called their first pastor, Rev. James Tunstill in 1920. A succession of pastors followed including Rev. S.M. Wright (1922-1924), Rev. J.H. Lawrence (1925-1928), and then the church proposed under the leadership of Rev. Ambrose Bennett, who was a major religious and civic leader in Nashville.  After his passing two American Baptist Theological Seminary students served – Rev. W.O. Wells (1957-1959) and Rev. Alphonso R. Blake (1959-1960). Rev. George W. Brown (1961-1965), Rev. J.W. Watkins (1965-1969), and Dr. Amos Jones (1969-1986), who led the church in acquiring properties, revolutionaztion of Christian Education and Missions, and building its current edifice.

On December 1, 1987, Pastor Harris returned to Nashville from Boston, MA, to become the current pastor. He was reared, baptized, licensed, ordained and married at Westwood. Under his steady and prayerful leadership, Westwood has grown exponentially. Now Westwood is a major landowner in North Nashville, having purchased 20 different properties and currently rents 22 units inclusive of homes, duplexes, and apartments. The Church has expended its physical plant to include the West (Brick) Annex (where my old office was located), the East (White) Annex and the Youth Annex – each housing offices, classrooms and meeting rooms.

Westwood has completed 94 years. There are continual plans for modernization and what I learned most of all at Westwood was to continually evolve. They taught me that hard times and difficult days should never stunt your growth, but enhance it.

Happy Anniversary Westwood!

by Robert Earl Houston

One of the greatest frustrations of newly called pastors is what I have termed is the Rubber Band Church.

Often times Pastors come in with different expectations and anticipations than the congregation that has called them. After pastoring over 25 years, I have discovered that churches will adapt to the vision of the Lord through the Pastor with great success or they will snap back and return to their original form which is the Rubber Band Church.

Recently a young pastor reached out to me. He has been at his church 18 months and the church and is frustrated that “they haven’t changed.” He ranted and raved for 30 minutes and then I said to him that churches have a center core. They have certain practices and belief systems that are at their core. You can stretch them or try to stretch them or suggest that they stretch – but at the end of the day (and this is non-denominational), a church will return to it’s center.

That is applicable even during a pastoral change of leadership. How well I remember leaving my former congregation in San Diego. For months, I sat in the audience with my deacons because I was tired of being the focus of attention. I am primarily a worshiper. I wanted  to worship without every eye of support, criticism or ambivalence staring at me. I resigned on a Sunday morning, came down to the office to clear my office on a Monday and peeked into the sanctuary, and those chairs that I had removed miraculously and mysteriously reappeared. Chairs in a pulpit were a part of that church’s center core.

I’m not suggesting it’s always a bad thing because all churches need to have core beliefs. The Word of God should never be compromised; Preaching and Teaching the Gospel should never be rebuked; Serving each other and the community should be resident within a congregation. However, brother and sister pastor, they are some things that will always bounce back to center and become part of the lore of that congregation.

Whether it’s a name change or location change or change of worship or change of structure – some churches will eradicate change made by a leader to “get us back where we belong.” It’s akin to the GOP mantra of “taking back our country.”

Three things to be careful of:

1.  Make sure that you are stretching the congregation because of the Lord and not because of an agenda. Keeping up with the Joneses is a poor excuse for stretching a congregation.

2.  Make sure that you have a firm grip on the process. One of the most painful experiences can occur when you stretch a congregation (rubber band) and then it slips and you get with the force of the rubber band.

3.  Make sure that when you stretch make sure that the vision for it is compatible with the amount of effort you’ll be exercising. Never put out great energy for minute projects.

I pray for that pastors and leaders who are challenging their congregations to go beyond boxes, limits and paradigms. And may the church follow and not grudgingly stay in place like a rubber band that will not yield.

YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED

New Covenant Baptist Church, P.O. 11147, Louisville, KY 40251

New Covenant Baptist Church now accepting resumes to fill the position of Pastor.

New Covenant Baptist is seeking an ordained preacher / teacher to fill the position of pastor.

All travel and lodging expenses will be the responsibility of the candidate.   

Please send resumes and letter of interest to: New Covenant Baptist Church 
Attn: Pastoral Search Committee P.O. Box 11147, Louisville KY 40251.

“Resumes and letter of interest must be postmarked by November 30, 2014”.

SPARTA, KENTUCKY

The Park Ridge Baptist Church, Sparta, Kentucky (a small rural congregation) is now accepting resumes to fill the position of Pastor. A successful candidate must meet the following qualifications: Be a born again believer in Jesus Christ, and must be guided by Biblical principles set forth in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9. Send resumes to: Pulpit Committee, Park Ridge Baptist Church, c/o 4229 Arbor Court, Independence, KY 41051.  Resumes will be accepted until November 17, 2014.  The church will not be responsible for travel expenses.

PADUCAH, KENTUCKY

Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church is seeking a God-called, ordained baptist pastor to edify through God’s Holy Word and to direct our congregation by divine example, strong leadership abilities, and Scriptural teaching. Submit the candidate package by mail to: Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, Pastor Search Committee, PO Box 8496, Paducah, Kentucky 42002.  Deadline for submission is November 30, 2014. Candidate package must contain: (1) Current resume including summary of relevant ministry, professional and educational experience; (2) Copy of Ministerial License, Ordination Certificate and Degrees; (3) Three Recommendation Letters: Two from fellow clergy and one personal.

by Robert Earl Houston

The Faith Community around the world received the shocking news on late Sunday afternoon that internationally known preacher and author, Dr. Myles Munroe, his wife Lady Ruth Munroe, his executive pastor Richard Pinder, and several members of the staff of his congregation, Bahamas Faith Ministries, International, were killed in a tragic airplane crash in the Grand Bahamas Shipyard, on approach during a storm to the airport.

According to the church’s website, the souls who perished in the crash included, Dr. Munroe, his wife, Pastor Ruth Monroe, senior vice-president Dr. Richard Pinder, newly installed Youth Pastors Levard and Radel Parks and their son Johannan, and pilots Stanley Thurston and Farkhan Cooper, and one additional passenger.

Dr. Munroe, 60, was a trailblazer in so many areas. He was one of the first international voices that God raised up from the small nation of the Bahamas, as a prophetic voice in this generation. His teachings on leadership, on developing the next generation, on singleness, and life after divorce, have been cutting edge and the basis or echoes of many teachings that are commonly found within the Body of Christ.

There was not a medium of ministry that Dr. Munroe was not involved in. Whether it was writing books, speaking at auditoriums, stadiums or at private meetings with heads of state, or television ministry or internet, he was “everywhere” while encouraging everyone else to be “everywhere” as a believer.

I had the opportunity to meet Dr. Munroe on several occasions and he was in person like he was on television – smiling, laughing, full of joy, and serious about ministry. A clip that is found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noLu-9PauxU&feature=youtu.be had an interesting comment by Dr. Munroe about leadership. He stated that the problem in his country and others like his is that leadership is not preparing the next generation. He used an example of a runner who refuses to pass of the baton to the next runner and that the runner will wind up dead in a casket while someone has to pry the baton from his hands. He was intentional on raising up the next generations of leaders and, ironically, was on his way to a conference he was conducting on Global Leadership with an emphasis on growing new leadership.

His compendium of literary works include: The Principles and Power of Vision; Understanding the Purpose and Power of Woman; Understanding the Purpose and Power of Prayer; Rediscovering the Kingdom; Keys for Marriage; Power of Character in Leadership; The Purpose and Power of Love and Marriage; Kingdom Principles: Preparing for Kingdom Experience and Expansion; Spirit of Leadership; The Purpose and Power of Praise and Worship; The Most Important Person on Earth; Understanding Your Potential: Discovering the Hidden You; Waiting and Dating: A Sensible Guide to a Fulfilling Love Relationship; Understanding Your Place in God’s Kingdom; Fatherhood Principle; Understanding the Purpose and Power of a Man; Single, Married, Separated and Life after Divorce; the Myles Munroe 365 Day Devotional; and many, many more. At his death he authored or co-authored over 100 books, and wrote from various publications, Bibles, and online magazines.

Dr. Munroe was born on April 20, 1954 and was a lifetime resident of the Bahamas. He graduated from Oral Roberts University in 1978 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Education and Theology in 1978.  He earned his Master’s Degree in Administration from the University of Tulsa in 1980. He has received many honorary doctoral degrees and briefly served as an adjunct professor of the Graduate School of Theology at ORU.

He is the founder of the Board of Trustees of the International Third World Leaders Association. He has been invited to over 80 nations as an ambassador of his nation, to address government bodies, business leaders, universities, and religious organizations.  He received numerous civic awards including being the youngest recipient of the Queen’s Birthday Honors of the Order of the British Empire Award 1998 bestowed upon him by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, II of England, for “his spiritual and social contributions to the national development of the Bahamas.”

His wife, Ruth, served as co-pastor with him at his church. The couple are survived by two adult children, Myles, Jr. and Charisa.  Homegoing services are pending.

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE CHURCH:

On behalf of the Board of Governors and the entire Bahamas Faith Ministries Family we wish to extend our gratitude for the tremendous outpouring of love and support by the many persons who have offered condolences and prayers.

Among those confirmed to have passed away in yesterday’s tragic plane crash were Founder & President of Bahamas Faith Ministries International Dr. Myles Munroe and his wife Pastor Ruth Munroe, Senior Vice-President Dr. Richard Pinder, Newly installed Youth Pastors Lavard and Radel Parks and their son Johannan, Pilots Stanley Thurston and Farkhan Cooper and one additional passenger.

Words cannot express our profound sense of loss for all of the team members on this tragic flight. Dr. Munroe was our visionary, our founder, our mentor, advisor, father figure and friend. He was a global leader and icon and was respected worldwide. His wife Ruth was a faithful companion and constant support for Dr. Munroe and was equally beloved.

Dr. Richard Pinder was the embodiment of a true Pastor who loved people, was faithful in service and gave his best to all. Pastor Rich as he was affectionally called was truly the glue that kept our ministry together. His warm smile and personal pastoral care was truly a comfort and a blessing to so many of our members throughout the years of our church.

Pastors Lavard & Radel Parks were recently installed as Youth Pastors of the Youth Ministry having both being officially ordained and installed as the church’s second full time Youth Pastors on Easter Sunday April 20th 2014. Both were products of both Dr. Munroe and Dr. Pinders’ leadership and were personally mentored by Dr.Dave & Pastor Angie Burrows.

Our pilots included Senior Officer Stanley Thurston who was an experienced pilot and served for many years as Pastor Myles’s personal pilot. Also on board was Co-Pilot Frakhan Cooper who was also a faithful member of our aviation team. Both gave excellent service.

Dr. Munroe taught us to have faith and to pursue purpose and advance the Kingdom Principles of Jesus Christ here on earth. He also taught us to be leaders. As a Church body and organization we will move forward as Dr. Munroe would have wanted us to. We recognize that there will be challenges but we have full confidence that God will see us through and we intend to make our founding leaders proud.

We ask for your continued prayers and support. We will issue further details on plans for home going services and other matters relating to the future of Bahamas Faith Ministries in due course.

YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

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Harmony Missionary Baptist Church is seeking a Pastor who will provide spirit-directed, visionary leadership for our church, and possesses excellent skills in the areas of preaching, teaching, counseling and congregational leadership development.  Candidates should have a minimum of 3 years of pastoral experience, be licensed and ordained by a creditable, licensed ordination committee and have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited Bible College.

Mail a cover letter, resume and ministerial license(s) to:

Harmony Missionary Baptist Church

ATTN:  Pulpit Committee

P.O. BOX 3330

Oakland, CA 94609

Resumes must be postmarked between 11-16-2014 and 12-01-2014.  Review the Qualification Summary and Instructions for Applicants and other pertinent information on our website at: www.harmonymbc.org

You may also visit us on FaceBook at Harmony Missionary Baptist Church, Oakland CA 94609

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE

Residents of Deptford’s Jericho section are saying goodbye this weekend to a man who gave more than 60 years to his community and his faith.

Rev. William Donald Willis, assistant pastor at the First Baptist Church of Jericho, died Nov. 18. The preacher, who was a fixture in Jericho and a dedicated participant in the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s, was 100 years old.

“I used to hear him preach from the time I was 10 years old,” said Rev. Clabon Bogan, the pastor of First Baptist for the past 20 years. “I’ve known him for almost 50 years. That grew to the point where there was a vacancy here at the church, and Rev. Willis was the one who approached me about the position I hold now.”

A native of Carolina County, Virginia, Willis moved to Camden with his family at the age of 13. It was at New Mickle Baptist Church in the city that Willis met his wife, Mildred Ann Graham, who died in 2001. The couple had three children and raised one of their nephews as well.

After leaving school with a sixth-grade education to help support his family with a railroad job, Willis eventually returned to school, graduating from Woodrow Wilson High School before attending seminary and earning a doctorate degree.

Willis worked as the main pastor of First Baptist from 1953 to 1983. In those 30 years, he was a major player in a variety of initiatives, including establishing a church summer camp and holding a number of positions in the statewide Bethany Baptist Association.

In the 1960s and ’70s, Willis became a major local leader of the Civil Rights movement. He brought a number of guest ministers to Jericho to discuss a range of social topics, and attended Martin Luther King Jr.’s March on Washington in the summer of 1964. Willis also hit the picket lines with other members of the clergy when Irene Hill-Smith, the leader of the local NAACP chapter at the time, was held in jail.

“He was bigger than life to us,” said his daughter, Karen Burgwin. “He loved people, and he loved helping people. And he was very mission-minded. He reached out to people all over the world and was very adamant about the church’s involvement with foreign missions and locally as well.”

As far as his political activism went, Burgwin said, “he determined he was free like everybody else.

“He took us everywhere,” said Burgwin. “He stepped out along with other community leaders like Irene Hill-Smith to make sure that people’s rights weren’t being stomped on.”

Willis did not take his children to see King speak in Washington, but his daughter Cheryl Rolen shared one memory of seeing her father in action.

“I can remember an episode here in Woodbury where he took my sister and I and a couple of our friends to the diner, and the lady didn’t want to wait on us. He spoke with the manager, and then he let us order seafood platters,” Rolen said, laughing.

“We made her awfully angry. I know he did things like that. He didn’t usually pull us into them, but he did do things like that.”

On a personal level, Willis’ daughters said friends and family could always count on him to listen to their problems, provided they were ready to hear what he thought. Soft-spoken but principled, Willis always stood by his convictions.

“He was a very caring person. People knew when they came to him that he was going to listen, but that he was also going to tell them the truth, whatever that truth was.”

And although he may have been busy throughout his career, his daughters said, he never forgot about his family. Willis was particularly fond of food and travel, and was a charismatic friend who loved to hear personal anecdotes and share jokes.

After stepping down from the pulpit in the First Baptist Church, Willis spent the later years of his career working as an interim minister at several different congregations. He came back to Jericho as an interim before signing on as assistant pastor when Bogan joined the church in 1994. Willis had to scale back his activity in his late 90s when he was diagnosed with dementia, but he kept the title of assistant pastor until he died.

“He had the ability to show his love even though he didn’t voice it. It was about action and not rhetoric,” said his grandson, Chris Rolen. “As I embark on my own personal development, I realize he embodied changing yourself so you can change the world. When I think about him dropping out of school and getting a doctorate and becoming a scholar, the places that he’s been and educating himself the way he did, that’s what I want people to remember about him. He changed himself so that he could change the world.”

Willis is pre-deceased by three sisters and eight brothers. He is survived by his younger sister, Pearl, who lives in Camden; his daughters Karen and Cheryl of Woodbury; son Charles of Philadelphia; numerous grandchildren as well as great and great-great-grandchildren; and his nieces and nephews.

A viewing will be held for Willis Friday evening from 6 to 9 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Jericho, 981 Mail Ave., Deptford. The family will greet visitors at 9 a.m. on Saturday, and a funeral service will be held afterward at 11 a.m.