by Robert Earl Houston

I have never understood why some churches are adversarial with their pastors. To me, it’s akin to boarding an aircraft looking at the pilot and saying “I hope you crash” while you make you way to 28D and not understanding that if the pilot crashes, you crash.

Something happened at worship today that I want to pass along in the hope that it may encourage some pastor some where.

As I extended the Invitation to Discipleship, we had several members come for prayer. One member shared that her grandmother and herself were both having health challenges. Another member shared that he and his grown daughters were having health challenges. But there was a third individual (actually the second one who spoke) and I am paraphrasing was he came forward for:

The Lord had led him forward to ask the congregation to pray for Pastor Houston. He said that our pastor is busy, he preaches out his heart each week, he visits the sick, counsels with families about funerals, has multiple meetings and today, the Lord told him that the congregation needs to pray for him, and each other.

It was spontaneous, caught me off guard, and following prayers for the other concerns, then much church prayed for me. One of the Golden Girls of our church led the prayer by my request (and how she prayed). I sat there for a few moments in awe of what God had done that morning.

I think it goes without saying that many of us who serve congregations experience the congregation serving the server. My goal is to serve the Lord continually and my church thought enough of the ministry that I provide to them, and as he said, not only here, the community, the state and the nation. It was touching because I’ve had some experiences that were not always that pleasant in the past areas that I’ve served (and all of us in ministry have that), but I would hope that the people of God that I serve would appreciate the service of their pastor – outside of a calendared anniversary.

Sunday proved it.

This reminds me of an old adage: If you want a better pastor – pray for the one you have. If you want a more loving pastor – pray for the one you have. If you want a better preaching pastor – pray for the one you have. If you want a more blessed pastor – pray for the one you have.

Prayer sure beats argumentative, hostile and woundings from an out-of-control business meeting. Thank God, we don’t have those – because we are believers first and foremost.

YOUR COMMENTS WELCOMED

Pastor Vacancy Announcement

Tabernacle Baptist Church of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma is currently seeking a full-time pastor. We are a loving, historical church and we are affiliated with the East Zion Consolidated District, the Oklahoma State Missionary Baptist Convention, and the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.

The church is seeking a spirit-filled leader with sterling qualifications. A seminary-trained leader with a minimum of five years of experience as a pastor is p…referred. Tabernacle seeks a gifted teacher and an effective communicator. The applicant must be able to provide pastoral care to our multi-generational congregation. This leader must have a divine calling and fully embrace the Baptist Doctrine.

Click the link below to download an application package.

http://tbcok.org/Tabernacle+Pastoral+Application+2.pdf

If you are unable to download this application, you may request a copy by calling the church office at 405-424-7767; between the hours of 10:00am – 2:00pm, Tuesday – Friday.

Applications and resumes will be accepted July 1 through July 31, 2014.

Please submit by U.S. Mail to:

Pastor Search Committee
Tabernacle Baptist Church
P. O. Box 721863
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73172

The committee will acknowledge receipt of all applications and resumes.

Questions may be referred to:

Deacon Roderick Bruner
405-570-4873, cell

or

Deaconess Ruby Harris
405-843-7025, home
405-414-9605, cell

St. John’s Congregational Church

Springfield, MA

Overview

St. John’s Congregational Church in Springfield, MA is seeking a full-time Associate Pastor of Family Ministries. St. John’s, a predominantly African-American congregation, has been pointing souls to a better religious, social and economic life since it was founded in 1844. It is located in an urban, multi-ethnic community and enjoys growing ethnic and cultural diversity in its membership. Currently, St. John’s has over 1,500 individuals on its membership rolls and a weekly attendance of between 650-700. There are approximately 30 ministries that provide service, support, fellowship and outreach to the congregation and beyond. St. John’s is on the cutting edge of ministry in New England.

ST. JOHN’S CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

JOB DESCRIPTION

ASSOCIATE PASTOR OF FAMILY MINISTRIES

MINISTRY: MINISTRIES

REPORTS TO: SENIOR PASTOR

HOURS: 40 PER WEEK

STATUS: FULL TIME

JOB SUMMARY

The Associate Pastor of Family Ministries shares in the basic functions of pastoral ministry with special emphasis in areas related to ministries directly related to the Family. The Associate Pastor will plan, organize and implement, along with ministry coordinators, a wide range of activities for those under their care. He/she will be responsible for recruiting and training adult and youth volunteers.

RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES

Primary Responsibilities involve, but not limited to the following duties:

1. Participates in the leadership of worship in the congregation on a regularly scheduled basis.
2. On an ongoing basis, plans for, organizes, and implements a youth activities program for school-aged youth and young adults.
3. Plans, organizes, and implements special youth worship services, retreats, camps, trips, etc.
4. Develops youth leadership to assist in ongoing and special youth programs.
5. Recruits, orients and trains adult volunteers to assist in youth activities and special events.
6. Advocates youth issues to the congregation with the objective of making the youth more visible to and involved with the congregation.
7. Plans and promotes worship education and leadership skill development for ministries.
8. Maintains regular contact with youth and young adults as may be required. Available on a limited basis for crisis intervention and counseling. Serves as a resource for those involved in ministries for the development of their own faith journey and to assist in coping with challenges of daily life.
9. Works cooperatively with the church staff to coordinate activities with those of the whole church and to help achieve the church’s mission and goals.
10. Supervises the following ministries and ministry volunteers:

Youth Ministry Coordinator(s)

Children’s Ministry Coordinator(s)

Married Couples Ministry Coordinator(s)

Single’s Ministry Coordinator(s)

Seasoned Saints Ministry Coordinator(s)

1. Performs other duties as may be requested or required from time to time by the Senior Pastor.

QUALIFICATIONS: The ideal candidate will be a person who:

1. Is gifted and is called to youth ministry and who can teach/preach, loves young people, and has a passion for evangelism and outreach, both personally and at the ministry level;
2. Knows the Bible and can relate faith to the needs of children, youth and their families;
3. Has the ability to communicate and demonstrate his/her personal life journey, faith, love and commitment to Christ daily;
4. Has a minimum of 3 years’ experience working with, preferably leading youth, young adult ministries or family ministries;
5. Must have strong skills to organize programs and activities and to activate responsibilities with minimum supervision and follow-up;
6. Must have excellent interpersonal and communication skills and is willing and able to take initiative and problem-solve when necessary;
7. Has a high standard in attitude, outlook, and morals, with an awareness of the importance of example.

EDUCATION:

The successful candidate will have, at a minimum, a Bachelor’s degree. A theological degree (Master of Divinity, Master of Arts, Master of Theology) is preferred.

SALARY:

Commensurate with experience.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, 3 references (2 ministry and 1 personal), and a DVD or video clip demonstrating your preaching and teaching abilities.

Mail applications to:

St. John’s Congregational Church

Attn: Associate Pastor Search Committee

45 Hancock Street

Springfield, MA 01109

Or

E-mail:

SJKBAssociatePastorSearch@yahoo.com

Deadline: Applications are due Friday, July 25, 2014.

St. John’s Congregational Church

45 Hancock Street

Springfield, MA 01109

413-734-2283

www.sjkb.org

Mount Vernon Missionary Baptist Church is now accepting resumes to fill the position of Pastor. Please send resumes to:

Mt. Vernon Missionary Baptist Church
Attn: Pastoral Search Committee
PO Box 161836
Louisville, Kentucky 40216

NOTE: The Pastoral Search Committee will not be responsible for travel and lodging expenses incurred by a candidate.

Resumes must be postmarked by Monday, September 15, 2014.

by Robert Earl Houston

I have a few things on my heart before I go to bed tonight. I’ll share them quickly:

First, I want to give a huge shout-out to Bishop Neil C. Ellis and the Global United Fellowship. First, thank you for live streaming not just the evening sessions, but all of the sessions. Tonight was absolutely incredible as they raised budget, will leave North Carolina not only in the black, but with valuable partnerships, and purchase of three television stations – all of that in one session. Then the young man from Atlanta who was kidnapped and kept singing Bishop Hezekiah Walker’s song, “Every Praise is to Our God” was presented by Bishop Walker and a spontaneous gift of love, started by Yolanda Adams and Bishop Kenneth Ulmer (who personally gave $5,000) was . . . I guess heart-wrenching is not the right word . . . all I know is that me and the wife were marveled at what we saw and crying our eyes out. NEVER in years of Conventions and Conferences have I ever witnessed what I saw tonight.

Secondly, this was Associational week for most of Northern Kentucky. One moderator, Dr. William Nelson, presided over his first session as leader of Central Baptist District Association and another moderator, Dr. Bishop Carter, III, completed his tenure as moderator of the Consolidated Baptist District Association. Our church is in the Central District and we are former members of Consolidated District. I had the privilege of preaching the 1:00 p.m. sermon on the final day of Central District.

Third, I saw something that literally disappointment and ticked me off to the height of ticketivity. A new television series is on the way, made by the makers of the comic/television series, “Boondocks.” The new show is entitled “Black Jesus” with the premise that “Jesus” lives in Compton. I tried to watch the preview trailer and it literally turned my stomach. It won’t be playing in the Houston household and I hope that the Christian community will rise up and shut this mess down.

Certainly, I’m praying for those who lost their lives on the Malyasian jetliner and praying for peace for the Middle East and our nation – especially our inner cities.

That’s enough for now. Good night y’all.

YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED

by Robert Earl Houston

DISCLAIMER: I need to begin this post by saying that I am speaking from a position as a not only a Pastor, but a musician/choir director/minister of music since I was 17 years old. I was raised in a gospel music environment provided by New Hope and Morning Star Missionary Baptist Churches in Portland, Oregon and sat at the feet of gifted people – Bill Jackson, Marci Jackson, Glenda Jackson, Naomi Houston (mom), Carolyn Allmon, Saul Kelley, Sr., Lorene Wilder, Dorothy Davis, Gilber Gill, Darlene Warren, Norman Wooding, Calvin Lowery, Michael Stone, and many others from our church and community. Further, I have maintained my gospel music training at every church I have served at – going from apprentice musician to a senior musician.

As I sit here, I believe that Gospel Music is in trouble. I’m not talking about the plethora of workshops and organizations – I mean the art and craft of gospel music. It’s becoming like some preaching – watered down, fad-like and off center.

Recently, someone sent me a video (and it’s one among many) of where a minister took the secular song, “Blurred Lines” and replaced the words with the Christian standard “Jesus is on the mainline.” Several in the audience were “whooping it up” and it was hard to distinguish, in my eye, between worship and twerking by some of the participants.

Gospel music is deadly serious to me. We have a generation of musicians and songwriters (mostly male) and in some cases, some of these same musicians and songwriters attend nor support anybody’s church. Groups are forming every day that have no problem leaving the sanctuary of their home church to “perform” somewhere else, especially if it’s a paid performance.

The trademark of Gospel Music has always been relational to three things:

a.  The powerful story of Jesus Christ.
b.  The powerful witness of God the Father.
c.  The powerful abilities of the Holy Spirit.

However, much of gospel music is written by one-hit wonders, who mix songs in the basement using drum tracks, and creating words that neither glorify God or invite others to praise our God or, fore mostly, are biblically correct.

I don’t mean any harm . . .

I don’t need a little more Jesus – I have the complete package at my conversion.
I’m not looking to go back to Eden – that state will never be realized again.

Pharrell Williams’ song, “Happy” is “turning up” in praise and worship settings across the country – but if you can’t tell me simply that Jesus is the one who makes me happy within the confines of lyrics, then, to me, it’s not appropriate for a worship setting. Worship is not about us, it’s all about Him.

Although it gets a lot of verbal abuse, for those of us who have attended the New Music Seminar and Mass Choir conferences at Gospel Music Workshop of America, we appreciate the “standard” that has been used to select music that is to be presented. A song may appear and after hearing it, it’s never heard again – because those delegates want to take home music that edifies, encourages, and reaches the soul.

I’ve had the pleasure to work with and be in the number of choristers with people like Virgie Carrington Dewitty, Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer, V. Michael McKay, Donnie McClurkin, Margaret Douroux, Dr. Patrick Bradley, Dello Thedford, Walter Scrutchings, Damian D. Price, Oscar Williams, Malcolm Williams, William Barks-Dale, Terry Davis, Rodney Teal, ESQ, Rodena Preston-Williams, Steven Roberts, Helen Stephens, Shirley M.K. Berkeley, Eddie A. Robinson, Dr. Erral Wayne Evans, Bishop Richard “Mr. Clean” White, Teresa Aton, Kevin B. James, Carrie Lasley, Oscar Dismuke, Varanise Booker, Lan Wilson, Gregory Troy, Christopher Watkins, Anita Stevens-Watkins, Wendell Craig Woods, Professor Craig Hayes, Ronald J. Materre, and a plethora of others who write, re-arrange or present good, solid church music. Unfortunately, most of the stuff you hear on Christian radio will never be heard in a church because it’s fury no sound, beats without a rhythm, and a song without lyrics.

I love most forms of Christian music. I love the hymns of the church – and my church is right now going through 70 hymns in 70 Sundays because I don’t want my congregation to lose that link to our heritage. I love traditional gospel music, quartet music (my father and my father in the ministry were both quartet singers), anthems, shake-note singing, powerful traditional songs, and some (not all) contemporary music. My eyes will still swell up if a musician gets on the organ and with just one or two fingers start to line out “The Old Rugged Cross.” And yet, I can “Shabach” with you and I can “take you to church” with one of James Cleveland’s catalogue songs.

I pray that just like we say “Keep Christ in Christmas” that we won’t have to modify that mantra one day and say “Keep Christ in Gospel Music.”  However, I’m afraid that time is fast approaching.

YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED

by Robert Earl Houston

As an opening disclaimer and to be quite honest, I have been friends with H.B. Charles, Jr. for the past 15 years or so. H.B. (please forgive my informality) was the speaker for the San Diego City-Wide Revival for many years at the church I pastored for the Noon-Day session. We have managed to keep in touch down through the years and I have watched him ascend the crystal stairs of the preaching fraternity from Los Angeles to Jacksonville.

Now, having said all of that . . .

I believe that every preacher, ESPECIALLY YOUNG PREACHERS,  should have this book in your library or on your tablet or on your smart phone. H.B. has penned what many of us who have been around could say are “cliff notes” for those who desire to not just preach, but preach effectively.

If you have no desire to excel as a preacher – this is not the book for you.
If you want to grab onto the newest fad in preacherdom – this is not the book for you.
If your desire is to “kill ‘em” every Sunday with a whoop and no substance – this is not the book for you.
If you want people to call you “Doc” to your face and laugh at you behind your back – this is not the book for you.

This is a collection of practical, easy to read advice on how to construct a sermon – not the whoop, not the holler – but from the mindset of preaching, utilizing personal theological foundations, to the “why” and “what” a minister should pray before one syllable touches a piece of paper or on a computer screen.

H.B.’s passion for preaching is redundant throughout the book. He’s been preaching since he was a young teenager and he describes this not as a instructional map but as words from one traveler of the art of preaching to another. It is quite clear that H.B. does not want to remain the same in your preaching if it’s below par and he doesn’t want you satisfied if your preaching is above par.

A quote I found interesting:

“Your sermon manuscript will become stronger if you preach it as you write it. Talk it out as you are writing it down. This will help you communicate clearly and effectively.  Some words that are easy to write are not easy to pronounce. That long sentence that looks so beautiful on your computer screen may be a nightmare to say or hear. And sometimes you cannot tell that an idea does not make sense until you hear the words come from out of your mouth. But talking your way through the sermon as you write it will aid clarity. Preaching it as you write it also aids memorization.”

It’s classic and practical preaching advice. It’s what the old preachers used to call a “nugget.”  Unfortunately we live in a time when we have mega churches but pastors who either refuse or protest in sharing what they’ve learned along the way, especially about the craft of preaching. H.B. Charles, Jr.’s book breaks that paradigm in a refreshing way.

One thing you will learn from this book – the entire Bible is preachable. H.B. encourages you not to get in a rut and offers practical advice for vocal care. Much needed today.

Will this book help you? Yes, if you want it to. I’ll add this caveat – don’t let your ministry have more gators on your shelf than books in your library. Leaders read. Period. An investment is this book is well worth it. Many of us across the country are either implementing or planning to teach this book   to our young associates. Pastors – consider doing so. However, all ministers need to get your hands on this book – if you are serious about the craft of preaching.Those who want to drown in shallow preaching waters need not apply.

YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

by Robert Earl Houston

One thing that has to be remembered by all of us who serve the Lord as pastors is that there are some things that we will never be in control of. Do your best every Sunday. Preach like it’s the last time. Teach like someone’s life is in the balance. Preach in season and out of season. Preach when you’re popular and preach when you’re not. Preach when the house is full and preach like the house is full when it’s not. Celebrate the good days and reflect upon the bad days. Be there when they cry and be there when they can’t open their mouths nor their eyes. Rejoice at their weddings, celebrate their accomplishments and be that presence when their world is falling apart. Don’t take your anger to the pulpit and don’t let your anger permeate your preaching. Smile even when you don’t feel like it and laugh when no one is around. Just a few words of advice after 25 years plus of pastoring . . .

by Robert Earl Houston

I’ve been privileged down through the years to officiate at many, many weddings. Matter of fact, I have had the joy of uniting couples in Oregon, California, Tennessee and Kentucky. I’ve officiated at the weddings of strangers, friends, acquaintances and relatives. All weddings are filled with pageantry, poignancy, and personality. No two weddings are the same. But all marriages come to that point of where familiarity sets in and that which was special on the day of the marriage is now no longer special, excitable nor does it move you like it used to.

So it is in marriage, so it is in ministry. Every pastor and every church comes to a point of familiarity. If a church and a pastor are not careful, that familiarity can breed contempt.

I recently preached a sermon entitled “Don’t Let HIM Down” when Jesus received the complaint of a father who brought his son to Him after the disciples could not heal him. Jesus said that the Disciples had demonstrated a lack of faith and needed at least the faith the size of a mustard seed. My point is that when the spectacular seems ordinary, when the possible is viewed as impossible, and when steak is referred to as hamburger, a season of familiarity has begun.

No one is exempt from this. It’s going to come. No matter how they holler, run and shout today – the day will come where they will talk instead of holler, walk instead of run, and stare instead of shout. Not all church members, thankfully, are like that – but Pastors have to make sure that they don’t become so familiar with their congregations that in order to pacify people, principles become pulp, preaching becomes pablum, and pastoring becomes pointless.

Even in the largest megachurches in the nation, no sanctuary is 100% full every Sunday. Even the largest churches carry some of the highest debt load even higher than some businesses. Even the television ministries carefully pan the audience not to show the empty seats. In other words – when things are familiar, the excitement and the crowd is subject to change.

The best way out of this is this: preach!  Don’t carry your burdens to the pulpit. Don’t let their familiarity draw you into a stage of lethargy. If you worked hard on your sermons when you got there, keep on, as our guest, Rev. C. Ramont Morris said to the General Association of Baptists in Kentucky, showing up! Skeptics? Keep on showing up! Naysayers? Keep on showing up! You don’t have to battle with anyone because the battle is not your’s, it’s the Lord’s.

Then pray for a Revival – not for the people, but for you. Pray that God will give you that freshness and awe of the place where you stand every Sunday. Pray that you’ll love on those who come to hear you preach every Sunday and not become bitter about those who leave because you couldn’t turn water into wine and you couldn’t accommodate their problems. Don’t be bitter, be better.

I’m going back to my pulpit on Sunday, with a word from the Lord, grateful that He sends people for me to sow into their spiritual lives every Sunday, and with the idea in my heart that i’m going to stand there, with everything that I have, and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ like it’s the first time. The Season of Familiarity will not be one that I plan to experience, but for a short time.

YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED

by Robert Earl Houston

In this wonderful nation of ours there are over 300,000,000 people who live here. There are 50 states, over 3,100 counties, over 30,000 cities. There are four major traditional baptist conventions, each claiming over 1,000,000 members. There are easily at least one state baptist convention in each state, some have as many as 4 or more. There are hundreds of district associations, state conventions, district congresses, state congresses, general associations, national conventions, local/state/national fellowships, and on and on and on.

So why is it that we only utilize a handful of preachers to speak at these events?

No one will dare say it, but in the hallway of most of our conventions, the same faces and names appear on the program year after year after year. Surely by now there should be some new faces and voices emerging from the diaspora of the African-American church experience. However, it’s the same people preaching conventions all over the nation – basically utilizing the same five sermons – and frankly, it’s tiring.

Our General Association of Baptists in Kentucky had invited a minister to be our guest speaker this year and he fell ill and was unable to be here. Our State Moderator and his wife were on the way to Cancun, Mexico when he received the news – a little less than 3 weeks away from the annual session. After consulting with a friend and praying over it, he selected Reverend Cory Ramont Morris. A minister that most of us in Kentucky had never heard before. However, by the end of the week, he became the talk of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Great theological mind. Young but seasoned. A rare ability to connect with the old, the middle aged, and the young. Tremendous delivery. Friendly and approachable. Not haughty and not stuck up. And yes, a close that could easily be construed as one of the best I’ve heard in recent memory. Outstanding scriptural approach and exegesis. Teaching while preaching.

And we LOVED it. 

Maybe our problem is that we look to the stars of the church rather than to the Hills (from whence cometh our help) – and instead of considering those who are solid in the faith, upcoming, and striving pastors – we get the same old soup in a new bowl with all gravy and no meat. My former pastor, Bishop Darryl S. Brister used to say “all you need is one moment of exposure to change your life.” There are a plethora of ministers who if just given the opportunity to be programmed, you may discover what all the fuss is about in their local communities.

Case in point. A West Virginia pentecostal pastor has been attending a Conference in Tulsa, Oklahoma for years and gets the opportunity to meet the host. One year, one of the speakers can’t make it, and the host calls him and asks him, at the last minute to fill in. The minister preaches a dynamic sermon and most people had never heard of him. The conference is televised and the owner of the world’s largest Christian television network sees his presentation, picks up the phone, calls him, and brings him to his network studios, and launches him into preaching history. The host was Bishop Carlton Pearson. The event was Azusa. The network owner was Paul Crouch. And that West Virginia minister, who admitted that at one point he was the pastor, musician, usher and janitor, is named Thomas Dexter (T.D.) Jakes.

Because he was given a chance.

I was the recipient of opportunities. Outside of my home church, people like Dr. O.B. Williams, Dr. J.A. Boles,  Dr. S.M. Lockridge, Dr. Ray Williams, Dr. H.F. Dean, Dr. Willie T. Snead, Dr. Melvin Wade, Dr. R.C. Williams, Sr., Dr. Clyde E. Gaines, Dr. A.E. Reid, Dr. A. Russell Awkard, Dr. Bernard Crayton, Dr. C.B. Akins, Dr. Walter Parrish, III, and others GAVE ME A CHANCE.  They took a chance and gave me opportunity to preach or serve in conventions – even when I was pastoring a storefront church and pastoring for free because the church was not in position to pay me; even when I was pastoring a church and I had to make it to the conventions on my own dime; even when I was fighting for my pastoral life and the storms were raging at full blast; and even at the church of my dreams – I have been the recipient of an opportunity.

I’ve preached for state conventions in Oregon/Washington/Idaho; Kentucky; California; North Carolina.
I’ve preached for district associations in Oregon, California, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Kentucky.
I’ve preached for city-wide revivals in Newark, NJ, Gary, IN, Albuquerque, NM and other places.
I’ve preached in Revival or for special occasions literally around the nation.

Because I was given a chance. Maybe before the next leader of a group invites Rev. Dr. So and So or Bishop So and So or the Pastor who is pastoring the large church over in the next state or many the denominational leader who you know really can’t preach, but has a big name.

There are gifted young pastors, middle aged pastors, even elderly pastors who have never been given the opportunity to preach because they didn’t graduate from a certain school or they didn’t have the opportunity to complete college or they had a family to support and sat under the feet of their pastor or college was not for them – and yet they minister faithfully, biblically and with integrity. They are in every state – just waiting for a chance.

I’ve always prayed, Lord, if I ever get in the position to help someone else up, please help me to do so. I wonder what would happen if our conventions do today what they use to do in yesterday and give an opportunity to young preachers like E.V. Hill, Melvin Wade, Stephen Thurston, A.L. Bowman, Sandy Ray, C.L. Franklin, Jasper Williams, E. Edward Jones – and other young pastors who were given the opportunity to preach nationally at a young age.

When our session in Lexington closed after hearing a session that will live in the annals of history of this 149 year old institution. The name of Corey Ramont Morris will stand in the hearts of minds of the delegates that trusted their Moderator to be obedient to the Holy Spirit. We didn’t know him then. But we know and appreciate him now.

Give somebody else a chance.

YOUR COMMENTS WELCOMED.

Pastor Robert Earl Houston, First Baptist Church, Frankfort, KY and Pastor Milton E. Chambers, Sr., New Hope Friendship Baptist Church, San Diego, CA

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – For the past 48 hours, I have been in San Diego for the home going services for my dear friend, Sis. Mildred Lee Bell, charter member of the New Hope Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, where I served as their pastor for nine years, from 1995-2004.

I’m here by invitation of her family. Mildred and I were close. Not only was I her pastor, but after going through a horrendous storm of divorce and the aftermath of it affecting the congregation, after my resignation, it severed professional ties, but Mildred would not let me go. We stayed in touch. We had monthly telephone calls where we laughed together, mourned together, and encouraged each other.

When I left here in 2004, I had vowed I would never return. I was hurt, bruised, beaten, and broken of spirit. I had been through hell like I had never experienced nor would I wish on anyone else. When I came to clear out my office, I will never forget the glare of the then chairman of deacons and a member who would go on to become a trustee, who came to the church to watch me pack up my belongings. As I single-handedly packed my belongings into my vehicle, I stood on the final step and shook my foot three times – remembering that scripture found in Matthew 10:12-14. I had shaken the dust from my feet.

It’s hard to fathom that 10 years have gone by since that day in 2004. So many things have happened – the great recession, the election of a black United States President, Wars overseas, domestic problems – and for me personally it has been a journey in the hands of the Lord. I’ve preached as a full-time evangelist, worked for a prominent immigration attorney, served as a Senior Project Manager for an international ministry, served as a full-time assistant pastor in Nashville, married an amazing and supportive woman that has no equal in her love, and now, serving what I believe is the church of my dreams, First Baptist Church, in Frankfort, Kentucky. I’ve been tremendously blessed by the Lord.

Why am I sharing this? Because it is true: Time heals all wounds. I stood in the pulpit for the first time in 10 years to preside at Mildred’s services and I was welcomed by her family with wide open arms, and most, if not all, of my former members, warmly greeted me, hugged my neck, wrapped their arms around me, and even those young people who were small children when I became their pastor (many who I baptized) ran up to me and said “we miss you” and “we still love you.”

It says something that sometimes the biggest obstacle to our healing may be ourselves. Sometimes our perception, right or wrong, of how others feel about you, may be building a wall needlessly. Every pastor has supportive people, those who are on the fence, those who are against – but it’s not our job to be popular – it’s our job to feed the flock, and a grateful flock will respond in kind. The many years that I stood behind that pulpit and labored in the word did not go in vain. Even though circumstances were stormy – the storm is not only over, it’s literally water under a bridge.

I suspect that it took the home going of Mildred to bring us all together. It had a feel of a reunion. How an 87 year old woman could accomplish this is only by the grace of God. The current pastor, Rev. Milton Chambers, preached a classic sermon and he went out of his way to welcome me back to New Hope Friendship. When I arrived, the signage was up and we worked together to make sure that Mildred had the kind of home going service that she deserved. I presided. He preached. And God received all of the glory.

So I’m about to pack my bags and I’m eagerly looking forward to coming home to a beautiful, loving wife and a prayerful and supportive congregation, to continue ministering in the pulpit that the Lord over 5 years ago. But I leave San Diego this time with a smile on my face, joy in my heart, and an appreciation of the healing and reunion that took place this weekend.

YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED

From the American Baptist Newspaper

The First Baptist Church in Columbia, Kentucky is seeking a minister to pastor our congregation. He must preach and teach sound doctrine, without compromise. He must love the Lord and love all God’s people. The Pulpit Committee will not be responsible for any expenses incurred by a candidate, i.e., all travel and lodging expenses. Resumes and letters of inquiry should be sent by October 3, 2014 to:

First Baptist Church
Pulpit Committee
P.O. Box 956
Columbia, Kentucky 42728

PASTOR ROBERT EARL HOUSTON

by Robert Earl Houston

I am a fan(atic) about preaching. I love preaching and love the art and craft of gospel preaching. My portfolio of favorite preachers crosses denominational lines, age barriers, and gender. I just love great Bible-based preaching.

Preaching is not my issue. What I’m concerned about is that we are making unrealistic prognostications over the pulpit that sound like the Will of God, however, it’s not really in His will.

To be in a room full of believers and then promise them that in 7 days they will all be blessed or in 6 months they’ll all have brand new houses seems to me to be in the realm of preaching malpractice.

To be in a Pastor’s Conference and then promise to every Pastor that when you get home your church is about to “blow up” and that you’re about to move into the national arena seems to me to write a promissory note that cannot be cashed.

To be in a conference and tell the room that when you get back home you’re ministry is going to increase and see things that you’ve never seen before and then you return and get put out, it seems like either the prophet was confused or the hearer confused – I choose the prophet.

In an effort to create empowerment in the body of Christ, some of us have forgotten that “the poor will be with you always.” (Matthew 26:11).  It’s God’s will, yes, that you would prosper as your soul prospers (3 John 1:2) but if you look at most translations of that original text, it’s conjunctive with health and not wealth.

I have been in services and prophesied over and there have been times when the prophesy just flat footed did not come true – by no stretch of the imagination. I’ve become convinced that to speak “thus saith the Lord” without any authorization or authenticity from the Lord is to basically lie on the Lord in order to score spiritual points with a crowd. It may make good television but it does not make good and faithful believers – and it opens a door to doubt causing serious spiritual damage to the one who receives it.

I’m currently preaching through a series on healing but I also am fully aware that as I preach it, all healing is not in my hands nor in my words. God has the final say so. And people still die.  People still get sick. However, I can honestly say that if the Lord wills so, He can heal – and he can heal you with or without the medicine or with eternity.

I vividly remember hearing the story of a minister who had a member come forth during worship, riddled with cancer, and then he prophesied over her and said “in 7 days, God is going to heal you completely.”  She died 5 days later. The minister’s daughter went to him and said, “Daddy, I thought you said that she was going to be healed.”

I think it would be appropriate to stick to the book (The Bible). Encourage yes. Placate no. Offer hope in Christ yes. Offer hope in our words no.  Be authentic yes. Be a showman no.

YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED

by Robert Earl Houston

I’ve been producing (at no cost) a list of “vacant churches” for the past 20 years plus. I was inspired to do so by the work of Dr. A.V. “King” Fisher of Fort Worth, Texas, who for years produced a magazine widely read by preachers called “The E.R.R.P. Report.” I found out about the magazine from my pastor, the late Dr. A. Bernard Devers, and it contained a list of “Vacant Churches.” Since the advent of the internet, way before others did so, I had a list of “vacant churches” for the African-American baptist church community. 

I did so to destroy the “old boy” system of placing pastors in pulpit when it was “who you knew” and “who you owed” when getting called to a church. Young pastors would be beholden to older ministers who held “that favor” over their heads for years and years and years. It was a terrible system and I had been exposed to it and didn’t like it and thought there had to be a better way.

I’ve been calling it “vacant churches” for twenty years. Today that stops. 

It’s not a church congregation or building that’s vacant – it is the pulpit. 99.9% of the congregations that I know that go through pastoral transition survive. Yes, sometimes in a tense atmosphere. Yes, sometimes during a season of division, political in-fighting and issues. Yes, sometimes when a clear candidate of the pastorate is before them. And yes, sometimes when there is no suitable pastoral candidate on the horizon.

But the work of the church continues.

Worship services still are held.
Preaching is still being preached.
Listening to preaching is still going on.
Singing is still being performed.
Ushers still usher.

Someone once said to me that a “real church is one that has a pastor.” I beg to differ. I do believe that a church should search prayerfully for a pastor. I also believe that a church without a pastor can still be effective in ministry beyond the borders of the building – working harmoniously together, while waiting for the Holy Spirit to fill the vacancy.

If your church is without a pastor – keep on doing ministry. Occupy yourself with ministry. Try to keep as much as possible. Pray more than you ever have. And the supplier will send someone to fill that vacant pulpit. 

Source: American Baptist Newspaper, Louisville, Kentucky

Greater Second Baptist Church
1371 North G Street
Richmond, Indiana 47374

Greater Second Baptist Church is seeking an ordained preacher/teacher to fill the position of pastor. All resumes should be sent to:

Pulpit Committee
c/o Marilyn Givens
1209 N.W. 19th Street
Richmond, Indiana 47374

by Robert Earl Houston

After months of campaigning across the nation in various conventions, the Presidential offices of the four major conventions has been filled after spirited campaigning.

Elected to serve are:

Dr. James C. Perkins, pastor of the Greater Christ Baptist Church of Detroit, Michigan was elected as the President of the Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc. in their annual session in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Dr. Perkins previously served as the First Vice President and succeeds Dr. Carroll A. Baltimore, Sr.

Dr. Samuel Tolbert, pastor of the Greater St. Mary Baptist Church of Lake Charles, Louisiana was elected as the President of the National Baptist Convention of America, Inc. International in their annual Family Fest session in Memphis, Tennessee. Dr. Tolbert previously served as General Secretary and succeeds Dr. Stephen John Thurston.

Dr. Nehemiah Davis, pastor of the Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church of Fort Worth, Texas was re-elected as the President of the National Missionary Baptist Convention of America in their annual session in Houston, Texas.

Dr. Jerry Young, pastor of the New Hope Baptist Church of Jackson, Mississippi was elected President of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. in their annual session in New Orleans, Louisiana.

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Pastor, civil rights leader, commissioner Henry E. Baker dies at 92

The Rev. Henry E. Baker

WINCHESTER, KENTUCKY – The Rev. Henry E. Baker, a civil rights activist, pastor and former city commissioner for whom a new Clark County school was named, died Wednesday, Sept. 10. He was 92.

Family and friends said he will be remembered as a humble leader who loved God and loved people.

Baker began his service to the community in 1955 when he started pastoring at Broadway Baptist Church. He pastored the church for 38 years before retiring in 1993. During this time he raised eight children with his wife, the late Sarah Prentice Baker, and worked as an activist and public official to make historic changes in Clark County.

Baker played a role in the integration of Winchester High School in 1956, and was also a member of the Winchester Advisory Council, where he worked with local officials to solve issues within the schools and the police department.

Baker worked fervently to help members of the African American community find jobs and become first-time homeowners.

In 1979, Baker became the first African American to serve in public office in Clark County, when he was elected as city commissioner. He served as commissioner and vice mayor from 1980 to 1984.

Winchester Mayor Ed Burtner said he’s known Baker since 1981 when he was serving as commissioner and Burtner was hired as city manager. He said the fact that Baker served as vice mayor during one of his terms as commissioner was a testament to how the community felt about him.

“The position of vice mayor is reserved for the person who received the most votes in the election,” Burtner said. “He was a great leader and the community recognized that.”

In 1990 he was nominated for the Smith-Wilson Award for Civil and Human Rights, and in 2000 was inducted into the inaugural class of Kentucky Human Rights Commission Civil Rights Hall of Fame.

Baker, along with Roger Hurst, organized the Winchester-Clark County Christians United Against Drugs, and in 2007 he received the Martin Luther King Jr. Award.

Baker’s son, William Baker, said his father will be remembered for his many accomplishments, but mostly for his dedication to being a servant of God.

“The most important thing to him was bringing people to God,” William said. “Serving God, letting people know about God and saving souls through God, that was so important to him and that’s his biggest accomplishment.”

William said his father wanted to be remembered using Acts 4:13, which says “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”

“He wanted his greatest contribution to be as a servant of God,” William said.

William said his father’s work set an example for the African American community.

“I think the impact that he made when he ran for commissioner and was elected was huge,” he said. “It made other African Americans feel that they could accomplish things also through hard work. He was just a leader, but also a humble leader.”

Baker’s leadership and legacy were honored this year when the school for fifth- and sixth-grade students was named in his honor.

The new Henry E. Baker Intermediate School was dedicated Aug. 3 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Baker was able to cut the ribbon himself and Baker Intermediate Principal Josh Mounts said it was an honor to have him participate in the ceremony.

“I’m very happy that he got to be honored prior to his passing,” Mounts said. “He was so excited and thrilled about that, but at the same time he was humbled by it. It’s just a unique situation that you get to dedicate a building to someone while they’re still alive.”

Mounts said he and Assistant Principal Susan Jacobs had the opportunity to meet Baker for the first time when they were invited into William’s home before the dedication of the school.

“I’m not a Winchester native, so going in I had no idea who he was or what his life story was about,” Mounts said. “When we left we were just so proud that the school was named after him. His life story was very powerful and he impacted the lives of a lot of folks in our community.”

Mounts said he feels confident Baker’s legacy will live on with the school.

“We want to talk as a school, but want to continue to honor Mr. Baker’s legacy,” he said. “Hopefully we can establish some sort of award to honor a student at the end of each year to honor his legacy. Hopefully we can come up with some criteria that defines his legacy and select a student or two that exemplify his legacy.”

William said his father was thrilled with the school being named in his honor.

“The school, it shows how much love and respect the community and the people of Winchester and Clark County have for him,” William said. “There’s no way that could have been done without the support that the community gave him. He loved this community. He worked hard for this community, not just for African Americans, but for everyone.”

Mounts said one of the things that stood out to him most about Baker was his love and dedication to his family.

In addition to his eight children, Baker had 27 grandchildren, 47 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.

“You’d ask him about his accomplishments and he would always tie it back to his family,” he said. “That theme of family just resinated with everything he said.”

Mounts said Baker’s love for his neighbors will also be remembered.

“I remember he said that people are people,” he said. “No matter what their background or race or upbringing might be, people are people. I think you can definitely sense that with him and his family. There’s sense of a tight knit group that welcomed others in to the family. I think that his legacy will live on within our school and ours students and within the lives of the folks that he touched in his life.”

Burtner said he believes Baker will be remembered as a leader for the entire community.

“He will be remembered for being a leader not just for his church, not just for the African American community, but for all of Winchester,” he said. “He was concerned with fair treatment of all people and was concerned with the well-being of the whole community.”

Funeral arrangements are being handled through Scobee Funeral Home, but were incomplete at press time.

by Robert Earl Houston

Is it just me? 

I’m a history buff. As a child I spent hours watching Masterpiece Theatre at home (my mom was a school teacher) and learned English history. Particularly the Tudor years in England when King Henry VIII, and his children, Edward,  daughter Mary (commonly called “Bloody Mary”) and Elizabeth, ruled the nation.

This biggest controversy of that time was the role of the Catholic Church in England. During that period the Church was growing extensively richer while the nation and its people grew poorer. Also, because of the church’s strict teachings, divorce (which Henry knew well) was not allowed and he and the nation broke away from the Catholic Church and formed the Church of England, of which the King (or Queen) ruled as the supreme leader, taking all authority from the Catholic Church. In addition, a rising up of men, including Martin Luther (a German), had renounced the Catholic Church and thus began the Protestant (protest) movement.

It was supposed to create a buffer between Catholicism and modern Christianity.

But something has gone wrong. And it’s in this era. There is a strange movement that is taking us backwards instead of forward. It almost appears that some in the Body of Christ long for “the good old days” and want us to go back to doing things in a Catholic manner.

For example, the sudden emphasis on hierarchal titles within the black baptist church. Growing up our ministers were called Pastors, Ministers and Liceniates. Now, there is a plethora of titles attached to those who serve as baptist and many of the names are coming from the world of Catholicism.

Even how we address our mail and sign our names has changed. I will not, and I don’t feel comfortable, in signing my name as “The Right Reverend Robert Earl Houston” or “His Grace, The Right and Righetous Robert Earl Houston.” To me, it’s foolishness. It creates an air of supremacy that is neither warranted or deserved.

Many years ago, my state president, Dr. O.B. Williams, taught me about signatures. He never signed any letter or document as “Dr. O.B. Williams” by hand. He always simply wrote: “O.B. Williams.” He told me the title is less important that your name. Your title doesn’t make your name and your name will be long remembered after your title is gone.

Now we have Bishops, Arch-Bishops, Sufferagin Bishops, and many of these ancillary titles are drawn from the Catholic Church. It won’t be long before ring kissing becomes vogue. It won’t be long before denominational leaders will be in Popemobiles accessorized with a Sound System. It won’t be long before we start looking to leaders instead of looking to God for answers. 

I like the reformation that Jesus started. He got it right and He sets the tone for the church today. I believe many of us are sick of the Presidential entourages and titles that make no sense at all in our modern context.  Cardinals are coming. As a Vicors and Metropolitans and Prelates – if we don’t shake ourselves out of this need for peer super authority and get back to our pulpits and communities and preach that Jesus is the Son of God and Savior of this world.

Humbly submitted by His grace by the authority of the Bishop in Rome,
The Son of the Church based in Portland and Operating in a Realm in Kentucky, 

Robert

YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELCOME

Winter at First Baptist Church, 2014.

by Robert Earl Houston

This past Sunday, September 21, 2014, the congregation that I am blessed to serve as their senior pastor, First Baptist Church in Frankfort, Kentucky, celebrated another Church Anniversary! 181 years. You read that right – One hundred eighty one years. 

Where I come from on the west coast, it is rare to find a church that is over 100 years of age. But here in Kentucky, it is almost commonplace to find congregations that celebrate over 100 years of existence and a rare handful celebrate over 200 years of existence. I’ve had the honor in recent years to preach yearly at the Historic Pleasant Green Baptist Church, the oldest Black Baptist Church west of the Allegheny River, which is some 233 years old.

First Baptist Church is the result of a split from an integrated worship. Originally whites and blacks worshiped together and one Sunday the leadership of the First Baptist Church at the Singing Bridge decided to expel all of the negroes from their congregation. It was 1833.

After doing some research, I found out that Kentucky’s use of slavery dates from the earliest permanent European settlements in the state. 25% of the residents of Kentucky were slaves up to the Civil War, and most of them resided in the Louisville area and the Bluegrass Region (from Louisville eastward) which was rich with tobacco, hemp and horse farms. In 1831, just two years before the founding of this church, the State Legislature passed new restrictions against owners freeing their slaves.

When 1833 rolled around the Civil War had been in effect for two years. And the response of First Baptist Church was to divest themselves of people of color and hence, First Baptist Church was formed by freedmen and slaves.  The newly formed Church faced adversities from not only residents but also from the elected officials of that day. At the conclusion of the Civll War, about 75% of the slaves in Kentucky were freed or escaped to Union lines during the war. Remember, First Baptist was organized in 1833 and slavery legally ended in Kentucky on December 18, 1865 when some 65,000 Kentuckians became legally emancipated.

The present structure’s construction was a hot-button issue. The City Council of Frankfort refused to grant a permit to tear down the existing house and build a sanctuary. Matter of fact, the City issued arrest warrants for the Contractor and the Board of Trustees for continuing to build without the authority of the city. The matter wound up in court and the state courts issued a landmark opinion that the opposition to First Baptist Church’s construction was not based upon law, but upon prejudice. The church was allowed to continue construction and in 1908 walked into it’s resplendent sanctuary.

As pointed out by Representative Derrick Graham, First Baptist Church has had a storied past and ties to the Frankfort community. During the Civil Rights era, First Baptist Church hosted and/or supported the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Dr. Jesse Jackson, and others in the struggle for equality. It has been led by a plethora of church men – 17 from the early days to the current administration.

My friend, Pastor Emmanuel Young, lent me a book – “1868-1968 Centennial Volume: General Association of Kentucky Baptists” and it identifies the impact that First Baptist Church has had denominationally. Several of my predecessors have gone on to serve as Moderators of the Association, Editors of the American Baptist Newspaper (of which I now serve as Chairman of the Board), State Mission Workers, and was one of the first congregations to join the Progressive National Baptist Convention, of which my immediate predecessor, Dr. K.L. Moore, Jr., served as Recording Secretary and Chair of New Pastors.

It’s been a storied rise. But not without its share of heartaches and heartbreaks. No institution stands without some pain on the menu. There have been growth, fall outs, joys, sorrows, growing pains and membership fluctuation. As I remind our church from time to time: Members come and go; Pastors come and go; But God’s Church still stands!

Today, we stand 181 years only a few blocks from where our forefathers and foremothers were told that they were no longer welcome. Today the pastor and I from FBC Singing Bridge are friends, our members work with each other in the workplace and from time to time we worship together in different venues. Today there are several predominately African-American churches in our area of all denominations. Our sister church, the Historic St. John A.M.E. Church stands just a block away and we have a tremendous fellowship throughout the years.  Green Hill Baptist Church, First Corinthian Baptist Church (which is the result of a split from First Baptist) and Macedonia Baptist Church in the Millville area, still stand today, serving alongside as we preach and teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to this community. Not to mention newer congregations that have come on the scene. First Baptist Church still stands.

Today we are a church that embraces both the past and the present while looking forward to the future. My vision for the church is the construction of an Educational Building that will house administrative offices, provide classrooms for generations to come, and will be topped with a gymnasium that will meet the needs of this community. I am believing God that this will come to pass. We love our stately sanctuary and facility and have poured resources into restoring the sanctuary, remodeling restrooms and kitchen, beautifying the fellowship hall, and installing modern fixtures. God is good!

Today we are a church that embraces people. We believe in the redemption of people through the blood of Jesus Christ. We believe in the efficacy of God’s Word. We believe that Preaching and Teaching go hand-in-hand. We believe that worship should be worshipful. We believe that Christian Education is necessary. We believe that our job is not just to be keepers of the legacy but also to create some milestones along the way in this generation.

Happy 181+ years First Baptist Church. Can’t wait to see what the future holds.

YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELCOME.