The goal of course is to NOT blow up churches: but in reality some pastors do. Of course, what church is perfect? All churches need to grow in matching the New Testament picture of a body of people who reflect the image of Christ as individuals and as a group. This means change. But what church likes change?
The April 12 issue of Towers is devoted to addressing how to implement and sustain change in a local church. The entree for this issue is a feature story on the ministry partnership of David Prince and Jeremy Haskins and their work at Ashland Avenue Baptist Church in Lexington, Ky. (pages 3 and 6). Prince, pastor of preaching and vision, and Haskins, pastor of the mission, have served together for 10 years, the last six at Ashland Avenue.
As complements to the Prince/Haskins feature, long-time pastor and SBTS professor Hershael York and theologian/scholar/pastor Tom Schreiner provided first person articles on change and pastoral ministry (pages 4 and 5).
York serves as senior pastor of Buck Run Baptist Church in Frankfort, Ky., and Victor and Louise Lester Professor of Christian Preaching and associate dean of ministry and proclamation at Southern. Schreiner is the preaching pastor of Clifton Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky., and James Buchanan Harrison Professor of New Testament Interpretation and associate dean of Scripture and interpretation at Southern.
The following Southern Seminary professors who currently serve as pastors or who have pastoral ministry experience also offered insights:
- Chuck Lawless, dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions and Evangelism and a pastor of 14 years (page 5).
- Bill Cook, senior pastor of Ninth & O Baptist Church and professor of New Testament interpretation (page 9).
- Jim Orrick, department coordinator of general studies and professor of literature and culture at Boyce College and a man with years of pastoral experience (page 9).
- Jim Hamilton, senior pastor of Kenwood Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky. and associate professor of biblical theology (page 9).
- Bill Henard, senior pastor of Porter Memorial Baptist Church in Lexington, Ky. and assistant professor of evangelism and church growth (page 14).
Tony Rose, senior pastor of LaGrange Baptist Church in LaGrange, Ky., offers his insights on how to begin in the pastorate and Andy Davis, First Baptist Church of Durham, N.C., points out 10 potential pitfalls a first-time minister might make (page 7).
Finally, 3 questions features Phil Newton, senior pastor of South Woods Baptist Church in Germantown, Tenn., a congregation he planted 23 years ago (page 16).