My brother, Kevin B. Willis, Sr. has pastored the Riverside Missionary Baptist Church in Memphis since 1993. And the Lord has done great things in and through Kevin as he faithfully served this strong Memphis congregation. However, Kevin was recently led to end his fifteen-year work at Riverside Church. And he has begun a new work in nearby Southaven, Mississippi. He has named this new congregation "New Life in Christ Fellowship Church." This is a big step of faith for Kevin, Linda, and all those who have prayerfully chosen to follow them in this new work. Please keep this infant...

This morning, I had the distinct privilege and great honor of speaking at the 78th Annual L.K. Williams Ministers' Institute in Dallas. The meeting was hosted by the chairman of the conference: Dr. Karry D. Wesley and the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church. Following is a brief biographical sketch of Dr. Lacy Kirk Williams and a short history of the institute the is printed in the official program: "In 1931, the Lacey Kirk Williams Ministers' Institute was born on the campus of Bishop College, then located in the East Texas pine country of Marshal. Its founder and organizer was Dr. Joseph...

'- Yesterday was our next to last worship service at our Gramercy location, where Mt. Sinai Church has met for about 40 years. This coming Sunday will be our last service there. While we praise God for the new facilities he has given us, it is sad to leave a place of meeting that has meant so much to so many of us for so many years. - I preached a message from Mark 14:3-9. I called it, "Expressing your Devotion to Jesus." The point of the message is that you should do express your devotion to Jesus the best...

The new book I have contributed a chapter to, Secret Sex Wars: A Battle Cry for Purity, is now available in stores and online. Robert S. Scott, who pastors the Los Angeles Community Bible Church, is the general editor. In it, several pastors from the Los Angeles area - who love Christ, love the scriptures, and love God's people - have come together to write this volume that presents biblical instruction and Christ-centered principles for sexual purity. I know that the book title may seem provocative and intimidating. But let me assure you that this is not a self-righteous, unloving,...

Today is the thirteenth anniversary of the domestic terrorist bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City in which 186 people were killed and more the 800 people were injured. I was in the city that week, preaching for Pastor John Reed Jr. and the Fairview Baptist Church during the annual Oklahoma City simultaneous revival. I was still recovering from Easter weekend. I was suffering from jet lag. I was trying to get into a rhythm of the multiple services during the OKC simultaneous revival. I was catching up with family and friends who live in Oklahoma...

It is kind of late. And I am very tired. But I am still trying to wind down from preaching tonight. I brought the closing message tonight at a three-night revival meeting held at the Greater Starlight Baptist Church here in Los Angeles, where Prentiss Lewis serves at pastor. Local pastors, Xaviar Thomas and Welton Pleasant, spoke the first two nights of the meeting. I have preached for Pastor Lewis at Greater Starlight many times over the years. In fact, I think Greater Starlight is the only place, outside of Mt. Sinai, where I have repeated a message. I have...

I have spent the past several days speaking at the St. Paul Baptist Church in Sacramento, which is led by Dr. Ephraim Williams. I spoke four times over the course of three days. This marked the third time I have ministered at St. Paul. The last two years, I have participated in the celebration of their church anniversary (St. Paul is 60 years old this year). This year, however, I spoke for three nights that focused on the young adults of St. Paul. I was encouraged by the opportunities and support the congregation gave to the young people of the...

“I’m taking back everything the Devil stole from me!” Have you ever heard this statement? Have you ever made this statement? Have you ever thought about what this statement means? Spiritual catchphrases. Theological sound bites. Pulpit ear tickling. Harmful error set to beautiful music. Nonsense. These things are the order of the day. Consequently, many of our lives and churches are preoccupied with superficial things, rather than the God-centered, Christ-exalting, Spirit-empowered, life-transforming, and culture-engaging mission and message of the gospel. For instance, there is a popular "Gospel" song that declares God to be faithful and holy. But the response to...

We finally got some pictures of Hailey with her eyes open. It's as if she knows we have been trying to take pictures of her. And she kept closing her eyes every time we tried to capture her. Wow! A diva that doesn't like the paparazzi. Go figure. But we finally got her. So for "We the members of MSMBC..." (still funny), meet your newest member: Hailey Breanne Charles

I was scheduled to be be San Francisco today to begin preaching the afternoon meetings for their citywide revival. Family duties prevented me from attending this meeting. This would have been my fourth year preaching this meeting. I have been the afternoon speaker each year. And I have been partnered with some fine preachers. I preached with Pastor Stephen Thurston from Chicago the first year. I preached with Pastor Marvin Wiley, who pastors in a Chicago suburb, the second year. And I preached with Pastor Nathan Johnson of Detroit last year. Pastor Johnson is the evening speaker again this year....

My family is home!!! I brought Crystal and Hailey home from the hospital this afternoon. Oh, what a feeling! Crystal has had a long, difficult week. Every day, she would have good periods and bad periods. But she has recovered from the surgery well enough for her doctor to send her home. She will still need to get a lots of rest of the next week or two. Keep her in your prayers. Hailey is doing fine. No problems, except for a lovesick dad who keeps fussing over her. She is beautiful. And I praise God for adding her to...

There is a new addition to the Charles family!!! Crystal gave birth yesterday (3/24) to our new daughter at 3:14 pm. She is a little early, but both Crystal and the baby are doing fine. She was born at 7 pounds and 3 ounces, 20 and 1/2 inches. She looks like... Well, we're not sure who see looks like yet. The process went smoothly, with no complications. Praise God! As Crystal was still in surgery, I laid the baby on her chest. And she began to lick Crystal's face.She was not out of the womb two hours before she found...