I browsed the exhibit hall at a conference recently. A kindly man at a particular booth struck up a conversation. He even offered me a free book. It was a new book by Alexander Strauch. I was grateful and excited to receive it. (My best friends are people who give me a book I have not read yet.) Asking the name of the generous book-giver, I discovered it was none other than Alexander Straugh himself! I have studied the subject of church leadership since I was a young, new pastor. My studies have been greatly aided by the writings...

Conrad Mbewe is the Pastor of the Kabwata Baptist Church in Lusaka, Zambia. He has served the Kabwata congregation for more than thirty years. Mbewe has a Ph.D. in Missions from the University of Pretoria, South Africa, and is Senior Lecturer at the African Christian University in Zambia. He is also an itinerant preacher, who preaches and teaches globally. A prolific writer, Conrad Mbewe is the author of the book, Pastoral Preaching: Building a People for God. Over the years, I have heard much about "The African Spurgeon," as he is often called. We have the privilege of meeting several...

    Pastor L.A. Kessee has served as pastor of the Bethany Baptist Church of West Los Angeles for the past twenty-five years. A graduate of the legendary Bishop College in Dallas, L.A. Kessee was roommates with E.K. Bailey and served a local church with Melvin V. Wade Sr. during his college years. Kessee is known around the country for his dynamic preaching and leadership. I met Pastor Kessee when I was a boy preacher in Los Angeles. He invited me to preach for him on a Sunday morning. I remember two details about that day. There was a rug...