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...

Clinton McFarland and I tried to figure out how long we have known each other. It has been about twenty years. However, we simply concluded we were still young preachers way back then. I met Clinton McFarland in Columbus, Mississippi, where he served at the time. I lived and served in Los Angeles. Since then, the Lord has moved McFarland to Atlanta. And the Lord has moved me to Jacksonville. Clinton McFarland is the founding pastor of the Grace Baptist Church in Atlanta, which he planted almost five years ago. He is also a much -sought after preacher who ministers...

I met Dennis Jones some years ago, as we preached a citywide revival together. We enjoyed one another's company so much, we concluded that we must be cousins! And that is what we have called one another since then. Pastor Dennis Jones is a native of Louisiana. But for the past two decades (since 1998), he has led the Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church in Houston, Texas. He also leads the foreign missions work for the National Baptist Convention of America. Johns is passionate about gospel of Christ, biblical preaching, and the local church. And he is used of the Lord...

B. Lockhart and R. Johnson were members of my father's church, when I was a boy. This brother and sister had relocated to Los Angeles from Little Rock. They loved my dad and faithfully served our congregation. But they constantly talked about their former pastor and church in Arkansas. I didn't understand why, until they gave me a tape of Jerry D. Black. He was preaching his classic sermon, "A Trip to Job's House." I vividly remember the first time I heard Jerry Black preach in person. It was during the National Baptist Convention USA in Los Angeles in 1990....

Jerry Black is the Pastor of the historic Beulah Missionary Baptist Church in Decatur, Georgia, where he has served since 1991.     I had the opportunity to interview Jerry Black about his life and ministry. Enjoy! [embed]https://vimeo.com/279145176[/embed] Did you find this interview helpful?  Join the conversation in the comments section. Related Resources Steve Gaines Interview Donald Parson Interview The Cutting It Straight Expository Preaching Conference will take place September 18-20, 2018, at the Shiloh Church in Jacksonville, Florida.  This conference is designed to train, model, and promote biblical teaching and preaching. Register TODAY!!!!  

Steve Gaines is the Pastor of the historic Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, where he has served since 2005. He has led several congregations over more than thirty years of pastoral ministry. Gaines is also the immediate past President of the Southern Baptist Convention (2016-2018). Steve Gaines is soul-winning pastor, faithful preacher, and prayer-driven leader, whose leadership, counsel, and preaching a sought-after by many. He is also the author of numerous books, including... Pray Like It Matters by Steve Gaines  Share Jesus Like It Matters by Steve Gaines Pray Like This edited by Steve Gaines When God Comes to Church by...

A few months ago, I had the opportunity to spend some time with my friend C.J. Mahaney at their annual Sovereign Grace Pastors Conference.  This interview is a snapshot of our time together and provided me an opportunity to share from my heart some key points that I believe will be beneficial to preachers and pastors in every stage of their ministry.  Enjoy!! 2017 Pastors Conference :: Q & A with H.B. Charles & C.J. Mahaney from Sovereign Grace Churches on Vimeo.

Someone wrote a perfect description of Donald L. Parson on social media... “Donald Parson is your favorite preacher’s favorite preacher.” Indeed, Donald Parson is one of the great preaching voices of this generation. Many young preachers – myself included – have been mentored from afar by the preaching of Donald Parson. However, no one can imitate him. If you catch someone trying, it is immediately obvious. His clarity, vocabulary, imagination, voice, and delivery are uniquely him. However, unlike some over the years, Parsons has not changed his message! I remember buying my first tapes of Donald Parson at the National Baptist...

I have known Paul Felix for some years now. We were both born and raised in Los Angeles. We are both the sons of pastors. In fact, our fathers knew one another, as they served in the same city. Years later, in God's providence, our paths would cross, and I am grateful for the Paul's Felix's consistent example and great encouragement. For the past two years, Paul Felix has served as the pastor of Fairview Heights Baptist Church in Inglewood California. His congregation meets not far from where my family lived before we moved to Jacksonville. Paul Felix currently serves...

Dan Dumas is a teaching pastor and elder at Crossing Church in Louisville, KY. He is passionate about leadership, expository preaching, biblical manhood and being an idea-generating, transformational ministry architect. Dumas is the author of Live Smart, and the co-author of A Guide to Biblical Manhood, and the editor of A Guide to Expository Ministry. Dan Dumas became a Senior Vice President and Faculty member at Southern Seminary in 2007. Dan provides a variety of coaching and consulting for businesses, churches, and their leaders. Dan has served in a variety of ministry capacities in many local churches, including Executive Pastor at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California. Prior...