https://player.vimeo.com/video/398816944 Shiloh Church family, I thank my God in all my remembrance of you. – Philippians 1:3 As the COVID-19 virus continues to adversely impact our city, nation, and the world, we are living through an unprecedented crisis. For all of the negative consequences of the Coronavirus, it is made all the worse by the fact that we are not able to meet together in person. But know that I love you greatly, miss you desperately, and pray for you fervently. Our elders and deacons are here for you. If an emergency arises, you have a need, or there is...

When I meet new people, initial conversations often raise the same questions. It begins with my name. Yes, my name is H.B. No, it does not stand for anything. I don’t know. My father did it to me, and I did it to my son. The next set of questions is about the church I serve. The detail that typically captures attention is that the church I serve is in Florida. The conversation turns to whatever the person thinks about Florida, good or bad. Then I am asked if I was raised in Florida. I answer that I have lived...

[embed]https://youtu.be/8S5QSFcLAlg[/embed]   There is a growing revival of modern hymn-writing and congregational singing taking place in the church today. Bob Kauflin and Sovereign Grace Music have contributed to this revival with biblically-rich, gospel-saturated, Christ-exalting music. I met Bob Kauflin a few years ago, through his son and my friend, Devon Kauflin. From our first conversations, we discussed our concern that doctrinally sound music should not be handcuffed to a particular cultural style. I remember Bob sharing his desire to do a cross-cultural project of Sovereign Grace Music. Neither of us knew the Lord would make us partners in this endeavor. In...

Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints. – Ephesians 6:18   January 13-20, 2019 is Prayer Emphasis Week at the Shiloh Church in Jacksonville, where I serve as pastor. As a congregation, we start the year seeking God’s guidance, power, and blessings on our lives and ministry work together. We believe it happens after prayer! There are a lot of things you can do to help the situation, after you have prayed about it. But there really is nothing you can do to...

“So, how did you get from Los Angeles to Jacksonville?” I am regularly asked this question. I give the same answer each time: “The Lord dragged me to Jacksonville kicking and screaming.” This is no dig at Jacksonville or the church I serve. It is an honest statement about how my pastoral transition to Jacksonville took place in 2008. I was born and raised in Los Angeles. In a real sense, I was born and raised in a local church there. My father pastored the congregation for 40 years. More than a year after his death, I was selected to...

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...

It was a joy to serve as President of the 2018 SBC Pastors’ Conference in Dallas this past week. The conference theme was, “Fulfill Your Ministry." Our goal was to challenge and encourage pastors and church leaders to be faithful to their calling to serve the Lord Jesus Christ in and through local church. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. - 2 Timothy 4:5 I am deeply grateful for the Southern Baptist Convention body electing me as president of the Pastor’s Conference in Phoenix last year and for the...

As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. - 2 Timothy 4:5 We are only a few days away from this 2018 SBC Pastors’ Conference in Dallas (June 10-11), which kicks-off the Southern Baptist Convention each year. It has been joy, honor, and privilege to serve as conference president this year (The pastors’ conference presidency is an annual appointment. A new president will be elected at the end of this year’s conference.) With all the controversy swirling around the Southern Baptist Convention this year, I appeal to you to pray earnestly that...

This summer, the Worship & Arts and Children ministries of the Shiloh Church partnered to record a children’s choir CD. That worship project is now available on iTunes, and all other digital platforms. Shiloh Kids Live and In Worship, Most High King, was produced by Gospel music veteran, Joe Pace. Pace is the Pastor of Worship & Arts at the Shiloh Church and leads our infant label, Shiloh Worship. Our desire is to produce biblically sound, Christ-exalting, and gospel-saturated music that will serve the local church. This recording targets local church children choirs and ministries, who are underserved. This project...

I landed at LAX from preaching. My cell phone rang as soon as I turned it on. When I answered, a friend chastised me about not responding to a message from the deacon chairman of the Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida. There were no messages on my phone. No messages at home or the office, either. Then it came to me. I rarely used the phone in my study, and didn’t even know the number. But I asked my assistant to check the phone and, sure enough, a deacon from Florida had left a message. My friend told...

Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness! – Psalm 115:1   Yesterday, the Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church celebrated 142 years of God’s faithfulness! Many congregations do not make a big deal about church anniversaries, others ignore them outright. A church anniversary observance is often dismissed as another annual day, steeped in church tradition, and not Christian mission. I beg to differ. Statisticians report that some 4,000 churches in America close each year. Every week, multiple congregations – for one reason or another –...

This past weekend, we celebrated eight years as pastor and people at the Shiloh Church in Jacksonville, Florida. In the spring of 2008, I was invited to fill the pulpit one Sunday. I did not view that Sunday as any more than another date on my list of speaking engagements for the year. Three months later, the Shiloh Church overwhelming voted to extend a call to me to be its next pastor. On the second Sunday in November, I was installed as the new pastor of the church. Boy, how time flies! On one hand, it does not seem like...