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...

A friend and I talked about a conference we both attended, during different years. I told him about the year I attended. Then he told me about the year he attended. As he listed the speakers he heard, I asked about a particular name. I knew of this man’s ministry but had never heard him speak.  I inquired, “Can he preach?” My friend answered affirmatively and emphatically. “He knows how to handle the text,” my friend expanded. “And you can tell he’s been with Jesus.” The conversation ended there, because I did not say anything else. I could not. I...

  I drove to my pastor’s office to tell him I was going to resign my church. He asked what did I plan to do next. I did not have a plan. I told him I may become a talk-show host. It didn’t matter. I just wanted out! I desired to get married, finish my education, and move on with my life and ministry. I had wasted enough of my youth in congregational conflict. My pastor told me he knew what the problem was. I just wanted to get up to preach one Sunday in peace. He warned me, however,...

Hensworth W.C. Jonas is the Presiding Elder of the Eastern Caribbean Baptist Mission in Antigua and Barbuda. The ECBM consists of three local churches: Central Baptist Church, Tyrell's Baptist Church, and Covenant Baptist Church. Jonas is also the Principle of the Baptist Academy, a leading school on the islands that educates from kindergarten through high school. He is also the author of the book, Dancing With Idolatry. Introduced through a mutual friend, I have had the privilege of preaching for Dr. Jonas on several occasions. He has also ministered at the Shiloh Church on several occasions.Though he wears multiple hats, Hensworth Jonas...

David L. Olford is the president Olford is a preaching professor and leader of the Stephen Olford Institute. The son of the noted pastor and preacher, Stephen F. Olford, David continues his father's legacy of faithful preaching and training the next generation of Bible teachers and preachers. [Tweet "What God expects us to attempt, He also enables us to achieve. - Stephen F. Olford"] David Olford has also co-authored the book, Anointed Expository Preaching, with his father. It is one of the key books I recommend to preachers who want to grow in their preaching. I have previous interviewed David...

Jasper Williams Jr. is one of the most well-known, greatly beloved, and most imitated preachers in the country. The son of a preacher, Jasper Williams trusted Christ and began his public ministry as a six-year-old boy. While attending the Morehouse College in Atlanta, Williams was called to pastor the Salem Bible Church. He has now served the Salem congregation for more than fifty years. During the early years of Jasper Williams’ ministry at Salem, the Lord open doors for his preaching to be heard throughout the country and around the world. Most notably, Williams was a pioneer whose messages were recorded...

Stephen J. Thurston has been the Pastor of the New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago for thirty-seven years. He succeeded his father, who pastored the church for twenty-two years. Thurston’s grandfather, the founding pastor of the congregation, served the church for twenty-two years. A graduate of the historic Bishop College in Dallas, Pastor Thurston is known for his strong pulpit ministry. A well-respected leader, Dr. Thurston is the former President of the National Baptist Convention of America. In the following interview, Pastor Thurston discusses his Christian testimony, pulpit work, and pastoral ministry. Enjoy! Did you find this interview helpful? Join the conversation...

K. Edward Copeland is the pastor of the New Zion Baptist Church in Rockford, Illinois, where he has served for the past 16 years. He is the loving husband and father of three children. Pastor Copeland is a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ who has been blessed with many talents and skills. He is a musician, composer, preacher, lecturer, author and attorney. He is most widely known for his unique gift to teach the Bible with supernatural clarity and simplicity. Copeland's has a passion for helping ministers and ministries develop to their maximum potential. He is the author...

John A. Reed Jr. has led the Fairview Missionary Baptist Church of Oklahoma City for more than fifty years. It is his first and only pastorate. Dr. Reed is also a local community and national denominational leader. When I was a boy, Pastor Reed was “Uncle John” to me, as he and my father were close friends. My father preached for Fairview during the OKC Simultaneous Revival each year. Pastor Reed preached at Mt. Sinai for our annual Homecoming Services each year. I was flying home from preaching in Detroit the day my father died. John Reed was flying home...

James E. Washington is the Senior Pastor of the historic Phillips Temple C.M.E. Church in Dayton, Ohio – where he has served for the last twenty years. Under his leadership, Phillips Temple has grown to be one of the largest and most influential congregations in his denomination. Jimmy Washington is also faithful preacher, with a firm commitment to expository preaching. The following is my recent conversation with my friend, Jimmy Washington, about his life, preaching, and ministry. Enjoy!   Did you find this interview helpful? Join the conversation in the comments section below.  CHECK OUT THESE INTERVIEWS Maurice Watson Interview ...

I have always wanted to preach a sermon or teach a lesson entitled, “Give Mark a Minute!” Do you know who John Mark is? John Mark assisted Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey (Acts 12:25; 13:5). At some point, however, John Mark left the team and returned to Jerusalem (13:13-14). The gospel work continued without him. As Paul and Barnabas prepared for their second missionary journey, Barnabas proposed they bring John Mark. Paul flatly refused. John Mark had gone AWOL the last time. Paul saw no benefit in bringing this ministerial deserter with them again. Disagreement over John...

I periodically have the opportunity to interview friends and colleagues. These conversations about faith, preaching, and ministry have become one of the features of this website.   I was fortunate to have some great conversations during the first half of 2015. Catch up on the interviews I have done so far this year, just in case you missed any. Jeffrey A. Johnson Sr. Interview   Steven J. Lawson Interview (Part 1)   Steven J. Lawson Interview (Part 2)   Terry K. Anderson Interview    Reginald C. Payne Interview   Stephen Nelson Rummage Interview   Jarvis L. Collier Interview Did you find these interviews...