by Barry Howard | Jan 15, 2019 | pastor search process
In the Baptist world, an ecclesial culture that treasures local church autonomy and operates in a “free call” method for pastoral assignments, there seems to be a new trend emerging. More and more Pastor Search Committees are considering associate ministers with...
by Barry Howard | Sep 11, 2018 | pastor search committee
When a congregation welcomes a new pastor, it is an exciting time, a new beginning for both the congregation and the new minister. To maximize this new beginning, it is important to prepare spiritually, cognitively, and emotionally for a new chapter. Once a call to a...
by Barry Howard | Sep 4, 2018 | Uncategorized
Here’s my confession: I enjoy piecing together jigsaw puzzles. I’m still not sure whether my affinity for puzzles parallels my work as a pastor, but I have discovered that bringing order to the chaos of this fragmentation is both relaxing and reflective. As an...
by Barry Howard | Apr 3, 2018 | call, Uncategorized
What did Jesus’ appointment calendar look like on the days following his resurrection? Following his earth-shaking exit from the tomb, Jesus appeared to 10 of the disciples who were meeting in Jerusalem, he walked with Cleopas and his friend on the Emmaus road, he...
by Barry Howard | Jan 2, 2018 | future
As we begin 2018, the challenges to local congregations are real, but so are the opportunities. Generational attrition, rotating attendance, deferred facility maintenance, and the decline of denominationalism are realities that affect most churches. What if the...