San Francisco - Epic Church

I just returned from San Francisco. My son-in-law, Ben Pilgreen, along with our oldest daughter (and our three grandsons) will be moving to SF June 2010 to plant Epic Church in the Mission Bay/South Beach area of the city. Around 20 minstry leaders from across the country that are (or are considering partnering with them spent three days touring, praying and dialoging about what God would do in this wide open US city.
Only about 2% of the population attend any church. NAMB and other local church planters from the area joined us on occasion to offer encouragement and strategy input.
On Tuesday afternoon we prayer walked the area around AT&T Park. This is the home to the MLB Baseball Giants. It stands in the center of the focus area. As I walked around the area I could not get Chris Tomlin's song "The God of this City" out of my mind. I believe that God is going to do incredible things there.


God has blessed Epic church with a great leader and a great team. At least 4 other families are packing up next June to move to the Bay Area with Ben and Shauna to provide leadership. Stay tuned for some great stories in years to come.

Fireproof Cast Together Again

The 2009 Freedom Festival was another opportunity for some of the cast from Fireproof to reunite. We were there to meet the fans and sign some autographs. So many people came by to visit with us. We were honored to meet so many wonderful people. The highlight of the night however were the 55 first time decisions for Christ. Praise the Lord.


In this picture: Erin Bethea,Harris Malcom, Phyllis Malcom, Jason McLeod, Perr Revell, Faye Sharber, Dwan Williams, Renata Williams and Eric Young.

Fairhaven Retreat

Recently, Phyllis and I had the opportunity to be with Allen and Lisa Atkins and the deacons and wives of Fairhaven Baptist Church from Demopolis, AL. We met Allen a couple of years ago at the Refresh Conference at Sherwood. The retreat took place at Lay Lake the home of Alabama's State 4-H encampment.

We had a great time, but most importantly, God had a great time. It was evident in the way He worked in hearts and lives over the weekend. I believe that the Spirit of God is going to do some great things at Fairhaven. If the hearts of the people will follow the hearts of their leaders who are following the heart of God revival will come.

Grandchildren

The Bible says that "children are a gift from the Lord." Not only is that truth, but also true. In addition I have heard it said that "grandchildren are God's reward for not killing your children." Although we never considered murder, we are enjoying three wonderful grandsons and awaiting the arrival of our first granddaughter.
Elijah, Samuel and Asher Pilgreen live in Springfield, MO (for the moment). They will be moving with their mom and dad to San Francisco, CA in June 2010 to plant a new church. We don't get to see them often so we have to be creative. Our most recent visit was enroute to lead a marriage retreat in Harrison, ARK. Proximity allowed us to stop in Springfield for a day and a half to love and spoil da boyz.
Their dad is presently teaching pastor at Second Baptist Church in Springfield. Mom (our oldest daughter) is a writer and stay at home mom.

Graduations

Two of our daughters have reached new horizons in their educational pursuits. Katie recently graduated with her masters in childhood education from Brenau University. Natalie completed the requirements for her masters in missiology from The Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, KY.
Of course we are very proud of them and their desire to please God with their lives. Katie continues to teach in the Hall County School system. She is also pregnant with her first child. She and Matthew await the arrival of Ella Reese Strickland scheduled to arrive around mid-August.
Natalie waits on the Lord for the next step. She will continue to live in Louisville where she has established roots for a while.
Our oldest daughter, Shauna, has not been pursuing academic degrees, but she is involved in writing her first book. Although there is not much I can say about it at the time we are hopeful that a national publisher will think as much of it as we do.

After All These Years

Friday, May 8, 2009 I graduated from Truett-McConnell College. I started there in the fall of 1971 (it just takes some of us longer than others!). Along with Phyllis we were greated by Mike Simoneaux, Daniel Moosbrugger and Edna Holcombe. A few weeks ago after speaking in chapel, Phyllis and I had lunch with Daniel and his wife Robbie. He asked me when I graduated and I told him that I had not, but had transferred to another school for my 4 year degree. Truett was a Junior College back then. Daniel Moosbrugger is a catalyst. He gets things done. He is going to be a tremendous asset to TMC.
He told me to get him a transcript which I did. In a few short days he and Mike Simoneaux had "done the academic thing" and transferred a couple of courses back in and now I have an associates degree in business. Who would have "thunk" it. Well it was not anything I would have thought about, but will always be something I will treasure.
Truett will always have a special place in my heart. Phyllis and I met there over 36 years ago. It is where our story starts. God has blessed us in so many ways and Truett is that place where God brought us together.
It is the second time in my life when I have received a degree the same year that one of our girls did as well. Over the next two weekends both Katie and Natalie will receive Master's degrees. Not too many people get a Batchelor's, Masters and Doctor's degree and then an Associate, but hey, what a story to tell the grandkids.

Thunder over Louisville

Following our trip to Truett Phyllis and I flew to Louisville, KY where we were the guests of the Christian Academy of Lawrenceburg. Their faith and family forum is an annual event for the community. I was the keynote speaker. Following a time of praise and worship led by "Poor Man's Riches" I had the opportunity to share the gospel.

The next day we visited Frankfort (Kentucky's capital) and the grave of Daniel Boone.

Then it was on to Louisville and our daughter Natalie for a pre-Kentucky Derby event called Thunder over Louisville. 52 tons of fireworks are shot in a 30 minute period with approximately 4000 lbs coming in the last 30 seconds.



Joined by our nephew Michael Bagwell and Natalies friends James and Heather Knowles we were among a huge crowd gathered by the Ohio River.

It was quite a night.

Truett McConnell: Alma Mater

It was the fall of 1971 and I was off to college. Truett McConnell, a Baptist School in the N. GA moutains was small and a good fit for me. Long time friendships were begun there. Life decisions were made there. And best of all I met my partner for life there.

As I look back over the years the decision to attend TMC was one of the best of my life. The little school has struggled for most of it's existence, but I believe that it's best years are ahead. I believe that in a few short years it will be mentioned along with schools like Liberty University, Union University and Mobile College. It is a great place to call Alma Mater and a great place to send students.

Phyllis and I had the opportunity to return to TMC in April of this year and speak in chapel. It was one of the highest honors of my life and ministry. I told Phyllis at breakfast that morning that there was one other time that I was more nervous than the morning of chapel and that was the day I preached my first sermon.

Just a few weeks earlier, Dr. Emir Caner was inagurated as the eighth president of the institution which is now a four-year college. Dr. Caner is already making his mark and placing his thumbprint on our school. Yet I see a more wonderful thing happening as God is placing His entire hand on TMC.

I pray that God will bless Emir and Hanna along with their three children: John Mark, Daniela, and Anna.


May our God do exceedingly abundant above all that we can ask or think.

National Release of Fireproof on DVD

Christian Supply in Spartanburg, SC was the site of the national release of the Fireproof DVD. Over 500 people waited in line for autographs and pictures with the writers and cast from the blockbuster movie. Chuck Wallington and his tremendous staff played host for the evening.

I had the privilege along with Erin Bethea, Ken Bevel, Steven Kendrick, Jim McBride, and Jason McLeod to respresent the Fireproof cast. Young and old, firefighters and Sunday School teachers were there in numbers. Two former college classmates from Truett McConnell College class of 1973 came out. I had not seen them in over 30 years. We all agreed that we look a little different these days.

The trip home on Tuesday included stops at LifeWay Christian stores in Buford and Columbus as well as Family Christian Store in Duluth. I am still amazed at what God is doing. Not surprised so much because He is God and can do anything, but constantly amazed at the stories and changed lives. His grace still amazes me. Praise be to our mighty God.

Christmas 2008

Christmas 2008 has come and gone. This was a unique year for us in that our immediate family was together Christmas Eve and Christmas Day for the first time in a number of years. It was a great blessing that you cannot take for granted as time passes and your children grow up and begin their own lives. We are excited for what God is doing in their lives and that of their families.

Our oldest daughter Shauna and her husband Ben now live in Missouri. They were home with Elijah, Samuel and Asher. Shauna was able to stay a few extra days aloing with the boys while Ben had to fly home to preach the last Sunday in December.

Natalie our middle daughter was home from Louisville, KY where she is beginning her last semester at Southern Seminary. She was able to stay a few days before returning home. She is in the middle of J-term, an intense week where an entire semester is condensed into one week. She will be going to Niger this spring.

Katie and her husband Matthew were down from Gainesville. Katie surprised us with the news that they will be having their first child in August 09. This means grandchild number 4. It just gets better. We praise God "from whom all blessings flow."

Papa Malcom came down from Monroe in his classic '55 Ford Crown Victoria. He has spent every Christmas Eve with us in Americus since mom died in 2002. He anticipates this time of year just like a child.

Following Christmas we went to Atlanta to be with Phyllis' extended family. Katie played host and Uncle Doug, Aunt Lisa (cousins' Bella and Emily), Uncle Phil, Bai and (cousins' Tim and James) and a friend of Bai's from Laos, La. We caught up, looked at old pictures and had a wonderful time together.

Piercing the Darkness

Thanksgiving holidays 2008 remind us once again of the lostness that pervades humankind. The "stampede" that killed a Walmart employee in Long Island, NY; the terrorist attacks in Mumbai (Bombay) India and a high profile professional athlete discharging a handgun in a public nightclub are just a few reminders. Lost people walk in darkness.

Jesus has called us to be light in a dark world. He calls us to pierce the darkness with the Gospel message. Each of us who have been transformed by the power of the gospel have a story of His grace on our life. We are commissioned to GO TELL the story of Jesus.

In 1997 during my wife's (Phyllis) tenure on the IMB as a trustee the board implemented change that included strategy to advance with the gospel into previously closed regions. Ten years later "New Directions" strategy produced increased baptisms (300,000 to over 600,000). New churches increased from 3,300 to 25,000 last year. According to President Jerry Rankin, "More than a thousand unreached people groups engaged with the Gospel and partnership with other Great Commission Chrisians resulted in explosive impact on a lost world."

With all the success of "New Directions" more change is coming. Why more change? The answer is simple. The world constantly changing. The world of 1950 was not the world of 1997 and the world of 2000 is not the world of 2008. (Boy, I wish the American church was wise enough to figure that out). World diversity, post-modern influences, the decline of traditional values and the fact we are closer to the end of time than ever before make the time in which we live both "desperate" and "opportunistic."

Those of us that are assigned stateside serving our Lord in and through the local church hold the ropes for over 5,000 of our missionaries serving in international locations. Through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions we enable these servants of God to GO TELL the story of Jesus.

I am excited to be a part of a denomination that has vision. Vision to reach the whole world with the whole gospel of Jesus Christ. Passion to do it right which is why more change is coming. When you keep doing what you have always done you keep getting what you have always got. (Once again when will the local church get it?)

This is why we must all GO TELL the story of JESUS.

Black Friday Madness

I am not bragging, as a matter of fact I might be a candidate for psychiatric help, but I was among millions of other people out at 5:00 the day after Thanksgiving to take advantage of "super savings." I know that there are many people who thrive at moment like this, I'm just not one of them.

I had my short list of things to buy. I actually came home with two of them. You see when a man shops it is a mission. Game plan, strategy, and eventual conquest. I was whipped before I entered the second store. A man should not try this alone.

I was not alone, however, because I did see a well known "blogger" and a denominational employee out as well. Helps to know that I am not the only crazy one. I surrendered early and went to Chic-fil-a. Short line, coffee and biscuit. Now there's a plan. I then went back to my daughters and spent time with the grandboys.

In our present economic situation in America people are definitely looking for bargains. I didn't take an economic situation for me to look for a bargain, I enter a store looking for the "four letter word" SALE! Today, I saw intense faces, frustrated shoppers, perturbed patrons. I saw people laughing and even some crying (but I'll get over it). I saw people dressed in what looked like pajamas, others that must have been asleep when they dressed and then there were those who must have heard that there would be awards given out for weirdest dress.

Unfortunately, I heard that in Long Island, New York today a Walmart employee was killed in a stampede as shoppers entered the store. In Buford, GA two men fought over a TV and a lady was injured. The police were called in to the situation.

I believe I am going to begin my 2009 shopping in January. I figure if I buy one gift a month I wil be through by Thanksgiving 09. Otherwise, I think I will do the rest of my shopping on line.

Fireproof Your Marriage

Beulah Baptist Church in Douglasville, GA was the site of our first FYM Seminar. Pastor Wayne Bray and the fine staff of Beulah did an excellent job in preparation and implementation of the weekend. We used the material published by the wonderful people at Outreach Ministries as our curriculum. The weekend consisted of four sessions on Saturday and two on Sunday.

We are constantly amazed at what God is doing with the movie among the faith community. Small groups, seminars, weekend retreats are springing up everywhere. Couples are doing the Love Dare and lives are being changed.

Glory be to God.

How To Pray For Your Pastor

I have heard people talk about their pastor and even criticize or question their pastor, but I want to suggest a novel idea...even a scriptural idea: Pray for your Pastor. Your criticism may have some credence, but pray for him. The talk may be justified, but pray for him. The questions may have some foundation, but pray for him.

As a matter of fact all the talk, questions even criticism are out of order especially when we fail to pray. Any so-called believer who would talk about, question or criticize their pastor without being in the habit of praying for him is walking on very shaky ground.

R. A. Torrey writes in his book The Power Of Prayer, "Any Church may have a mighty man of God for its pastor, if it is willing to pay the price and that price is not a big salary but great praying."

Paul writes to the church at Thessalonica and points out a very important work for the body. He says that we are to “recognize those who labor among you.” Now one could argue that could be any member of the body until Paul says, “and are over you” or “have charge over you in the Lord.” A few verses later he says, “pray without ceasing.”
I want to give you some biblical principles on praying for your pastor.

First of all, PRAY FOR THE PRIORITY OF PRAYER IN HIS LIFE. Pray that he will have a heart that longs for God. Not a growing church (God will take care of that). Not recognition and not even success in man’s eyes, but a heart that longs for God. David said, "As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; when shall I come and appear before God?" (Psalms 42:1, 2) In Psalm 63 he goes on, "O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; my soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water." (Psalms 63:1) Beloved, your pastor will have a word for you when he has time to spend with God.

Second, pray that he will have a heart that hears God. The prophet Isaiah wrote, ”Your ears will hear a word behind you, "This is the way, walk in it," whenever you turn to the right or to the left.” (Isaiah 30:21)

Third, pray for a heart that is helped by God. Pray that he will be a humble man. Now it is not your job to make him humble, that job belongs to God. It is your job to pray that he have a humble spirit. Peter writes, “...clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time.” (1 Peter 5:5b-6)

Then pray that he will have a teachable spirit and a servants heart. Pray for specific needs in his life and ministry. Be specific not general. Pray: “Lord, let my pastor spend quality time with You, being with You on a daily basis. Teach him how to enjoy You, to see You in all Your beauty and glory, to have a real sense of how wonderful, how awesome You are. Teach Him daily new truths about Yourself so in turn he can share with us what You are showing him. Let his heart be quick to respond to whatever You say to him.”

A part of God’s call on his life is a call to prayer. “But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” (Acts 6:4)

Pray according to God’s will.
Pray: “Help my pastor to put prayer and the ministry of the Word at the forefront of all that he does. Help him not to let other things squeeze these vital parts of his life. Show him how to delegate some of these less important activities.
Note: Throughout my ministry I have always had people that thought they knew what I should be doing, but it always surprised me that they never knew what they should be doing.

Pray about his walk with the Lord
"Now therefore, I pray You, if I have found favor in Your sight, let me know Your ways that I may know You, so that I may find favor in Your sight. Consider too, that this nation is Your people." (Ex. 33:13)ed

Pray for his family, and for the management of his time. Pray that he fear God and not man and that his ministry be fruitful

Finally, remember the seriousness of our praying for our pastors, "Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you; (1 Samuel 12:23).

S. D. Gordon once said, "We can do more than pray after we have prayed, but we cannot do more than pray until we have prayed.

I am convinced that many churches that are meandering in mediocrity, changing pastors every few years and thinking that unity is when everybody finally comes in line with their ideas need a revival of prayer regarding their pastors.

The Success of Fireproof the Movie

Alex and Stephen Kendrick have hit a nerve. Hollywood is looking and it their words "we did not see this coming." Of course they didn't. You have to be looking for something to see it coming. God has gifted these two servants. They can tell a story...a good story. Then because they realize that they serve a big God with whom nothing is impossible we have Fireproof the Movie.

Friday will mark the fifth weekend that FIREPROOF has played in theaters all across the country (well, everywhere but in Vermont!). More than 3 million people have seen the film ... and been impacted by it. As it plays in 883 theaters this weekend, more people will be touched. Hurting people ... and people that look like things are going well on the outside.

I have been preaching the gospel for over 30 years. Twenty-six of those years I pastored. If I added up all the people that I preached to in those years I am not sure how many it would be, but it wouldn't come close to 3 million.

Phyllis and I are blown away with all the stories that are coming in of changed lives. Everyday we hear a different story. What's the big deal with Fireproof.

1. God has His hand on it. All the other reasons (though valid) would be irrelevent without this one.
2. It is a great and relevent story. It goes where people are today and deals with issues that touch close to home.
3. The response of the "Faith Community." The church has showed up. Buying out theaters, providing babysitting services, conducting follow-up classes and spreading the word. NOTE: If we would show up like this in school, government, and culture what would happen. Just a thought!

What is it about Sherwood Baptist Church? They believe God and trust Him for what He wants. They believe that if God can do what He did from a town called Bethlehem, why not Albany, GA. They are a church unified under the Lordship of Christ and submissive to the leadership of their pastor and staff.

God loves OBEDIENCE and honors those who obey. It's not that difficult to understand if you believe that God is who He is.