It’s amazing how often Jesus stopped to respond to the needs of others. He made time for a blind beggar calling out from the roadside, welcomed mothers who wanted Him to bless their children, engaged in a late-night conversation with a searching Pharisee, and answered impromptu questions from the crowds....

This winter, I’ve had more idle time than usual, and I’ve fallen into a bad habit—mindlessly scrolling through my phone’s news feed. It’s captivating to move quickly from one unrelated subject to the next: “That dog looks so sad when corrected—hilarious!” “That toddler playing hide-and-seek is adorable!” “Wow, that’s an...

In November 2024, NPR ran a headline that read, “Churches in America are having a hard time finding pastors.” When a secular news outlet like NPR highlights this issue, it underscores the severity of the situation. The growing lack of pastors to fill vacant pulpits—and the declining number of young...

Over the past 20 years, I’ve had the privilege of visiting hundreds of churches across the country. Recently, I’ve highlighted several exceptional examples in this space. While there are many more I could have named, these congregations serve as reminders of what it means to be a healthy church. Below...

One of my favorite churches to visit and preach at is New Day Christian in Port Charlotte, Florida. While I admit a bit of bias—my son Rusty has served as New Day’s lead pastor for 14 years—it’s undeniable that the church has grown into an exceptional congregation, both spiritually and...