The only thing more beautiful than the landscape of Puerto Rico is the people of Puerto Rico. Their unique culture is a rich blend of native Indian, African, Spanish, and French influences. As a commonwealth of the United States, they are US citizens, and at the same time, they enjoy their own identity. It was …
Category Archives: Church Visits
Road Trip: Waxahachie, TX
I had the privilege of spending Sunday morning at Farley Street Baptist Church in Waxahachie, TX while senior pastor, Richard Smith, was away on vacation. It was a powerful experience as Blanton Feaster led the congregation in singing. I already knew Blanton had gifts in the area of administration and teaching, but Sunday I found …
Road Trip: Texarkana, TX
I had a great visit recently with Marty Claiborne, pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church in Texarkana, TX. Marty’s heart to serve the members of Hillcrest piqued my interest. For instance, the day we met, Marty had already taken one of his members to Shreveport, LA that day for a radiation treatment. He explained that the …
Road Trip: Rockin’ the Block in Jacksonville, TX
I was born in Jacksonville, TX and lived there for seven years. The friends I made there are like family to me. So I was thrilled at the opportunity to preach recently in Jacksonville at Cornerstone Baptist Church. Showing up there (in the same facility where I attended Kindergarten) was like a family reunion! The …
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Road Trip: Magnolia, AR
College View Baptist Church in Magnolia, AR has a special place in my heart. My grandparents were long-time members of the congregation. I have so many great memories of sitting beside them on their favorite pew when our family visited. It was a joy, then, to see familiar faces as I recently visited College View. …
Road Trip: Chicagoland, IL
It was great to recently spend time with Rob Hager, pastor of Jacob’s Well Baptist Church of Oswego, IL. Although I didn’t get to visit his church (I’m looking forward to preaching there soon), we had a great time discussing some of the ways God is using the Jacob’s Well congregation to reach the community. …
Road Trip: Carthage, TX
I recently had the privilege of spending a few hours with Dr. Allen Tilley, pastor of First Baptist Church in Carthage, TX. Carthage is the home of the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame and is the setting of the major motion picture, Bernie. Dr. Tilley has served Frist Baptist for over fifteen years. God …
Road Trip: Brister, Arkansas
Brister is a small community on the outskirts of Emerson, Arkansas (home of the annual Purple Hull Pea Festival and World Championship Tiller Races). Brister Baptist Church is the heart of the small community and draws people from neighboring areas. For over thirty years, pastor Eric Goble has led the church faithfully. I remember visiting …
Road Trip: Little Rock, North Little Rock, & Maumelle, AR
Recently I took a short road trip to visit with several central Arkansas pastors. As I visited with different leaders, I couldn’t help thinking about how beneficial their experiences could be to other congregations. Let me share a few examples: Some of the most powerful works of God in Scripture have been born out …
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Road Trip: Hope & El Dorado, Arkansas
A road trip to LA. “Lower Arkansas,” that is! God is doing marvelous things at Garrett Memorial Baptist Church in Hope, AR. Pastor Clif Johnson is a wonderful leader with a shepherd’s heart. I had the opportunity to visit Sunday Morning, January 26 and was encouraged by their emphasis on missions -both local and foreign. …