As a teenager, I was a member of an excellent church. The Lord used those brothers and sisters to bring me to faith. My passion for expositional preaching and evangelism developed with that community. However, I was provided very little guidance from church leaders when I shared my calling to […]
marketplace
One thing I have learned after 19 years of pastoral ministry is that pastors believe their counsel is good for all of life’s big decisions/experiences, except one. Someone wants to make the big decision to follow Jesus, we’re there. Someone wants to make the big decision to get married, we’re […]
Pastoral Care is Good for Life’s Big Decisions, Except for ...
Six years ago, the Payne Gang moved from Louisville to Birmingham. The Lord had called me to serve as one of the pastors of The Church at Brook Hills. It was announced this past Sunday that His leadership has taken me in another direction. After much prayer, fasting, and seeking […]
My Move to Samford University
Lord willing, next Monday, I will be speaking at the Business as Mission Conference hosted by Southeastern Bible College in Birmingham. My assigned topic is “Careers for the Kingdom,” and I am supposed to keep pastors in mind as my primary audience members. If you would like a glimpse into […]
Shepherd Your People to the Marketplace: Soft Skills Needed
Today is a bittersweet Sunday. Bitter, because dear friends are leaving our church to move across country; sweet, because we commissioned them to go as part of a church planting team. Bitter, because unreached people groups still exist; sweet, because they are going to share the good news with them. […]
A Bittersweet Commissioning
Part of shepherding your people to the field means knowing about marketplace needs. Countries often frown upon natives from other countries coming in and taking jobs–unless it has been difficult to find a national for the job. Here are the ten-most difficult positions to fill across the world. Do you […]