Philosophy of Ministry

The Perfect Preacher - The results of a computerized survey indicate the perfect minister preaches exactly fifteen minutes.

He condemns sins but never upsets anyone. He works from 8:00 AM until midnight and is also a janitor. He makes $50 a week,

wears good clothes, buys good books, drives a good car, and gives about $50 weekly to the poor. He is 28 years old and has

preached 30 years. He has a burning desire to work with teenagers and spends all of his time

with senior citizens. The perfect minister smiles all the time with a straight face because he has

a sense of humor that keeps him/her seriously dedicated to his work. He makes 15 calls daily

on congregation families, shut-ins and the hospitalized, and is always in his office when needed.

Worship is the centerpiece of the time the church spends together. The singing needs to be the

very best it can be and the sermons based from scripture. There needs to be order and planning so that it goes well. Every

effort ought to be used to provide variety, using the available tools (such as video series, etc.) to teach and encourage our people

I have a background in journalism and use my personal computer and Microsoft Word, Excel and Microsoft Publisher programs

to enhance the handouts and bulletins which are sent to the members and sister congregations. I also use PowerPoint for

some sermon/class presentations and am the webmaster of our website, which has over 7,500 pages. Communications is everything

in the life of a church. There is also great value in regular men's meetings and\or congregational meetings, so information can be discussed.

It is also important that elders meet regularly with deacons and ministry leaders (that will be discussed in detail below).

Acts 6 and the examples from the Old Testament regarding Moses and his ministry tell us that deacons need to have specific tasks for

a specific time. These men are very special people, as they keep the congregation working and focused on its main ministries through

involvement. They need specific budgets and freedom to administer their ministries with guidelines, etc.

We wish otherwise, but elders spend some of their time fighting what I call "brush fires," which are not dangerous in and of themselves

but can potentially do damage if allowed to go forward. This involves conflicts over translations, informal dress in the worship services,

use of videos in the p.m. worship service, etc. The opposition or criticism comes from the more conservative members of the

congregation and should be heard, but often not allowed to �reign� since they are matters of opinion and not of faith. The communication

tools can be used in preventative ways but these things still come up in some places. (I use the NIV in most public roles I play, for

When deacons and ministry staff do their jobs, it frees elders to be elders. They need to take the spiritual leadership in all

areas of the congregation's life. This can be done effectively in a few ways, I think. The elders could meet and greet the congregation

on Sunday a.m., for instance, and open the service with a prayer as a way to be in front of the congregation. The elders should be

part of a rotating class teaching system, in addition to being called upon to lead the prayer when someone comes forward asking

A congregation that spends time together informally will be stronger when tough times come. And new members need to be assimilated

quickly into a small group in order to be there six months down the road. The best of these "small groups" is a Bible study group, which

can meet either at the building or in the homes. Fifth-Sunday night fellowships are a great way to get people together, in addition to

"LIFE groups (Love Involvement Fellowship Edification\evangelism), visitation groups, etc. And each elder, staff member, deacon,

and class leader needs to be actively involved in having new and inactive members into their homes. Most of us eat 90-93 meals per

I believe firmly in the power of the gospel and the Bible as a whole to both build faith and provide motivation and guidance for our

individual lives. My sermons and class lessons are primarily textual in nature....in fact, except for special series on specific topics, I

choose books of the Bible for the majority of my lessons. I think my strength is teaching and use my time each week primarily in

Our ladies need to spend time together for a lot of reasons and the church budget and schedule needs to allow for this need. A yearly Ladies

Day is vital, unless there are established events within driving distance. Family retreats also help meet this need. Mother\daughter

banquets are also important events and can become the best thing the congregation does.....this is true, of course, with a Father\son outing

as well. A bible-based ladies class during the week or even on Sunday or Wednesday evenings is also a possibility.

The following questions have been raised in past discussions with different individuals. I thought you might also have interest

in seeing my answers. I appreciate the opportunity to discuss philosophy and anything which pertains to the church. I

have also printed short answers to very complex issues and questions in our fellowship today.

1. What do you feel are the three most important issues facing society at large today? What should the church be doing to affect

We live in a God-fearing country which is doing all it can do to take God out of our vocabulary and consciousness. We are

experiencing breakdowns at all levels of our society, but especially as it relates to the family and specifically crime, illegitimate births, drug

abuse, etc. The church can teach Biblical principles as they relate to the institutions of the home, government and the church and the

authority of God in our lives. We can raise a high standard from the Bible to offer hope and choice to those who otherwise don't know

of the love of God through Christ Jesus or the hope of heaven in a depraved and dying world. We need to do whatever is feasible within

our own communities to provide help and support to needed families, with the goal of showing them how much we care in order to teach

them the truth. Parenting classes can open doors and provide Biblical teaching. Mothers-day out programs can be used to also reach

2. What do you consider the three most important issues facing the church in the next five to ten years? How do you think the

church should approach these? Similar to above, the church faces the identical problems we have in society because they usually find

their way in our front doors. We are citizens of heaven and must act and live that way, but everything should be geared through a

concerted effort toward the family. This environment allows for the discussion of all topics, such as a lack of respect for the authority

of the Bible, a "loose view" of morals, and issues such as abortion, illegitimacy, etc. The church should be involved in all aspects of

small groups, beginning in Bible classes and finding the way into homes, to address these issues, with regular seminars and classes

offered to members and non-members alike. Everything the church is about is to bring about a knowledge of God's will for our life

and the development of an attitude which will give us the courage to act on our convictions. Faith comes from the Word of God and we

Within our church fellowship, we are in the midst of a radicalism from both the right and the left. One side has given up on the church

and is seeking to redefine its role in our society; the other has sought to redefine its role while imposing man-made doctrines and traditions.

One side seeks to reach the "baby boomers" through "praise and worship" and "change" while the "other side" seeks to continue binding

body. To answer the left, we must plan and pray to have the most effective worship celebrations possible, using all variety allowed

within God's plans and purposes. We must also seek to bring a modern message from which to work in our present age. To answer the

right, we must have confidence in God's word and stop binding translations where God has not bound and traditions where God has not

As Ira North suggested in his book, the key word is balance! The Bible offers so much for us and adequately answers today's problems.

We must be certain we go there for the answers. I think, more than anything else, that we must spend more time in the gospels seeking

to know Jesus Christ. We create an environment for debate when we spend all our time discussing and teaching doctrine and

problems. The epistles must not be ignored, and serve to fulfill our goal of edifying the body. But we will be a people more willing to hear

the "do's and don't" if we are in love with the Savior and are seeking to be more like Him.

3. How do you envision the leadership role of the pulpit minister compared to the elders and other ministry leaders?

The minister is an individual Christian using his particular talents like any other member to bring praise and glory to God. He should help

to define and then communicate God's vision for a congregation and help equip and then promote the "works of service" each member

shares in the church. The elders make the decisions as they relate to every aspect of the church family, but the minister, deacons,

teachers, and members help formulate ideas and ministries which will enhance each member's individual growth. Prayer,

planning, and communication are keys in a congregation's life. With them, great goals can be determined and vision proclaimed. Without

4. Please explain how your family helps you to be more effective as a minister.

My wife and three children are (were) my main motivation (all three children are now adults and on their own). Terry has grown up in

the church and knows the "up and downs" of individuals seeking to grow in Christ. Both of our fathers have been elders in the Lord's

church, so we understand the "ebb and flow" of a congregation's life. We are very open and honest with our three teenagers

about "church problems," since we want them to know that "even people in the church have problems and are still growing." We do not

want them hidden from the humanity in the church and then be discouraged and disillusioned as young people later in their life. We want

them to learn some of these lessons now while they are in a safe, comfortable, loving environment.

Terry is kind, patient, and understanding as she deals with others; her main task is to her own family, however, though she has taught

We had a ministry to our three children which no one else shared, ultimately, and while we seek to be the best example we can possibly be,

we also expect the church to equally share in its responsibility to each other. I will not lose my children to the cause of Christ while

My family has a disposition very similar to mine; I don't have "highs" and "lows" but rather work at an even pace emotionally. I do think

that my having worked in the world before entering full-time ministry is great preparation for dealing with a secular membership. In

addition, some of my greatest challenges and thrills came when I taught Wednesday night Bible classes in Murfreesboro, Tennessee

as a campus minister with over 85 students there the week of mid-terms and finals. What a joy to be around people who wanted to

5. Please describe your view of congregational unity. How have you and would you help to promote unity and harmony

Every member is a child of God on their own "track" of growth, with different viewpoints and backgrounds yet moving toward the goal of

Those with maturity should help the younger; the Bible should be taught in its simplicity, but time given for learners to accept and put into

practice the teachings; as the parable of the weeds says, "we should all grow together" waiting for judgment. Unity should be based

on Biblical principles with no compromise of those items, with a constant awareness for growth and maturity.

I love to teach and direct singing and my personality is task oriented. I am quiet by nature so will not be viewed as �the life of the party�

but people generally enjoy my company because they know me to be caring and understanding toward them. My great love is to work

with elders and a church family who will �let me be me� and be part of a total team of Christians in that place. I don't particularly like

the "politics" of dealing with people but realize it is part of getting along with large numbers of people. I have an even temperament,

which means I don't have "highs and lows" but am rather moderate in my attitudes and work ethic.

7. Give us an idea of your extra-curricular activities in college and adult years.

I enjoy sports, especially since I have spent over 14 years of my life in sports-writing either part-time or full-time since my junior

year in high school. I was all-state in track (880) two years in Tennessee and also captain of our track and cross-country teams my senior

year. In college I worked 10-15 hours part-time in the Student Union Building but was also the sports editor of our college newspaper

4 years. I participated in all aspects of the Middle Tennessee Christian Center, where I was the student president my junior year.

8. What involvement have you had in different aspects of a congregation's life?

I have lead singing since I was 19 years old (in college) and began teaching regularly in teen and adult classes upon graduation from MTSU.

I have served as a deacon in both benevolence and education in my early 20's and have been on mission trips in the United States

on two occasions. I have worked in two different prison ministries, helped plan and implement Senior Ministry, Visitation,

Fellowship, new members, and Singles' ministry efforts. Both my family and Terry's were raised in the church and both our dads have

been or are presently elders in the Lord's church. My dad also preached part-time while we were growing up for some 10 years.

I have also presented quarterly devotionals at Senior Citizen's Retirement Centers.

9. List the names of teachers, writers, or church leaders who have most influenced your religious thinking and experience.

Dr. Harold Baker and Dr. Harvey Floyd, both in the Nashville area, have had great influence in me while taking classes from them.

They believe in textual studies and impressed upon me the power of that approach. Leslie G. Thomas was an associate with me in

Chattanooga for four years and was a great example on the importance of good family and daily prayer and study. My Dad and

grandfather, now both dead, influenced me greatly with their common sense and love for the church...both served as elders of

The Bible is the inerrant Word of God, given to use for direction in all aspects of our Christian walk.

Baptism for remission of sins is an essential part of the faith response to become a Christian. It is the process through which a person

All those who are outside the body of Christ or who are habitually unfaithful in their Christian walk.

- Do you consider the New Testament to be a pattern for restoring New Testament Christianity?

The teachings of Christ and the examples of the apostles serve as a pattern (tupos) for us as we seek to be like the New Testament

church. We must use this as our guide or we are left with nothing from which to work.

The Holy Spirit works today through the Word of God and indwells each Christian. He also helps us each day to know God's will and

also is an assistance in our prayer life as we do not know how or what to say in our sufferings.

The elders are the spiritual leaders and shepherd of the Lord's church. The respect and honor due them in closely akin to that

which should be given our own earthly fathers and grandfathers. They are wise to use the talents and advise of all members

of the congregation, but must make the "hard decisions" as they relate to the spiritual affairs.

Our women of all ages are our greatest assets for teaching, encouragement, edification, forgiveness, patience, etc., but their assets should

not be expressed in leadership roles or in public worship. They should "be silent" as it relates to roles of preaching, leading singing,

Matthew 19:9 states the only reason a person divorced should remarry and 1 Cor. 7 gives us direction as it relates to a person's separation.

While I personally don't have all the answers as they relate to many cases, we certainly should do all we can as a church family to work

The church must do all it can and use all variety possible to make our times of worship a time of celebration, praise, and adoration to

God. We need to use youth-type songs when appropriate and make certain that our worship times are orderly, organized, and well-planned.

I do not, however, feel we should go the route of solos and chorus groups in our assemblies, though they can have a place in a

congregation's ministry, such as banquets, nursing homes, retirement centers, and prison devos, etc. I think right now some of our

congregations are going to charismatic route, which deeply scares and bothers me, since I have seen this occur on some of our college

My philosophy is a simple one: I believe God, Christ, and the church offer the only hope for a lost and dying world. We must strive to be

the body of believers Christ wants us to be and do all we can do to reach those family and friends around us who do not enjoy the

peace, joy, contentment, and hope which we have. With those principles, I strive personally to display these beliefs and develop a team

We must be a confirming, loving family in the body of Christ and do all we can to introduce others to this atmosphere. The world is

hurting from its sin and lack of family; adults everywhere want something better for their children. Strong preaching and faithful

A church is a family is the truest sense. Because of that, there will be times of disagreement and hardship as well as joy and celebration.

While the word "healthy" is a difficult one, it brings to my mind a team atmosphere of people who are going in the same direction, yet

allowing their individualism to reign. Great worship time is vital! A dedication to the Bible is a must!

We need to be better neighbors, both to those who live close to us and to those who live closest to our church buildings. Neighbor days

will give us an opportunity to open wide the doors. We need to be more benevolent in our immediate neighborhoods.

We need to have regular times together as a church family so we will be stronger, and hopefully more willing to reach out to others.

And our "teaching them to observe all things" ministry needs to be a strong one, or we'll have them going out the back door as quickly

as we get them in the front door. One-on-one and hard work are still the keys. There are many things which can be done at the building

and in our homes which will offer an opportunity to "extend an invitation" to our friends and family. But there is nothing one person

or a small group of people can do to make a congregation evangelistic. It must come from within! But the leaders must set the example

15. What are the church's greatest assets as we face a time of rapid change?

We believe in a Savior who is the "same yesterday, today, and forever" and we teach a message which is needed by every individual

in all generations. People need to know this Savior and His message. The further assets? Members who believe these things and will live

them out in their daily lives. People must know we care before they are interested in how much we know. We have gathered in rooms to

train and argue scripture enough; it's time to get into the marketplace and live and teach it.

To allow God's Word opportunity to work in a society which is being turned off by conservative efforts; to keep our worship services

Biblical, while using all the variety which is allowed us; to use all members in such a way that they are prepared for works of service

and pleasing to God; to make certain that we are not "keepers of the aquarium" but rather fishers of men.

17. Respond to these statements made by various adults in your Sunday a.m. class:

a. �The KJV was good enough for my parents and grandparents and it's good enough for me.�

My father and grandfather are two of five adult men who have had a great impact upon my life, and they used the KJV for much of their

adult life and it was good enough for them. I'm glad you have a Bible and will read and apply it to your daily life. I don't recommend

that any person uses any particular translation, but I do encourage them to use a translation which will be read, understood and obeyed.

I agree with you; the church is full of hypocrites and if we are going to be more like Jesus, we should develop a strong dislike for the

actions of hypocrites. Some of Christ's strongest language was used toward the hypocritical Pharisees in Matthew 23. The question is this:

what are we going to do about it. Are we going to use the worst example among us to form our model, or will we use the best example

possible, that of Jesus? Do we seek to run off the hypocrites or allow them an opportunity for maturity? If we want to run them off, we're

like the disciples in Matthew 13, who felt it best to "pull out the weeds from among the wheat." Jesus told them, and us, to "let them

I have a saying which I use in my individual life, which might be of interest to you:

"I will never let someone outside of God's will keep me from doing God's will."

If we will make that determination, the weak among us will not discourage or disappoint us as often. One writer said that "86% of most

church people are working, interested, and moldable, while 14% could care less what's going on around them and make the most noise

with their displeasure." Who will we listen to when it comes to ideas or plans? Make certain it's the 86%!

I have heard that statement, too, and wondered if the Bible can be trusted. But that is a matter I have laid to rest because God has always

I have confidence in God, His Bible, and His people that I will have what I need in order to be pleasing to Him. I have often said that

we could spend our entire life striving to do more maturely those things we know are right, fair, and honest. Why is it we often try to lay

Women are our greatest asset and establish a thermostat in the home and in the church family, as well. They need to be used in whatever

we can which is according to God's Word. 1 Cor. 11:3 and 1 Timothy 2 give us clear directions from which to work, and I am

confident that Christian women will respond to the challenges offered to them. We do need to do a better job communicating with

the women of our congregation. Regular congregational meetings and printed reports or meetings will enhance that process.

e. �When we let divorced people in the church, we are filling up the church with adulterers.�

Divorce is a terrible thing and is something the church of today is having to adjust to yearly. A scripturally divorced person is

not forbidden, however, from being part of the church family. There are no half-brothers or half-sisters in the Lord's family! That

individual needs our prayers and support as they adjust to this painful time, and we must help any innocent children through

Our teachings on a regular basis should be preventative, so we can help our families to be the best they can be. If a divorced couple

who are not scripturally married should want to worship with us, we should let them and hope they see and hear something which will

change their mind about their life. We certainly offer something their family and perhaps children need! Those people might not be

f. �We cannot know the meaning of a passage until we know the lexical meaning of the words.�

The Bible was written in Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic, but, again, the language of the Bible has always been to the common man. I trust

God, and know He will not leave us without direction. We should study the Bible diligently, using whatever tools are available to us.

We should always seek to get the main message of the text and be willing to study those passages which help us gain deeper understanding.

1. Have you or your wife been married previously? No. We celebrate another anniversary on July 2.

2. Does any member of your family: use tobacco, drink alcohol, or use any substance or participate in any behavior that could be

4. Will your wife work outside the home? She works part-time in our church office at this time.

5. What lectureships or meetings have you been a speaker at? I have spoken at the South Florida Lectureships 3 of its first 4 years at Palm

Beach Lakes Church of Christ. Also at the Spiritual Growth Workshop in Orlando twice while living in Florida.

6. What lectureships have you attended in the last five years? We have had children attending Harding University so we have attended

7. Have you published any articles or editorials in Christian periodicals? No�except for the article in Christian Teacher some time back

8. Which version of the Bible do you use for preaching, teaching, and home bible study? New International Version. I use all of them

9. When and how often should the plan of salvation be presented in a sermon and how often should the invitation be offered? The short

version of plan of salvation should be offered regularly�but invitation should also reflect main purpose of the sermon just presented and

1. Share your feelings on: abortion, homosexuality, pornography, the lottery, alcohol use, tobacco use, and dancing. Am opposed to

2. Do you think 1 Tim 2:9 (modesty) applies today? If so how? Dress in our assemblies should be modest (appropriate for the occasion).

I wear a coat/tie for all Sunday services and shirt and tie on Wednesday. Also try to work through parents and youth group to keep �beach

3. Discuss the Boston and Crossroads movements, should we fellowship them? I am very aware of their cultic ways and we should not

fellowship them in regard to activities, etc. They are, however, baptized believers so we should seek to bring them out of that group. We

4. Are we in need of a New Hermeneutic? No! That group is simply trying to impose their own �new traditions� on others.

5. What is the greatest challenge facing our youth today? Affluence in one regard and apathy on the other. If parents are committed,

6. What is the greatest challenge facing the church as a whole in the next five years?

The �music� movement that has again reared its head is going to split our churches if we continue to think that we can�t worship together

due to �progressive� and �traditional� thinking. The community church movement is also going to be a problem if we continue to be ashamed

8. Who is saved? How is a person saved? Baptized (immersion) into Christ and walking in the light daily.

9. Are there saved people not in the church? Only those who are baptized and worship in denominations�they are unfaithful brothers/sisters.

10. Who can be baptized? Those old enough to know right and wrong and respond to that which they know.

11. Who can take communion? It is for those who are Christians but we practice �open communion� in that we don�t stop those in our

12. Discuss the subject of miracles? For a particular people in a particular time (apostlic times). God can work miracles today through

13. How should the church be involved in the community in general and especially when it comes to benevolence? We respond only to

emergency needs locally and use a great deal of discretion because there are many con-artists around us.

14. Who will go to hell, and what kind of existence will it be? Unbelievers and unfaithful members. It will be a spiritual torment.

15. Describe the women�s role in the Church/worship? No participation in worship assembly at all except as member of audience.

16. How can the Church raise funds? What can they be used for? Through contribution at the direction of the elders.

17. Does the Church need to change to become more relevant today? Bible is relevant. We need to make it relevant in our teaching

18. Will you preach the complete gospel as needed, regardless of whom it might hit or who is against it? I am not ashamed of saying

21. What is true worship? That which is pleasing to God and aimed at giving him the glory and honor. Not entertainment! Involves

22. How do we establish scriptural authority? We allow the Word of God to decide what is according to God�s will.

23. What is the role of the Holy Spirit? How does it operate today? What is the gift of the Holy Spirit? Holy Spirit indwells each

24. Outline the qualifications, responsibilities, and limits of Elders. From Titus and Timothy�they watch for the souls of the members.

25. Describe the music of the Lord�s Church. Congregational singing�no instruments.

26. Explain 1st Corinthians 15. Referring to the 2^nd coming of Christ and the resurrection.

27. Explain the relationship of faith, grace, and works. Faith pleases God, grace is His gift to believers, and works is our response

28. Explain Matthew 19:3-9 and how it applies to non-Christians and Christians today. Divorce is for sexual unfaithfulness and

30. Explain Christ�s birth, death, and current existence. He intercedes for us today at God�s right hand.

21. Explain how the universe and all that is in it came to be. God created it in 6 24-hour days.

32. How and when was the Church of Christ established? By whom? In Acts 2 by God through Peter and the apostles.

35. Explain �legalism� in the Church. Living according to rules instead of out of appreciation to God for what He has done and made

GUARDIAN SJs, being CONCRETE in communicating and COOPERATIVE in implementing goals, can become highly skilled in

LOGISTICS. Thus their most practiced and developed intelligent operations are often supervising and inspecting (SJT adminstering),

or supplying and protecting (SJF conserving). And they would if they could be magistrates watching over these forms of social facilitation.

They are proud of themselves in the degree they are reliable in action, respect themselves in the degree they do good deeds, and feel

confident of themselves in the degree they are respectable. In search of security as they are the "Security Seeking Personality"

The Guardians called Supervisors are not only concrete in speech and cooperative in reaching their goals, but they are also directive and

expressive in their social address-very directive and very expressive. Supervisors do not hesitate even for an instant to express their

opinion of someone's performance, nor do they withhold their demand for improvement.

Supervisors see themselves as responsible for seeing to it that those in their charge do as they should. They feel proud of their responsibility

and of their efforts in making others responsible. Representing from ten to twelve percent of the general population, eStJs can be counted

on to do their duty no matter how difficult it may be, or what sacrifices it demands.

Supervisors naturally gravitate to the role of supervisor in their relations with others, and feel especially responsible for making sure

that people behave in keeping with agreed upon procedures and standards of conduct-or else face the consequences. Like a seasoned,

stalwart umpire, they will set their jaw and point out mistakes and transgressions to anyone who steps out of line; they feel obligated to

do so, and they're sometimes surprised when the culprit does not seem grateful for their reprimand. They are generous with their time

I enjoy people and we entertain often in our home. Raised in the church, and having family members in leadership positions, I know

the "good, bad, and ugly" aspects of congregations and yet love the church and want the best for it. I have gone on mission trips in

the United States and appreciate the role all missionaries play in the commitment of a congregation. The more a congregation knows

about its mission points, the more they will feel a part of them and want to support them.

Gary Davenport�s Personality Profile from Kiersley test � A �guardian supporter�