No Room at the Inn
“And while they were there, the time came for (Mary) to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” – Luke 2:6-7 It was plenty difficult for Mary to be traveling […]
Giving Thanks for a Blessed Year
One week before our Thanksgiving holiday, we had the privilege of spending time with some of our closest and dearest friends during The Fellowship Network Fall Cruise. We departed out of Galveston for five days of relaxation, great dining, and a chance to catch up with old friends and co-laborers in the Lord. God has […]
Prayers for Las Vegas
By now, we have all heard the stories and seen the images from the tragedy in Las Vegas. The loss of human life is truly shocking, as was the brazenness of the attack itself. The premeditated murder of so many people is something that most of us cannot fathom. It goes beyond a mass shooting: […]
Training up the next generation
This week, I’m in Texas in TFN meetings and spending time with my wife as she speaks at the “Among Friends” women’s’ conference hosted by Pastor Scott and Marsha Hoxworth in Killeen, TX. It’s great being with friends and partners in ministry, watching leaders impart faith to the next generation. Even though we pastor different […]
The difference between Moses and Jesus
A lead minister’s day is never over. Today is no exception. After a long afternoon of meetings with the elders, the pastor is ready to settle in for the evening to study and spend time with God. But tonight, he is interrupted yet again by dozens of demands for an audience. One person is mad […]
Thoughts and prayers with the people of Mexico
By now, many of you have heard about the tragedy in Mexico City on Tuesday afternoon. A powerful earthquake struck the city, toppling buildings, destroying infrastructure, and killing over 150 people. The recovery process is anticipated to be long and painstaking. Hundreds of structures have been damaged, and it is expected that there are still […]
You Belong
“You belong.” Those words stand by themselves, demanding more context. Belong to what? Why do I belong? Is my belonging conditional? There are many things we can belong to by choice. For example, a Sam’s Club or Costco membership is something I can choose to belong to. Because of my belonging, I get certain rights […]
For Future Generations
Our Network is celebrating 55 years as an association in 2017. So much has happened during the past five decades. In 1962, man had yet to walk on the moon, John F. Kennedy was still president, and 186 million Americans called our country home. Today, we live in an information age, Donald Trump is the […]
The Fellowship Network is on the rise!
As Summer turns to Fall, I’m encouraged by the growth we have seen as a Fellowship in 2017. This year, we have welcomed many new ministers, organizations, and churches to our ranks. We have launched the Children of Prisoners missions initiative to care for the some of the neediest young people in the world. And […]
Why I am no longer bitter about the Panther’s loss in Super Bowl 50
On Sunday, my Carolina Panthers walked all over the San Francisco 49ers in a NFL game that can best be described as “one sided.” It feels great to watch your team win! But it wasn’t that long ago that my same Panthers lost the Super Bowl by a score of 10 to 24 in that […]
What does it mean to have a Harvest Mentality?
What does it mean to have a Harvest Mentality? John 4:31 “Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” 32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” 33 So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?” 34 Jesus said […]
Good News from Houston
Our friends at Christ in Action continue to coordinate relief work across the devastated areas of the Texas coast. Volunteers from all over the south have been traveling to the region to aid in the cleanup work. From the Christ in Action team: We want to give a shout out to Joshua, Janelle, Lisa, Tyler, […]
Look out and see, the fields are white with harvest
Have you ever been in a field right before harvest? You can feel the anticipation in the atmosphere. The farms are buzzing with activity – tractors getting last-minute tune-ups, silos and barns being prepped to receive the bounty, and people working everywhere working on the one thing that they have been preparing all year for. […]
God’s hands at work in Houston
The waters are starting to recede in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, but the recovery work is just beginning. All across the greater Houston area, millions of people are returning to find possessions gone, homes damaged, and life essentials in short supply. And yet there are encouraging signs as well. We are getting reports of […]
Open Hearts, Open Hands
Dear Fellowship Network Family, As the greater Houston area grapples with the enormity of the devastation, signs of hope are starting to emerge. We are hearing more and more reports of our churches, ministers, and organizations stepping up to fill the needs of the people in the affected areas of the Gulf Coast. As the […]
Do you really want to be like Joel Osteen?
Do you really want to be like Joel Osteen? Many of us saw the news this week about Houston’s Lakewood Church refusing to open its doors to people in need of shelter during the flooding. It turned out to be fake news – on the day of the hurricane, the Lakewood building was inaccessible due […]
Jesus calmed the storm
Our friends in Texas are experiencing some of the worst flooding in a century. The storm has brought some of the heaviest rain ever recorded on the Gulf Coast, and now the coastal cities are waiting for the waters to recede. Jesus showed a remarkable ability to stay calm during stormy times. He literally fell […]
Heaven Came to Earth in Durham, NC
“Heaven Came to Earth in Durham, NC” That was the theme of our South East region’s annual conference. Two days of worship and fellowship, with times of in-depth ministry and refreshing. I want to thank Vice President Randy Estelle and the entire South East Board for a fantastic conference. Everyone in attendance came away with […]
Spending time with the Lord is an intentional act that keeps us in the flow of CONFIDENCE!
Confidence in your abilities and the goodness of God comes easy sometimes. It’s tempting to think that past accomplishments and God-given talents can help you rise to the occasion or problem-solve your way through just about anything. Then if things go off the rails, you can always pray, hear God’s voice and do what needs […]
Here as in Heaven, at the Southeast Conference in Durham, NC
Jesus prayed “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.” When we pray “on earth as it is in Heaven,” we are praying for more than just the favor of God on our lives. We are leaning into expectancy for the heavenly realm to invade our lives here on […]
Recap of the South Central Conference
It was the best regional conference that I ever had to leave early! Thank you all for your prayers and kind notes of support. I arrived in Mesquite, TX for the South Central Regional Conference, only to have to leave for a family emergency back home. Fortunately, we have an amazing team in the South […]
Conference Week
It’s conference week in our South Central region! Few things get me excited like gathering with Kingdom-minded ministers from around the country. This week, Family Cathedral of Praise in Mesquite, TX is hosting over 100 pastors, ministers, evangelists, and missionaries for our South Central Regional Conference. It promises to be an inspirational time of strengthening, […]
