Tag: church

8 Reasons to Hire An Interim Pastor

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When a pastor leaves, the church enters a tender and often uncertain season. Even if the pastor’s departure was expected—or even welcomed—it still creates disruption. The transition between pastors is a vulnerable time, and how a church navigates it will often shape the future health of the congregation. One of the wisest steps a church can take is to hire an interim pastor. Here’s why:

1. The church needs consistency. Rotating guest preachers may seem like a solution, but it creates a revolving door in the pulpit. Without a steady voice, the church often experiences tension, confusion, and even division. An interim pastor provides stability and consistency week after week.

2. You safeguard doctrine. It’s far easier to vet and trust one qualified interim pastor than a new guest speaker every Sunday. A parade of different preachers—especially those without theological training—opens the door to doctrinal drift. An interim helps protect the pulpit and guard the truth.

3. The church needs space to grieve. When a beloved pastor leaves, there’s loss—whether people realize it or not. That loss must be acknowledged. An interim pastor provides the space and guidance needed for the church to process its grief, heal, and be ready to fully embrace its next shepherd.

4. A leadership void must be filled. The departure of a pastor leaves a vacuum. If it isn’t filled by a qualified leader, one of two things happens: either the church stalls without direction, or members step into roles they were never meant to hold—and may not want to give up once the new pastor arrives. An interim pastor prevents both pitfalls.

5. The Search Team needs breathing room. A pastor search committee carries a weighty responsibility. Without an interim, they feel pressure to rush the process. A wise interim pastor shoulders part of that burden, allowing the search team to move prayerfully and carefully instead of hastily.

6. Fresh eyes bring clarity. An interim pastor comes without preconceived notions. He notices things insiders may overlook—facility issues, worship dynamics, staffing challenges, or ministry gaps. His perspective can spark helpful conversations and positive change.

7. New ideas can bring momentum. Most interim pastors have years of ministry experience. They’ve seen what works—and what doesn’t—in a variety of contexts. Their ideas can inject fresh energy and keep the church moving forward instead of stagnating during the transition.

8. The staff needs pastoral guidance. Even the most capable church staff feels unsettled when the lead pastor’s chair sits empty. An interim pastor provides the leadership, accountability, and encouragement they need so they can continue to serve well until the new pastor arrives.

Final Thought. An interim pastor isn’t just a “placeholder.” He’s a bridge—helping the church move from one season to the next with health, stability, and hope. Churches that skip this step often regret it. Churches that embrace it often find themselves stronger, healthier, and more unified when their new pastor finally steps into the pulpit.

For more information or assistance in this area, please contact me at steve.rice@kybaptist.org or at 502-489-3434.

Practical Steps to a Safe Church

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As Kentucky Baptist pastors and leaders, one of our sacred responsibilities is to care for the flock God has entrusted to us. That means preaching, praying, and shepherding spiritually—but it also means protecting our people physically.

Just as we lock our homes at night or install smoke detectors, we take precautions in our churches because we love the people God has placed in our care. With that in mind, here are some practical, common-sense steps every Kentucky Baptist church can consider.

1. Strengthen Your Welcome Team. Your greeters, ushers, and volunteers are the first line of awareness. Train them not only to warmly welcome guests, but also to be observant. A kind handshake and a watchful eye can both happen at the same time. If something looks or feels off, then report it.

2. Control Building Access. Once services begin, it’s wise to limit how many doors are open. Lock side or back entrances and funnel guests through monitored entry points. Post clear signage so visitors know where to enter. Consider cameras or door monitors if your budget allows.

3. Develop a Safety Team. Even small churches can benefit from a few trusted members who are prepared for emergencies. Look for men and women with calm spirits and sound judgment (law enforcement, military, medical backgrounds are a plus). Establish a simple chain of command so decisions can be made quickly. Provide radios or communication tools so the team can respond without disrupting worship.

4. Prepare for Medical Emergencies. In many churches, medical emergencies are more likely than security threats. Being ready can save a life. Keep first-aid kits in visible locations. Install an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). Train volunteers in CPR and basic first aid. During one of my pastorates, two heart attacks happened right in the middle of the church services. Fortunately, trained medical responders handled the situation immediately and effectively.

5. Partner with Local Law Enforcement. Your sheriff’s office or police department can be a valuable ally. Invite them to tour your facilities and point out vulnerabilities. Ask for advice on evacuation routes and emergency procedures. Let them know your service times so they can include your church in patrol routes.

6. Communicate and Train. A plan only works if people know it. Walk your team through drills—fire, weather, intruder, medical. Share emergency exit routes with your congregation. Keep communication clear, calm, and simple.

7. Keep the Balance. Our churches should always be places of warmth and welcome. Security must never overshadow hospitality. Done well, it will mostly go unnoticed—ready if needed, but invisible during worship.

In Summary, Pastor, now is the time to prepare. You don’t need a massive budget or an army of volunteers. Start small. Pray. Gather a few trusted leaders. Put simple, practical steps in place.

The people who sit in your pews week after week are precious souls made in God’s image. Protecting them is part of shepherding them. Let’s be faithful in this calling—not out of fear, but out of love.

Churches Can Be Happy, Happy, Happy

Posted in Church Chat, Church Revitalization, Discipleship, Evangelism, Funny, Preaching, WorshipLeave a comment

Duck Dynasty

Every time I watch Duck Dynasty I go away with a smile.  I’m encouraged, challenged, and sometimes emotionally moved.  In short, I go away happy, happy, happy.  Why can’t our churches be that way?  If our Baptist churches were a little more happy, I suspect that 75% of them wouldn’t be declining or on a long plateau.

Now, don’t misunderstand, I’m not talking about the heresy of prosperity theology that is expounded from so many mega pulpits today.  I’m simply talking about preaching the truth of the Bible in love and in the joy of the Lord.  Biblically, the Greek word for joy is the word chara.  The word occurs 59 times in the Word of God and is generally translated “joy” throughout.  Joy is not something that is derived from the world; joy comes from Jesus.

In a post at Thomrainer.com, Dr. Thom S. Rainer shared Nine Traits of Happy Churches.  Here’s Dr. Rainer’s list:

  1. The pastor was a strong leader, but not an autocratic leader. He was able to maintain that healthy balance of providing clarity of vision without imposing his will on every decision.
  2. The pastor regularly demonstrated and affirmed love for the congregation. In both his actions and his words, the pastor communicated clearly that he loved the members of the church. And he loved them regardless of their apparent feelings toward him, though most of the members genuinely loved the pastor as well.
  3. The pastor regularly demonstrated and affirmed love for the community where the church was located. Though he could not be omnipresent, the pastor made it a point to be involved in many of the affairs of the community. He genuinely loved people in the community and viewed the entire area as his mission field.
  4. The ministry staff liked each other, and they worked well together. If there are tensions among the staff, they cannot be hidden from the congregation. But if the staff is unified and banter in fun with one another, the members feed off that joy and unity.
  5. A high proportion of the membership was actively involved in ministry. When church members are doing the work of ministry, they have a sense of fulfillment and joy. When they aren’t, they often have extra time on their hands to be divisive.
  6. Business meetings were brief and friendly. These meetings were rarely a time of infighting and complaining. To the contrary, most of the members were too busy doing ministry to be negative (see #5).
  7. A high proportion of the members were in a small group or Sunday school class. Community grew in these small groups. People who are true members of a community tend to be happier people.
  8. The pastor’s time in the Word was protected. It is easy for a pastor to yield his time in the Word for the tyranny of the urgent. Thus he becomes frustrated, as he has to rush to complete a sermon, or as he does not have sufficient time to do the sermon well. The members likewise become frustrated because they don’t feel like the pastor is feeding them. A happy church makes certain that the pastor has adequate time every week to be in the Word.
  9. The pastor had a small informal or formal group to whom he was accountable. This group includes those members who clearly love the pastor. They offer both encouragement and accountability for him. The interchange between this group and the pastor is frank, transparent and, overall, healthy. And all communications take place on an unmistakable foundation of love.

If churches truly want to experience revitalization, this list should be reviewed from time to time.  Keep in mind, this IS NOT a formula for church revitalization, but let’s be honest, it sure couldn’t hurt!  People are much more likely to “tune in” to a church that is happy, happy, happy!

Deacon Ministry Handbook

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The office of deacon is still relevant and Biblical in the 21st century. Although there has been an increased emphasis on the office of elder in the local Baptist congregation, most Baptist churches still need and honor the office of deacon.

When I consider my years in the pastorate, I think of the men with whom the Lord surrounded me. God placed men in the office of deacon who encouraged me, challenged me, advised me, and prayed for me. These men were partners in the ministry of the Gospel, they were brothers in Christ, and they were friends. I cherish them and count it a special privilege to have served with them and to have personally served as a deacon early in life.

Many good deacon resources exist, but few are recent and updated. The authors of this resource work regularly with deacons and they believe that deacons play a crucial role in the success of the local pastor and church. They wrote the Deacon Ministry Handbook to provide concise, practical guidance to pastors and deacons. The combined ministry knowledge of the authors has produced a tool that can benefit every pastor and deacon in Kentucky and across the Southern Baptist Convention.

You can get a copy at any place books are sold, but you can purchase at a discounted rate from this LifeWay site designed to feature the book. The authors and I recently recorded supplemental video resources that will be available soon to assist with training. If we can assist your church or association with deacon training, please email me at steve.rice@kybaptist.org.

Is Your Church Safe & Secure?

Posted in Church Consulting, Deacon, Leadership, Security, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Every church MUST think about church security in today’s world! Every church should have a comprehensive Church Security Plan and a Church Security Team in place! BUT, where do you begin and who can help?

We have six Kentucky Baptist Convention Regional Consultants prepared to make a presentation to your church or a group of leaders that will raise awareness for the need of a good security plan as well as cover some of the basics. They can provide first steps and help a church take next steps.

We created a Church Security page on our website with resources available for churches as well as links to several Church Security training videos filmed at one of our KBC Church Security Conferences:

For additional assistance please contact a KBC Regional Consultant directly or contact me at the Kentucky Baptist Convention.