As we approach Spiritual Leadership Conference, I’ve asked a few of the conference speakers to participate in brief interviews regarding what is involved in launching out by faith. I believe you’ll find their perspectives both helpful and faith-building.
This interview is with Dr. Tom Farrell. Dr. Farrell has served as an evangelist since 1979. We are looking forward to his session at Spiritual Leadership Conference on “Preaching that Pleases God.”
What is an area in the past five years in which you’ve launched out by faith, and how has God blessed?
In the last five years we have launched out in three specific areas of ministry:
- Caribbean Project, evangelizing the Caribbean Islands and helping to plant churches and Bible institutes. One Bible institute has been started in Nassau, Bahamas, and a second will open this fall in Grenada.
- Advanced Ministry Training Internship Program for male Christian College graduates. This one year intensive mentoring program puts young preachers in three independent Baptist churches for three months each, involving them in every aspect of ministry. There are two one-week modules during which leading pastors spend a day with the interns equipping them for ministry. The men travel with me in evangelism and then finish the program on the mission field of Uganda. Most all of the graduates have launched out into full-time ministry.
- Elijah’s Harbor Retreat Center for preachers and wives who need to be refreshed and refocused for ministry. We were privileged to help start this center. Many pastors have been encouraged and helped, and some have stayed in ministry because of this program.
How have you seen Satan target leaders who launch out? What is your counsel to others to overcome those challenges?
Any time you launch out, Satan will oppose. Someone said, “When God’s people say, ‘Let us rise up and build,’ Satan will rise up to oppose.” Paul wrote, “Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us” (1 Thessalonians 2:18).
The reality is that Satan does oppose the work of God. His favorite tactics are discouragement and distraction. He also loves to cause division among the workers.
The best way to overcome these obstacles is to know that your goal is from God and patiently and persistently move toward it. First John 5:4, exhorts, “…and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”
All three of our recent projects have been opposed by Satan but God has given great victories in each project. He will do the same for you!
You have a session at the Spiritual Leadership Conference on “Preaching that Pleases God.” Would you provide a brief overview of this session and how it will enable preachers to challenge others to launch out in faith?
Much of today’s preaching is a lecture instead of a sermon. It is information without inspiration and facts without fire.
True preaching is Bible based and calls for a verdict. It is both exposition and exhortation. It is application oriented and helps the congregation take their next spiritual step to launch out for Christ.
In this session at the conference, we will particularly look to 2 Timothy 4:2 for equipping in preaching that pleases God and changes lives.
