What Forty Years of Ministry Have Taught Me about the Power of God
If you had told me in the summer of 1986 what God would do through Lancaster Baptist Church over the next forty years, I don’t think I could have imagined it. Terrie and I were passing through Lancaster on vacation when a pastor friend asked me to preach to a small...
Why Leaders Limit Their Liberty
One of the best definitions of leadership I’ve read comes from J. Oswald Sanders’ book Spiritual Leadership: “Leadership is influence.” For spiritual leaders, that influence must never be taken lightly. It is a gift from God and a stewardship for Him. Whether our...
From Text to Sermon: 10 Steps for Biblical Preaching
After forty years of pastoral ministry, I remain convinced that the greatest need in any local church is biblical, Christ-exalting preaching. Programs matter, planning matters, and leadership matters; but nothing shapes a congregation more deeply than what happens...
When the Work Is Greater Than You Are, God Is Able
There are few things that expose human insufficiency like the work of the ministry. Whether you are a pastor, children’s Sunday school helper, Christian school teacher, or parent, you know that we can pray, plan, work, and give our best, yet still frequently come...
Dr. Don Sisk: The Influence of a Faithful Life
If one picture is worth a thousand words, then I have enough words to fill a book with memories of Dr. Don Sisk. As I’ve looked through hundreds of pictures this week since Dr. Don Sisk’s Homegoing, I’ve been filled with gratitude for his friendship over...
Dr. Don Sisk: Memorial Service Details
Dr. Don Sisk was a faithful servant of Christ, a devoted missionary statesman, and a dear friend and mentor to countless servants of the Lord. His life and ministry touched people around the world, and we thank God for the enduring legacy of faith, missions, and...
Well Done: Remembering Dr. Don Sisk
It is with both deep sadness and profound gratitude that I share our dear friend, Dr. Don Sisk, went Home to be with the Lord today. It is impossible to put into words what Dr. Sisk has meant to me. For thirty-five years, he has been one of my dearest friends, most...
Sacrifice Deserves Stewardship
In September of 1776, a young schoolteacher named Nathan Hale stood on the edge of eternity. Captured by the British as a spy during the early days of the Revolutionary War, he knew his fate was sealed. At just twenty-one years old, he was about to give his life for a...
Stewarding Ministry for the Future
For forty years, the Lord has allowed me the privilege of serving as pastor of Lancaster Baptist Church. Through every season, my desire has been simple—to faithfully preach the gospel, strengthen the local church, and help shine the light of Christ from this place to...
God is Able
Strengthen your faith through biblical truths and compelling stories of God’s unlimited power and faithfulness.
Pastor Paul Chappell
Dr. Paul Chappell is the senior pastor of the Lancaster Baptist Church and president of West Coast Baptist College in Lancaster, California. His biblical vision has led the church to become one of the most dynamic independent Baptist churches in the nation. He has been married to his wife, Terrie, for over forty years and is the father of four married children all serving in Christian ministry.
"If you find a path that has no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere."—unknown