Woke or Awake? The Real Shame of American Christians
Black Friday typically heralds the beginning of the Salvation Army bellringer season. The familiar red kettles outside of stores provide opportunities for shoppers to give to those in need. But this year, the start of Salvation Army red kettle campaign was...
How to Develop a Cohesive, Workable Annual Plan
When it comes to approaching a new year, there are some common pitfalls ministry leaders fall into. One is that they don’t plan at all, and another is that they set monumental goals without creating a functional plan that has practical value. On one hand, we know...
Government Mandates and the Christian’s Mission
As American Christians, we have been blessed to enjoy a level of religious freedom unknown throughout history. This blessing has been purchased by the sacrifices of many and is not something we should take lightly. Because of this, I believe American Christians should...
Trust God Anyway
One of the things I love about the Christmas season is its many reminders to focus our attention on Christ. To be sure, there is much these days to call our attention away from the Lord. Just this past week as we celebrated Thanksgiving, there were several challenging...
Five Keys to Longevity in Ministry
One of the great blessings of my life has been to pastor one church for thirty-five years and counting. To still be in the ministry and fulfilling God’s calling on my life over forty years after I started is a great blessing—a far greater blessing than the weight of...
Fruit Abounds Where Seeds Are Planted
The picture above is from two weeks ago and represents one of those moments that makes me so grateful we began West Coast Baptist College twenty-six years ago. The three men being ordained are all WCBC graduates, and they were ordained at the church where they are...
Three Benefits of Practicing Hospitality
One of the most rewarding areas of ministry my wife Terrie and I have shared over the years is practicing hospitality. We’ve had the privilege of leading people to Christ at our dining room table, hosing new members classes in our living room, encouraging guest...
More than a Vacation: Christian Travel to Biblical Lands
I’ll never forget the first time I had the opportunity to visit Israel. So many of the places we visited stand out as vivid memories—the Valley of Elah (which I preached about this past Sunday), the Sea of Galilee, the synagogue at Capernaum, the city of Bethlehem,...
When the World Calls Wrong Right, and Right Wrong
We live in a day of amazing confusion. But what makes the confusion especially disorienting is that those who are creating it don’t act bewildered or perplexed. Instead, when we point out what seems obvious, they tell us with a straight face that we are confused,...
The Resilient Life
Overcome the Crises and Anxieties of Life through Christ
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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.
