What Happens When a Pastor Comes Apart
Perhaps you’ve heard the phrase, “You must make time to come apart before you fall apart.” It refers to Mark 6:31 where Jesus told his disciples, “Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no...
Five Graces of Servant Leadership
The military boasts of its ability to build leaders “from the ground up.” But God is interested in building leaders from Heaven down. Jesus Himself exercised the downward mobility that modeled the highest form of spiritual leadership (Philippians 2:5–8). And His Holy...
7 Encouraging Trends of Independent Baptist Millennial Leaders
When I survey today’s ministry landscape, I’m encouraged. Why? First, I’m hopeful for revival. The fact that our culture is becoming increasingly hostile toward Christianity is disappointing, but it’s nothing Scripture didn’t warn us...
Two Progressions in Ministry
Pain changes us. And for the child of God, those words can breathe hope and promise. We who believe Romans 8:28 “know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Challenging trials can draw us...
Five Daily Practices for Growing Leaders
Leadership is never static. It requires intentional, personal growth. Below are five practices that stimulate progress: Read daily to grow. There is no substitute for daily spending time in God’s Word. The Lord uses His Word to teach us, convict us, comfort us, equip...
Ten Characteristics of a Healthy Church
When Terrie and I came to Lancaster in the summer of 1986, our goal was not to build a large church but to reach people for Christ. Over the past thirty-two years, the Lord has done more than we ever could have dreamed, and we praise Him for that. But our goal has not...
Trends and Truths: Evaluating Current Congregational Trends with Biblical Truth
Every Christ-centered pastor desires to make a difference for eternity and to build a Christ-honoring, Spirit-led, and gospel-centered church family. Yet, there are several trends in our culture today that bring some unique challenges to church life and church...
Trends and Truths: Evaluating Current Contextualization and Interpretation Trends with Biblical Truth
As we move through this information age, it can be a challenge just to keep up with the trends and terms of our culture and of ministry. It seems that the trends are many, the terms are changing, and the conversations can be daunting…even confusing. Ironically, in the...
Spiritual Leadership Conference Preview
As we enter Spiritual Leadership Conference, our overwhelming prayer and heart’s cry is for God’s reviving work in every one of our hearts and, by extension, in every church represented at the conference. Last week, I posted a schedule for the conference...
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.
