Aug 1, 2018 | +Leadership, Weekly Words
Paula Dempsey is director of partner relations of the Alliance of Baptists. Paula, tell us about your early years. How has your family background influenced the way that you lead? Growing up the only daughter of a farming family provided me a grounding and a beginning...
Jul 26, 2018 | Weekly Words
Two years ago, I sat in a tense meeting concerning the future of my seminary and who would represent the faculty. I sensed the group consensus turning in my direction. I, the untenured junior colleague, mustered the courage to turn down the position. “We are all...
Jul 18, 2018 | Weekly Words
“I am going to the store and I will be right back.” These are the first words I remember my mother speaking to me. I do not remember songs or lullabies. I do not remember hugs or kisses or sweet-smelling pies. My first memory of my mother is her leaving me on the...
Jul 12, 2018 | Weekly Words
The week of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship General Assembly is always a joyful one for me. Growing up, this week meant family vacation–and an ever-growing collection of swag pens and Post-It note-pads. More recently, I attend as part of my own vocational...
Jun 28, 2018 | Weekly Words
“Our church has wanted a female ministry intern for a long time,” said my supervisor, a male pastor of a mid-size Baptist church in North Carolina. “But to be honest, I don’t know what to do with you. I can’t go running with you, I can’t get a drink with you, and my...
Jun 6, 2018 | Weekly Words
In my experience, senior pastors are not always the humblest human beings. I am a senior pastor, so I should know. My friend says it is because it takes a bit of ego to stand up in front of a congregation every week and claim to know something about God! Hopefully,...
