Mark Dance
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Articles by Mark Dance
Dockery encourages pursuit of unity, truth during convocation address
Metadata: Topic(s): Southwestern Baptist Theological SeminaryFormat(s): Text Articles Share this post: FORT WORTH, Texas – President David S. Dockery encouraged faculty, staff, students and friends of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Texas Baptist College during Fall Convocation on Aug. 25 to pursue unity and truth, as Jesus prayed for believers throughout the centuries in His prayer recorded in John 17.
Ministry fatigue is not inevitable
iStock Metadata: Topic(s): Discipleship, Theology & Doctrine Share this post: Editor’s note: Mark Dance is executive director of the Arkansas Baptist Convention. Some pastors are on the road to burnout and consider it a badge of honor. They may even consider ministry fatigue to be the inevitable price of pastoring. Perhaps they were told only wimps get winded or that rest only applies to the weak, lazy or unemployed.
Georgia church’s mission team takes Gospel to streets, campuses in D.C.
Members of a mission team from Everlove Church, a Korean congregation in Buford, Ga., share the Gospel in Washington, D.C. Everlove Church photo Metadata: Topic(s): EvangelismFormat(s): Text Articles Share this post: BUFORD, Ga. — A mission team from Everlove Baptist Church of Atlanta returned from Washington, D.C., with a renewed confidence that God can use any believer, anywhere, to share the Gospel.
FROM THE COLLEGES: 28 baptisms among Carson-Newman, Shorter U football teams
Faith leads Carson-Newman football players to ‘biggest victory’ By Charles Key/Carson-Newman University JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Though temperatures pushed over 90 degrees on Carson-Newman University’s campus, it did little to deter an Aug. 19 gathering at historic Mossy Creek. The assembly witnessed a life-changing event for 18 members of C-N’s football team, as each was baptized in the cool waters of the creek, marking a public profession of faith in Jesus Christ.
FROM THE SEMINARIES: NOBTS archaeology update; New book on Proverbs
Myers appointed associate director of NOBTS archaeology institute By Timothy Cockes/NOTBS NEW ORLEANS – NOBTS graduate Gary Myers has been appointed as associate director of the Michael and Sara Moskau Institute of Archaeology at the seminary. Myers is a four-time graduate of NOBTS, and his degrees include a Master of Arts in Biblical Archaeology and a Doctor of Philosophy in Biblical Interpretation.
Smallest, largest churches see strongest discipleship scores, according to Lifeway Research
iStock Metadata: Topic(s): Discipleship, LifewayFormat(s): Text Articles Share this post: BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — The size and location of a church may reveal more than we realize about the discipleship of its churchgoers. The latest Lifeway Research analysis of State of Discipleship study data finds churchgoers in the smallest and largest congregations, along with those at churches in the South, tend to have higher discipleship scores.
Kentucky youth pastor charged with grooming
HOPKINSVILLE, Ky. – A youth pastor has been arrested on abuse-related charges after turning himself in to authorities Aug. 17. Jeremiah Swaw, 38, next-generation pastor at Hillcrest Baptist Church in Hopkinsville, was the first person arrested under Kentucky’s new grooming law, for acts that he committed against a minor. The new law, signed by Kentucky Gov.
First person: ‘Real dangers lurking among the crowds’ pastors face
There were real dangers lurking among the crowds that Jesus was feeding, healing and teaching. These same dangers still exist in the congregations pastors serve today. Some are more obvious than others. Here are four threats to be aware of: EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Mark Dance and originally published by Arkansas Baptist News.
4 Reasons to Take Sabbath Seriously
Jon Tyson photo | Unsplash God not only blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy, but He still also blesses those who take it seriously enough to consistently observe it. By Mark Dance Fifteen years ago, I was working out by myself in a virtually empty gym when I completely ran out of strength in the middle of my last set at the bench press. I was unable to bring it back to the rack, which wouldn’t have been a problem if I could rest it on my chest and throw off the plates or ask for help.
FIRST-PERSON: A sustainable pace
Unsplash photo by Jonathan Chng A Pennsylvania woman rushing to catch her flight ignored a flat tire and ultimately crashed her car near a moving walkway that leads people into the Pittsburg International Airport. She apparently was so determined to catch her flight that she continued driving toward the airport even after her car got a flat tire on Interstate 376.
U.K. Baptist preacher latest convicted for Gospel outreach in abortion buffer zone
COLERAINE, Northern Ireland (BP) – A retired Baptist pastor is the latest Christian convicted for religious activity in an abortion buffer zone in the United Kingdom, this time for holding a church service on the outskirts of a zone. Clive Johnston, 78, was convicted May 7 on two charges of violating a safe access zone by holding an open-air religious service outside Causeway Hospital in Coleraine, Northern Ireland, in July 2024, BBC and others reported.
FIRST-PERSON: The missionary call of motherhood
Editor’s note: The following is an excerpt from “Mercy in the Margin,” a devotional book by Chelsey DeMatteis, coming from B&H Publishing in August. And he said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.’” Mark 16:15 One of the greatest missions we’ve been given as mothers is to be the heart of our homes. It’s where we get to live out our faith in its fullness. We get to show our children the highs and lows of walking faithfully with Jesus. It gets messy.
Former Jacksonville-area youth pastor arrested for battery
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (BP) – Accusations of sexual abuse going back 10 years have brought sexual battery charges and the arrest of a former youth pastor and minister who was on staff or volunteered at several Jacksonville-area churches. Joshua Allen Trent, 42, was admitted into the Duval County Jail April 12 and charged with two counts of sexual battery following an investigation that began in January. He was released 10 days later on an $800,000 bond – $400,000 for each charge.
ERLC’s Psalm 139 Project places 100th ultrasound machine
iStock Metadata: Topic(s): Abortion, ERLCFormat(s): Text Articles Share this post: ELIZABETHTOWN, N.C. (BP) – The Psalm 139 Project, a pro-life ministry of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), celebrated its 100th ultrasound machine placement during a dedication in Elizabethtown, N.C., Friday (May 8).
Los bautistas del sur registran una mayor asistencia y un aumento en los bautismos a pesar del descenso en el número de fieles
Brentwood, TN. – Las iglesias bautistas del sur observaron un crecimiento constante en la asistencia y los bautismos, pero la disminución del número de feligreses, que inició hace dos décadas, continuó en 2025.
Los bautistas de Missouri se preparan para realizar actividades de alcance relacionadas con la Copa Mundial de la FIFA en Kansas City.
KANSAS CITY – Este verano, el mundo entero se dará cita en Kansas City para el mayor evento deportivo del planeta. Se estima que hasta un millón de visitantes de todo el mundo llegarán a la ciudad para la Copa Mundial de la FIFA en junio y julio, y los bautistas de Missouri se preparan para compartir el amor de Jesús con ellos. La Copa Mundial es la competición más importante del fútbol, donde se reúnen los mejores jugadores de los clubes más prestigiosos de cada país.
La Corte Suprema parece dividida sobre el Estatus de Protección Temporal (TPS) para los haitianos y otros.
WASHINGTON (BP) – El pastor haitiano Keny Felix expresó su temor a Baptist Press con respecto a las perspectivas futuras de los 1.3 millones de inmigrantes que viven en los Estados Unidos bajo el Estatus de Protección Temporal (TPS). Mientras la Corte Suprema de Estados Unidos escuchaba los argumentos el 29 de abril sobre el futuro del TPS, Felix abogaba en el Capitolio, como lo ha hecho frecuentemente durante el último año en Washington, Miami y Ohio.
Programa Cooperativo: Totales acumulados similares a los del año pasado en las mismas fechas
Metadata: Share this post: NASHVILLE (BP) – Las aportaciones al Programa Cooperativo (CP, por sus siglas en inglés) del mes de abril se situaron por debajo del objetivo presupuestario para ese mes, y el total de aportaciones sigue estando un 3.5 % por debajo del presupuesto anual.
Iglesia bautista del sur ayuda a construir un centro médico para niños en Rumanía.
“NorthPointe es una iglesia centrada en el evangelio que tiene como objetivo hacer, madurar y multiplicar discípulos de Cristo”; esto es lo que el pastor principal, Landon Dees, les dice a todos los que visitan a la iglesia NorthPointe. Esta iglesia bautista del sur, en Burleson, Texas, está comprometida con las misiones y desde que Dees comenzó a pastorearla hace cinco años, cuando contaba con menos de doscientas personas, la congregación ha crecido hasta superar los 1100 miembros.
Líderes cristianos hispanos reciben capacitación departe de fundación Lilly en San Juan.
Agustín Quiles, Director de Charla Misionera; Bruno Molina, Director de la Red Bautista Hispana (HBN); Tito Madrazo., Director de Programas Religiosos de Lilly Endowment Inc, Ángel Marcial, Director para América Latina y Puerto Rico de la Iglesia de Dios; y el pastor Jesse Rincones, director de la Convención Bautista Hispana de Texas.
FIRST-PERSON: A sustainable pace
Editor’s note: The following is an excerpt from “Rest Well, Lead Well” by Mark Dance, releasing June 2 from B&H Publishing. Mark Dance is executive director of the Arkansas Baptist Convention. A Pennsylvania woman rushing to catch her flight ignored a flat tire and ultimately crashed her car near a moving walkway that leads people into the Pittsburg International Airport.
BIBLE STUDY: Emboldened by God’s sovereignty
Metadata: Format(s): Text Articles Share this post: NASHVILLE (BP) — This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with Lifeway Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, Lifeway publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups. This week’s Bible study is adapted from the Bible Studies For Life curriculum.
Why Pastoral Wellness Matters to Congregations
PodMatch photo | Unsplash Let us do our best to create opportunities for pastoral wellness for the good of the church and for the glory of God. By Mark Dance It’s unrealistic, if not naïve, to think a healthy church can be led for long by an unhealthy pastor. Although Jesus is the primary key to church health and revival, it’s fairly obvious that the health of the pastor and church are intrinsically connected.
How do you know whether the hand of God is on your life and your ministry?
I love this message from Mark Dance in the Baptist Press. You know my friends God established For God’s Glory Alone over 13 years ago now. God gave me the name, because FGGAM is for God’s Glory Alone, not for my or Sharon’s glory. All for God.
How Do You Know If God’s Hand Is On Your Life and Ministry?
Pastor Dewey Moede spent 42 years in radio. Much of Dewey’s career was in Christian radio ministry at WFRN in South Bend/Elkhart, Indiana and KKIM in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Pastor Dewey and his wife Sharon answered the call of God over 13 years ago to establish FGGAM.
Who Will Disciple Pastors?
Although pastors need to be prepared for the work of ministry, we also need someone to disciple us—helping us in our walk with Jesus. By Mark Dance I’ve heard every excuse imaginable from other pastors about why they can’t commit to a formal discipleship group. Since no pastor can afford to coast spiritually or relationally, rarely will one push back on the importance of discipleship. On the contrary, they’ll preach enthusiastically about making disciples.
OPINION: Four things a pastor is not
Admit it. You do not have enough time or energy to do everything that is expected of you. I’m in that same leaky boat. The good news is that we are not supposed to. Although our gifts and calling are irrevocable, they don’t make us invincible. What if we refused to be the solution to every problem in our church? Imagine defining ministry success by how our members succeed instead of how we succeed?
FIRST-PERSON: Four things a pastor is not
Admit it. You do not have enough time or energy to do everything that is expected of you. I’m in that same leaky boat. The good news is that we are not supposed to. Although our gifts and calling are irrevocable, they don’t make us invincible. What if we refused to be the solution to every problem in our church? Imagine defining ministry success by how our members succeed instead of how we succeed?
What Does It Take for Pastors to Stay in Ministry?
Resilient pastors fulfill their calling and finish their ministry well. Here are four marks of a pastor who’s on track to finish well. By Mark Dance For decades, sloppy statistics have set a false narrative that pastors are quitters. The good news is that the vast majority of pastors will finish their race and fulfill their call.
Five questions pastors should be asking
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... I want to help you address the important question every pastor should be asking right now: “How am I doing?” Your health and the health of your church are intrinsically connected, so please take this question seriously. Whether you are pastoring bi-vocationally, or full-time as I did for 27 years, the weight of a pastor’s call has grown heavier over the last several years. I would like to ask five questions to help you assess your personal condition. 1.
5 Ways to Mess Up a Sabbatical
Should you get the opportunity to take a sabbatical, learn from the mistakes of others. Here are five things not to do during your sabbatical. By Mark Dance I virtually blew my very first sabbatical. The stakes were high, because if I did it wrong, I was setting myself, as well as subsequent ministry staff, up for failure. If you’ve never had a sabbatical, you’re not alone or even in the minority. But please don’t give up on the idea prematurely.
FIRST-PERSON: Relationships pastors should prioritize
Early in my first pastorate, I was advised to avoid favoritism by treating all my church members exactly the same. It took me several years to root this ministry myth out of my system. Like any myth, there is a seed of truth within it. The dark side of favoritism is when injustice or prejudice stains a relationship. God’s children are forbidden to play favorites based on wealth, power or appearance (Exodus 23:3, James 2).
Is your heart too cluttered?
Editor’s note: The following is an excerpt from Mark Dance’s book, Start to Finish. Used with permission from the author. In Luke 8:14, Jesus said, “As for the seed that fell among thorns, these are the ones who, when they have heard, go on their way and are choked with worries, riches, and pleasures of life, and produce no mature fruit.” When God’s Word competes with our wills, it will expose a cluttered, selfish heart.
FIRST-PERSON: Pastors are parents, too
On March 9, 2016, an off-duty Jacksonville, Fla., police officer was taking his 14-year-old son to school when he decided to pull over a Cadillac that was driving erratically. The driver, Kevin Rojas, had just threatened his girlfriend with a gun and fired shots in their house before taking off in his car. Rojas immediately opened fire, hitting the officer in the head, upper body, and hand. Meanwhile, the officer’s brave son managed to call for help.
FIRST-PERSON: Pastors are parents, too
On March 9, 2016, an off-duty Jacksonville, Fla., police officer was taking his 14-year-old son to school when he decided to pull over a Cadillac that was driving erratically. The driver, Kevin Rojas, had just threatened his girlfriend with a gun and fired shots in their house before taking off in his car. Rojas immediately opened fire, hitting the officer in the head, upper body and hand. Meanwhile, the officer’s brave son managed to call for help.
4 common questions about pastors’ kids
On March 9, 2016, an off-duty Jacksonville, Fla., police officer was taking his 14-year-old son to school when he decided to pull over a Cadillac that was driving erratically. The driver, Kevin Rojas, had just threatened his girlfriend with a gun and fired shots in their house before taking off in his car. Rojas immediately opened fire, hitting the officer in the head, upper body, and hand. Meanwhile, the officer’s brave son managed to call for help.
5 Steps to Your First Sabbatical
If done well, a pastor’s sabbatical will glorify God as they come back eager to be a blessing to their family, church, and community. By Mark Dance According to Lifeway’s Greatest Needs of Pastors study, 45% of pastors say they struggle with consistently resting. Ministry fatigue is perhaps the most common struggle I hear pastors talking about. More pastors would experience a longer and healthier ministry if they consistently practiced both sabbath and sabbaticals.
Christians challenge law blocking some religious colleges from state-funded program
Metadata: Topic(s): Religious LibertyFormat(s): Text Articles Share this post: MINNEAPOLIS (BP) – Minnesota Christian parents are challenging a state law that blocks certain Christian colleges from a program that allows colleges to enroll high schoolers in tuition-free college credit courses.
FIRST-PERSON: Blessed to be a blessing
Metadata: Series: First PersonTopic(s): Theology & DoctrineFormat(s): Text Articles Share this post: This is a great time of year to be reminded of how generous our God is, as well as how generous His people should be. Here are a few things to remember about God’s blessings: God really does want to bless us Of the 36 recorded miracles of Jesus, the feeding of the 5,000 is the only one mentioned in all four gospels besides the resurrection.
Blessed to be a blessing
This is a great time of year to be reminded of how generous our God is, as well as how generous His people should be. Here are a few things to remember about God’s blessings: God really does want to bless us Of the 36 recorded miracles of Jesus, the feeding of the 5,000 is the only one mentioned in all four gospels besides the resurrection. Jesus blessed that crowd by feeding them literally and spiritually. Do you genuinely believe He wants to bless you today too?
4 Actions Now to Prepare for Your Future Retirement
What can you do to start dreaming about retiring instead of dreading it? Here are a few suggestions for you and your spouse to consider. By Mark Dance Why is “retiring” such a scary word for so many ministers? I’ve written before about preparing for retirement, proposing three reasons pastors avoid the subject: fear of boredom, obsolescence, and financial failure. Now, I want to revisit retirement through the lenses of our faith and God’s faithfulness.
3 reasons to take soul care seriously
Soul care is a very popular subject among pastors and their advocates, but what does it actually mean? The soul is often used as a synonym for the individual person and commonly translated as “life” (104 times) and “person” (38 times) in the Christian Standard Bible. Basically, soul care is self-care. So why should pastors and church leaders should take soul care seriously? 1. Soul care is a scriptural issue The most important reason to take soul care seriously is because God told us to.
4 Simple Ways To Honor Your Pastor
Scripture is crystal clear about the importance of honoring our pastors, yet the pastor is often the one left to initiate it. I have three decades of firsthand pastoral experience with this awkwardness since Focus on the Family initiated Pastor Appreciation Month in 1994. I am writing directly to church leaders to help you take full advantage of this opportunity to create a culture of double-honor in your church this month.
How can pastors take care of their mental health?
On this episode of the ERLC Podcast, we discuss how pastors can take care of their mental health while exploring the challenges they face and how it impacts their ability to help others. Pastoring and shepherding a church comes with both rewards and challenges. A recent Lifeway Research study shows that stress, discouragement, and loneliness are listed among the top mental challenges for pastors.
The 3 Cs of casting a compelling vision
Does your ministry vision rob you of sleep? Quicken your pulse? Change your community and world? Why is vision so important for a pastor and a church? Vision determines your direction and prioritizes your limited time and resources. Let’s explore what can make a vision so compelling that it will inspire and mobilize your church members. It must be a CONVICTION Your vision will only burn as bright as you do. When this passion comes from deep within you, people will sense it and follow it.
The top two priorities of every Pastor
Baptist Press By , posted August 7, 2024 Sheep will let you lead them if you first love and feed them. This lesson is crucial for task-oriented pastors like me. This was Peter’s blind spot also, which is why his post-resurrection restoration was such a pivotal moment in his life and ministry. In Jesus’ third and last interaction with His disciples after the resurrection, they grilled out for breakfast.
The top two priorities of every pastor
Sheep will let you lead them if you first love and feed them. This lesson is crucial for task-oriented pastors like me. This was Peter’s blind spot also, which is why his post-resurrection restoration was such a pivotal moment in his life and ministry. In Jesus’ third and last interaction with His disciples after the resurrection, they grilled out for breakfast.
Your Voice: 4 reasons to enjoy the gift of Sabbath
By Mark Dance Baptist and Reflector Are you ready to abandon the illusion that you are indestructible and indispensable? Ready to obey the command, receive the gift, work the plan and love the Person who is calling you to rest in Him? My interest in the Sabbath came from a painful experience. In the excitement of a season of church growth, I neglected my spiritual well-being by routinely neglecting the Sabbath. My physical, mental, emotional and spiritual gas tanks became empty.
5 Ways to Put Your House in Order
Abraham put his house in order before he died. And his example inspired me and my wife to create a checklist to help our parents finish well. By Mark Dance We may not have much control over when we leave this planet, but we do have a say in how we leave and its impact on our families. Notably, Abraham did a great job putting his house in order before he died. His example inspired me and my wife Janet to create a checklist to help our parents finish well.
Calling a ministry time-out
Ijust talked to a highly effective yet exhausted pastor who was looking for some ministry coaching on keeping a sustainable schedule. This particular conversation happened to be on the same day I read Mark 6, a passage which finds Jesus and His apostles depleted after the funeral of John the Baptist: “His disciples … came and removed his corpse and placed it in a tomb. The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to Him all that they had done and taught.
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