Pastoral Leadership Archives - Louisiana Baptists

Show Some Love to Your Pastor

Ray Swift — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 16:58:48 +0000

I grew up in a pastors home, have served as a pastor for 37 years and now have the joy of leading, listening, loving and lifting up Louisiana Baptist pastors and minsters. Pastors have, they are now and always will be my heroes.

IN OUR WORLD today we have a struggling economy, an ongoing pandemic, sexual identity crisis, defunding and overfunding, religious freedom threats, churches vandalized, protest and boycotts. IN THE CHURCH today we have pastor-less churches, power struggles, budget crisis, buildings needing repairs and overhead cost skyrocketing.

Dig Deeper: Pastors trail other Christians in relational flourishing and many say their ministry challenges their marriages and families.

“Pastors average 67 compared to other Christians’ 85 on a flourishing scale of 1-100 in relationships, and only 28 percent of pastors actively seek help in the area. This means that many congregants in U.S. churches are likely experiencing a greater sense of friendship and community than the pastors leading them.” Baptist Press, State of the Church by George Barna.

Pastors are hurting, pastors are lonely, pastors are depressed, pastors are under stress, pastors are overworked and underpaid, pastors need vacations, pastors need friends, and pastors need loving and supporting church members.

Pastors are heroes.

I’m sure I don’t have to convince you of that truth but I do want to motivate you to express your appreciation for your pastor during the month of October. Every day and every month a church should express their love and appreciation but October has been declared the time to really celebrate them.

We have prepared a list of ways you can express your appreciation. Several of them can be expressed in monetary ways but there are many spiritual ways as well. I pray that always, but especially throughout the month of October you will find many ways, individually and as a church to express your appreciation to your pastor and continue to make him your hero as well.

A Few Ways to Bless your Pastoral and Ministry Staff

Set aside a brief time in the October worship service(s) to pray publicly for them.
Organize a daily prayer partner(s) to pray for them every day in October.
Bless them with a special love gift from the congregation.
Present them with some time away with all expenses paid by the church.
Write notes/cards to express your appreciation and honor for their ministry.
Present them with a basket of gift cards to local restaurants.
Make a tangible special gift: mow the yard, clean the house, wash the car.

Additionally, download the resources below created specifically to bless our pastors through social media posts during the month of October. A sample of the images, as well as links for download are below.

Download Facebook Images

Download Instagram Images

New Testament Deacon Training

Ray Swift — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 19:26:32 +0000

The genesis of the ministry of deacons starts with a storm (complaint) ((distraction)) in the church that was beginning to cause the pastoral leadership to “give up or stop preaching the Word and deal with a secondary issue in the church.” The actual complaint in Acts 6:1 was because of a specific group of women were being overlooked or ignored, so they needed someone to pay closer attention to them and to be ministered to.

This complaint in the early church had the potential and the power to bring division and to do harm but ultimately, it’s greatest threat was to paralyze or to limit the leaders and the effectiveness of the Jerusalem church.

So, through the guiding of the Holy Spirit seven men of a certain quality were chosen and assigned to this storm. These seven men had the responsibility in the early church of being servants. Which communicates more about the ministry of the church and not the position in the church. It communicates more about the service and not the title. More about the character and not the class.

You may not be facing the exact neglect of one particular group of people in your church today, but I promise you may have some form of a storm and therefore someone needs to be ministering in that crisis. These dedicated men in the book of Acts were called to do service/ministry in their church.

Throughout the year, the Pastoral Ministry Department will hold another New Testament Deacon training. This training will be for any current deacon or for a man who is interested in finding out more about being a deacon. Men are encouraged to bring their pastor as well.

Learn More and Register

The New Testament Deacon training will be led by Ray Swift, Director of the Pastoral Ministry Department and is absolutely free.

The Perplexing Problem for Many Pastors

Ray Swift — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 16:50:04 +0000

I was blessed to be raised by godly parents who faithfully served the Lord in several different churches with many different styles and sizes. Even though my father passed away in 2023, he is still my hero in many ways.

Being under his leadership both in the home and in the church, I was able to observe “life” with a different perspective. Never once did I question his love for his family and his church, and never once did I ever question his loyalty to his family and his church.

I have been in the ministry now since 1992 and have filled almost every ministry position in the church. Whether that period was long or short, the point I am making in this article is about the perplexing problem for many pastors (all staff members really).

It’s amazing how we can feel sometimes even when we are always around people — and still feel lonely at times. That we feel as if we know things about people, but we really don’t know people and they don’t know us. This perplexing problem can grow on a pastor, and if not properly dealt with can lead to many other problems.

Loneliness – the perplexing problem for pastors is confusing, baffling and puzzling. I don’t want this to be about psychology, but how can one feel so isolated when at the same time they spend much time in small and large groups? I don’t intend to fully answer and solve that problem here, but I do want to offer some practical methods that all pastors should exercise.

Don’t Miss Your Time Reading and Praying – this may seem like the all-time go-to answer, but it applies here as well. When you feel lonely or isolated, open God’s Word and begin to read and mediate upon what you read. Talk to God through prayer, but most of all listen to God. Listen to Him through His Word, and listen to Him through prayer.

Don’t Substitute Digital Friendships for Physical Friendships – it’s great that we can keep up with friends and happenings all around the world. The internet and social media have made all these good things possible. But none of those relationships can look you eye to eye and heart to heart when you are experiencing loneliness. Only those who are present with us in the flesh are able to see our expressions and hear our feelings.

Devote Yourself To Others – being in the ministry requires the pastor to be friends with all in his congregation. There are always those who are easier to love and others who require more grace to love. However, there are a few that we should devote ourselves to in deep relationships. Make yourself vulnerable and trust those around you who love and trust you.

Dedicate to Make a Phone Call or Send A Text and Ask for Prayer – one of the great joys I have about the technology I use is being able to respond via the phone or through text to pray for a pastor. My office contact information is below – if you feel lonely and need a friend I’m here. If you are confused about the perplexing problem of a pastor’s loneliness – I’m here for you today and always.

Caring Well Sunday

Ray Swift — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 15:26:38 +0000

The Word of God proclaims from Psalm 82:3-4, “Provide justice for the needy and the fatherless; uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute. Rescue the poor and needy; save them from the power of the wicked.”

Sunday, September 29^th has been designated as CARING WELL SUNDAY in the Southern Baptist Convention. It is a planned and resourced day to acknowledge that there are individuals in our churches who have unfortunate experience from some past and present abuse, and for the church to step up and offer God’s healing. Statistics say one in three women and one in four men have been sexually abused.

As we approach CARING WELL SUNDAY, this is a good opportunity to pray for those affected by abuse in our churches and ask God for His protection moving forward. It’s also a good time to examine your own policies and procedures. View abuse-related resources here.

Louisiana Baptists have provided a page on our website dedicated to resources and links for biblical justice, checklist, Louisiana laws, reporting agencies, protection methods and much more. In addition, the Essentials booklet is made available here.

The ERLC has created bulletin inserts for this Sunday, that can be downloaded here.

One of the things that every church can do is to pray for victims of abuse, for protection in their congregation and for God’s love to be poured out in abundance to those who have or continue to experience abuse.

Perhaps a prayer like this could be offered in a small group or in the church worship service.

Eternal and loving Father, we thank you that you are a just and merciful God. Today we plead that justice and mercy to fall upon our church for sexual abuse victims. We pray that abuse will stop and be eradicated among those who are walking in that dark valley. We pray that You will be near to every one of them to bring them comfort and peace. Father, we pray that your foundation of righteousness and justice will be established in this church and for your faithful love and truth to go before us. We pray this all in the mighty and powerful name of Jesus, Amen.”

Church Security

Ray Swift — Mon, 12 Aug 2024 15:49:28 +0000

Let’s Keep Our Churches Safe

Church security is likened to an iceberg. You usually only see about 10-15% of an iceberg, the rest is below the surface. But what remains below is massive. 85-90% is concealed below and cannot be fully seen.

I like this analogy a lot because an efficient church security program has just enough visibility to help prevent and deter unsafe things from happening. However, what is not seen is what can make the real difference and help prevent a church from having a very dangerous situation. Here are a few pointers that I have discovered over the years about church security.

Getting Started with Church Security

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING: unfortunately there is not a shortage of church security training. Articles and blogs (including this one) are all over the internet. Live training, video training and social media reels are available as well. Much of these are good and should be attended but I would also encourage live training with a professional trainer on site at your own church. Every church will be unique in what security implementation is necessary.

FRIENDLY PEOPLE: trained and overly friendly greeters can be the front line for church security. Greeters can be stationed in the parking lots, at all exit doors and at all worship center doors. Their friendliness can help identify any ravaging wolf that is dressed up like a gentle sheep.

MONITORED CAMERAS: video surveillance cameras placed in strategic places around the church that are monitored by individuals is much of the 90% of the iceberg protection. Cameras at all entrance/exit doors of the building(s), main hallways and the doors into the worship center are key places to install a high-grade camera that is monitored in a closed room.

QUICK RESPONSE TEAM: individuals who have been endorsed by the church leadership based on their credentials and who have received the proper training by professionals. Men and women who are a licensed conceal carrier and have received proper training for crowd security. Some of these should also be trained in critical medical response.

SCHEDULED SCENARIOS: this is an excellent way to prepare the security team for as near as possible a situation. People react different when under pressure.

FERVENT PRAYER: Church security should never rest, it should never take a break. Neither should our prayers. We should always be in prayer asking our Heavenly Father to protect our churches and to make them safe.

No church can be 100% safe, but these components can be implemented that will help every church regardless of size and location. Not every church will avoid every threatening situation, but for many, these components will help make a huge difference in church members continuing to attend and enjoy the teaching and worship experience.

For more information, visit our Church Administration page or contact Ray.Swift@LouisianaBaptists.org.

Four Things a Pastor Should Avoid Saying Publicly

Ray Swift — Fri, 23 Feb 2024 16:27:59 +0000

We all develop and grow over time. So I am not advocating that I always say the right words at the right time when I am speaking. Mercy, I have and will continue to make plenty of blunders as long as the Lord gives me opportunity to keep speaking. However, there are some phrases that a pastor should avoid saying when called upon to speak.

I hope you will accept with a small touch of humor this advice below. Avoiding these phrases will keep you from speaking randomly, keep you from embarrassing yourself, and most of all keep you from tainting the very precious and powerful Word of God.

I Don’t Have Any Notes Written Down…

Wait a minute. You knew that another Sunday was coming and you didn’t need to prepare any notes. Only a few men have that gift, but I would say 98% of us need to have some notes to follow when we preach a fresh Word from the Bible. Some may choose the full manuscript, some may use a full outline, and still some may use an abbreviated outline. Whatever method you are comfortable with using use it but don’t admit that you didn’t write down any notes to share. Don’t go into the pulpit without diligent preparation, your Bible, and some notes in hand.

I Only Had A Short Notice To Prepare…

If you begin your teaching lesson with these words you might as well just tear up your notes and close in prayer. Just as soon as you say something like this, you will lose your audience. Maybe you didn’t have as much time as you like to prepare, but you don’t have to announce that to your listeners. Instead, spend the time you have been given adequately preparing and trust God to honor your obedience and preparation and do the rest.

This Is my First Time To Do This…

Or it might be “I’m out of my comfort zone.” Well, if you made an authentic “yes” to the request, you will do just fine when you trust God to help you. Sometimes we are all called on to speak at different places and events where we have never spoken before. However, these words will turn your audience away quicker than you may imagine. No, you don’t need to jump in there and pretend you are someone you are not. Just be obedient and do your best as if this may be the only time you are given the opportunity.

I Will Probably Not Say Anything You Haven’t Heard Before…

As if your audience has heard everything from the Bible. Unless you are preaching the same message every week to the same people, this is impossible. Again, if you introduce your topic in that manner, you will automatically lose your audience. God’s Word is powerful, effective, sufficient, and relevant. If you have studied and prepared to say what the Lord gives you – you will say all and everything that every person needs to hear at that time. Never discount God’s Word spoken at the right time for the right reason. God’s Word is fresh every time we speak it.

I am thankful every time the Lord allows me to speak somewhere. As nervous and apprehensive as I may be sometimes, I am also thankful that I have the Holy Spirit guiding me and preparing the listeners to hear what God has placed on my heart and for them to hear what they need to hear.

Shepherd’s Rest

Ray Swift — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 15:06:29 +0000

The years 2019 and 2020 will be forever infamous in all our minds. We all are aware of the impacts those years had on medical and government personnel, businesses, schools, and churches. Those impacts continue into the present as well. So much so that studies have already been conducted to measure the impacts.

One such study reveals both the positive and the negative. Three years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, churches have fewer people in the pews, more money in the collection plate and less conflict than they had in 2020. Despite their struggles, many congregations are optimistic about the future. Clergy dissatisfaction, on the other hand, remains on the rise (Baptists Press, September 7, 2023).

In Louisiana, whether it’s a pandemic, an ice storm, a tornado, a hurricane, or sometimes a church member, challenges and conflicts are going to come to every pastor and every church. For these reasons, many years ago the Pastoral Leadership team became proactive in providing the Shepherd’s Rest Sabbatical ministry.

When a church agrees to participate in Shepherd’s Rest, supply preachers will be provided at no cost to the church for up to four consecutive weeks. Other guidelines are needed that as well will help the pastor and his church plan the sabbatical.

The Pastoral Leadership team is also able to provide resources to help pastors take a sabbatical. The most important aspect of a ministry sabbatical is not choosing a place to go, but acknowledging what needs to be done while taking the time away from the church.

The sabbatical should be specifically planned to help the pastor review his past, refresh in the present, and renew himself for the future. It should be time alone with God and with spouse with no distractions or interruptions from the church.

The pastor should choose a topic of interest that he may explore during his sabbatical. Selecting several books to read, allowing for good rest, and some recreation is also encouraged for a ministry sabbatical.

More information is available here. You may also contact Pastoral Leadership Director Ray Swift at ray.swift@louisianabaptists.org or calling 318.449.4291

Shepherd’s Rest is funded by offerings given through the Cooperative Program for any Louisiana Baptist tenured pastor.

The New Testament Deacon

Ray Swift — Mon, 13 Feb 2023 15:52:09 +0000

A Deacon Ministry that Works

Belief/Purpose/Practice for a New Testament Deacon
Acts 6:1-7; I Timothy 3:8-13; Philippians 1:1

The genesis for the ministry of deacons starts with a complaint in the church that was beginning to cause the pastoral leadership to “give up or stop preaching the Word and deal with a secondary issue in the church.” This complaint had the potential and the power to bring division and to do harm but ultimately, its greatest threat was to paralyze or to limit the leaders and the effectiveness of the Jerusalem church.

Through the guiding of the Holy Spirit seven men of a certain quality were chosen and assigned to this ministry. These seven men, though not titled or called Deacons, had the responsibility in the early church of being servants. These dedicated men in the book of Acts were called to do service and ministry in their church just like many of you dedicated men have or may be called to do service and ministry in your churches.

Ministry Reasons for New Testament Deacons

To help the Pastor be the Pastor
To be promoters of church unity
To provide ministry to the welfare of the church family
To be a witness for Christ
To be leaders by example
1. Lead by example with your attendance
2. Lead by example with your ministry & missions involvement
3. Lead by example with your tithing and giving
4. Lead by example with your attitude

These seven men were selected, and the ministry of the New Testament Deacon began so that the church could continue in stronger ways to be an effective witness to the lost.

Character and Qualifications of the New Testament Deacon

Acts 6:1-7; I Timothy 3:8-13

Advance your life with high respect (3:8). Under the umbrella of church and community respect there are three negative statements. (3:8)
1. Not hypocritical
2. Not drinking a lot of wine
3. Not greedy for money
Advance the gospel with consistency and with sincerity (3:9)
Advance the unity of the body of Christ. “When a man becomes a deacon – selected and called by the Holy Spirit chosen by a church, dedicated by personal choice – he forfeits the right to promote, in any fashion, a division in the life of the church.” The Baptist Deacon, Robert Naylor, pg. 11.
Advance the harmony in the Home (3:10-12)
1. Men who have been tested?
2. Wives: worthy of respect, not slanderers, self-controlled, faithful in everything
3. Husband of one wife
4. Managing their own households competently
Advance the reward of the Deacon (3:13)
- Acquire a good standing for themselves
- Great boldness in the faith

Six Practical Ways to Minister to the Members

Call, text, or email — church members, prospects and guests, widows, shut ins.
Care – be genuine in your ministry in all areas of caring for people.
Encourage – everyone needs encouragement, and everyone can be an encourager (Truett Cathy).
Mentor – select a younger person who may become a candidate for deacon, teacher, ministry.
Write – personal message written on stationary; people still like to receive good mail.
Visit – no phone call or card can replace the ministry of a genuine visit. (Birthday, death of spouse)

I’m So Glad You Called

Ray Swift — Wed, 03 Aug 2022 15:15:54 +0000

It happened again. My cell phone rang and when I saw the number and name, well honestly I had mixed feelings about answering it. At first I told myself that I would “ignore it and call them back when I wasn’t busy.” Then, well then that still small voice of the Holy Spirit told me to answer it. I did, and I’m so glad I answered.

The voice was very familiar and the conversation was actually fairly short. He didn’t need anything, he wasn’t critical of something I had or had not done, he wasn’t complaining about his church or the denomination. It was just like Proverbs 25:11, “A word spoken at the right time is like gold apples in silver settings.”

When he shared words of life and encouragement I ended the brief conversation with, “I’m so glad you called today.” This story may prompt you even now to do the same for someone in your contact list. Short, encouraging and uplifting – perhaps you too will hear those same beautiful words.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 teaches that “there is an occasion for everything, and a time for every activity under heaven.” Might I be so bold to say, including phone calls.

The truth is many of us live such busy lives that often we mistake a short phone call like this only to be a distraction. Or it’s somebody that is going to interrupt our “schedule” and we will have to endure the conversation. I’m sorry if I have given that impression to anyone that has attempted to call me and I was not available.

Oh but here’s the real stinger. I have been pondering my “phone calls” from God. Busy working and the Lord speaks His complete purpose and will into my life at that moment – and I was not listening, I was not available, I ignored the Holy Spirit prompting my response and obedience.

The terminology may not be correct but the theology is spot on! When God calls I should always be available. There should be no clearer and more recognizable voice than the voice of my Lord. I should always be listening, I should always be attentive, I should always be expecting the voice of God to call and speak His truth and way into my daily life. (John 10:27)

“Lord, I pray today that my eyes will always be attentive to your call, my ears to always welcome your voice and my heart to always remain pure that I may know your good and perfect will in my life.”

May it always be so, “Lord, I’m so glad you called!”

Next Level Worship

Ray Swift — Tue, 08 Mar 2022 17:51:25 +0000

Author: Dr. Herb Armentrout, Worship Pastor, Celebration Worship (Orchestra & Choir), Broadmoor Baptist Church, Shreveport, LA.

As our music ministries begin to re-engage, opportunities to share the love of Christ through music outside the church become more available…let’s consider the purpose and merits in taking worship to the next level.

Based on the commandment in Matthew 28:18-20, we are called to marshal all our resources to share Christ with a dying world. We cannot sit in our churches with folded arms and blinders while people around us are going to hell. God has gifted us not only to make music for our corporate worship gatherings but also to sing and play His praise everywhere.

Please allow me to share some basics with you as we contemplate God’s clear call to share His love.

First, worship leaders should be soul winners. We should be praying with waiters and waitresses, explaining the Gospel to our golf buddies, and offering Bible studies for the parents of the kids on our kids’ soccer teams. God has given each of us a mission field and we must be faithful stewards of the Gospel every day, in every way, as we are directed and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Second, we should encourage and equip the people on our music ministry teams to share their faith. In our church, every year, we choose a different plan for sharing the Gospel and use it among all our music groups. We learn and review this plan in rehearsals, especially prior to mission trips. We role play to be able to share our testimony in 90 seconds and practice sharing the Gospel in groups of two. These regular revisitations of sharing our faith reminds people we must be about the good work all the time.

Third, we need to go! There are many places in your community which will allow a musical group to sing or play a mini concert. Our Worship Choir and Orchestra annually go on a five-prison concert tour, but because we were unable to go in person this year, we are working on producing a Mission Concert DVD which will be sent to an even larger number of prisons in Southeast Texas and South Louisiana. Prior to COVID our groups regularly sang in city parks, addiction treatment facilities, rescue missions, prisons, hospitals, retirement homes, residential special needs facilities, and performed flash mobs in restaurants. Some of these places are now beginning to reopen to guests and provide excellent opportunities to share your music, your message, and your mission.

As we watch our culture continue to drift away from Christ, we should all sense an urgency regarding our responsibility to be on mission for Christ, and whether your music ministry is two singers and a guitar player, or a full choir and orchestra, there are places and ways to share the love of Christ through music.

Pray God will show you both.