Tony interviewed Virgil Stokes, Founding Pastor of Faith Christian Fellowship in Tucson, about the pastoral transition that he and his long-time associate, John Smith, went through this past February. Both Virgil and John share great insights and wisdom about how they prepared their church and leadership team for the transition, and how they made it work.

Timely Words by Tony Cooke

A Story of Pastoral Transition

Rev. Cooke recently had the privilege of ministering at Rhema Bible Church in Broken Arrow, OK. In the evening service he shared an important message on how our relationship with people affects our relationship with God.

Loving God, Loving People

I recently had the privilege of teaching at Rhema Bible Church, where I served on staff with Pastor Kenneth and Lynette Hagin for more than eighteen years. I shared a message on resurrection life from my book, Lift: Experiencing the Elevated Life.

Experiencing Resurrection Life Today

Mark and his wife, Amy, pastor Life Church in Boise, ID. Tony was recently with them for a Wednesday evening service and for two evenings of their Bible School classes. Tony was so impressed with the vibrancy and dynamic nature of what he saw, that he interviewed Mark about their strategies and approach to doing church.

What's Making the Church in Boise Work?

The book, Life After Death – Rediscovering Life After the Loss of a Loved One, has brought help and comfort to thousands of readers. Not only has this book encouraged those grieving the loss of a loved one, but it has also helped believers recognize their own glorious destiny and to stand in awe of the heaven that awaits us. In this 3-part audio series, the author reads three of the most powerful chapters: Freedom from the Fear of Death Heaven: The Believer’s Hope Scriptures of Comfort and Strength For this episode, you'll be listening to Heaven: The Believer’s Hope. As you listen to the reading of these chapters, we believe that the comfort of the Holy Spirit will touch your life, your faith will grow, and your hope will abound.

Heaven: The Believer’s Hope

The book, Life After Death – Rediscovering Life After the Loss of a Loved One, has brought help and comfort to thousands of readers. Not only has this book encouraged those grieving the loss of a loved one, but it has also helped believers recognize their own glorious destiny and to stand in awe of the heaven that awaits us. In this 3-part audio series, the author reads three of the most powerful chapters: Freedom from the Fear of Death Heaven: The Believer’s Hope Scriptures of Comfort and Strength For this episode, you'll be listening to Freedom from the Fear of Death. As you listen to the reading of these chapters, we believe that the comfort of the Holy Spirit will touch your life, your faith will grow, and your hope will abound.

Freedom from the Fear of Death

Are pastors preparing for or ready for retirement financially? Indications are that most are not. This audio interview is a “must-listen” for pastors of all ages as well as church board members. How can churches and pastors prepare for the pastor’s retirement, and what can be done if adequate preparation has not occurred?

The Big-T (Transition)

If a bridge is out, and someone puts up a sign informing me of that, is that a negative thing? Does a person really love me if they see me heading toward catastrophe and neglects to warn me? Jesus said more about hell than any other person in the Bible, and yet he was (and is) the greatest expression of love ever known or revealed to man.

A Duty to Warn?

When John Wooden coached men’s basketball at UCLA (he led the team to ten national championships), he was a stickler for details, and he was a very strong proponent of teamwork. He even taught his players the precise way to put on their socks and to tie their shoes to help prevent the formation of blisters. Wooden insisted that this would help keep the players healthy and on the court. Even when it came to putting on their socks and tying their shoes, Wooden was essentially saying, “We don’t do it that way; we do it this way.” One year, his star center, Bill Walton, decided that he did not want to observe Coach Wooden’s guidelines regarding hair. “You don’t have the right to tell me I have to wear my hair shorter and not have facial hair,” Walton told him. Coach Wooden responded, “You’re correct, Bill, I don’t have that right. I just have the right to determine who’s going to play. We’re going to miss you, Bill.” Walton immediately got a hair cut, shaved, and came directly back to practice. Today, many would consider John Wooden old-fashioned and out of date, but he believed that the game was bigger than any one player, and he believed that each player represented more than just himself. Read this article by Tony Cooke

Six Times Jesus Coached His Team

In recent months, there has been an absolute explosion of allegations of sexual harassment and improper sexual conduct in the government, in media, and entertainment industries. What are we to make of all this? Two seasoned professional Christian counselors weigh in about what is happening in society at large, and what Christian leaders need to know to promote godly and ethical standards of conduct. Listen to the interview.

Sex, Power, and Abuse

I recently had the privilege of sitting down and visiting with Grady and Becky Pickett who reside in Irbil, Iraq. The work they are doing helping Syrian refugees and other people displaced by the war there is nothing short of amazing! You will enjoy hearing how they are serving, helping, and caring for people there.

Interview with Grady and Becky Pickett, Workers in Iraq

Tony recently had the privilege of sitting down with Rick Renner, Bible teacher and pastor of Good News Church in Moscow, Russia, to discuss the current spiritual climate of the Church. In addition, they discussed how various aspects of a person’s culture can affect the way they hear and process Scripture.

hubhopper

Timely Words by Tony Cooke

hubhopper