by Garris Elkins | May 8, 2013 | Church, Future, Kingdom of God, Leadership, Teaching, Transition, Trust
A couple of years ago, Jerry Cook came and spoke at our church. Jerry is one of my ministry heroes. For the last 30-plus years he has been a mentoring presence in my life through his writing and teaching. He has also functioned in this mentoring role to...
by Garris Elkins | Apr 2, 2013 | Church, Identity, Kingdom of God, Leadership, Revival, Transition
Twenty years ago, I sat in a large convention center with several thousand pastors. We were attending a denominational conference. One of the scheduled speakers had to cancel at the last moment and Roger Whitlow, a pastor of a large and impacting church in...
by Garris Elkins | Feb 13, 2013 | Apostle, Church, Faith, Hope, Kingdom of God, Leadership, Teaching, Transition, Trust
As a young pastor I listened a lot. I listened to the many voices of leaders who went before me. There were times in those early years when I would ask a simple question and receive a profound answer. In my first year of pastoring I asked Jerry Cook...
by Garris Elkins | Feb 5, 2013 | Church, Hope, Leadership, Ministry, Teaching, Transition
We have a tendency to think a person who has become a legend is stronger and more capable than the offspring of the legend themselves. If some of our legends were alive today they would challenge that way of thinking. In 1967, I was a junior in high school...
by Garris Elkins | Jan 29, 2013 | Church, Faith, Family, Kingdom of God, Leadership, Transition
My pastoral transition will take place in my 65th year. I have been learning a lot about myself in this new season. As Jan and I prepare to hand the leadership of our church over to Ryan and Kate Rhoden, Ryan and I have been having wonderful conversations...
by Garris Elkins | Jan 27, 2013 | Church, Faith, Holy Spirit, Leadership, Prayer, Revelation
My weekends are important times for me. This is the time each week the church gathers and when I teach. I take it seriously. I always want to be fresh for Sunday morning so I can give my best to God and his people. As the weekend rolls around I try...
