Tag Archives: Clint Cook

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April 10, 2014

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Executive Office, Pastoring

Anticipating Easter: Two Principles for Success

By Clint Cook

Easter is an important day for Christians

Easter is such an amazing day of miracles! Of course there’s the obvious miracle of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  We cannot forget, however, a second amazing miracle: God will wake people up that Sunday morning in all of our communities, and send them to our churches!  The gospel will be preached and lives will forever be changed.  Many may not return the next Sunday, but at least they will hear the gospel on Easter!

Through the years I have learned a few things that I can do as a pastor to increase the percentage of returning visitors.  They have become principles that I cannot overlook!  Bottoms line: the more times guests return, the more likely doubt will melt away and a new belief in Jesus emerge.

The first principle is that I launch a new sermon series on Easter.  To be quite honest, I used to think I was supposed to end a series with a final, passionate message on Easter.  The problem with ending a series on Easter is that first-time guests feel as if they have missed a great series so there is no need to come back the following Sunday.  However, if I launch a new series on Easter and invite everyone to come back to hear the rest of the series, many will return!

The second principle is the placement of a communication card in every bulletin or program give to attendees.  The communication card provides a way for each attendee to share contact information: name, address, email address, and phone number.  Now armed with this information, the church leadership can pray more specifically for each guest.  We also mail a piece of church information to our guests with an invitation to come again.  Some guests will not return, but many of these God-sent first-time guests will return, resulting in many coming to faith in Jesus Christ!

Easter is the greatest Sunday of the year!  Not only for those who already know the resurrection power of our Risen Savior, but also for those who will be our future brothers and sisters!  I wait with great anticipation to hear about the miracles that will occur in our churches this Easter!

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April 2, 2014

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Christian Life, Congregrational Ministries, Executive Office, International Missions, National Missions

The Future is Bright

By Clint Cook, Executive Director

What exciting days these are for General Baptists!  As I read report after report from our churches and mission fields, I can do nothing but give praise to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!  I can recall no other time in General Baptist history when lives have been change through Christ at such a staggering pace.

the future is bright for church plants

Week after week our churches are witnessing lives changed by the gospel, baptisms performed in obedience to the Scripture, and discipleship deepened through study of the Word.

How proud every General Baptist should be to know that more people are participating in church planting and internationalThe future is bright for new believers all over the world mission work than ever before.  Our MVP ministry teams meet physical and spiritual needs of people in places like Honduras, Mexico, and Jamaica on short-term mission trips.  Our church planters stamp their communities with the name of Christ in exponential proportions.  Our international missionaries expand their spheres of influence by recruiting and mentoring local pastors, supporting community churches, and inserting Jesus Christ into their local cultures through the teaching and training of nationals.

How exhilarating it is to see how God uses the Summit and Next Level Coaching to empower pastors and church leaders.  As they tailor these instructions and resources to their churches and communities, they give more and more people the opportunity to hear and accept Jesus Christ as their Savior.  And let’s not forget about the number of young adults who are participating in General Baptist conferences throughout the year, either at the National Youth Conference or the Generation Next Conference!

Yes, the future is bright for General Baptists and how thankful I am that I’m a partner in this incredible time with you, accomplishing more together than we can do alone.