It’s amazing to see the impact you can have at your church this Sunday if you simply open your eyes to needs around you. Leshay came to Mt Vernon several months ago looking for acceptance and a family to belong to. Because normal, everyday church members went out of their way to make her feel welcome, we’re blessed to now have Leshay as a part of our church family. Watch this video and see who you God puts in your... Read more
This past Sunday at church I met several new families at Mt Vernon Church, but I was able to make a huge impression on two of them. How? I knew their names. The small thing a pastor can do to make a huge impression is know somebody’s name before he even meets them. How is this possible? Take my situation for example. On the first family, they walked in the doors just as the early service was about to start.... Read more
I had a frustrating conversation with a fellow pastor the other day. Not frustrating because of him, but because of the politics and dynamics in his church keeping progress from happening. I see it too often in Baptist churches in the South: churches want to grow and reach young families, and they say they’re willing to change, but there are a few golden calves (Exodus 32) they’re unwilling to part with. So they bring in a new pastor, demand progress,... Read more
We’ve all experienced it before: the overwhelming panic that covers you like a blanket when you realize the person stepping up to the podium in church to sing a “special” is about to inflict a form of auditory torture outlawed by the Geneva Convention. Three notes into the song, your worst fears are confirmed: she can’t sing. Absent a power outage or the Rapture, you’re about to endure four and a half minutes of off-key banshee-like chaos that would make even... Read more
Yesterday was a balmy day in Mississippi. Mid-70s, t-shirts and shorts weather, all the kids playing outside. Life was how it should be. This morning the weather is in the low 30s with strong wind gusts that make it feel even colder. We’re having weather whiplash down here. It’s amazing how much our mood can tend to follow the weather. Yesterday was optimistic, today is pessimistic. Yesterday was beautiful, today is dreary. Too often, our attitudes ride the roller coaster... Read more
Things are always changing at Mt Vernon. One of the major changes we made in the past month was replacing our information desk with a Next Steps desk. We didn’t just keep the same desk but change the signs. We actually turned the old information desk into a coffee bar and built a Next Steps desk from scratch. Why? 1. We’re not an event driven church, so an information desk was useless. Every church seems to have an information desk,... Read more
My heart is broken the fourth Monday of every month at 1 pm. It’s like clockwork. If you want to have your heart broken in ministry, here’s a guaranteed way: work with people suffering from addictions. Mt Vernon Church is privileged to have a partnership with Recovery House, an in treatment facility assisting ladies dealing with drug and alcohol issues. During the first 90 days, the ladies come to Mt Vernon every week for Sunday services. We get to know... Read more
Yesterday at Mt Vernon we finished a series on temptation called “The Fight of Your Life.” Pulling from Jesus’ temptations in the wilderness, here are four BIG Ideas we learned over the series. Week #1 – When you’re tempted, there’s always more at stake than you think. We delude ourselves into thinking that temptation is just about the moment. It’s just one decision, one text, one drink, one weekend. But there’s always more at stake than we think. Looking back... Read more
This couple isn’t supposed to be at our church. One grew up Church of Christ, the other grew up in a traditional Baptist denomination. Both very conservative churches. Mt Vernon is about as contemporary and non-traditional as you can get. This couple isn’t supposed to be here, but they are, and this is their home now. Why? All because of a handshake. When this couple first moved to town, they naturally tried out a local church of their denomination. Eager... Read more
We ruined church for someone, and we’re excited about it. A few days ago I received a message from an Air Force family that was at Mt Vernon while they were stationed here, but a year ago moved to another part of the United States. Here’s their message: Just thought we would let you know that because Mt Vernon set the standard of how a church family should be we think every church here stinks! We still have smiles on... Read more
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