Hometown Hope Ministries

Many pastors sense that something is deeply wrong but struggle to name it or know what to do next. Recent national data confirms this unease is not imagined. This is not a call to panic, but a call to clarity.

Every so often, the news confronts us with stories that feel almost unreal. Crimes so shocking that our first reaction is disbelief. That has happened this week. Headlines have told of parents killed by their own children—acts that defy our most basic understanding of love, family, and human instinct. We are left asking, "How could this happen?" And perhaps more quietly, "What is going wrong in our world?"

There is a kind of suffering that rarely gets spoken of in Independent Baptist circles. It is not the suffering of persecution from the world. It is not the suffering that comes from doctrinal compromise or moral collapse. It is the quiet suffering inflicted by the brethren from within — This is not "friendly fire" done by accident. It is intentional! What we shall discuss today is the suffering of being: marginalized, blacklisted, rejected, ignored, talked about instead

Every generation of pastors faces a unique temptation. In ours, the danger is not persecution, doctrinal confusion, or governmental pressure—though each exists. Our greatest threat may well be the quiet seduction of Franchise Faith: a ministry philosophy that treats the local church less like a flock under the care of a shepherd, and more like a brand to expand, a movement to promote, or a product to replicate.

very pastor knows what it feels like to carry the weight of the ministry alone. The phone rings late at night, the burdens never quite lift, and Sunday seems to arrive faster every week. Many shepherds quietly struggle, not from lack of calling, but from a lack of encouragement. And sometimes the circumstances and lack of connections drive pastors further into loneliness and isolation. In Acts 4:36, we meet a man named Barnabas, which is, being interpreted, the son of consola

When headlines announce that as many as 15,000 churches are expected to close in America this year, the numbers should drive us to prayer and reflection. Instead, the response in many circles has been to shrug, smile, or spin it into a positive narrative. Some voices are saying, “Well, some churches need to close,” as though the shuttering of congregations were merely market correction rather than a spiritual emergency.

It comes up in all kinds of situations—whether someone is asked to serve in a ministry, consider a calling, reconcile a strained relationshi

On a summer evening in rural Michigan, ten people gathered in a church. The pastor preached on the mighty hand of God, but after the service he shared something even more powerful: the story of how God met his loneliness through the friendship of a visiting believer. This quiet testimony reminds us that struggling churches need more than programs — they need friends who show up, listen, and encourage.

After retiring from pastoring, George couldn’t ignore his burden for struggling churches. One Sunday, he walked into a congregation of three

Gentleness and Prayer Philippians 4:5–6 Are you at peace? In our last article, we looked at what it means to have real peace—not just the...

Introducing “Letters to a Young Pulpit” Young preacher, I know you. How do I know you? I was you. I started preaching when I was 14, way...

Peace in the Storm Have you ever wanted peace so badly, but felt like you could never find it? Life is full of stress, problems, and...

Responding Biblically When Church Conflict Goes Public Sometimes people get hurt in churches — genuinely hurt. Misunderstandings, hard...

The Loss We All Feel I was driving back from Florida, and I began to notice all of the signs for lawyer services. As a kid, I remember it was considered unethical and unprofessional for lawyers and doctors to advertise. I certainly didn't think of it that way as a child, I just somehow knew in my mind they were not supposed to do it. As I was driving along, I began to wonder what had happened. Why the change? As I meditated on this, my mind began to wander, and I began to que

Guest article by David Hyles...my friend. If You Can’t Be a King, Be a Friend There are many ways God chooses to use a person. Some are...

Here We Go Again! By Brent Madaris, D.Min. In the world of evangelical ministry, the dust of another crumbling platform will eventually...

Grandma Comes Clean! “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”—1 Peter 5:7 (KJV) This beloved verse is often quoted for...

Stay strong, Christian. The fire has purpose. And your Savior is worth it! It’s one thing to preach about faithfulness in trial—it’s...

Above All Things Text: 1 Peter 4:1–9 “And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude...

Be Ready! In 1 Peter 3:13–17, the Apostle Peter exhorts believers to be ever-ready not only to defend the Christian faith but more...