Hometown Hope Ministries

You Matter! In an age where education is often measured in test scores and ministry in metrics, it’s refreshing—reviving, even—to look...

"Can These Bones Live?" — A bold new series on reclaiming dead and dying churches through Spirit-led, Scripture-driven revitalization....

The work of God must be done in God’s way, by God’s men, for God’s glory. Then you...

There’s a subtle yet serious pressure that is attempting to shape the church once again—a pressure not born of Scripture, but of results, and results-driven comparison. Pastors and churches are being measured less by faithfulness to the Word of God and more by visible success. Events, campaigns, and increases in attendance are once again being held up as proof of God’s blessing, while smaller or slower-growing churches are quietly deemed ineffective.

Abstract This paper explores the comparative value of church revitalization and church planting, especially within the context of...

Too many youth conferences today have traded gravity for gimmicks and reverence for relevance. With fog machines, themed theatrics, and manipulated emotionalism, many ministries now disciple young people into entertainment culture rather than spiritual depth. This article issues a sober warning to the churches and colleges that platform such movements while also calling believers back to biblical patterns of worship and discipleship—by truth, not theatrics.

What happens when visible success becomes the defense against biblical accountability? This article exposes the spirit of pragmatic triumphalism taking hold in some conservative circles—and calls pastors back to truth, holiness, and trembling before God.

Church revitalization isn’t second-class ministry. As churches close across the country, we must not overlook the call to rebuild and restore Gospel witness where it once thrived. Revitalization is biblical, strategic, and urgent—and it belongs alongside church planting, not beneath it.

By Brent Madaris The issue of whether women can serve as pastors has stirred debate across many denominations, but for Independent Baptist pastors, the position is clear: We believe the office of pastor (also called elder, Bishop, or overseer) is reserved for biblically qualified men. However, while we know this instinctively and doctrinally, many struggle to explain why with confidence—especially when challenged with cultural, linguistic, or scholarly arguments. This article

A faithful preacher declares God’s Word, his voice carried not by force but by clarity, stewardship, and the Spirit. A Practical Guide to...

The Faithful Shepherd It’s become a pattern too familiar to ignore. A preacher bursts onto the scene, confident and confrontational. He...

The Faithful Shepherd Guiding Commitments in an Age of Combative Christianity 1. I will contend for the faith without craving conflict....

What should we do? “Serious question: Do you think there are times a church should close their doors? What would be your reasons?” This question was recently posed to me in response to a post on church revitalization. It’s a weighty question—and it deserves more than a quick or casual answer. As a pastor and researcher who has spent over four decades in various churches, and as someone who has studied church revitalization academically and practically (with over two decades p

When one church grows by absorbing others, is the Body truly growing—or cannibalizing itself? It’s time to ask hard questions about...

Don’t be loud and wrong. Study before you shout. A Call to Deep Preparation and Biblical Accuracy Young preacher, The pulpit is no place...

The KJV. Is it Really That Hard To Read? I do a great deal of writing, and one of my venues is newspapers. I have been writing religious columns in newspapers since around 2005. I have always been told by the editors to write for a 5th to 6th grade reading level. Legitimate readability statistics are available related to the King James Version (KJV). Though opinions vary on how "unreadable" the KJV really is for modern readers, various tests have been applied to measure the r

When churches are targeted, shepherds must stand. Be alert. Be bold. Be faithful. When churches are targeted and no shepherd is present,...

The Way of the World, or the Way of the Cross? “If the Independent Baptist movement is to experience revitalization, its leaders must return to a biblical model of leadership that is Spirit-empowered, not business-modeled.” —Brent Madaris, Major Project Dissertation, 2024 Introduction: The Hidden Crisis in Church Leadership In a time when churches are desperate for revitalization and pastors are hungry for results, leadership training has become a booming industry. Among the

Dr. Monroe Parker believed that true Christian education begins with regeneration and ends with Christ at the center of all learning. The...

It’s time to stop pretending everything’s fine—and start facing the mission we’re losing. We don’t need another glowing report or glossy brochure—we need a reality check. Behind the pulpits and programs, beneath the polished social media posts, something is quietly crumbling. Attendance is thinning. Churches are closing. Entire regions of our country are Gospel deserts. And yet, many still speak as if everything is thriving. Let’s be honest: Many Independent Baptist churches