Whirled Views with Dan Burrell

No sooner did I make my last post on my disenchantmentwith politics and Christian-right activism than a story is breaking all over the news wires.

My former Congressman, Mark Foley, a man with whom I had breakfast at the Cracker Barrel at I-95 and 45th Street in West Palm Beach, the congressman who invited me as his guest to the National Prayer Breakfast a decade ago, the one who asked me to offer the invocation at a huge Republican fund-raiser at the Breaker’s Hotel in Palm Beacha few years after the so-called “Republican Revolution”when I had the opportunity to meet Newt Gingrich and schmooze with Gingrich’s (now ex-) wife and several other Congressmen/women has just resigned from Congress in the wake of revelations that he’s been sending sexually explicit instant messages and emails to male congressional pages in their teens. Nice. Really nice. I always expected that Mark was gay and there were plenty of rumors that were constantly being circulated, but once I again I am confronted with the futility of political involvement for the sake of expediency and influence. Quite disillusioning.

For the news story, click HERE.

Well, it looks like the comments have subsided a bit from my recent post on my intentions to sit on the sidelines, in terms of my political involvement, this coming election cycle. As I anticipate, the comments have been mixed, a few were ugly (not in this comment section, but on another site that carries my articles), some were supportive and some were critical.

I thought I’d offer a few brief follow-up clarifications and comments after having read most of the feedback.

First, fundamentally, I’ve not changed my mind. In the last week, I’ve been invited to participate in several political activities and I’ve chosen to decline all of them. Largely, I’m ambivalent and perhaps (in contradiction to my alleged ambivalence), I’m also wanting to make a “statement” of sorts. The message I’d like for those in the Republican party to receive is, “Quit taking values-driven voters for granted.” It’s my opinion that the Republican Party Leadership now views the Religious Right like the Democratic Party Leadership views African-Americans. “Who else are the going to vote for? We can count on them.” Thus, they provide lip service and the occasional political “bone” — but nothing of real substance lest it require them to spend some of their political capitol on things that matter to us.

Another thing to note is, nowhere did I state that I wasn’t going to vote. I will probably cast my ballot on election day as I have consistently done since I turned 18. The main reason I would go to the ballot box this year is because a friend, strong conservative and former NCA Parent, Jim Puckett, is running foran at-large seat onthe Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners.Should Jim beelected in this important seat, there’s a fairly good chance that conservatives would control a majority of the commission seats in our county and the super-liberal commissioner, Parks Helms, would be politically neutered during what most believe will behis final term in office.If you don’t think Parks is an extreme liberal that panders to liberal activists, click HERE and watch this little piece of video someone recently sent me from YouTube.com.

I live in Congressman Mel Watts’ incredibly gerry-mandered district which gives him a 100% chance for re-election each and every time election season comes around. Mel has as much time for me and our church as I do for him and his politics. But for me to get all agitated every time he runs for re-election and work for his opponent would be a colossal waste of my time and resources. His district is a perfect case for much of what is wrong in politics today, but it is what it is.

There are no real state-wide races in North Carolina this year. But I’d note that the last time I got super involved in NC politics, we won control of the House of Reps only to watch it evaporate when fundamentalist Christian, former Christian School teacher, arch-conservative, Republican, member of Gospel Light Baptist Church in Walkertown, NC, family-activist, Mike Decker, sold (and I do mean SOLD — he’s now under indictment) his party affiliation and vote for house speaker to the incredibly corrupt Jim Black. Because of Mr. Decker’s illegal, unethical, immoral and corrupt shennanigans, the state was able to raise taxes (yet again) and we now have a state lottery. Ummm, can you see why I might be a tad “disillusioned” by politics?

Finally, I really mean it when I sometimes write or talk about the fact that the view from 45 years of age is much different than it was a decade ago. I’m about one year from living longer than my father did. My kids are now old enough to start leaving home. My hair is turning gray and we won’t even talk about the sounds that I make when getting up off the floor after a game of checkers with my 9-year old. I realize that I have only so many days, so much energy, so much attention to give to living. I want those treasured gifts from God to be invested, not squandered.

What if we “lose” our government and end up in a totalitarian state (not likely, but let’s create the scenario.) Will the Gospel be destroyed? Will the church be annihilated? Will we be silenced in matters of faith? If you answered in the affirmative, don’t tell the believers in China that because they are seeing revival in that difficult country like never before. Don’t tell the believers in Cuba that, because I have to tell you, I’ve met a lot of incredible pastors and believers during my visits there. And when all is said and done, I want to be remember for my work with the Gospel — not for my work for a political party or candidate. Besides, is God Sovereign or not? We can’t flip the switch on His authority as if we can manipulate His will with our human efforts.

Am I saying that unequivocally I’ll never appear on a political talk show, will never write articles on political topics, never write a check to my preferred candidate, never speak out publicly on a political matter ever again? No — not at all. What I AM saying is that I’m going to be wiser and choosier in the future when it comes to my personal involvement with politics. I’m not convinced that Christians bearing the banner of political activism does more good than harm to the testimony of Christ. I’m not convinced that it is a better use of my time than ministering for the Gospel. I’m honestly not convinced that it has actually really made all that much of a difference.

I’m not trying to convince anyone to join me. I’m not calling for a national “Christians Refuse to Vote” campaign. In fact, I’d urge you to vote — it’s our right, privilege and responsibility as citizens. But, when I think about how I can write a $100 check to the state Republican Party and elect see another Mike Decker play us like fools or I can write thesame amount on a check and send it to my dear friend N*** in Cuba and know that I’ll be paying the entire salary for a pastor’s family for 3 months — somehow, it just doesn’t seem like a matter that requires all that much prayer for me.

But let every man be convinced in his own mind. That’s just my take on the topic.

My good friend and intellectual iron sharpener Warren Smith, publisher of The Charlotte World, recently wrote an editorial regarding so-called megachurches. In his commentary, which is entitled Dulling the Pain or Curing the Disease, he suggested that todays megachurch movement may be at fault for several problems currently infecting evangelical Christianity in the United States. Warren cites Northside Baptist Church where I serve as Senior Pastor as Charlottes first real megachurch and notes that by his count there are now at least two dozen Protestant churches in the Charlotte area with more than 2000 members.

Indeed, megachurches are blossoming in many communities large and not-as-large across the country. They are not a phenomenon limited to the South many megachurches are found in the Chicago area, across California and in other distinctly non-Southern areas. They are not necessarily exclusive to large cities Charleston, WV, Henderson, NC, Springfield, MO and Anderson, SC are all homes to megachurches.

Megachurches tend to attract a lot of attention both good and bad. Politicians like to visit us. We receive and distribute substantial sums of money. We have demonstrated the ability to swing elections. We have been known to tie up neighborhood traffic and city officials sometimes look at us with even less enthusiasm than Super Wal-Marts because at least Super Wal-Marts add to the tax base.

Building on the Super Wal-Mart analogy, a frequent complaint about large churches is that they are responsible for closing down or hurting smaller churches. Only a fool would argue that there isnt an impact on other local churches when a large church emerges in a community. Ive lived through it when I served as the pastor of a fair-sized church in Palm Beach Country and observed several hundred members transfer over to a more exciting and booming congregation that shot from a few hundred to thousands and thousands over the course of a decade. While our church continued to grow, I watched other local churches decline dramatically and I even saw several pastors quit in discouragement over the losses they had experienced to the new exciting church down the street.

Today, as I provide spiritual leadership to one of the original megachurches in the South (Northside Baptist was at one time the largest church in the Carolinas), I face the daily challenge of being the pastor of an aging large church who faces a changing neighborhood, facilities that are showing wear and tear and what some would characterize as competition in the form of other large churches who offer similar or even better programs in newer or more convenient facilities. My personal experience as both a pew sitter and pastor in church ranging in size from dozens to over ten thousand has lead me to a few conclusions.

Not every big church is what it should be any more than every small church is what it should be. Big does not indicate Gods blessing. I can take you to some grotesquely unbiblical cults (I hesitate to use the word church to describe them) in the US and around the world which have large attendances and nice facilities. Thats no indication of spiritual depth or doctrinal orthodoxy. It just means lots of people show up for services. Conversely, Ive worshipped in small churches that were rich and substantive and others that were the spiritual equivalent of mortuaries and meat lockers. Some were little more than family cliques. Still others were fossilized institutions that were bent on constantly reliving some glory days in the past and completely oblivious to the fact that they had lost their vision and passion long ago.

Its easy for J.C. Penny, K-Mart and Sears and Robuck to blame Wal-Mart for their loss of market share. But lets be honest. They didnt adapt to the changing culture and became retail dinosaurs with surly clerks, dirty stores and a sense of entitlement to our shopping loyalty. They didnt have a fresh vision for who they were or what they were supposed to be doing. They neglected the basics of business and they thought they had earned the right to exist. As a result, my kids look at me with quizzical expressions when I talk about Woolworths or Montgomery (or Jefferson) Wards or other great retailers of the past. But they sure know about Wal-Mart!

I agree with Warren in that there is a dark-side to some large churches. A pragmatic philosophy that appeals to so-called seekers with promises of Starbucks, comfortable seating, jazzy music and short sermons is indefensible. No man genuinely seeks God unless hes called by the Spirit. Luring people to church today with designer coffees and Christian bands is just as wrong (and ineffective in the long-term) as it was in the 1970s and 80s when the first megachurches used free goldfish and packs of bubblegum to load kids on repainted school buses for hour-long, over-hyped pep rally services. Wrong and ineffective if it’s about building attendance and not about seeing lives changed, that is. And the only thing that will really change lives is the Gospel - pure and unadulterated.

However, many times those that criticize churches that have a Starbucks booth have served coffee in Styrofoam cups out of aluminum percolators for years. They sniff at Praise Teams and bands, but clap along merrily to big-haired Southern Gospel quartets. One of the greatest preachers Ive ever heard, never (and I mean NEVER) spoke more than eighteen minutes. And someones going to have to explain to me why having padded pews is less spiritual than straight-backed solid oak wooden pews. It all goes back to the motivation, philosophy and the foundational question Is the Gospel being preached pure and uncompromised from the inerrant Word of God? Is the Bible the basis of their doctrine and practice? Are they drawing a crowd or are they intent on building a church?

If we are to be honest, I can point to churches large and small who are dying because theyve left the call of the Gospel and the purity of Biblical teaching. Sometimes they are evangelical by identity and sometimes they are sad representatives of the so-called Mainline denominations. I know of little churches that use chicanery and silliness to entice attenders and preach loud and long sermons that are vacuously void of genuine content. I also know of huge churches that fill tens of thousands of seats in cities like Houston, Texas with charismatic and good-looking pastors who can cheer people up, but who grow uncomfortably silent and evasive when pinned down in media interviews about the sufficiency of Christ alone for salvation. At the same time, I can show you tiny little congregations led by Godly elders who take turns doing their best in preaching and teaching and spiritual mentorship from week to week and they are pleasing the Lord and staying true to the Gospel as they minister in out-of-the-way or backwater hamlets and villages. I can also point out examples of Godly men in huge churches with massive resources who humbly and with great dedication prepare themselves with hours of prayer and study so that they might rightly divide the Word and call Sinners to Salvation through Jesus Christ.

My friend Warren laments the absence of responsive readings, creed recitations and the singing of hymns in many of todays churches. I must say that the older I get, the more I would share his thoughts. I dont need energized music or over-programmed orders of service to inspire me to gather together with my brothers and sisters in Christ. But lets face it. Times change. People change. Trends come and go. All of us are doomed, if God allows us to live long enough, to feeling oddly out of place with the dominant culture around us. And like flappers and flivers were causes for righteous indignation in generations past, today has many opportunities for equal alarm. But thereareat least twothings that will survive every trend, every generation, every movement, every trendy and pragmatic foray into silliness in which every generation of believers seems to engage the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the movement of the Holy Spirit.

Perhaps of more concern than that which we hold over methodology, trends, church sizes and music styles should be whether or not our hearts are pure toward Him, whether or not we are indeed making Christ Lord in more than words, whether or not were willing to pick up our cross dailyand follow Him. For if we hold the Gospel high and holy in our hearts, our hands and our heads will follow along as well. Changing form and style has never been the key to spiritual victory or numerical growth. But it is the Power of God unto Salvation that creates a change that will be reflected in our lives from how we worship to how we live. Sin is the disease in every sized church and in every heart. The Word of God living in the Person of Jesus Christ and written in the Bible is the only cure.

I’m prone to sudden bursts of randomness. My brain, which is generally a whirl most of the time, inexplicably demands a download of miscellaneous thoughts, comments, rants and raves periodicallyand if I don’t get it out and on paper, well….it’s going to get messy. If you are new to my blog, the following will likely be disconcerting. If you have been privy to these outbursts before, you know that the best thing you can do right now is click the window close icon in the upper-right corner ofyour screen. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

Hugo Chavez — Is his speech indicative of the public discourse to be expected from Heads of State and the United Nations? Where are the editorials condemning such hate-filled vitriol and unvarnished lunacy?

The new TODAY Show Set — Looks like it was designed by the person who picked out the colors for Dr. Suess’s nursery. Plus, I just don’t like that Meredith Vieira woman yet. But then, that probably makes me sound like the person who gripes everytime something changes at church. So I’ll shut up now.

Katie Couric and her new gig on CBS News — Perky she was, perky she is, perky is all she’ll ever be. Watched her once on CBS News, won’t be watching her again. It’s not her perkiness that turns me off. It’s that underlying vein of vicious liberal bias that sends me over the age. All the perkiness in the world can’t cover that. It’s like putting a coat of Maybelline on the Elephant man. She is what she is.

On Living in the Carolinas — Nothing could be finer! Fall is gently creeping it’s way in. Summer was lush, green and only a couple of days were over-the-top hot. Spring simply takes your breath away. Winter is short and sweet, but long enough to let you own a fireplace and make a few batches of soup. It truly is paradise!

On the New Fall TV Season — ZZZZZZzzzzzzzz

Books I’m Reading that I Wish I’d Read Sooner — Communicating for Change by Andy Stanley, Spurgeon’s 3-Volume Edition of The Treasury of David, The English Standard Version of the Bible.

From the “First time I think I’ve ever agreed with Charles Rangel department….” Liberal New York Democratic congressman Charles Rangel, a man with whom I agree on virtually nothing said this in defense of President Bush after listening to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez’ attack at the UN - ‘You do not come into my country, my congressional district, and you do not condemn my president. If there is any criticism of President Bush, it should be restricted to Americans, whether they voted for him or not. I just want to make it abundantly clear to Hugo Chavez or any other president, do not come to the United States and think because we have problems with our president that any foreigner can come to our country and not think that Americans do not feel offended when you offend our Chief of State’

One More thing I Like About the Internet — ONLINE LEARNING. I’m the adjunct professor for three seminary graduate courses for Liberty University this fall and I am impressed and fascinated by the effectiveness of distance learning. At my recent meeting as part of the Board of Trustees of Piedmont Baptist College, we were given a demonstration of their new on-line graduate programs and they were even MORE impressive with live professorial interaction, white boards useage, student interaction, oral practice and other innovations as the instructorteaches HEBREW via the internet. If my graduate work wasn’t already complete, this is DEFINITELY something I’d be doing. I might even take some courses or pursue an additional degree in the future just for the fun of it. You should really check it out!

A Rant on Unemployment — It irritates me when someone comes up to me and asks for money because they are unemployed and I ask them how many jobs they’ve applied for in the last week and they give me a number that does not require more fingers than they have on one hand. When I ask them what did they do the rest of the time they usually say that they have been working on their resume, checking the classified ads and looking online. Good grief. How long does it take to put a resume together? An hour? To read the classifieds? Ten minutes? To do an internet job seach? Another hour? What are doing the rest of the time? Watching Oprah? If you’re unemployed you HAVE a job. It’s called “I’m Looking for a JOB.” If you’ll put in as much time in a week looking for a job as you would working a job, you’ll get a job. And it probably won’t take a whole week. Rant concluded. Thanks for listening.

Some thoughts on Cats — I don’t really like cats. I just like them more than I like snakes. I don’t like snakes at all. I don’t like indoor cats because I rarely find snakes indoors. That’s why I keep my cats outdoors. I haven’t seen a snake in my yard in 2 years. But now I have eighteen cats. Apparently, I don’t have enough snakes to keep my cats busy so they are finding other things to do. So now I will need to get a Pit Bull. I hear they like cats.

Why I Don’t Eat at Hardees — I used to love Hardees. I remember when they had the cool jingle, “Hurry on down to Hardees, where the burgers are charcoaled broiled!” I don’t think they use charcoal any more. I hear it was something about carcinigens. When they put Paris Hilton on their ad in what looked like a porn commercial rather than a burger commercial, I quit stopping at Hardees. (Not that I ate there that much before, but now I could feel righteous not eating there.) Now their commercials are just stupid. Apparently, the only people they want to buy their hamburgers are mouth-breathing, 20-something slobs who are incapable of operating a microwave. So now I have two reasons I won’t eat at Hardees. (But if someone brought me one of those really giant hamburgers they sell and just gave it to me, I’d eat it just to prove I can. Which probably means that deep down inside, I’m a mouth-breather who thinks like a 20-something year old slob.)

From the “once-is-not-enough” portion of my brain — No matter how many times I read something written by A. W. Tozer, I always enjoy it and am challenged by it when I read it again.

Lists — I like to keep lists. One of my lists is a list of preachers I’d really like to have heard or would like to hear one more time, but can’t because they are dead. Here’s a few of the names on my list: Charles Spurgeon, R. G. Lee, W.A. Criswell, Fred Brown, Bill Rice, Jr., Jonathan Edwards, Ed Teal (my first pastor), Jack Hudson, B. R. Lakin and John Wesley. Just for fun, I would also like to hear Aimee Semple McPherson to see if she sounds like that Joyce Meyer’s woman. But I probably wouldn’t listen to the entire sermon.

Private Fears — I have a private fear that if Ladies’ Bible Teacher, Beth Moore were to lose her mind and change her position on women pastors and move to Charlotte to start a church that my wife would leave my church and join hers. An even bigger fear is that she’d take so many other ladies that it would turn into a church split. (OK…quit hyper-ventilating. I’m just kidding.)

And finally…does the randomness of my brain worry you all as much as it does me? Perhaps I need medication.

Its election season and the amount of ink and air time being dedicated to this Novembers mid-term polls for pols is increasing daily. At this time, the Republicans have a very tenuous hold on their majority that could evaporate on November 2^nd. The Democrats have offered little reason other than their criticism of Republicans as justification for voting for them and as the Presidents poll numbers rise, the likelihood for the tsunami of change that seemed inevitable a few weeks ago diminishes. But in politics, a few weeks is like a few years and its hard to say right now what will happen on election day.

I do know one thing, however. This election, this life-long member of the so-called Religious Right plans on sitting on the bench as a spectator.

I have always had the political bug. When I was in the sixth grade, I drew the scorn of many of my classmates for wearing my Nixon Now button to class. In 1976, I plastered posters on telephone poles all around my Missouri hometown urging people to support Ronald Reagan over incumbent President, Gerald Ford. I repeated the exercise in 1980 and cast my first vote for the man I think will go down as one of the greatest Presidents in American history. I have given money, manned telephones, attended rallies and even (much to my personal chagrin and embarrassment) once attended a precinct meeting for Presidential candidate Pat Robertson. Ive had my picture taken with Ralph Reed, campaigned for JEB Bush when he ran for Governor of Florida and attended the National Prayer Breakfast one year with my uncomfortably moderate Congressman Mark Foley (R-Palm Beach Cty, FL). I mean it when I say Ive been politically active.

And I also mean it when I say Im fed up with the Republican Party. Oh, I know the arguments. The whole lesser of two evils one. The all that it takes for evil to triumph one. The we may not stop them, but we can at least slow them down one. In spite of the well-intentioned rationale, at least for now and perhaps for the foreseeable future, Im retiring from the fray.

Now let me tell you why

First, show me what weve won for all of our efforts. Abortion is every bit as legal today as it was thirty years ago. Even when we get the chance to fill seats on the Supreme Court with conservative jurists, they are as often prone to magically transform into liberals/moderates as not. (I offer OConner, Suiter and Kennedy as examples.) Republicans have shown a tremendous willingness to push for tax relief and yet seem unwilling to expendeven a little effort to push for conservative values particularly in the Senate. There is no chance a constitutional amendment protecting marriage will pass. For all the tens of million voter guides weve distributed, voter turnout drives weve pushed, registration drives weve hosted and dollars weve burned, we have very, very little for which to show from all our efforts.

Another fine reason is the leading Presidential candidates the Republicans seem bent on supporting for the 2008 elections. John McCain, the clichTd maverick of the party, who pilloried Conservative Christians in a sadly miscalculated effort to win votes last go around is now trying to play nice/nice with Jerry Falwell and the Bob Joneses. Sorry, my memory is too long, John. Im not buying it now and I remember then. Youll never get my vote. Rudy Giuliani, the highly-touted hero of New Yorks 9/11, is a rank social liberal who supports gay rights and is pro-abortion. Thats enough to get a veto from me. What about the Mormon governor of Massachussetts, Mitt Romney? Do you honestly think a true conservative could EVER get elected governor of the home state of John Kerry and Ted Kennedy? Hardly. You have to visit at least the second and perhaps third tier of potential candidates to find a true conservative and sadly, many of them have all the charisma of Ben Stein. Call me uninspired.

In addition, there is the whole Big Tent philosophy in the Republican party that welcomes liberal politicians from certain states and which actively campaigns against conservative challengers who are deemed by the party brass as unelectable. So, weve got Arnold in California who is as much a Republican as Hillary is a stay-at-home mom. The establishment supported Lincoln Chaffee in his primary victory over a much more conservative challenger. The same is occurring in congressional and governor races all across the country. Each new moderate-to-liberal voice is celebrated as a sign of Republican diversity while the conservatives are told to hush up and get back in their corners. The party elite are totally taking for granted their base, particularlythose Christian conservatives who have given them the opportunity to govern for much of the last twenty-five years.

Heres a reason that may shock some of you but, Id still like to see someone from the administration reconcile the war with Iraq and the totally bogus intelligence used to take us there. Many people question my sanity and my salvation for daring to question the war, but as the father of an 18-year-old son, Im not thrilled with the idea that we are sending our boys to the desert to prop up an Islamic so-called democracy which has no use for infidel Christians and is already seeking a relationship with the extremist regime in Iran. As for Afghanistan, I wouldnt want my son dying for a nation that would execute an evangelical in a heartbeat for preaching Jesus.

Finally, its a matter of priorities. America will not be changed at the ballot box or on Pennsylvania Avenue. She will be changed as individual hearts are changed by the Gospel. At forty-five years of age, I have a fresh perspective on how fleeting our time on earth is in light of eternity. When I give account to the Lord for how I have spent my time in this life, Im convinced that teaching and preaching the Word of God will be shown to have been a far better use of my time and resources than trying to elect one more unreliable politician.

Will my one-man protest effect the outcome of any election? I doubt it. But of course one might keep in mind election year 2000. President Bush was finally elected to office by ahandful less than six hundred votes in Palm Beach Country, Florida. I was the pastor of a church there where I had worked for seventeen years. At that time, we had over 1,000 members of voting age on our rolls and we had seriously encouraged them to participate in elections. It is no secret that most of them were at least conservative and probably mostly registered Republicans. Did our church decide the election? You can draw your own conclusion. I just know this. In some elections, every single vote does count.

Will I stay on the political sidelines forever? I dont know. Maybe Im just one man sending a message. I do know this. While Im sitting here, I plan on doing some serious thinking before I take the floor ever again for the cause of politics.

Because folks from all over the country read this blog, I have decided to post a few announcements and open positions at our Ministries in case anyone would have an interest.

BEAUTIFUL NURSERY CRIBS for FREE

We have a number of beautiful stacking nursery cribs available for a church for free. All you have to do is come pick them up in Charlotte, NC. These cribs are currently in use, but will no longer be needed due to some remodeling we are doing. These are nice qualiity cribs in excellent condition. If you’d like more information, contact Administrative Pastor Barry Shearer at bshearer@northsidebapt.org or 704.602.2220.

ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS for WEB DESIGNER

Northside ministries is now accepting applications for a web designer. Applicants should have skills and/or experience in designing web pages, launching web sites, online commerce programs and process, video and audio streaming and maintaining a state-of-the-art web site. Send resume to Jonathan Pettus, Northside IT Director @ jdpettus@ncaknights.com.

ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS for ATHLETIC DIRECTOR

Northside Christian Academy is accepting resumes for the position of Athletic Director. Applicants should have significant administrative and leadership skills, a passion for ministry, a clear Philosophy of Christian Education and Recreation and experience in directing a comprehensive athletic program in a large Christian day school. Sports covered by this position include Tackle Football, Boys/Girls Soccer, Baseball, Softball, Volleyball, Cheerleading, Track, Cross Country, Tennis, B/G Basketball. Send resumes to Northside Christian Academy Headmaster David Kilgore at DKilgore@ncaknights.com. Visit the school website HERE.

ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS for EXECUTIVE PASTOR

Northside Baptist Church is accepting resumes for the position of Executive Pastor of Northside Baptist Church. Applicants must have a minimum of a Master’s Degree, extensive experience in Church administration, skills in management and administration and sufficient credentials to manage a staff of over 100 people, oversee a budget in excess of $8,000,000 and administration of dozens of individual ministries and hundreds of lay volunteers. Resumes and inquiries may be made to Cindy Smith at CindyS@northsidebapt.org.