By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer
ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Pastors and their wives who may have experienced additional stress brought on by the novel coronavirus pandemic will have the chance to receive much needed encouragement during two webinars Sept. 17.
First proposed by Louisiana Baptist Convention President David Cranford, the “Encourage” webinars are scheduled to include New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary President Jamie Dew, comedian Dennis Swanberg, the Bayou Church Founding Pastor Mike Walker and NOBTS Associate Professor of Counseling Craig Garrett. A webinar for ministers is scheduled for 3:30-4:30 pm and for wives from 7-8 p.m.
The first 200 ministers and first 250 ministers’ wives who register for the webinars will receive a special gift. Ministers participating in the 3:30 webinar will also receive a gift courtesy of the Caskey Foundation at NOBTS.
“These have been the most difficult days in my almost 30 years of ministry,” Cranford told the Baptist Message. “I know that other ministers feel the same way. I simply want ministers and their families to know that they are not alone and that there is help and encouragement available to them from the Lord as well as their fellow saints.”
Steve Horn, executive director for Louisiana Baptists, echoed Cranford’s sentiments. “As we touch base with pastors across the state, the level of their discouragement is obvious,” Horn said. “We’re praying these webinars will provide much needed, practical encouragement that well bless them, their families and in turn, their congregations.”
To register for the webinar visit https://louisianabaptists.org/event/encourage-webinar-ministers/.
