Best of

Past articles by Ken Walker

God Restores Retired Pastor’s Sight

PE News, Mar. 31, 2020

When Chisholm Trail Assisted Living in Duncan, Oklahoma, shut its doors to visitors in mid-March because of COVID-19, fellow residents asked Paul A. Beasley, 62, if he would take over as leader of their Sunday School class.

The only problem for the retired AG minister: being able to read lessons in the Baptist quarterly being used. In 2018, Beasley had been diagnosed with macular degeneration, the same incurable eye disease that had caused blindness in his mother, Margaret, before her death. READ MORE

Venezuelan Refugees in Dire Straits Find Hope with Foursquare

Foursquare.org, Oct. 8, 2019

An attorney who once lived in an affluent area of Venezuela, Ligibet Karola Montes Rangel and her husband—a graphic designer—never dreamed they would wind up wandering the streets in Maicao, Colombia. With Ligibet pregnant and no medical help or supplies available at home, the Rangels joined millions of Venezuelans who have sought refuge elsewhere amid their nation’s political conflict and collapsing economy. READ MORE

Opioid crisis emerges as key W. Va. Baptist ministry

Baptist Press, Oct. 25, 2018

Soon after West Virginia Baptists passed a resolution last November urging churches to get involved in addressing the opioid crisis, the state’s Upper Ohio Valley Baptist Association started preliminary planning for a Celebrate Recovery group.

After five months of leader training, an interdenominational group of churches in the Moundsville area hosted their first Celebrate Recovery meeting in early September. READ MORE

Leading Family Life into the Future

Today’s Christian Living, July/August 2018

David Robbins and Meg Gieselmann met at the University of Mississippi. A junior and leader of a Cru (then Campus Crusade for Christ) community group, David found himself captivated by this freshman newcomer. Because of his leadership position, David held off asking Meg out until after the semester. But it only took a couple dates before he declared, “I don’t know where this will lead, but I want you to know I’m serious.” READ MORE

Profile: Jim Barber, president of the Society for Church Consulting

Biblical Leadership, June 19, 2018

While Isaiah 26:3 has been significant throughout Jim Barber’s 43 years of marriage, the verse became particularly meaningful during the final stage of his corporate career.

It happened in 1989 when Barber was a manager at Honeywell, which had decided to get out of defense contracting. Jim played an important role on a team of coworkers that eventually created a new corporation to run that division. READ MORE

The Eyes Have It

Ministry Today, March/April 2017

No one would have blamed Ben and Laura Harrison for sinking into a pit of despair when the first child came into the world suffering from glaucoma and a rare eye condition. Thankfully, they avoided the trap of self-pity and used their entrepreneurial genius to craft a solution, one that helped their son, Jonas Paul, and children around the world. READ MORE