Rev. James Parks

Early in my ministry, when I was recruiting people to serve on church committees and leadership teams, I often used a line like, “It’s not that much work.” My thinking was that if I didn’t make the task sound too big, people would be more willing to say yes. I assumed hesitation was the primary obstacle to service. What I learned over time is that I was underappreciating both the role of leadership in the church and the desire of lay people to serve passionately and wholeheartedly. Faithful...

As I reflect on this past year, I realize much of it was shaped by a long and unexpected health journey. In January of 2025, I went to the doctor because of a loss of strength and mobility in my right (dominant) shoulder. What began as a diagnosis of a torn labrum eventually led to the realization that I needed a total shoulder replacement. Three months later, I was back in surgery, followed by months of physical therapy to regain strength and movement in my new shoulder. Throughout much of...

For God so loved small towns that He sent His one and only Son… That’s not how John 3:16 reads, of course—but it was the theme of a workshop I attended at the Exponential Conference last month. I went to four workshops, and this one was by far the most encouraging and impactful. The heart of the workshop was simple: God loves small towns, and God longs to reach people in small towns. I’ll admit that when I think about church planting or multiplication, I often focus on population growth. If...