Pastor Ricky Powell

What I'm Reading Now

Anderson, Courtney. To the Golden Shore: The Life of Adoniram Judson. Valley Forge: Judson Press, 1987.

I am enjoying this Christian biography of the first missionary to go out from North America. Adoniram Judson and his wife Ann carried the Gospel to Burma in 1813. He spent nearly four decades of his life taking the name of Christ where it had not been previously proclaimed. I have not finished the book yet, but I have already been inspired to a deeper commitment to share the Gospel far and wide, and to renew my support of our missionaries through the Cooperative Program of the Southern Baptist Convention. I recommend this classic of Baptist history to all who want to help fulfill the Great Commission of our Lord (see Matthew 28:19-20).

A Quote About Leadership That Resonated With Me

Codependent leaders need to accept the fact that they are not responsible for the attitudes and actions of others and that pleasing God is more important than being liked by the people they serve. As leaders it is not our responsibility to "fix" everyone. We cannot always keep the peace and, in fact, at times should be the ones used by God to make people feel uncomfortable with their unacceptable behaviors.

McIntosh, Gary, and Samuel D. Rima. Overcoming the Dark Side of Leadership: How to Become an Effective Leader by Confronting Potential Failures. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2007, p. 156.

What I'm Reading Today

Barnett, Mike, and Robin Martin. Discovering the Mission of God: Best Missional Practices for the 21st Century. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2012.