When I was in Bible college, seminary training was considered a luxury—perhaps useful, but not at all necessary for pastoral ministry. Consequently, the idea of going to seminary didn’t enter my mind until the end of my junior year. At that point, two events led me to seminary. First, a professor liked a paper I… Continue Reading
Sunday morning found me in Mason City, Iowa, preparing to preach to Faith Baptist Church. Before leaving our hotel I decided to check my email. There was a note from Larry Pettegrew informing me that Tom Zempel had collapsed that morning while running. Later in the day another email said that Tom went home to… Continue Reading
On Christmas Eve, Donald M. Brong slipped into the presence of his Lord. He had served in vocational ministry for more than fifty of his ninety-six years. Over the decades he pastored First Baptist Church in Russell, Iowa, and First Baptist Church in Monroe, Iowa, then served as director of the Iowa Regular Baptist Camp… Continue Reading