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I recently received a response from a podcast episode that brought back encouraging, pleasant, and painful memories. The communication came in the form of a text from Fan Mail on my podcast, Gleaning Mustard Seeds, episode 81, Should we start a new church?: Hello Jerry. After listening to this podcast on starting a new congregation,…
Thank you to hundreds of friends who have read drafts, proofread, encouraged, asked, “When will your book be ready,” sent emails, and commented about how Gail’s story has affected you. You can now purchase Fleecy Clouds on Amazon!!! Decide which format you want, and click on the links below to get your copy. Fleecy Clouds, Kindle Buy…
by Gail Champion Barber and Alice Sullivan Gail’s book is making progress! Thank you to everyone who continues to read and encourage. We’ve now completed Revision 8.5. Alice Sullivan, Gail’s ghostwriter, has integrated the revisions and sent them to Joey Sparks. Joey worked with me in publishing my book, Between Preachers. He is now typesetting…
I learn from observing my rules, rules of others, rules of families, rules of churches, rules of elderships, rules of businesses, and other groups.By rules, I mean customs, habits, practices, guidelines, and traditions in individuals and groups. Somewhere I picked up these observations: family (church, business, any group) rules are often unconscious, unspoken, understood, and…
Brothers or sisters had a serious conflict with each other. One of the parties came during the invitation song and writes on a card to be read to the congregation, “I’ve thought, done, and said things I shouldn’t have. Please forgive me.” They’ve never addressed the issues and actions that divided them. The offended party…
The picture above is Emmet Champion, Wayne, Don, Brenda, and Gail after a picnic as Gail, Don, and Brenda were leaving for Childhaven Fleecy Clouds: One Woman’s Story of Surviving and Thriving after Childhood Abuse, by Gail Champion Barber and Alice Sullivan Written from the heart of a Champion, by Gail Champion Barber and Alice…
UPROAR: Calm Leadership in Anxious Times, by Peter L. Steinke, Rowman & Littlefied, Lanham; Copyright © 2019 by The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc; ISBN 9781538116531 Peter Steinke died July 13, 2020. This was his last book. He had been studying, writing, and teaching about family systems for twenty-five years. I went to a…
It’s time to appoint elders. Is a man qualified? Does he have believing children? How many? If he’s been married more than once, does he have two (three, four) wives? These are important and should be addressed. In preparing the sermon for Sunday on the qualifications of elders, it jumped out at me: five of…
Front Row, Left to Right: Marilyn Whitson, Melissa Cooper, Ginger Spurlin, Jerrie Barber, Jeanne Simpson, Linda Hammond, Elizabeth Guinn, Elizabeth Michael, Rachel Harrub, Becky EllisBack Row, Left to Right: John Cooper, Jere Spurlin, Gail Barber, Alan Watkins, Tim Simpson, Keith Hammond, Robert Guinn, Cody Michael, Will Harrub, Jeff Ellis The New Shepherds Orientation Workshop was…
We moved back to Nashville from Sikeston, Missouri, last week. We are unpacking and finding new things every day. I don’t plan to post to New Shepherds Orientation during September and October. I may have an announcement or two. We are in an interim between interims. My plans are to start with a new congregation on…