The Baptist Courier

10/20/2026

"My dad and sister were hanging out one day and got lunch together. After lunch, they casually decided to go to Costco. As my dad was walking out of Costco, he gave a gospel tract to the man who checks receipts. The Costco man set the tract aside. Well, “that was that,” it seemed.

The day continued and my sister suggested they go to Bath and Body Works at the outlet malls. While at Bath and Body Works, my dad felt compelled to give a tract to an employee there. He told her it was about Jesus Christ. As they were talking, the woman brought up her husband and shared how it was their 31st wedding anniversary. She mentioned that her husband worked at Costco. My dad asked what he did at Costco and what he looked like.

Sure enough, the Costco man who my dad gave a tract to was this woman’s husband. The woman was shocked when she found out that my dad had unknowingly given her husband a tract too. Because of the major “coincidence,” she took the gospel tract seriously.

The story didn’t end there. Apparently, my dad got the wrong size and had to return what he previously bought. While in the “return” line, he noticed the same Costco man about to leave his station checking people out. So, my dad got out of line and went up to the Costco man and asked him where his gospel tract was. The Costco man shrugged it off and didn’t have the gospel tract with him. So, my dad went and found where he put the tract and boldly told him to read it. He shared with the Costco man that he had just met his wife at Bath and Body Works. When my dad shared that he knew it was their 31st wedding anniversary and that it was no coincidence that my dad happened to give both of them — at separate times and separate occasions — a gospel tract, the Costco man looked pale. And indeed, he now took it seriously.

What’s crazy about that story is that my dad didn’t plan to go to Costco or Bath and Body Works. My sister just “randomly”suggested they go. And they didn’t go to intentionally share Christ. The Holy Spirit clearly guided each of their steps."

Read the full article at the link below:

There are dozens of times I feel compelled to hand someone a gospel tract, give someone a word of encouragement, give someone a Bible, or vocally share the gospel. And sometimes I wonder if my timid obedience does anything at all. I don’t get to see the fruit of every encounter. And sometimes ther...

10/20/2026

Are you at a point when you feel like your learning days are over?

Read Gene Fant's article to hear how God uses a growing mind to continue to reveal His truth every single day of our lives.

Use the link below to read the full article!
https://baptistcourier.com/2026/10/lifelong-learning-as-spiritual-formation/

10/20/2026

As followers of Christ, he helps us to overcome habitual sin. But this is not done by us just trying harder.

Read Ken Vickery's article, which studies Ephesians 4, to see how overcoming habitual sin begins as a mindset.

Use the link below to read the full article!
https://baptistcourier.com/2026/10/dealing-with-a-habitual-sin/

10/14/2026

Something we LOVE about going to conferences is the FACES we get to see and the voices we get to hear. We spend hours every week editing, commissioning, and writing articles here at The Baptist Courier. But there’s a distinct joy we experience when we get to BE WITH you, and meet and encourage more men and women to join us in writing for the glory of God. 🙌✨

10/13/2026

Counselor, are you carrying a burden that you were never meant to?
Read Scott Stephens full article to remember that Christ is the primary counselor.

Use link below!
https://baptistcourier.com/2026/10/relief-for-the-burden-bearing-counselor/

10/13/2026

Co-vocational pastor, how do you view your second job?
Read Phil Thompson's full article to hear how a biblical theology of work & ministry can be drawn from the beginning in Genesis.

Use the link below!
https://baptistcourier.com/2026/10/the-co-vocational-pastor-recovering-a-biblical-theology-of-work-and-ministry/

10/12/2026

Who are you boasting in today?

10/12/2026

Which stage of parenting are you on? Caregiver. Cop. Coach. Consultant.

"The parenting paradigm I am about to describe did not originate from me, though I wish I could claim it. I have heard it from multiple sources (such as JH Ranch) and it is easy to find bloggers writing about it across the internet. Nonetheless, good ideas are worth sharing and repeating.

In parenting, a strategy makes the task less daunting — it can be comforting and instructive. A strategy guides us toward activities and tactics to accomplish our goals. This paradigm can be part of our strategy. It will not provide all the answers we need, but it is a piece of the whole. It provides a framework for thinking about our role as parents based on four stages conveniently all starting with "C." The stages are not necessarily distinct (they can overlap), but they are sequential. The transitions can be gradual or sudden, and they can come at different ages for each child. Understanding these stages helps us recognize that our roles and expectations should change as our children grow and mature."

by Jospeh Osborn

Read about these four stages at the link below:
https://baptistcourier.com/2026/10/a-helpful-paradigm-for-successful-parenting/

10/08/2026

We’re so grateful we got to see and sing with so many wonderful friends at the Pillar Unite conference this year. May every article, book, and post be for the glory of God. 🎶 Till next time 👋

10/03/2026

This will be the third time that Ryan Duerk, CEO of Miracle Hill Ministries, will sit on a bench for 24 hours to raise awareness for homelessness. The past two times Miracle Hill Ministries hosted the event out in front of the Greenville Rescue Mission in downtown Greenville. This year they’re changing benches and moving the event to Anderson, in front of the Anderson County Library from 3 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 8, to 3 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 9, on the eve of World Homeless Day on Oct. 10.

Duerk said, “Three in four individuals experiencing homelessness in Anderson are unsheltered.”

Pastors, leaders, students, and all community members are invited to come join the conversation about homelessness. Throughout the day and night, Duerk will sit on a bench, answer questions, and listen to others express their thoughts on the needs in Anderson. At 9 a.m. and noon on Friday, there will be a guided time of prayer. At the event, they will also be receiving hygiene product donations to give to local organizations, and there will be a table with information to help those who are currently homeless. The event will be livestreamed for anyone who wants to watch on YouTube or Facebook.

Yolanda Pilarte, public relations manager for Miracle Hill Ministries, said, “That is why we’re coming to Anderson, because we want to hear not only the people experiencing homelessness in the area, but we want to hear the municipalities, the people in positions of power. We want to hear the churches. We want to hear the students of Anderson University.”

Read the full story here:

This will be the third time that Ryan Duerk, CEO of Miracle Hill Ministries, will sit on a bench for 24 hours to raise awareness for homelessness. The past two times Miracle Hill Ministries hosted the event out in front of the Greenville Rescue Mission in downtown Greenville. This year they’re cha...