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Author: Bob Bickford

The Relentless Power of Encouragement

Written by Bob Bickford on . Posted in Church Renewal.

There is a leadership reality that doesn’t get enough attention: people don’t burn out primarily from work—they burn out from discouragement.

And the flip side is just as true: encouragement is one of the most underutilized, high-impact tools a leader has.

Let’s get something straight from the start—no one has ever received too much encouragement. Not once. Not ever. You won’t “overdo it.” You won’t create weakness. You won’t make people soft. What you will do is strengthen resolve, reinforce identity, and unlock contribution.

Encouragement Is Not Optional Leadership Behavior

Scripture doesn’t present encouragement as a personality trait—it presents it as a mandate:

“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up…” (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

Encouragement is not a side dish to leadership. It is leadership.

Every person you meet is carrying something—pressure, doubt, fatigue, insecurity, or unseen burdens. That means every interaction is an opportunity: you either add weight, or you lift it.

Leaders who understand this don’t wait for the perfect moment. They build a culture where encouragement is normal, frequent, and expected.

Everyone Needs It—More Than You Think

You may assume the strong don’t need encouragement. The high performers. The confident voices. The seasoned leaders.

That’s a mistake.

Often, the people carrying the most responsibility are receiving the least encouragement. They’re expected to keep going, keep producing, keep leading—without anyone pouring back into them.

Encouragement isn’t about fixing weakness. It’s about fueling endurance.

“But exhort one another every day… that none of you may be hardened…” (Hebrews 3:13)

Discouragement hardens people. Encouragement softens, strengthens, and sustains them.

Generic Encouragement Doesn’t Cut It

“Good job.”
“Appreciate you.”
“You’re doing great.”

Better than nothing—but not by much.

Real encouragement is specific. It names what others might overlook and affirms what God is doing in a person.

If you want encouragement to carry weight, aim it at five targets:

1. Encourage Who They Are

Call out identity, not just activity.

“You have a steady presence that brings calm into tense situations.”
“You’re the kind of leader people trust without even realizing why.”

This builds confidence rooted deeper than performance.

2. Encourage Where They Contribute

Help people see where they matter.

“When you speak in those meetings, you bring clarity the rest of us miss.”
“You connect people in a way that strengthens the whole team.”

Many people underestimate their impact—leaders correct that.

3. Encourage Their Unique Contribution

Name what makes them distinct.

“You don’t just solve problems—you anticipate them.”
“You bring both truth and grace, and that combination is rare.”

Uniqueness, when affirmed, becomes strength instead of insecurity.

4. Encourage Why Their Perspective Matters

Invite their voice forward.

“We need how you see this.”
“You notice things others don’t—don’t hold that back.”

Encouragement here creates ownership and engagement.

5. Encourage Them with Truth About God

Don’t stop at human affirmation—anchor it in something eternal.

“God has wired you this way on purpose.”
“You are deeply loved, and He is using you more than you realize.”

Encouragement that includes God doesn’t just lift—it stabilizes.

“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up…” (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

Encouragement Multiplies Culture

Here’s what most leaders miss: encouragement is contagious.

When people feel seen, valued, and strengthened, they start doing the same for others. It spreads across teams, churches, and organizations.

But the opposite is also true—if encouragement is absent at the top, discouragement settles in everywhere else.

You don’t drift into a culture of encouragement. You build it intentionally.

The Relentless Part

Encouragement is not a one-time act—it’s a way of life.

Relentless encouragers:

  • Don’t wait for perfection to speak life
  • Don’t ration affirmation like it’s scarce
  • Don’t assume people “already know”

They speak up. Often. Specifically. Sincerely.

Even when it’s repetitive. Even when it feels unnecessary. Even when no one is doing it for them.

Because they understand something foundational:

Encouragement is not about managing emotions—it’s about shaping people.

Final Word

If you want stronger teams, healthier churches, and more resilient leaders, don’t start with better systems—start with better encouragement.

See people clearly. Speak life intentionally. Do it daily.

And don’t hold back.

Because no one you will ever lead—or meet—has had too much encouragement.


Looking to grow as an Encourager? Mark Hallock’s book; The Relentless Encourager is a great source of helpful information in this important area.

Bob Bickford

Executive Director

Nashville Baptist Association

Raising the Evangelistic Temperature in Your Church

Written by Bob Bickford on . Posted in Church Renewal.

Every pastor wants a church where people naturally share Christ—but most congregations run cooler than they should.

The Jesus Story Project is a simple but powerful way to change that.

By creating space for people to share how they came to know Christ—what their life was like before, how they trusted Him, and what has changed since —you’re not just hosting a discussion. You’re shaping a culture.

Why This Works

1. It’s deeply biblical
From the blind man in John 9 to Paul’s repeated testimony in Acts, God uses personal stories to advance the gospel. Testimony doesn’t replace the gospel—it carries it through real lives.

2. It clarifies the gospel in your church
When people explain why Jesus is their hope for heaven, gaps show up. That’s not a problem—it’s discipleship. This process surfaces confusion and gives you a natural opportunity to reinforce salvation by grace through faith.

3. It builds confidence in everyday believers
Most people don’t share their faith because they feel unqualified. But when they hear multiple stories of how people came to Christ, they realize something important:

God uses ordinary people in ordinary conversations to do extraordinary work.

That’s the shift—from “I can’t do that” to “God could use me.”

4. It strengthens the spiritual fabric of the church
When people share their stories, relationships deepen fast. Authenticity increases. Unity strengthens. And a connected church is far more effective on mission.

5. It reignites urgency
Hearing story after story of God’s saving work brings back gratitude—and gratitude fuels evangelism. People are reminded what’s at stake and why it matters.

The Practical Benefits

If you want to raise the evangelistic temperature in your church, don’t start with a program.

Start with your people learning to clearly and confidently say:

“Here’s what Jesus has done in my life.”

When that becomes normal, evangelism stops being an occasional event and becomes part of your church’s DNA.

And that’s when you start seeing real movement.

Download “The Jesus Story Project” Guide

Bob Bickford

Executive Director

Nashville Baptist Association

Do You Want Our Church Building?

Written by Bob Bickford on . Posted in Discipleship.

Yes. Yes, I do.

Every so often the accusation gets thrown out there: “They just want our building.”

It’s usually said with a bit of suspicion, sometimes with frustration, and occasionally as a way to shut down a conversation before it even gets started.

So let me answer the question plainly.

Do I want your church building?

Yes. I do.

But probably not in the way you’re thinking.

Most declining churches develop a protective posture over time. It’s understandable. The congregation has sacrificed to build and maintain the place. Families were baptized there. Weddings were celebrated. Funerals were held. Generations have prayed in those rooms.

Of course you want to protect it.

But over time that protective instinct often expands beyond the building itself. What’s really being protected is the entire ecosystem around it—the style of ministry, the control of decision-making, and the comfort of doing things the way they’ve always been done.

The building becomes more than a tool for ministry. It becomes something to guard. And that’s where the tension begins.

When I say I want your building, I’m not talking about its property value.

I’m talking about its kingdom value.

I want that address to remain a gospel outpost.

I want there to be a thriving congregation in that neighborhood—one that is both demonstrating and declaring the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Faithfulness cannot simply be measured by whether services are still being conducted in the same building. Nor is it measured by how well we protect a piece of property.

Faithfulness must also be measured by fruitfulness in ministry.

When someone says, “They just want our building,” it often functions as a smoke screen. It might become a rallying cry for the dwindling and aging congregation. The implication is that people like me—or organizations like our Association—don’t really care about the congregation, they just want the building.

That couldn’t be further from the truth.

I care deeply about both.

I care about the congregation that has slowly become comfortable with the church at status quo. I care about leaders who have unintentionally elevated the practice of ministry above the passionate pursuit of Christ. I care about faithful saints who are now carrying the overwhelming burden of maintaining a facility that is far larger than their congregation can realistically care for or fund.

And yes—I care about the leaders who will one day give an account for their stewardship of that ministry.

More than anything, I want those churches to rediscover something.

I want them to rediscover the joy of hearing babies cry in the sanctuary again.

I want them to hear little feet running down the hallways.

I want them wrestling with the good problems of a growing church—questions like:

“If we keep growing, how are we going to make room for all these people?”

I want the activity in that building to signal something to the surrounding neighborhood:

Something is happening here.

I want their church to be vibrant again.

I want their hearts to be renewed along with the ministry happening inside those walls.

But if a church refuses to seek the Lord for renewal…
If they cannot imagine change…
If they are unwilling to release control to those who might actually bring new life to that location…

Then yes—I still want your building.

Not as a real estate asset.

But as a place where a growing church can take root.

In Nashville, a church plant often waits 10 to 15 years before it can acquire a permanent facility. 

Why? Because properties suitable for churches are both scarce and incredibly expensive.

Meanwhile, vibrant young congregations of 50, 60, or even 100 people are searching everywhere for a place to meet. They gather in school auditoriums, music venues, community centers—anywhere that will open the door.

And many of them are growing.

At the very same time, declining congregations of 25 or 30 people are meeting in buildings that once held hundreds—spaces they will never realistically grow back into.

Their hope for renewal often remains just that: hope.

Not because renewal is impossible.

But because they want the church to grow without having to change, die to self, or release control to those who could help bring new life.

And that’s the cycle that frustrates so many of us.

It shouldn’t be this way.

Dear declining church,

Do I want your building?

Absolutely.

But not in the way you’re thinking.

I want you to experience the joy of becoming a growing congregation again. I want you to know what it feels like to watch God breathe fresh life into your church. I want your building to be filled with people discovering Christ, families finding hope, and neighbors seeing the gospel lived out right in their community.

And if the Lord chooses to do that through you—praise God.

But if He chooses to do it through a new congregation planted in that same place, that’s still a kingdom win.

Because the real goal was never protecting the building.The real goal has always been seeing it filled by people finding and walking with Jesus.

Bob Bickford

Executive Director

Nashville Baptist Association

group of men stand outdoors in a line holding hands with their heads bowed, appearing to pray together under a cloudy sky.

A Heart Posture Toward Unity

Written by Bob Bickford on . Posted in Discipleship.

Unity in the body of Christ isn’t something we create through effort or agreement. Unity is something Jesus has already purchased, and we are called to live in the good of what He has done.

Conflict comes naturally. In churches, relationships, and even among believers, division can surface quickly. And one of the easiest things to do is assume the problem is always someone else.

But Paul doesn’t start with behavior—he starts with the heart.

In Ephesians 2, he reminds us that pride fuels division, but grace produces unity.

Unity Begins with Grace

There is one lens that transforms how we see others:

Not “I’m greater than you.”
Not “I’m less than you.”

But this:

We are both under God’s grace.

“It is by grace you have been saved… it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Grace humbles us. It reminds us we are not self-made people—we are grace-made people.

Remember Where You Were

Paul urges believers to remember life before Christ: separate, excluded, without hope, without God.

When we forget where we came from, pride grows. But when we remember grace, gratitude grows—and grateful people are harder to divide.

Jesus Is Our Peace

Unity is not just a good idea. It is a gospel reality.

“He himself is our peace… and has destroyed the dividing wall of hostility.”

Jesus came to reconcile us to God and to one another. The cross puts hostility to death and makes us one.

A Call to the Larger Body of Christ

Associational life reminds us the Kingdom is bigger than one church, one style, or one background.

So let’s be a people gripped by grace.
Let’s lay down what divides.
And let’s pursue unity with a heart posture that reflects Jesus.

Because in Christ, we belong to one another.

Bob Bickford

Executive Director

Nashville Baptist Association

Good Neighbor Guide

Written by Bob Bickford on . Posted in Compassion.

Four Things Pastors Need to Know During a Storm

1. Strategic Priority & Operating Assumptions

  • Core assumption: Pastors cannot effectively care for congregations if:
    • Their families are unsafe
    • Their homes are uninhabitable
    • They lack heat, power, or shelter

2. Pastor & Leader Contact Plan

  • Check in with your congregation. Ask:
    • Are you and your family safe right now?
    • What do you need?
  • Information to capture:
    • Address and best contact
    • Immediate needs list

3. Determining Home Safety (Pastors & Leaders)

  • If sheltering in place:
    • Consolidate family into one heated room
    • Use flashlights, not candles
    • No indoor generators, grills, or fuel heaters
    • Pets indoors during extreme cold

4. Power Outage Response (NES Checklist)

Rolling green hills and dense forest in the foreground, with small farm buildings scattered across the landscape and snow-capped mountains rising in the distance under a pale sky.

A Fresh Start and a Firm Foundation

Written by Bob Bickford on . Posted in Encourage, Discipleship.

As we launch out in 2026, I can sense both excitement and soberness across our city. We’re all looking at our neighborhoods and our congregations with renewed hope, eager to see how the Lord is going to move in Nashville this year. Yet, we know there will significant challenges ahead. 

It’s a season for big dreams and bold prayers and breaking down walls. As we lean into the excitement of a new start, I want to remind us of a simple truth: our greatest leadership asset isn’t a fresh new strategy—it’s our total dependence on the One who called us.

Here’s some really great news, we don’t have to carry the weight of the results for the coming ministry year. Those belong to God. Our task is faithful obedience with full dependance. I’m continuing to pray this for myself and for you as this year begins; not that we just work for God, but that we would walk with Him.

I’ve been reflecting on some ancient petitions from The Valley of Vision that I believe are the perfect fuel for a pastor’s heart in January. 

This comes from the entry New Year:

  • Lord, give me thy grace to sanctify me. May our private walk with You be the source of our public ministry.
  • Give me thy comforts to cheer. Let the joy of our salvation be our daily fuel when the work gets busy.
  • Give me thy wisdom to teach. Grant us clarity as we proclaim Your Word to a city that needs it.
  • Give me thy right hand to guide. Lead us as we lead others, keeping our feet on the right path and our hearts humble.
  • Give me thy counsel to instruct. In every decision and meeting, may we hear Your voice above the noise.
  • Give me thy law to judge. Keep us aligned with Your truth and centered on Your heart.
  • Give me thy presence to stabilize. When the year brings its inevitable surprises, may Your peace be our anchor for my unsteady emotions.

I am genuinely excited about what is ahead for each of us. We have an incredible opportunity to see the Gospel flourish in our area. Let’s run this race with joy, knowing that the One who started this good work is faithful to complete it.

I’m honored to be in the trenches with you.

Grace,

Bob Bickford

Executive Director, Nashville Baptist Association

A Savior for Weary Shepherds

Written by Bob Bickford on . Posted in Encourage, Advent.

Advent has a way of sneaking up on ministry leaders. We’re moving fast—finishing the year, closing budget gaps, holding together volunteers, carrying people’s pain, preaching through December, and trying to maintain pace to and through Christmas Eve. If you’re tired but still hopeful, if your heart feels a little worn thin, you’re exactly the kind of person Advent is speaking to.

And that’s why you can’t afford to pass it by.

Advent is not a speed bump—it’s a lifeline

Some of us may treat Advent like the church-calendar version of background music. Meant for others, probably not for us. 

Advent isn’t for people who have energy to spare. It’s for people who don’t. It’s for those who feel the gap between God’s promises and their current reality. It’s for leaders who look at their churches, their cities, their families, and even their own inner life and quietly admit: things are not as they should be and I am tired.

Your weariness is not disqualifying—it’s revealing

Ministry weariness has a way of exposing what (or who) has been carrying the weight.

When we’re depleted, the “lesser kings” show up and declare loudly:

  • “You’ve got to fix this.”
  • “You can’t let them down.”
  • “If you don’t control it, it all falls apart.”
  • “A better leader wouldn’t feel this tired.”

None of those are the voices of kind rulers. None of them give life. Advent is a quiet but firm invitation to step out from under those masters and back under the reign of Jesus—the only King who doesn’t break his servants.

Advent tells weary leaders what’s true

Isaiah spoke into a fractured world and pointed God’s people forward to a righteous King—one who would lead with wisdom, judge with fairness, defend the vulnerable, and bring real justice. 

That King is Jesus.

Advent reminds us:  the world will not be healed by frantic leadership, better strategies, or sheer grit. Those things matter. But they are not the ultimate repair.

Jesus is.

He has come. And he is coming again. That’s not a children’s story. That’s the spine of our hope.

Don’t pass by the peace you’re waiting for

Isaiah’s vision of future peace feels almost impossible—wolves and lambs at rest, danger disarmed, enemies reconciled. That’s the coming kingdom of Christ. One day it will be complete and irreversible.

But Advent says something else, too: future peace is meant to shape present leadership.

So if your church feels tense, your team is tired, or your own heart is stretched, Advent isn’t saying “try harder.” It’s saying:

  • Lead from hope, not panic.
  • Sow peace now because peace is coming.
  • Refuse to mirror the world’s anxiety.
  • Keep forgiving. Keep reconciling. Keep doing the next right thing.

Advent waiting is not passive. It’s active trust in the middle of unfinished work.

A word you might need to hear right now

Leader, your fatigue does not mean God is distant.
Your slower pace does not mean you’re failing.
Your longing for things to be made right is not weakness—it’s evidence that your heart still believes a better kingdom is coming.

Advent is God’s yearly mercy to weary shepherds:
“You are not a savior. But the Savior has come. And he will come again.”

So don’t pass by Advent this year. Don’t let it be another church season you manage. Let it be a message you receive.

Stand still long enough to remember what’s true:
The King is righteous.
The peace is coming.
The waiting will end.

And you, tired as you may be, are not waiting in vain.

– Bob Bickford
Executive Director,
Nashville Baptist Association

Gratitude and Partnership in the Gospel

Written by Bob Bickford on . Posted in Encourage.

Philippians 1:3–5 — “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.”

As Paul opened his letter to the Philippian church, he expressed heartfelt gratitude for their partnership in advancing the gospel. His words capture the essence of what it means to labor together in kingdom work — not in isolation, but in collaboration, as co-laborers with Christ and one another. That same spirit of gratitude fills my heart as I think about the churches and partners of the Nashville Baptist Association.

Grateful for Churches Exploring Their Future

This year, over forty churches have allowed us the privilege of walking alongside them as they explore their future — discerning God’s direction, addressing challenges, and renewing their mission to reach their communities with the gospel. Every one of these congregations is a testimony to the ongoing work of Christ in Middle Tennessee. We are deeply thankful for the trust you’ve placed in us and for your willingness to engage in the hard but hopeful work of seeking renewal.

Grateful for Faithful Contributors

I’m also profoundly thankful for the churches who faithfully and consistently contribute to our shared mission — advancing the gospel in Greater Nashville, Middle Tennessee, and to the ends of the earth. Your partnership fuels ministry training, revitalization, and missions efforts that reach far beyond any single congregation. Because of your generosity, the work continues — stronger and more focused than ever.

Grateful for Partnering Churches

Our gratitude extends to both those churches who are helping and those seeking help. In this network, no one stands alone. Churches that are strong lend strength to those that are struggling; those who have received help often turn around and become helpers themselves. That’s gospel partnership in action — a beautiful picture of the body of Christ living out mutual care and cooperation.

Grateful for Our Ministry Team

I can’t say enough about our ministry team of strategists — who give their best every day to help churches fulfill their mission. They listen, coach, equip, and encourage. Their work doesn’t make headlines, but it changes lives, strengthens pastors, and shapes the future of congregations across our association.

Grateful for Our Board

Finally, I’m deeply thankful for our Board of Directors. Their wisdom, encouragement, and guidance help steer this association with clarity and conviction. Their leadership ensures that we remain faithful to our purpose and accountable to the mission God has entrusted to us.

God is at work — in our churches, our partnerships, and our mission together. And for that, I am deeply  grateful.

– Bob Bickford
Executive Director,
Nashville Baptist Association

Thank You, Ministry Leaders

Written by Bob Bickford on . Posted in Encourage.

Thank You

October brings with it Clergy Appreciation Month—a moment set aside to recognize those who serve Christ’s Church in all its forms: Pastors, Worship Leaders, Associate Pastors, Student Ministers, and Children’s Ministers.

Let me start with this: thank you.

Thank you for doing the hard, holy work that few understand and fewer see. Thank you for showing up when showing up is the hardest part. Thank you for giving yourself to the people of God—often with little applause, less recognition, and plenty of opinions swirling around your every decision.

You Serve for God’s Glory, Not Man’s Approval

In a culture obsessed with metrics, likes, and platforms, you’ve chosen a different road. You’re not serving for approval ratings or online applause. You’re serving for God’s glory—not for recognition.

Ministry isn’t about impressing—it’s about faithfulness. And every quiet act of obedience, every sermon preached in love, every prayer whispered in exhaustion, every late-night hospital visit—those things matter eternally, even when they don’t trend locally.

You Serve Because You’re Called

You didn’t stumble into this work. God called you. He placed His hand on your life and invited you into His mission—to shepherd His people, to teach His Word, and to model His heart.

There’s no contract more binding than a calling. When the fruit seems slow, when criticism comes quick, when the work feels heavy—remember: you are not hired help. You are a called servant of the Living God.

You Serve in Quiet and Humble Ways

Much of what you do never gets posted, printed, or praised—and that’s exactly how Jesus served. The Son of God washed feet, walked toward the hurting, and wept over the stubborn. His ministry wasn’t a highlight reel; it was a life of humility and sacrifice.

You’ve followed His example. You’ve given more than people know, prayed more than people realize, and stayed longer than others might have.

Your Reward Is Eternal

You won’t always see the results now. The applause may not come. The affirmation may feel faint. But your reward isn’t in this life—it’s in the next. God sees. He keeps score. He will one day say what every faithful servant longs to hear: “Well done.”

So, this month, as we pause to say thanks, hear this clearly: You are seen. You are valued. You are loved.

We thank you for your prayers, your sacrifices, your steadfastness. We thank you for staying the course when everyone has an opinion about how you should do your job—critiquing freely, thanking rarely.

God knows. He sees. And I pray you feel His affirmation more deeply than anything else this month.

Keep going, friend. Your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

-Bob

“Rob Turner, Pastor of The Fellowship at Mt. Juliet; Brandon James, Pastor of Green Hill Church; and Michael Darbouze, Replant Pastor of Smith Springs Baptist Church, pictured together celebrating collaboration among Nashville Baptist churches.”

Together: A Picture of Kingdom Partnership

Written by Bob Bickford on . Posted in Encourage.

Together

There’s something powerful that happens when churches decide they’re better together.

The story of Green Hill Church, The Fellowship Mt. Juliet, and Smith Springs Baptist Church is a living testimony of what happens when pastors and congregations embrace one another as partners in the Gospel to see one church renewed and Replanted.

Pastors Brandon James, Rob Turner, and Michael Darbouze represent three different churches, with unique callings and contexts. Yet, instead of working in isolation, they chose collaboration. They listened, prayed, and found ways to link arms—each bringing their strengths, people, and passion to a shared Kingdom mission.

The Power of Fractional Partnerships

Partnership doesn’t always mean full mergers or massive commitments. The Fractional Partnership model reminds us that churches can collaborate at different levels, for different lengths of time, with clear purpose and mutual benefit

Full and Fractional Partnerships Explained

A fractional partnership might involve churches joining together to launch or relaunch a gospel work in a historic location. In other settings it looks like one pastor encouraging and coaching another pastor, sharing worship resources, helping with administration, or supporting a local outreach effort.

These partnerships confirm our collective calling to advance the Gospel—together.

Every Church Can Partner

Here’s the truth: every church can partner with another. Big or small. Urban or rural. Established or newly replanted.

Some can give coaching or funding. Others can host prayer gatherings, send volunteers, or share facilities. Every congregation has something of value to bring to the table. When we start asking, “Who can we come alongside?” instead of “What do we need?”—we begin to reflect the unity Jesus prayed for in John 17.

Partnership multiplies impact. It strengthens pastors. It renews declining churches. It gives new churches the momentum to thrive. And most of all, it puts the Gospel front and center.

A Call to Action

In Middle Tennessee, we’ve got a remarkable opportunity: to move beyond isolation and into collaboration. To look across the city or across the association and say, “Let’s do this together.”

Because together, we’re stronger. Together, we’re faithful. Together, we’re the Church.

Does your church want to partner or does your church need a partner? Let’s start a conversation today.

Video Story: Smith Springs Replant