May 1, 2024
Finding the Beauty in a Sunset: What We Can Learn from Organizations that No Longer Exist
What can we learn from Restoration Movement organizations that no longer exist? . . .
Articles for tag: Wayne Smith
September 14, 2023
THROWBACK THURSDAY: ‘Playing Hurt’ (2012)
In his well-known sermon "Playing Hurt," Wayne Smith asked, "Will you stay in the game . . . even if you've been hurt? God had only one son without sin, but no son without sorrow. . . ."
February 7, 2021
Sam E. Stone: Upon His Hiring as Editor . . . and Retirement
We are devoting our “Throwback Thursday” features during February to our long-serving editor Sam E. Stone, who died Jan. 25 at age 84. Sam served as Christian Standard’s editor for 25 years—longer than anyone else—before retiring in 2003. (We are posting the first feature this month a couple of days late due to some necessary updates to our website.) This first installment will focus on what two prior editors wrote about Sam upon his hiring for the position and conclude with what Sam himself wrote upon his retirement. _ _ _ Sam E. Stone, Editor, 1978 By Edwin V. HaydenEditorialMay
March 19, 2020
Wayne Smith’s NACC Message to Preachers (Part 2)
Here is the conclusion of Wayne Smith’s keynote sermon “Preach the Word” from the 1977 North American Christian Convention. Smith helped start Southland Christian Church in Lexington, Kentucky, in 1956 and served as her senior minister until 1995. He died in 2016. Many still list Smith as their all-time favorite preacher. Click here to read the first part of Smith’s sermon, which focuses on “The Summons—Preach.” _ _ _ Preach the Word (Part 2) The President’s message at the 1977 NACC—based on 2 Timothy 4:1-8 By Wayne B. SmithMarch 10, 1985; p. 4 THE SUBJECT—CHRISTChrist said, “And I, if I
March 12, 2020
Wayne Smith’s NACC Message to Preachers (Part 1)
Wayne Smith helped start Southland Christian Church in Lexington, Kentucky, in 1956 and served as her senior minister until 1995. He died in 2016. Still today, many list Smith as their all-time favorite preacher. This article from 1985 was actually Smith’s manuscript from his keynote sermon at the North American Christian Convention in 1977, the year he served as president. Smith’s topic, preaching, was the subject about which he was perhaps most passionate. This is long, and so we will break it into two parts. This week focuses on “The Summons—Preach,” and part two next week will explore “The Subject—Christ”
June 20, 2017
In Wayne”s Own Words
By Barry Cameron Wayne B. Smith is fondly remembered for many things: his humor, passion for preaching, love for fellow ministers, and hope-giving encouragement. He also is remembered for a willingness to state his position on hot-button issues. But don”t take our word for it. Acts 4:12 says, “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Everyone knows that name: Jesus. Almost everyone in the Christian church knows another name as well. It”s a name that evokes smiles and stories in the hearts
June 19, 2017
Church Gives Away 4,000 Copies of Christian Standard
On Sunday, June 18, Crossroads Christian Church in Grand Prairie, Texas, gave 4,000 copies of the July issue of Christian Standard, with its new design and focus, to its members and attenders. Senior pastor Barry Cameron told those in attendance that the magazine is one of the oldest continually published magazines in the United States and is all about our “tribe.” “We told them the emphasis of this publication is to unify and rally all the Christian churches together to have a greater impact for the kingdom and to share the great stories of what God is doing in our
July 20, 2016
Wayne B. Smith Remembered for His Wit, Love, Faithfulness
Wayne B. Smith, 87, who helped start Southland Christian Church, Lexington, KY, in 1956 and served as her senior minister until 1995—growing the church from 152 to 3,700 weekly—died June 29, 2016. He remained faithful to the end, even encouraging a gathering of ministers in Jessamine County, KY, the day before his death. Smith, a resident of Sayre Christian Village in Lexington, was once dubbed “the Bob Hope of the Ministry.” He joked that he remembered more jokes than Scriptures. His laugh was infectious. He was known to take buckets of KFC chicken to the needy, friends, and church visitors.
July 9, 2016
Lexington”s Lighthouse Helps Hungry, Hurting
By Jennifer Johnson Since the mid-1990s, Lighthouse Ministries has been helping the poor, the addicted, and the hungry of Lexington, KY, with food, recovery programs, and other outreach efforts. At the Nehemiah House, men can participate in Bible study, anger management classes, GED preparation, and counseling as well as receive help with their substance abuse issues. Families receive support and resources for the recovery process. Lighthouse”s “Dining with Dignity” program also serves hot meals to thousands””more than 40,000 lunches in 2015 alone. Last year the ministry bought a second building, allowing the Lighthouse team to serve almost 200 people at
July 16, 2015
Rick Grover’s Thought Leaders
We asked 35 Christian leaders, “Who is the influencer with the biggest impact on your life and ministry?” Most of these leaders listed several influential thinkers, writers, innovators, and leaders more of us should get to know. This response is from Rick Grover, senior pastor of East 91st Street Christian Church, Indianapolis, Indiana. ________ Wayne Smith, retired minister from Lexington, Kentucky: Wayne is a lifelong friend who taught me that our commission to love and serve people always trumps my own agenda or strategic plan. Leonard Wymore, retired NACC executive director, Johnson City, Tennessee: Leonard and my grandfather were best friends,
March 22, 2015
Lessons from Lexington
By Sean Plank I”ve always enjoyed watching TV preachers. I know that sounds weird, because most people can”t stand them. To be clear, I”m not talking about the ministers who preach exclusively on TV (a lot of those guys are kind of shady). I”m talking about the pastors and ministers who broadcast their regular worship services on TV. Growing up in Lexington, Kentucky, I would sit in front of the TV on Sunday mornings and watch a couple of guys on the local ABC station, known to me only as “channel 36.” One of the guys I watched was an
July 16, 2014
Selling Carpet and Serving the Lord
By Wayne B. Smith (From our series “The Best or Worst Advice I”ve Ever Received.”) I was saved at 10 years of age in a revival at the Church of Christ in Delhi, in western Cincinnati, Ohio. Two years later an elder asked if I would like to attend Northward Christian Assembly, a Christian church camp, near Williamstown, Kentucky. It was a life-changing experience. On Friday night, after a moving message at vespers, an invitation was extended for anyone willing to accept the challenge of specialized Christian service. I responded, with the understanding that someday I would be a preacher.Â
July 12, 2014
Even Leaders Need Forgiveness
By Ken Idleman (From our series “The Best or Worst Advice I’ve Ever Received.”) The worst leadership advice I ever received was during the second year of my presidency at Ozark Christian College. It was unsolicited, from a member of the teaching faculty. At age 32, I was still just getting oriented to my new role. One day I sent out an impulsive written communication to the staff. After sleeping on it that night, I realized I had made a mistake. The very next day I distributed a follow-up letter, explaining and apologizing in print. My former colleague came rushing
Wayne’s Words
By Jack Cottrell (From our series “The Best or Worst Advice I’ve Ever Received.”) As early as junior high school I had decided I wanted to be a preacher, but well-meaning high school teachers pressured me in other directions. I grew up on a farm and was active in vocational agriculture during high school, and was awarded a nice scholarship by our county farm bureau. Thus, by the time I was a senior, I had changed my mind and decided to enroll in the University of Kentucky to study agriculture. Either in the summer of 1954 or 1955, during senior
July 8, 2014
Their Advice””and Ours
By Mark A. Taylor Some of the best advice I ever received was from Roy Lawson, longtime member of Standard Publishing”s Publishing Committee, and one of this magazine”s original contributing editors. “Emphasize people,” he told me when I asked for ways to make CHRISTIAN STANDARD more effective. “Highlight what people are doing. Promote their ministries and their accomplishments.” Through the years I”ve followed that advice in more ways than one, including a series of special posts you”ll be seeing at this site starting today, all of them from our July print edition”s central feature, “The Best (or Worst!) Advice I
July 1, 2014
My Advice
By Mark A. Taylor Some of the best advice I ever received was from Roy Lawson, longtime member of Standard Publishing”s Publishing Committee, and one of this magazine”s original contributing editors. “Emphasize people,” he told me when I asked for ways to make CHRISTIAN STANDARD more effective. “Highlight what people are doing. Promote their ministries and their accomplishments.” Through the years I”ve followed that advice in more ways than one, none of them more engaging than the major feature of this month”s issue. I love our “Best (or Worst!) Advice” pieces for several reasons. First, of course, is the advice
July 20, 2013
40 Under 40: Jon Weece
JON WEECE Lead follower, Southland Christian Church Lexington, Kentucky The new pope is giving hope to many because he”s a Jesuit. He”s humble and cares for the poor. He”s named for St. Francis. Jon Weece gives me the same hope. He has the heart of a missionary and the humility and leadership of Moses. He comes from some of the finest stock in the Christian church and carries the Weece name proudly. Southland is innovative, but not to be chic. The church exhibited its innovation by starting a huge campus in the middle of an under-resourced area, which has enabled
He Looked Beyond My Fault and Saw My Need
By Joe Bliffen Your initial reaction to hearing about a terrible sin someone has committed indicates immediately whether you are developing the “mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16*). “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). What was Jesus” attitude toward sinners as he walked among us? In Zacchaeus, Jesus saw a man who had really messed up his life and needed a friend. On the cross, Jesus saw two criminals and the Roman soldiers, people who mocked him and blasphemed God. Yet Jesus looked beyond their faults and saw their need; he died for
June 19, 2012
What”s Happening with Wayne?
Editor”s note: We asked Wayne Smith collaborator Rod Huron to give us an update on Wayne”s activities these days. During May, Wayne”s schedule included a banquet sponsored by the International Conference on Missions (formerly National Missionary Convention) and speaking at a banquet to raise money for Sayre Christian Village in Lexington, Kentucky: “They started in 1972 to build a home for the elderly, and now they have 25 acres and 250 apartments, plus a medical unit. It hasn”t been easy, but look at where they”re going””a $12 million expansion.” He also spoke at a banquet sponsored by Women for Life, a group
June 19, 2012
Playing Hurt
By Wayne Smith The greatest thrill, the greatest dream, the greatest goal of a football player”s career is to play in the Super Bowl. To be able to wear the ring of a Super Bowl champion is the greatest accomplishment of all. I”m told that being tackled in an NFL game is like running into a brick wall. In spite of their unbelievable conditioning, nearly all of these players play hurt. The question begs to be asked, “Why do these fellows do this?” Some do it because of the money, but for most of them, football is in their blood
