#197: Keeping the Faith After Easter; Discipleship From a Lost Man Turned Longtime Pastor

Easter has come and gone...so what's next? That's what I asked a Georgia pastor who's been a faith mentor for me. We also talk on this podcast (make sure to subscribe) about his path to the Lord...5 decades in ministry...a recent tag team sermon with his son on the unlikely...the utter importance of discipleship...how sports can bring people to church...and more. (5:00) Pastor Mike McBride has been in ministry for 49 years, nearly 3 decades of that as a lead pastor of Trinity Temple Assembly of God in Columbus GA, where he married my wife and I, almost 24 years ago. After having high attendance at churches on Easter, it's a great beginning, but it's then a process of spiritual growth. Those instructions can happen at/through churches. (11:20) Before he became a Pastor, Mike first accepted Christ as a young teenager, after a church invite through basketball. Not having a family support system of faith, he was lost again, but listen to his story about a radical change that happened Fathers Day 1971, and how a Bible Study called "Navigators" thrust him even further. Those steps of faith next weren't easy. (22:50) God does not want to be your co-pilot, Mike preached. he explains. How do we let go and trust God? Does it get easier? It can be tough leaving security and following the will of God. In a recent tag team sermon with his son (who's been in ministry 35 years), they told the church about God using the "unlikely" do the impossible. Pastor Mike also talked about the thief turning to the man on the middle Cross...and how we can do the same. Having his family (29:09) be involved in advancing the Kingdom of God is important. Now in his 80s, Mike still enjoys golfing, fishing, hunting (and knows all too well how athletics brings people to Christ), but came out of retirement to be Seniors Pastor at a church in town. (38:00) This pastor defines Discipleship, how Jesus really modeled it for us, being Learners! Without that foundations, emotions rule. Nowadays, churches do this through small groups, life groups(used to be called Sunday School). (46:27) Top athletes and really any of us can use our platform and gifts for God. Part of that journey for Pastor Mike and his wife was both of them surviving cancer. That included 35 straight radiation treatments in his throat. (50:45) And whatever your difficult circumstances are, ask and HE WILL HELP YOU. This week's guest describes how what's in the Bible transforms people! (54:30) He closes us out in Prayer, then one last story about witnessing to the welders. Thanks for listening to the #RunTheRace podcast! Also, write a quick review about it, on Apple podcasts. For more info and all past episodes, go to www.wtvm.com/podcast/.