Leadercast 2015
For the past five years, I have helped coordinate the Leadercast right here in our hometown of Galax. It has been a great partnership between local small business leaders, church leaders, and Crossroads. My passion is developing leaders, and that’s why I decided to get a Master’s Degree in Christian Leadership from the Seminary at Liberty University.
One of the biggest needs in our community is leadership development. We need leaders at the local level who can make wise choices and do what is best for our community. We have big problems with the loss of industry and an aging population, and it will take strong leaders to help solve them. From a Spiritual perspective, we also need brave leaders who are willing to reach out to the lost and the broken. One of the things I really like about the Leadercast is how it brings together the leaders in our community to talk and learn together. Here is a highlight video from this year’s event.
I used to be a little boy who loved god with all his heart. Growing up, I was subjected to one loss after the next, culminating in my wife fighting cancer and finding out I might be terminally ill as well. I am scared our kids could be orphaned soon. After everything I have experienced, the only way i could make sense of god’s silence and inaction was to realize he does not exist. It’s better I don’t believe because I would have to hate him otherwise. It would be better if others didn’t believe because maybe they would offer real comfort instead of hollow assurances that god is in control and loves us. People wouldn’t ask me if there is some sort of sin in my life that is inviting demons to harm our family. Believers can’t fathom a good god who is in control letting these things happen to good, faithful people- so they grasp for some other explanation. Basically, we must deserve it, either because of some specific set of sins we committed, or because we are separated from god by our sinful nature on general. Believing is great for those who can, but it requires an inconsistent worldview that will always fall short in comforting those that are profoundly suffering. It’s like prosperity congregations, where pastors preach giving to the church will yield blessings from god. When certain members do this and still struggle, the answer is always to blame them. They are not giving enough, they do not have enough faith. How much nicer it would be if someone just said bad things happen to good and bad alike. You are not suffering because you deserve it in some way.