来见见拉里·哈伯德

Imagine being so shy and so introverted you'd rather fail your college speech class than speak in front of a crowd.

Picture further being gripped with a fear of public speaking and then being called into the pastorate. Now, you're walking in the shoes 拉里·哈伯德 wore as a young man.

这些天, Larry has three decades of ministry under his belt, including more than 17 at his current church, Riverside Baptist in the Denham Springs-Watson community just outside Baton Rouge. Now he speaks confidently and with passion. But it wasn't always like that for the Natchitoches, 路易斯安那州, 本地的, 是谁干的, 事实上, choose to fail a speech class in college before answering God's call to preach.

It scared me to death because I was so shy. I couldn't stand up in front of a group of people and talk. So, whenever Christ started dealing with me about preaching, 我说, “上帝, I'm only going to ask you this one time because I'm scared to death. But if you truly want me to be a pastor, I will be glad to do that."

有一次他降服于神的呼召, Larry describes a "weight" lifted from his shoulders, he experienced God's direction and a new boldness. He started speaking at a local nursing home and has never looked back.

As soon as I shared with my pastor that I believed God had called me to ministry, I have always had an opportunity to preach. I can't remember in 30 years a time when I didn't have somewhere to share God's Word with a group of people.

Another factor in Larry's growth as a believer and as a pastor has been his relationship with Leavell College and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. While he attended a local college for a while, he admits that he was much more interested in his role on the golf team than in getting an education. But as he began to think about handling the Word of God and began to pastor his first congregation in Fort Jessup, 路易斯安那州, he knew he needed a theological education.

He began studying at another school, but it proved to be an awkward fit. That's when he learned about Leavell College. And, after earning his undergraduate degree, he went on to earn a master of divinity from NOBTS. 在新奥尔良, his experiences with professors who cared about God's Word and lived out the Great Commission made a tremendous impact.

It's a Herculean task to stand up to preach every week. For most of my ministry, I have preached Sunday morning and Sunday night. I would teach on Wednesday night and occasionally teach a Sunday school class. 这是一项了不起的责任, and Leavell College and NOBTS really gave me the skill set to be able to do that.

在新奥尔良的时候, Larry learned how to develop reliable sermons and the administrative skills needed to lead a congregation. And he is quick to acknowledge the important role donors provide in the process. 当你选择慷慨地给予, new generations of students are being equipped with a quality theological education, and you get to be a part of something bigger than yourself, 一些与王国有关的东西.

教育部面临挑战. For every 20 men who begin the pastorate, one retires. It's not that people get in the ministry who weren't called. I believe it's more that people go in unprepared. They are not ready to deal with the day-to-day stress of ministry. When God calls someone, He certainly gifts them. But all of us also need to be able to grow in grace and knowledge. 我们需要这样的环境.

For 拉里·哈伯德 and so many others, Leavell College and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary has fostered spiritual and practical growth for its students. And your regular gifts to the Providence Fund allow us to pursue our calling to prepare servants to walk with Christ, 宣扬他的真理, 来完成他的使命.

用你投入的每一美元, you play an active role in equipping new generations of church leaders who will share the gospel around the world. That's why we are encouraging to renew your giving to NOBTS and Leavell College or, 如果你从未给予, 从今天开始.

Thank you in advance for your prayers and for your generous support of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Leavell College. We know you have choices when it comes to stewardship, and we appreciate your willingness to partner with us.

May God richly bless you as you give, as you pray, and as you serve Him each day.

P.S. 加入NOBTS & Leavell College to prepare servants for the Kingdom today! Make your gift by the "donate" button at the top of this webpage. 谢谢你的付出!