By Leigh Pritchett
Correspondent, The Alabama Baptist
Lawrence Phipps, 63, has been in ministry 43 years. Educated at Auburn University and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, he is pastor of First Baptist Church, Gulf Shores; leader of It’s Life Ministry LLC; and an officer of the board and member of the board’s executive committee of The Alabama Baptist.
Ministry description: reaching people and helping churches reach people; serves as a pastor and ministry leader
Church name: First Baptist Church, Gulf Shores, in Baldwin Baptist Association
Life verse: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matt. 6:33)
Q: Describe where you focus your greatest ministry efforts.
A: My greatest focus is reaching people and helping churches understand what it takes to reach people. That also is the focus of It’s Life Ministry LLC, an international ministry I lead that helps churches, associations, conventions and organizations reach, recover, retain and raise up believers to be reproducing Christians. I have co-authored a book with Daniel Edmonds on organizing small groups to reach people. Plus, I have written an evangelism equipping ministry and a 100-day guide to follow up with those who are being reached.
Q: Tell about a “turning point” in your life and how God was involved.
A: I remember a time early in ministry when the church where I was pastor was not doing well. One night just prior to going to bed, I prayed, “Lord, I need your help.” The next morning I went to the church early (about 6:30). A businessman — not a church member — was parked in the alley. He and I got out of our cars and I asked, “Tom, why are you here?” He replied, “God sent me here to help you.” He gave me a few words of wisdom and I listened and responded. A revival began in my life and ministry the next Sunday which has never ended.
Q: If there were one thing you could tell your younger self about faith, what would it be?
A: My favorite advice to younger pastors is to get into the Word every morning before you do anything else. Leave the paper on the porch, Twitter unopened and Facebook unimportant. The year 2000 changed me. Dr. John Bisagno spoke in Montgomery to pastors. I was convicted and made the Bible the priority of my day. Since 2000, I have read (the Bible) through at least once every year. Sundays are no different. I get up early and open Scripture to listen to God. I do not begin with the Scripture I will be preaching from on that day. However, there are many times that God will show me something that directly relates to what I will be saying.
Q: Does your church have any special traditions that mean a lot to you? What are they?
A: The great tradition of the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ has been seeing great numbers come to a saving knowledge of Jesus. Many churches have left that tradition, forgot that tradition or are de-emphazing that tradition. It is my joy to preach in a church that is returning to that tradition. It is exciting to be called to visit churches and help them re-develop that tradition. Several years ago, God led me to write “It’s LIFE.” It was based on the tradition of Acts — a book (in the Bible) that is filled with gospel presentations and more than 50 references to people witnessing, being saved or being baptized. I know that the greatest traditions are the biblical traditions for the church.
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