Last week, on August 26, at the age of 86, John A. Reed Jr. quietly fell asleep in Jesus’s arms. His passing didn’t register on most people’s radar. But the news of his death had wide and strong aftershocks for many in Oklahoma City and around the country who knew and loved “Pops” or “Pop Reed.” The nicknames say a lot about the man and his ministry. Those like me who knew Reed viewed him as a father figure. Lifetime Legacy Reed was born in the home of a pastor. He was a U.S. Army veteran, a graduate of Langston University, and, most importantly, the pastor of Fairview Missionary Baptist Church. Through his six decades of ministry, Reed touched many lives for Christ. At the news of his passing, the mayor of Oklahoma City, David Holt, called Reed “one of the most impactful residents [the] city has ever known.” Reed was baptized in Fairview. He preached there at the age of 19. After being asked to assist the pastor, he served that one congregation from the time he was 24 years old until his final days. Reed announced his retirement from Fairview’s pulpit on Father’s Day 2024—more than 61 years after his ministry there began. Though it’s not every pastor’s calling, there’s something special about a man who plants his flag for the gospel in a congregation and stays there serving Christ and the church for a lifetime. Earnest Preacher, Faithful in Crisis Because of his faithful and earnest preaching in Oklahoma City, Reed also was privileged to travel the country proclaiming Christ crucified. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear he preached in every U.S. state. It was as if his motto was “Have Bible, will travel.” Yet if you ask Fairview’s members, they’ll tell you Pastor Reed was always there for them. When the sheep needed him, this faithful shepherd was there to care for his flock—from pastoral counseling to visiting the sick to grief care. For over half a century, Reed led Fairview with pulpit excellence, gospel vision, strategic discipleship, pastoral care, and wise administration. There’s something special about a man who plants his flag for the gospel in a congregation and stays there serving Christ and the church for a lifetime. In 1995, I preached at Fairview during their annual Simultaneous Revival, a weeklong evangelistic effort led by a coalition of churches. That Wednesday morning, I was awakened by what I thought was an earthquake. When I looked out my hotel window, I could see smoke rising downtown. We’d soon learn terrorists used a bomb to bring down the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. I had a front-row seat to watch Reed, who was serving as president of the local ministers’ fellowship, lead churches to pray for and serve their shocked and brokenhearted city while he also ministered to families in his congregation who’d lost loved ones in the bombing. Intentional Mentor, Servant of the Community Reed was a “preacher’s preacher.” He was a friend of preachers and a strong supporter of young preachers. Many congregations in Oklahoma City and beyond are led by “sons of Fairview,” whom Reed licensed, ordained, and trained. The list of pastors—young and old—who are where they are because Reed gave them a helping hand is long. I’m a part of that list. Along with leading local ministerial alliances, Reed worked tirelessly in his denomination, serving as the state president and regional vice-president of the National Baptist Convention, USA. He was also out in front of the civil rights progress made in Oklahoma City over the decades. On many occasions, Reed’s concern for his community prompted him to lead the way in political matters. But more often, he prayed for and counseled city, state, and national leaders behind the scenes—pastoring the politicians. When pressed to run for office, Reed refused, prioritizing gospel proclamation and shepherding his beloved Fairview. From ‘Uncle John’ to ‘Pops’ Reed and my father were dear friends. My dad affectionately called him “Buddy.” I can’t remember a time when “Uncle John” wasn’t a part of my life. My dad preached the Simultaneous Revival at Reed’s invitation the week after Easter each year. Reed preached Homecoming services for my dad in Los Angeles each June. The day my father died, Reed was flying home from preaching at Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church, where my dad had served for 40 years. That same day, I was flying home from preaching at a youth meeting in Detroit. I was still in high school. After we both landed and received the news, Reed called to assure me that “Uncle John” would be heading right back to L.A. to be with me. But when he arrived a few days later, Reed was no longer my “Uncle John.” He was “Pops.” He adopted me as a son and was truly always there for me. Images provided by John A. Reed Jr.’s family Pops was with me as we preached my father’s funeral. He came back the next summer to ordain me to the gospel ministry. Then that November, at age 17, I went to Mt. Sinai to vote for a new senior pastor; I came home as that new pastor. I didn’t know what to do next, but Reed was there to advise, support, and encourage me. He helped to install me in both the congregations where I’ve served. He preached the message at my wedding to Crystal, and he treated my children as his grandchildren. Words and a Life to Remember The year after my dad passed, Reed invited me to preach at the Simultaneous Revival in honor of my father. He kept inviting me back to preach that revival week for more than two decades. It was through preaching for him that I met many great pulpiteers and was invited to preach in churches across the country. Each year, he’d recommend a fresh crop of books for me to read. “Son, make friends with books,” he’d say. “They will never leave you nor forsake you.” I called the first book I wrote It Happens After Prayer. The book title was Reed’s line, and it was no mere pulpit slogan. For decades, he’d call his members to prayer with the wonderful assurance that God is willing to hear and able to answer. It wouldn’t be a stretch to suggest longtime Fairview members will remember their pastor’s prayers as much as his sermons. For decades, Reed would call his members to prayer with the wonderful assurance that God is willing to hear and able to answer. After I preached at Fairview as a young preacher, Pops would often say to the congregation, “And it does not yet appear what he shall be . . .” Hearing him speak that subtle benediction over me encouraged me to attempt great things for the Lord. Now, as an older man and more seasoned preacher, my ambitions have mellowed. I’ve seen too many ministers crash and burn on the track as they sought to cross the line ahead of everyone else. At this point, I just want to finish strong, as Reed did: I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. (2 Tim. 4:6–8)

The Gospel Coalition is thrilled to announce the theme, speaker lineup, and registration information for our upcoming 2025 conference, to be held April 22 to 24, 2025, in Indianapolis. LEARN MORE AND REGISTER Register soon! The early bird rate for TGC25 is $110 cheaper than the final rate, so register now before the price increases in November. For the first 1,000 people who register, we’ll throw in a free book! You’ll get to choose a title from Rebecca McLaughlin, Mark Vroegop, or David Platt. Conference Theme At TGC25, we’ll explore the theme Alive Together: Faithful Living in a Faithless Age.  In union with Christ, we’re reconnected and renewed. Connected to Christ, we’re connected to one another. Fragmented people become a united family. Divided selves become whole. The dead in sin become alive. At TGC25, we’ll celebrate this gospel of life and reconnection by studying Ephesians, Paul’s magisterial epistle that has been called “the distilled essence of the Christian religion.” We won’t only celebrate the rich blessings of our union with Christ by studying what it means to be “alive together with Christ” (Eph. 2:5). We’ll also mark the 20th anniversary of The Gospel Coalition! We’ll celebrate God’s faithfulness by encountering, with awe, the gospel itself: how it saves us, how it shapes us, and how it sends us, together, on mission in the world. Keynote Speakers Main stage keynote speakers will unpack Ephesians: John Piper Ken Mbugua Mark Vroegop Alistair Begg Andrew Wilson Ryan Kwon David Platt Breakouts and Seminars Attendees will choose from more than 60 breakout and smaller-group seminar options. These will offer quality teaching and interactive learning on a wide range of topics pertinent to life and ministry. Breakout and seminar speakers include the following: J. D. Greear Jen Wilkin J. T. English Ruth Chou Simons Gavin Ortlund Garrett Kell Melissa Kruger Keith Getty Nancy Guthrie Matt Smethurst Bobby Scott Megan Hill Tony Merida Courtney Doctor Sam Chan Laura Wifler Andrew Walker Group, International, and Gen Z Discounts Available Group: If you’ll have a group of 10+ attendees, please email events@tgc.org to receive a discount code of $20 per person in your group. Please note the code isn’t retroactive and can only be used on new registrations. International: If you live outside North America and plan to attend TGC25, you can register at the discounted price of $169. Gen Z: Anyone ages 16 to 26 at the time of registration can register at the discounted price of $169. Browse the list of breakouts and speakers, and register today!

The allure of worldly comforts can lead us away from our true security. In this breakout session from TGC23, G. K. Beale expounds on Revelation 18, illustrating the importance of obeying God’s command to leave behind earthly comfort and security. Pointing out how Babylon in Revelation represents the world’s sin and self-reliance, Beale urges believers to detach from the fleeting materialism of “Babylon” and place their trust solely in Christ. By identifying with Christ’s death and resurrection, believers can escape judgment and anticipate the final resurrection into the new creation with hope, to the glory of God.

Rapid Response Trump Camp Puts to Bed X Post by Harris 'Interns' Citing AP's 'Fake News' Vance Quote

The death of Ugandan Olympic marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei has been described as a stark reminder that more needs to be done to tackle gender-based violence. The 33-year-old was doused with petrol…

It was nearly midnight in New York City when Grigor Dimitrov’s hamstring came unglued.  The commentator spoke gravely: “He’s going to dance at his own funeral. Heartbreaking, heartsick. It’s…

It is hardly news that homeschooling has taken off around the country, especially since Covid. Over the last year alone, according to the Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey, the number of US homeschooled…

When Kamala Harris accepted her party’s nomination for president at the Democratic National Convention, she didn’t mention food prices or cracking down on “price gouging,” a key component of her…

A brilliant idea takes flight.

Culture Churches Take Homeschooling in a Surprising Direction A new generation of infrastructure met the Covid moment to catalyze alternatives to traditional schools. (Fabio Principe/Shutterstock) It is hardly news that homeschooling has taken off around the country, especially since Covid. Over the last year alone, according to the Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey, the number of US homeschooled students has gone from 3.6 million to 4 million—an 11 percent increase.      Less well-known is the role America’s churches have played in not only facilitating the spread of homeschooling but in helping to make it a far more collaborative and even highly structured activity. By providing groups of homeschool families with a space that goes largely unused during the week and a small supervisory staff, many parishes have successfully combined online curricula with an environment more typical of a conventional public or private school.       Sometimes this has been accomplished by letting an outside organization administer the program. In Upper Marlboro, Maryland, for example, the Providence St. John Baptist Church hosts the eXtend Homeschool Tutorial which, under the leadership of its director Kym Kent, educates more than 100 children in everything from third-grade English to high-school chemistry and aviation science. Families can choose from an à la carte menu of inexpensively supervised courses, averaging $350 apiece, or use the curriculum to simulate a fully functioning school.      On the other hand, the Grow Christina Learning Center at the New Life Worship Center, an Assemblies of God church in Worcester, Massachusetts, is very much a project of the congregation. By providing Program Director Elizabeth Lopez with extensive volunteer help, the church enables 85 homeschool students in their largely Hispanic community to get the equivalent of a K–12th-grade private-school education for just $2,400 a year. “From the beginning we’ve all known it was part of God’s plan for us to take on this assignment,” says Lopez.       Exactly how many churches across the country offer such organized forms of homeschooling is hard to say, because only Alabama, California, Colorado, Florida, Maine, Maryland, Tennessee, and Washington explicitly grant area churches or parochial schools the right to supervise homeschoolers. While parishes in other states can also do it legally, they must navigate the kind of regulatory minefield that causes them instinctively to keep a low profile. (In some states, for example, church homeschools cannot say that their students are “enrolled,” only that they “attend.”)       What is clear is that church-sited homeschools are proving an effective way to help parents overcome what have historically been the three biggest obstacles to homeschooling: the fear of being an incompetent teacher, the reluctance to do it without outside support, and the inability to work full-time while schooling one’s own children. This awareness has led a growing number of nonprofits to provide local houses of worship with guidance on how to make themselves into a full-time homeschool collaborative.       In Massachusetts, for example, the Family Institute posts an online guide to “Church-Based Learning Center Resources” on its website. Designed by Pastor Adam Rondeau of the Bethany Assembly of God church in Agawam, it has already been used to establish 20 Protestant and Catholic programs in the Bay State, including Worcester’s Grow Christina Learning Center. “Everything a religious group needs to get started is right there,” says Institute CEO Michael King.       And in Florida, a local charity known as the Florida Citizens Alliance has divided the state into eight regions, supplying each with an “ambassador” whose job it is to teach interested churches how to start their own homeschool programs. At the same time, the Alliance works with My Father’s World and other religiously oriented publishers of online curricula to develop courses specifically tailored to group homeschooling.      At the national level, the Stanley M. Herzog Foundation (also working with Rondeau) sponsors a specialized training for both clergy and laypeople wanting to establish a church homeschool in their own community. Called the “school box,” it has already launched 13 parish learning centers in five states.      Beyond making homeschooling more accessible, many education reformers believe church programs are an economical way to provide school choice to poor and middle-class families in the 38 states that do not yet subsidize it. To find out, the Children’s Scholarship Fund will this fall give $75,000 in matching grants to poor parents in Massachusetts who want to register their children in one of the state’s homeschooling parishes.      The Reverend Steve Macias, whose Canterbury Christian School in Los Altos, California, offers instruction to local homeschoolers, goes one step further, arguing that the benefit of parish learning centers in non-choice states extends to many affluent parents as well. “If you’re trying to support a family in a place like Silicon Valley, where even ordinary homes cost $3-to-$4 million,” Macias says, “it’s not easy to pay the tuition of a more traditional private or parochial school with after-tax dollars.”      But perhaps it is the Family Institute’s King who has the most sweeping vision of what homeschooling churches can accomplish. He thinks that by combining the availability of unused parish spaces with inexpensive online curricula, they will not only “bypass the legislative roadblocks in states which keep children from getting a more rigorous education,” but create a better future “for both education and organized religion.” The post Churches Take Homeschooling in a Surprising Direction appeared first on The American Conservative.