Joseph Parker Don't worry about anything but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians, chapter 4, verses 6 and 7.
The Calling of Samuel: A Narrative from 1 Samuel Chapter 3
Thanks for joining us today. This is the hour of intercession. I'm Pastor Joseph Parker. We invite you to look with us in the word of God. To begin with, in the book of 1 Samuel, 1 Samuel, chapter three, beginning at verse one. Now, the boy Samuel ministered to the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days. There was no widespread revelation. And it came to pass at that time, while Eli was lying down in his place, and when his eyes had begun to grow so dim that he could not see, and before the lamp of God went out in the tabernacle of the Lord, where the ark of God was, and while Samuel was lying down, that the Lord called Samuel. And he answered, here I am. So he ran to Eli and said, here I am, for you called me. And he said, I did not call. Lie down again. And he went and lay down. Then the Lord called yet again, Samuel. So Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, here I am, for you called me. He answered, I did not call my son. Leave. Lie down again. Now, Samuel did not yet know the Lord, nor was the word of the Lord yet revealed to him. And the Lord called Samuel again, the third time. So he arose and went to Eli and said, here I am, for you did call me. Then Eli perceived that the Lord had called the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, go, lie down. And it shall be if he calls you, that you must say, speak, Lord, for your servant hears. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Now the Lord came and stood and called, as at other times, Samuel. Samuel. Samuel answered, speak, for your servant hears verses one through ten. First Samuel, chapter three.
Living Sacrificially and Loving Others: Exploring Romans Chapter 12
Then looking in the book of Romans. Romans, chapter 12, beginning at verse one. I, beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice wholly acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to Think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function. So we, being many, are, one body in Christ, and individually members of one another, having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us. Let us use them. Let us use them. If prophecy let us prophesy in proportion to our faith or ministry, let us use it in our ministering. He who teaches in teaching, he who exhorts in exhortation, he who gives with liberality, he who leads with diligence, he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without hypocrisy, Abhor what is evil, cling to what is good, Be kind and affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another, not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer, distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men, if it is possible, as much as depends on you. Live peaceably with all men. Beloved. Do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath. For it is written, vengeance is mine. I will repay, says the Lord. Therefore, if your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink, for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Verses 1 through 21, all of Romans, chapter 12. Lord, thank you for your word.
Divine Anointing for Discipleship and Ministry: Empowering the Church
Thank you for the power, the anointing, the grace that rests upon your word, the power, the anointing, the grace that permeates your word. And thank you, for the power that flows into our lives as we read and meditate on your word, Lord. Help us to know, Lord, that you call us, we your church. You called us to be disciples and to make disciples. Anoint us afresh with the spirit of grace that would empower us to be believers who live a lifestyle of being faithful disciples and doing the work of making disciples as a lifestyle. More and more teach us to do that today and every Day, we thank you and we praise you in Jesus name. We do pray. Amen. Thank you for listening to the hour of intercession. Isaac Jackson is our producer. He's going to lead us in prayer at this time.
Isaac Jackson Heavenly Father, thank you so much for these moments. And Heavenly Father, I pray that you'd call us to be a more fruitful church. Heavenly Father, pray that we'd set our minds and set our actions and set everything we are to be more fruitful in your spirit, Lord. Heavenly Father, thank you that we can abide in you, that we can abide in Jesus, and that we cannot be fruitful by ourselves, but that we get the opportunity of walking with you to be fruitful. Lord, thank you so much that we get to basically go on an adventure, with a best friend, to bring fruit from your kingdom, to the world around us. Lord and Heavenly Father, just pray that as things get in our ways, that we'd set them aside. That you'd help us to see what is distracting us. That you'd help us to see, what is making us fall away and that we'd repent of those things and just focus on you more and more and more. Thank you so much.
Advocating for Life: Supporting Pregnancy Care and Hope Center Ministry
In your holy name, Amen.
Joseph Parker Amen. Amen. Thank you, Isaac, and thank you again for being a part of our listening family. I want to remind all of our listeners on an ongoing basis, we are asking and inviting every single listener to pray much for the Pregnancy Care Net and Hope center ministry. That's the M Mobile Pregnancy ministry that the Lord led my wife Brady and I to start, that serves mothers and their babies in the Mississippi Delta. Keep this in mind that it in the midst of this season in which lots of people's minds and hearts are on the elections and all that's going on. Sadly, sometimes the life issue sometimes may seem to be set on the back burner. But remember this. In every culture, in every circumstance, in all situations, God loves every baby that he creates. And we, sadly, we live in a nation that still thinks it's okay to murder babies. How important it is that we seek to take our priorities and our concerns not from, we don't take our cues from the world, but from the word of God and the spirit of God. our ministry again is called the Pregnancy Care Net and Hope Center Ministry. Our website is deltapchc.org again that's deltapchc.org we ask for your prayers on an ongoing basis because sadly, around the life issue there's extreme warfare all the time. Warfare that comes in the form of mothers who are, just trying to decide whether or not to keep their babies, but also warfare around the ministries themselves because sadly, the devil loves to kill babies and how important it is that we, the Church seek to have God's heart in addressing this issue. So we ask that you please pray for this ministry and pray about becoming a supporter of our ministry or at least find your local pregnancy clinic. Because the fact is, many a pregnancy clinic is very sadly too many of them are poorly funded and with all the churches we have, they should have more than enough funding. So please pray about becoming a supporter of whether it be our ministry or your local pregnancy ministry, because again, you have one somewhere in your community. Find it, pray for it, and pray about becoming a monthly supporter. That's very, very important, as we often do want to take time now to share from the AFA stand an article that we wrote.
Discipling Children: Wisdom from Proverbs and Practical Parenting Advice
This one is about discipling our children. The title of the article Let the Children Come to me Matthew 19:14 But Jesus said, let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven. And then Psalm 127:3 5 behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb. A reward like arrows in the hand of a warrior, are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who feels his quiver with them. He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate. Again, Psalm 127:3 5 the story is told of a nine year old little boy who wanted to share advice with some other boys his age as they all were looking forward to going to the church picnic. If you go to the church picnic, he says, and bring your dog. Remember this when you're eating your food, no matter how much your dog loves you, don't trust him to guard your food when you have to go to the bathroom. Good advice. Another story shared of a seven year old little boy who at church one day saw a particular man that his father knew. The seven year old walked up to the man and began walking circles around the gentleman, looking him up and down, up and down as he circled him. Finally the curious gentleman said to the little boy, little man, what are you looking for? M the little boy with a very curious look on his face said, my daddy said you was two faced and I was looking for your other face. Well, it seems this young man heard something that Daddy didn't mean for him to hear, much less repeat. Parents we need to be wise about the words we speak in order to be good role models for our children. Also, we should be wise enough with the words that we speak at home because if we don't, they may come back to hit us.
Children as Comedians and Philosophers: Unique Perspectives and God's Gifts
A five year old little girl, Vera, thoughtfully asked her dad one day, daddy, can we get a cat? Dad very apologetically responded, honey, I'm sorry I can't live in the same house with cats. I'm allergic to cats. His little daughter quickly responded in a very serious tone, well Daddy, you could live outside. Our children, in their little minds and in their thinking, very often will think, reason and come to conclusions that make us chuckle and sometimes just laugh out loud time and time again without meaning to be. Our children often are miniature comedians and life philosophers who have something interest, have, have some very interesting ways of thinking and unique perspectives and approaches to life. A nine year old little girl was one day giving some wise counsel to her younger sisters, ages 6 and 7. With real concern and passion, this little girl told her little sisters, when Mama is mad at Daddy, don't let her brush your hair. Our children are precious, each unique and each one a gift from God to us and to the world. How important it is that we agree with God's word and recognize them as the rewards that God says they are.
The Greatest Need: Introducing Children to Jesus Christ Through Discipleship
Psalm 127:3 says, Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb, a reward. Children in this world act, think and react as children. Their minds will see the world from a child's point of view. We who are entrusted with the very important task of discipling our children are ah wise to understand this. The greatest need that every child in the world has is is the same as the greatest need of every adult to know Jesus Christ as his or her Lord and Savior. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a simple message. It's extremely simple. So simple that even a child can understand it. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. The Gospel is simple and we are to do our part to help introduce every child to Jesus Christ. In view of these truths, we as parents are wise to be very intentional and sober minded about sharing the Gospel with each of our children as well as discipling them. Often children come to know Christ in a church setting, but this very important goal does not have to happen necessarily in church. Many a child has been introduced to Christ and given his life, his or her life to Christ at home, all over the world. The vast majority of persons who receive Christ as their Lord and Savior do so before the age of 18. This reality should encourage us to put great commitment and passion into evangelizing and discipling children and youth, whether at home or at church or wherever they are. Let's see to it that our children hear the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and let's see to it that they are invited to give their lives to him or her. and just for your information, for the balance of this particular article, it does have a small salvation prayer at the end of it that you can use to parents to introduce your children to the Lord Jesus Christ. But remember, whether the evangelism happens at home or at church, make it your goal to do all you can to help each of your children come to know Christ as Lord and Savior. Father. Thank you, Lord, for the wonderful ministry that often happens at home. When parents are wise enough to make discipling their children the priority. You'd have us to make it anoint every dad and mom listening with a fresh anointing of grace that they'd be diligent to do their part to both share the gospel with their children, but also to do their part to teach and train your children to read your word every day, to teach and train their children to pray at home every day and to teach and train their children to obey your word, to live what they learn from your word as well. Lord, help us to know that most discipleship should happen at home and the church, supplemented help us as parents to know that and to live that. We thank you and we praise you in Jesus name. Amen.
A Time of Reflection and Hope: The Light of God in a Broken World
The title of that article, Let the Children Come to Me. If you'd like to get a copy, email us josephfr.net, we'll be glad to get it to you. We'll be right back.
Dr. Jessica Peck Do you feel the world is broken? Do you feel the shadows deepen? We do. But do you know that all the dark won't stop the light from getting through? We do. Do you wish that you could see it all made new? Is all creation groaning? Is a new creation coming? Is the glory of the Lord to be the light within our midst? Is it good? Did we remind ourselves of this?
Is He Worthy? Exploring the Worthiness of Jesus Christ in Worship
M Is anyone worthy? Is anyone a whole? Is anyone able to break the seal and open the scroll? The lion of Judah who conquered the grave M He is David's root and the Lamb who died to ransom the slave. Is he worthy? Is he worthy of all blessing and honor and glory? Is he worthy? of things. He is.
Introducing Pastor Jay Parks and the Innovative Pastor Training Schools
Joseph Parker The music of Andrew Peterson with is he worthy? Thanks for listening to the hour of intercession here on American Family Radio. We are very honored once again to have with us Pastor Jay Parks. He's the pastor of Old Union Baptist Church in Shannon, Mississippi, but also he's the president of the school known as Pastor Training Schools, which is a newly developed, I guess, system of schools, which is very innovative and just powerful in so many ways. But, grateful to have Pastor Parks with us once again. Pastor Parks, how are you today?
Dr. Jessica Peck I'm great. Thank you for having me. Appreciate you.
Joseph Parker Great to have you. Once again, Pastor Parks, I'm going to ask if you'll further introduce yourself to our listeners and dive right in. Some of our listeners may have heard when you were on with us, some weeks ago, but I'm grateful to have you back because I want you to expand on, what you shared before, because I think the concept of the kind of school that you lead is new, but I think very much needed in the body of Christ. But also you had some exciting developments that have happened as well. So I want to ask you to dive right in, further reintroduce yourself, and then tell us more about the work of pastor training Schools.
Jay Parks Well, thank you so much for having me again. I'm Jay Parks. I'm a pastor at Old Union here in Shannon, Mississippi, right outside of Tupelo. And, man, I have been walking with the Lord since I was eight years old. I had, a business for a while and sold it when I was 28 years old, surrendered to ministry, and I went to Blue Mountain Christian University and then NewSong Orleans Seminary, and I've been a church planner with North American Mission Board in Hawaii, of all places. I get a lot of flack for that. but, yes, it was a beautiful place to live, but a difficult place for ministry. I was there for about seven years, moved back to Mississippi, and now, I'm pastor there at Old Union. And, God has used all of those things, to bring me where I am now and really my entrepreneurial spirit of just thinking outside the box of man, really, feeling impacted by two Timothy two. Two, really just investing in faithful men who will invest in others. And that's really what brought us into, this pastor training concept that we call Pastor Training School.
The Vision and Mission of Pastor Training Schools: Equipping Leaders for the Church
So excited to share a little bit more about that.
Joseph Parker Would you take a moment, now specifically to pray for listeners that they'd be wide open to what God wants to say to them, because there May be some persons who. They may feel mainly called to just pray for you, to pray for the school. But then there are others who are listening who may think I need to become a student in that school. And there might be others who might think I need to bring that to my community, because we need that as well. So would you pray for our listeners in that room? Regard
Jay Parks 100%. Lord, thank you so much for this opportunity to just give you glory and props for everything that you're doing. Lord, I believe that you are still gathering your people, you're gathering your sheep, Lord, from all over the world, not just where we live. Lord, let us be missional. Let us see, and be open to where you're at work and join you there. Lord, I thank you so much for this opportunity for me to be a small part of that God. I do pray for the listeners today, Lord, that those that are. That are just trying to understand what we're doing, wrap their minds around that. But for some that may be open to it, some that may not be, some that may say, man, how can I be a part of this? I believe that if they're listening to this broadcast today, it's most likely that they're desiring to grow in their faith. So, Lord, I pray that in somehow, they could partner with us to continue to equip faithful men who will equip others with what's been entrusted to them. So, Lord, would you be with our listeners today? We pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Joseph Parker Amen. Amen. So, Pastor Parks, tell us now. So would you. If someone was to say, well, Pastor, Pastor Parks is pastor training school. Is that the same as seminary? How would you answer that question?
Jay Parks All right, well, the concept's the same. What's different is we really. My conviction that, years ago, we kind of subbed out our education from the church. I really feel like we entrusted the seminaries to do the educating. And thank the Lord that I was able to go to a seminary. I'm so thankful for that and, blessed to have had that education. But I believe that it's always been God's intention that the local church. The church would be the means to which we raise up leaders for tomorrow. I mean, we see Timothy was, left to do, service, and Paul tells him, man, raise up elders for the work, right? So, man, I believe that was always God's plan A. I really do. That the local church is to be raising up leaders, that will be pastors of other churches around and that's really what we've done with this concept is I tell people we're not really like an institution, but we're simply a bunch of pastors who Feel convicted by second Timothy2.2 to take what's been entrusted to us and entrust it to others who will then entrust it to others. So the multiplication piece of that. So we'll come into an area and we will set up a, what we call a cohort, which is basically just, m, a group of men who gather together, they'll study together, they'll encourage one another. Then we'll use a local pastor to come in and he will train. And we've got 10 major tools that we use. we take them through classes like spiritual formation, hermeneutics, how to study the Bible, homiletics, the art of preaching. We'll take them through Old Testament, NewSong Testament surveys, pastoral ministry, evangelism. we'll take them through church revitalization, discipleship, and Intro to Theology. So we give them 10 tools, and we believe that there is such a need for pastors or all around us, in churches that are without a pastor. Right now, just in our state of Mississippi, I am part of Southern, Baptist Church, so those are the numbers that I'm familiar with. But we have some 300 pull pits open in the state of Mississippi alone,
Joseph Parker at this moment.
Jay Parks At this moment. And over 80% of those pull pits are probably less than 50 people. So these are bi vocational settings, like my church, in a farming area, man, right in the edge of a soybean field or at the end of a county road. But around those churches, there's a lot of people that live scattered around those churches. And, man, we need pastors in those churches that will get a new vision from the Lord and lead their people to reach those that live all around them. And, so that's really what we exist for, is we're setting up cohorts all over, not just in Mississippi, but now in Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama. And I'm going to be in Missouri next week talking about setting some up there. And so I'm excited about that.
Joseph Parker So, Pastor Paak Stone, in other words, now your headquarters is basically Blue Mountain College campus, Is that right?
Jay Parks We have an office there?
How Pastor Training Schools Operates: Cohorts, Courses, and Student Demographics
Yes, sir.
Joseph Parker You have an office there. Okay then. But again, to go back to the word you used, you call them cohorts. That's basically where you set up and you teach sometimes in local churches. Is that where it happens?
Jay Parks Yes, sir. So like in Tupelo for instance, Matt Powell at First Baptist Tupelo has been teaching Old Testament. Last week was their last meeting. they meet on Tuesday nights from 6 to 8:30. And so most of these classes or all the classes last for six weeks. So you'll go for two and a half hours for six weeks. When you finish that course then it may jump across town to another pastor and that pastor will teach them in a different course. So our next course is brother Lowell Walker. So excited about this brother teaching new ah Testament for us and so, just excited about what God's doing. They'll gather at his church on Tuesday nights from 6 to 8:30 for the next six weeks to go through NewSong Testament 1.
Joseph Parker So a six week period is the time frame for a class.
Jay Parks For a class. And there's a total of 10. Well there's 12 courses because NewSong Testament and Old Testament both have two parts. So they're 12 weeks total.
Joseph Parker So at this point in time, how many cohorts do you have under your school right now?
Jay Parks Currently we have 29 cohorts that are scattered across four states. we have just at 300 students. Now these are normal guys man, just guys that work for the city, state, own a business. we've got some medical doctors that are training and we've got guys that are 17 years old finishing up high school. I love it. We're a range from 17 to 80 years old. so just man, what we are is an arm to be able to help to equip a local pastor to raise up local guys in his area that could then become local leaders and churches around them.
Joseph Parker And so would it be correct to say then these are lay people? These are not ordained ministers, but are persons who may feel like the Lord is calling them into the ministry. or not necessarily.
Jay Parks We have quite the mix. So I'd say we're at about 50% are bi vocational now, meaning they're already serving in some aspect, maybe not just as a pastor. They could be youth ministers, music guys, missions, whatever. we have about 50% of our guys that are already serving bivocationally. So they've surrendered. The rest of those guys have surrendered to ministry in the last 12 months. And that's what I'm so excited about. These guys, they'll say things like, well, I don't know what God's calling me to do, but I know he's calling me to do something. Well, this is good company to keep, man. Come in here, sit with these guys. They're all trying to figure it out. They all just want to be faithful, but they're all excited and they're growing in their faith in crazy ways with some amazing stories that we're hearing.
Joseph Parker So possibly many, if not most, if not all of them might feel they are called into the, ordained ministry.
The Growing Impact of Pastor Training Schools Across Multiple States
Possibly. But again, each cohort varies with who they are and what they feel called to do. Is that right?
Jay Parks Yes, sir.
Joseph Parker Okay. Well, as far as that's concerned, in terms of numbers, how big, typically, are your cohorts as far as numbers of students?
Jay Parks we see on average they are usually about 12, 10, to 12 students in each of the cohorts. the Tupelo cohort right now has 11 students, I think. we've got one in Blue mountain that's got 17 students. So they just kind of. They range different depending on the interest in the area.
Joseph Parker Okay. Okay. And does it seem to always be growing right now?
Jay Parks It's amazing what's happening right now. I'm excited to share. Maybe after this next break, we can talk about what God's doing and opening some doors in Arkansas and some other places. It's growing really rapid right now. It's beautiful.
Joseph Parker Okay.
Connecting with Pastor Training Schools: Website, Application, and Impactful Testimonials
Would you share the website if someone who's listening, they might be thinking that they would like to see if there's a cohort in their area that they could come and visit or learn about or plug into. what website would they go to find out more information and how to get in touch with you?
Jay Parks The best way to connect with us is, by visiting pastortrainingschools.org that's schools with an S. you can, visit the website. We've got all the contacts. You can apply there. You can watch videos, testimonies. The whole deal is there on the website.
Joseph Parker Okay. And so. But basically, though, with the title Pastor Training Schools, one of the greatest, the biggest goals is preparing people that either are pastoring or aspire to be pastors to train them to be able to carry out that role. Would that be correct?
Jay Parks That's our heartbeat. Yes, sir.
Joseph Parker Okay, then. And you said you have as young as 17. So in other words, also young people that are considering it and heavily looking at it, but maybe not quite there yet as well.
Jay Parks And we're really praying about, you know, college age, kids, man, they're these BSUs are full of kids that feel a call to ministry, but maybe they're at a secular college. You know, man, how do we connect with those guys to encourage them? maybe they're not in a place where they could take seminary right now, but they can certainly take Old Testament or NewSong Testament right now, along with their college that they're doing. Currently
Joseph Parker be preparing that. And how many states did you say
Jay Parks we're in? Four states currently. Four
Joseph Parker states. What states are those?
Jay Parks We're in Mississippi primarily because that's where we started. Arkansas is our next big target. And we've already got a couple of cohorts in Arkansas. We got one in Alabama, and we got three now in Tennessee.
Joseph Parker Okay. And so all the information that, like, if someone wants to plug into one of the cohorts, then all that information can be found on the website. And, just how to go about getting involved. Right.
Jay Parks That's right. That's the place to find it.
Joseph Parker And every person listening, I would invite you to please pray for pastor, Jay Parks and the work of pastor training schools. Because the reality is that there's such a need for more leaders in the church. As he mentioned, lots of open pulpits in our country for many different reasons, to be quite honest.
A Prayer for the Church and Pastor Training Schools: Expanding Territories and Discipleship
And it's not just one denomination, it's across denominations. And so the fact is there's a great need for leaders that love Jesus, that are full of the Holy Spirit, love the word of God, and are needed, ah, to preach and teach God's word as well. Lord, thank you for this work. Thank you for Pastor Jay Parks. Thank you for the work of, this institution called the pastor training schools. The work that they're doing, Father, bless this school, this institution and Pastor Parks indeed expand their territories, cause your hand to be mightily upon them, keep them from evil that they may not cause pain. And Father, more and more, I ask that you use this to help more people who have been called of you to be equipped and prepared to carry out the specific call and callings upon their lives. And father, for the body of Christ as a whole, set us on fire afresh with the spirit of prayer, with the spirit of discipleship, Help us to be disciples and to be involved in the work of making disciples more and more as a lifestyle, as you would have us to. We thank you and praise you, Jesus. Jesus name. Amen. Our in studio guest today is pastor Jay Parks. he's the director of pastor training schools. We'll be right back.
Musical Interlude and Reinforcement of Faith in Jesus Christ
Dr. Jessica Peck You're lighting up my way My soul awakes to give you all the praise. Oh, I will trust in you I will keep praising you through, the night I put my hope in you. You are the one who gives me life you are the way, Jesus, you're the only way. Doesn't matter what they say to me I believe in you and so I praise Jesus, I will give you praise. Doesn't matter what may come with me. I believe in you. You taking all my fear and filling me with hope. I know you're near Wherever I may go, oh, I will trust
Joseph Parker Music from Planet Shakers with the only way, a reminder that Jesus Christ is the only way to eternal life and the only way to eternal salvation. Thanks for listening to the hour of Intercession. Our in studio guest today is Pastor Jay Parks.
Pastor Training Schools: A New Concept for Ministry Training
He's the director of Pastor Training Schools, an innovative and a very exciting new concept in school and training for those who are called of the Lord into the ministry. Pastor Parks, would you share one more time the website if someone is interested in learning more about or possibly plugging into one of the cohorts?
Jay Parks Absolutely. Our website is pastortrainingschools.org you can apply there. You can watch videos, read testimonies there. We'd love for you to visit if you're exploring a call in your life to ministry.
Joseph Parker Okay. Now you shared that some exciting things are happening as you expanding into the state of Arkansas. Can you tell us more about that?
Jay Parks Yes sir, absolutely.
Exciting Expansion of Pastor Training Schools into Arkansas and Beyond
I have a friend, James Nichols, that used to pastor in Mississippi at First Baptist Greenville. And he was a partner, with us in our work in Hawaii. I reached out to him some time ago and shared about what we were doing and he is now pastoring in Marion, Arkansas just across the line, across the bridge there. And he got really excited about this. We had a pastor's meeting where I went and shared a little bit about what was happening. And within about six weeks they launched two cohorts in Crittenden county, which is the county right across from right across from Memphis, there, across the bridge. And they have a total of over 30 guys and their two cohorts just in Crittenden County. it's amazing what all is happening there. And God's been moving in powerful ways. We got guys that are preaching for the first time to pulpit. We've got ah, young men that really are, they've been in Old Testament 1 and 2 now. So they're amazed at how that Old Testament is connecting and helping them to make sense more of the NewSong Testament where a lot of guys tend to live, these days. But man, the Old Testament is so powerful and they've loved that. And so Clint Haynes is head of the association there in Crittenden county and started sharing a little bit about, what God was doing through that work there in Crittenden with other guys in our Arkansas. And we were invited to a meeting at Williams Baptist University, that is in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, right outside of Jonesboro. And Dr. Norman and I started talking about what it would look like to offer certificates in Arkansas, through Williams Baptist University for our graduates. And, I was invited to come to the Baptist convention of Arkansas two weeks ago. And Dr. Norman made a strong address to the convention about the need to train up bi vocational pastors in their state and really highlighted us as an opportunity to do that. And, it was amazing. We ended up with 26 location requests just in the state of Arkansas for cohorts. that kind of scared me to death because I was thinking, 26, that's almost what we got. Now. I can't imagine Dublin overnight. But what it showed us was the great need and the great interest for training guys all across the state of Arkansas. And so we have been working that and making plans with the convention and discussing back and forth what that could look like. And we have plans, to. My prayer is to launch 12 new cohorts by March in Arkansas. So we'll see what happens. That's up to the Lord. That's the beauty of what we're doing with this. Really just being a group of pastors is, when the Holy Spirit opens the door, we can just walk through it. And the Holy Spirit has certainly opened the door in Arkansas. We're so excited about that.
Joseph Parker Share the website one more time again.
Testimonials of Transformation Through Pastor Training Schools and Hearing God's Call
Jay Parks Yeah, it's PastortrainingSchools.org PastortrainingSchools.org
Joseph Parker okay, well, can you share maybe, testimonials of persons maybe either that are in school or been through the school, and how this has impacted and helped them in moving forward in ministry in their lives.
Jay Parks I'll tell you about a couple of instances. One is I said that I pastor a local church here. So I have sent five guys from my church to go through the training. and, I basically just walked up and said, hey man, I see God moving in your life. I want you to pray about this. And those guys got involved. Since then, just in the last couple weeks, I've had a guy go out and preach at a church that needed a pastor. He was one of our guys from our church that I've been doing some discipleship with, and he's been in, these classes. I've got another guy that man, he has struggled with addiction. He. He's had a. He's had a tough. A tough life, man. It's been a difficult life. And I've been discipling him for the last couple of years, and I've seen God totally restore his life, restore his marriage. and just a week ago, he called and I went over to his house, and he said, and I think God's calling me to ministry. And, that all came as a result of us really just encouraging these guys to what we see God doing in their lives. Sometimes their worst enemies themselves. You know, they need somebody to speak, some encouragement in their life. And I'm certainly not saying that we should do that if it's not there. But if we see it, man, God uses. God uses pastors to be able to say, man, this is what I see in your life. And would you consider. Would you consider that God may be calling you to explore this? What could God do, if you would just submit yourself to him? It's kind of like the passage you read when we opened this up today of, hearing that call. And sometimes it can come through. Pastor, I believe that. I really do.
Joseph Parker Right. You know, it makes me think of. I can remember years, some years ago, an individual that, I saw clearly saw graces and gifts on this person, and they would teach Sunday school and would minister. But I asked, I think on more than one occasion, do you think the Lord might be calling you to the ministry?
Learning to Listen: The Importance of Hearing the Holy Spirit's Promptings
I don't think so. I don't think so. Just. And then. And then, some years later, I remember an instance where the person was in church and said, it seemed like God just keeps talking to me at night, and I can't sleep, you know? And at a certain point, the person surrendered to the call and is pastoring today.
Jay Parks That's beautiful.
Joseph Parker Well, the reality is, many times, I guess, in some ways, like Samuel, they don't quite know what it is, but they know God is calling them into serving him in some deeper capacity. And, you know, I think of this. Pastor Parks, the reality is every believer is called to work ministry in some capacity, but it's not always in the pulpit or in the ordained ministry. But God has work for all of us to do, and the key is for all of us to work at listening better. You know, the Holy Spirit really does speak to all of us. But the fact is, it's important for us to know that as you spend time in the word of God, it sharpens your spiritual ear where you hear the Holy Spirit more accurately. And we all need to always work at listening because God's talking all the time.
Jay Parks There's no question.
Joseph Parker Our job is to learn to listen better and better. Would you pray for the church to help encourage people to seek the Lord more, to seek to draw closer, to listen better? Because there's so much work to be done, and the need is for us to listen and obey what God is calling us to, individually and collectively.
Jay Parks I've been preaching about how to hear the Holy Spirit, and I think a lot of times, man, he's speaking to us, but we just. We got so much other noise going on around us that we're not paying attention. But if we ground ourselves in a time in the Word, we ground ourselves in a time of just listening and praying to the Lord, you'd be amazed at how the Holy Spirit can start speaking to you. And I would just prompt the listeners, man, if you ever feel a sense the Lord has put somebody on your heart, one stop and pray right then for them, second, reach out to them. it's amazing what God can do through that. If we'll just learn to hear the prompting of the Spirit and obey the prompting of the Spirit. And I believe that's one of the, great travesties in the church. We don't talk about it enough, you know, so I'd love to pray absolutely. Lord, thank you so much for, for just prompting this conversation, Lord. And I pray that those that are. That are listening today would, would, learn to have an ear, to tune their ear to the things of God. Maybe they would see. Man, when the Lord puts something on my mind, I just need to be obedient in it. And what I've seen is that there is great, great reward in that. Anytime that I've sensed a prompting of the Spirit in my heart and in my mind, and I followed through with it almost every single time. I was so thankful to see God use that in some way. And so may our listeners today, learn how to hear. Maybe learn how to hear the Spirit of God, the prompting of the Spirit, and to turn down some of the noise in their life and take some time just to get in the Word and listen and pray and say, God, would you speak to me? Would you guide me, Would you lead me and then actually do it. And, it's amazing what God can do through just that simple submission, to him and the Spirit of God. We pray these things in the name of Jesus. Amen.
A Prayer for Spiritual Listening and Obedience to God's Voice
Joseph Parker Amen. And Father too, thank you for the church. Thank you for the opportunity for us to listen to you as you speak to us through your word and by your spirit, anoint us afresh with the spirit of listening. Help us have ears that and hearts that tune into you to hear you clearly and are quick to say, yes, Lord, whatever that might be you're calling us to. And in Jesus name, amen. Pastor Parks, our time is just about gone. A book that comes to my mind that I think is so good, I want to encourage every listener to prayerfully consider getting. It's by, Dr. Bruce Wilkinson, the same minister who wrote the book the prayer of Jabez, but he has a book entitled, you were born for this. And it's largely about learning to listen to God, to pray for God to use you more, and how to listen to him and follow his leading and doing just that powerful book, but very practical and down to earth about learning to listen to the voice of God in your life. So, Pastor Parks, one more time, the website.
Concluding Thoughts on Pastor Training Schools and an Invitation to Faith in Christ
If someone wants to learn more about pastor training schools, please.
Jay Parks Absolutely. We would love for you to check us [email protected] or on our Facebook at pastor training schools. we have lots of. Lots, of information out there. We'd love for you to check it out.
Joseph Parker All right. And to every listener, please pray much for Pastor Jay Parks and for the work and the mission and the ministry of pastor training schools as the Lord uses it to prepare more and more individuals for ministry, prepare them for what God is calling them to do, and to help them to just become better and more faithful disciples as well. Please pray much for the ongoing work. Father. Thank again for Pastor Parks and the school. Father, once again, bless them both. Indeed, expand their territories. Cause your hand to be mightily upon them. Keep them from evil that they may not cause pain. In Jesus name, amen. Well, as we normally do before we end the broadcast, if you're listening today and you've never given your heart to Jesus Christ, remember the single most important decision in all of life is the decision to give your heart to Jesus Christ, to receive him as Lord and Savior and be saved. If you want to make that step, would you, from your heart, pray this prayer with us right now? Give your life to the Lord and be saved. Lord Jesus, thank you for loving me so much.
A Prayer for Salvation and Guidance for New Believers
You came into the world a long time ago. You lived. You died on the cross to pay for all the wrong things I've ever done. Three days later, you rose up from the dead so that I could be saved. Lord, I confess I'VE sinned and done wrong in many, many ways. Lord, I repent of all the wrong I've done. Forgive me Lord, for all the wrong things that I have ever done. Lord Jesus, come into my heart. Be my Lord and Savior. In your word you told us, whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved right now, Lord, I'm calling on your name. Lord, save me. Fill me with your spirit. Help me to follow you all my life. Help me to read your word every day. Help me to pray every day. Help me to follow you every day. In Jesus name. Amen. Well, if you prayed and gave your life to Christ, we want to connect with you. We'd like to be in touch with you again that email josephfr.net again, that's josephfr.net please email us so we can share with you some literature and resource materials that will help you to begin to grow and grow strong and vibrant in your new walk with the Lord.
Resources for New Believers and Closing Remarks of the Hour of Intercession
Please get in touch. We do want to do that. Also, if you'd to like like to get a copy of the article or other articles that we've shared the article, the first one we shared, Let the children come to me, Simply email us josephfr.net, we'll be glad to get it to you, be it this one or others that we share as well. Again, josephfr.net thanks for listening. Join us again next time for the hour of intercession.
Joseph Parker Don't worry about anything but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians, chapter 4, verses 6 and 7.
The Calling of Samuel: A Narrative from 1 Samuel Chapter 3
Thanks for joining us today. This is the hour of intercession. I'm Pastor Joseph Parker. We invite you to look with us in the word of God. To begin with, in the book of 1 Samuel, 1 Samuel, chapter three, beginning at verse one. Now, the boy Samuel ministered to the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days. There was no widespread revelation. And it came to pass at that time, while Eli was lying down in his place, and when his eyes had begun to grow so dim that he could not see, and before the lamp of God went out in the tabernacle of the Lord, where the ark of God was, and while Samuel was lying down, that the Lord called Samuel. And he answered, here I am. So he ran to Eli and said, here I am, for you called me. And he said, I did not call. Lie down again. And he went and lay down. Then the Lord called yet again, Samuel. So Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, here I am, for you called me. He answered, I did not call my son. Leave. Lie down again. Now, Samuel did not yet know the Lord, nor was the word of the Lord yet revealed to him. And the Lord called Samuel again, the third time. So he arose and went to Eli and said, here I am, for you did call me. Then Eli perceived that the Lord had called the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, go, lie down. And it shall be if he calls you, that you must say, speak, Lord, for your servant hears. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Now the Lord came and stood and called, as at other times, Samuel. Samuel. Samuel answered, speak, for your servant hears verses one through ten. First Samuel, chapter three.
Living Sacrificially and Loving Others: Exploring Romans Chapter 12
Then looking in the book of Romans. Romans, chapter 12, beginning at verse one. I, beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice wholly acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to Think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function. So we, being many, are, one body in Christ, and individually members of one another, having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us. Let us use them. Let us use them. If prophecy let us prophesy in proportion to our faith or ministry, let us use it in our ministering. He who teaches in teaching, he who exhorts in exhortation, he who gives with liberality, he who leads with diligence, he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without hypocrisy, Abhor what is evil, cling to what is good, Be kind and affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another, not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer, distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men, if it is possible, as much as depends on you. Live peaceably with all men. Beloved. Do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath. For it is written, vengeance is mine. I will repay, says the Lord. Therefore, if your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink, for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Verses 1 through 21, all of Romans, chapter 12. Lord, thank you for your word.
Divine Anointing for Discipleship and Ministry: Empowering the Church
Thank you for the power, the anointing, the grace that rests upon your word, the power, the anointing, the grace that permeates your word. And thank you, for the power that flows into our lives as we read and meditate on your word, Lord. Help us to know, Lord, that you call us, we your church. You called us to be disciples and to make disciples. Anoint us afresh with the spirit of grace that would empower us to be believers who live a lifestyle of being faithful disciples and doing the work of making disciples as a lifestyle. More and more teach us to do that today and every Day, we thank you and we praise you in Jesus name. We do pray. Amen. Thank you for listening to the hour of intercession. Isaac Jackson is our producer. He's going to lead us in prayer at this time.
Isaac Jackson Heavenly Father, thank you so much for these moments. And Heavenly Father, I pray that you'd call us to be a more fruitful church. Heavenly Father, pray that we'd set our minds and set our actions and set everything we are to be more fruitful in your spirit, Lord. Heavenly Father, thank you that we can abide in you, that we can abide in Jesus, and that we cannot be fruitful by ourselves, but that we get the opportunity of walking with you to be fruitful. Lord, thank you so much that we get to basically go on an adventure, with a best friend, to bring fruit from your kingdom, to the world around us. Lord and Heavenly Father, just pray that as things get in our ways, that we'd set them aside. That you'd help us to see what is distracting us. That you'd help us to see, what is making us fall away and that we'd repent of those things and just focus on you more and more and more. Thank you so much.
Advocating for Life: Supporting Pregnancy Care and Hope Center Ministry
In your holy name, Amen.
Joseph Parker Amen. Amen. Thank you, Isaac, and thank you again for being a part of our listening family. I want to remind all of our listeners on an ongoing basis, we are asking and inviting every single listener to pray much for the Pregnancy Care Net and Hope center ministry. That's the M Mobile Pregnancy ministry that the Lord led my wife Brady and I to start, that serves mothers and their babies in the Mississippi Delta. Keep this in mind that it in the midst of this season in which lots of people's minds and hearts are on the elections and all that's going on. Sadly, sometimes the life issue sometimes may seem to be set on the back burner. But remember this. In every culture, in every circumstance, in all situations, God loves every baby that he creates. And we, sadly, we live in a nation that still thinks it's okay to murder babies. How important it is that we seek to take our priorities and our concerns not from, we don't take our cues from the world, but from the word of God and the spirit of God. our ministry again is called the Pregnancy Care Net and Hope Center Ministry. Our website is deltapchc.org again that's deltapchc.org we ask for your prayers on an ongoing basis because sadly, around the life issue there's extreme warfare all the time. Warfare that comes in the form of mothers who are, just trying to decide whether or not to keep their babies, but also warfare around the ministries themselves because sadly, the devil loves to kill babies and how important it is that we, the Church seek to have God's heart in addressing this issue. So we ask that you please pray for this ministry and pray about becoming a supporter of our ministry or at least find your local pregnancy clinic. Because the fact is, many a pregnancy clinic is very sadly too many of them are poorly funded and with all the churches we have, they should have more than enough funding. So please pray about becoming a supporter of whether it be our ministry or your local pregnancy ministry, because again, you have one somewhere in your community. Find it, pray for it, and pray about becoming a monthly supporter. That's very, very important, as we often do want to take time now to share from the AFA stand an article that we wrote.
Discipling Children: Wisdom from Proverbs and Practical Parenting Advice
This one is about discipling our children. The title of the article Let the Children Come to me Matthew 19:14 But Jesus said, let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven. And then Psalm 127:3 5 behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb. A reward like arrows in the hand of a warrior, are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who feels his quiver with them. He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate. Again, Psalm 127:3 5 the story is told of a nine year old little boy who wanted to share advice with some other boys his age as they all were looking forward to going to the church picnic. If you go to the church picnic, he says, and bring your dog. Remember this when you're eating your food, no matter how much your dog loves you, don't trust him to guard your food when you have to go to the bathroom. Good advice. Another story shared of a seven year old little boy who at church one day saw a particular man that his father knew. The seven year old walked up to the man and began walking circles around the gentleman, looking him up and down, up and down as he circled him. Finally the curious gentleman said to the little boy, little man, what are you looking for? M the little boy with a very curious look on his face said, my daddy said you was two faced and I was looking for your other face. Well, it seems this young man heard something that Daddy didn't mean for him to hear, much less repeat. Parents we need to be wise about the words we speak in order to be good role models for our children. Also, we should be wise enough with the words that we speak at home because if we don't, they may come back to hit us.
Children as Comedians and Philosophers: Unique Perspectives and God's Gifts
A five year old little girl, Vera, thoughtfully asked her dad one day, daddy, can we get a cat? Dad very apologetically responded, honey, I'm sorry I can't live in the same house with cats. I'm allergic to cats. His little daughter quickly responded in a very serious tone, well Daddy, you could live outside. Our children, in their little minds and in their thinking, very often will think, reason and come to conclusions that make us chuckle and sometimes just laugh out loud time and time again without meaning to be. Our children often are miniature comedians and life philosophers who have something interest, have, have some very interesting ways of thinking and unique perspectives and approaches to life. A nine year old little girl was one day giving some wise counsel to her younger sisters, ages 6 and 7. With real concern and passion, this little girl told her little sisters, when Mama is mad at Daddy, don't let her brush your hair. Our children are precious, each unique and each one a gift from God to us and to the world. How important it is that we agree with God's word and recognize them as the rewards that God says they are.
The Greatest Need: Introducing Children to Jesus Christ Through Discipleship
Psalm 127:3 says, Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb, a reward. Children in this world act, think and react as children. Their minds will see the world from a child's point of view. We who are entrusted with the very important task of discipling our children are ah wise to understand this. The greatest need that every child in the world has is is the same as the greatest need of every adult to know Jesus Christ as his or her Lord and Savior. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a simple message. It's extremely simple. So simple that even a child can understand it. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. The Gospel is simple and we are to do our part to help introduce every child to Jesus Christ. In view of these truths, we as parents are wise to be very intentional and sober minded about sharing the Gospel with each of our children as well as discipling them. Often children come to know Christ in a church setting, but this very important goal does not have to happen necessarily in church. Many a child has been introduced to Christ and given his life, his or her life to Christ at home, all over the world. The vast majority of persons who receive Christ as their Lord and Savior do so before the age of 18. This reality should encourage us to put great commitment and passion into evangelizing and discipling children and youth, whether at home or at church or wherever they are. Let's see to it that our children hear the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and let's see to it that they are invited to give their lives to him or her. and just for your information, for the balance of this particular article, it does have a small salvation prayer at the end of it that you can use to parents to introduce your children to the Lord Jesus Christ. But remember, whether the evangelism happens at home or at church, make it your goal to do all you can to help each of your children come to know Christ as Lord and Savior. Father. Thank you, Lord, for the wonderful ministry that often happens at home. When parents are wise enough to make discipling their children the priority. You'd have us to make it anoint every dad and mom listening with a fresh anointing of grace that they'd be diligent to do their part to both share the gospel with their children, but also to do their part to teach and train your children to read your word every day, to teach and train their children to pray at home every day and to teach and train their children to obey your word, to live what they learn from your word as well. Lord, help us to know that most discipleship should happen at home and the church, supplemented help us as parents to know that and to live that. We thank you and we praise you in Jesus name. Amen.
A Time of Reflection and Hope: The Light of God in a Broken World
The title of that article, Let the Children Come to Me. If you'd like to get a copy, email us josephfr.net, we'll be glad to get it to you. We'll be right back.
Dr. Jessica Peck Do you feel the world is broken? Do you feel the shadows deepen? We do. But do you know that all the dark won't stop the light from getting through? We do. Do you wish that you could see it all made new? Is all creation groaning? Is a new creation coming? Is the glory of the Lord to be the light within our midst? Is it good? Did we remind ourselves of this?
Is He Worthy? Exploring the Worthiness of Jesus Christ in Worship
M Is anyone worthy? Is anyone a whole? Is anyone able to break the seal and open the scroll? The lion of Judah who conquered the grave M He is David's root and the Lamb who died to ransom the slave. Is he worthy? Is he worthy of all blessing and honor and glory? Is he worthy? of things. He is.
Introducing Pastor Jay Parks and the Innovative Pastor Training Schools
Joseph Parker The music of Andrew Peterson with is he worthy? Thanks for listening to the hour of intercession here on American Family Radio. We are very honored once again to have with us Pastor Jay Parks. He's the pastor of Old Union Baptist Church in Shannon, Mississippi, but also he's the president of the school known as Pastor Training Schools, which is a newly developed, I guess, system of schools, which is very innovative and just powerful in so many ways. But, grateful to have Pastor Parks with us once again. Pastor Parks, how are you today?
Dr. Jessica Peck I'm great. Thank you for having me. Appreciate you.
Joseph Parker Great to have you. Once again, Pastor Parks, I'm going to ask if you'll further introduce yourself to our listeners and dive right in. Some of our listeners may have heard when you were on with us, some weeks ago, but I'm grateful to have you back because I want you to expand on, what you shared before, because I think the concept of the kind of school that you lead is new, but I think very much needed in the body of Christ. But also you had some exciting developments that have happened as well. So I want to ask you to dive right in, further reintroduce yourself, and then tell us more about the work of pastor training Schools.
Jay Parks Well, thank you so much for having me again. I'm Jay Parks. I'm a pastor at Old Union here in Shannon, Mississippi, right outside of Tupelo. And, man, I have been walking with the Lord since I was eight years old. I had, a business for a while and sold it when I was 28 years old, surrendered to ministry, and I went to Blue Mountain Christian University and then NewSong Orleans Seminary, and I've been a church planner with North American Mission Board in Hawaii, of all places. I get a lot of flack for that. but, yes, it was a beautiful place to live, but a difficult place for ministry. I was there for about seven years, moved back to Mississippi, and now, I'm pastor there at Old Union. And, God has used all of those things, to bring me where I am now and really my entrepreneurial spirit of just thinking outside the box of man, really, feeling impacted by two Timothy two. Two, really just investing in faithful men who will invest in others. And that's really what brought us into, this pastor training concept that we call Pastor Training School.
The Vision and Mission of Pastor Training Schools: Equipping Leaders for the Church
So excited to share a little bit more about that.
Joseph Parker Would you take a moment, now specifically to pray for listeners that they'd be wide open to what God wants to say to them, because there May be some persons who. They may feel mainly called to just pray for you, to pray for the school. But then there are others who are listening who may think I need to become a student in that school. And there might be others who might think I need to bring that to my community, because we need that as well. So would you pray for our listeners in that room? Regard
Jay Parks 100%. Lord, thank you so much for this opportunity to just give you glory and props for everything that you're doing. Lord, I believe that you are still gathering your people, you're gathering your sheep, Lord, from all over the world, not just where we live. Lord, let us be missional. Let us see, and be open to where you're at work and join you there. Lord, I thank you so much for this opportunity for me to be a small part of that God. I do pray for the listeners today, Lord, that those that are. That are just trying to understand what we're doing, wrap their minds around that. But for some that may be open to it, some that may not be, some that may say, man, how can I be a part of this? I believe that if they're listening to this broadcast today, it's most likely that they're desiring to grow in their faith. So, Lord, I pray that in somehow, they could partner with us to continue to equip faithful men who will equip others with what's been entrusted to them. So, Lord, would you be with our listeners today? We pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Joseph Parker Amen. Amen. So, Pastor Parks, tell us now. So would you. If someone was to say, well, Pastor, Pastor Parks is pastor training school. Is that the same as seminary? How would you answer that question?
Jay Parks All right, well, the concept's the same. What's different is we really. My conviction that, years ago, we kind of subbed out our education from the church. I really feel like we entrusted the seminaries to do the educating. And thank the Lord that I was able to go to a seminary. I'm so thankful for that and, blessed to have had that education. But I believe that it's always been God's intention that the local church. The church would be the means to which we raise up leaders for tomorrow. I mean, we see Timothy was, left to do, service, and Paul tells him, man, raise up elders for the work, right? So, man, I believe that was always God's plan A. I really do. That the local church is to be raising up leaders, that will be pastors of other churches around and that's really what we've done with this concept is I tell people we're not really like an institution, but we're simply a bunch of pastors who Feel convicted by second Timothy2.2 to take what's been entrusted to us and entrust it to others who will then entrust it to others. So the multiplication piece of that. So we'll come into an area and we will set up a, what we call a cohort, which is basically just, m, a group of men who gather together, they'll study together, they'll encourage one another. Then we'll use a local pastor to come in and he will train. And we've got 10 major tools that we use. we take them through classes like spiritual formation, hermeneutics, how to study the Bible, homiletics, the art of preaching. We'll take them through Old Testament, NewSong Testament surveys, pastoral ministry, evangelism. we'll take them through church revitalization, discipleship, and Intro to Theology. So we give them 10 tools, and we believe that there is such a need for pastors or all around us, in churches that are without a pastor. Right now, just in our state of Mississippi, I am part of Southern, Baptist Church, so those are the numbers that I'm familiar with. But we have some 300 pull pits open in the state of Mississippi alone,
Joseph Parker at this moment.
Jay Parks At this moment. And over 80% of those pull pits are probably less than 50 people. So these are bi vocational settings, like my church, in a farming area, man, right in the edge of a soybean field or at the end of a county road. But around those churches, there's a lot of people that live scattered around those churches. And, man, we need pastors in those churches that will get a new vision from the Lord and lead their people to reach those that live all around them. And, so that's really what we exist for, is we're setting up cohorts all over, not just in Mississippi, but now in Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama. And I'm going to be in Missouri next week talking about setting some up there. And so I'm excited about that.
Joseph Parker So, Pastor Paak Stone, in other words, now your headquarters is basically Blue Mountain College campus, Is that right?
Jay Parks We have an office there?
How Pastor Training Schools Operates: Cohorts, Courses, and Student Demographics
Yes, sir.
Joseph Parker You have an office there. Okay then. But again, to go back to the word you used, you call them cohorts. That's basically where you set up and you teach sometimes in local churches. Is that where it happens?
Jay Parks Yes, sir. So like in Tupelo for instance, Matt Powell at First Baptist Tupelo has been teaching Old Testament. Last week was their last meeting. they meet on Tuesday nights from 6 to 8:30. And so most of these classes or all the classes last for six weeks. So you'll go for two and a half hours for six weeks. When you finish that course then it may jump across town to another pastor and that pastor will teach them in a different course. So our next course is brother Lowell Walker. So excited about this brother teaching new ah Testament for us and so, just excited about what God's doing. They'll gather at his church on Tuesday nights from 6 to 8:30 for the next six weeks to go through NewSong Testament 1.
Joseph Parker So a six week period is the time frame for a class.
Jay Parks For a class. And there's a total of 10. Well there's 12 courses because NewSong Testament and Old Testament both have two parts. So they're 12 weeks total.
Joseph Parker So at this point in time, how many cohorts do you have under your school right now?
Jay Parks Currently we have 29 cohorts that are scattered across four states. we have just at 300 students. Now these are normal guys man, just guys that work for the city, state, own a business. we've got some medical doctors that are training and we've got guys that are 17 years old finishing up high school. I love it. We're a range from 17 to 80 years old. so just man, what we are is an arm to be able to help to equip a local pastor to raise up local guys in his area that could then become local leaders and churches around them.
Joseph Parker And so would it be correct to say then these are lay people? These are not ordained ministers, but are persons who may feel like the Lord is calling them into the ministry. or not necessarily.
Jay Parks We have quite the mix. So I'd say we're at about 50% are bi vocational now, meaning they're already serving in some aspect, maybe not just as a pastor. They could be youth ministers, music guys, missions, whatever. we have about 50% of our guys that are already serving bivocationally. So they've surrendered. The rest of those guys have surrendered to ministry in the last 12 months. And that's what I'm so excited about. These guys, they'll say things like, well, I don't know what God's calling me to do, but I know he's calling me to do something. Well, this is good company to keep, man. Come in here, sit with these guys. They're all trying to figure it out. They all just want to be faithful, but they're all excited and they're growing in their faith in crazy ways with some amazing stories that we're hearing.
Joseph Parker So possibly many, if not most, if not all of them might feel they are called into the, ordained ministry.
The Growing Impact of Pastor Training Schools Across Multiple States
Possibly. But again, each cohort varies with who they are and what they feel called to do. Is that right?
Jay Parks Yes, sir.
Joseph Parker Okay. Well, as far as that's concerned, in terms of numbers, how big, typically, are your cohorts as far as numbers of students?
Jay Parks we see on average they are usually about 12, 10, to 12 students in each of the cohorts. the Tupelo cohort right now has 11 students, I think. we've got one in Blue mountain that's got 17 students. So they just kind of. They range different depending on the interest in the area.
Joseph Parker Okay. Okay. And does it seem to always be growing right now?
Jay Parks It's amazing what's happening right now. I'm excited to share. Maybe after this next break, we can talk about what God's doing and opening some doors in Arkansas and some other places. It's growing really rapid right now. It's beautiful.
Joseph Parker Okay.
Connecting with Pastor Training Schools: Website, Application, and Impactful Testimonials
Would you share the website if someone who's listening, they might be thinking that they would like to see if there's a cohort in their area that they could come and visit or learn about or plug into. what website would they go to find out more information and how to get in touch with you?
Jay Parks The best way to connect with us is, by visiting pastortrainingschools.org that's schools with an S. you can, visit the website. We've got all the contacts. You can apply there. You can watch videos, testimonies. The whole deal is there on the website.
Joseph Parker Okay. And so. But basically, though, with the title Pastor Training Schools, one of the greatest, the biggest goals is preparing people that either are pastoring or aspire to be pastors to train them to be able to carry out that role. Would that be correct?
Jay Parks That's our heartbeat. Yes, sir.
Joseph Parker Okay, then. And you said you have as young as 17. So in other words, also young people that are considering it and heavily looking at it, but maybe not quite there yet as well.
Jay Parks And we're really praying about, you know, college age, kids, man, they're these BSUs are full of kids that feel a call to ministry, but maybe they're at a secular college. You know, man, how do we connect with those guys to encourage them? maybe they're not in a place where they could take seminary right now, but they can certainly take Old Testament or NewSong Testament right now, along with their college that they're doing. Currently
Joseph Parker be preparing that. And how many states did you say
Jay Parks we're in? Four states currently. Four
Joseph Parker states. What states are those?
Jay Parks We're in Mississippi primarily because that's where we started. Arkansas is our next big target. And we've already got a couple of cohorts in Arkansas. We got one in Alabama, and we got three now in Tennessee.
Joseph Parker Okay. And so all the information that, like, if someone wants to plug into one of the cohorts, then all that information can be found on the website. And, just how to go about getting involved. Right.
Jay Parks That's right. That's the place to find it.
Joseph Parker And every person listening, I would invite you to please pray for pastor, Jay Parks and the work of pastor training schools. Because the reality is that there's such a need for more leaders in the church. As he mentioned, lots of open pulpits in our country for many different reasons, to be quite honest.
A Prayer for the Church and Pastor Training Schools: Expanding Territories and Discipleship
And it's not just one denomination, it's across denominations. And so the fact is there's a great need for leaders that love Jesus, that are full of the Holy Spirit, love the word of God, and are needed, ah, to preach and teach God's word as well. Lord, thank you for this work. Thank you for Pastor Jay Parks. Thank you for the work of, this institution called the pastor training schools. The work that they're doing, Father, bless this school, this institution and Pastor Parks indeed expand their territories, cause your hand to be mightily upon them, keep them from evil that they may not cause pain. And Father, more and more, I ask that you use this to help more people who have been called of you to be equipped and prepared to carry out the specific call and callings upon their lives. And father, for the body of Christ as a whole, set us on fire afresh with the spirit of prayer, with the spirit of discipleship, Help us to be disciples and to be involved in the work of making disciples more and more as a lifestyle, as you would have us to. We thank you and praise you, Jesus. Jesus name. Amen. Our in studio guest today is pastor Jay Parks. he's the director of pastor training schools. We'll be right back.
Musical Interlude and Reinforcement of Faith in Jesus Christ
Dr. Jessica Peck You're lighting up my way My soul awakes to give you all the praise. Oh, I will trust in you I will keep praising you through, the night I put my hope in you. You are the one who gives me life you are the way, Jesus, you're the only way. Doesn't matter what they say to me I believe in you and so I praise Jesus, I will give you praise. Doesn't matter what may come with me. I believe in you. You taking all my fear and filling me with hope. I know you're near Wherever I may go, oh, I will trust
Joseph Parker Music from Planet Shakers with the only way, a reminder that Jesus Christ is the only way to eternal life and the only way to eternal salvation. Thanks for listening to the hour of Intercession. Our in studio guest today is Pastor Jay Parks.
Pastor Training Schools: A New Concept for Ministry Training
He's the director of Pastor Training Schools, an innovative and a very exciting new concept in school and training for those who are called of the Lord into the ministry. Pastor Parks, would you share one more time the website if someone is interested in learning more about or possibly plugging into one of the cohorts?
Jay Parks Absolutely. Our website is pastortrainingschools.org you can apply there. You can watch videos, read testimonies there. We'd love for you to visit if you're exploring a call in your life to ministry.
Joseph Parker Okay. Now you shared that some exciting things are happening as you expanding into the state of Arkansas. Can you tell us more about that?
Jay Parks Yes sir, absolutely.
Exciting Expansion of Pastor Training Schools into Arkansas and Beyond
I have a friend, James Nichols, that used to pastor in Mississippi at First Baptist Greenville. And he was a partner, with us in our work in Hawaii. I reached out to him some time ago and shared about what we were doing and he is now pastoring in Marion, Arkansas just across the line, across the bridge there. And he got really excited about this. We had a pastor's meeting where I went and shared a little bit about what was happening. And within about six weeks they launched two cohorts in Crittenden county, which is the county right across from right across from Memphis, there, across the bridge. And they have a total of over 30 guys and their two cohorts just in Crittenden County. it's amazing what all is happening there. And God's been moving in powerful ways. We got guys that are preaching for the first time to pulpit. We've got ah, young men that really are, they've been in Old Testament 1 and 2 now. So they're amazed at how that Old Testament is connecting and helping them to make sense more of the NewSong Testament where a lot of guys tend to live, these days. But man, the Old Testament is so powerful and they've loved that. And so Clint Haynes is head of the association there in Crittenden county and started sharing a little bit about, what God was doing through that work there in Crittenden with other guys in our Arkansas. And we were invited to a meeting at Williams Baptist University, that is in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, right outside of Jonesboro. And Dr. Norman and I started talking about what it would look like to offer certificates in Arkansas, through Williams Baptist University for our graduates. And, I was invited to come to the Baptist convention of Arkansas two weeks ago. And Dr. Norman made a strong address to the convention about the need to train up bi vocational pastors in their state and really highlighted us as an opportunity to do that. And, it was amazing. We ended up with 26 location requests just in the state of Arkansas for cohorts. that kind of scared me to death because I was thinking, 26, that's almost what we got. Now. I can't imagine Dublin overnight. But what it showed us was the great need and the great interest for training guys all across the state of Arkansas. And so we have been working that and making plans with the convention and discussing back and forth what that could look like. And we have plans, to. My prayer is to launch 12 new cohorts by March in Arkansas. So we'll see what happens. That's up to the Lord. That's the beauty of what we're doing with this. Really just being a group of pastors is, when the Holy Spirit opens the door, we can just walk through it. And the Holy Spirit has certainly opened the door in Arkansas. We're so excited about that.
Joseph Parker Share the website one more time again.
Testimonials of Transformation Through Pastor Training Schools and Hearing God's Call
Jay Parks Yeah, it's PastortrainingSchools.org PastortrainingSchools.org
Joseph Parker okay, well, can you share maybe, testimonials of persons maybe either that are in school or been through the school, and how this has impacted and helped them in moving forward in ministry in their lives.
Jay Parks I'll tell you about a couple of instances. One is I said that I pastor a local church here. So I have sent five guys from my church to go through the training. and, I basically just walked up and said, hey man, I see God moving in your life. I want you to pray about this. And those guys got involved. Since then, just in the last couple weeks, I've had a guy go out and preach at a church that needed a pastor. He was one of our guys from our church that I've been doing some discipleship with, and he's been in, these classes. I've got another guy that man, he has struggled with addiction. He. He's had a. He's had a tough. A tough life, man. It's been a difficult life. And I've been discipling him for the last couple of years, and I've seen God totally restore his life, restore his marriage. and just a week ago, he called and I went over to his house, and he said, and I think God's calling me to ministry. And, that all came as a result of us really just encouraging these guys to what we see God doing in their lives. Sometimes their worst enemies themselves. You know, they need somebody to speak, some encouragement in their life. And I'm certainly not saying that we should do that if it's not there. But if we see it, man, God uses. God uses pastors to be able to say, man, this is what I see in your life. And would you consider. Would you consider that God may be calling you to explore this? What could God do, if you would just submit yourself to him? It's kind of like the passage you read when we opened this up today of, hearing that call. And sometimes it can come through. Pastor, I believe that. I really do.
Joseph Parker Right. You know, it makes me think of. I can remember years, some years ago, an individual that, I saw clearly saw graces and gifts on this person, and they would teach Sunday school and would minister. But I asked, I think on more than one occasion, do you think the Lord might be calling you to the ministry?
Learning to Listen: The Importance of Hearing the Holy Spirit's Promptings
I don't think so. I don't think so. Just. And then. And then, some years later, I remember an instance where the person was in church and said, it seemed like God just keeps talking to me at night, and I can't sleep, you know? And at a certain point, the person surrendered to the call and is pastoring today.
Jay Parks That's beautiful.
Joseph Parker Well, the reality is, many times, I guess, in some ways, like Samuel, they don't quite know what it is, but they know God is calling them into serving him in some deeper capacity. And, you know, I think of this. Pastor Parks, the reality is every believer is called to work ministry in some capacity, but it's not always in the pulpit or in the ordained ministry. But God has work for all of us to do, and the key is for all of us to work at listening better. You know, the Holy Spirit really does speak to all of us. But the fact is, it's important for us to know that as you spend time in the word of God, it sharpens your spiritual ear where you hear the Holy Spirit more accurately. And we all need to always work at listening because God's talking all the time.
Jay Parks There's no question.
Joseph Parker Our job is to learn to listen better and better. Would you pray for the church to help encourage people to seek the Lord more, to seek to draw closer, to listen better? Because there's so much work to be done, and the need is for us to listen and obey what God is calling us to, individually and collectively.
Jay Parks I've been preaching about how to hear the Holy Spirit, and I think a lot of times, man, he's speaking to us, but we just. We got so much other noise going on around us that we're not paying attention. But if we ground ourselves in a time in the Word, we ground ourselves in a time of just listening and praying to the Lord, you'd be amazed at how the Holy Spirit can start speaking to you. And I would just prompt the listeners, man, if you ever feel a sense the Lord has put somebody on your heart, one stop and pray right then for them, second, reach out to them. it's amazing what God can do through that. If we'll just learn to hear the prompting of the Spirit and obey the prompting of the Spirit. And I believe that's one of the, great travesties in the church. We don't talk about it enough, you know, so I'd love to pray absolutely. Lord, thank you so much for, for just prompting this conversation, Lord. And I pray that those that are. That are listening today would, would, learn to have an ear, to tune their ear to the things of God. Maybe they would see. Man, when the Lord puts something on my mind, I just need to be obedient in it. And what I've seen is that there is great, great reward in that. Anytime that I've sensed a prompting of the Spirit in my heart and in my mind, and I followed through with it almost every single time. I was so thankful to see God use that in some way. And so may our listeners today, learn how to hear. Maybe learn how to hear the Spirit of God, the prompting of the Spirit, and to turn down some of the noise in their life and take some time just to get in the Word and listen and pray and say, God, would you speak to me? Would you guide me, Would you lead me and then actually do it. And, it's amazing what God can do through just that simple submission, to him and the Spirit of God. We pray these things in the name of Jesus. Amen.
A Prayer for Spiritual Listening and Obedience to God's Voice
Joseph Parker Amen. And Father too, thank you for the church. Thank you for the opportunity for us to listen to you as you speak to us through your word and by your spirit, anoint us afresh with the spirit of listening. Help us have ears that and hearts that tune into you to hear you clearly and are quick to say, yes, Lord, whatever that might be you're calling us to. And in Jesus name, amen. Pastor Parks, our time is just about gone. A book that comes to my mind that I think is so good, I want to encourage every listener to prayerfully consider getting. It's by, Dr. Bruce Wilkinson, the same minister who wrote the book the prayer of Jabez, but he has a book entitled, you were born for this. And it's largely about learning to listen to God, to pray for God to use you more, and how to listen to him and follow his leading and doing just that powerful book, but very practical and down to earth about learning to listen to the voice of God in your life. So, Pastor Parks, one more time, the website.
Concluding Thoughts on Pastor Training Schools and an Invitation to Faith in Christ
If someone wants to learn more about pastor training schools, please.
Jay Parks Absolutely. We would love for you to check us [email protected] or on our Facebook at pastor training schools. we have lots of. Lots, of information out there. We'd love for you to check it out.
Joseph Parker All right. And to every listener, please pray much for Pastor Jay Parks and for the work and the mission and the ministry of pastor training schools as the Lord uses it to prepare more and more individuals for ministry, prepare them for what God is calling them to do, and to help them to just become better and more faithful disciples as well. Please pray much for the ongoing work. Father. Thank again for Pastor Parks and the school. Father, once again, bless them both. Indeed, expand their territories. Cause your hand to be mightily upon them. Keep them from evil that they may not cause pain. In Jesus name, amen. Well, as we normally do before we end the broadcast, if you're listening today and you've never given your heart to Jesus Christ, remember the single most important decision in all of life is the decision to give your heart to Jesus Christ, to receive him as Lord and Savior and be saved. If you want to make that step, would you, from your heart, pray this prayer with us right now? Give your life to the Lord and be saved. Lord Jesus, thank you for loving me so much.
A Prayer for Salvation and Guidance for New Believers
You came into the world a long time ago. You lived. You died on the cross to pay for all the wrong things I've ever done. Three days later, you rose up from the dead so that I could be saved. Lord, I confess I'VE sinned and done wrong in many, many ways. Lord, I repent of all the wrong I've done. Forgive me Lord, for all the wrong things that I have ever done. Lord Jesus, come into my heart. Be my Lord and Savior. In your word you told us, whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved right now, Lord, I'm calling on your name. Lord, save me. Fill me with your spirit. Help me to follow you all my life. Help me to read your word every day. Help me to pray every day. Help me to follow you every day. In Jesus name. Amen. Well, if you prayed and gave your life to Christ, we want to connect with you. We'd like to be in touch with you again that email josephfr.net again, that's josephfr.net please email us so we can share with you some literature and resource materials that will help you to begin to grow and grow strong and vibrant in your new walk with the Lord.
Resources for New Believers and Closing Remarks of the Hour of Intercession
Please get in touch. We do want to do that. Also, if you'd to like like to get a copy of the article or other articles that we've shared the article, the first one we shared, Let the children come to me, Simply email us josephfr.net, we'll be glad to get it to you, be it this one or others that we share as well. Again, josephfr.net thanks for listening. Join us again next time for the hour of intercession.
Pastor Joseph Parker reflects on hearing God’s call, living as a faithful disciple, and helping others grow in faith. Drawing on Samuel’s response, “Speak, for your servant hears,” and Paul’s teaching in Romans 12, the episode considers how Christians can listen for the Holy Spirit, use their gifts, serve others, and make disciples in everyday life.
Pastor Jay Parks joins Pastor Joseph to explain Pastor Training Schools, a church-centered approach to equipping current and aspiring ministry leaders. Parks describes its cohort model, growing reach across four states, and the need for more pastors—especially in small and bivocational churches. He also shares stories of students discovering their calling and taking their first steps into ministry.
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