I am the senior pastor of First Baptist Church, Covington, Louisiana, a position that I have held since 1989. FBC, Covington, is located near Interstate 12. It is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and is one of the largest Southern Baptist churches in Louisiana.
This is my personal blog. I post about two areas: pastoral leadership and Christian living. I have an intense interest in the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, primarily through the ministry of the local church. Having led FBC, Covington, to make important changes, how you “get things done” in the local church matters to me. I don’t presume to be an expert but rather a practitioner and someone who has seen many things that work well in a congregation and some that don’t. I intend to write about both.
As a pastor, I have seen the power of stories to move people and to affect them beyond the time that they hear the sermon. “Stories Worth Telling” is my attempt to help preachers and other public speakers with stories that touch lives.
Because of my deep affection for my church, I write a weekly article about the state and future of FBC, Covington. This is entitled Lagniappe (Lan-yap), a great New Orleans and Louisiana term meaning “a little something extra.” Lagniappe is specific to one church, but it demonstrates my understanding of the work and ministry of the church.
I also write about Christian living. Christians ask a lot of questions about faith, the future, the Bible, and how you live the Christian life. I want to be helpful in those areas.
All of my adult life has been spent in ministry, most as a pastor of a local church. I also spent seventeen years as a professor in a theological seminary. Six of those years I served as the J. Wash Watts Professor of Old Testament and Hebrew and the Chairman of the Division of Biblical Studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary while also pastor of FBC, Covington. I have written five books and am working on a devotional book to be published next year. In November 2011, I was elected President of the Louisiana Baptist Convention.
I am married to my high school sweetheart, Martha. We have two grown daughters and four wonderful grandchildren. We live in Covington.
I hope that you will subscribe to my blog. It is quick, easy, and free. Simply type your email address at the top of the page and hit subscribe. You will receive a confirmation email shortly. Reply to the confirmation email and you’re done. Thanks for visiting my blog.
I am the senior pastor of First Baptist Church, Covington, Louisiana, a position that I have held since 1989.
Kelvin
Blog looks good. Looking forward to getting home and having more time to read it.
Waylon
Thanks. Can’t wait to work with you on writing “Teaching and Preaching the Old Testament.” I think that we will enjoy the project. I hope that we will help others experience the joy we and others have had in learning the powerful message of the Old Testament.
Bethellen
I have successfully subscribed to your blog. Now to keep up with it is a challenge for me and you!
Waylon
No one will ever know if you don’t read, but if I don’t write. . . .
Diane S. Baker
Hi Waylon. I just love your new blog. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to take on this new project.
wayl9622
Thanks. I hope that it will be interesting and helpful. Please encourage friends and family to subscribe as well.
Gail
June 21, 2011
Waylon, Just a brief note to tell you once again how blessed we are to have you as our pastor. We love you and Martha and appreciate you both more than you could ever know. Thank you for your blog and I will enjoy visiting with you.
Waylon
Thank you so much. May God bless you
Alan Whiting
Waylon: Thanks for making the time to post on your blog. We miss your preaching and pray that Martha is doing better and healed. We missed you at our 50th wedding celebration. Alan Whiting
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Continuation:… and the things started moving. Maybe, this is what’s going to happen with SIP and the others?BTW, why are there only TBU guys posting here? I would expect the NBU to contribute a bit as well – they have their wise men Thanks,WBR,Yan
Leesa
So glad to have discovered your blog today! I have happy memories of you and Martha from your days and Union 🙂
Charles P & CP
This is a welcome addition to your preaching and teachings. Thanks
Waylon
Thanks for reading and thanks for your encourgement.
Rod Minor
Thanks for the valuable insight, Waylon. I appreciate your friendship & thank God for your leadership & consistent walk through the years. Blessings!
Karen
Bro. Waylon — Some of these postings are JUST what I’ve been looking for, for The Montana Baptist newspaper. May I reprint your two columns on blessing your children? Giving you full credit, of course, including your photo, and directing people to your website. Karen
Waylon
Karen, that sounds great. I hope that it will be a help to someone.
Ron Vice
Waylon, we are thankful for your blog. As always, your lessons are true to the Gospel, while conveying an understanding of the everyday struggles – and HOPE – we experience in today’s world. We miss hearing you live from the pulpit, but sure enjoy your written “sermons”. May God continue to bless you and First Baptist Covington.
Ron Vice,
Dallas, Texas
Waylon
Thanks. I certainly enjoy being able to connect with so many people, particularly former members. We hope to see you sometime soon.
April Schech
I just want to let you know that each week I read Life app. in my e-mail and try to apply it. This blog is great and it is something that will keep me inspired. I really appreciate you and your words. Thank you so much.
Waylon
Thanks for taking the time to read the blog. I’m thankful that you find it helpful.
Ruth
Looking forward to eat the food you will send! Psalm 28:9 KJV
Ruth
Looking forward to eating the food you will send! Psalm 28:9 KJV
Nicholas Varnado
I am looking forward to your updates. I grew up in Denham Springs under Dr. Terry Booth at Amite Baptist Church and remember coming to FBC Cov. first Forward Thinking Conference with Leith Anderson.
Looking forward to the blessing!
Nicholas
Waylon
Thanks for subscribing. Looking forward to getting reacquainted.
Ellen Harless
I’m so excited to reconnect with you again. The two years that we were at FBC Covington were such a blessing to us. I look forward to reading your blog!
Jennifer Magee
Jacob and I really miss your sermons!! I love FBC of Covington. You are such an inspiration to us and others. We are attending First Baptist in Poplarville. We really wanted to get involved with a church closer to us so that we could be a part of other church activities. Can’t wait to read your blogs and I love your emails you send out. God Bless You and Your Family
Waylon
I am thankful that you have found a good church. We miss you here. May God bless you. Let’s stay in touch.
Otto & Patsy
Patsh and I appreciate and are blessed by all aspects of worship at FBC Covington. One of the things that we appreciate most are opportunities for Bible stusy. Twp things that have blessed us most are the Tuesday Morning Men’s group and the Wednesday evening Bible Study.
Waylon
Thanks so much for your affirmation. May God continue to bless you.
John and Carolyn Caylor
We are looking forward to reading your blog and drawing from your wisdom and inspiration. You have a special gift of turning a phrase to make a point and making Scripture come alive. Our time as members of FBC Covington remains special to us — even while we are worshiping and serving here in Goodyear, AZ.
Marge
I so enjoyed your rerference to Alexander who also had a bad day. Marge
Waylon
It is a great little book.
Robert
I’m looking forward to reading more of your messages. Enjoy them so much!
Kathy Viator
Great job on your blog. I look forward to your future posts!
Waylon
Thanks so much and thanks for subscribing. I love getting to write about Christian living and pastoral leadership and I love getting to interact with people across the country and around the world.
Dan Aboyan
Waylon, your teaching through your blogs is so simple and such a straight forward message of the Gospel. I have appreciated Lynne sharing these with me so I thought I would subscribe directly. You probably have other folks from the Philadelphia area who read your messages, so just add me to one of those. Many Blessings…..Dan
Waylon
Thanks so much for subscribing. I appreciate your interest and hope that you continue to find them helpful. I certainly enjoy writing them and seeing other people find help in the posts.
George McDaniel
Glad to learn of your blog. Thanks for your online ministry. George
Waylon
Thanks. The Internet can really connect people. Thanks for reading.
Debbie
I am subscribing due to Dr. Ken Taylor’s recommendation. He is my pastor. I needed your blog for today! Time to press on ( :
Waylon
Thanks for subscribing. I am thrilled to know what I do helps someone. God is gracious to give us what we need.
Marqueta Lacy
Hi Bro. Waylon, I used to go to FBC of Covington for the brief period that I lived in Mandeville. I now live back at “home” and I really miss your sermons. The church God has given you to lead is like the church I went to back home… all Bible based and growing. Thank you for the work God has clearly given you the gift to do. And thank you for heeding His calling and allowing Him to use you. It in turn, helps us.
Kelli Stewart
Waylon,
I am so glad to find your blog. You were my pastor for many years but now I am part time in Maine and part time in Covington…so, I guess that makes you my part-time pastor. Anyway, thank you for doing this and I will forward to friends! Hope you get to reach people all over the world!! I can hear you talking through your words…so comforting and so insightful! Thank you!
Waylon
You probably travel farther than anyone to attend church!
Shane Mattern
A big thank you for your blog post.Really looking forward to read more. Wonderful.
Jim Richardson
Waylon, its been a long time my friend…………my dad thought so much of you in your time at Highland as interim there. In fact, as he spent his last few days in this world, he and I, together listen to you preach on TV from his hospital room there in Covington. I am enjoying your blog and look forward to reading it daily. Thanks my friend.
Waylon
Thanks so much. I am humbled by the people who read. I appreciate your doing so. One of the blessings of my life has been to have met so many wonderful people by getting to preach in various churches.
Tina Harrington
Your wife, Martha, was our remarkable Teaching Leader at our Ladies’ Retreat at Big Cedar Lodge, Branson in 1998. “A Heart Like His” was such a blessing there, and we continued it at our church, Immanuel Baptist in Little Rock, AR. Mary Ann Harrington Bishop is my husband’s sweet cousin and my good friend. Glad to see your post on fb about the amazing Christian stewardship and conviction of businessmen Mr. Cathey. We love Chick-Fil-A!
Bro. Michael Green
Think you for giving of your time to have a blog. I enjoyed you presentation at the Awaken and Go Sunday school program August 11, it was helpful.
Waylon
Thanks. I enjoyed being with all of you. Thanks for reading. I am thankful that you find the blog helpful.
Jerry Patrick
Just found your site. Thanks for your dedicated service. I look forward to continued reading of your inspired and uplifting words.
Waylon
Thanks so much. It’s good to hear from you and thanks for reading. I hope to see you on this site often.
Ed Matthew
Missed you today. Hope you and Martha are Well.
The Prayer Band continues to lift you and yours up to Him Who is Able.
Blessings
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You know what, I’m very much inclined to agree.
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To add to that first response, OBD1 on many cars aren’t even called OBD1, as this also varies by manufacturer. This also means that the codes these engine controls have aren’t universal either. OBD2 changed this…now all codes are universal, which means the code for an O2 sensor failure will be the same no matter what the car. Also, 1995 was a transition year. 1996 should be the year that ALL vehicles have it.
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Tuohon viimeisimpään kommenttiisi, Noora, tosiaankin ruoalla on näemmä suurikin merkitys. Kun aiemmin viittasin Pricen kirjaan ruoan vaikutuksesta suun terveyteen (ja tietysti muuhunkin terveyteen), se vaikuttaa myös lisääntymiskykyyn, ja esimerkiksi siihen mitä mahdollisia puutostiloja lapsi perii vanhemmiltaan. Kumulatiivinen efekti, huh. Ja monet meistä kärsivät puutostiloista tietämättämme, kun ne ovat niin pieniä etteivät aiheuta suuria näkyviä seurauksia, vaan vaikuttavat hitaasti ja näkyvät sitten vaikka jälkikasvussa tai jälkikasvun saannin vaikeutena. Tuo kirja on pelottavaa luettavaa.
Pastor Bailey
Thank you for supporting the mission of Habitat for Humanity St. Tammany West. Two families moved into their Habitat homes in December so they were able to be home for Christmas! We appreciate everyone at First Baptist Church who has volunteered or made a donation to Habitat over the years.
Waylon
Thank you. You do a great work and have a Christ-like ministry.
Thomas Bruce Wallace
Hey, just going to add a brief hello here so you know I confirmed my subscription to your blog. It will be nice to talk to an intelligent Christian again… Not nearly as many of us out here as back there… Tom
Waylon
It’s good to reconnect with you and good to have you reading.
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John McDade
Waylon, have heard so much about you from my brother-in-law and sister, Ed and Judy Morris. My wife Methodized (?) me many years ago but I still love the Baptist way of doing things. Look forward to receiving your blog here in Texas.
Pastor Jean A Lusma
Pastor , I just first read of you . We connected on linked. I am pastor and Evangelist in Haiti . My location is in South Haiti . Work Churches an Orphans . It is good to read from you. I am looking forward to continuing reading of you.
Waylon
Thank you, pastor. May God bless you and your ministry.