Welcome to The Master Preacher!
Welcome to The Master Preacher!
A ministry of the Friends Preaching Initiative at Barclay College, The Master Preacher is written by a
preacher with exploring, aspiring, and active preachers in mind. Even more than pulpit ministry, The
Master Preacher aims to encourage Friends in the vocal ministry in whatever form it takes: teaching,
open worship, sharing faith, evangelism, and speaking the truth in love. You may proclaim Christ
occasionally in one of these ways—or weekly. Let’s learn from the Master Preacher, Jesus.
The Holy Spirit
“If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth...” (John 14.15-17a).Programs. Principles. Techniques. Strategies. It may be assumed that the Holy Spirit is...
Nothing Except Jesus
Who doesn’t want to be better preacher? We want to proclaim Christ in ways that compel others to believe in Him.
But few of us feel articulate, eloquent, or wise. Most of us feel the weakness, fear, and trembling the apostle felt. We compare ourselves with other preachers. Multiple experts offer their resources for sale to teach us the way we should preach Christ in our time, but there may be too many. Which style do I follow?
Introducing The Master Preacher
The Master Preacher is written by a preacher with exploring, aspiring, and active preachers in mind. Even more than pulpit ministry, The Master Preacher aims to encourage Friends in the vocal ministry in whatever form it takes: teaching, open worship, sharing faith, evangelism, and speaking the truth in love. You may proclaim Christ occasionally in one of these ways—or weekly. Let’s learn from the Master Preacher, Jesus.
ABOUT
Jeff Blackburn has been proclaiming Christ for over 43 years. He served Friends congregations in Indiana and Kansas. His most recent pastoral assignment was with Greensburg Mennonite Church, Greensburg, Kansas, where he enjoyed nearly 30 years of ministry before being called to coordinate the Friends Preaching Initiative in 2024. He works with aspiring preachers and ministry students on campus, often preaches in churches in the region. He developed three new courses for a preaching certificate offered through Barclay College, and he created a preaching lab for Barclay students to work on their communication skills.
Jeff grew up in small-town Indiana, attending Quaker Haven Camp every summer before counseling and directing camps. He is a graduate of Barclay College and Huntington University. He wrote for Adult Friend and The Fruit of the Vine (Barclay Press, Newberg, Oregon) for many years. Jeff enjoys music and singing, although he can’t read music very well. He continues to serve as the moderator for local schools’ spelling bees.
Jeff has written one book, Light at the End of the Funnel (Amazon, 2017) recounting the experience of surviving an EF5 tornado that devastated his town in 2007. He and his wife live in Greensburg where they are near enough to play with their grandchildren on a regular basis. The Lord put it in his heart to help train the next wave of preachers and to encourage active ministers to “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction” (2 Timothy 4:2).