Testimonials
“I’ve been part of a preaching cohort with The Rephidim Project for over a year now and can attest to how much it has been encouraging and equipping me in this area of ministry. Its mission is to call the church back to expositional preaching. The vision and what I’ve been experiencing is pastors coming together to encourage, support, and equip one another in a cohort model to strengthen and inspire the preaching skills of pastors. I’ve already seen the benefits not only in my own preaching but also in my association with these other pastors knowing that God is influencing our passion to use the Word as the source of our messages, not just a resource for our messages.” – Pastor Joe
“The Rephidim Project is a gift of God to Maine. What need is more pressing than this present famine of truly expository preachers? … There is a new generation of young men eager to feed Christ’s sheep. We thank you for raising our arms. The tide is turning.” – Pastor Alex
“The preaching cohort ministry of the Rephidim Project has been a profound help to me. The provided books have been an excellent resource, and the group setting, facilitated by an experienced pastor, has been a consistent encouragement to faithfulness in preaching and in the ministry generally. How are we to grow without the prayers and help of our co-laborers? I commend these cohorts heartily.” – Pastor Ian
“The preaching cohort has been a positive experience. … There are very few opportunities for hands-on, in-person training experiences in Maine, and to have an opportunity for folks looking to discern God’s calling on their lives is invaluable.” – Pastor Jacob
“Rephidim’s preaching cohort is a valuable resource to those currently preaching and those exploring that great office. … Full of substance and support, cohort members find a place of brotherhood, bonded by prayer and a desire for God’s Word to be heralded in Maine and beyond.” – Pastor Mark
“As a participant in the first “Think Tank” gathering, I was greatly impressed by the need it seemed to fill in the attending pastors’ lives. I was blessed by the insights and honesty of those present and recognized how important the ongoing ministry of Rephidim truly is.” – Pastor Russ
“I had been running and running for almost 20 years without any real thought of my “occupational” growth as a pastor. I needed to grow and sharpen my skills as the church grows, deepens, and becomes more effective. The disciple can only go as far as the teacher. … The cohort’s content has really helped me to sharpen my skills. I found that I need the camaraderie of other pastors. Iron does sharpen iron.” – Pastor Will
As a donor and board member, I am greatly blessed to be involved in the ministry of the Rephidim Project. Its mission is to mobilize, equip, and encourage pastors with a blueprint for expositional preaching of the Word of God. This is especially critical now in the information age. Our no-margin lives leave us more prone to learn from short video clips or other digital means than from the careful study or exposition of scripture. This has contributed to a rising tide of Bible illiteracy in the culture, especially in the Northeast where Rephidim is focused. Young pastors with varying levels of education, and who are sometimes bi-vocational, are not immune from these influences. They may fall into cherry picking popular passages and preaching topically. Rephidim provides pastors with the tools and peer encouragement to understand what expository preaching is and how to practice it, in order to systematically teach the whole of scripture. Rephidim is a vital shot in the arm for our pastors. Get involved! – Steve Tinsley
Russ had been a mentor to me long before he knew that he was. His impact has been immeasurable in my life. One day, as a very young Christian, I came across First Light broadcast on the radio. Up until that moment, I had never heard the Bible preached in such a passionate, convicting and truthful way. Russ spoke truths that came straight from God’s word and went right to my heart. I felt challenged, encouraged and alive all at once. From that moment on, I made it a point to listen to him on a regular basis. Russ was my go-to preacher; through his teaching Christ was being formed in me. Little did I know that the voice from the radio, which had left such a mark on me early on, would become the voice of a friend, personally mentoring me. For years I had heard him preach about Christ, now I witnessed him living it. Russ has a way of teaching Scripture in a relevant, understandable way, using principles that never leave you. He has a passion for God’s word and for His people. He has not only shown me how to better handle the Bible, but also how to better shepherd God’s sheep. Russ is always available to talk and tells me just what I need to hear. In sharing my pastoral burdens, Russ patiently listens. I always look forward to our time together as I know my heart will leave changed. – Pastor Mark Labacz
