D. Joe Payne PhD

My Story
In 2017 God began to stir in me that my season of pastoral ministry was nearing completion.
A new passion was taking seed.
I was discerning that the logistical responsibilities of leading a church were demanding that less time be available for teaching and challenging disciples to mature. I was sensing that for me, The Great Commission was being overshadowed in my calling. I had no idea that the coming storm named COVID was looming on the horizon. I only knew for certainty that something had to change in my ministry.
It was at that point I realized I needed to initiate a pastoral transition in our church. In 2019, the new seed that God had planted in me began to take root. Even though I was feeling a peace about the new steps ahead there was still so much I did not yet understand. Then COVID occurred. That awful period of trauma forever changed everything that was normal, including ministry in the American church.
As we went through the seclusion of that period and ministry began to respond to this new challenge, the days of people gathering together began to be replaced with a "tech connection". I along with many lamented the loss of community and watched our churches morph into a hybrid model of in person/media worship. Little did I know how God would use that transformation to launch the new season of ministry for me.
I realized as I watched that period of time bring about a growing moral decay in the American culture, there would still need to be voices challenging the American people to recognize that God was the only answer to our deepest desires. Those voices of challenge were going to come less from our pulpits and more from media and passionate voices without restraint. God has called me to be one of those voices.

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More than 100 years ago, Alexis de Toqueville, a famous French political philosopher, visited our nation to uncover the secret of our greatness. He traveled from town to town, talking with people, asking questions, examining every facet of our society.
"Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.”