"A Preacher Factory" - Joey Ferrell

What an odd title for an article - right? Not really! This article is meant to inspire church leaders and Christians alike to think about an ongoing problem…and a solution!

Let me start with this thought:

“A question was asked recently regarding the loss of several good men who preached the gospel - ‘who is going to fill their shoes...’ It is a valid question. Is your congregation working to be a preacher ‘factory’ or are we lining up for a funeral of the local church?”

With some very recent passings of some great men who proclaimed the gospel not only in pulpits, but through their lives, this is indeed a very valid question. It is one that has to be answered, but even before these men passed away (most known to this author in 2025), the heralds have cried out “preacher shortage, preacher shortage” from the hilltops and through the world-wide-web. And to some extent…it rings loudly true.

At a chance that I might miss a name or two, I do want to recognize some of these men whom I grew up or casually listened to either at their feet, working alongside, or knew from various functions. In 2025, we have lost a number of Christians, but specifically those that were of impact in my life are David Paden, Cecil May, Larry Acuff, Wesley Simons, Jim Boyd and as of yesterday, Alan Highers. Such a tough loss to those they served in years past and even today. There were others that I have never met such as James Segars who is known throughout Mississippi for his sound teaching…and certainly many that I don’t even know their names.

But, that isn’t quite what this article is about!

I want to bring some attention to a smaller, hometown congregation that has somewhat become “A Preacher Factory” in the past year. I know there are others who strive to put their men into some training programs, and success is seen there as well. I can think of a few students at multiple schools of preaching right now that came from the same city, same family, or same congregation.

Where is this congregation? Well, you may remember from this time last year, their name became somewhat of a common occurrence around our office, as well as many who know me personally. That congregation is the Mountain City church of Christ in Mountain City, Tennessee. Yes…the town in the mountains that got a hurricane…after over two dozen inches of rain right before it hit.

I spent several days with this congregation during what we call relief effort. But I want to call it something different. It was MINISTRY. When we read about ministry in the Bible, we can see the hands and hearts of servants, whether they be a preacher, a sweet sister in Christ, an elder, or simply a Christian that knows how to have compassion. That was what I saw! I saw ministers of God!

Well, you know that a preacher is only worth his weight in salt if he is also a good minister right? Those terms are so confusing since we are all called to be ministers, yet the titles preacher and minister are often interchanged. Sometimes maybe it should be….other times, maybe not. But in this case…I watched and assisted the preacher, Chuck Stewart, minister to not only the congregation, but to an entire town. What a blessing. Ironically, Chuck graduated the Tri-cities School of Preaching about an hour or so away in Stoney Creek some years ago, and now is also a teacher for the school.

What does that have to do with the title? Well…last week at Polishing the Pulpit, I was able to catch up with two of the three elders from Mountain City for a bit. They are still doing incredible work toward rebuilding peoples’ physical lives there in the area, but something even more exciting was told to me. I knew part of the whole, but they literally knocked me backwards with all of the details.

Since this time last year, the Mountain City church of Christ has not enrolled one student at TCSOP, but they have enrolled THREE! Three good men have or are going to be attending this school to become “preachers.” That is excellent news. You may say, well yeah, but there are people all over that do that. Indeed. But 3 from one congregation in one year’s time is phenomenal. This congregation is probably about 100 members…so that is 3% of their congregation! If you count wives and children that will also be involved in their efforts, now you are talking 8, maybe 10% of their congregation!

One of these young men is Chuck and Megan’s son, Isaac Stewart. Some may say that is a given for a preacher’s son….but truly it is a blessing more than a norm it would seem. I know it made Chuck and Megan so happy when he told them he would be attending.

Another is a long time friend of mine Dean Jones. Dean and his wife are sort of putting things on hold with what normal they had after the hurricane and moving with the children to be closer to the school. Dean attended for a while a few years ago but life changed and that caused a change for him. I saw Dean go into full force ministry with the relief work and then some mission work this summer. It was not a surprise when he shared that he would be returning to school!

Then…there is a third fella. I have not known him long, and I will tell you that I think the world of him. When I met Eddie Storey, we were knees to elbows on the ground loading and unloading supplies for the survivors. Eddie took some time from his life and work and went head first into helping those that were able to be at the church building and in the community for several days. Eddie rode along with a couple of us to deliver supplies to an older community and saw first hand how compassion touched both those who were being served…and the ones serving. I will never forget the conversation that he and I had as we watched an elder get on his knees to pray with someone as we were unloading water for the community. Eddie didn’t grow up in the church. As a matter of fact, Eddie is somewhat of a newer Christian! But…through the efforts of the congregation, the love that he saw, and the desire that he wanted to be more Christ-like in his life every day….well, he is the third student!

I do not say these things to put anyone on a pedestal, or to embarrass anyone. And, I know this is not an isolated situation. How do I know that? Well…I have told many times that not long after I was baptized at a young age, the elders encouraged and insisted that I participate in what they called “a future preachers class” at the congregation where my family attended. It was a once a week class and had probably 10-12 young to old men involved. Would you believe that at least 3 of those men that were in that class, including myself, have preached or are still preaching today?

Is your congregation a preacher factory, or are you going to be challenged when the man that serves that role passes, moves, or retires? Will there be anyone to fill his shoes, or will you be also asking that same question? The time to start training our preachers is now. We must want to become a preacher factory and help encourage our young men (and old) to consider preaching for the Lord’s church….after all, it might be the greatest task on earth in heralding the gospel message to those who are lost and dying.

Encourage others. Help them to see the need. Support a student if you can. Get involved. Preach a time or two if you are a Christian man. Train.