ST. LOUIS —- Praising the Lord after losing one’s job isn’t easy. But Pastor Robert “Bob” Loggins believes praise made the difference in his life and ministry after losing his position with the Missouri Baptist Convention in May.
Robert "Bob" Loggins
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Now he ministers across Missouri and in surrounding states. “I’m about Christ…and I focus on the greatest commission and greatest commandment,” he said. “I just want to be a blessing.”
A longtime denominational worker, Loggins always has preached, been a revival speaker and a prolific writer apart from his “day job.” With the news that his position as prayer and spiritual awakening specialist would be eliminated, he felt God calling him to step out in faith and expand his preaching and consulting ministry.
Loggins focuses on holiness before God and wholeness in the Lord through “encounters” -— an invitation to an experience with God. “I try to help people know that God loves them so much and doesn’t hurt us but works with us,” he explained.
He added that he emphasizes “holiness and intimacy with God and living out the kingdom…in realism. People are very thirsty for God.”
Believers have to be reminded that God doesn’t look at the church in the same way that people do. “Man looks for methods, but God is looking for man,” Loggins said. “Man is God’s method for reaching others. We must be surrendered to God.
“I try to bring pastors, people and churches into a place where they realize only God can make it happen…. When they get there, the economy…or the number of people in the church don’t matter…. The only thing that matters is what God wants,” he said.
Loggins also tries to help church leaders understand that congregations must follow God’s leadership in determining the programs and ministries the church should offer.
“People are thirsty for God. Programs won’t do it, but the Spirit can use those programs as tools,” he said. “The Spirit directs when to pick up the tool and when to put it down.”
Loggins believes that God is allowing him to be a “tool” for pastors, congregations and associations. He is a mentor to young pastors and does personal coaching for ministers. He consults with Baptist churches and a few other denominations for prayer, revival and spiritual renewal and awakening. He also does spiritual awakening coaching, workshops and clinics, and Training the Next Generation Leadership seminars.
A prolific author, he has written 15 books, including his three newest works, The New Journey, The Soul Winning Manual and Preaching for Spiritual Awakening. The Soul Winning Manual was recently printed in the Philippines for pastors there. He also writes prayer strategies for vision casting, church conflict, church growth and “spiritual matters that are needed in the Lord’s church,” Loggins said.
And he works with children and teens whenever he gets the chance. Recently, he preached “dressed in GQ [Gentleman’s Quarterly] style,” surprising the teens at the church. They thought he was “cool.”
“Spirituality has no age limit,” he said. “What communicates is the authenticity of God.”
Loggins believes the strength he brings to ministry is foresight and a listening ear. “The ministry is need-driven. I’m always writing, thinking, looking down the road to pick up on trends,” he said.
He converses with and listens to pastors. “I love to do things for pastors who ask for something specific,” he said, adding that he tries to learn what a church’s specific needs are so that he can tailor his approach, particularly for revivals.
“You’ve got to capture the moment…scratch the itch while it itches,” he said. “I try to capture that moment, that hot button, in the moment.”
Loggins has a “wish list” for his ministry —- for prayer and financial partners and volunteers to staff his bookstore, to help with administrative duties and to handle his website.
While his work must support him -— a little scary in hard economic times -— Loggins sees it as “exciting” and definitely God-ordained. Though he didn’t understand it at the time, the loss of his job on May 31 has allowed the ministry to expand. “I believe God has put me in this situation,” he said. “We are already booking eight to 12 months ahead.”
