We have been overseeing the Polishing the Pulpit Workshop since its inception fifteen years ago and are excited about the good it does in the kingdom. PTP differs from a revival or evangelistic service in that it is a cooperative work of many congregations in educating and edifying their leaders and teachers.

PTP is a workshop—a type of school. Its purpose is the continuing education for preachers, elders, and other kingdom workers. Some churches establish schools to train preachers and then other congregations send their young men to study in those schools. They usually assist the overseeing congregation with the finances required to run such a school. This is what churches are doing with PTP. The Jacksonville church of Christ oversees the work, and other churches help bear the expense by covering the cost of sending their preachers, elders, and other members. Certainly if it is right to send a young man to a school for two or four years to begin his education, then it is right to send him a year later to PTP for a week to continue his education. Splitting the cost equally among those attending is fair. This cooperation enables the brotherhood to have an event that otherwise would not be possible.

A little history might also help. PTP has been a cooperative effort from the beginning. They preachers who began felt it needed to be under an eldership and came to us to see if we would oversee it. At that time, they suggested that each of their congregations have a part in its expenses. Each wanted to help bear the cost of what was benefiting their local works, instead of asking one church to bear all the load (Galatians 6:5).

We do all we can to make sure that PTP is accessible to as many people as possible. As the brochure explains, “We do not want anyone who needs recharging to miss out because we are charging for it.” We arrange for preachers from mission points and others to have free lodging, food, and materials. We sponsor some from our budget (and sometimes from our pockets). We provide scholarships for those who cannot afford to come. Last year, we provided scholarships for about 200 people, not including the 125 or so who came as a part of the team of speakers and staff (many of whom donated their time), or the 250 children and teens who came to PTP for free.

Of course, the church here, nor any individual connected to PTP, makes anything from the event. Each year the Jacksonville congregation makes up the difference in the money coming in and the actual cost. We were happy to do so, and felt that the money was well spent in helping the brotherhood. In the event that surplus funds are available after a future PTP, the extra will be used for the following year (print the brochure, etc.).

We covet your prayers as we seek to oversee and guide this work. We never envisioned that it would grow to more than 2000 people from 37 states/nations or that the lessons preached there would literally go all over the world. We are humbled and honored to have the stewardship of one of the works God is using to help His children in this generation. His glory, the benefit of His kingdom, and the salvation of souls is our focus and desire.

The elders of the Jacksonville church of Christ