Waiting on God’s Timing: Lessons from a Small-Town Pastor’s Big Revival

Pastor Greg Hoy of Forward Church in Amory, Mississippi joins Philip Cameron to share hard-won wisdom on calling, patience, and building a thriving local church in a small town. Greg is the author of Dear Young Preacher, a practical guide for ministers navigating the early years of ministry, and his insights are as timely as ever. At the heart of the conversation is the danger of "birthing an Ishmael" — launching a ministry in the flesh before God's timing is right. Greg shares candidly: "You'll have opportunities to birth a ministry in the flesh, or you can wait on the promise." He recounts how closed doors at one church eventually led him to the right congregation in the same town, where Forward Church has now thrived for 14 years with around 600 regular attendees — remarkable for a community of just 6,500 people. Greg and Philip also dig into the importance of building the right staff team, avoiding the comparison trap, and knowing your place under spiritual authority. Dear Young Preacher is available now on Amazon. Learn more about Forward Church at forwardchurchms.com. If you know a young minister, this episode — and Greg's book — is a gift worth passing on.