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Rick Atchley is known and talked about for many reasons…

I’ll let these three links reveal some of the reasons…

And then there’s this reason: he is the preacher at the largest acapella church of Christ in this country and he’s a great preacher. He calls on his listeners to hold up the Bible as the sole authority for life and practice. And then he challenges them with practical applications that call people to a radical life in Christ.

I heard brother Atchley for the first time this morning at the last main session of the 2006 North American Christian Convention in Louisville. It would be difficult (impossible?) to top last night’s celebration… and I heard from a friend of Atchley’s that he was thinking of that. Of course… preaching isn’t about topping the last event… it is about preaching Christ… and Him crucified. And this is what our brother did today.

It was so fitting that he would close the convention because it was his publically spoken plea for reconciliation at the 2003 NACC which seemed to be the catalyst for what occurred this week.

I won’t try to report what he said… and to be honest with you… I was more or less taken in by the moment… and don’t think I even remember many specifics. What spoke more than any words he said were his attitude and genuine concern that the church unite against our common enemy (Satan) and his plea that unity is a great apologetic. I had never thought of that benefit before (unity is a great apologetic)… but I know he is right.

The service this morning had a decidedly “missions emphasis” as well… which was great to see and completely in line with the burden to reach the lost throughout the world that the Restoration Movement churches are have become famous for.

I’ll leave you with a few more links inspired by Rick Atchley and this convention.

Richland Hills Church of Christ website
Message from Rick at the Richland Hills Church website
Richland Hills Praise CDs (GREAT MUSIC!)
Bridgeway Church website (planted by Richland Hills Church)
The Christian Chronicle
Together Again - a book by Rick Atchley and Bob Russell