After pastoring four growing churches, Don entered Vocational Evangelism in 1985. For the past twenty-five years he has conducted Revivals and Retreats in upward of 800 churches across America.

Don has preached for the Georgia and Florida Baptist State Evangelism Conference, the Tennessee Baptist State Pastor's Retreat, and for numerous Associational and Area-wide Evangelism Conferences throughout the Southeast.

He has lectured at Luther Rice Seminary and New Orleans Seminary and has been on Christian Television programs and Radio shows. Don has conducted numerous Marriage Retreats, Deacon Retreats, and Sunday School Growth Seminars across America. He has authored the book, “The Marriage Triangle”, "Deacon Relationships through the Body of Christ," and is currently working on his next project, "Does God Consider All "Marriages," Marriages?"

A recent letter received:

Dear Pastor:

If there was a book that could help Deacons as well as Pastors to be all they could be for God and His church, would you buy it? There is such a book!  "DEACON RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH THE BODY OF CHIRST,: by Dr. Donald E. Ledbetter, Xulon Press, 2009.

I have just completed reading this book.  How I wished I had it as a resource 30 years ago when I was called and ordained a Deacon! And more so, as I have served as a Pastor in four Baptist Churches.

Let me share with you several excerpts from Don's book.

   "What is the role of the deacon in the church? Is the deacon to be, as some believe, the one who keeps the pastor "straightened out?" Are the deacons the collective voice of the church, speaking and acting on its behalf about its needs and direction? Just what is a deacon to do?

Churches often elect church leaders and fail to provide them with spiritual training. Many of our churches have assumed that men, who are spiritually qualified to be elected as deacons, are knowledgeable of what is required of them to accomplish their task. This is a wrong assumption that has often proven injurious to the individual deacon and to the Body of Christ

When a man is elected a deacon and placed into service, he most often will begin to emulate what he sees other deacons doing, good or bad. The fault for not receiving proper training for a deacons is twofold: First, it is the fault of the church for not demanding and providing the training for the deacon before he is ordained. Second, the deacon also must assume responsibility for not demanding that he be trained to serve as a deacon. No one can drive a car or fly a plane without instructions. Yet, being a deacon is far more complicated and demands a far greater skill..." Introductory paragraphs to chapter three."

This is a "seminary qualified book." It is Biblical, Straight Forward; Unapologetic; Teachable; Appealing; Convicting; and Applicable with Scholarship and Integrity; it is a Treasure Chest of "sermon resources" and Bible study material,"in addition to thoroughly covering the subject.

You can purchase Brother Don's book at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and 25,000 other Christian Book stores.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!

Most Sincerely,

Pastor (and Deacon) James H. Cook, Jr.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!