Tom Ascol
Tom Ascol has served as a Pastor of Grace Baptist Church since 1986. Prior to moving to Florida he served as pastor and associate pastor of churches in Texas. He has a BS degree in sociology from Texas A&M University (1979) and has also earned the MDiv and PhD degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas. His major field of study was Baptist Theology. He has served as an adjunct professor for New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in their SW Florida extension and has also taught systematic theology and pastoral theology at Reformed Theological Seminary and the Midwest Center for Theological Studies (now Covenant Baptist Seminary), respectively. He was also a Teaching Fellow at the Nicole Institute for Baptist Studies at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, Florida. Tom serves as the President of Founders Ministries, an organization committed to reformation and revival in local churches.
Documentary short film on SBC and women now available free online
An acclaimed documentary on the crisis around women in ministry in the Southern Baptist Convention has become available for free viewing just days before the denomination’s 2025 annual meeting in Dallas. The
YouTube release of Hold the Line is especially timely because the issue of banning women from ordination, preaching or holding jobs with “pastor” in the title will be reprised during the SBC’s June 10-11 gathering.
The documentary zeros in on two opposing pastors — Tom Ascol and Linda Barnes Popham — in the debate around women in ministry during the 2023 annual meeting in New Orleans. Messengers there approved the first reading of a constitutional amendment affirming men alone may serve as bishops, elders, pastors and deacons. They also adopted two resolutions on women’s role in ministry. In addition, two congregations were voted out of the denomination for calling female leaders. (Baptist News Global 6/3/25) READMORE>>>>>
An acclaimed documentary on the crisis around women in ministry in the Southern Baptist Convention has become available for free viewing just days before the denomination’s 2025 annual meeting in Dallas. The
YouTube release of Hold the Line is especially timely because the issue of banning women from ordination, preaching or holding jobs with “pastor” in the title will be reprised during the SBC’s June 10-11 gathering.
The documentary zeros in on two opposing pastors — Tom Ascol and Linda Barnes Popham — in the debate around women in ministry during the 2023 annual meeting in New Orleans. Messengers there approved the first reading of a constitutional amendment affirming men alone may serve as bishops, elders, pastors and deacons. They also adopted two resolutions on women’s role in ministry. In addition, two congregations were voted out of the denomination for calling female leaders. (Baptist News Global 6/3/25) READMORE>>>>>
Tom Ascol, Sam Rainer, and Willy Rice Among FL Pastors Bracing for Hurricane Milton
While “many of the members of Grace Baptist Church have evacuated,” Ascol said that “most are staying,” a decision he views as “a matter of liberty and wisdom. I am confident that each family & individual has prayerfully made the best decision they can, given their own peculiar situations.” Ascol had to cancel plans to attend a Bible conference and said that his church has canceled all weekly events. However, like West Bradenton Baptist, Grace Baptist plans to meet for Sunday worship on Oct. 13. “Donna & I have decided to ride the storm out in our home,” said Ascol. “We are watching the track of the storm carefully, & are fully confident that our Lord is directing its path with meticulous sovereignty & eternal love.”
(Church Leaders 10/9/24) READMORE>>>>>
While “many of the members of Grace Baptist Church have evacuated,” Ascol said that “most are staying,” a decision he views as “a matter of liberty and wisdom. I am confident that each family & individual has prayerfully made the best decision they can, given their own peculiar situations.” Ascol had to cancel plans to attend a Bible conference and said that his church has canceled all weekly events. However, like West Bradenton Baptist, Grace Baptist plans to meet for Sunday worship on Oct. 13. “Donna & I have decided to ride the storm out in our home,” said Ascol. “We are watching the track of the storm carefully, & are fully confident that our Lord is directing its path with meticulous sovereignty & eternal love.”
(Church Leaders 10/9/24) READMORE>>>>>
June 27, 2023:
Evangelicals continue to have a tenuous relationship with President Trump. Presidential candidates like Mike Pence, Tim Scott, and Ron DeSantis are all courting the evangelical vote. DeSantis was well-received at the Faith and Freedom conference, although he trails the president in polls. Tom Ascol, who gave DeSantis’s invocation after he was reelected, stated that he believes Christians are looking for someone more “principled” like DeSantis. “I don’t think President Trump is a principled man — I think he was a great president,” he said while saying DeSantis “seems to be a man of sincere faith.” --Belief.net: Sunny Hostin of “The View” Criticizes Evangelicals for Supporting Donald Trump After Indictment
Evangelicals continue to have a tenuous relationship with President Trump. Presidential candidates like Mike Pence, Tim Scott, and Ron DeSantis are all courting the evangelical vote. DeSantis was well-received at the Faith and Freedom conference, although he trails the president in polls. Tom Ascol, who gave DeSantis’s invocation after he was reelected, stated that he believes Christians are looking for someone more “principled” like DeSantis. “I don’t think President Trump is a principled man — I think he was a great president,” he said while saying DeSantis “seems to be a man of sincere faith.” --Belief.net: Sunny Hostin of “The View” Criticizes Evangelicals for Supporting Donald Trump After Indictment
Tom Ascol
“Amazing how many professing Christians, even self-designated ‘conservative’ ones, are embarrassed by God’s Word. Just quote some unpopular words of God & watch what happens. Many so-called Christians react the same way that unashamed unbelievers do. It’s a commentary.”
--Tom Ascol; Twitter; 5.30.23
--Tom Ascol; Twitter; 5.30.23
Tom Ascol
The Lord does not treat only our symptoms. He addresses the root cause of all our problems. By the power of His Spirit and His Word, He changes us so that we become “new creations” (2 Cor. 5:17). Sin is not yet purged from the Christian’s heart, though one day it will be. But its power is broken so that, by faith in Christ, we can pursue real holiness from the inside out.
-Tom Ascol; Founders Ministries
-Tom Ascol; Founders Ministries
April 25, 2023: AFA: Reprove, Rebuke, and Exhort
For example, on January 24, in an episode of Real Truth for Today (RTFT), Schreve spoke with Tom Ascol, pastor, author, and president of Founders Ministries, about how the church should respond to homosexuality.
For example, on January 24, in an episode of Real Truth for Today (RTFT), Schreve spoke with Tom Ascol, pastor, author, and president of Founders Ministries, about how the church should respond to homosexuality.
Tom Ascol
“I don’t think President Trump is a principled man -- I think he was a great president........DeSantis seems to be a man of sincere faith.”
-Tom Ascol; Reuters; Cape Coral Florida 4.20.23
Tom Ascol
Those “later times” are here. They have been present since Christ’s first coming and will continue until his return.
Paul intends to encourage Timothy by informing him of the inevitability that some will apostatize. Timothy is pastoring the church in Ephesus—a church that Paul himself planted. Yet, among the members of that church, among those who professed to be followers of Jesus, some would depart from the faith.
From Judas onward the church has been confronted with the painful reality of apostasy. When those who have once been bright, shining lights among the people of God later turn away from the paths of discipleship and abandon the teachings of God’s Word, it is brings great sorrow to fellow church members. Perhaps none feel such sorrows as deeply as those pastors whose responsibility it is to shepherd the flock. --Tom Ascol
Paul intends to encourage Timothy by informing him of the inevitability that some will apostatize. Timothy is pastoring the church in Ephesus—a church that Paul himself planted. Yet, among the members of that church, among those who professed to be followers of Jesus, some would depart from the faith.
From Judas onward the church has been confronted with the painful reality of apostasy. When those who have once been bright, shining lights among the people of God later turn away from the paths of discipleship and abandon the teachings of God’s Word, it is brings great sorrow to fellow church members. Perhaps none feel such sorrows as deeply as those pastors whose responsibility it is to shepherd the flock. --Tom Ascol