FROM THE CHILL 6 A.M. AIR outside Cracker Barrel to the quiet warmth of a college basketball game with his closest family, Hershael W. York’s day is busy, but punctuated with coffee, family, and yes — Kentucky basketball. Photographer Emil

 

Handke followed the Victor and Louise Lester Professor
of Christian Preaching and pastor of Buck Run Baptist Church for an entire workday, providing a unique viewpoint for the SBTS preacher/professor.

EARLY MORNING – JAN. 31, 2017 – FRANKFORT, KENTUCKY

CRACKER BARREL | 6:16 a.m. | York leads a “Bible and Biscuits” men’s group at Cracker Barrel.
HOME OFFICE (Left) | 8:35 a.m. | A few minutes of quiet give York time to drink coffee and answer a few emails.
DRIVING (Right) | 9:38 a.m. | York makes the 45-minute drive from Frankfort to Louisville every Tuesday and Thursday for his 11:30 a.m. Christian Preaching class.

MIDDAY – JAN. 31, 2017 – SOUTHERN SEMINARY

NORTON 012 | 11:32 a.m. | No preaching during Christian Preaching class today — it’s the first day of classes. York introduces himself and gets to know the students.
SCHOOL OFFICE (Left) | 10:25 a.m. | York meets with students one-on-one in his office.
AT COMPUTER (Right) | 12:45 p.m. | Email is an ongoing project for most pastors. York finds pockets of time to answer his hundreds of unread messages.
SOUTHERN PRODUCTIONS | 1:08 p.m. | York records his “Honest Answers” video with Southern’s video production team.

 

AFTERNOON – JAN. 31, 2017 – BUCK RUN

BUILDING TOUR (Left) | 4:41 pm | Buck Run Baptist Church’s new building opened in November, and York checks in on the ongoing work (today, painting).
STAFF MEETING (Top Right), PT. 2 | 3:37 p.m. | Pastoral staff settles by a fireplace in the church lobby.
COFFEE AND EMAIL (Bottom Right)| 5:21 pm | Afternoon espresso. “Oh, that’s good, man that’s good. Just hits the spot.”
STAFF MEETING | 3:07 p.m. | Afternoon means driving back to Frankfort for church work. Today means a series of meetings, first with the whole staff.

EVENING – JAN. 31, 2017 – FRANKFORT

DINNER WITH GRANDKIDS (Top Left) | 6:01 p.m. | York’s son, Seth, brings three of his grandkids over, and everyone goes out for pizza.
SKYPE WITH GRAMMY (Bottom Right)| 8:16 p.m. | York’s wife, Tanya (or “Grammy” to certain diminutive company) is out of town, so Skype will have to do for one night.
UK GAME | 9:16 p.m. | York settles down with his son, daughter-in-law, and three grandkids to watch the hometown Kentucky Wildcats play Georgia (UK won in overtime, 91-80).