ROCKWOOD, Tenn. (BP) — Averaging more than a book per week, Southern Baptist pastor Mike Winters read 68 books during 2007.

Tackling the regimen in addition to his study for sermon preparation, the 57-year-old Winters, pastor of rural Eureka Baptist in Rockwood, Tenn., said reading the books “put me in a state of revival. Some of the desire I have in ministry right now came out of those readings.”

Starting on Jan. 1 of last year, Winters devoured several volumes of significant theological and academic content, including H.C. Thiessen’s “Lectures in Systematic Theology,” which Winters read in six weeks.

Counting the Old and New Testaments as separate books, Winters read through the Bible several times last year as part of the undertaking.

Winters read books written by notable Southern Baptist authors such as First Baptist Atlanta pastor Charles Stanley and LifeWay Christian Resources president Thom S. Rainer.

“Reading Dr. Rainier’s book, ‘The Bridger Generation,’ was the most eye-opening because I didn’t realize how much the generations differ in their beliefs,” Winters said. “His book made me want to get out there and reach the next generation for Jesus, get them involved in church, and to see them grow them for Christ.”

Winters has served at Eureka Baptist 15 years, during which time the church’s attendance has doubled.