Just got back to my hotel from the last session of the annual Missouri Baptist Evangelism Conference. Our state's "new" evangelism director, Gary Taylor, did a phenomenal job in putting this year's conference together. And, First Baptist Church of Arnold was an outstanding host church. The Evangelism Conference is typically the best MBC event of the year, and I'm sure that will hold true for 2008 as well. There was a very sweet spirit among this year's participants. It gives me hope for the MBC. Let me tell you a little bit about the conference...
The worship leader for the conference was Charles Billingsley, worship pastor at Thomas Road Baptist Church (Jerry Falwell's church), and formerly lead vocalist for the contemporary Christian group "Newsong." Charles is among the best worship leaders I have ever seen. He led us in every genre of worship, was funny at the appropriate times, serious at the appropriate times, and his voice... Wow! He is truly a world-class talent. And the best part is, he did it all with a Christlike spirit.
My friend, Bob Caldwell, brought a challenging message the first day of the conference on setting a Godly example for coming generations. Bob made an interesting point that for the first time in the history of the Church, five generations are alive and active. He went on to discuss the various implications of that fact on worship, methodology, etc.
This morning (the second day of the conference) I had the privilege of sitting under the teaching of Reggie McNeal. Reggie is a somewhat controversial figure in Southern Baptist life. His book, The Present Future: Six Tough Questions for the Church, has been widely read by SBC pastors, and tends to be a "love it or hate it" proposition. (For what it's worth, I've found it to be one of the most convicting books I've ever read.) Reggie's message is that the North American Church is ill, that it must recognize the "church culture" has collapsed, and must make a radical return to the Church of Acts. He stresses Christianity over "churchianity," and advancing the Kingdom over church growth. Reggie is witty, funny, and easy to listen to, if you can get around his somewhat excessive sarcasm. Reggie speaks some hard truths. He can make you cringe. But more often than not, what he has to say is dead-on right. One thing I took from Reggie today is the statement (paraphrased), "We think we have to bring lost people to church to find Jesus, like He hangs out at the church. But lost people will take you to Jesus! Jesus came to seek and save the lost! He is already among them! This is why imams come to our foreign missionaries and say, 'Your Jesus comes to me in my dreams. What does he want from me?'"... Good stuff. Reggie also pointed out that the greatest Christian movement since the reformation is taking place all around the world today. The fires of revival are rampant in China, India, Africa, South America. The "west" (Europe and North America) are the only places where Christianity is decreasing... Why?
Later in the day, I attended a session taught by one of Missouri's bivocational pastors (Ron Ratliff of Tenth Street Baptist Church in Trenton). It is a good thing to give bivocational pastors the opportunity to pass along their wisdom, and I hope it becomes more common. I took many good things from Ron's session. One thing he said which caught me, is the importance of asking Spirit-gifted evangelists to preach revivals, and not merely local pastors. Ron made the comment that if a church will be faithful to plant the seed, the true evangelist is gifted by the Spirit to reap a harvest. Sounds simple, but to me it is profound. Perhaps I will give revival meetings another try! (See previous post.)
Finally, tonight I heard one of the foremost black preachers in the nation bring the Word... Fred Luter, pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans. Prior to Hurricane Katrina, Franklin Avenue was running 7,000 in attendance. Today... 1,200. Pastor Fred to this day has no idea where many of his church members are. In fact, his church building was ruined by flood water from the hurricane. (They still haven't gotten back into it.) Pastor Fred admitted being angry with God for a time after Hurricane Katrina. He couldn't (and still doesn't) understand why his church building was ruined, while Bourbon Street went practically untouched. He preached a great message on the power of God being granted to those who wait. (Acts 1) I thoroughly enjoy worshipping with black brothers, and especially hearing them preach. I wish I got a chance to do it more often. Their enthusiasm for Christ, and life, is contagious.
As always, I got to eat/visit with many friends and pastors from all over Missouri. The first night I got to eat supper with my former pastor, Brock Davis (Roby Baptist Church), and some other friends from Texas County. Tonight, I ate with my DOM and friends from Tri-County. God has blessed me with good friends.
I miss my girls. Time to go to bed. Back to the flock tomorrow.
The worship leader for the conference was Charles Billingsley, worship pastor at Thomas Road Baptist Church (Jerry Falwell's church), and formerly lead vocalist for the contemporary Christian group "Newsong." Charles is among the best worship leaders I have ever seen. He led us in every genre of worship, was funny at the appropriate times, serious at the appropriate times, and his voice... Wow! He is truly a world-class talent. And the best part is, he did it all with a Christlike spirit.
My friend, Bob Caldwell, brought a challenging message the first day of the conference on setting a Godly example for coming generations. Bob made an interesting point that for the first time in the history of the Church, five generations are alive and active. He went on to discuss the various implications of that fact on worship, methodology, etc.
This morning (the second day of the conference) I had the privilege of sitting under the teaching of Reggie McNeal. Reggie is a somewhat controversial figure in Southern Baptist life. His book, The Present Future: Six Tough Questions for the Church, has been widely read by SBC pastors, and tends to be a "love it or hate it" proposition. (For what it's worth, I've found it to be one of the most convicting books I've ever read.) Reggie's message is that the North American Church is ill, that it must recognize the "church culture" has collapsed, and must make a radical return to the Church of Acts. He stresses Christianity over "churchianity," and advancing the Kingdom over church growth. Reggie is witty, funny, and easy to listen to, if you can get around his somewhat excessive sarcasm. Reggie speaks some hard truths. He can make you cringe. But more often than not, what he has to say is dead-on right. One thing I took from Reggie today is the statement (paraphrased), "We think we have to bring lost people to church to find Jesus, like He hangs out at the church. But lost people will take you to Jesus! Jesus came to seek and save the lost! He is already among them! This is why imams come to our foreign missionaries and say, 'Your Jesus comes to me in my dreams. What does he want from me?'"... Good stuff. Reggie also pointed out that the greatest Christian movement since the reformation is taking place all around the world today. The fires of revival are rampant in China, India, Africa, South America. The "west" (Europe and North America) are the only places where Christianity is decreasing... Why?
Later in the day, I attended a session taught by one of Missouri's bivocational pastors (Ron Ratliff of Tenth Street Baptist Church in Trenton). It is a good thing to give bivocational pastors the opportunity to pass along their wisdom, and I hope it becomes more common. I took many good things from Ron's session. One thing he said which caught me, is the importance of asking Spirit-gifted evangelists to preach revivals, and not merely local pastors. Ron made the comment that if a church will be faithful to plant the seed, the true evangelist is gifted by the Spirit to reap a harvest. Sounds simple, but to me it is profound. Perhaps I will give revival meetings another try! (See previous post.)
Finally, tonight I heard one of the foremost black preachers in the nation bring the Word... Fred Luter, pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans. Prior to Hurricane Katrina, Franklin Avenue was running 7,000 in attendance. Today... 1,200. Pastor Fred to this day has no idea where many of his church members are. In fact, his church building was ruined by flood water from the hurricane. (They still haven't gotten back into it.) Pastor Fred admitted being angry with God for a time after Hurricane Katrina. He couldn't (and still doesn't) understand why his church building was ruined, while Bourbon Street went practically untouched. He preached a great message on the power of God being granted to those who wait. (Acts 1) I thoroughly enjoy worshipping with black brothers, and especially hearing them preach. I wish I got a chance to do it more often. Their enthusiasm for Christ, and life, is contagious.
As always, I got to eat/visit with many friends and pastors from all over Missouri. The first night I got to eat supper with my former pastor, Brock Davis (Roby Baptist Church), and some other friends from Texas County. Tonight, I ate with my DOM and friends from Tri-County. God has blessed me with good friends.
I miss my girls. Time to go to bed. Back to the flock tomorrow.