By Bill Crews, NWBC Executive Director
My first exposure to a Southern Baptist Convention-wide emphasis was “A Million More in 54,” an effort by SBC churches to enroll 1 million people in Sunday schools. The emphasis was on reaching people.
Other significant emphases have been “Bold Missions Thrust” and “Empowering Kingdom Growth.” Each of these has been our denomination’s attempt to focus on fulfilling the Great Commission by reaching more people with the gospel, at home and around the world.
The latest emphasis began last year when the convention authorized appointment of a “Great Commission Resurgence Task Force” to bring a report and recommendations “concerning how Southern Baptists can work more faithfully and effectively together in serving Christ through the Great Commission.”
The task force’s final report was released April 26 and will be presented to SBC messengers in Orlando, Fla., June 15-16.
When the task force released a preliminary report in February, some among us had serious concerns with certain proposals in the report. Since the task force emphasized the “preliminary” nature of their report, I felt it wise to seek ways to address these serious concerns and attempt to influence the drafting of the final report.
Working with other concerned leaders, we met with task force chairman Ronnie Floyd and other members of the task force to find ways to support of the final report when it is presented in Orlando.
I believe we were successful in realizing significant changes in the preliminary report that will facilitate the aim of the task force to assist Southern Baptist churches in Great Commission cooperation.
Although still concerned about some elements of the final report, I fully support the majority of the report and recommendations. Following are some of the reasons:
First, it is built on a “Theology for Great Commission Faithfulness.” At the heart of this theology is the belief that the gospel of Jesus is the only remedy for the growing lostness in our nation and the world. The success of our missiology rests on the rightness of our theology. Because Jesus is the only hope for a lost and dying world, faithfulness to the Great Commission should be the primary focus of every believer and every church.
Second, the GCR report properly focuses on the centrality of the local church in carrying out the Great Commission, which was not given to a denomination, but to the local church. The SBC and the Northwest Baptist Convention exist to encourage and empower the churches toward faithfulness to the gospel and the reaching of the lost.
Third, the report challenges the SBC entities and each cooperating church with a missional vision to “present the gospel of Jesus Christ to every person in the world and to make disciples of all the nations.” Every one of us should greet this vision with enthusiastic acceptance.
Fourth, sharpening of the focus of the North American Mission Board to a priority of evangelism and church planting with an emphasis on the reaching of the cities and underserved regions and people groups of North America is long overdue and necessary.
While the recommendation for eliminating the development of cooperative agreements has caused concern among many, the ultimate aim of the recommendation is that NAMB develop new partnership agreements with state conventions, especially those conventions in the underserved and unreached areas of our country. These new partnership agreements will be more sharply focused and accountability for progress made will be welcomed.
Ultimately, our challenge as a denomination is a heart challenge. The answer will begin when we fall on our faces before God in humility, repentance and prayer and a re-commitment to the passion and heart of our Savior when he said, “As you are going into the world, make disciples of all peoples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you, even to the end of the age.”
It is now time to stop our talk and start our walk of obedience to his commission — the Great Commission.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Move now for the next generation
By Wes Hughes
Church Planting Strategist, NWBC
I just facilitated a gathering of 40 young leaders where I was the old man in the conference room at 42. I was surrounded by 20-somethings who minister on college and university campuses across the Northwest. They were full of youth, passion, energy, enthusiasm and the Spirit of God to influence their world.
But their world is glaringly absent from most our churches and from our influence. That reality affirms a LifeWay Christian Resources study showing 72 percent of Millennials, the generation between 18 and 30 years old, are not attending our worship services, not praying, not reading scripture.
There are those who disagree with Lifeway's research. Beliefnet.com found nearly half the teens it polled felt they were more religious than their parents' generation. Beliefnet argues young people are seeking truth online and not just in the traditional way of "going to church" and listening to a pastor speak from a pulpit.
Maybe it’s semantics.
Looking to the future is the challenge. Many religious organizations are realizing that to shepherd the Millennial flock, they must meet them where they live — online. Facebook, Twitter, podcast, and video-cast might become a church’s best “friend.”
Here is the challenge? If they do connect with the church online, what will they find if they come to the physical door of your church building? I may be getting older, but I know this. If we plan for who we already have, we will never reach those who may come.
One church began planning for the future by rethinking its worship gathering. In the effort to plan for those who were not there, the Millenial generation, they lost 200 members in the transition. But because the church was focused on those who may come, they grew by 700 20-somethings.
Here is a simple test for you and your church. If you are over 40 and you really like what is happening in your worship gathering, you probably won’t reach the next generation. That may be okay, but I would love to talk with you about planting a church to reach the next generation.
It’s time for our region to consider how we are going to influence the 60 million members of the Millennial Generation — my kids, your kids and our grand-kids. By the way, in the Portland metro area, the number of well-educated young people grew by 50 percent, roughly five times faster than the nation as a whole over the past several years.
This "old man" would really like to see a future for his three Millennials in the church. And, I’d like to be considered an "elder statesman" when we gather for our convention’s annual meeting, instead of being "the young guy" at 42.
Church Planting Strategist, NWBC
I just facilitated a gathering of 40 young leaders where I was the old man in the conference room at 42. I was surrounded by 20-somethings who minister on college and university campuses across the Northwest. They were full of youth, passion, energy, enthusiasm and the Spirit of God to influence their world.
But their world is glaringly absent from most our churches and from our influence. That reality affirms a LifeWay Christian Resources study showing 72 percent of Millennials, the generation between 18 and 30 years old, are not attending our worship services, not praying, not reading scripture.
There are those who disagree with Lifeway's research. Beliefnet.com found nearly half the teens it polled felt they were more religious than their parents' generation. Beliefnet argues young people are seeking truth online and not just in the traditional way of "going to church" and listening to a pastor speak from a pulpit.
Maybe it’s semantics.
Looking to the future is the challenge. Many religious organizations are realizing that to shepherd the Millennial flock, they must meet them where they live — online. Facebook, Twitter, podcast, and video-cast might become a church’s best “friend.”
Here is the challenge? If they do connect with the church online, what will they find if they come to the physical door of your church building? I may be getting older, but I know this. If we plan for who we already have, we will never reach those who may come.
One church began planning for the future by rethinking its worship gathering. In the effort to plan for those who were not there, the Millenial generation, they lost 200 members in the transition. But because the church was focused on those who may come, they grew by 700 20-somethings.
Here is a simple test for you and your church. If you are over 40 and you really like what is happening in your worship gathering, you probably won’t reach the next generation. That may be okay, but I would love to talk with you about planting a church to reach the next generation.
It’s time for our region to consider how we are going to influence the 60 million members of the Millennial Generation — my kids, your kids and our grand-kids. By the way, in the Portland metro area, the number of well-educated young people grew by 50 percent, roughly five times faster than the nation as a whole over the past several years.
This "old man" would really like to see a future for his three Millennials in the church. And, I’d like to be considered an "elder statesman" when we gather for our convention’s annual meeting, instead of being "the young guy" at 42.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Region 4 Associations Going Strong
By Danny Kuykendall
Region 4 Team Leader
When our convention chose to go to our new regional structure there was a fear associations would dissolve. That has not been the case in Region 4. In fact, our associations may be stronger. Churches and pastors have rallied and united in a strong fellowship of churches, providing shared leadership to their respective associations and ensuring their work goes on.
The NWBC Region 4 team appreciates how leaders have partnered with us in the area of church health and evangelism, and starting healthy churches. Our team desires to work hand in hand with each of our churches as well as our associations in those three areas. There are things the Region 4 team will not be able to do that only associations can accomplish. Decisions related to fellowship as churches, camps and retreats, collegiate ministry, age-group ministries, funding new works and many others will be greatly impacted by working together as an association of churches to accomplish those things.
For most of our associations, moderators have carried a strong role of leadership in the absence of directors of missions. Thank you Rickey Scott from Willamette Valley Baptist Association, J.L. Coffey from SW Oregon Baptist Association, Ron Lloyd from Siskiyou Baptist Association and James Reed from Coast Baptist Association. Your work goes beyond your pastoral responsibilities is appreciated.
A big thanks also to Patti Wells, ministry assistant for Willamette Valley and Nancy Goss, administrator for Siskiyou for all you do that strengthens the churches. And thanks to all of the pastors, staff, and lay leaders who serve on committees and teams that keep your associations strong.
Our prayer as a team is that the associations and churches of our region will continue to thrive. We look forward to the days ahead as we partner in God’s work. May we be blessed with creativity, inspiration and resources beyond our imagination to reach and disciple the unchurched in Region 4.
Region 4 Team Leader
When our convention chose to go to our new regional structure there was a fear associations would dissolve. That has not been the case in Region 4. In fact, our associations may be stronger. Churches and pastors have rallied and united in a strong fellowship of churches, providing shared leadership to their respective associations and ensuring their work goes on.
The NWBC Region 4 team appreciates how leaders have partnered with us in the area of church health and evangelism, and starting healthy churches. Our team desires to work hand in hand with each of our churches as well as our associations in those three areas. There are things the Region 4 team will not be able to do that only associations can accomplish. Decisions related to fellowship as churches, camps and retreats, collegiate ministry, age-group ministries, funding new works and many others will be greatly impacted by working together as an association of churches to accomplish those things.
For most of our associations, moderators have carried a strong role of leadership in the absence of directors of missions. Thank you Rickey Scott from Willamette Valley Baptist Association, J.L. Coffey from SW Oregon Baptist Association, Ron Lloyd from Siskiyou Baptist Association and James Reed from Coast Baptist Association. Your work goes beyond your pastoral responsibilities is appreciated.
A big thanks also to Patti Wells, ministry assistant for Willamette Valley and Nancy Goss, administrator for Siskiyou for all you do that strengthens the churches. And thanks to all of the pastors, staff, and lay leaders who serve on committees and teams that keep your associations strong.
Our prayer as a team is that the associations and churches of our region will continue to thrive. We look forward to the days ahead as we partner in God’s work. May we be blessed with creativity, inspiration and resources beyond our imagination to reach and disciple the unchurched in Region 4.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Celebrate, equip lay leaders in ministry
By Cameron Crabtree
May 7, 2010
A story from my father-in-law’s life made me laugh a little and think a lot about all the ways God works through ordinary folks doing everyday kinds of things to accomplish his work in the world.
Don is a retired iron worker who for years was occasionally involved at an established church. Several years ago, a group of his friends sensed God leading them to start a new work in their growing city. The adventure intrigued Don and he eventually became part of the effort’s setup team, loading and unloading a trailer each week with all the supplies that go with a portable church situation.
The woman in charge of the hospitality table dutifully keeps the coffee she makes off limits from them since it’s for visitors. So, Don arrives a little earlier than the rest to brew his own special blend for the set up team. When the weekly setup labors are complete, the crew spends a few minutes around Don’s pickup truck enjoying a cup waiting for services to begin.
Vignettes like that are repeated each and every week in thousands of churches across the country. And all of them point to the important contributions of lay leaders, church members and attenders make in keeping ministries going and growing in their respective communities.
Throughout the Northwest, many churches have capable leaders who carry the day-to-day burden of helping their churches reach people and growing the ministry. They deserve prayer, encouragement and support. Many Northwest Baptist Convention resources and training efforts aim to do just that. But let’s never forget the biblical admonition about the leadership task — “equip the saints” for ministry.
Church leaders often can forget amid the urgent evangelistic and ministry needs around them that the church can rightly be viewed as a band of missionaries possessing extensive relationship connections within the church and across their communities.
Preachers routinely urge church members to “get outside the four walls,” sometimes forgetting the people already spend more time away from church buildings than in them. Thus, one key to more effective ministry may lie in finding a way to empower church attenders for faithful service among than people they already know.
Whether it’s reaching out to children through a Vacation Bible School or sports camp, serving the community through clean-up days or food distributions, sharing God’s good news through special evangelistic events, educating families about positive ways to build relationships or starting a church, lay people are critical for carrying out the Great Commission in the Northwest and throughout the world.
I’m looking forward to our next vacation to my home state. It’d be fun to accompany Don early one Sunday morning to the site of the church plant to help set up. Surely, we’ll get done early enough to hang out at the back of truck enjoying a cup of dark coffee. And I’ll just sit next to Don on the tailgate, quietly celebrating all God does in the world through the lives of ordinary folks like him.
May 7, 2010
A story from my father-in-law’s life made me laugh a little and think a lot about all the ways God works through ordinary folks doing everyday kinds of things to accomplish his work in the world.
Don is a retired iron worker who for years was occasionally involved at an established church. Several years ago, a group of his friends sensed God leading them to start a new work in their growing city. The adventure intrigued Don and he eventually became part of the effort’s setup team, loading and unloading a trailer each week with all the supplies that go with a portable church situation.
The woman in charge of the hospitality table dutifully keeps the coffee she makes off limits from them since it’s for visitors. So, Don arrives a little earlier than the rest to brew his own special blend for the set up team. When the weekly setup labors are complete, the crew spends a few minutes around Don’s pickup truck enjoying a cup waiting for services to begin.
Vignettes like that are repeated each and every week in thousands of churches across the country. And all of them point to the important contributions of lay leaders, church members and attenders make in keeping ministries going and growing in their respective communities.
Throughout the Northwest, many churches have capable leaders who carry the day-to-day burden of helping their churches reach people and growing the ministry. They deserve prayer, encouragement and support. Many Northwest Baptist Convention resources and training efforts aim to do just that. But let’s never forget the biblical admonition about the leadership task — “equip the saints” for ministry.
Church leaders often can forget amid the urgent evangelistic and ministry needs around them that the church can rightly be viewed as a band of missionaries possessing extensive relationship connections within the church and across their communities.
Preachers routinely urge church members to “get outside the four walls,” sometimes forgetting the people already spend more time away from church buildings than in them. Thus, one key to more effective ministry may lie in finding a way to empower church attenders for faithful service among than people they already know.
Whether it’s reaching out to children through a Vacation Bible School or sports camp, serving the community through clean-up days or food distributions, sharing God’s good news through special evangelistic events, educating families about positive ways to build relationships or starting a church, lay people are critical for carrying out the Great Commission in the Northwest and throughout the world.
I’m looking forward to our next vacation to my home state. It’d be fun to accompany Don early one Sunday morning to the site of the church plant to help set up. Surely, we’ll get done early enough to hang out at the back of truck enjoying a cup of dark coffee. And I’ll just sit next to Don on the tailgate, quietly celebrating all God does in the world through the lives of ordinary folks like him.
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