I have been following the InternetMonk’s recent posts about the Southern Baptist Convention with interest. I can identify with some of the themes that he is talking about and some of the issues, and I think some of the solutions are already in our midst as well. I would like to give you some insight from the edges of SBC life in the north.
I grew up in the heart of the SBC in western Arkansas. It was in a Baptist Student Union at Westark Community College that I met my wife and was called by God to service in ministry. I served as a youth pastor in several small churches in northwest Arkansas and to be honest I didn’t know much about any of the denominational structure of the state at all.
That changed a few years ago when God called us to move to South Dakota as Mission Service Corps missionaries. I had never even heard of the MSC program before we began to follow God’s call, but I was blessed at the power and flexibility of the missions opportunities that Mission Service Corps offers. We spent four years in the field as MSC missionaries serving two churches for two years each. In that time, I got to know and befriend many of the state staff members at the Dakota Baptist Convention. They were in our churches to visit and help out and encourage and serve often. Recently the DBC decided to do away with the traditional model of a state office and has regionalized its state staff. In our modern world of instant communication, they are still able to keep in touch with each other and be closer to the ground level of ministry in the churches. It has had its bumps and rough patches, but the indications I get from our state convention staff is that it has made a big improvement in their ability to minister to churches in the Dakotas. The DBC is focused on planting churches and strengthening the ones that are here already. There is a strong emphasis on evangelism and some unconventional ways to carry it out.
One example is a DBC sponsored ministry at the Sturgis Bike Rally that has seen hundreds of people make decisions for Christ in a single week for three straight years now. We didn’t do this alone. There was help from NAMB and Ronnie Hill ministries and other states conventions and churches and associations. This ministry is a perfect example of a non-typical event. I remember the first year we did it. At the time as I was serving at Black Hills Baptist Church near Sturgis in Whitewood, SD. Our church held the evangelism training sessions in the morning and local volunteers were scarce as many thought the ministry had no chance of working. We were giving away a Harley Davidson motorcycle and the only thing anyone had to do to enter the drawing was listen to a three-minute gospel presentation from one of the workers in the tent. That week, we saw over seven hundred people pray to receive Christ and there has been no shortage of help since.
I say all of this to offer hope in the face of the problems and challenges that we know are out there. There is no perfect solution, because we aren’t perfect in any case. The SBC has a long and rich tradition of reaching our world with the gospel of Jesus Christ and it must continue. It won’t happen the “way we have always done it before.” I see hope for our future.
Our hope doesn’t lie in the size of our churches (the Black Hills Area Association where the Sturgis Rally is held doesn’t have a single church that is larger than a couple hundred members), but in the cooperation of our churches. This has always been the strength of the SBC. Here in the Dakotas, where our state convention may have fewer churches that some associations in the south, cooperation is a lifeline to survive and an opportunity to thrive. I think that sense of cooperation has been diminished in other SBC areas like the south, where long standing SBC churches feel more self-sufficient and may be less inclined to consider the strengths of cooperation. What do you think?
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Can’t speak for the south, but here in NW Indiana, cooperation is a big part of what it means to be SBC and cooperation is one of the big reasons why I am and will remain a Southern Baptist.
Todd Benkerts last blog post..An "Experiencing God" Moment
Todd,
I don’t know how new the Indiana convention is, but I think that is where our current convention president was before he came to the Dakotas. I haven’t spent much time in the south since 2003, so I would be glad to know that I am wrong. I have gotten the impression that many of the megachurches and larger churches in particular have gotten more “self-sufficient” and less “cooperative” as they have grown. That isn’t an option in our area of the country. Most if not all churches in the Dakotas have a smaller membership than the “little country church” where I grew up in rural Arkansas.
Jeff Ms last blog post..Writing from the Heart
Methods must change with a changing world, but we must not change the message, as many our doing, leaving out repentance, Lordship, Holy Spirit Conviction, that we are at God’s disposal to damn or save.
Dr. Foltz,
You make an important point, but I wonder about what you see regarding cooperation among local churches. Do you still see a high level of cooperation among churches where you are at or are they more independent minded these days?
Jeff Ms last blog post..Writing from the Heart
I, too, am from Arkansas and agree that the strength of the SBC is it’s cooperation for the fulfillment of the Great Commission. It seems to me that the heart of the current discussion is to what end can the SBC churches continue to work together to complete the Great Commission and whether we will have enough common ground in order to collaborate. I hope that we will.
Brians last blog post..Farewell, George Kell
Jeff M;
There are 5 churches [4 SBC, 1 Independent] in this area which support each other’s meetings and fellowship on a regular basis. I Know I am in an area that is unique, and am grateful that the Lord has put me here.
I think part of what you see is that a larger church does not “need” cooperation the same way that a small church does. If you consider, however, that most SBC churches are small, I would suspect that cooperation plays a big role in the South as well. Also, many churches, though large, are committed to cooperation as a value. While there may be some churches that are not big on cooperation, my (admittedly limited) observation suggests to me that cooperation is a value of the majority of SBC congregations. For some it will be only evident in CP giving, in others through mission trips, new church sponsorship, joint evangelistic efforts, fellowship among pastors, training opportunities, or a variety of other tangible expressions.
Blessings,
Todd
p.s. BTW, Indiana is 50 years old as a convention.
Todd Benkerts last blog post..An "Experiencing God" Moment
Brian,
Good to hear from a fellow Arkansan. When you mention having enough common ground to cooperate, what problems to common ground in the SBC are you seeing that will hinder cooperation? Is it an issue of the battle over Calvinism or is it the “moral” issues like alcohol or dancing and so forth that you see as a potential divide? I know that fights in the south seem at times trivial to me now in the north. I am over an hour and a half from the next closest SBC church.
Jeff Ms last blog post..Writing from the Heart
Dr. Foltz,
You are blessed. I think one of the reasons I value the convention and association meetings here so much is just the chance for fellowship and support.
Todd,
Thanks for the historical info. I didn’t mean to imply that there is no cooperation at all in the south, but I didn’t see it in the same degree or kind. I was part of a megachurch at one time in NW Arkansas before we moved and I know what they can do and accomplish with very little outside help. I just wonder if that affects the smaller churches around them as well. It is harder for some to cooperate when they feel like a “junior partner” in the effort in my experience.
Jeff Ms last blog post..Writing from the Heart
Jeff,
Out of curiosity, If you are 1 1/2 hrs from the nearest SBC church, how far are you from the nearest conservative/evangelical church?
BFM2000 XIV. Cooperation
… Cooperation is desirable between the various Christian denominations…
Blessings,
Todd
Todd Benkerts last blog post..An "Experiencing God" Moment
Todd,
We have a couple of churches in town here that are conservative/evangelical churches. We actually cooperate with two or three other churches (E-free and Assembly mostly) to run an AWANA program for the community. I participate in the ministerial alliance, which gives some interesting opportunities for both cooperation and things outside of my traditional comfort zone. The previous pastor here at FBC started participating in the community lenten services by hosting one at our church. Last year, we did the first Sunday night and this year we ended up with the Good Friday service, which ought to be interesting.
Last spring, I was able to help with the community baccalaureate service by doing contemporary praise and worship for the service.
There are a couple of churches and pastors in town that I have closer affinities with, namely the Assembly of God pastor and I have gotten to know the pastor at the “non-denom” church in town just a little bit. Most of the other churches are mainlines and the Lutheran and Catholic churches are some of the larger ones in town.
Jeff Ms last blog post..Writing from the Heart
I grew upon a farm in eastern Arkansas, attended a Southern Baptist church as a child (my grandfather’s home church) where the pastor preached sovereign grace, baptized percentage wise as many as Dr. R.G. Lee did at Bellevue in Memphis and epitomized William Warren Sweet’s description of farmer preacher of the Baptists in his Story of Religion in America (Dr. Sweet a prof. at U of Chicago and a Methodist covered several types in his work including his denomination’s circuit rider minister. As to cooperation, I am concerned for the 10,000+ missionaries that we have with the International Mission Board and the North American Mission Board. If we do not continue to work together, the largest missionary force in Christian history will be ended. My ancestors as well as my predecessors in the Baptist ministry had a great deal to do with the establishment of this organization, beginning in the days of persecution in the 1700s here in America and continuing down to the present. We need to really reconsider how we are rubbing one another the wrong way, how that is being done with someone’s encouragement for the purpose of drivng us to the point of separation and, thus, ending one of the most powerful forces for good and missions that has ever been. Besides, we have this Great Awakening coming which could well unite the whole earth and do even more good than the first two Great Awakenings in world history. The first two gave us religious liberty, missions, the wherewithal to unite groups that differed (Union of Seprates and Regulars) and persuade others to change their views (General Baptists became Regular Baptists and 255 Congregational Churches became Baptist Churches) and more, much more. We have the means at hand to totally alter the whole religious landscape, if we so choose and are willing to pay the price in changing our outlook on the way to the Great Consummation. God grant us the willingness to work out the basis for cooperation in our doctrine…just like the Separates and Regulards did in 1787. Admittedly, it will not be easy, because there are individuals and groups who will use and abuse their positions of trust for their own personal agendas (I have run into many like that across 51 yrs. of being a licensed and 47 yrs of being an ordained Southern Baptist minister (I even spent 4 yrs. among the independent Baptists), and recently I have been supplying the pulpit of an independent Presbyterian church. God grant us His great mercies for the trying of this hour…that we might see the day of His visitation made evident in that Awakening.
Dr. James Willinghams last blog post..The Climax of the Reformation
Jeff,
When I was a church planter, I did quite a bit with the other evangelical pastors in town. Though I had fellow SBC pastors a lot closer (12-15miles) and had a great cooperative relationship with them, I also found my relationships with the non-SBC guys to quite valuable. We prayed together for each other and the lost every week. We also did a couple of joint evangelism projects including a New Year’s Eve youth event, a monthly give-a-way (think free yardsale), and men’s outreach fishing retreat. When it came time to purchase our first building, the local EFree church actually did a fundraiser for OUR church to help us raise the downpayment. I still have a great relationship with those men and appreciate them as close friends and brothers.
Anyway, just thought I’d share. I’m a Baptist by conviction, but only since I was 20. As our own Indiana evangelist Harold Hunter says, “I love being a Southern Baptist, but I’m tickled to death that Jesus got me before the Baptists did”
Blessings,
Todd
Todd Benkerts last blog post..An "Experiencing God" Moment
Dr. Willingham,
I don’t sense the same danger for the IMB and NAMB. My impression is that they are still doing well overall, though I know there have been shortages of funds to send new personnel out as soon as they have been needed.
Todd,
I really liked your story. It is a blessing to see and hear how churches of different confessions are able to cooperate on a mission based on the essentials of our common faith in Jesus Christ.
Jeff Ms last blog post..Writing from the Heart
Dear Jeff: It is possible that I might be wrong, but in various circles I do find a great deal of frustration. We have had changes, but now more changes are required and some feel that their desires and expectations have not been met. Just read what some of the strong calvinists are saying. Then observe what the moderates are doing. Also consider what those who are more inclined to an Arminian view are saying about the five point calvinists. Personally, I agree with a pastor from 50 yrs ago: It is a tempest in a teapot. Still even a hot teapot can burn one’s fingers. We might get ours burned over the issues now being tossed about now. There is also the matter of eschatology. Southern Baptists have always held that this was a matter of one’s own persuasion, but there are forces outside the convention who want one view of eschatology established to the exclusion of all others as it serves their own purposes. Our preachers are not always aware of such forces. They make up their minds on the issue and then go whole hog. That, too, can be a problem. I remember how Dr. R. G. Lee, perhaps the strongest Premillenialist of his day along with Dr. W. A. Criswell, had Dr. Hershel Hobbs, the strongest Amillenialist of that day, preach a revival for him. If memory serves correctly all three men knew and respected one another even if they held eschatological views that differed (and none of them held their views lightly). We cannot afford to lose that spirit of union. Be sure you explore all avenues before you make final conclusions about the situation. My prayer is that we shall do all we can to promote unity and union, short of giving up our faith on things required.
Dr. James Willinghams last blog post..The Climax of the Reformation
It has been said that, ”where there are 3 Baptists, there are 5 different opinions’
and that is how it should be.
One’s views on the Doctrine of Last Things should not squelch fellowship and
co-operation among brethren.
I adhere to The Doctrines of Grace, love to hear them expounded, and love to
hear Christ glorified by them, but can fellowship with those who do not believe
them, just as long as they do not make them a point of contention between us.
A world is going to Hell in a handbasket, and we must not spend time arguing
and debating among ourselves.
This is a call to all Baptists to stop their bickering and hate mongreling and to
rally once again around our Lord’s cross and The Great Commission. May it happen now, before all unity is destroyed.
For another view of the particular methodology mentioned here (which I wonder if even Michael Spencer might question) listen to this 60 second message:
Dr. Willingham and Dr. Foltz,
I think you both touch on a very important point. We must major on the majors and cooperate around the essentials of the faith without picking fights on the things that Scripture doesn’t spell out in dogmatic detail. I have recently preached through Romans and made the statement that if more believers could put chapters 14 and 15 into better practice, we would see a lot less division in the body of Christ as a whole. Easier said than done of course.
Travis,
Was there more to your comment? It looks like something is missing or else I didn’t get it.
Jeff Ms last blog post..Writing from the Heart
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