Dave Miller

In my post yesterday, I mentioned a time when I walked through the valley of deepest darkness during my pastorate in Virginia. The black dog was howling so loud I couldn't hear the still small voice of God. I told you how I was able to work through that in the power of God and his word. There was a significant factor I didn't mention. His name was Lee. Lee was a family counselor at a local medical clinic. A doctor, one of the deacons at my church, had decided to open a rural Christian medical clinic and he brought Lee on to provide counseling to those in need. Lee also pastored a church … [Read more...] about I’m Reminded of How Bad I Stink as a Friend

I stood outside our state office and chatted with him - nothing serious, just lighthearted banter. It never occurred to me when we parted that it was the last time I would ever see him. A while later, for reasons that still baffle us, this pastor-friend of mine, who never seemed to be bothered by much of anything, decided to end his life instead of letting one of us help him. If he'd called me, I'd have gotten in the car and driven the 3 hours to help him. I would not have needed to, because there were a half-dozen pastors within an hour's drive who'd have been there with bells on to talk … [Read more...] about Helping Hurting Pastors

I'm going to be brutally honest here (hope Ronnie Floyd doesn't read this!). I've heard Ronnie Floyd speak several times and always felt he was long on passion and short on content. The first two times he ran for SBC president, I opposed him. The first time (2006) I was a blog commenter who had no forum to speak out but I traveled to Greensboro to vote for a man I'd never heard of - some guy named Frank Page. I thank God for Greensboro, because Frank Page was elected, then became our EC President, a friend, and someone I think has had a remarkable effect on the direction of the Southern … [Read more...] about Watch Ronnie Floyd’s Message at Midwestern’s Symposium

SBC demographics can go in different directions - ethnicity, internal numbers, etc.  We will focus on internal demographics. Sometimes, when we confront our past, it is not a pretty picture. We cannot be afraid of confronting the truth about our past as we take a macro view of the past. Numbers don't tell the stories, but just objective realities. The magnitude of the numbers makes it hard.  4126 churches submitted a few statistics in 1846.  Sporadic reporting since, especially during the Civil war years.  1845, baptisms and total membership.  1968 total … [Read more...] about Thom Rainer: “By the Numbers” – What SBC Demographics Tells Us about Our Past, Present, and Future

Dr Yeats: Interrelationships of the three levels of fellowship.  The association was the primary point of fellowship and accountability.  States gathered CP National SBC manages the entities of the SBC.  99% of churches affiliate at all 3 levels. Dr. Chitwood: What drew you to Executive position?  Saw the value of that position in the kingdom  strengthening and blessing the local churches.  Dr. Jordan: How have state conventions changed in 20 years?  They are leaner and more focused.  Dr. Richard: Birth of the SBTC Great resistance from the … [Read more...] about The Future of State Conventions: Anthony Jordan, John Yeats, Paul Chitwood, Tim Lubinus, & Jim Richards

July 17, 1944, Unmanned weapon propelled into the sky toward Britain. 6000 Londoners lost lives to these kinds of attacks. This one killed none. An empty non-conformist chapel exploded and damaged the remains of Charles Haddon Spurgeon.  1887, Spurgeon lamented the spiritual health of Britain. Germany was made unbelieving by her preachers and Britain was following in her path. Spurgeon witnessed the implosion of the mid-Victorian church in a crisis of doubt.  In 20th Century, we've seen modernist controversies and the CR.  3 diagnoses and 3 correctives for the … [Read more...] about Christian George: “The Downgrade Controversy” 21st Century Lessons

(Due to chatting tendencies, I came in during this address! Sorry, Dr. Allen. Blame Leo Endel!) 2. The Seminaries must about training pastors and leaders for SBC ministry . 3. SBC Seminaries must develop a sustainable business model. "Don't do stupid stuff."  That is not enough.  Educational costs are getting out of hand, as are recruiting costs. Recent IMB downsizing is a warning to all.  Surely we did not spend decades fighting to avoid forfeiting our seminaries theologically to simply forfeit them financially.  4. We must determine to be agile and … [Read more...] about Jason Allen: Training the Next Generation of Pastors, Ministers and Missionaries  SB Theological Education in the 21st Century

Ecclesiastes  The SBC is the largest Protestant denomination in the USA. But we did not begin this way. We began n the early 17th Century, both general and particular Baptists, emphasizing confessional life and freedom.  Affirmed ancient creeds.  General Baptists and particular Baptists came together to support missions.  By 1730 to 1740, 8 congregations in America.  1751, Charleston association.  Then the Sandy Creek association formed.  1812, Adoniram Judsun helped to form the modern missions movement.  In 1840s, there was a  conflict … [Read more...] about David Dockery “Who are Southern Baptists?” Toward a Transgenerational Identity

This quest is relatively new. For most of history, this was settled by birth. Since the Enlightenment and the modern age, questions of identity in a pluralistic society are before us. In terms of theology, the break comes at the Reformation.  "Here I stand." the beginning point of modern theological individualism. Luther's use of 1st person singular pronoun was a decisive break with history, and we are changed. Catholics saw this as the unraveling of Christianity. They call it the Protestant Revolt. Catholics predicted it would result in anarchy, and see this a fulfilled (30k Christian … [Read more...] about Dr. Albert Mohler: Southern Baptists and the Quest for Theological Identity

2 Timothy 1:6-7 Fan into flame the gift God does not give us fear, does not encourage sloth, does not allow retreat. We must fan into flame the gift, the power of the Spirit. We must take the initiative to fan the flame.  To Timothy, this was not a rebuke but a reminder. The flame had not gone out, but Timothy needed to continually fan the gift of the Spirit into full flame, because the Spirit is the only one who can replace fear with faith and restore the work of God. It is the Holy Spirit in us who empowers the work of God in us. Do not neglect your spiritual life as a minister of the … [Read more...] about Ronnie Floyd: “Kindling Afresh the Gift of God” – Spiritual Renewal, Strategic Reinvention, and the SBC