This is gonna be a long one. For the last few years I have posted a list of things I would identify as my top 10 takeaways, favorite things or memorable events from the annual meeting. This year’s list will be different than my normal post-convention review for 2 main reasons. First, I have had a peek behind the curtain into the making of the convention and it has been an eye-opener for me. I wish everyone in the convention could see what I’ve seen over the last 16+ months. Second, I had the privilege of being involved with the planning of this meeting and it has been personally satisfying … [Read more...] about Jay’s Top 10 (and thank-yous) from New Orleans #SBC23
Did You Know?!?
I love where I live. New Orleans is full of music, food and history. It has character and is unique in many ways. It also has great challenges and difficulties. One of the things which excited me about the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting coming here to New Orleans this year (again, sorry to my NC friends), is that those of us who live here would have the opportunity to be ambassadors for this place in a special way and shine a light on some interesting facts you might not know about this city and the surrounding area. Early on in preparing for SBC23, our Local Encouragement … [Read more...] about Did You Know?!?
Making College Decisions? Check Out California Baptist University!
It’s Official: The Adkins’ family will be a Lancer family. This article is not so much about our boy, although he is the reason for its genesis. It is more about how impressed our family has been with our experience engaging with CBU, via its administrators, professors, and staff. Canon, our youngest son, and gifted musician, will be graduating high school in a few days. After being accepted to 20+ schools, he has decided to “take his talents” to Southern California to become a part of the Collingsworth School of Performing Arts at CBU studying Music Composition for Stage and … [Read more...] about Making College Decisions? Check Out California Baptist University!
Who Are We? A Question of SBC Identity. Can We Please Get This Right?
The old question is often asked, “Are we Baptist because of what we believe or because of what we do?” Some might respond with a simple, “Yes!” to that question and such a response is certainly appropriate. But I’d like to posit a more nuanced answer to that question. I am a Baptist because of what we believe. I am a SOUTHERN Baptist because of what we do. The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) is made up of voluntarily cooperating Baptist churches who pool their resources for the propagation of the gospel. Yes, there are beliefs involved. Baptistic beliefs, to be sure, which have … [Read more...] about Who Are We? A Question of SBC Identity. Can We Please Get This Right?
A Helpful EC Meeting “Explainer” for the events of Feb 20-21, 2023
What follows has been assembled by some folks “in the know,” regarding the events that took place at the EC meeting dated February 20-21, 2023. The attempt here is to share pertinent facts related to procedural issues, primarily. There is a bit of commentary in this explainer but for the most part, the material here is simply presented to posit factual and procedural elements to help answer a number of questions which have been offered in the intervening time. I was at the meeting in Nashville, and I find this material particularly helpful and wanted to share it with you. This article is … [Read more...] about A Helpful EC Meeting “Explainer” for the events of Feb 20-21, 2023
I Didn’t Know: Prepping for #SBC23
I didn’t know. I had no idea. I’ve been going to SBC Annual Meetings for a couple of decades and had no clue what it took to pull off one of these things. Last week, we (by we, I mean some of the EC staff and then I hung around a bit) finished up a week of meetings of convention planning with logistics people, venue staff and reps from a few of our entities. We did have our larger Local Arrangement Team meeting on Tuesday where we received a bunch of updates and information regarding volunteer needs. The LET also were able to do a full walkthrough of the meeting halls where we will spend … [Read more...] about I Didn’t Know: Prepping for #SBC23
Pastor Jay’s Lists of Stuff You Should Know for #SBC23 in New Orleans
Once I knew the #SBC23 Annual Meeting was coming to New Orleans I immediately thought of assembling a list of things to taste, touch, smell, hear and see while messengers visit this most unique of American cities. The following "list of lists" is certainly not exhaustive but I believe it's a good start. I will likely tweak, add to, or otherwise update these groupings from time to time. I will also be Tweeting out individual portions of these lists from now until convention time. Also, be sure to take a look at the website NOBTS has put together as a resource for visitors. It is fantastic. … [Read more...] about Pastor Jay’s Lists of Stuff You Should Know for #SBC23 in New Orleans
Collegiate Week at Falls Creek
In early August I had the opportunity to take my first trip to Collegiate Week at Falls Creek camp in Oklahoma. My good friend Corey Olivier, Metro Baptist Collegiate Ministry Director in New Orleans, invited me along so I jumped at the chance. I have heard about Falls Creek most of my ministry life and always wanted to see the facility. I am now able to *check off* of my bucket list “purposely traveling to Oklahoma for any reason at all.” ;) Seriously though, let me first say that Falls Creek is an amazing place. Ridgecrest is special to Michelle and I and because of that I can see why … [Read more...] about Collegiate Week at Falls Creek
SBCcalled.com: A Resource You Should Check Out IMMEDIATELY!
This article was supposed to be imbedded in another one I am writing about collegiate ministry and Collegiate Week in particular. But the more I wrote about this subject, the more I realized how important it is and that it really needed its own article. The Yoda of Louisiana collegiate ministry is Steve Masters, BCM director at LSU. This guy is a machine. I had known of Steve for years, but really got to know him and see him work the week we all lived together during Collegiate Week this past August. He has created a website which is chock-full of resources every Pastor, Youth Pastor, … [Read more...] about SBCcalled.com: A Resource You Should Check Out IMMEDIATELY!
The Chair’s Opening Message to This Year’s Committee on Nominations is Encouraging
I was recently sent a copy of an email which was written by this year's Chair of the SBC Committee on Nominations, Michael Criner, and sent to his full Committee. As a member of last year's NomCom this is of great interest to me. To my knowledge, I have not yet met Michael but I deeply appreciate the direction he is moving and I see this as a faithful forward movement/extension in the same direction that Leah Finn led our team last year. I appreciate Michael's faithful effort in following the lead of the Convention especially now in light of the SATF report. He is taking this task seriously … [Read more...] about The Chair’s Opening Message to This Year’s Committee on Nominations is Encouraging