I just read the article from Baptist Press regarding the new changes at NAMB. I am cautiously optimistic about the impact that this will have. We have transitioned through a "regionalized" restructuring here in the Dakota Baptist Convention and it has been a positive overall. It was certainly cause for apprehension as we started the process a few years ago, but we found over time that it helped our state staff be more accessible and more able to respond at a personal level over the older model of a centralized office. So hear me when I say that I think the regional aspect of the new … [Read more...] about NAMB Changes: Are We Courting Disaster for SBC Disaster Relief?
A GCR Necessity: A Recipe for Making Disciples
There have been a lot of great discussions around here about the GCR and a lot of good things written. A lot of my experience in SBC life has shown that we are good at focusing on and developing strategies for evangelism and winning people for Christ. The GCR seems to be the latest push, alongside GPS (can we get some acronym love around here?) for bringing people into the Kingdom of God through soul-winning efforts and more church choices. I don't think that our problem comes from not being able to share our faith when it comes to soul-winning. We have so many methods for sharing our … [Read more...] about A GCR Necessity: A Recipe for Making Disciples
Being Southern Baptist in a Northern Latitude and Attitude
I grew up in the south, where there was a Southern Baptist church on seemingly every corner. I was raised in an SBC church that was a scant 1/4 mile from our house. We were part of an association that spanned a couple of counties and included dozens of churches plus our own associational church camp. I grew up in that SBC church and when I entered college I was active in BSU (I think it is called BCM now) and surrendered to the ministry and began to serve in various SBC churches. I was part of a small rural church (less than 50 members) and I was part of a large mega-church and that was … [Read more...] about Being Southern Baptist in a Northern Latitude and Attitude
People of the Book?
As Southern Baptists, we have long prided ourselves as "people of the Book." I can recall this description used about our denomination my entire life. When I did a paper a couple of years ago about Baptist history, I enjoyed reading the tales of early Baptists who disputed publicly with people of other denominations, asking them to prove their doctrine from the Bible. Surely a denomination that prides itself on going "by the Book" would never do anything that contradicted Scripture or simply on the basis of "church tradition," would we? I am not even talking about the favorite target for … [Read more...] about People of the Book?
A Cooperative Opportunity
With all the recent talk about our strength in cooperation, I thought this was a timely request. I have written a couple of posts and comments here about the Dakota Baptist Convention and our spirit of cooperation. Later this month, the DBC is hosting an evangelism conference in Fargo, ND called Pulse. You can look at the DBC website for more information about us. The conference will feature some wonderful speakers and breakout sessions, but it has been modified in response to the flooding issues in the Fargo area. As many of you may know, the Fargo area has experienced record flooding … [Read more...] about A Cooperative Opportunity
An Unconventional Convention
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 … [Read more...] about An Unconventional Convention
From Doubting To Disciple Making
Most committed Southern Baptist could recite the Great Commission of Matthew 28:19-20 by heart. Jesus gave instructions to the disciples before He ascended to heaven about their task ahead and commanded them to go and make disciples in all the nations. Everyone knows this message in some way. It is a driving force behind the efforts of Southern Baptists to take the news of the gospel to every corner of the globe and every people that exists. But I am intrigued by the verses before this commission just as much. For instance, I am convinced that we should add verse eighteen to our … [Read more...] about From Doubting To Disciple Making