For the 2017 Pastors' Conference, one of the most edifying experiences (out of many) was being able to provide scholarships for 50 61 pastors to attend the Conference and Annual Meeting in Phoenix. We've had people ask about the possibility since and this year we decided to do something about it. We're raising money to help send messengers to Nashville. No strings attached. As long as they meet the criteria for the application, they'll be eligible and recipients will be chosen randomly from those who apply. Some details: Scholarships will be awarded on a random basis for those who … [Read more...] about Announcement: Scholarships for #SBC21 Organized by SBC Voices
SBC Annual Meeting
History and Notes of Resolutions at the SBC Annual Meeting
It's no secret that this year at the Southern Baptist Convention is shaping up to be a contentious one, especially when it comes to resolutions. Several have already been released, and more are in the works. Anyone who is a member in good standing can submit a resolution to the SBC meeting, where a committee will decide whether or not to present it to the convention at large during the business sessions. The SBC has done a remarkable job of keeping track of all the resolutions ever presented at their website, with a very handy searchable database. My rough count shows somewhere over 600 … [Read more...] about History and Notes of Resolutions at the SBC Annual Meeting
The Next Chapter
In the '90's we used to watch the TV Guide channel for what seemed like hours, waiting for something interesting to pop up on the schedule. Then, a classic or favorite movie would appear. We would change the channel to TNT or TBS, maybe USA, and watch a movie we'd seen dozens of times. If we were lucky enough to catch the beginning of the movie we would see this disclaimer- This film has been modified from its original format. It has been edited for content and to run in time allowed. Years later, thanks to streaming, no network censors are editing those old favorites for time and … [Read more...] about The Next Chapter
A Statement, Not A Creed
The 1963 SBC Annual meeting in Kansas City was highly anticipated. At the previous year’s meeting the SBC Executive Committee recommended that a committee be appointed to examine the Baptist Faith and Message. The committee was to be led by the current SBC President Dr. Herschel Hobbs, and made up of state convention presidents, among others. The motion from the EC instructed the committee to “...present to the Convention in Kansas City some similar statement which shall serve as information to the churches, and which may serve as a guideline to the various agencies of the Southern … [Read more...] about A Statement, Not A Creed
Invitation: Lunch with Ed Litton in DC/WV/Maryland area, Thursday, May 6
If you live near West Virginia's eastern panhandle, which includes areas like central Maryland and northern Virginia/DC, we encourage you to take a day trip to Shepherdstown on Thursday, May 6 for an afternoon with Pastor Ed Litton. Ed will introduce himself, talk about his life and ministry, his commitment to the SBC, especially as it pertains to church planting and racial reconciliation, and answer questions. Covenant Church in Shepherdstown is hosting the event and providing Chick-fil-A lunches to everyone. The event is free, and beyond the opportunity to hear from a SBC presidential … [Read more...] about Invitation: Lunch with Ed Litton in DC/WV/Maryland area, Thursday, May 6
Invitation: Zoom call with Ed Litton this afternoon (with Chris Phillips)
If you’re a pastor, church planter, or leader, as well as anyone attending the SBC Annual Meeting in Nashville, I’d like to invite you to join a Zoom call TODAY, April 22nd, at 1pm MST / 2pm CST to hear from Ed Litton about pastoring, leading in crisis, and his vision for leading as potential SBC President as Fred Luter is nominating him this June. Ed is pastor at Redemption Church in Mobile, AL, where he has pastored since 1994. He’s a SWBTS graduate, has served in college and career ministry in TX, and has a vast array of experience throughout church ministry and the SBC, … [Read more...] about Invitation: Zoom call with Ed Litton this afternoon (with Chris Phillips)
Virginia Pastors Zoom Call with Ed Litton, Wednesday, 1PM Eastern
If you're a pastor in Virginia or planning to attend the SBC Annual Meeting in Nashville, I'd like to invite you to join a Zoom call on Wednesday at 1pm to hear from Ed Litton about his vision for leading as SBC President. Fred Luter plans to nominate Ed at the upcoming annual meeting. If you'd like to participate, contact me at brent@nsfvb.com and let me know. This should be a great opportunity to get to know Ed and hear him in an informal setting, with time for dialogue and questions planned. If you're interested in participating, but not in Virginia, let me know. The event is focused … [Read more...] about Virginia Pastors Zoom Call with Ed Litton, Wednesday, 1PM Eastern
Is This How We Might Make Use of an Analytical Tool?
I keep hearing folks asking to give benefits of CRT/I that you couldn't get from the Bible. I'm not sure if this will satisfy as an answer, but I want to share a couple of stories and explain why I think we are where we are in this whole conversation. First, the story.. I was in a room with about 8 other pastors sifting through hundreds of sermons, attempting to decide who would be good to speak at an upcoming conference. One of the men that I suggested as a potential speaker was a minority pastor from an inner city. This particular sermon that we were analyzing was a powerful exposition of … [Read more...] about Is This How We Might Make Use of an Analytical Tool?
Thoughts on Ed Litton Via a Zoom Call
Recently, I joined several other pastors in a Zoom call with Ed Litton about his campaign for President of the SBC. Ed shared about his life and background and how he became involved in the Southern Baptist Church. His father experienced a dramatic conversion and was set free from alcohol addiction by the powerful witness of a Southern Baptist pastor when Ed was a boy. Ed says of his family, “We are Southern Baptist’s today because they came and got us.” Ed shared about his service in our convention in church planting and his leadership in Mobile through his church. He shared … [Read more...] about Thoughts on Ed Litton Via a Zoom Call
Why I am voting for Ed Litton to serve as the President of the SBC
A shift has taken places as it has to do with the Presidency of the SBC regarding the old saying, “You don’t seek the office, the office seeks you.” Not that the saying was ever actually true to begin with. There have been plenty of guys who sought the office over the years with a growing and much more open campaigning effort happening more recently. Election websites and open campaigning have become the norm. So be it, whatever, I’m honestly not concerned about that "shift" as much as I am the implications. The point is, there are candidates who are clearly and now openly “seeking the … [Read more...] about Why I am voting for Ed Litton to serve as the President of the SBC