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?!?
State Conventions
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?
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
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!
Attention Louisiana & Mississippi Pastors and Staff
Dr. Willie McLaurin, Interim President of our SBC Executive Committee has sent out the invitation to attend our “SBC 2023 Annual Meeting Kick-Off Luncheon.” This event, specifically for pastors, staff and denominational workers in the New Orleans region (especially from south Mississippi and Louisiana) will be a time to inform those in our region on the plans for next year’s annual meeting and an explanation on how they can be involved in helping to make #SBC23 a success. Our Local Encouragement Team (LET) is excited to have you join us for this event which will take place on the campus of … [Read more...] about Attention Louisiana & Mississippi Pastors and Staff
What it was Like to Serve on the Committee on Nominations
For those who are interested I have written up a walkthrough of my experience on this year’s Committee on Nominations. It’s a little long but there are some things here that you might find interesting. I know I sure learned a lot in this process. I must say this was nothing like I assumed it would be. When I was asked by Robin Purdy and Criseida Gomez (Louisiana’s two members on the Committee on Committees) to serve alongside Larry Johnson as the 2 representatives from Louisiana on the Committee on Nominations (NomCom) I was excited and considered it an honor. I figured it would be a … [Read more...] about What it was Like to Serve on the Committee on Nominations
What about a “Pastors in Good Standing” Plan? (Guest Post by Field Thigpen)
A day of reckoning has dawned in the SBC with the release of the SATF report last weekend. Many steps of action must be taken. It is my aim to introduce to you an idea for discussion which may be developed into one such step of action. The following plan would not resolve the issue of sexual abuse in the SBC, but it could serve as a safeguard for churches against wolves who stealthily seek to flock-hop from one congregation to the next. The preliminary working title for this step is the “Pastors in Good Standing” plan. Local churches often acknowledge God’s calling on a servant and … [Read more...] about What about a “Pastors in Good Standing” Plan? (Guest Post by Field Thigpen)
An Open Letter to the Messengers of the 2021 MBC Annual Meeting & All Missouri Baptists
Hello, Missouri Baptist Convention Family! I am Scott Gordon, Pastor of Claycomo Baptist Church in Kansas City. I was also a messenger at our recent MBC Annual Meeting in Branson. Prior to our time there, I had the privilege of working with my friend and fellow MBC Pastor, Mike Leake, and other fellow MBC Pastors on a motion to have appointed an MBC task force regarding the issue of sexual abuse. For those who were not able to be in Branson, you can find the full text of the motion at this link [MBC Tuesday Afternoon Business Update]. Sadly, this motion was rejected by the majority of … [Read more...] about An Open Letter to the Messengers of the 2021 MBC Annual Meeting & All Missouri Baptists