• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

SBC Voices

  • Home
  • About
  • Team

Fear and loathing, fun and freebies at the exhibit hall

June 13, 2017 by William Thornton

I’m a little early, big mistake, since eager exhibit workers have pent up ferocity to inflict on unsuspecting browsers.

One church growth type ministry has smiling workers in lab coats, very clinical. “Are you a pastor?” I’m asked. “Sorry,” I reply while putting some distance between us, “I’m not dealing with anyone in a lab coat because nothing good can come out of it and a lot of things not so good like needles, pain, bad news, and straight jackets.” They weren’t giving anything away anyhow.

Look, there’s a former SBC entity head without an entourage. My how the mighty have fallen.

Here comes Russell Moore, smallish in stature. He’s got either bodyguards or his staff with him.

I saunter into the Gateway Seminary booth and it looks like I’m their first visit. To start a spiritual conversation I ask the youngish dude with the California look and the best hair in the hall where the pallet of cash is located. He doesn’t miss a beat, “You mean the millions  from the sale of our property. It in the bank earning a pathetic amount of interest.” Very sharp guy. I like him.

Some capital fundraising outfit has a pastor’s lounge with some of the best freebies. Lots of money in this business and they would love to hound you incessantly to hire them at an exorbitant rated to conduct a campaign. Take the free stuff and run.

Namb and IMB are giving away free tee shirts for contact info.

Stop by Baptist Global Response, sit and chat. This is a ministry that works closely with IMB and pastors need to know more about them.

Founder’s Ministry has a booth but I’m not seeing their nemesis, Connect 316. Maybe the Cals have more money.

The YEC folks at their dino booth will smile at you before they launch into their polemicism. Stop at your own risk.

There’s Bart Barber engaged in sedate conversation with some equally distinguished colleagues. I hear he was less sedate when preaching last night. Sorry I missed it.

interesting…more later…unless the grown ups decide to take back their blog.

 

Share this:

  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp

Like this:

Like Loading...

Related

About William Thornton

William Thornton is a lifelong Southern Baptist and semi-retired pastor who served churches in South Carolina and Georgia. He is a graduate of the University of Georgia. You may find him occasionally on Twitter @wmgthornton.

4 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Primary Sidebar

  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Books by Voices Authors

Disqualified-Cover
BrickWallsPicketFencesCover
Significant-Servants-Front-Cover
Disqualified-Cover

Most Viewed - Last 48 Hours

  • The Most Practical Classes I Took in Seminary (Joe Radosevich) by Guest Blogger

  • The CP: celebrating a century of existence and a half century of decline. by William Thornton

  • Our political climate is exhausting. Must our Convention also be? (Matt Johnson) by Guest Blogger

  • Divorce, Remarriage and Ministry: What is a “Husband of One Wife?” by Dave Miller

  • Your Opinion, Please by Mark Terry

Categories

  •   About SBC Voices
  •   Team
  •   Subscribe
  • Home
  • About
  • Team
wpDiscuz
%d