Yes, that’s right, I love the SBC. I am a 34 year old Associate Pastor in Iowa, surrounded by people who either marginally like, don’t care or just flat out dislike the Convention. I have been part of the SBC since 9 month before I was born, but it’s not cause my parents were die hards. Before I was born, my dad wasn’t a church goer and my mom never drove. Closest church to the house was an SBC church. By the time I was born, my dad was saved and Baptized and serving in the church.
I got involved young, serving on youth counsel, doing different types of ministry in the youth department, I did BSU work in college, I served with NAMB as a Semester Missionary. I have worked in 4 churches in various roles, I have served as member in another 3, was a Campus Missionary for several years and through all of that, I can say I love the SBC. Some of the people in the SBC drive me nuts, but I love them too.
The SBC gave my opportunity. I have served with NAMB twice, Semester Missions and Mission Service Corps. It was hard, but it was a great opportunity. I attended Golden Gate and had a great experience there. I hope to pursue a Ed.D or Ph.D at one of our seminaries later in life.
I have hope and believe that the SBC will remain until Christ returns. I am not a landmarkest, I don’t believe the SBC is the “one true church” and will be protected forever. I believe there are great people in the SBC, we have a solid mission, we have a great group of missionaries, pastors, leaders and faithful members. I have served with great men and women, worked in churches, associations and with states in great projects. The SBC is not NAMB, IMB, state offices, local associations, or even the local autonomous church. The SBC is the people who wake up every day on Mission for God and choose to serve and partner with others in the expression of the church called the Southern Baptist Convention.
One day, the structure may change. The brink and mortar church may go away. The local association may cease to exist, the state offices may go away, but the SBC will go on. The partnership, the cooperation, the doctrinal foundation, the trust in God’s power, the Scripture and the power of the Holy Spirit. We will still be on mission, we will still reach out, teach, preach and baptize. All the other stuff we worry about so much, most of it can go away, but I think we will continue to work if we continue to work together.