25 MORE Random Things About Me

As I am in the process of revamping the content that I post on my blog in the future, I have decided today to return to an old favorite. Last year, the “25 Random Things about Me” phenomenon swept the Facebook scene in a major way. My list eventually made it to this blog; in fact you can read it here.

The enduring popularity of that post that prompted me to return to its theme one more time while decisions are being made on the future content of this site. So without further ado, here are an additional 25 random things about me that you likely did not know.

1. I sent my wife into labor by breaking bones in my right foot, so that as a result, our first child was born exactly on her due date (not intentionally, of course!).

2. I won a “closest to the pin” golf contest when I was 14 years old AND a putting contest in college, but have never been a great (not even good, but mediocre at best) golfer.

3. A major earthquake, whose epicenter was less than 2 miles from our home, rocked southern California on the morning of my 30th birthday. My wife and I crawled under the table and continued to open presents.

4. I have climbed the (inside of) Great Pyramid, just outside of Cairo, Egypt.

5. I have served as an interim pastor in more States (4) than a permanent pastor (3).

6. As a seminary student, I’d travel over to Texas Stadium to watch the Cowboys (Staubach and Dorsett era) play and would buy a ticket without exception from a “scalper” outside the stadium BELOW ticket price.

7. The first memory I have of Christmas is at age 3 years and 3 months, when my sister was born (on Christmas Eve).

8. I saw “Pistol Pete” Maravich of LSU set an all-time NCAA college basketball record in points scored against the University of Alabama when I was only an elementary school student.

9. I was asked to serve as a two-year “missionary” in Daytona Beach, Florida, after college, but did not feel God leading me there (why not? yeah, I know…). However, I had already determined to say “yes” to the collegiate ministry position at Ohio State University, but I was not offered the job.

10. I was given the privilege of voicing the prayer for our Holy Land Tour Group in the Garden of Gethsemane.

11. The first time I went fishing, the only thing I caught was a snapping turtle.

12. I have taught New Testament Greek classes for two different seminaries, in addition to college classes on spiritual formation at a well-known Christian university in southern California.

13. While on a date, I serendipitously met Kevin McHale and Cedric Maxwell, at the time both current players for the Boston Celtics, outside of Reunion Arena in Dallas after their game there ended.

14. I was in charge of Chapel hospitality and coordination with our guest speakers and program during my senior year in college. I was able to meet some well-known writers and lecturers, as a result.

15. The only two home runs I ever hit were both inside the park jobs. Thank goodness for speed!

16. My wife, Joyce, and I were both valedictorians of our high school graduating classes.

17. I was stopped by police for speeding on Easter Sunday of 1977 in Dallas, Texas, but since we (there were 4 of us) had been at First Baptist Church to hear W. A. Criswell preach and were leaving town that afternoon, I was not given a ticket.

18. My first car was a 1973 copper-colored Ford Pinto (you can laugh out loud; I understand). I once loaded the “hatchback” area of the car so full that the back window gave way and came out, freeing my clothes to litter the state highway I was traveling.

19. I ran on my middle school track team in the 440 yard dash and relay. I never finished better than third.

20. One of my (now not-so-secret) dreams is to rent a RV and travel across the United States, especially the north central and north western states. My wife, though, is (strongly) not in favor of this idea, so it will likely only remain “a dream.”

21. I had the privilege of writing the last thesis mentored by Dr. Bruce M. Metzger, New Testament scholar, before he retired.

22. In college I took P.E. classes in bowling and golf. After completing them, my scores were worse than before.

23. Just before God called me into church planting, I was planning to attend the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, to secure a Ph.D. in religion. God obviously had other plans.

24. As a senior, I preached in a student-led Youth for Christ 3-day “revival” on the campus on my high school (I know; amazing, isn’t it?).

25. When Joyce and I determined that God was calling us into church planting, we ultimately considered four major cities in the North(east): Boston, Philadelphia, Detroit and Washington, DC. We ended up in Boston for ten years, but now find ourselves for the past decade just outside of DC.

Changes Coming

I am in the process of revamping the content that I post on my blog in the future. Until recently, I have been posting message notes on Monday from my sermon the previous day, a church planting/church growth article on Wednesday and a “Friends & Family” post on Friday that is primarily a list of links and sights regarding items of curiosity and/or interest to those who know me and/or the ministry work I do.

Since I’m not preaching anywhere at the present time, I’ve been wondering what path I should pursue, specifically what I should post here on Mondays. That led me to consider whether or not I change the other content, too.

So I’m up for suggestions: what would you like to find here? how often? If you are a frequent visitor here, what have you enjoyed most? Please send me your thoughts over the coming week in the comments section below. Next week I’ll begin to incorporate some of your ideas on my site.

As Frasier Crane used to say, “I’m listening…”

Monday Morning Rewind: Friends & Family

The apostle Paul ends the book of Romans with the longest list of greetings he sends in any of his letters. While there are scholarly disagreements about why this may be, the list serves as a declaration of relationship “yet to be” since the apostle–while he may know several people who are a part of the church in Rome–has yet to visit there. His hope in writing this letter, which contains his most systematic teaching on the doctrine of salvation, is that it will encourage the church at Rome to assist him in further mission plans to travel to Spain (1.15; 15.23-29). So as he comes to the end of his epistle, he mentions at least twenty-seven people by name, different in role, rank, race and gender. He reminds them that, this side of heaven, all endings are only new beginnings.

What does the apostle Paul do here? First, he commends (vv. 1-16). He starts the passage by mentioning Phoebe, who is the bearer of this letter to the church in Rome. The text literally says he “speaks well of her,” for several reasons including the fact that she is: a sister in the faith (relationship), a servant (ministering), a saint (holy one, made so by the redeeming power of God) and a great help to many (self-less). He also commends others like Priscilla and Aquilla, who are called “fellow-workers” (colleagues in the Gospel) and risk-takers (trusting in God as they put their own lives on the line for Paul). By implication, he wants to commend the church at Rome to others he may later meet because of their willingness to help him on the way to Spain, too. He suggests that encouragement and commendation is one of the best gifts we can give to others.

Second, he warns (vv. 17-20). He turns his attention to the concerns he has for the church at Rome to “be alert, on guard” in the days ahead. He is convinced their commitment will be challenged and tested. He warns them against false teachers (they will be those who cause divisions and put obstacles in the paths of others); against perceptions (are you serving self as these false teachers are or do you desire to be known for your obedience); in principle (be wise in what’s good; innocent (pure) concerning evil); and, in recognition of your opponent (the Devil, not the church down the street or the Recreation Department that plans soccer leagues on Sunday mornings). Our lives are to be wrapped up in love and accountability to others, so Paul warns them to watch out and keep away from these things that will destroy them.

Third, he refers (vv. 21-33). He mentions eight individuals who are with him as he writes from Corinth to the church at Rome. Part of his point in doing this is to remind them that there are others in the family of faith, key leaders who are also willing and able to help assist them on their faith journey. He specifically mentions “fellow workers” like Timothy, who are skilled in service (Tertius), hospitality (Gaius) and opening doors of opportunity within the city (Erastus). By referring them to others, Paul reminds them that different people help us grow in different ways.

Finally, he prays (vv. 24-27). His glorious benediction in these verses declare to them an everlasting truth: God is able! He establishes (strengthens and stabilizes) them. How, you ask? Paul says it is on the basis of the Good News of God, given and proclaimed; it is on the basis of the continually unfolding revelation of God and His will; and, it is on the basis of the entirety of God’s Word. Our Father’s desire is for all to be obedient to the faith. In this prayer, the apostle reminds us that prayer is not the only thing we can do; it’s the best thing we can do.

So, endings are NEVER the final word in a relationship built on Christ. Rather, they merely move us on to the next stage or season in our life together…now and for all eternity. Experience His grace (v. 24) and bring glory to His name (v. 27). And to that, I, like the apostle, would add my “Amen;” let it be, Lord Jesus.

Monday Morning Rewind: The Race before Us

Yesterday we looked at one of my favorite passages of Scripture in the Bible: Hebrews 12.1-3. This passage is built off a lesson that the writer of Hebrews has been espousing from the beginning of his letter: we are to “risk all” for Jesus by living the life of faith for Him. He has reminded his readers that we are to be forward looking, focused on our future hope–Jesus–even as we learn from those who have lived the life of faith in the past (chapter 11). The writer knows that humans have a tendency to keep looking back (and often wanting to “go back”), but he knows that we need to follow Christ into the future–a lifestyle we can only live by faith.

You see, God wants our future to be greater than our past. He is more interested in how we finish that how we began. As a result, we need to constantly remind ourselves to “Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God.” (William Carey)

In this passage, then, there are five things to note as we look to the future and contemplate the race that is before us. First, there is our encouragement (v. 1a). The writer starts the chapter by mentioned the great cloud of witnesses who surround us. By doing so, he referred back to what he’s already written in chapter 11, where he mentions in details nine heroes of faith (he mentions six others simply in passing). These are ones, he says, who bear witness to us that with God we can do whatever He sets before us. Commentators suggest that he is picturing them as a crowd filling a great stadium, cheering us on. We are to find strength from these who have gone before us.

Second, though, he mentions our hindrances (v. 1b). We are to throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles us, just like an athlete throws off the warmup suit and the ankle weights before he or she runs. Hindrances might include things like a lack of preparation; distractions from the weather, circumstances or other people, whether in the race or in the stands; pain and discomfort; and certainly, apathy and indifference. Sins that might entangle us would no doubt include a smug sense of pride and self-sufficiency; a lack of love for others; and of course, unbelief (faith is mentioned 21 times in the book). We are to discard all of these things before they “trip us up” (and they WILL, if we don’t deal with them).

Third, he speaks of our determination (v. 1c). Here he gets to the crux of the matter, as he admonishes us to run the race before us with perseverance. This perseverance speaks of endurance, bearing up under the strain of the race (a word from which we literally get the English word “agony”). We are not to quit; we can’t give up. It is a race marked out with us specifically in mind. While I don’t know exactly what God has in store for your race, I do know that it will share certain characteristics. It will be:

• People-centered
• Eternally-minded
• Continually-adjusted
• Character-inclined
• Kingdom-focused

For how we run the race affects not only us, but others all around us.

Fourth, our focus is to be on Jesus (v. 2). This is the ultimate difference-maker in the way we run our race. He is seen here not as our coach, but as the goal! The writer says that literally we are to “fasten, glue” our eyes to Him. We are not to be distracted by anything or anyone else: not a new pastor, not a former pastor, not our finances, not our facilities, not a program, not a policy, not even “seekers” that we hope to reach with the love of Christ. Our focus is to be single-minded: it is to be J-E-S-U-S. Period. This is the number one key to success.

Finally, he speaks to our motivation (v. 3). Here again he reminds us of Jesus and what He endured on our behalf. This remembrance is to cause us to finish well, rather than give in to exhaustion and fatigue, or be overwhelmed by discouragement. Our plight is no worse than His was (probably not nearly as bad, in fact) and thus, we should–we must–not grow weary and lose heart. We strive to run into the arms of Jesus, and hear the words all of His followers long to hear: “Well done, good and faithful servant!”

Don’t ever forget! This race is a marathon, not a sprint. As such, the verdict is not in until the race is completed. So run your race with faith and endurance, believing the best is yet to be, as you follow our Lord into the future.

Fridays are for Friends & Family 11.13.09

Today brings a rainy end to an action-packed week here in Maryland. Tropical storm Ida has made its way to us and combined with a “noreaster” is packing a punch that is soaking the area. That makes for a great day to be inside and posting my latest entry online about what’s been happening in this most recent week.

Ron Sylvia, founding pastor of Church at the Springs in Ocala, Florida, highlights the week for me. Ron was with us Sunday at our Annual Meeting and did an outstanding job with both the planters at their banquet and in the general session as a keynote speaker. Ron spoke on “God is good…but He’s not Safe,” emphasizing the need to be Kingdom risktakers and sacrificial in the service of our lives. Ron will show up here again in the future as I have the opportunity to dialogue with him about the effectiveness of his ministry with NEXT Coaching Networks. You can visit that website and download a number of free resources by clicking here.

Today our Church Multiplication Team held its first virtual online meeting via Tokbox ™. This is an incredible tool that will host up to twenty participants at a time with visual as well as audio connection…and all at NO COST! Registration is required, but if you attempting group meetings where participants are scattered at a distance, then this is a viable solution. Our experience left much room for improvement, but all in all we were pleased with the website and I recommend it to you as well. I know planters who meet with multiple partners or prayer warriors this way. Click here to go to their site and register to use it in the days ahead.

What was Jesus’ mother’s real name? Seems simple, doesn’t it? This question, though–and others–may stump you in the recently released Bible quiz posted in one of the religion articles on USA Today. Check it out here and see how well you know your Bible.

Few people I know exemplify the priority and lifestyle of “evangelism” like my friend, Frank Shelton. He is a passionate advocate for Jesus and a huge supporter of church planting. Living in the Washington, D.C. area but traveling the world, Frank has a storied life of connections and relationships with Presidents and Celebrities alike. He writes a blog “Frankly Speaking” and has recently published a book entitled “Final Approach” that is available on Amazon. Check him out and enlist him to come to your church or to assist you in evangelism as you minister in the months ahead.

Picture of the Week

Here’s a picture of Jesus, made from LEGO’s, that came through my Twitter feed recently. It never ceases to amaze me how enamored the culture is with our Lord!

Finally, this is to LAST Call for those of you who may be interested in joining my Dad, Jimmy Jackson, and me for our planned tour to the Passion Play in Oberammergau, Germany, and the surrounding region, including Austria, the Czech Republic and northern Germany, too. We will travel there in September, 2010, with the focal point being participation at the once-every-decade Passion Play. We will also visit Wittenberg, site of Martin Luther’s most significant moment in history, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, of discipleship fame, lived during the days of World War II until his imprisonment. Send me a comment below if you are interested in knowing more about this tour and I will send you a .pdf file with all the details pertaining to itinerary and costs. We hope you’ll join us for this historic event.

Video Postcards

This week at our Annual Meeting in Towson, our organization introduced a number of (what I call) video postcards to our messengers. These included a variety of ministries that cover a sampling of the services we provide to the 510 or so churches we support here in our multi-state region.

Our church multiplication ministry, known as Mid-Atlantic Church Multiplication, is highlighted in the following video which is also posted on YouTube, bcmd.org and my Facebook page.

Other videos, now also on YouTube, that were presented at the Annual Meeting include:

• Partnership Missions
• Restore My Soul Retreat Ministry
• Women’s Missionary Union
• BaptistLIFE Newsjournal
• Uncharted Youth Evangelism Conference 2009
• Shepherd’s Rest for Ministers and their Families
• Rockbridge Seminary
• EMBRACE Wilmington
• I’m a CP (Cooperative Program)
• e-quip.net

You are free to use and/or share them as you see fit. Enjoy and get connected!

Monday Morning Rewind: A Vision for the Future

Have you ever asked yourself what is the “irreducible core” of Jesus’ teaching? Many commentators are asking that question today and there is a strong consensus that has developed. At its most basic and fundamental level Jesus calls upon us to fulfill what we know as the Great Commandment(s) and the Great Commission. These mandates are given in Matthew 22.37-39 and Matthew 28.18-20 respectively. Collectively, they lay out God’s vision for us, His people, as we look to the future. That vision is for us to live out our relationship with Him before others as we join Him in bringing His message of redemption and transformation to a world in need of hope and grace. Another pastor has said it this way: “It takes a great commitment to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission to grow a great church.” And I would add…to transform the world, too.

What does God in these passages want from us? How are we to please Him in the living of our lives?

It starts with loving God above all else (Matthew 22.37-38). This was apparently a “hot theological topic” in Jesus’ day; not whether or not we should love God (we’ll return to that in a moment), but which is the greatest commandment of all (out of the 613 recorded in the Torah). At least three times in the record of Jesus’ public ministry He is asked about this, illustrating the on-going debate of His day. In each instance, Jesus points them to the Shema of Deuteronomy 6.5, which calls upon God’s people to live out a love for God that is “God’s kind of love (agape),” a kind we can only live because He had shared it with us. It is selfless, sacrificial and serving in nature. It is centered on others, not self. And it must be pervasive, enveloping the entirety of one’s being (heart..soul..mind); in other words, nothing in our being is to be held back for self in our love for God. He is to be the first (precedent) and greatest (priority) of our love and our life. The key is “all” belongs to Him; we must hold nothing back in our love for God.

Second, we are to love others as ourselves (Matthew 22.39). Jesus’ unique contribution to this on-going debate over the greatest commandment is that he attached this verse from Leviticus 19.18 as a corollary to the previous passage from Deuteronomy. In other words, you can’t truly love God as you should unless you love others as God also loves them. Note that we are to have the same kind of love (agape) for them as for God (though the original language had other words for the love of people toward each other). The love God has for us and that He gives us to offer back to Him is also the love we are to exhibit toward others. These “others” are called our neighbor here, a term Jesus explains in Luke 10 to mean anyone we are aware is in need (whether we actually are friends or neighbors doesn’t really matter). We are commanded to love them as we love ourselves (which we show as we are aware of our own needs, care for self, protect and provide what is needful, etc.). The key is that this love is to be “like” or “similar to” (not the same as) our love for God Himself. For too often it’s a pale imitation, at best.

Third, we are invited to join Christ in changing the world (Matthew 28.18-20). The Great Commission follows the Great Commandment in order; thus, Scripture argues that our “being” must be in order before our “doing.” In other words, it starts with the heart. Someone has said that before we have a Great Commission Resurgence we need to have a Great Commandment Resurgence. I agree. And when we do, we will go; no one will have to beg or cajole us. Our motivation will be pure and our burden deep for those around us. Notice that the command is to “go and make,” rather than have them “come and hear.” In other words, the burden is on the church to take the Gospel to the people, rather than on the people to come and find it. And we, the church, are commanded to take it to all peoples. Jesus’ reminds us in the process that He has all authority! He reminds us that He will never leave us! We go with Him, in His power and under His leadership. And as we go, we have the privilege of watching the Holy Spirit work His transforming change in the lives of people and communities to the glory of God.

What’s the future of our church you ask? What does God want us to do? While I will may never know what God will specifically lay on the heart of your pastor, I can tell you this: His mandate shared here is unchanging for you and me down through the ages.

• Love God
• Love Others
• Change the World

Will you join me?

Confirm, Don’t Ignore

If you don’t know it already, I’m a Facebook fanatic. I didn’t really jump on the bandwagon early, but after some of the people with whom I work and serve got involved, I did too. And I’m glad I did. It’s opened doors for renewed relationships with old friends, deeper on-going relationships with current friends and brand new relationships with acquaintances who would like to be friends.

One of the premises on which Facebook operates is the theory of “degrees of separation.” This theory assumes that you and I know somebody who knows somebody, and they in turn, know somebody, etc. There are no more than six degrees of separation, so the theory goes, that separate you and me from any other person on the planet! As a result, I’ve met people on Facebook I probably would have never met otherwise.

This got me thinking as we head into our Annual Meeting of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware: we are all only one degree of separation from Almighty God Himself. The Bible tells us that “there is one God and one mediator between God and men: the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5). This is an amazing and incredible reality: Jesus is the only intermediary any of us ever need to connect with God ourselves! It’s all about WHO you know, not WHAT you do.

Now to make the connection is one thing, but to develop the connection is another matter entirely. In order for that to happen, you have to invest in the relationship. You have to spend time with God, just like you would anyone else you wanted to get to know. You have to listen and learn, not just ask and tell. You have to “open up” and be vulnerable for the relationship to deepen. Relationship has to be your top priority.

Connection with God, more than any other person I’ve ever known, has taught me to value the relationship more than the experience. Do you know what I mean by that? Many times relationships are about what we do, where we go, the things we share, etc. With God, the most important thing is who we are, more than what we do! He constantly reminds me that He loves me for who I am. In our productivity-minded world, it is a refreshing reminder that with God BEING is more important that DOING.

But sometimes relationships in my life “go bad.” Something happens to disrupt them, usually something that compromised my trust in the other person. When that happens, it makes me hesitant to trust anyone else, too. God, though, is not like that. He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). Since He is faithful and reliable, how can we grow to trust Him more? The same way we grow to trust anyone: by spending more time with Him. Getting to know someone better builds trust.

You see, connecting is a choice. With Facebook, I can confirm or ignore every potential relationship presented to me. But even when I choose to confirm that relationship, I only get out of it what I’m willing to put into it. Connection leads to conversation. Conversation leads to cultivation. Cultivation leads to commitment. But it all starts with a choice. Connecting with God, the “friend who sticks closer than a brother,” (Proverbs 18:24), is offered; we must be willing. Connecting has to be intentional.

So, click confirm, not ignore. And certainly don’t “delete.” At this Annual Meeting of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware, “connect” with God: get to know Him better, deeper. You’ll be glad you did.

(This was originally posted at the BCM/D Annual Meeting site as a part of it’s “Get Connected…” blogging series. You can check out the entire series by clicking here.)

Fridays are for Friends & Family 11.06.09

Welcome to another week-ending edition of FFF! This week has been a flurry of activity as we finalize plans for our organization’s Annual Meeting, which begins here in Towson, Maryland, on Sunday. You can read about it here; in addition, you can register for several events by going to this page. I hope to see you there!

Sarah, my daughter in Vancouver, Canada, has picked up a number of new writing and photography assignments in the past few weeks. Last week, she roamed the sidelines of the British Columbia Lions (CFL) for a photo shoot. She also has entered a proposal on a potential future for journalism with the Knight Foundation. You can read her suggestion on how to build readership for newspapers in a more user-friendly manner by clicking here. In fact, you can register for FREE and add your “rating” and “comments.” Sarah would greatly appreciate it, I’m sure!

Last week I cited Al Mohler’s compilation of the responses author of the Great Commission Resurgence document Danny Akin has made to some of the concerns addressed (or not addressed) in the document. This week I highlight a concern raised by Dr. Bill Brown, ever the outdoorsman, formerly on faculty at Southeastern Seminary himself and now teaching in the distance-learning program at Liberty. You can read his thoughts here. This is not the first time we’ve highlighted concerns with the GCR document; this link will take you to another item surfaced by Tom Cocklereece a few months ago.

One of the most interesting “Christian” websites I’ve come across this year is the very entertaining “Stuff Christians Like.” The author, Jonathan Acuff, continues to compile short articles about a variety of items that are normative in “typical” Christian culture, behavior and experience. The “stuff” is over 650 items long at this time and continuing to grow. (It will be published as the book on the right early in 2010.) Part information and part entertainment, it is fascinating to me to see how pervasive our “Christian world” is and the impact is has on what we think and do. You can click here to begin your journey through his site.

Last week I mentioned the recent leadership event with Mike Huckabee…(if you missed that you can read about it here.) Another outstanding speaker at that event was Rev. Rod Hairston, chaplain of the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens. Rod did an exceptional job talking about character in the life of a leader. What you may not know is that Rod is also a church planter, having planted Messiah Community Church in the Owings Mills area about four years ago. You can find out more about Rod, including how you can have him come and speak at your next event, by clicking here. I am indeed blessed to consider him a friend.

Well, that’s it from here this week. I’ll be reporting next week from our Annual Meeting in Towson. Hopefully, my colleagues and I will see you there. So until next time, keep on moving at the speed of God!

An Opportunity to CONNECT

Beginning this Sunday, November 8, we in the Mid-Atlantic region will have a unique opportunity to celebrate the Great Commission cooperation we share within our “tribe.” This year’s Annual Meeting of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware will meet at the Sheraton Towson (Maryland) and has been reformatted to be more worshipful, interactive and participatory. There will be less business, more learning and more chances to serve in the midst of our conference together. How will we do this? Several ways come to mind. We will share in meal times together before sessions. We will have small group break outs for learning and application. And we have streamlined the business portions of our meeting into very small segments, the minimum necessary to keep us focused on God’s vision and presence among us.

We at BCM/D are billing this as a time to CONNECT, and anticipating the chances we will have to share in worship, live life and minister together.

CONNECT with God (Sunday evening). Our evening starts at 5:00pm with a banquet planned for those of you who are church planters and young missional pastors. As I mentioned last week, founding pastor Ron Sylvia of The Springs in Ocala, Florida, will be our banquet speaker. He will share about some of the lessons he’s learned in church planting and now pastoring a large church, with an emphasis on maximizing your walk with God and strengthening your marriage during the process of planting a church. He will answer questions from you, the planters and pastors, who are present, about concerns and issues that are pressing to you at this time. Later in the evening session he will speak again, along with North American Mission Board “Ambassador” Charles Roesel, from Leesburg, Florida.  Their goal is to assist us in getting a fresh vision of God and to be Kingdom risk-takers for Him. Spouses are welcome at the banquet (no extra charge) and babysitting is provided for children up to age 5 (at all sessions and mealtimes, as well).

CONNECT with each other (Monday morning). We will start off with some fun and humor as “Christian Illusionist and Extreme Balloon Man” Steve Gambrill entertains and “teaches” us. We will worship together as Gary Hollingsworth, pastor of Immanuel in Little Rock, Arkansas, preaches and Keith & Kristyn Getty from Northern Ireland, authors of “The Power of The Cross” and “In Christ Alone“, lead us in worship. Then we’ll have brunches for everyone present: ministers, their wives and lay people (register in advance: NO COST).

CONNECT with the community (Monday Afternoon). During the afternoon, we’ll worship together with Fred Luter, pastor of Franklin Avenue in New Orleans preaching. Then, we’ll have break out sessions on “helping hurting people,” “ministries that impact,” “building an evangelism strategy,” “money management” and “impacting our changing culture.” All will be led by local and national leaders who are specialists and practitioners in these fields. We’ll also have a three-hour “plunge into the city” for those who want to be involved in a first-hand missions experience. There will be opportunities to assist some of our church planters in their fields of ministry or learn from them as they share in the break out sessions.

CONNECT with the world (Monday evening-Tuesday Morning). In the evening session on Monday, we’ll hear vision messages to challenge us with our Great Commission mandate from our Executive-Director David Lee and our Convention President Byron Day. On Tuesday morning, in the final session, we’ll hear from Scott Preissler of Southwestern Seminary and Larry Steen of Westminster, Maryland, to wrap things up.

Our church planters will want to be present for the networking and “surprise” events that will take place too. I will have gifts for you and opportunities for future experiences available to those of you at the banquet and other items for those of you who come during the Monday-Tuesday sessions. Wives present will be blessed with these “extra privileges,” too. And of course, our “booth” will have information and individuals who gather to share with each other and collect information for ministry.

Finally, this is a great opportunity to celebrate our cooperation as Southern Baptists, one of the cornerstones of our identity. If we ever lose this value, we will cease to have the impact on the world and each other we’ve shared for the past century and a half.

So come celebrate with us! and CONNECT…the Great Commission still calls us forward, together.