SBC in Louisville KY

We are having a very nice time at the Southern Baptist Convention this week. It is always a fun time of fellowship, great preaching, and singing and I enjoy just spending some extended time with my wife Ashley. Tony Buchanan and I are seeing old friends and having a good time.

We elected Pastor Johnny Hunt as president on Tuesday and affirmed the president to create a task force that will study our SBC and discover ways we might be able to do a better job of completing the Great Commission. The motion was approved by around 95%. Our fellow Arkansan Pastor Ronnie Floyd will chair this very important committee.

The International Mission Board’s president, Jerry Rankin, reported how there are hundreds of men and women called by God to go overseas but we cannot send them because of lack of finances. That is so difficult. The SB of TX gave $100k to help with this deficit. And we took up an offering at the pastor’s conference and we were able to give over $40k!

We are not a perfect denomination but I am so proud to be a part of the SBC. We have some wonderful and committed folks who love Christ and want the whole world to know the Savior. There are over 3 billion people in the world who have yet to hear of the name of Jesus Christ. I don’t know what that does to you when you hear that, but for me it really startles my soul and makes me want to give more personally and to lead my church to give more as well. I would like to see Christians in America, to use a line from Keith Green, raise their standard of giving more than their standard of living. And if we would do this then we could easily send every missionary who desires to go and we could go more ourselves.

Ashley and I attended the SWBTS luncheon today and it was a great time to reconnect with some fine folks. We were able to sit with the Bailey Smith Family and what a blessing that was. This family is a great testimony of a family that loves Christ and loves each other.

We are taking a break this afternoon and we are about to head back for the final sessions. Then we will fly back to TX and pick up our teenagers and drive home. I am excited about preaching on Acts 16 on Sunday then the fellowship at the park Sunday night.