Submitted by philip on
By Karen L. Willoughby, Managing Editor
STATEWIDE – A hard-hitting, media-rich, two-day, spiritual leadership conference is awakening people in churches across Louisiana to their responsibility as Christ-followers and church leaders.
Reports coming in from regional events that took place earlier this year at First Baptist Amite, First Baptist Bastrop, Memorial Baptist Bogalusa and Ascension Baptist Gonzales attest to the impact of the Call of the Captain.®
“I have attended many leadership conferences in the past, but the Call of the Captain stands out as one of the premier presentations available for church leadership,” said Jerry Price, director of missions for the Northeast Louisiana and Morehouse Baptist Associations. “The state-of-the-art music, videos, photographs, and superior Bible teaching make this seminar an excellent tool for training current and future leaders.
“I am still basking in the glow of it,” Price said in the week after the conference at First Baptist Church of Bastrop. “I highly recommend it to all who desire to expand their knowledge of biblical leadership.”
The next regional Call of the Captain conferences are April 26-27 at Cook Baptist Church in Ruston, and May 3-4 at First Baptist Church in Pineville.
Call of the Captain is the next generation ministry of Paul Freed’s well-known and effective Mighty Men of God® conferences.
Call of the Captain, however, is for women as well as men, and teens; it is for pastors, other vocational staff, Sunday school and small group leaders, missions team leaders and all who want to do more in church than just warm a pew.
Participants in Call of the Captain conferences get a “really good feel for what it means to be a biblical leader, which is why we use the word ‘Captain,’” said Freed, a former vice president with the Promise Keepers organization who has been in more than 2,000 churches over 30 years of ministry.
His grandfather pastored a church from the 1920s to ’50s in Jerusalem, and took amazing photos during the turbulent years before, after and during the time Israel became a nation.
His father founded the world’s largest missionary radio network: Trans World Radio.
“Your message was relevant, and needed for our churches to hear,” said Tommy Middleton, executive director of the Baptist Association of Greater Baton Rouge, after participating in Call of the Captain at Ascension Baptist Church in Gonzales. “We have drifted far from God’s standard and your clear message was a call to return to His standards; they are right, true and honorable.”
Robert Lawrence, pastor of Ascension Gonzales, said he was glad the Baton Rouge-area conference took place at the church he pastors.
“The material that was presented at the conference should be heard by every church across America,” Lawrence said. “The content brings into perspective how far we have moved away from being a holy, peculiar and separated people that God desires.
“It was like a fresh wind that blew through our hearts this weekend,” the pastor said. “My prayer is for the stirring that occurred to catch fire throughout the rest of our folks.”
Jim Ingram, pastor of First Baptist Church in Bastrop, said he wants to do a churchwide Call of the Captain next March, in place of all Sunday activities: Bible studies as well as morning and evening services.
“We had a spiritually-filled worship service Sunday morning after the conference, with people repenting and seeking healing emotionally, physically and spiritually,” Ingram said. “Last night we opened the service for testimonies [and it] lasted for the full hour. It was a great time as people confessed their apathy and their desire to repent and accept their responsibilities in leadership.
“One of our school principals stated that she wanted to turn her ministry in the school system over to the Lord,” Ingram continued. “Several mentioned this would be a new beginning for them. … A great peace has settled in my heart along with the joy of hearing and experiencing the truth in the power of the message that the Lord brought to us through you.
“You truly have and are a message that needs to be heard,” the pastor said. “I was greatly encouraged to continue working in the name of the Lord. I was challenged to be a much better Christian and pastor through this conference.”
Comments made by participants included, “Convicted and encouraged at the same time.” “Was deeply ministered to.” “The depth of study and accurate theology made conference excellent.”
“Thanks! Caused me to reevaluate myself.” “Where was this conference when my deacons and I were at odds?”
“The video team that put these 22 videos together for your conference is extremely gifted.”
“Wonderful speaking voice.” “Absolutely a most wonderful blessing. I have never been so motivated and moved to be the leader I am called to be.” “Very inspiring, very alarming and very awakening. Every leader of the church should have attended.”
“I stand amazed at God for sending Dr. Freed – with all his knowledge and wisdom – to our small hurting community, to sow seeds that will reap a mighty harvest of souls through this leadership teaching. Thank you for clearly defining my role and responsibilities and the encouragement to press on.”
In addition to the Call of the Captain being April 26-27 at Cook Baptist in Ruston, and May 3-4 at First Baptist in Pineville, the regionalized conference is scheduled for Aug. 2-3 at First Baptist Leesville and Aug. 16-17 at Maplewood First in Sulphur. The cost is $35 if registering before the conference. Senior pastors come at no cost if they bring five others from their church.
For more information see www.MightyMenOfGod.com.