By Brian Blackwell & Will Hall, Baptist Message
ALEXANDRIA – Messengers conducted important business during the Louisiana Baptist Convention 2016 Annual Meeting, hosted this year by Calvary Baptist Church in Alexandria, Nov. 14-15. But they also took time for spiritual enrichment and inspiration before and after the several organizational actions they were asked to complete.
DENNIS PHELPS
Dennis Phelps, professor of preaching and director of alumni relations and church-minister relations at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, began all three sessions with a Bible study, each with a focus from the book of Jonah and the theme of “When God Moves.”
Phelps developed the character of Jonah, describing him as an unlikely person to an unlikely place for an unlikely mission, and related that believers today should expect God to call out the most unlikely person to carry out His plan.
“When God moves, He can use anyone to accomplish His purpose,” Phelps said, “even me and even you.”
Phelps also nurtured the notion that despite Jonah’s desire to give up on the people of Nineveh, God refused to give up on Jonah. He said God appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah in order to deliver him to the very threshold of the mission field where God intended for Jonah to serve.
Remarkably, the people of Nineveh repented and cried out to God, resulting in revival sweeping the city, Phelps said. Likewise, dramatic changes can happen in modern day times, by lifting needs and prayers to God.
But Phelps also noted Jonah’s anger and frustration against God because of His compassion and pity for the wicked. Jonah showed no mercy for others, even though God had shown him mercy – with Jonah weeping for a withered plant, but having no tears for the Ninevites.
Ultimately, Phelps used his studies to make a point with messengers about the upcoming Harvest statewide campaign.
“All creatures matter to God,” Phelps said. “Everyone matters to Him.
“When God moves, He can deliver anyone in response to faith and repentance,” he continued. “No one is beyond the availability of God’s mercy.”
“Why do we pray for every Louisiana household,” he asked, “because everyone matters to God!”
ELECTIONS & BUDGET
Gevan Spinney, pastor of First Baptist Church, Haughton, was re-elected LBC president without opposition.
David Lane, pastor of Judson Baptist Church, Walker, was elected first vice president; and,
Carlos Meza, pastor of Iglesia Bautista Del Calvario, Shreveport, was voted second vice president — both by acclamation of messengers.
Meza is the first Hispanic to hold an LBC state office.
Carlos Meza (left) and Gevan Spinney.
Messengers approved a $20,043,331 Cooperative Program budget for 2017, down $550,435 from 2015, with an allocation of 36.74 percent to be sent to Southern Baptist Convention national causes. The LBC portion of the CP budget is $12,679,411, a decrease of $348,205 from the 2016 allocation.
RESOLUTIONS
Messengers affirmed five resolutions, including one containing a statement of appreciation for Calvary Baptist Church, Alexandria, for hosting the annual meeting, and a word of gratefulness to individuals who contributed in important ways in the production of the two-day event.
Another resolution honored Louisiana Baptists’ disaster relief teams for their remarkable responses to two historic flood events in one year.
Messengers approved a third resolution urging Louisiana Baptists to take part in the Harvest Initiative.
The final two resolutions opposed human trafficking and the sexual politics of transgenderism.
DAVID BROOKS
In his convention sermon, David Brooks, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, Alexandria, explored the topic of why a healthy soul is vital for ministry.
Brooks said at times, pastors tend to give more emphasis toward maintaining their outer world while neglecting their inner world. However, to be at one’s best, cultivating the soul must be a priority.
“We have an outer world and an inner world to manage,” he said. “My inner context determines my culture. If I want things to be in rhythm with God, it has a lot to do with my inner world, not just my outer world.”
On staff at Calvary Baptist Church since June 1, 1979, Brooks said he has noticed red flags in his life when his soul needs greater attention. These include increased levels of impatience, sarcasm, and negativity combined with noticeably less energy devoted to relationships. He said Sunday mornings also become laborious.
“As ministers, Sundays ought to be fun,” said Brooks, drawing his message from 3 John 1:2. “Preparing and getting ready for those Sundays ought to be a blast.”
David Brooks
Brooks said the two main enemies of a healthy soul are sin and troublesome thoughts.
“Sin cannot coexist with the soul that is centered on God,” Brooks said. “If we are not careful (being mindful of bitterness, jealousy, envy and un-forgiveness) we can allow that to settle in our soul and spirit and it can become a sin of somewhat.”
A flourishing soul should not be accessible 24 hours a day for everyone else to drain, Brooks said, emphasizing the importance of setting and monitoring boundaries in one’s life.
“We have to have margins in our life, space where we incorporate intentional open space,” Brooks said. “When we study the life of Jesus, we come to understand there was space and silence and stillness in his life. He spent time with the father. He spent time with others.”
Building on that, Brooks said he has learned it helps his church by him observing a day of rest and spending time alone from the busy-ness of life.
“The longer I am in ministry the best gift that I can give the church where I lead and the church where I serve is not always my ideas and not always my energy,” he said. “The best gift I can give them is a well-tended spirit and a wise and brave soul.
“God wants us to abide with him,” he continued. “God wants us to understand He is not just looking for us to do something for Him. He is looking for us to be with Him. He desires that we live in His presence.”
MAC BRUNSON
Mac Brunson, pastor of First Baptist Church, Jacksonville, Fla., told messengers during the closing message, God will never detour you around the difficulties in life, but instead direct you through them for your growth and for His glory.
Brunson said God never consults a person about the course He takes them on, never asks directions about the path He leads, and, calls believers to walk by faith.
Mac Brunson
Brunson said that in Exodus 13-14, God led the Israelites on a journey that seemed endless, with them spending years as slaves. But He eventually brought them into freedom and out of the clutches of Pharaoh and the Egyptians.
“It’s not about the direction you’re going in,” Brunson said. “It’s about His glory. And that’s the struggle we have. We are far more interested in the direction we’re going than we are His glory.”
Just as was the case with the Israelites, God is calling believers today to follow Him. Though knowing the exact steps to take may seem unclear, Brunson said Jesus directs the path.
Along the journey, the temptation of taking one’s eyes off Jesus may appear. Instead of panicking, Christians should have faith that Jesus will lead them on the right path in the end.
“You can trust the unbreakable promises of God,” Brunson said. “God’s going to take care of you.”
The 2017 annual meeting will be Nov. 13-14 at Istrouma Baptist Church, Baton Rouge. John Fream, pastor of Cypress Baptist Church in Benton, will bring the convention sermon, and Jeff Ginn, pastor of Istrouma Baptist Church, will serve as the alternate. Gordon Butler, worship pastor at Istrouma Baptist Church, will serve as music director.
