By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer
PINEVILLE – Hundreds of Ironmen will convene upon Louisiana College next week, but not for a grueling 140.6-mile triathlon.
Called by some as the Iron Men of the Southern Baptist Convention, these bi-vocational ministers, pastors of smaller churches and their wives will meet for the annual Bi-vocational and Small Church Leadership Network National Celebration.
Scheduled for June 26-27 at LC, the theme for the annual conference is “God Has A Plan For You And Your Church.” The focal scripture will be Jeremiah 29:11.
Philip Caples, Vice President of Integration for Faith and Learning at LC and director of this year’s conference, said the school and the Louisiana Baptist Convention are trying to connect with bi-vocational pastors in the state to encourage them to come to the event because of the much-needed training it will provide for their congregations.
“One reason that we are excited about this opportunity is because Louisiana College wants to be a resource for all churches in our state,” said Caples, a member of the Bi-vocational Small Church Leadership Network. “However, with approximately 70 percent of Louisiana’s Southern Baptist churches having less than 100 in worship attendance, we have an opportunity to invest directly into many of the churches across the state at one time.
“Also, this event gives pastors an opportunity to visit our campus on a Friday and Saturday,” said Caples, “when they are not working at their other jobs.
“I believe this celebration will offer pastors who attend an opportunity to experience a refreshing moment in their ministry,” added Caples. “And this will bring transformation in the pastor’s life and in the life of his congregation.”
Fred Luter, pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans and former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, will be the keynote speaker. The Blackwell Family from Pineville will lead worship.
Pastors attending the conference will take part in six to eight breakout sessions designed to encourage and train them further.
Topics for the breakout sessions include equipping your church, living a balanced life, remaining faithful during trials, building a strong family and discipleship that matures membership.
The pastors’ wives in attendance will have the opportunity to attend a section just for the ladies on the evening of June 26 and the morning of June 27.
Jan Morgan, wife of Louisiana Baptist Church Administration strategist Stacy Morgan , will lead the breakout sessions for the ladies on June 26 while Jean Beachum, president ofPartners Assisting the Lord’s Servants – will lead the sessions for the women on June 27.
First Baptist Church in Pineville and the Louisiana Baptist Convention are helping make the conference possible.
Prior to the conference, the coordinating council and executive leadership will meet on June 25. Then on June 26, organizational meetings for various groups take place at 8:30 am, with registration opening at 1 pm.
Activities that day include a devotional by LC President Rick Brewer, breakout sessions, special music by the Blackwell Family, a message by Luter, the president’s address and a time of fellowship.
Activities on the final day include music by the Blackwell Family, a devotional by coordinating countile member Darrell Fletcher and a message by Luter.
Brewer said the event demonstrates the school’s ongoing commitment to invest in pastors across the state.
“We are deeply pleased to partner with the LBC to advance the Kingdom of God through men who are committed to the hard work of biblical ministry for the sake of the gospel,” Brewer said.
Of the 46,124 churches that are a member of the Southern Baptist Convention, more than 38,000 are smaller churches.
Those with Sunday school attendance of 125 or fewer are considered small churches.
Gary Mitchell, bivocational and smaller church specialist for Louisiana Baptists, said “small” is the new “big” and the conference at LC underscores the importance of those churches in the life of the SBC.
“The bottom line is this,” Mitchell said. “The size of our big ministries is determined by the fruitfulness of our smaller churches. Small churches are a plan A in SBC Great Commission strategy.”
To register for the event, please go to BSCLN.net. Then go to RESOURCES and click on 2015 National Celebration. Once there, click on registration to complete the form for the conference.