By Baptist Message
WEST MONROE, La. (LBM) – Allan Taylor challenged ReGroup participants to be like the believers in the early church, who were biblically driven and not culturally driven in their zeal to share the Good News.
Despite experiencing persecution, they were bold in their witness for Christ, he noted.
““Your state leaders are emphasizing Maximum Gospel impact as the core theme,” Taylor told those in attendance Aug. 14 at McClendon Baptist Church in West Monroe. “If we’re going to have maximum Gospel impact, we are going to have to open our mouths and speak boldly.”
An estimated 170 people from 33 churches attended the event.
Taylor, executive pastor of ministries at First Baptist Church in Concord, Tennessee, was the keynote speaker for ReGroup Conference that focused on strengthening discipleship efforts. The conference included breakout sessions for pastors, Sunday school directors, small group leaders, church staff, preschool, children, youth and adult leaders, discipleship leaders and Bible study leaders.
ReGroup focuses on four areas – sharing the Gospel, developing biblical community, helping believers mature spiritually, and equipping believers to live missionally, with special emphasis on maximizing Gospel impact. Last year’s conference was moved from an in-person format to an all-virtual platform because of concerns brought about by the coronavirus outbreak.
An estimated 170 attended the ReGroup conference at McClendon Baptist Church in West Monroe Aug. 14, 2021. Brian Blackwell photo
For those unable to attend this year’s ReGroup at McClendon Baptist, Digital ReGroup will be offered Aug. 16-17. Louisiana Baptist Executive Director Steve Horn will host all four one-hour sessions: Aug. 16, pastor/staff/key leaders, 6 p.m.; adult leaders, 7:30 p.m.; Aug. 17, children and preschool leaders, 6 p.m.; and youth leaders, 7:30 p.m.
“This year we are transitioning to more in person and digital opportunities for lay leaders in the local church,” Louisiana Baptist Sunday school/discipleship strategist Sean Keith told the Baptist Message. “We want to provide the best training from nationally known leaders in multiple formats available on demand and in person. Too many of our churches are struggling to rebuild their small group ministry. In order to have maximum Gospel impact, we need to grow more healthy small groups in our churches.”
For more information on Digital ReGroup, visit Louisianabaptists.org/regroup.
