“Welcome to the inside of a miracle,” said President Chuck Kelley, standing at the podium in Leavell Chapel on the campus of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He described what the chapel looked like after Hurricane Katrina, and then said, “We serve a God who is a great outstanding redeemer. We will always have trouble in our lives but we will never have a trouble that God will not redeem.”
NEW ORLEANS – “Welcome to the inside of a miracle,” said President Chuck Kelley, standing at the podium in Leavell Chapel on the campus of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He described what the chapel looked like after Hurricane Katrina, and then said, “We serve a God who is a great outstanding redeemer. We will always have trouble in our lives but we will never have a trouble that God will not redeem.”
Kelley was the first of five speakers to bring messages during the Louisiana Baptist Convention Pastor’s Conference. His scripture: Acts 20:17-27.
At various times during the six-hour session, participants elected new officers for the 2009 LBC Pastor’s Conference; each one unanimously: Ken Fryer, pastor of First Baptist Greenwood, was elected president. Chad Mills, pastor of First Baptist Oil City, was elected vice president. Darrell Hoychick, pastor of Trinity Baptist in Pineville, was elected treasurer.
“I want to talk to you about the word courage,” Kelley preached. “There is going to be no place to hide from a confrontation. … All the easy churches have been taken by someone else. What we are faced with is a challenge. …”
CDs and DVDs of the 2008 LBC Pastor’s Conference are available through MasterSound Media Ministries. Contact them by phone at 866.430.8273 or email mastersoundaudio@aol.com.
“On the outside it looks like courage; on the inside, it’s nothing but obedience,” Kelley preached. “This is not rocket science. This is not a matter of talent; this is not even a matter of how much strength you have and how bold or aggressive you may be. It boils down to one simple issue: obedience. … Obedience to God is an unstoppable force. …
“I hope you will make a commitment to this one thing: Jesus I will obey, and let these two days be an opportunity to refresh that commitment: obey whatever the cost and His joy will be yours. Take courage.”
Gevan Spinney, in his sixth year as senior pastor at First Baptist Haughton, spoke from 2 Timothy 3:16 on the supremacy of God’s Word.
“God has allowed us to be involved in the lives of people, to rebuke them, to warn them,” Spinney preached. “God has given us his perfect word in order to warn them, the exhort them, to encourage them. Sometimes I think we get a wrong perspective on who God is and what he does. There are times for rebuking, for warning and convincing and encouraging. …
“Endure afflictions; they’re going to come,” Spinney continued. God’s word is the power in evangelism. God has given us his word – his word that pierces; it’s sharper than a two-edged sword. Spiritual swords pierce dead men and bring them alive again. … God’s called you and me, Preacher, to reach out to a lost world, to bring the grace of the cross.”
Earnest Easley, pastor of Roswell Street Baptist in Marietta, Ga., preached about getting back to the basics.
“If the 21st century church is going to impact the world, it has to get back to the 1st century church,” Easley said, then preached on gospel ‘No’s:’ no executives – Each individual is to share their faith; no equal – No other gospel can break a person free from bondage of sin; and no exclusions.
“It has no restrictions, no barriers, no limitations,” Easley preached. “The gospel is for everybody. Jesus died on the cross for everybody. … You’re never more like Jesus than when you reach out to people who are the least like you.”
In last 50 years, Easley said, Southern Baptists have started 13,000 churches; doubled the membership of the SBC; given $8.7million more each year in annual giving since 1954; and yet last year Southern Baptists baptized 400,000 fewer people than in 1954.
“In 1954 6 million Southern Baptists were seeing more people come to the Kingdom of God than 16 million did last year,” Easley said. “We are in crisis; I dare say in 10 years we’re going to look like England spiritually.”
Ronnie Floyd, pastor of First Baptist, Springdale, Ark., preached from Isaiah 54:1-5 on five ways to grow as a Christian.
Evangelist Rick Gage of Duluth, Ga., closed out the LBC Pastor’s Conference.
“I’m here to remind all of us that we need a greater passion and a greater burden to lead a lost person for Christ. … We are finding everywhere we go, people today are easier to reach for Christ than ever before. … We’re just not going and telling. If the tide does not change, we will leave the next generation shipwrecked.”
Last year in the Southern Baptist Convention, Gage said, 10,000 churches did not baptize one person for Christ; 13,000 did not baptize one teenager.
“Nobody will be in heaven who does not repent of their sins,” Gage preached. “Every single thing that we’re about ought to be trying to point people to Jesus. …. We must never forget the mission we’re on.”
“You cannot even spell God without Go,” Gage continued. “Go and get results.”