Former two-time SBC president to speak at MBC State Evangelism Conference

Former two-time SBC president to speak at MBC State Evangelism Conference

By Allen Palmeri
Staff Writer

December 9, 2004

JEFFERSON CITY – A former two-time president of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) will be the featured speaker at the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) State Evangelism Conference Jan. 24-25 at Second Baptist Church, Springfield.

Tom Elliff, pastor, First Southern Baptist Church, Del City, Okla., is scheduled to speak Monday night and Tuesday afternoon. He was president of the SBC in 1996 and 1997 and most recently served as chairman of SBC’s Council on Family Life.

Elliff has been pastor at First Del City since 1985. He served as president of the SBC Pastors’ Conference in 1990 and preached the annual sermon at the 1994 convention.

“I don’t think Tom Elliff can do anything without evangelism being a part of it,” said MBC State Evangelism Director Bob Caldwell. “It just flows through his veins. God has equipped him to where he is phenomenal at preaching about evangelism to pastors and to lay people.”

Also speaking at the conference will be:

• Rick Ousley, pastor, The Church at Brook Hills, Birmingham, Ala. In the 14 years that he has been with the church, attendance has grown from 37 to more than 4,000.

• Sam Dyer, pastor, First Baptist Church, Heavener, Okla.

• Phil Hunter, pastor, West County Community Church, Wildwood. Hunter has previously served as MBC state evangelism director.

• Kenny Qualls, MBC associate executive director.

Bill Shiflett, MBC worship specialist, and This Hope, a five-member male group, will be ministering to attendees through music.

The theme of the conference is “Share Jesus at All Costs.” Scripture verses associated with the theme are John 15:5 and Acts 17:6.

“I pray that we will, during this time, understand the absolute necessity of walking in the Spirit-filled life,” Caldwell said. “That’s how we’re going to see more people come to Christ by accident than we’d ever see come to Christ on purpose, by a program alone. We’ve got to get connected. We’ve got to be a state that’s on our knees in prayer consistently, in a concerted effort.”