MBC Prez embraces Acts 1:8 theme
JEFFERSON CITY—Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) President Mike Green is excited about “Building Kingdom Focused Churches,” the theme for the 173rd annual meeting of the MBC on Oct. 29-31 at Tan-Tar-A, Osage Beach.
“It’s been an emphasis for our national Convention,” said Green, referring to the Acts 1:8 Bible verse that so succinctly lays out the plan to evangelize the world. “I like the concept of kingdom focused coupling with Acts 1:8. It takes the focus of the church back to what it’s supposed to be, and that is bringing people to Christ, discipling them, and not focusing on ourselves. Acts 1:8 to me covers the world.”
Directly before he ascended to heaven, Jesus taught his disciples that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them. The result would be that they would be witnesses for Christ in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the end of the earth. Many Southern Baptist churches have taken on what is known as the “Acts 1:8 Challenge,” strategizing how they will apply the verse in their city, state, region and world.
Green had a shifting of his own personal Jerusalem this year. He formerly was pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Republic, serving there for 25 years. He resigned that Springfield-area post in May and took a ministry position in the St. Louis area beginning Aug. 1 as director of missions for the Twin Rivers Baptist Association in Wright City.
“It’s up to the individual, how you respond to relocating,” he said. “I think we get very comfortable in certain situations, and God has to sometimes take us out of those situations to complete his goal for our lives.”
The MBC president’s address will be Oct. 29. Green said his message will include Acts 1:8, but it will also be more than that.
Green is the first director of missions to serve as MBC president since 1994, when T.O. Spicer of the Spring River Baptist Association held that office.