Driggers ready to teach messengers on kingdom

JEFFERSON CITY – Carlisle Driggers, the recently retired executive director of the South Carolina Baptist Convention, will bring the theme interpretation and Bible studies during the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) annual meeting in Tan-Tar-A. The theme is “Building Kingdom Churches.”

Driggers, who spoke at the MBC Evangelism Conference several years ago, spearheaded the Southern Baptist Convention campaign, “Empowering Kingdom Growth” in 2002. He will focus his portions of the program on Jesus’ statements on the Kingdom of God in Matthew 6:31-33: “So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For the idolaters eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.”

“What does Jesus say about the kingdom?” Driggers said. “Once we ask that, then we can see how we are to build kingdom-focused churches. Many of our churches in history have not paid attention to Jesus’ call to the kingdom. It’s no wonder our churches, state and national conventions have been in trouble. We have totally dismissed Jesus’ call to the kingdom. When we don’t do what the Lord calls, it’s no wonder when we get into trouble.”

Born in Hartsville, S.C., Driggers earned his Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Missions degrees from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky. He later earned his doctorate from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. He has also received honorary doctorates from three South Carolina universities—North Greenville, Charleston Southern, and Anderson.

Driggers has served on staff at seven churches in South Carolina, Kentucky, Alabama and West Virginia. He worked with the Home Mission Board (now North American Mission Board) before coming to the South Carolina Baptist Convention in 1990.

He has also served on the boards of several state conventions and has taught at several Southern Baptist seminaries. He also has written the books The Church in the Changing Community: Crisis or Opportunity?; Models of Metropolitan Ministry; and Journey of Faith and Hope.