Restoring passion becomes theme of unity
When Gary Taylor, Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) director of evangelism, felt led to choose Restoring Passion … Reducing Lostness as the theme for the 2008 MBC Evangelism Conference, he could not have known about the overwhelming impact and out-of-this-world inspiration that theme would have over the next year of Missouri Baptist missions and ministry.
For a long time, I have wanted our various Missouri Baptist ministries to fly under a unified pennant. When Gary told me about his theme, the wheels in my head immediately began to spin.
Restoring Passion … I knew, at once that all Missouri Baptist churches and ministries desperately needed to restore their passion for God. And I am thankful that each of your Missouri Baptist ministry specialists took up the challenge and began to think about individual themes for their specialized ministries.
Restoring Passion … Reducing Lostness is a constant reminder that everyone must be on mission for God, sharing Christ’s Gospel everywhere we go. That theme was made abundantly clear at the recent MBC Evangelism Conference. Thank you, Gary Taylor, for a great conference. The music was phenomenal. The preaching was passionate. The breakout sessions were practical. Where I came from we used to say … “I was plumb blessed!!”
Restoring Passion … Resounding the Call to Missions and Ministry is the theme chosen by Vivian McCaughan to identify the task of Women’s Ministry and WMU. And are there any more qualified or more eager to resound and respond to that call than our Missouri Baptist women? There are none more passionate about worldwide evangelism than our Missouri Baptist women.
Restoring Passion … Renewing Purpose is the theme selected by George Roach to emphasize his calling to minister to our Missouri Baptist ministers. Godly leadership is vital to church health. Your ministerial services specialist is committed to providing leadership to all Missouri Baptist churches. Whether your church is involved in crisis or celebration, George Roach is passionate about working with you to renew your passion for God’s purpose in the life of your church.
Restoring Passion … Reaching the Next Generation is the 2008 theme of your Student/Collegiate Ministries division and the team led by Matt Kearns. They are committed to enabling your church to reach the 12-to-25 crowd in your community. The future of your Missouri Baptist Convention rests in the hands and hearts of the next generation. What does the future of your church look like?
Restoring Passion … Revitalizing Churches has been selected by your Sunday School/Discipleship/Church Services team as their theme for this year. The members of that team, led by Mike Cooper, are leading the charge in restoring health to your MBC churches.
Restoring Passion … Releasing Men is the 2008 theme of your Men’s Ministry division. Rick Seaton is your new Men’s Ministry/Disaster Relief Specialist. Rick is committed to helping Missouri Baptist men be all that they can be in Christ.
Restoring Passion … Repairing the Damage is the appropriate theme for Disaster Relief teams that will work in Missouri and throughout the United States in 2008. Right now, Missouri Baptist Disaster Relief units are working in Cape Girardeau repairing the damage left by ice and frigid temperatures. Restoring the passion to rebuild New Orleans is another current focus of this vital Missouri Baptist ministry.
Restoring Passion … Reporting the Truth is the banner under which your Missouri Baptist state paper will operate in the coming year. Don Hinkle, Pathway editor, has pledged to tell all the news that affects Missouri Baptists.
Restoring Passion … Revealing the Hymnal is the theme chosen by John Francis as we participate with LifeWay and the Southern Baptist Convention in the unveiling of a new hymnal in 2008. Regardless of your worship style, your church will find something in the new hymnal that will lead you to “… worship in Spirit and in truth.”
Restoring Passion … Rejuvenating Families is the heartbeat of Joe Ulveling, your Missouri Baptist Family Ministries specialist. Under this theme, Joe will be offering instruction and inspiration to Missouri Baptist moms, dads, husbands and wives who are willing to follow godly principles in their Christian homes.
Restoring Passion … Regaining the Focus has been chosen by Jerry Field as he leads your Missouri Baptist Church Planting team. Missouri Baptists need to start all kinds of churches – contemporary churches, cowboy churches, house churches, inner-city churches, country churches, even traditional churches. Your MBC Church Planting team is anxious to work with your church to start a new work in your area of the Show-Me state.
Restoring Passion … Returning to Faithfulness has been selected as the theme for teaching the value of stewardship in 2008. Spencer Hutson, your MBC Biblical Stewardship specialist, is passionate about helping your church members understand and implement biblical money management principles.
Restoring Passion … Responding to Acts 1:8 is the new theme of Norm Howell, your Missouri Baptist partnership missions specialist. If you will call on him under this new banner, Norm will enable your church to be involved in missions around the corner and across the ocean. Call him today.
Restoring Passion … Reaching the World is the ongoing theme of the Cooperative Program. And it is true, that as Missouri Baptist churches give generously through the Cooperative Program, you and I are truly involved in missions and ministry all over the world.
Restoring Passion … Resourcing the Servants reveals that none of the missions and ministry listed above would occur without our Missouri Baptists who are willing to work behind the scenes, receiving little credit. Jay Hughes leads an eager team of dedicated servants who are just that kind of Christ-like people.
And when Missouri Baptists pull together and pray together to restore passion to all the areas of Missouri Baptist ministry, together our Missouri Baptist churches will be Restoring Passion … Reclaiming the Land that God has given to us.
Missouri Baptists, are you ready? Let’s get passionate of the things of God!