OSAGE BEACH – With a theme of “Generation to Generation,” the 2011 Missouri Baptist Pastors’ Conference tackled the challenge of generational leadership and discipleship.
Josh Hedger, lead pastor of Freshwater Church in Bolivar and the youngest preacher on the stage, set the tone for the Pastors’ Conference with a message from 2 Kings 2:1-14, where Elijah passes his mantle to Elisha, and Elisha begs Elijah to stay and mentor him.
“Young men, I wonder if our hearts really have the commitment to those that have gone before us,” he said. “I’m afraid that we are more apt to push them out of the way and say ‘finally, it’s my turn’ than ask them to stay and teach us.”
“To the older generations of pastors, I beg of you: please do not stop investing in us until the day you die,” Hedger said. “May the very last breath you take be spent investing in my generation. Despite our arrogance and despite that many times, our hearts roll our eyes at you. Please be patient, correct us, and encourage us.”
Second was Steve Dighton, senior pastor of Lenexa Baptist church in Lenexa, Kan. He preached on servant leadership, out of 1 Kings 12:7: “… Today if you will be a servant to these people and serve them, and if you respond to them by speaking kind words to them, they will be your servants forever.”
“The single most important leadership lesson is to be a servant,” Dighton said. “If you want to be great, you must be a slave and serve others. Will you dare humble yourself and be a servant leader?”
Rustin Umstaadt, associate academic dean and assistant professor of theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, challenged attendees to tell the “story in doctrine and the doctrine in story” to help instill a love of the Word in the younger generations.
“God has written us an amazing story about what He is doing in the world to redeem it from the beginning of Genesis, through all of Scripture all the way to Revelation,” he said. “But the younger generations are viewing the Bible as an auto manual or a how-to book. If you’re depressed, go to these verses, and if you have a victory in life, go to these verses. That’s not what the Bible is. It’s a drama. If we’re going to invest in the next generation and lead them to understand Scripture, we need to remind them to look at it as a whole and that Jesus is the answer to the question that Old Testament asked.”
Tom Hufty, pastor of First Baptist Church, Maryville, Ill., and former official at Hannibal-LaGrange University, urged the pastors in attendance to “touch a day you will never see.”
“If you’re going to leave a legacy,” he said, “you’ve got to become an influencer. Find someone and be their mentor and cheerleader. Ask them their goals and how you can help them achieve it. Whether you’re an older pastor or a younger pastor, who are you influencing?”
Kenny Qualls, pastor, First Baptist Church, Arnold, finished out the conference the way it began with a message about grooming a successor from 1 Kings 19:19-21, also about the Elijah-Elisha transition.
“This passage is not simply about these two men,” he said. “It’s about God continuing to fulfill His promise to work among His people. If there’s not going to be any intergenerational tension in the church, the Elijah generation has to be faithful in passing the mantle, and the Elisha generation must answer that call.”
DVDs of the messages are available for $5 each, or the entire Pastors’ Conference for $20. Call 1-800-736-6227 ext. 305.
Micah Fries, pastor of Frederick Boulevard and second vice president of the Missouri Baptist Convention, is the president of the Pastors’ Conference. Phil Bray, pastor of First Baptist, Puxico is the president-elect. Jim Wells, director of missions for Tri-County Baptist Association nominated Josh Hall, pastor of Selmore Baptist Church in Ozark to serve as treasurer. He was unopposed.
BRIAN KOONCE/staff writer
bkoonce@mobaptist.org