SPRINGFIELD – The Missouri Baptist Convention’s (MBC) 2015 state evangelism and discipleship conference will challenge church leaders to remain faithful to God and to His call despite hardship.
Springfield’s Ridgecrest Baptist Church will host the conference, called “Furnace,” Feb. 5-6, 2015. Ridgecrest can hold up to 1,000 people.
The conference theme is inspired by the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the book of Daniel – a story that International Mission Board (IMB) missionary and author Nik Ripken described during the 2014 “Sowing in Tears” conference.
MBC evangelism/discipleship strategist Mark Snowden said that, when he heard Ripken recount this biblical story, the concept for “Furnace” began to grow in his mind. According to the biblical account in the book of Daniel, the young Jewish men Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego are bound with ropes and thrown into a fiery furnace because they will worship only God. The fire burns the ropes that bind them, allowing them to stand unharmed in the flames – and with them stands one “like the Son of God.”
“Life is heating up,” Snowden said. “Our culture is heating up. Yet we can walk untied with Jesus through the fire.”
Speakers at “Furnace” will include Brad Brisco, author of Missional Essentials: A Guide for Experiencing God’s Mission in Your Life; D.A. Horton, executive director of ReachLife Ministries; Jason Allen, president of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary; Micah Fries, vice president of LifeWay Research; Gary Frost, vice president of the Midwest region for the North American Mission Board; and Greg Frizzell, prayer and spiritual awakening specialist for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. Christian singer and songwriter Charles Billingsley will lead worship and bring special music.
The MBC will also encourage church leaders to participate in 21 Days of Revival and Evangelism leading up to “Furnace,” Jan. 15-Feb. 4. Those who register prior to Jan. 2, 2015, will receive a free copy of Revival and Evangelism: 21 Day Prayer Guide, by international evangelist Sammy Tippit.
Although “Furnace” is free, participants must register online for the event. To learn more about “Furnace” go to www.mobaptist.org/evangelism.