The discussion on the convention floor was passionate as well. Only after an amendment was approved to strengthen the report to more fully embrace and support the Cooperative Program did the scales tip heavily in favor of approval.

The GCR discussion has served to educate many about the extensive nature of Southern Baptist work across local, regional, national and international lines. I always felt that one of the great benefits of the GCR discussion — even if it became a little too heated at times in some quarters and even if some information got a bit distorted — was that it got Baptists focused on and learning about the Cooperative Program. I feel sure that whatever their individual opinion may be about one particular allocation or another, those Baptists who engaged in the GCR discussion left it better informed and generally more appreciative of this highly effective way of cooperatively supporting missions and ministry work.

And yet, in the weeks following the SBC, it has becoming increasingly obvious to me that we still have a long, long way to go in educating our churches both about the GCR and the great tool that Baptists have in the Cooperative Program. As I have the opportunity to meet and talk to Baptists in my own state, it’s pretty apparent that outside of the pastors, DOMs and denominational workers, very few Southern Baptists even know what the GCR is.  And not many more really understand the Cooperative Program with much clarity.

Understandably, the focus of most Baptists in the pews is on the ministries of their local church. They give — and in many cases give generously — to their local church and to the missions offerings. But unless the GCR or CP is something their pastor talks about specifically and on a regular basis, they don’t often know or understand the details.

That’s why I want to encourage all readers who may be pastors or church leaders to take the time to educate your congregations about the Cooperative Program. Please don’t assume that even your most senior and long-term members understand what it’s all about.

Doing so really is easy. Great materials abound. Kentucky Baptists can have materials sent to their church at no charge simply by ordering online at www.kybaptist.org/cpmissions. Most other state conventions have similar sites where information is available. CP material is also available from the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee at www.cpmissions.com.

And follow up on ordering the materials by taking time to talk about the Cooperative Program, our various denominational structures and about GCR. Plan times on Wednesday or Sunday night or at some other appropriate time in your church to emphasize our cooperative work. The SBC promotes a CP Sunday each April but church members need to hear about CP more than just once a year if they are to ever have a solid and productive understanding of the ways we work together to further the Gospel.

These may seem like very simple suggestions but this kind of education is essential. In the end, it won’t matter how the CP pie is divided if the support for it is no longer there in our churches. It won’t matter if percentages are divided 50-50 between the states and SBC or if 100 percent goes to your own favorite entity because 100 percent of  0 is 0.

I personally believe that as CP goes, so goes the GCR. And on both of these counts, we’ve got to close a big awareness and knowledge gap for a large percentage of Southern Baptists.

–Robert Reeves

Members of the Kentucky Baptist Convention’s 1:8 Leadership Experience West team play a parachute game with a group of children at a housing complex in inner-city Denver. Now in its third year, the 1:8 Leadership Experience has expanded to two teams in order to accommodate the demand. Thirty-three students from Kentucky colleges are participating this summer. (Photo by Evelyn Fuson)

The Kentucky Baptist Convention is receiving great reports this summer in response to the work of some of our Baptist Campus Ministry students who are actively working to learn about and carry out the Great Commission through the 1:8 Leadership Experience.

Click here to read details about what these young people are doing in this story in the Western Recorder but I wanted to share here some of the feedback from those with whom our western team has been working. It comes from an e-mail to KBC Assistant Executive Director Steve Thompson and shared with permission:

Hello Steve,
from Jim Walters, Senior Pastor at Bear Valley Church in Lakewood, CO.

Your team of 16 college students (organized by Keith Inman) just departed our city after three weeks of serving our church through its Multihousing Ministry. Over the years, I have been on many mission trips and have hosted many teams. This team, of KY college students, was the most outstanding group of young adults doing ministry that I have ever witnessed. They were an absolute delight and encouragement to our church, our multihousing workers, and scores of residents who are lost and lonely.

We cannot say enough good about them, but below is the report from our Multihousing Coordinator, sent to me this morning.

For now, I wanted to make your day as you read through the report below, and thank you for sending these workers to us.

Jim Walters
Senior Pastor
Bear Valley Church

————————————————————

From: Luann Turner
Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 2010 6:35 PM
To: Jim Walters
Subject: Kentucky

Today was the last day of a remarkable month in our multi-housing outreaches. This was the day the 16 college students were to be “off” – packing, cleaning, and seeing sights in Denver. Instead, a group of them were back at one of our apartment communities playing with the kids they have been teaching, playing with and loving on for the past 3 weeks. These college kids fell in love with our folks, and our folks fell in love with them.

The Kentucky Baptist Convention sent us kind-hearted, responsible, loving servants. It was a group of young adults willing to work hard and do whatever needed to be done with whoever needed it at the moment. All were willing, eager, pleasant – to everyone. As one of our volunteers said, “Only God could have put together a group like this.”

In 3 weeks, they worked with us to feed over 600 meals, host 4 carnivals, 4 Vacation Bible schools, and 3 field trips. They gave swim lessons, led worship, taught both teens and adults, shared their testimonies, visited folks in assisted living, delivered welcome baskets and flyered apartments. They moved bricks, ran a jack hammer, and helped out two church planters painting, gardening and doing all sorts of manual labor for them. They prayed with and for folks, and prayed with 5 to receive Christ, following up with them with Bibles and basic discipleship. They took photos and made a DVD presentation for us to use in recruiting volunteers.

Our seniors in assisted living and our children were especially touched by the love these college kids rained down on them. The kids wait at the church door for them to come and play with them.

In the midst of this, they served and loved our other volunteers and leadership team equally well.

Two stories especially touch my heart:

• One young man floated another young man, P.J., who suffers from cerebral palsey, in the pool, giving him an incredible afternoon.
• Another young man asked the elderly woman he was visiting if he could walk her to her room. Of course she was honored, and took him in to show him her family pictures.

But the stories are endless. One young woman essentially baby-sat a little boy day after day so his sister could play and be a little girl instead of a “mom”. Others cooked, cleaned, led another mission team, did crafts, swam, played basketball – on and on – all with loving hearts that touched one and all in ways beyond what I can put in words. Only in eternity will we know all the fruit that this trip has produced.

A few of our leaders wrote these words in gratitude:

“It’s been a pleasure to meet you and witness the fellowship you have shared with the GG kids.  YOU made each day special for these kids and I know they will not forget your visit.  You have inspired and opened new doors for many of them in thier walk with Christ.  God bless you and your ministry.” –  Scott

“I just wanted to express our appreciation to Jeremiah and Chris for their help on Thursday, June 17th.  They arrived that afternoon with a willingness to help and ended up moving brick, mortar, landscape ties (old creosote railroad ties) and trash for us.  Their appearance worked out well as we just happened to be demolishing a chimney and needed to jackhammer out an old sidewalk.  Both Jeremiah and Chris jumped right in and worked very hard to help us with this heavy work.  What great attitudes they showed as they helped us out.  Their assistence was a real blessing for us and resulted in much more work being done than planned.  It saved some of us ‘old guys’ from overdoing it too…! Please express our gratitude to Jeremiah and Chris for their work that day!” — Keith & Tammy

“Thank you so much for your wonderful ministry to the children in my new neighborhood. NEVER would I have tried to do such an outreach at my house with everything so “unready” & “undone”, but God’s ways are not my ways and your work with the kids was every bit as much of a blessing to me as it was to all the kids.  You provided the “jump start” we needed to begin to minister to the Multi-Housing communities all around our home!  May God bless you richly and continue to advance His Kingdom through you as He already is!  I can’t think of a better “House Warming” for me & Keith than what you brought during these hot summer days!  Wish you didn’t have to leave!  All my love and sincerest appreciation.” — Tammy

“The students were just amazing! Such a gift to us, and as I am sure you know by now, fantastic examples of what it means to follow in the way of Jesus.” — Karl

“Thank you for the ways you supported our team.  You not only loved our kids well but us as well.  You were always willing to do whatever we needed with such a teachable spirit.  I have no doubts that only God could put a team together so perfectly.  God bless you as you move on.  Our hearts go with you.” — Brenda

“Hebrews 6:10 talks about what you have done for the children of Green Gables.  You have shown God’s love by the love you have given to each of the children.  God will truly bless each of you! We love you all!” — Tom and Barb

So, Kentucky, we cannot thank you enough!

–Robert Reeves

Dr. Bill Mackey

Kentucky Baptist Convention Executive Director Bill Mackey recently shared his thoughts on last week’s annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention on his blog, Partners in the Mission, and in the Western Recorder newspaper. Here’s a reprint of that piece:

Report from Orlando

I want to share some words of encouragement from Orlando, especially for those who could not attend the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting.

As you know by now, the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force’s report passed by about a 70 percent vote on a show of ballots. The vote came after 90 minutes of discussion and motions to amend or postpone the vote for more study. The GCRTF report includes seven recommendations that will be implemented by the SBC boards and the SBC Executive Committee over time.

The task force was gracious in accommodating wording by messengers to amend the report. The most significant change was to indicate that designated giving will be a supplement to, and not a substitution for, Cooperative Program giving.

The gracious way this was handled helped to change the atmosphere on the convention floor from what appeared to be a 50/50 division on the amendment to the place where most messengers were comfortable enough to vote for the report. The language in the report strongly states the priority of Cooperative Program giving.

It was apparent that much prayer had preceded the convention. During the debate a messenger requested that we pause for prayer for God’s will to be done and to move us past the division.

I believe Southern Baptists have a grand opportunity to experience a true renewed focus on the Great Commission. If we continue to pray and seek God with all our hearts as we did during and leading up to the GCRTF report and continue to respect and work with one another under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, I am confident that God will permit us to experience a Great Commission Resurgence.

–Robert Reeves

Richard Harris, Bill Mackey and Jerry Rankin

Just ahead of  the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Orlando last week, Bill Mackey, the Kentucky Baptist Convention’s executive director, participated in a panel discussion on Great Commission priorities with Jerry Rankin, the outgoing president of the International Mission Board, and Richard Harris, the interim president of the North American Mission Board.

Click on the arrow below to hear the audio of their 15-minute discussion:

If the embedded player is not showing on the device on which you are reading this post, you can also access the audio by clicking the link below. This link will also allow you to download the audio file.

GCR Roundtable Discussion with Bill Mackey, Jerry Rankin and Richard Harris

Here’s a summary of discussion highlights from the North American Mission Board:

ORLANDO, Fla. – International Mission Board president Jerry Rankin, Kentucky Baptist Convention executive director Bill Mackey and interim North American Mission Board president Richard Harris took part in a brief roundtable discussion on future trends in missions during the SBC annual meeting in Orlando.

The roundtable was one of four hosted by NAMB during the SBC meeting in Orlando. Other discussions included “Reaching Cities in North America,” “Church Planting in the 21st Century” and “Reaching People Groups in North America.” Audio of each roundtable discussion is posted at www.namb.net/orlando2010.

Mackey said reaching the increasing numbers of internationals settling in Kentucky is an issue challenging him. “We are seeing a great influx of Hispanics, a tripling to 300,000 since 2000. We’re trying to respond by urging the churches to consider the opportunities in their neighborhoods.

“We’re working with journeymen who are coming out of seminary who are experienced with working with people groups throughout the world. We need them to address the people groups moving into Kentucky. For example, we have seven dialects spoken by Indians in Louisville.”

Rankin agreed that “the world is coming to us. You no longer have to go overseas to do foreign missions and reach unreached people groups. All of us recognize that it won’t be the state convention, IMB or NAMB that reaches these people groups. It will have to be a grassroots movement of Christians witnessing anywhere, everywhere to anyone. IMB’s role would be to mobilize, train and equip these grassroots Christians, churches and associations to reach the peoples coming to their communities.”

NAMB’s Harris said, “You have to identify these folks and find them: where are they and what are their interests? What is their heart language? What are their needs?

“One area we need to do more in is on university campuses,” said Harris. “We have to get more career, MSC and summer semester missionaries on campus – to get in there and engage students with campus ministries and try to reach them. They’re the ones going into leadership positions.The college campus is a great opportunity.”

The three men also discussed the advent of “participatory missions” – whereby more of today’s Baptists want to take a hands-on approach to missions, rather than leaving it just to missionaries.

“There’s a massive challenge of reaching billions of people overseas,” said Rankin. “We’ll never have enough missionaries to reach them all. But if we could mobilize the 16 million Southern Baptists and 45,000 churches to be strategically involved, God has raised up the necessary resources to fulfill the Great Commission.”

story by Mickey Noah, North American Mission Board

–Robert Reeves

The Southern Baptist Convention is being held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., June 15-16.

Please be in prayer for the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention set for Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. Crossover Orlando activities were held this past weekend with the Pastors’ Conference slated for today (Monday).

Be in special prayer for the presentation of the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force report at 2:45 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon. There is obviously not a consensus on all aspects of this report so be in prayer that messengers will carefully listen to all that is said — both pro and con — and be sensitive to the Lord’s guidance in making a decision about how to vote. Pray that human politics will have minimal influence and that the vote is a true reflection of Southern Baptists’ feelings about God’s leading. An artificial result built upon one side or another’s prowess at getting people to the meeting will have no lasting positive impact on the churches of the Convention.

I am also praying that all debate on the report will be conducted in a God-honoring manner that is respectful of all people and all viewpoints. This meeting is the one time of year when the secular press closely watches Southern Baptists and it is the nature of the news industry to focus on conflict. My prayer is that Southern Baptists, even if they disagree with one another on the particular strategies we use in seeking to fulfill the Great Commission, will demonstrate a love for the Lord and each other that stands out strongly. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if secular reporters went away feeling that something was truly different about Southern Baptists and that they weren’t just covering another big political meeting?

Pray also that following the vote — no matter the outcome — that Southern Baptists will come together and continue to work together cooperatively. Much has been written and said during the run-up to this Convention that has been harsh, hurtful and, at times, quite misinformed. The mission is bigger than any one person, entity or denomination, however, so it is essential that we keep our sight set on the goal of reaching our world for Christ and move forward in unity and with a renewed fervor for the gospel.

Given the various points of view that have been expressed about the report, it is inevitable that some are not going to be pleased with the outcome. Out of respect for each other, therefore, I am praying that we all demonstrate graciousness and that we will not see either cheers or other expressions of gloating on the part of individuals who are pleased with the results or expressions of frustration, anger or bitterness from those who may not be.

May the Lord bless the Southern Baptist Convention and may this be a convention that is historic not so much for a report or vote but for the outpouring of love for each other and the lost of this world that it demonstrates!

–Robert Reeves

KBC Great Commission Task Force Chairman Hershael York moderates the listening session at Central Baptist Church, Winchester.

The Kentucky Baptist Convention’s Great Commission Task Force held two listening sessions this week to hear from Kentucky Baptists regarding its task to study ways the Convention can “work more faithfully and effectively together in serving Christ through the Great Commission.”

The session on Monday, June 7, was held at Severns Valley Baptist Church in Elizabethtown and had an attendance of 30. The following night’s session was held at Central Baptist Church in Winchester and had an attendance of about 40. Both listening sessions were moderated by Task Force Chairman Hershael York, pastor of Buck Run Baptist Church, Frankfort.

You can listen to the audio from both sessions by clicking on the arrows below. Both audio files are more than an hour in length.

Listening Session at Severns Valley Baptist Church, Elizabethtown –

Listening Session at Central Baptist Church, Winchester –

You can also download these audio files from the from the KBC website:

• Click here to download the file from the listening session at Severns Valley Baptist Church, Elizabethtown.
• Click here to download the file from the listening session at Central Baptist Church, Winchester.

–Robert Reeves

Here’s the KBC release about plans for the listening sessions:

LOUISVILLE – Kentucky Baptists will have two opportunities to provide feedback to members of Kentucky’s Great Commission Task Force on June 7 and 8.

Hershael York, chairman of the committee, has scheduled two listening sessions that will be open to all Kentucky Baptists. The first will be held Monday, June 7, at 7 p.m. at Severns Valley Baptist Church in Elizabethtown, and the second will be held Tuesday, June 8, at 7 p.m. at Central Baptist Church in Winchester.

According to York, the meetings are designed to give Kentucky Baptists an opportunity to discuss with committee members their ideas about how the Kentucky Baptist Convention can more effectively carry out the Great Commission.

“Kentucky’s Great Commission Task Force wants to hear how people in Kentucky Baptist churches feel about what we’re doing, about what our priorities are and should be,” said York. “We want to hear what’s happening in their churches, as well as how they feel about what’s happening in the KBC.”

In the months following the listening sessions, Task Force members will be preparing to make recommendations to convention messengers at the Nov. 16 annual meeting, to be held at Immanuel Baptist Church in Lexington.

“What I want Kentucky Baptists to leave with is a sense that they’ve been heard, and they’ve had the opportunity to voice their opinions,” he said. “We want to make sure that what we’re thinking and how we’re moving is in line with what Kentucky Baptists are thinking and feeling.”

The Task Force was established during the KBC’s 2009 annual meeting at Severns Valley Baptist Church in Elizabethtown on Nov. 10, when messengers approved the formation of a Great Commission Task Force for the state convention.

The approved recommendation called for the formation of a committee to study “how Kentucky Baptists can work more faithfully and effectively together in serving Christ through the Great Commission.”

So far, the Task Force has heard reports from leaders of Kentucky Baptist agencies and institutions, as well as team leaders from the Mission Board staff.

All members of the Task Force have been invited to attend the listening sessions.

Members of the Kentucky committee are:

• Hershael York, pastor of Buck Run Baptist Church, Frankfort. York is chair of the committee.
• Paul Badgett, pastor of First Baptist Church, Pikeville
• Charles Barnes, member of Hurstbourne Baptist Church, Louisville
• Joy Bolton, executive director of Kentucky Woman’s Missionary Union, Louisville
• Jeff Crabtree, director of mission for the Warren Association of Baptists, Bowling Green
• Rusty Ellison, pastor of Walnut Street Baptist Church, Louisville
• Greg Faulls, Bellevue Baptist Church, Owensboro
• Chad Fugitt, First Baptist Church, Monticello
• John Hale, a deacon at First Baptist Church, Mount Vernon
• Bill Henard, pastor of Porter Memorial Baptist Church, Lexington
• James Jones, pastor of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Campbellsville
• Bill Mackey, KBC executive director
• Don Mathis, 2009 president of the Kentucky Baptist Convention and staff evangelist at Eastwood Baptist Church, Bowling Green.
• Jessica Milburn, member of Union Baptist Church, Union
• Sam Rainer, pastor of First Baptist Church, Murray
• Kevin Smith, pastor of Watson Memorial Baptist Church, Louisville
• Dan Summerlin, pastor of Lone Oak First Baptist Church, Paducah

Severns Valley Baptist Church is located at 1100 Ring Road in Elizabethtown. Central Baptist Church is located at 101 West Lexington Avenue in Winchester. Both listening sessions will take place at 7 p.m. EST.

The next scheduled meeting for Kentucky’s Great Commission Task Force is set for June 24.

–Robert Reeves

Mike James

Mike James serves as both the Kentucky Baptist Convention’s church development strategist for the south central region of Kentucky as well as the KBC’s point person on discipleship for the entire state. He recently wrote a great post on his 28Nineteen blog about what our attitude should be as we go to Orlando for the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting, June 15-16, and discuss the report of the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force.

Mike’s comments are especially important given the fact that secular media are likely to report on this aspect of our meeting as if we are a political convention like the Democrats or Republicans. Reporters will tend to draw attention to differences and, for the purpose of telling the story simply, likely want to present Southern Baptists as being divided into factions over the GCR.

Here’s Mike’s post:

G.C.R. and M.O.U.S.E.

The Bible says in 1 Peter 2:9, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a PECULIAR people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

I think this was a prophetic word concerning a future denomination called Southern Baptists. We are a peculiar people, some of us more peculiar than others. Our church polity is peculiar, our methodologies and worship styles are all unique, since each church is autonomous and conducts its own affairs. Those who don’t know Southern Baptists as they peer inside our work must think, “they are a peculiar people.” With this in mind allow me to share three thoughts about the upcoming Great Commission Task Force report at the Southern Baptist Convention.

Like many of you I am attending the Southern Baptist Convention in Mickey’s home town of Orlando. Will Mickey and Minnie Mouse be messengers this year? It is just my fourth convention but it sounds like it will be an interesting one for sure.

There have been numerous blogs, articles written, and press releases about the GCR report and the ramifications for the future. I am not an authority on this issue, but here are three things we must keep in mind in Orlando.

Let’s remember we are not voting on the Great Commission. When I read the Gospels and Acts 1:8, it is apparent that fulfilling the Great Commission is not an option to be voted on or a multiple choice question where we have many possible answers to choose from. It’s not even a question in Scripture but a direct command from our Lord who said, “Go make disciples.”

A church, association, state convention, or national denomination cannot truly vote on the Great Commission because God already cast the vote in His Word and that’s the vote that really counts. We all agree that the Great Commission is the heart of being a disciple of Jesus and the mission of the church…period. Let’s remember that there are good people on both sides of this report who are Godly folks and who feel very strongly for or against the report as it stands. They all sincerely believe in the importance of fulfilling the Great Commission. I see a great deal of passion on both sides.

Let’s remind ourselves that the recommendation of the task force is simply a set of ideas concerning the process, structure, and methodologies of fulfilling the Great Commission. I’ve been a Baptist all my life and I discovered early in my ministry that if you put three Baptists in a room, close the door, and wait 20 minutes…presto, you have 11 different opinions about how to do church. Yes, we are a particularly peculiar people. Regardless of the outcome of the vote concerning the task force’s recommendations, the most significant thing that could happen is for every pastor and church leader to renew their passion about leading their churches forward in working together with other churches in order to fulfill the Great Commission because that is what a New Testament church does.

Let’s remain in fellowship with a kind, cooperative spirit regardless of any actions taken at the SBC. I am going to Orlando and whether the recommendation from the task force is tabled, amended, modified, adapted, homogenized or voted down or up; I for one will not break fellowship with those brothers and sisters who vote differently than my peculiar vote. Yes I am one of those peculiar Baptists. We must not make this a line in the denominational sand. We must not make this a fellowship issue. If we do, the kingdom will not be honored and we will leave Orlando disappointed and defeated. Every pastor, Director of Missions, state and denominational leader I’ve met is committed to being more effective in fulfilling the Great Commission. We are all on the same page regarding the bigger issue of purpose and mission.

My point is, let’s not over react, but realize we all have the same goal of reaching the world for Christ beginning in our on town. This will not be the last study report for Southern Baptists to consider.

The media and the world will have their mouse ears on listening and watching us in Orlando. How we respond to each other, regardless of how we voted on any recommendation or point of business, really shows if we are Great Commission Christians!

In JOHN 13:34 Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you LOVE one another; even as I have loved you, that you also LOVE one another. By this shall all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have LOVE for one another.”

My hope and prayer is that Southern Baptists, a peculiar people indeed, can disagree agreeably in Christ like love and go back to our churches after the convention with a new zeal for sharing the Gospel and working together. This will not happen by a vote at a national convention, but by the Holy Spirit filling us and guiding each of us to be Great Commission Christians. I pray that is the resurgence we experience in Orlando.

–Robert Reeves

Dr. Bill Mackey

Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention, released a column today in the Western Recorder newspaper as well as on his own blog, Partners in the Mission, regarding the upcoming report of the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force to be received by messengers to Southern Baptist Convention in Orlando, June 15-16. Here’s a re-post of his thoughts:

GCR Challenges

The report from the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force includes some great challenges for Southern Baptists. As we think about these challenges and recommendations, I believe the original GCR motion provides an excellent framework to help us.

The original motion commissioned the group to bring a report and any recommendations “… concerning how Southern Baptists can work more faithfully and effectively together in serving Christ through the Great Commission.”

One part of that challenge asks how we can be more “faithful.” Southern Baptists have always been committed to the Great Commission, and we must not forget that we are a missionary people. When I think about the Great Commission, I immediately ask how I can be more faithful. I am sure that the Task Force members have done the same. At a minimum, I believe this involves tithing through one’s local church as well as living and sharing the Gospel for a lifetime.

The motion also asked how we can be more “effective.” There is no question about the need for every Southern Baptist, church and denominational entity to be more effective. Too much is at stake for our work to be conducted in any manner other than the most effective way possible.

This is an opportunity to make significant adjustments. State conventions have been challenged to absorb the costs of missions work funded through cooperative agreements with the North American Mission Board. (At present, state conventions and NAMB share these costs.) If approved, Kentucky will need to absorb $1,017,000, along with insurance benefits for missionaries. At the same time, state conventions are being challenged to increase the percentage of Cooperative Program funds designated for Southern Baptist Convention causes.

NAMB has been given a big challenge to lead the way in church planting, evangelism, discipleship and leadership development to reach North America for Christ. Under the proposed plan, NAMB will have about $50 million more to work with by ending the cooperative agreements with 42 state conventions. However, it will also have fewer missionaries and fewer total funds to leverage due to the loss of the agreements with the states.

NAMB will also need to enlist and train church planters and other staff, and to seek out other partners. The leadership at NAMB and the new president deserve our prayers and best support.

Another challenge in the motion was for Southern Baptists to be more faithful and effective “together.” As we seek to move beyond a season of debate that has sometimes involved harsh words and uninformed statements, we must rely on God’s grace in order to move forward together. This will require much humility and prayer by everyone.

We must recognize the challenge to stay in touch with the silent majority in Southern Baptist life who just want to do missions. If their concerns are ignored over a long period of time, they are more likely to vote with their pocketbooks. We need to make sure all Southern Baptists and all size churches are represented.

I encourage Kentucky Baptists to read the report for themselves and to vote according to their convictions in Orlando. This is not a time to pick sides and question motives, but rather to trust our sovereign God and move forward together, empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Regardless of how you may vote and how the vote goes in Orlando, I pray we will all determine to grow more faithful and effective in our service to Christ. After all, this is what we should be doing even if there had never been a GCRTF.

–Robert Reeves

Dr. Bill Mackey

Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention, has recently written on the work of both the Southern Baptist Convention’s Great Commission Resurgence Task Force as well as the Kentucky Baptist Convention’s own Great Commission Task Force. Here’s a re-post of his comments made in his column in the Western Recorder newspaper as well as on his own blog, Partners in the Mission:

Great Commission Task Force

Although most of the focus in Southern Baptist life these days is on the Southern Baptist Convention’s Great Commission Resurgence Task Force, the Kentucky Baptist Convention’s own Great Commission Task Force is also at work. The Kentucky committee’s work has now advanced to the place where the committee is ready to conduct listening sessions with Kentucky Baptists.

These will take place at Severns Valley Baptist Church in Elizabethtown on June 7 and at Central Baptist Church in Winchester on June 8. Both listening sessions will begin at 7 p.m. Eastern time.

Dr. Hershael York, chairman of the group, is inviting Kentucky Baptists to participate to allow the Task Force “… to hear how people in Kentucky Baptist churches feel about what we’re doing, about what our priorities are and should be.” This is a great opportunity for Kentucky Baptists to be heard and to assist the committee in its work.

The KBC Great Commission Task Force is composed of 15 outstanding lay people and ministers from all regions of the Commonwealth. Dr. York is providing excellent leadership for the group that is made up of both experienced KBC leaders and some representing new generations.  Dr. Don Mathis, this year’s KBC president, and I are serving as ex officio members.

In the meantime, we await the action by messengers to the SBC annual meeting on the SBC Great Commission Resurgence Task Force report entitled, “Penetrating Lostness.”

The GCRTF is to be commended for its prayerful and thorough work in producing a final draft in such a short time frame. The more I read the report the more impressed I am with its scope.

Kentucky Baptists have a natural affinity for the report’s emphasis on missions, ministries, church planting, evangelism, the centrality of the local church and the Cooperative Program as well as with other aspects. The challenge section has something for every member, church leaders and all denominational entities.

If approved, many of the specifics of the report implementation will be worked out in the months ahead by various boards and the SBC Executive Committee.

Although we may have reservations about the impact of certain recommendations, this is a time to unite and move forward together. It will be regrettable if all of the energy, debate and print do not result in greater commitment to the Great Commission and our cooperative missions and ministries.

It is good to affirm the Great Commission but the most important concern is to have a growing commitment to the Great Commission in our hearts and lives. For me that means a stronger commitment to our corporate work through the Cooperative Program and personal involvement in evangelism, missions and compassion ministries to the glory of God.

Dr. Mackey will have further comments on the SBC report in a post scheduled for Tuesday. I’ll post those comments here as well.

–Robert Reeves