LifeWay president, younger leaders have initial face-to-face dialogue

BOSSIER CITY, La. (BP) - What began with a frog in a kettle has evolved into a series of face-to-face dialogues throughout the country that began Jan. 24 in Louisiana.

LifeWay Christian Resources President James T. Draper Jr. visited First Baptist Church in Bossier City near Shreveport to show his support for and discuss the concerns of younger leaders throughout Louisiana. They'd gathered to brainstorm solutions to issues raised on LifeWay's younger leaders online message board (www.lifeway.com/youngerleaders).

With his "Is the Southern Baptist Convention a Frog in the Kettle?" column in June 2004, Draper opened the doors of communication with Southern Baptist leaders under age 45 by voicing his concerns about the "lack of denominational involvement and loyalty ... among younger ministers."

When responses to that and subsequent columns flooded into his email inbox, Draper began inviting people to post their concerns, observations and opinions regarding younger leaders and the SBC on an online message board. More than 40,000 people have visited that site and about 1,700 have offered their insights since the site went live in November.

The meeting in Bossier City featured a two-hour condensed format because it coincided with the state evangelism conference, but other dialogues will allow attendees about five hours to discuss, network and frame solutions to convention leaders.

The dialogues will culminate with a final meeting June 19 in Nashville, just before the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting also in the Tennessee capital.

The next younger leaders dialogue will take place Feb. 28 at California Baptist University in Riverside, Calif.