The messengers of the Southern Baptist Convention in Orlando adopted the Great Commission Task Force Recommendations by what was interpreted as a considerable margin. While most are rejoicing over that decision, others are anxious to see how the recommendations will be implemented and what the SBC will look like in the next decade.
Morris Chapman, president and chief executive office of the SBC Executive Committee, will soon be passing the baton of his office to Frank Page, recently elected by the SBC Executive Committee as his successor, but two other SBC entities are in search of presidential leadership. What kind of leadership will Page and the yet-to-be-determined presidents of the NAMB and the IMB impact Southern Baptist life?
The Georgia Baptist Convention has its own Task Force actively reviewing and evaluating our state Convention’s priorities and efficiencies. What changes will they recommend and what does the future hold for Georgia Baptists?
Nelson Price, chairman of the presidential search committee for Shorter University, recently outlined what his committee is looking for in a new president and asked Georgia Baptists to submit recommendations for the head of the Rome university. Many are calling for a strong Baptist champion of conservatism who will provide unequivocal, uncompromising, biblically-based leadership. Who will be the new president of Shorter University?
The North American Mission Board has launched God’s Plan for Sharing and is challenging Southern Baptists to spread the Gospel throughout our continent in the next decade so that everyone from sea to shining sea will have the opportunity to hear the message of salvation. Interim NAMB president Richard Harris has speculated that if Southern Baptists reach one-tenth of the 258 million unbelievers in North American 125,000 churches will need to be established to serve the new converts.
How will Southern Baptists respond to the challenge of God’s Plan for Sharing? Will we be able to sufficiently disciple, equip, and mobilize millions of Southern Baptists to effectively evangelize our continent so millions of souls can be saved and so that the decline in baptisms can be reversed?
How will Georgia Baptist churches impact their cities, towns, and communities in the days ahead? What churches or missions will provide faithful and dynamic examples to other churches and ministries? How can we change our state for the cause of Christ?
How can we continue to launch the greatest missionary force in the history of Christendom? Why is our devotion to the Great Commission more needed that ever? Why is the Cooperative Program more important than ever? Why must we not allow our commitment to the CP to falter or fail?
And what will happen in America’s culture war as Christianity faces the formidable foes of postmodernism, secularism, hedonism, pluralism, tolerance, and a myriad of other foes? Christianity has apparently lost its consensus in America. Does the church have the will and resolve to recover its influence in America?
What will happen as the Muslims continue their march across America? In January I explored the site of the proposed Mosque near Ground Zero in New York City. I called the realtor whose name appeared on the sign where the Mosque will be constructed. I was deceived about how the property would be used.
How long will we endure the encroachment of this religion that believes that infidels (Christians) must be converted or killed? How long will it be until Muslims insist Sharia Law is observed in sections of our country?
How long will we allow our political system to be corrupted by greed, power, and personal agendas? When will Christians stand up for the principles upon which this nation was founded and become as vocal and militant as the crusaders for homosexuality, entitlements, and amnesty for immigrants?
To hear these questions discussed and many other issues addressed from a biblical perspective, you need to be a subscriber to The Christian Index. Forgive the bold and blatant commercial and appeal for subscribers, but I believe that an informed Baptist is a responsible Baptist.
John F. Kennedy took an idea first articulated by Francis Bacon and stated, “In a time of turbulence and change, it is more true than ever that knowledge is power.”
The staff of The Christian Index is dedicated to producing news you can use and supplying information and knowledge that Georgia Baptists need to act upon in order to be change agents in these uncertain and perilous days.
Most GBC churches receive at least three copies of every issue of The Christian Index provided free of cost by the GBC Executive Committee, but I believe every church leader including deacons, Sunday School teachers, and committee members need to receive all 26 issues each year.
I would like to see every GBC church put The Christian Index in their church budget for only $8 per family.
Or if a church promotes The Index, it is possible for each subscriber to receive a year’s subscription for only $8 (minimum of 10 subscribers) instead of the regular $12 for an individual subscription (or $20 for two years).
Bundles of 25 Christian Indexes (26 issues) can be purchased for only $150. Many churches might even be able to order two bundles ($300), five bundles ($750), or as many as 10 bundles for $1,500, but surely almost every Southern Baptist church in Georgia can afford to purchase one bundle. If churches are not able to include The Christian Index in their budget perhaps there is a dedicated layman who would be willing to provide a bundle of our Georgia Baptist state newspaper as a special gift to the church.
Would you be willing to be a friend of The Christian Index and see that your church becomes a recipient of our newspaper – the oldest continuously published Christian newspaper in America?