The annual Southern Baptist Convention begins this week. Nellie Jo and I have already arrived in Louisville, Kentucky for this year’s meeting. Many people will be writing from the convention, so I don’t pretend to add much with my brief missive.
It is always good to see many good friends when I come to this annual gathering. Since my arrival on Sunday, I have shared many great conversations. But there is one group of people that has particularly encouraged me. A bit of background information is in order before I talk about that group.
The State of the Denomination
Much has been written about the state of the Southern Baptist Convention in recent years. Indeed, several years ago, I wrote a journal article that lamented the waning evangelistic effectiveness in our churches. Most who have looked at the state of the SBC have rightly concluded that the denomination is on a trajectory of decline and aging. We are reaching fewer, losing more, and aging faster.
It is that latter issue that has been one of the foci of the discussion. The leadership in the SBC is aging. I know. As a 53-year-old leader, I have seen more and more of our young leaders leave for a variety of reasons. And I have lamented their departure, knowing that they could have been great and positive forces in the SBC.
A Reason for Encouragement
But last night, I had dinner with some young leaders. While there were several of us oldies at the dinner table, it was these younger people that caused me to listen intently.
I heard them talk about their passion for the gospel. I heard them express their love for the local church. I heard them speak with excitement about the mission of God around the world.
And I was encouraged.
They had no axes to grind. They weren’t mad at anyone. They just love Jesus and want the gospel to spread to ends of the earth.
And for a moment, I thought that these young leaders represented a great future. Then I realized that they really represented a great opportunity for the present. The numbers of young leaders may not be nearly as great as they once were in our denomination. But these few gave me hope. Real hope.
Two more young leaders will join me today. My sons Sam and Art will come with that same enthusiasm and that same hope that I heard expressed last night.
My Personal Commitment
These could be construed as tough times to be a Christian in America. Some call our culture postmodern. Others label it post-Christian. And even others say the days are anti-Christian.
Yet I refuse to lose hope. My hope is not based on cultural realities or declining denominations. My hope is based on the Savior who died for me. And in Him, I can never be discouraged.
Still, it can get challenging. We can look at the statistical realities of the denomination’s decline and the cultural forces that we confront, and it could be easy to get discouraged.
Then God in His grace sends some young leaders our way to remind us that He is not yet done with us, that we have a promise of great future.
So, in my latter years of ministry, I have made a commitment. I will encourage these young leaders. I will express my thanks for them. I will seek their counsel and their wisdom. And I will gladly pass the baton of leadership to them.
These are tough days.
But He is a great God.
And He is using a new generation of leaders to bring us to His future.
