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With all the bad news swirling around, it is always refreshing to hear good news. Of course the Good News of the gospel lifts us every time we hear it or share it. Southern Baptists are seeing exciting movements of God that should encourage us. Even in times of challenge, we can be optimistic.
Baptisms have declined in the Southern Baptist Convention for decades, but SBTC Evangelism Director Nathan Lorick has a plan that will take personal witnessing to a new level. The goal is to reach one million Texas homes with a gospel presentation. Through prayer, training and obedience we can see a sweeping move of God across our state.
Texas is experiencing unprecedented population growth. Immigrants and people from other states are moving here in large numbers. The church-to-population ratio has dropped dramatically, but churches and planters are answering the call of God. There are more church planters in the SBTC assessment process at this time than ever before. We must start new churches in areas of tremendous need.
Religious Liberty is also being threatened. The traditional definition of marriage is on the verge of being replaced in the public arena. Southern Baptists are having discussions on sexuality from a biblical perspective, and more followers of Christ are living out their convictions about marriage. The SBC Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission is on the job helping us face these issues.
Biblical illiteracy is rampant in American culture. Criswell College, Jacksonville College, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and five other SBC seminaries are training preachers, teachers and church leaders to reverse this trend. We can rejoice that God is using these schools to raise up more people of the Book.
While many places around the country are experiencing racial turmoil, ethnic diversity is being modeled in the SBC and SBTC. More non-Anglos are involved in decision making, leadership and roles of authority than ever before with a continued commitment to broaden non-Anglo participation. We are beginning to “Look Like Heaven” in our churches and denomination.
In North America and around the world there is unrest. Internationally the majority of people have little or no access to the gospel. SBC and SBTC have seen unengaged people groups in South Asia, South America and Africa introduced to the Lord Jesus. Likewise, God is changing hearts in Montreal, Salt Lake City and the Dakotas through the faithful witness of His people. Through partnering with the North American Mission Board and the International Mission Board we shine the light of the gospel into dark places.
Financial instability is ever present. Charitable giving has declined. But the SBC and SBTC have defied the norm because God’s people are giving more. Cooperative Program giving is at an all-time high through the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention. The SBTC is number one among state conventions in percentage giving to the SBC at 55 percent. The SBTC is number three behind Alabama and Georgia in total CP dollars. Similarly, the SBC has seen a turnaround over the last couple of years in percentage and dollars. More CP means more can be done for the Kingdom.
It’s easy to be discouraged by news reports, but I choose to be encouraged by the testimonies I hear. God’s Spirit graciously produces spiritual fruit. We are privileged to be a part of God’s plan. We participate by going. We participate by giving. No one person or church can accomplish it all. One way we do the work of God together is giving through the Cooperative Program. April 12 is CP Sunday. If you can’t observe it on that day, consider taking time on some other day to share with your church the good news about what God is doing through the SBTC and SBC!
