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For the past year, SBTC Bible Conference officers have mulled over a desire to start making a difference in the communities in which they serve. That burden became the theme of “Why Not Here? Why Not Now?” in planning the Nov. 14-15 pre-convention SBTC Bible Conference to be held at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi.
“My heart’s desire is that we preach Christ now with a passion, conviction, and fervency we have never known, that pastors and staff will be encouraged with a fresh vision to take the gospel back to our cities, towns, and communities to ‘preach Christ’ and to love our neighbors and reach them for his glory,” said Heath Peloquin, pastor of Brighton Park Baptist Church in Corpus Christi who is serving as this year’s Bible conference president.
“The over-arching theme of the Bible conference is: ‘Why not start by making a difference now?’ ‘Why not begin asking God to move in our churches and state now?’ With a burden for the lost and compassion for the hurting we can answer those questions with certainty. Yes here, and yes now, we have determined in our hearts that the gospel demands that we do everything we can to reach our churches, communities, cities, state and ultimately the world!”
The meeting gets underway Sunday evening at 6 p.m. with music by the combined choirs, orchestras and praise bands from Corpus Christi area SBTC churches.
Speakers include Patrick Payton, senior pastor of Stonegate Fellowship in Midland and Steven Smith, dean of the College at Southwestern and professor of communications.
The Monday morning session begins at 9 a.m. with Jason Breland, worship pastor of First Baptist Church in North Mobile, Ala., leading music. Speakers include Dwight Singleton, pastor of Galilee Baptist Church in Knoxville, Tenn., and Russell Moore, dean of the school of theology and senior vice president of academic administration of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, as well as the preaching pastor of the Fegenbush location of Highview Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky.
Two ministry café options are offered at 11:30 a.m. and 12:20 p.m. featuring Steve and Debbie Wilson, founders of Marriage Matters Now, addressing “Marriage and Family Needs in Ministry” and Russell Moore of Southern Seminary and Kelly Shackelford of the Liberty Institute speaking in a Pastor’s Forum. Cost for the meal is $5 and reservations may be made online at www.sbtexas.com/AM10 or by calling 877-953-SBTC.
The afternoon session resumes at 1:15 p.m. with messages from Tony Merida, preaching pastor of the west campus of Temple Baptist Church in Hattiesburg, Miss., and Jonathan Falwell, senior pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Va., and executive vice president for spiritual affairs at Liberty University.
Serving along with Peloquin are Nathan Lorick, pastor of First Baptist Church in Malakoff as first vice president, and Bart Barber, pastor of First Baptist Church in Farmersville as second vice president.
Drawing from Colossians 1:28-29 and John 4:23-24 for direction in following the theme, Peloquin said, “We have staked our claims in the truth of Scripture and we will not be discouraged because it begins right here and right now. At the Bible conference we are asking God to move on our hearts and lives in such a life-changing way to transform our churches and communities like never before in Corpus Christi. I am inviting every pastor, staff member, and every church lay leader this November to make it a priority to be apart of this opportunity to stand as one and ask God to come and move in our state like never before,” he added.
“It begins here and now. May revival sweep across our state as we answer the question, ‘Why not here? Why not now?'”
