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In November, the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention will mark 25 years
of answered prayer at its Annual Meeting at Cross City Church in Euless.
Each month leading up to the meeting, the Texan will feature a brief conversation with past SBTC presidents about how they have seen God answer their prayers for the convention over the past quarter century and how they are praying God will bless the convention moving forward. This month, we feature past SBTC president Terry Turner (2011-2013).
What were some of your earliest prayers for the SBTC?
Praying for sound doctrine led me to affiliate our church with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention (SBTC) over 20 years ago. I observed how false interpretations of Scripture were invading Baptist life. In addition, some in the church world were changing and becoming inconsistent regarding biblical inerrancy and infallibility. With the rise of false doctrine, many teachers and preachers, who shifted with every wind of doctrine, were becoming the norm.
How have you seen God answer some of your prayers regarding the convention?
The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) and SBTC opened a door. This was an exciting time for preachers like me who were called to start new congregations across Texas and the nation. The SBC, state conventions, and local associations provided the guidance, support, and financial backing needed to accomplish church growth. Praying for racial inclusion meant people from all nations would need to be considered if our convention was going to look like heaven. I watched how prayers were answered as African Americans and other ethnic groups gained leadership positions across the spectrum in SBC life. We have come a long way in this area.
During your service as president, how were you praying for the convention?
Praying for humanitarian efforts has been a source of joy in many hopeless situations as I prayed for our convention efforts to relieve the suffering of those hit by tragedy. With delight, I have led our church to support the Cooperative Program for 32 years of this ministry. We have considered the world’s needs for clothing, food, water, and shelter, along with the destruction created by natural disasters which frequently disrupt the lives of entire towns, cities, and states. I am thankful for our disaster relief volunteers who serve as first, second, and third responders to meet the needs of victims of calamity.
What is your prayer for the next 25 years of the SBTC?
In recent months, the rhetoric in our nation surrounding racial equality has been disturbing to the point of destroying the faith of many regarding convention work. I pray for biblical unity among all Southern Baptists, especially for the SBTC because of the kingdom-building ministries I have grown to love. How “can two walk together, except they are agreed?” (Amos 3:3). May we always pray for spiritual unity, because prayer has made a difference in the continuation of sound doctrine despite all the attempts to change our biblical belief systems. Therefore, it has been my consistent prayer that the SBC, state conventions, and local associations would lead the way in race relationships because racial inequality and hatred are at the root of much sin in the church and America. “For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And He has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother” (1 John 4:20).
