A Convention meeting that could shape the lives of our youths

I grew up in a small town in the foothills of North Carolina. Our church owned a house at Ridgecrest, the home of one our Southern Baptist retreat centers. I loved going to Ridgecrest and went as often as possible during my teenage years. I heard some of the giants of our Southern Baptist Convention preach the Gospel and their messages made an indelible impact upon my life.

I will never forget the plaintive missionary appeals of Baker James Cauthen, president of the Foreign Mission Board, now the International Mission Board. I considered it a thrill to hear men like Corts Redford, president of the Home Mission Board, now the North American Mission Board, and Porter Routh, the president of the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention. As a young man I heard Marshall Craig preach a sermon on prayer that changed my life forever.

In the course of twelve years of school I missed six days – three as a freshman and three as a senior – and those six days of absences from school were to attend the North Carolina Baptist Convention as a page. Forgive me if that seems boastful, but I only share that information to let you know that God used those experiences to shape my life.

The frequent visits to Ridgecrest and the privilege of attending the Baptist State Convention were experiences God used to solidify my calling into the ministry. During those formative years God gave me a great love for our denomination and I was given an up close and personal look at the marvelous work of God through Southern Baptists.

Furthermore, I believe that Southern Baptists are at the zenith of effectiveness as we seek to minister to people all over the globe and reach out with love to the people here in our own nation. Southern Baptists are more committed to the inerrancy of Scripture, the primacy of evangelism and the mandate to be missionaries than ever before.

I believe it is important for you to attend the Georgia Baptist Convention meeting in Columbus on November 15-16. Hundreds of Georgia Baptist churches have placed a strong emphasis on evangelism this year and a “Wave” of revivals has swept across the state. Therefore, in anticipation of a record number of baptisms, the theme for the annual meeting is “Celebrate the Harvest.”

Tony R. Dickerson will bring the president’s address on Monday evening. Frank Cox will bring the doctrinal message, Herman Parker will bring the missionary message and Harper Shannon of Alabama will bring the closing message on Tuesday evening.

J. Robert White, executive director of the Georgia Baptist Convention, will give the state mission’s report that will include two special presentations.

Robert Wilson, representing the Ethnic and African-American Task Force, will make the first presentation, demonstrating that Georgia Baptists worship in 28 different languages every Sunday morning. As a part of this emphasis, a Hispanic praise band called “Vicion” will play and sing Caribbean, Mexican, and Central American Christian songs as they stroll in the Civic Center on Tuesday and on stage during the presentation.

The second presentation will feature a report from the Ministers’ Family Life Strategy Focus Team. This team grew out of the Healthy Kingdom Church emphasis and J. Robert White’s vision to “help our ministers.” Andy Hammack, pastor of Macedonia Baptist Church in Manchester, his wife, Elizabeth, and their ten children will sing. Several Georgia Baptist ministers will give a testimony about the Convention’s ministry to them and their families.

Every Georgia Baptist needs to see firsthand how God is working in our Convention and find out how Cooperative Program money is being spent. The annual session of the Convention provides the perfect opportunity for you to personally see the incredible and expansive ministry of the Georgia Baptist Convention. Come and bring your children. The experience will inspire and encourage you and it may make an indelible impression for God and for good upon the younger members of your family – just as it did me many years ago.