April 20, 2024
Dr. Ronnie Floyd, president of the Southern Baptist Convention, has issued a strong appeal to Southern Baptists to come to the annual convention meeting in Columbus, Ohio, June 16-17. In an email to state convention executives, dated February 22, Dr. Floyd emphasized the need to get as many Southern Baptists as possible to Columbus for the annual meeting. His challenge included this appeal: “The more Southern Baptists we can gather to Columbus, the more we can encourage them with our Great Commission work and inspire them to give more resources to finish the task of advancing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”
There is no doubt in my mind that those who attend the Southern Baptist Convention meeting, as is also true of the Georgia Baptist Convention meeting, gain a more accurate perspective of the work and ministries of the convention. Further, one cannot help but be inspired by the amazing stories of how God is at work and people are being reached and changed by the Gospel.
My favorite convention meetings are those where we have a good representation of Baptists who come with hearts wide open to receive the good news of all that the Lord is doing through our churches and various entities. There is much inspiration to be had because there are so many amazing things that are happening.
As I looked through the planned order of business for the SBC meeting in Columbus, it is clear that Dr. Floyd has guided the development of a program that is logically organized and geared for information and inspiration. You will see this as you look over the provisional program listed here.
I know that there are pockets of revival. I hear the stories, but I am praying for a mighty, sweeping movement of God unlike anything we have seen in our lifetime.
There are two specific sessions that I would mention as particularly inspiring. The Tuesday evening focus is upon prayer and spiritual awakening. We long for spiritual awakening and we know that prayer is the key. As Southern Baptists join our hearts in prayer, I believe that God is going to bring that revival we have been praying for.
Don’t you want to see it? I want to see a great awakening in my lifetime. We should not have to be referring to the great awakening of one hundred years and a decade ago. Why have we not experienced great spiritual awakenings in our day?
I know that there are pockets of revival. I hear the stories, but I am praying for a mighty, sweeping movement of God unlike anything we have seen in our lifetime. Do it again, Lord! Do it again!
The other session I would like to mention is on Wednesday morning and the focus is upon missions. As you can see, our mission agencies will be reporting on their work and bringing words of inspiration about our planned responses to the Great Commission. The Woman’s Missionary Union report will be during this session as well as a missionary sending celebration.
It sounds exciting. I don’t want to miss it. I hope you will be making your plans to be present at the SBC Annual Meeting in Columbus, Ohio.
When I was a boy growing up in the home of a Southern Baptist pastor, going to the annual convention meeting was something we did without fail. The whole family attended. We would make an enjoyable family trip out of the experience. Those times are truly precious memories in my mind and heart. I can’t really measure the impact of attending SBC annual convention meetings when I was a boy, but I know that they did have an impact on me and had a lot to do with inspiring my heart for missions.
There will be something in Columbus for the entire family. Make it a trip your family will talk about for years.
