Mission discipline and ministry milestones highlight Sarepta annual meeting

WINTERVILLE, Ga. — Jeff Iorg, president and CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee, brought a challenge from Ephesians 3 on “Mission Discipline: The Challenge for Southern Baptists Today” during the 226th annual meeting of the Sarepta Baptist Association at First Baptist Church, Winterville.

The meeting was highlighted by reports of revival on the University of Georgia campus and the work of Baptist Collegiate Ministries. The report on Disaster Relief by the Sarepta Association’s Clean Up and Recovery Crew indicated they had served, among other places, in Georgia following Hurricane Helene, in Kentucky, and as far away as Iowa.

The evening concluded with a banquet honoring Lex Bowen, 71, who is retiring after 19 years of service with the association. Bowen’s history with Georgia Baptists includes his conversion experience at the Georgia Baptist Assembly during a youth camp when he was a teenager. In an interview, he recalled, “It was during a campfire service on the shores of Lake Louise on the last night. There was a dramatic skit having to do with Revelation 3:20, ‘Behold I stand at the door and knock.’ There was someone standing behind the door knocking, and every time they gave a common excuse for not opening the door to Jesus. As I watched it, every excuse they used was one I had used. So, the Lord used that to get my attention, and I trusted him that night.”

A native of Dawson, Georgia, in Terrell County, his ministry has included pastorates in Oklahoma and Georgia, serving with the International Mission Board in Singapore, a stint with Lifeway Publishing, as well as the Sarepta Association. His life journey has included a battle with cancer; he has been cancer-free for almost twelve years.

Sharing that journey for 50 years is the former Pam Box, a preacher’s daughter and Oklahoma native. Pam spent part of her youth on the mission fields in Singapore and Malaysia. Pam has served as pianist for 19 years at First Baptist Winterville. They have a son, a daughter, and six grandchildren.

Ricky Thrasher, consultant for Associational Missions with the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, presented several gifts, including a Bible, joking, “I hope you might have time to read this in retirement!” Other gifts of appreciation and tributes were presented. Bowen concluded the evening by reminiscing and sharing a few self-depreciating stories of his years at Sarepta.

When asked about his plans for retirement after his final day in early December, he said, “Going to Disney with my grandchildren and in the long term, really don’t know and waiting for the Lord’s direction.”