Pastors reflect on the surge
By Thomas Crane
GREENSBORO (BSCNC Communications) - In Philippians 3:14 Paul writes, “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” With this text in mind, pastors gathered Nov. 8-9 at Lawndale Baptist Church to learn more about how to move onward, or to “Surge” (the conference theme), in their efforts to continue becoming more like Christ and reaching more people with the Gospel.
The 2009 Pastors’ Conference featured pastors from across the country. Phil Ortego, pastor of Scotts Hill Baptist Church in Wilmington, N.C., said four things prevent the church from surging forward: indifference to the lost; ignorance of the Gospel and basic biblical knowledge; insensitivity to the needs of the world; and intimidation to stand toe-to-toe with intellectuals. Bryan Loritts, lead pastor of Fellowship Church in Memphis, Tenn., said he choose to plant a church in Memphis after reading census data which suggested that the city was the most racially divided in America. Fellowship Church is now about 60 percent white and 40 percent black - their unity a witness to the power of the Gospel in a segregated city. Loritts pleaded with pastors from 2 Tim. 4:1-5 to “man up” and “preach the Word” because being a pastor is not a popularity contest – the call is to proclaim the Gospel whether people like it or not.
Alistair Begg, senior pastor of Parkside Church in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, encouraged pastors to endure the hardship that inevitably comes. “The Gospel, is not the ABC of the Christian life that gets me started. The Gospel is the A-Z that gets me through the entirety of life,” he said. Other speakers included Jonathan Falwell, pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Va.; Ed Litton, senior pastor of First Baptist North Mobile, Saraland, Ala.; and Alex McFarland, president of Southern Evangelical Seminary.
Here’s what a few attendees had to say:
The pastors’ conference is the highlight of the whole state convention experience for me. This years conference was once again challenging to my heart. Alistair Begg's sermon particularly struck me. He quoted Smeaton (a Scottish theologian): "To convert one sinner from his way is an event of greater importance than the deliverance of an entire kingdom from temporal evil." What happens in eternity is incomparably more important than what happens in time. The message of the Gospel is infinitely more important than any of the social, economical or political issues we face today. Hearing this truth was a wake-up call for me. Certainly the Gospel speaks to all issues, but the substance is a different type of thing. I have misled people with "do better" sermons. Morality preaching is easy. People compliment you because they are guilty. Others leave feeling prideful because they are following the commands of the moment. Christ is the real substance of our preaching. We need to make a beeline for the cross in all of our preaching. I want to have the Gospel centered preaching Begg proclaimed. I pray that I will be faithful in proclaiming Jesus and Jesus alone.
Jason Gault, pastor, www.nashvillebaptistchurch.org
I am so thankful for the men who preached at our annual pastors’ conference. I praise God for men like these, who are striving to please the Lord. As a young pastor, I came to the pastors’ conference to learn and to be refreshed in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Two messages in particular stood out to me as Gospel-centered and Christ-focused – the ones by Bryan Loritts and Alistair Begg. They didn't assume the Gospel; they explained it. Jesus wasn't tacked onto the end of moral challenges; He was woven throughout as our hope, salvation and sustaining grace. Overall, I left the pastors’ conference hopeful for North Carolina Baptists and excited to hear more messages that preach Christ as the main point of every text, the fulfillment of every promise of God and the all-sufficient Savior of all who trust Him. Perhaps the Gospel was assumed in some messages because the audience was made up of pastors. It could be argued, though, that we as pastors need more than anyone else to hear that Jesus died for sinners, of whom we are the greatest. Thank God His grace is greater.
Jim Upchurch, associate pastor, Red Oak Baptist Church, http://redoakbaptist.org/
Craig Hamlin did an excellent job lining up speakers for this year's pastor's conference. I especially liked the theme “Surge” which inspired me as a new church planter to go back to my church and keep up the good fight. I thought the attendance was strong and anyone who missed out should go next year. We as pastors need spiritual encouragement as we are always the ones ministering to others. The North Carolina Baptist Pastors’ Conference provides the right avenue for this to occur.
Carl Poole, lead pastor, www.EssentialsChurch.com
