I want to thank you, my wonderful church family, for your hearty and gracious reception of me upon our return from the Southern Baptist Convention. Matters did not turn out as we had hoped, but we prayed, left it in the Lord’s will, now knowing the results. I am blessed to know you have prayed, encouraged, and are now ready to receive us back 100% as we continue on our journey of reaching Northwest Arkansas, America, and the world for Jesus Christ.

Serving the churches of our convention would have been a joy, but we must go forward from here. I had in my heart so many things I had not shared because the time was not right. If we had been elected, I was going to challenge you and our convention to rally in San Antonio, pre-SBC next summer: 5000 teenagers for five days pre-SBC as well as engage them in evangelism, church plants, and worship; I wanted to challenge our convention to begin 50 new churches the weekend of the SBC in the growing, exciting region of San Antonio, Austin, and San Marcos; additionally, I wanted to highlight the phenomenal work of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, a model convention in missions support in Texas, but extending the largest part of their dollars received around the world through the SBC enterprise. Yes, those are worthy matters for consideration and prayer, but obviously not through my leadership as President of the SBC. We can only pray and trust the precious Lord Jesus.

We need to pray for a mighty spiritual revival in our church and other churches, igniting the next great spiritual awakening in America. My dear friends, it is critical that we understand that this nation is in dire spiritual need. If the church, our denomination, and others are as influential as we imagine ourselves to be, we must do something in our generation to see the next great move of God. My heart breaks when I think of where we are and where God wants us to be. Join me in praying.

Again, I love you and thank God for each of you.