NASHVILLE SBC EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN EVENTFUL

Yesterday I spent the entire day in meetings in Nashville, Tennessee with leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention. Of course, all of these meetings were related to the Great Commission Resurgence.  My first meeting was with Dr. Morris Chapman, a long-term friend and co-worker in the gospel.  He is the President-CEO of the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention.  I moved from there into a three-hour meeting where Dr. Johnny Hunt and I met with the Great Commission Council, which is comprised of the Heads of our 12 SBC national entities and boards. From there I moved into a three-hour meeting with some fellow brothers who are committed to the Great Commission Resurgence and seeing it happen in the SBC.  Following that, I moved into a dinner meeting for a couple of hours.

I concluded my night by attending the Executive Committee Meeting, where we heard  Dr. Morris Chapman inform Southern Baptists that he was announcing his retirement as of September 30, 2010. This news was a shock to most people, as Dr. Chapman has been in this position for eighteen years.  I was on the search committee that called Dr. Chapman to this position.  God has used him and I am grateful for his ministry to Southern Baptists.

These are unprecedented days in Southern Baptist life.  We now have openings in three of the most influential places in the life of the Southern Baptist Convention. The trustees of the International Mission Board, the North American Mission Board, and the Executive Committee will be searching for men to lead their massive ministries.  With the emphasis of the Great Commission Resurgence within our convention and the matters  we are charged to do, things are now happening in an unprecedented manner.  We must pray, get before God, and listen to Him for our directions for the future.

This morning, my public day after my quiet time and jog through downtown Nashville, will be a meeting with a man charged with an enormous assignment at this time in his life. We are going to spend some moments together just talking and discussing future matters.  Soon after, I will catch my flight home, and prepare to go to our ACTS 1:8 Banquet.  Another full day.

Please pray for today.  God is moving.