I was blessed to be in Nashville Monday night for what many believe was a significant and historic night in Southern Baptist history.  It was the culmination and in some ways the celebration of months of labor.  I will count it as one of the greatest privileges of my life to have been involved in the GCR process throughout the last eight months assisting my dad with various aspects of his assignment as Chairman.  What I saw Monday was simply a continuation of countless conversations of 22 godly men and women committed to the Great Commission.  I guarantee that each one of the Task Force members would sit across the dinner table from you and explain their heart for the next generation of pastors and missionaries.  With a heart for the Great Commission and for the next generation, this group has wholeheartedly dedicated themselves to this year long process.  They are giving so much, so in turn, let me give some thoughts as a 26- year-old pastor in this convention.  Young pastors…here’s what I believe the GCR means for you and for me.

It’s time to answer the call. The GCR is an incredible vision.  Thousands of Southern Baptists can rally behind our missional vision that expresses a desire to “present the Gospel of Jesus Christ to every person in the world and to make disciples of all the nations.”  However, if we don’t answer the call, the GCR will only go so far.  Take the proposed changes for The North American Mission Board.  What an incredible vision it is to see that 50% of their budget from now on (if accepted and acted upon) will go directly to church planting.  But what is the vision worth if there are not capable, passionate young pastors ready to answer the call to reach the cities and under-served regions of our country?  The same is true for the proposed changes to the International Mission Board.  If there aren’t young pastors and families willing to forsake all for the cause of Christ in missions, who cares that the IMB may get an extra 1% of all SBC CP dollars  and the freedom to reach unreached people groups in the United States?  In other words, the GCR needs you.  The movement will soon die without young pastors who will take the torch of the Gospel and run to the darkest places of this earth.  It’s time for you and your family to answer the call.

It’s time to get involved. Our convention is structured in such a way that the people who show up are the people who get a say.  If we want to influence where our money goes, ensure our entities are fulfilling the Great Commission, and have a say in other details, then we have to show up and get involved.  Come to the convention in Orlando.  Bring 10 messengers from your church.  Vote for the GCR for the sake of the nations.  Call your state convention, NAMB, or the IMB and talk about ways they can assist your church in fulfilling the Gospel mission.

It’s time to drop the cynicism. The time of sideline coaching has passed. You may say, “Well I don’t like the way things are.”  Then do something about it.  “Well I hate politics.”  Then don’t be political.  The negativity and cynicism are not helpful or needed.  The GCR is nothing about denominational politics and it’s certainly not about keeping things status quo.  This is a movement bringing change.  I’ve described last year’s convention to people in this way.  There were no long arguments about issues that weren’t important.  It was as if the majority of the convention said, “Forget all this.  Let’s go for the Gospel,” and the GCR motion was overwhelmingly approved and the movement spread.

It’s time to risk it all. David Platt said something to the effect of “Let’s risk it all” in his message to the SBC last June.  This is really a message for young pastors and all pastors in general related to the GCR.  Is the Great Commission Resurgence really worth the risk?  Is it really worth spending money to be involved with various meetings and events of the SBC?  Is it really worth our time to discuss complex issues within our denomination to try to make us more effective?  The answer is yes.  The answer is not yes because of the Great Commission Resurgence movement.  The answer is yes because I believe the Southern Baptist Convention is the most capable force for missions and the Gospel in the world.  More than anything the answer is yes because the Gospel is worth it all.  It’s worth the money, it’s worth the inconvenience, it’s worth the time, it’s worth our most valiant efforts.  Let’s risk all this for the cause of the Gospel going forth and the nations being brought to Jesus.  What if God used a group like us to finish the task?  That’s worth the risk.