What Would God Say to the Next Generation?
18. Feb, 2010 
1 Comment
Student Day is this coming Sunday on both of our campuses. My message is entitled, “What Does God Say to us about the Next Generation?” I am very motivated to talk about this subject. It has always been on my heart and seems to be ever-growing as I experience the process of getting older. (Not much older, but a little!) If you live in our region, please join me for this special day and I believe a good word from the Lord for each of us.
My week has been really challenging and it is not over yet! While I am grateful for opportunities afforded us in this ministry in Northwest Arkansas, I am running to keep up. Upon that joy, add the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force leadership responsibilities and I feel as if I am underwater. Wow, don’t like that word picture!
Once again, please know I am in deep need of your prayers for me as I deliver our GCR Progress Report on Monday night in Nashville. Much is happening and I am in great need for prayer. I am most appreciative.
Breaking news . . . text is coming in: In our student mid-week service called “Collide,” we just had 17 teenagers come to Christ! I told my Student Pastor, “Praise God, I am going to have a runaway!” He replied, “You go boy!” I love Students, Student Ministry, and Student Pastors! We love all of you and thanks for your enormous sacrifice for Jesus.
Come Sunday and you will hear: “What Would God Say To The Next Generation.” Bring a friend. Bring a student!
About The Author
In this brief post, I want to give a small voice to the apparent voiceless perspective of Southern Baptist college students who are observing what is going on in the Southern Baptist Convention.
Collegians see the Great Commission Resurgence as a Strategic attempt to putting feet to the Conservative Resurgence. Actions suggested by the GCR should be the natural result of the Biblical mandate according to college students. These mandates declared by the GCR are clear and accepted by most who care enough to know about it; however, the tactic of enforcement is not. Collegians believe resurgence and reform happens from the inside out not from the outside in. Most believe resurgence, reform or whatever word is used… is sparked by the work of the Holy Spirit at work within individual churches not from a convention task force.
The GCR appears, by most college students, to be a battle between old militant fundamentalists and younger conservative Southern Baptists with a Reformed disposition. It’s a clash between culture warriors and younger hipster baptists who are embracing infant baptism, keg-party Bible Studies, and potty mouthed pastors. Southern Baptists are being faithful to their historical roots of majoring on the minors here in this debate. I hear time and time again college students wanting to separate themselves from denominational affiliation because they disdain such disunity and hierarchical dogma. This is why collegians are flocking to non denominational churches and conferences. Is it any wonder most college para-church organizations like Passion Conferences aren’t denominationally affiliated?
It’s unfortunate that outsiders looking in see Baptists in yet another quarrelsome controversy especially when such reform is needed. Does the SBC need to catch up to the 20th century and be more effective with the Great Commission? Yes.. The SBC even needs to catch up to the 21st century…If that’s possible. Unity is needed most in this initiative. Regardless, we must watch out how outsiders looking in see how we act as a form of ministry itself. They are watching.. An unbeliever once told me that my denomination was more concerned with politics than telling him about Jesus.