I have been in the process of corresponding with many Southern Baptist leaders over the past seventeen days. Most of that communication has been on the phone and through email. It has been pretty well nonstop.

Regardless of their initial response to our report, I have reminded each one of them – our final report will not be out until May 3rd. We are meeting with people, listening, dialoguing, and learning. There was a time when our GCR Task Force considered the possibility of releasing the Final Report in February; however, we knew we needed time to continue our work. The blessing from our early release of this Progress Report is that we are receiving response and really engaging with many Southern Baptists in the process. It will make our Final Report better in every way.

We have said since our first press conference following the release of the Progress Report, if Southern Baptists have ideas about how we can improve this report, we are open to hear them. We want to give this convention the very best report with recommendations that will help us more faithfully and effectively fulfill the Great Commission. Please understand, this “best report” does not mean we may all agree with everything in it. “Best” is usually interpreted through the person’s life regarding a specific issue they have a perspective about.

The challenge we face is that we are not placed in a situation of deciding between matters that are good and matters that are evil. These are not good versus evil choices. These are choices between what is good versus what is best. This is why they are difficult to work through together. Additionally, our final report and recommendations are a commitment towards a future vision. While a future vision will contain matters that are occurring presently, there is no need for a future vision if all we do is replicate our present. Replicating our present will result in more of the present, but in time, will regress from even where we are today.

Therefore, please know that our Great Commission Resurgence Progress Report is a work in progress. The final report is yet to come. This is why we need to pray for God’s discernment for our task force. Southern Baptists and beyond, we need your prayers. We desire to go together all the way to Orlando and beyond for the sake of the nations.