In Component #3 of our GCR report, Penetrating the Lostness, we have introduced a term called Great Commission Giving. The term is engaging and does represent the heart of all we do to support the work of the Great Commission through our Convention. Surprisingly, it has received so much attention that the intent is questioned, the facts are ignored, and the great things in the report about the Great Commission are being overlooked.

Let’s Get the Facts On The Table

Fact #1: The Cooperative Program is affirmed and highlighted nine times in this section and communicated overall as being our central and preferred conduit of Great Commission funding.

Fact #2: Bold challenges are provided in this component related to the Cooperative Program such as, “call upon Southern Baptists to give as never before and support the Cooperative Program as never before.” More challenges to our churches and state conventions about the Cooperative Program are given in the final section of our report called “Challenges.”

Fact #3: Eight of the twenty-three members of our Task Force are employed by Southern Baptist related entities, from local associations to state conventions to national convention entities. There is absolutely no way any one of these people would ever entertain being a part of demeaning or attacking or dismantling the Cooperative Program. By the way, neither would the rest of us.

Fact #4: Great Commission Giving does NOT add another type of giving.

Fact #5: Great Commission Giving is a simple change to the Annual Church Profile Report that on last year’s report was called “Total Mission Expenditures.”

Fact #6: Great Commission Giving tightens the reporting that exists presently. The current method is to report whatever designated mission gifts are given, even if those gifts do not go to Southern Baptist mission causes. Southern Baptist mission gifts should be those that apply to Southern Baptist causes only. This proposal will provide an avenue for reporting designated mission gifts that are given to Southern Baptist causes only and would include gifts given to the causes of the Southern Baptist Convention, state conventions and associations.

Fact #7: We are asking you to adopt the following recommendation:

That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention, meeting in Orlando, Florida, June 15-16, 2010, request the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention to consider recommending to the Southern Baptist Convention the adoption of the language and structure of Great Commission Giving as described in this report in order to enhance and celebrate the Cooperative Program and the generous support of Southern Baptists channeled through their churches. We further request that the boards of trustees of the International Mission Board and North American Mission Board, in consultation with the Woman’s Missionary Union, consider the adoption of the Lottie Moon and Annie Armstrong offering goals as outlined in this report.

Can You Not Support This Recommendation?

This recommendation, which is the third recommendation in our report, is all you will be voting on related to Great Commission Giving. It provides an additional year for this to be studied by the Executive Committee of our Convention. This recommendation reflects upon the report when we call upon Southern Baptists to adopt goals of giving no less than $200 million annually through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions and $100 million annually through the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions by 2015.

Do you have any idea what we could do around the world and here in North America in pushing back on lostness if this recommendation is adopted and Southern Baptist churches step up to the call? We believe our churches will step up to follow and finance a compelling vision that calls us to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ to every person in the world and to make disciples of all the nations.

What Could This Look Like On The Annual Church Profile?

LifeWay Christian Resources has the responsibility of determining the Annual Church Profile. Our churches are requested to complete the Annual Church Profile. In this profile, there is a section where financial data is requested from our churches.

Dr. Thom Rainer, President of LifeWay, has informed us that they are studying the format for the Annual Church Profile. He and I have been in several conversations about this. He is ready to lead LifeWay in whatever needs to be done concerning the Annual Church Profile.

If the Southern Baptist Convention affirms recommendation three in our report, we are suggesting the Annual Church Profile could reflect what we are calling Great Commission Giving. How? I want to show you how we suggest it could look to reflect our priority of the Cooperative Program and Great Commission Giving in comparison to what was on last year’s Annual Church Profile. We are suggesting that we should place the Cooperative Program as our financial priority. Please see what we are suggesting for the future if this recommendation is adopted in comparison to what exists presently.

Suggested Annual Church Profile

1. Cooperative Program
2. Lottie Moon Offering for International Missions
3. Annie Armstrong Offering for North American Missions
4. SBC Designated Mission Gifts (Local Associations, State Conventions, and National Entities)
5. Total Great Commission Giving (Please add #1 through #4.)
6. Undesignated Receipts
7. Designated Receipts
8. Total Receipts (Please add #6 and #7.)

Present Annual Church Profile

• Total Receipts
• Undesignated
• Designated
• Total Mission Expenditures
• Cooperative Program
• Annie Armstrong
• Lottie Moon
• Congregational Debt
• Value of Congregational Debt

As you see, our proposal emphasizes the Cooperative Program and puts the Southern Baptist Convention in a stronger position to penetrate lostness. It is critical that all communication accurately portrays our proposal to insure each messenger is well informed and educated about it. The future of the Southern Baptist Convention is unlimited if we continue to work together to fulfill the Great Commission.

What is really at stake? What is really at stake is the eternal destiny of billions of people who do not know Jesus as Lord and Savior, most of whom have limited or absolutely no access to God’s message of forgiveness and hope about Him.

This week has been a full week. We returned from Liberty University on Sunday afternoon. I began to be engaged in ministry matters immediately. Monday was loaded with the normality of study and meetings with our team. After more study on Tuesday morning, I drove to Kansas City to speak to the Board of Trustees of the North American Mission Board. Dr. Johnny Hunt and I addressed them Tuesday evening about our Great Commission Resurgence Report and Recommendations. Yesterday morning, I shared God’s Word with them about, “5 Principles to Make Your Vision Walk.” These principles are found in the book of Habakkuk. I drove back from Kansas City after I spoke and spent the afternoon in the office immersed in details and decision-making.

I am grateful for my right hand man, Andy Wilson, accompanying me to Kansas City. He helped drive and the fellowship with him is always rich. Additionally, we pretty well worked all the way up to K.C. and back. It is rare we have uninterrupted time, so when it comes, it blesses both of our lives.

Oh yes, I made a few minutes of Shiloh spring football practice on Monday and Wednesday afternoons. What a unique place we find ourselves in during this spring football practice season. Recruiting is going on heavily, and we have already had coaches here this week from UCLA, Florida, Auburn, Oklahoma, Colorado, Arkansas, Tulsa and others I do not know about.

Finally, our Shiloh Baseball Team is playing for the state championship this Saturday at Baum Stadium at 3:00 p.m. Last year, we played for it and lost. Our team is strong and we wish our Saints well.

On Sunday, I am beginning a new series of messages entitled, “Extreme Spiritual Makeover.” Join me with a friend.

This past weekend I was at Liberty University for graduation exercises for the University and also Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. On Saturday morning, an estimated 22,000 people attended the main ceremonies in the football stadium of Liberty University. It was a grand event, full of engaging music, motivating communication, and God-sized vision.

Following this two-hour service and a lunch break, we then had a two-hour service to attend for Nick to receive his Doctor of Ministry degree from the Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. This was a pretty basic service, following remarks from Pastor Jonathan Falwell, Dr. Elmer Towns, and Dr. Ergun Caner, President of the Seminary. Then the students were presented their degrees and at the conclusion, Nick was presented his doctorate degree. He graduated with High Distinction academically, the highest possible.

We are so appreciative of the great schools that have prepared Nick for his ministry life. He graduated from our own special Shiloh Christian School. He received his Bachelor’s degree from Liberty University. He received his Master of Divinity Degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and then his Doctor of Ministry from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. These four wonderful academic experiences have prepared him for life and ministry. It was wonderful to have Dr. Paige Patterson, President of Southwestern Seminary, speak for a few minutes at graduation.

God bless Nick and Meredith in this incredible achievement. They have paid a heavy price to pull this off academically at his young age, but I refused to let him ease up at all from J-terms to summer school to whatever. I knew if he fast-tracked it, it would provide a multitude of blessings for years to come. Now, he has completed his formal education, owns his Doctorate degree, has two children, and a wonderful wife who has been by his side all the way.

We love you, Nick and Meredith, and rejoice with all God is going to do with you.

Thirty years ago in Corsicana, Texas, Josh was born to Jeana and me. It was on a Monday morning early when he was born. Jeana went into Labor on Sunday night. They had to get me from preaching in order to take her to the hospital about 30 miles away from where we pastored in Milford, Texas. We lived in the church parsonage right beside the church. We averaged a little over 100 people a week in the church. On that Sunday night, the entire church gathered outside the church, watch me get Jeana into the car, and we honked the horn and they all waved as we made our way to the hospital. After many hours in labor, Jeana had to have a c-section leading to the birth of Josh early morning, May 12, 1980.

Josh has been a real blessing to our lives for these thirty years. God has raised him up as an incredible High School Football Coach, already having won three state championships. He is influencing young men for the glory of God using the game of football.

The Lord has blessed him with Kate, an incredible wife for him. They have have two boys, Peyton (4) and Parker (2). Within the next month, they will add boy #3, Jack. So we will have Peyton, Parker, and Jack, sons of Josh and Kate. What a blessing!

Happy 30th Birthday, Josh! We love you!

Adversity is when you face many difficulties in your life. Obstacles and difficulties can wear you down. It seems at times, when they begin to rain upon your life, they just pour. Just as the extreme rainfalls recently have caused major devastation in the great state of Tennessee, extreme difficulties can wear you down.

Adversity can wear you down because it seems to be relentless. I know in the past year of my life, it seems there has been little to no rest from adversity. Yet, I know so many people have faced so much more than I have in life. The challenge I have faced is that the adversity has just worn me down at times. Why? Adversity can be relentless. Just when you think you are getting above it, it comes at you from another direction. I told my wife Jeana almost a year ago, “When we get involved in this Great Commission Resurgence movement and step into a major role of leadership, we will face much adversity.” That statement was more prophetic than I thought it might be at the time.

Adversity is not only relentless, but rigorous. Rigorous means to be extremely thorough! You see, many times it is not that the adversity is relentless, but very rigorous. During moments of life, adversity can be very thorough, working you over from the top of your head to the bottom of your feet. Whether your adversity is relentless or rigorous, it can wear you down. It can work you over. It can wear you out.

In these days, I have cried out to the Lord to pick me up, lift me up, and help me through life. In my helpless state, I am completely dependent on the Lord alone for my strength. In my study for the message I proclaimed yesterday in my fellowship, the Lord revealed to me a powerful Word from the Bible. I leave this word with you today as you live life, whether the adversity you are facing is relentless or rigorous, this can be a great word for you. Stand on it and stake its claim in your life today.

Lord, when You showed Your favor, You made me stand like a strong mountain. (Psalm 30:7)

For years I have prayed daily for revival in America. Revival is the manifested presence of God in your life. Revival rocks your life. Revival changes your perspective of life. When revival comes, many of the things that have been important no longer really are. God changes everything.

On this National Day of Prayer in America, may the church rise up to pray. May we rise to the occasion. Engage somewhere today in a prayer meeting. We do not need to be weary in the battle. We must pray.

The hope for America is not going to be found politically or socially or environmentally, but spiritually! It is time to wake up spiritually. May this be the day when revival comes to America.

Let it begin in me.

The Northwest Arkansas Business Journal recognized Nick Floyd as one of the top fifteen professional leaders in their 20′s. These leaders are referred to as “Fast Trackers” in their professional career. Of course, we are grateful for this professional recognition of our son, but also to our Preaching Assistant. You can read the article about Nick and the others in the present edition of the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal.

Nick will graduate from Liberty Theological Seminary with his Doctor of Ministry degree on Saturday, May 15. This is a big month for him and we are grateful to God he is beside us here. He will also become our Campus Pastor at our new Fayetteville location in late 2010.

Nick and Meredith are two great young adults whom the hand of God is upon. We are grateful for their love for Christ, one another, and this church. We are blessed.

I have three major conference calls scheduled to take place today related to the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force’s Final Report, Penetrating The Lostness. It is our desire to communicate with these important Great Commission Partners in order for everyone to understand the heart and intention of our report. If you have not seen or read the report, I do hope you will go to www.pray4gcr.com.

Please pray for me today as I have a conference call with all of the editors of our state Baptist papers and other media outlets. Following that call, I will have a conference call with all of the State Executives of our state conventions in our Southern Baptist work. The final conference call will be with the leaders of Southern Baptist national entities. Please keep me before the Lord on Tuesday. Before all of this, in the middle, and afterwords, I will be engaged in many of our local church ministry matters.

Again, if God puts us on your heart, pray for us. Greater still, be sure to join me in praying for our friends and ministry partners in the Greater Nashville, Tennessee region. They are facing unprecedented circumstances due to flooding.

As promised, we are releasing today the Final Report of the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force. It is called, “Penetrating the Lostness: Embracing a Vision for a Great Commission Resurgence Among Southern Baptists.” The report can be read and downloaded on our website, www.pray4gcr.com. You can also watch a video version of the report plus a five-minute video which gives a 30,000 foot look at the reason we need a Great Commission Resurgence. We hope you will share this short video with your churches and ministry during your service or gathering. Thank you for praying.