I am in Anaheim, CA- No, I am not going to Disneyland. I am attending the California Southern Baptist Evangelism Conference. The topic: Comeback Churches. Nelson Searcy of The Journey, a church in New York City, spoke this afternoon, addressing barriers to growth. I am looking forward to hearing and reading more of his thoughts and experiences. Then tonight, Ed Stetzer and Voddie Baucham spoke, setting the stage for tomorrow afternoon when Ed Stetzer will talk in some detail about comeback churches.
I kind of feel like I am intruding - I've never attended another state evangelism conference besides the Northwest Baptist Ev. Conference. I did meet Bob R, he and I struggled through several DMIN seminars together. He is now the Director of the DMIN program at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in Mill Valley, CA (I have not finished my dmin yet- and am now a student at Southern Seminary).
Several issues are fighting for attention in my brain tonight-
a). renewing a thoroughly biblical basis for every ministry activity we engage in at CBC in Winston.
b). developing a biblical vision that will guide and direct the ministry of our church- and renewing the ministry vision for my life. After 16 1/2 years in Winston, it has become clear to me (finally) that my ministyr had become stale- I'm pretty sure most of the folks in the pew already knew that!
c). enlisting a group of men to hold me accountable in every area of my life.
Voddie B spoke tonight of the Great Commission- and how he and his wife feel called to home school their children because of the Great Commission- he made a powerful point- how can we invest in discipling others if we are not discipling our children. I cannot re-educate my children, but I can- beginning today- disciple my family through the letters I write them, through the prayers I pray, and through the gifts I give (i.e. books that can help them and challenge them to grow spiritually.)
Ed Stetzer spoke of the new perspective we need in order to see people as Jesus see's them (see 2 Cor. 5:16-21). Only then can we truly recongize the transforming truth of the cross and how that literally changes everything in our lives!
Well, there is more to be said- but it's late, it was a very long day travelling and I need to get some sleep!
Pastor Steve
Monday, February 18, 2008
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
WOW!
I can't believe I last posted in December. Seems like years have gone by.
It's about 20 minutes till our Wednesday evening service begins- with dinner followed by AWANA's and adult Bible Study. Things have been rockin!
Mid January our daughter left for 3 1/2 months as an intern on Capitol Hill in Washington DC. That was a hard goodbye. I know she'll be back- but May seems like a very long time from now...And when she comes back it is to graduate from college.
The community center I've been part of building (OK, I helped raise funds, I serve on the community group's board, and act as liason with the city) is finally finished and in the city's possession (actually, it is on park land owned by the city, so they always owned the building, but now they are responsible for operations and management...).
I have begun a series on Doctrines for Living on Sunday nights. I hope to post some notes from earlier sessions (on the doctrine of revelation [not the book of], and the doctrine of God soon.
Our web site is up- though still pretty sparse. But next week I will have some time to write some and develop some ideas. I'll be in CA. at a conference focusing on "Comeback Churches." There is a book by that title by Ed Stetzer, of Lifeway, NAMB, IMB and various other groups. He will be speaking as will several others who have led churches from the brink of death to life and vibrancy. I will have some extra time to work on web issues and such next week.
Well, I promise to be more consistent and post more often than I have in the past...
STEVE
It's about 20 minutes till our Wednesday evening service begins- with dinner followed by AWANA's and adult Bible Study. Things have been rockin!
Mid January our daughter left for 3 1/2 months as an intern on Capitol Hill in Washington DC. That was a hard goodbye. I know she'll be back- but May seems like a very long time from now...And when she comes back it is to graduate from college.
The community center I've been part of building (OK, I helped raise funds, I serve on the community group's board, and act as liason with the city) is finally finished and in the city's possession (actually, it is on park land owned by the city, so they always owned the building, but now they are responsible for operations and management...).
I have begun a series on Doctrines for Living on Sunday nights. I hope to post some notes from earlier sessions (on the doctrine of revelation [not the book of], and the doctrine of God soon.
Our web site is up- though still pretty sparse. But next week I will have some time to write some and develop some ideas. I'll be in CA. at a conference focusing on "Comeback Churches." There is a book by that title by Ed Stetzer, of Lifeway, NAMB, IMB and various other groups. He will be speaking as will several others who have led churches from the brink of death to life and vibrancy. I will have some extra time to work on web issues and such next week.
Well, I promise to be more consistent and post more often than I have in the past...
STEVE
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