What a joy it was to attend the annual  gathering of our SBC family last week!  Melissa and I went to our first Southern Baptist Convention in 1992, just a couple of weeks after our wedding, and we’ve been to all but a few every year since then.  This    gathering feels like family to us.  We always come away refreshed by the fellowship and encouraged by the Word.  In addition to the main sessions, we  attended a couple of other panel discussions and worship times that were wonderfully edifying, and the preaching and praise in all the sessions was just what we needed.  God’s Spirit was so evident throughout!

There was a great sense of unity.  Two godly men were running for President, but it was not acrimonious.  Willy Rice of Florida was elected.  The biggest item of business this year was “The Truth And Unity Amendment” to our SBC constitution, submitted by Dr. Albert Mohler, President of Southern Baptist Theological  Seminary.  The amendment merely says the same thing that the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 already says:  The office of pastor in our churches is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.  To the media, the amendment is a big deal, but it simply reiterates what our Confession of Faith already says, and what the overwhelming number of Southern Baptists have always believed.  Most importantly, it is what the Bible teaches.

Scripture is clear:  Men and women are created in the image of God, and completely equal in value and personhood before Him.  But God made us wonderfully different, to complement one another.  And He’s given us different roles to play in the family and the family of God.  That’s a good thing, a beautiful thing.   

It may sound counter-cultural in a lost culture that wants to obliterate all differences between men and women, and even redefine gender itself, but we must stay true to God’s Word.  His ways enable us to flourish.         

As always, the highlight of our meeting was the Sending  Celebration for our missionaries.  This year, sixty-three missionaries stood before us and bore testimony to us about God’s call on their lives.  Some of them could not be seen for  security reasons, but we heard their voice.  More importantly, the Lord sees them.  And in His name, we send them.

What a joy to be a part of a denominational family that stands on God’s Word and sends forth the Good News of Jesus to the nations! 

Speaking of which, I am so thankful for Dr. Jeff Ginn for bringing an incredible message this past Sunday on “The Great Commission.”  Let us joyfully carry out the marching orders of our Lord, to make disciples of all nations.  How wonderful to be a part of a church family that is touching the world with the gospel!

I’ll see you this Sunday, as we continue walking through Colossians.  We’ll look at Colossians 2:6-15, one of my favorite gospel passages, and take the Lord’s Supper.  The message will be, “He  Erased The Debt.”   

By His Grace, For His Glory, To The Nations,

Dr. Thurman Hayes, Jr.