In his first Convention Sermon Nov. 13, which built on the theme, “A Story to Tell,” new executive director-treasurer Jim Austin declared that South Carolina Baptists have a message to preach: “The whole gospel to the whole world that all people might be whole.”
Austin, who joined the SCBC staff in May after serving as an associate director for Missouri Baptists, commended various state convention ministries that he has observed in his first few months. Among these were the 18,000 volunteers who have participated in the Appalachian partnership, 5,000 persons who have now been trained in disaster relief ministries, and the 559 workers who have served in South Asia thus far.
While rejoicing in the International Mission Board’s recent reports of surpassing 600,000 baptisms and 158,000 churches overseas, Austin noted, “The task before us is still enormous.”
In the United States, he observed, there has been a 1 percent decline in church attendance from 2000 to 2005, and only 23 percent of the population attends on a regular basis. “We had 169 church starts, but to keep up with the population, 298 more were needed,” Austin said.
Retelling the story of Scottish evangelist John Harper, the Titanic’s last hero, whom a survivor said had witnessed to him even as he floated in the icy waters of the Atlantic as the ship sank before Harper drowned, Austin asked, “Who is your last convert?”
“Hopefully, it is someone recent or in the future,” he urged.
As he looked at all the places on a globe where recent revivals have broken out, Austin noted all that seemed to be left was North America and Europe. “Ask the Lord, ‘Can we be next?’ ” Austin said as a prayer request. “Are you ready? I am.”