The annual Bible Study and Preaching Retreat, sponsored by the South Carolina Baptist Convention and held at Anderson University, centered on joining with others to better impact communities around the state. This year’s theme, “Building Bridges,” focused on partnership among churches.
Carl Martin“Building Bridges across South Carolina is more than the theme of a conference. It is the passion of those who desire to reach 3 million lost and unchurched people in South Carolina,” said Marshall Fagg, state convention associate executive director of the evangelization and mission team and host of the event.
Carl Martin and Ken Lewis, pastors of two churches which both bear the name Cross Point, walked attendees through Philippians as a model for partnership in sharing the gospel.
“The Philippians’ letter was written to the overseers and deacons of the church, much like those gathered here this week,” said Lewis, who pastors Cross Point Clemson.
The men detailed pillars of building bridges with others, including prioritizing the gospel, leading in humility, maintaining focus and pursuing Christ.
Lewis and Martin worked in tandem sharing their often personal experiences of learning how to partner with each other in their 30 years of ministry. Both men have assisted each other in church planting, provided accountability, and supported each other.
“Partnership is not easy. It has been messy – we have to learn to cooperate at deep levels,” said Martin, pastor of Cross Point Bluffton.
Martin encouraged pastors to seek out relationships with churches of other denominations, with people in the community who know and love Jesus, and with younger people who can be mentored in ministry.
“The Philippians were a model church with a missional heart. You and I, whether we are in an established church or a church plant, have to be missional?-?.?The model of a missional church is the heart of a missional Savior,” Martin said.
Lewis pointed to humility as a mark of Christians who effectively lead churches centered on God.
“If we stand up in pride, Christ will never really be seen. We will not make much of Jesus,” said Lewis.
Martin added another crucial characteristic in partnering with others in reaching people with the gospel.
“We need leaders who know how to deeply love people. Do you love them when they are unlovable?” asked Martin. “Besides the Holy Spirit, people are our greatest resource.”
Throughout the conference, both Martin and Lewis noted that Southern Baptists have always possessed a sense of joining with others and cooperating in the gospel based on the tradition of the Cooperative Program.
But Martin and Lewis encouraged participants to do more to connect with others.
“The tendency is to go to ‘I,’ but I think that is wrong. We need to go to ‘we,’?” said Lewis.
Fagg hopes that participants truly grasped the value of working together with other believers to reach those who do not know Christ.
“Carl Martin, Ken Lewis and worship leader Chad Hall allowed God to use them to communicate biblically God’s call to his people to be bridge builders – bridge builders willing to stand in the middle until the cultural differences separating the churched and the unchurched are spanned.? The retreat was a deeply moving spiritual journey,” Fagg said.
Messages from the Bible Study and Preaching Retreat will be available online at www.scbaptist.org starting Aug. 1. For more information, call (800) 723-7242, ext. 5000.