About 16 years ago, a small tumor grew under the medial collateral ligament of my inner left knee. Due to its growth and my endless activity, leaving it there caused massive damage to the ligament and multiple parts of my left knee. After three surgeries to remove the tumor and make repairs, plus hours of therapy and pain, the tumor kept returning, larger than before. As I sat in the office of my orthopedist, he said these words to me: “Chris, what we are doing is causing significant damage to your future abilities to enjoy life. It’s simply not working. Now is the time for drastic restructuring.”

My fellow servants of the one and only Jesus Christ, today is the day for drastic restructuring. If not, we stand in a place where our future will be marked with failure in reaching the nations with the only message of good news. Today is the day for drastic changes to be made if our convention is going to be effective and radical enough to penetrate the darkness of this world with the gospel.

I can speak with accuracy that drastic change is not easy. It has long-term effects. Yet, it also leaves you with new potential. The Great Commission Resurgence has been needed in Southern Baptist Convention life for decades. We never should have allowed ourselves to get to this point. I realize that this resurgence will be costly.

Our convention staff and associational staff will be restructured, realigned or shifted to other areas in God’s kingdom. While I do not wish to see anyone lose their jobs, this resurgence may be an opportunity for God to disperse us to the outermost parts of the United States and the world. I have friends who will be greatly affected by the June vote. I realize that lowering the Cooperative Program in our convention will be detrimental to some of our ministries. I realize that my friends in Columbia and in Rock Hill will be moved.

However, I know firsthand the full extent of lostness in states like Maine, where churches are closed down and turned into karate studios, where churches would rather celebrate Homosexuality Sunday than Jesus Christ; states like Montana, where even in its small cities there are thousands who have not heard of Jesus; cities like New York City, which is a plethora of various nationalities, a city that has only seen a few churches flourish in reaching a city that overwhelms them in population; states like New Hampshire that once held a mighty movement of Christ, where now SBC church plants are struggling to survive; states like California, Utah, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, Idaho, Washington – all of which would cause us to reach beyond the comforts of living in the South and take up the cross of Christ for those states. Let us weigh the pain of change against the pain of losing souls in unreached territories of the United States, and I believe the pain of the cross will compel us to take the gospel farther.

I do not think the GCR answers all the questions. I believe we need to deal with the true heart of apathy and disbelief amongst the body of Christ in order for the GCR to officially be effective. Yet this is a great start. I hope you will join me in praying for my friends who will be affected.

That’s why I support the GCR. That’s why you should support the GCR. Our earthly sacrifice doesn’t compare to the one Christ made for me.

Please pray.

 

– Autry is senior pastor of Flint Hill Baptist Church in Fort Mill.