Being a part of the South Carolina Baptist Convention Great Commission Task Force involved some of the greatest blessings I’ve experienced in 30 years of ministry – and a number of corresponding frustrations, too. To convene such a large group, from so many varied church fields, with perspectives as individual and particular as each person represented, made the entire process a challenge from the start. As chairman Ralph Carter has indicated, there were some testy times, some potentially volatile moments. Yet, with grace and purpose this group collaborated toward a final report with great kingdom implications.
HolmesOne of the more difficult aspects of group process is relinquishing personal positions and, at times, the individual preferences that so easily divide. Some of my biases are strongly held convictions. Submitting them to the higher ground of kingdom pursuit and God’s voice in the body is difficult because they are already higher ground to me. Yet, time and again God reveals himself in the body – kingdom results that far exceed the limited scope of my own outlook. Some aspects of the final report are less than I expected when I agreed to serve on the task force. Yet, in the final analysis I am convinced that God will use this collaboration to launch a new wave of mission awareness and responsibility in the years to come.
Some of us are na?ve about the financial underpinning of our work! You know, if there hadn’t been a monetary shortage over the past couple of years, for whatever reason, we wouldn’t be having this discussion in the first place. Funding is always a consideration. In times of plenty, we’ve been able to avoid the reductions and allocations recommended in the GCRTF report. Yet, these times have necessitated belt tightening in every sphere of SCBC and SBC influence. At stake today is the central mission of Christ’s church. There are opinions as to what constitutes that mission, too. The SCBC’s GCR task force weighed these many considerations, prayed through them extensively, and developed the report that is now circulating through the Baptist world in South Carolina. It is a good report. Many hands have been applied to it, not to mention many knees. I’m praying for overwhelming approval.
May I confess a personal dimension to my support of this proposal. Our son’s death last month amplified to Harriet and me our mission of sharing the Good News of Jesus to unbelievers regardless of geographical setting. The need for Christ is universal, right here in our own neighborhoods, to every point on the globe. Increased funding for our International Mission Board is a catalytic decision that will emphasize our world mission. Prayerfully, this commitment will eventually reach to every element of our missionary outreach. As we are faithful stewards of the Great Commission, can we not depend on God’s promises to stretch our tents and bring blessings that overflow our laps?
We are learning much about living in His promises, too! He is faithful and trustworthy, and His promises are real. As we demonstrate our dependence on Him and willingness to make His commission our focus, He will bless and multiply our work. It is the promise of God. My heart prayer is that this report will give all of us greater impetus for mission, and that we will move boldly because we know He is faithful.
“The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:24).