The 2012 South Carolina Baptist Convention Evangelism Conference was held Feb. 22-24 at Hoffmeyer Road Baptist Church in Florence. Local and national speakers encouraged and challenged the more than 1,000 in attendance to share their faith.
David Gallamore, pastor of Rock Springs Baptist Church in Easley, told worshipers at the 2012 SCBC Evangelism Conference, “We must share the gospel one-on-one, just as God deals with people one-on-one.” Retired pastor and former SCBC president Randall Jones was responsible for the organization of the conference. Jones led a time of commitment where more than 200 individuals committed to sharing the gospel with a friend. Charles Billingsley, former member of NewSong, led in worship Friday afternoon.
The conference began Wednesday evening with worship led by Jeff LaBorg and Junior Hill. Thursday sessions included Rick Corum, David Gallamore, Randall Jones, and music led by gospel singing group, The Old Paths. Friday sessions included Ernie Perkins, Jim Austin and Phil Hoskins. Attendees were challenged to use their God-given gifts and talents in evangelism and to seek out individuals who don’t know Christ.
“Everyone is valuable, everyone matters,” said Lee Clamp, SCBC director of evangelism. “If we are going to win the world, we have to win the one.”
During the Friday morning session, Gallamore addressed an audience primarily made up of church staff about what happens when Jesus “passes by,” based on Scripture from Mark 10. “I believe Jesus is passing by our national convention, our state convention, our churches, and by us as pastors. I need Jesus to pass by me every day,” said Gallamore, pastor of Rock Springs Baptist Church in Easley. “Our priority as a church is to reach a dying world with the gospel that Jesus saves. We must share the gospel one-on-one, just as God deals with people one-on-one.”
Perkins, an evangelist in his 70s who is working on his fourth advanced academic degree, brought lighthearted moments to the conference with his humorous takes on evangelism and spiritual gifts. Perkins said all believers have been given spiritual gifts, and not everyone has the gift of evangelism, but Christians should be developing spiritual disciplines including evangelism.
“I was and am a soul-winner, but it’s never been easy,” he said. “Let’s face it. Evangelism will probably never be easy, but we’ve got to do it anyway.”
Perkins told of a wheelchair-bound believer whose degenerative muscle disease prevented him from speaking, so he used an audio recording of the Bible to play the evangelistic sequence of verses from the Book of Romans called “The Roman Road” for his roommate. Perkins and another believer spoke with the roommate who ultimately prayed to receive Christ.
Tim Conrad, left, of Colorado’s UW Sports Ministry, presents Ralph Jett, pastor of Brown’s Chapel Church in Pacolet Mills, with a $600 sports camp package for use with up to 50 kids. Jett won the package in a drawing held at the SCBC Evangelism Conference. “I prayed and told the Lord it would be really cool if our church won this, because we had a community sports camp last summer for the first time and saw several children get saved. This is such a blessing,” Jett said.“There is power in God’s holy word. Instead of reading the Roman Road to the person you’re witnessing to, ask them to read the verses out loud. Ask them what they think it means,” Perkins suggested as another way to “win the one.”
Revival among believers in the church was another theme several speakers addressed. Hoskins used 2 Chronicles 7:14 as the basis of his challenge to pray and repent for sin that is an obstacle to revival. “Revival happens when God hears and when God heals. He is far more ready to send revival than we are to have it,” Hoskins said.
Austin, SCBC executive director-treasurer, spoke about the challenges Christians and South Carolina Baptists face in today’s world. He said if the body of Christ is to reach the world with the gospel, each member must first be pure, seek unity, be full of peace, know who the real enemy is, and take the initiative to try. “We all are uniquely gifted by God, and only you can do what God has called you to do and be who God called you to be,” he said. “We need to embrace the cause Jesus has called each of us to. As the people of God, we have a high calling in the Great Commission,” he said.
Randall Jones said of the conference, “The overwhelming response of those in attendance was [that] this was a great blessing; this is the kind of conference we need. The joy of worship, the blessing of heartfelt preaching, and the exhilaration of great music permeated every session.”
“There has been a great spirit here,” said Clamp. “We are so thankful to Dr. Randall Jones for being the catalyst to organize the conference. He did a remarkable job. People have been energized and encouraged to take Christ outside the walls of the church and into the community. We pray that those in attendance will catch a passion for the lost and go after them in the months to come. This will define success for us. We can’t win the world until we win the one.” – SCBC