I do not know why his mother named him for the designation of the era before Christ, but that was his name: B.C. He was old, but not that old. Exactly why I loved B.C. so much may be a bit mysterious. Perhaps it was his squinty eyes and a gentle, infectious smile. It certainly wasn’t his Sunday school teaching skills. He was slow, never dynamic.

Only in looking back can I see why this wonderful elderly man held great influence in my life — both then and now. He obviously loved and cared for those of us in his Sunday school class, and he intuitively knew that his being present would benefit a few rowdy boys and influence their lives forever. I am glad he was there. Later, in my adult years, I would gravitate to the area where B.C. Crawford sat in church and express my love and appreciation to him for just unselfishly being there. Only eternity can reveal his impact on my life.

It occurs to me now that you and I have the same vantage point. We will never know until eternity the lives we influence just by being there! I remember many pastors’ conferences where, in addition to the wonderful preaching, I was heartened because I met someone that I needed to see or get to know or who spoke a kind word to me. Many times I have walked away from these magnificent conferences and thanked God for that particular person being there who refreshed my life (Proverbs 27:17).

In terms of kingdom relationships, you are important to God and to others. Make your plans now to be there — at the South Carolina Baptist Pastors’ Conference, Nov. 9, 2015, in Spartanburg. You will be challenged and encouraged by God’s Word. And who knows? You, too, may add incalculable value to someone’s life just by “being there”!

— Mike Runion is pastor of City View First Baptist Church in Greenville and vice president of the 2015 South Carolina Baptist Pastors’ Conference.