Carlisle DriggersAll of my adult years, I have heard it said that the best time to retire from a position is when the work is going well. If that is indeed true, then my decision to retire as executive director-treasurer comes at a time when the South Carolina Baptist Convention is in a remarkably healthy condition in just about every conceivable regard.
For months, I have prayed that I could retire at a time when our convention was not in some kind of turmoil or confusion, and God has answered my prayer. We are experiencing the finest year so far in 2006 that I can remember during my entire tenure of service. For that I am most grateful, and my heart is full of praise to our Heavenly Father.
I love the South Carolina Baptist Convention, and I have wanted so much to leave it in a strong position. I do not mean to imply that there are no challenges or concerns among us, because there are always some of those, but overall, we are kingdom-focused and at peace as we serve our Christ together.
In keeping with the governing documents of the South Carolina Baptist Convention, our Executive Board has put in place a search committee of seven persons to do the hard, prayerful work of nominating our next executive director-treasurer to the Executive Board in October for approval and then on to our annual meeting in November for approval by the messengers.
If all goes well, I will continue to serve until Feb. 28, 2007, so that the executive director-treasurer-elect and I can spend some valuable time together before he assumes his duties March 1.
Let me request all South Carolina Baptists to pray faithfully for the search committee. They need and deserve our prayers and best wishes. They also need to be left alone so they can do their best work without undue pressure being placed on them. Those seven individuals are Tim Williams, Spartanburg; Tommy Cofield, Lexington; David Martin, Easley; Don Purvis, Hartsville; Betty Spradley, Rock Hill; Tom Swilley, Conway; and Dennis Wilkins, Bluffton.
Now, let me call attention to several other matters of importance to all of us.
— Last year at this time, you were asked to give emergency financial support to a Mother’s Day Offering for our two retirement homes. That request was heard, as some 1,000 of our churches responded and gave $1.2 million. We need those churches to do the same this Mother’s Day, and we also need our additional 1,000 churches to pitch in and give as well. If we can contribute generously this year, Bethea and Martha Franks will be on firm ground for the future. Thank you in advance for helping. The monies should be sent to the Baptist Foundation, 190 Stoneridge Drive, Columbia, 29210, and designated for South Carolina Baptist Ministries for the Aging (SCBMA).
– A conference of interest to all South Carolina Baptists is scheduled for May 8-9 at the Riverland Hills Baptist Church in Irmo. The leaders for this conference will speak to us on the theme of “Turning the Church Inside Out.” We will be stretched, inspired and challenged as we hear from unusually knowledgeable persons about the rapid growth of Christianity all over the world these days. It is a fact that more people are turning to Jesus now than at any time since His crucifixion and resurrection. This conference will give hope, encouragement and added meaning to our witnessing efforts. To register, log on to www.scbaptist.org or call 1-800-723-7242.
– For a long time, I have been concerned about the number of Southern Baptist churches each year that do not reach and baptize new believers in Jesus. For instance, last year some 9,000 churches across the Southern Baptist Convention baptized no one, and in South Carolina, 300 churches did not baptize anyone. Surely we can do better than that. My Bible says that “the Lord is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9), and Jesus, of course, instructed that when we reach them, be sure and baptize them (Matthew 28:18-20).
My heart yearns to come to the conclusion of my years as your executive director-treasurer and report that in the year 2006, every one of our South Carolina Baptist churches reached and baptized somebody. If that should happen, we will most likely have the largest number of conversions and baptisms in our history. I pray that will take place, and, if so, may God be praised. What a kingdom victory that will be for sure!
– If you attend the annual Southern Baptist Convention meeting this June 13-14 in Greensboro, N.C., please plan to drop in on our South Carolina Baptist Convention reception Tuesday night from 8:30 to 10:30 (or immediately following the evening session), in the Victoria Ballrooms B & C at the Sheraton Four Seasons Hotel. That is a fun time for us to be together. You will enjoy the experience as you see lots of good friends and make new ones. Please RSVP by May 30 to Murfi Lockhart at (803) 765-0030 or (800) 723-7242, ext. 3400, or murfilockhart@scbaptist.org.
During the convention meeting, a recommendation will be made to give renewed importance to the Cooperative Program. I have been on the ad hoc committee that prepared the report, and I believe it is as timely as can be. It is absolutely true that the only hope for the world is the Lord Jesus.