President’s Perspective: Moving into Deep Water

Tom Tucker

Last time, we introduced our theme for 2016: “Launch Out!” It is based on Luke 5, as Jesus instructed Peter to “launch out” into the deep. We must launch out in prayer, evangelism, discipleship, missions and partnership!

Perhaps our greatest obstacle in seeing the miracle-working power of God is our own apathy. As a pastor for more than 25 years, I have discovered that most of us don’t want to leave our comfort zone.

In today’s culture, we are willing to serve the Lord when we need Him. We may even wade out a bit further than the Christian next to us, but we insist on staying near the shore. (“Sitting on the dock of the bay watching the tide roll away, wasting time.”)

Tom Tucker

Tom Tucker

Moving into deep water requires a full surrender! It means we weigh anchor and set our sails to launch out into the deep. It means we leave the shallow waters and fully surrender to the directions of the Lord Jesus Christ.

If we stay close to the shore or seated on the dock, we lose focus; we forget that the very purpose of ministry is to preach the Gospel. Near the shore or on the dock, we’re busy, and we generate a lot of programs — but we don’t catch fish! Our ministries become more about service than about reaching lost men and women with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

So we are content and comfortable. We see people who will sit on the dock and look out over the water, offering only complaints when our nation has turned against a Holy God! We can complain about the state of our nation and the multitudes of lost people around us, or we can launch out into the deep.

My prayer is that we as South Carolina Baptists will launch out into the deep and leave the shallow waters of comfort and seek His face for revival. It will only happen when we are on our knees in prayer!

— Tom Tucker is pastor of Sisk Memorial Baptist Church in Fort Mill and president of the South Carolina Baptist Convention.