As the Courier has reported, I have resigned from the position of president of South Carolina Baptist Ministries for the Aging to return to the pastorate. As I follow God’s leadership in making this change, I want to say four things to South Carolina Baptists.
First, a definite turnaround in the ministry’s financial picture has occurred. Unlike earlier years, SCBMA just concluded its third straight fiscal year in which neither Bethea nor Martha Franks lost money.
Second, major changes have been made, or are currently being made, in how Bethea and Martha Franks operate so that the financial problems they experienced in the past should not happen again.
Third, the ministry is in good hands. I am confident that ministry leaders will continue to be Christ-centered in their focus, Southern Baptist in their values, and good stewards in their decisions.
Finally, by supporting the Cooperative Program, Mother’s Day Offering and giving other help, individual Baptists and their churches have been the key to SCBMA’s revival. The Baptist Courier’s accurate coverage of our ministry helped tremendously. The convention’s staff was supportive of me personally, and of our revived ministry. The convention itself gave SCBMA outstanding trustees. For these and many other reasons, I thank God for South Carolina Baptists.
Most importantly, I thank God because he is still in the life-giving business. God gives new life to everyone who believes in Jesus Christ, and God has given new life to SCBMA – as Romans 11:36 says, “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.”
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