This was Paul’s stand: “I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ.”
In spite of a changing culture, decaying morals and persecution, Paul would not cower to the cynics or shift his stand because of scoffers, nor would he drink from the fountain of culture. His pledge was to stand unashamed and be ready to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ at Rome.
Dear pastor, if anything should be clear, to the point, uncompromisingly distinct, boldly proclaimed and without apology, it is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. You, as a pastor/preacher, have the most important position in the world. It is in you that God has entrusted His unchanging Word.
Mike Runion
We will never find, however, the affirmation we so desperately long for from our surrounding culture. The support we need is not found in the counsel of the ungodly, nor in the path of sinners, nor in the seat of the scornful. Instead, our delight is in the law (Word) of the Lord and it is in this law (Word) that we are to meditate day and night. We do well and prosper only in light of His counsel (Psalm 1).
This is why we gather at our annual Pastors’ Conference in November — to encourage one another in the Word! I hope you have made your plans to be at Trinity Baptist Church in Cayce on Monday, Nov. 14, at 9 a.m.
Here are our guest preachers: Dick Lincoln, pastor, Shandon Baptist Church, Columbia; Gary Hollingsworth, executive director-treasurer of the South Carolina Baptist Convention; Ted Traylor, pastor, Olive Baptist Church, Pensacola, Fla.; Jeff LaBorg, pastor, Fairview Baptist Church, Corryton, Tenn.; Junior Hill, evangelist, Hartsville, Ala.; Rob Wilton, pastor, Vintage Church, New Orleans, La.; Don Wilton, pastor, First Baptist Church, Spartanburg.
One attendee will leave the conference with an all-expense-paid trip to the Holy Land. Just come and register; one of you, along with your wife, will be going to Israel!
Mark your calendars for Nov. 14 and join us at Trinity Baptist Church, Cayce. Thank you, Pastor Eddie Coakley and the good people at Trinity, for hosting the 2016 Pastors’ Conference!
— Mike Runion is pastor of City View First Baptist Church in Greenville and president of the 2016 South Carolina Baptist Pastors’ Conference.