At Home – by Rudy Gray

This is the first column I have written since being elected president of our state convention. I am genuinely honored for the opportunity to serve South Carolina Baptists in this way.

Rudy Gray

It is my hope and prayer that we can strengthen families and make our convention a truly multi-generational group of Christians on mission together. We have work to do and changes to make if we are to reach the younger generation of servants who are not actively involved in our ministries. We need wisdom so we do not alienate or offend our older servants who have given so much of their time and treasure to the work of our convention. In short, we need the courage to be biblically accurate, the passion to be clear witnesses, and the strength to be faithful at this time in our history. We need the power of God working through our surrendered lives!

I believe we can become more family friendly without sacrificing doctrinal integrity or evangelistic zeal. The family is the basic unit in our society. When we have strong families, we will have stronger churches. The family needs to be encouraged and exhorted today. Good marriages do not just happen. It takes work. But most of all, it takes believing in Christ and growing in his word. It has been said by many that if our Christianity does not work at home, it really doesn’t work.

If I can have some small part in promoting strong, healthy, godly families, that is what I want to do. I remember a plaster plaque I made as a child in Vacation Bible School. It was ugly. I was in a hurry to slap some paint on it and go out and play. But that plaque left a strong image in my mind. In fact it hung on a wall in our house for years. It simply said, “The family that prays together, stays together.”

Today, we know that one of the key traits of strong families is genuine faith in Christ and his word. Strong families do not just do religious stuff or practice dead traditions. They live out God’s truth among themselves and among others.

Younger generations crave relationships. The church is the best place for old and young to come together learning from each other, helping each other, and enabling each other to be people who live for the glory of God in our time.

May God help us all to be concerned about building Christ-centered homes that, in turn, influence others to want to know our God.

From our family to yours: Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!