B21 is very excited about the direction of the North American Mission Board under the leadership of President Kevin Ezell (who will also be joining the B21 lunch panel on Tuesday of the Convention, Register for that HERE). Ezell has introduced the strategy entitled “Send North America” that will be a major church planting push from NAMB. NAMB is putting on a lunch panel to discuss this strategy and how churches can get involved. If you are going to be in Phoenix for the SBC, please make every effort to attend this meeting.
Details:
What: NAMB’s Send North America Luncheon
When: Monday, June 13, 2011 – lunch at noon (Doors open at 11:30am)
Where: Phoenix Convention Center room 122B (during the Monday lunch of the Southern Baptist Convention)
Speakers: Kevin Ezell and Ed Stetzer
Cost: $7 online ($10 in room 122B at Conventon Center if space is available)
Contact: SNAluncheon@namb.net or call us at 770-410-6380
Baptist21 held its 2nd annual B21 Panel at the SBC. The panel took place in Orlando during Tuesday’s Lunch at the SBC. The members of the panel were Danny Akin, Matt Chandler, Ronnie Floyd, Johnny Hunt, Albert Mohler, David Platt, Jimmy Scroggins, and Ed Stetzer. The panel discussed issues pertaining to the gospel, the SBC and its future, the Great Commission Resurgence, and more.
Video of the Panel is available here
In addition, Baptist21 would like our readers to be aware of the discussion that took place on the Tuesday night of the Southern Baptist Convention at the 9marks@9 event. During that event Danny Akin, Mark Dever, Albert Mohler, and David Platt discussed some very important topics. They addressed Platt’s sermon from the previous night, the importance of the GCR, next steps for the SBC and individual pastors, the health of the SBC, the importance of attending the national meeting (check the Mohler quote at about 11:30-12:30), the future of theological education, and more.
Video of this event is available here
Baptist21 is so grateful for the Media Services department at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. They graciously served us through recording the panel. We are indebted to them.
Baptist21 would like to make our readers aware of several noteworthy GCR articles and a series of blog posts at Between the Times.
Recently, Ed Stetzer released a blog entitled, “Will Southern Baptists Ignore the Ongoing Decline?” In this article he writes:
A LifeWay report released today showed that overall SBC membership continues to decline—for the third straight year. Despite adding 162 churches across 42 state conventions, total membership slid from 16,228,438 in 2008 to 16,160,088 in 2009, a net loss of 68,350 members. The decline has occurred in spite of an increase of 7,539 baptisms year over year. The Annual Church profiles revealed a tiny (.36%) rise in total number of churches and a .37% increase in primary worship attendance… Sometimes it is hard to know what to celebrate and about what to be concerned. The increase in baptisms is good news. Every baptism is a person being obedient to the teachings of Christ, publicly professing new life in Christ. The fact that there are more baptisms is a good thing, as is the slight increase in attendance.
Yet . . .
Bob White, Executive Director of the Georgia Baptist Convention, wrote an article entitled, “Open Door.” In this article, Dr. White discusses “Great Commission Giving.” He writes:
There is a lot of misinformation circulating and no small amount of emotion wrapped up in current discussions. I would like to speak to clarify for you some of the most discussed issues in the report… As you read the report you find very strong statements of support for the Cooperative Program as the way Southern Baptists support mission work at home and across the world… Second, we have always had designated mission gifts. Good examples would be the Lottie Moon and Annie Armstrong Offerings, World Hunger Offering, State Missions Offering, Hospital Offering, Children’s Home Offering, etc. The interesting thing about designated mission gifts is that the current system allows churches to count as “other mission gifts,” in the “designated” category of the ACP, contributions that are made to non-Southern Baptist parachurch mission organizations. (Please read that again. That is amazing.) The new plan eliminates that practice and narrows designations that may be reported to only the mission causes of the Southern Baptist Convention, state conventions and associations. I believe this is a huge improvement.
In addition, Between the Times is in the middle of a series entitled, “Why We Believe the GCRTF Report is Good for the Future of the SBC.” Some of these blog posts will be co-authored by Baptist21 contributors. Check out the blogs in this series so far, the most recent detail Dr. Akin and Finn’s response to Morris Chapman:
Baptist 21 is excited to announce that Johnny Hunt and Ronnie Floyd will be joining us at the B21 Panel Luncheon. They will join a very important conversation with Akin, Platt, Scroggins, Stetzer, Chandler, and Mohler about the future of the SBC and the Great Commission Resurgence.
This year’s SBC is being compared already to the 1979 Convention when the Conservative Resurgence started. That means it will be one of the most important in recent memory. This panel will discuss the most significant issues facing the SBC and our future.
We are delighted to have these two key figures in SBC life joining us. Johnny Hunt is the Pastor of FBC Woodstock and the President of the SBC. His leadership during his two years as President has been outstanding. He has boldly set the course for a Great Commission-focused future in the SBC. Ronnie Floyd is the chairman of the GCR Task Force. He has shown bold, wise, and consensus-building leadership in that role. Much of the GCR is the dream and vision of these two men and so we thought it necessary to hear from them.
Please make every effort to attend this event! This event will take place immediately prior to the selection of the next SBC President and the GCR Task Force Presentation.
When is the b21 panel: June 15th 11:30 am – 1:30 pm (during the lunch break of this year’s Southern Baptist Convention in Orlando immediately following President Hunt’s address). Lunch will be provided.
Where is the b21 panel: The panel will be on site at the Convention in the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC), West Building in Rooms 311B-H
Who is on the b21 panel:
Why hold the b21 panel: This is a pivotal year for the SBC with the report coming from the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force. This could be a “tipping point” for our future. We want to have significant leaders help guide us in thinking through these issues.
How much is the b21 panel: There will be a $7 charge that will accompany registration for the event. This $7 will include lunch and books.
Possible Topics at b21 panel: These are some possible topics that will be covered. In addition, there will be a future blog asking for your questions as well.
This is going to be a key year for the future of the SBC. We urge you to make plans to be in Orlando for it. We hope this panel will provide an exciting venue at the SBC for you to connect with others, receive resources, and gain insight from key leaders. Please make every effort to attend and help us spread the word about this lunch.
Baptist21 had the privilege of hosting a panel lunch discussion at the recent Advance the Church Conference. The topic of discussion was “Church Planting v. Church Revitalization.” The panelists included Acts29 President Scott Thomas, Lifeway Research President Ed Stetzer, Southern Baptist Convention President Johnny Hunt, Summit Church Pastor J.D. Greear, and Vintage21 Pastor Tyler Jones. Below is the video and Podcast MP3 of the event.
Video Part 1 of B21 Panel
B21 Panel @ Advance the Church from Nathan Akin on Vimeo.
Video Part 2 of B21 Panel
B21 Panel @ Advance the Church (pt 2) from Daniel Akin on Vimeo.
Podcast Audio of B21 Panel @ ATC
[podcast]http://www.baptisttwentyone.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/B21-Panel-ATC.mp3[/podcast]
Check out B21 Podcast on I-Tunes
Additional Resources: Audio from the Advance the Church Conference 2010 – Check out the talks from the Advance Conference on “Contextualizing the Gospel in the New South”
Special Thanks: We did not think we were going to get video of the panel but Scott Thomas’ Assistant Adriel Ifland was kind of enough to capture the video for us. We are thankful for her kindness and help.
Future Baptist21 Events: Baptist21 will host two future events. The first will be held in Arnold, Missouri next Monday and will feature Darrin Patrick, Alvin Reid, Bruce Ashford, and Kenny Qualls discussing “Men on Mission.” Hear Darrin Patrick discuss the event. Register today for free books and lunch.
Also, b21 will host a panel lunch at this year’s SBC. The panelists will include Matt Chandler, Danny Akin, David Platt, Albert Mohler, Ed Stetzer, and more. Registration and more information about that event.
