Southern Baptists: When Crises Abound, What Should We Do?

I have been serving as President of the Southern Baptist Convention for 138 days. When I look at what has occurred in our world in these past 138 days, I am absolutely astounded.

Crises Abound

Review with me what has happened in these past four months in our nation and world:

• Texas border crisis: Crisis reached new heights in June. I was able to visit the Texas border with Russell Moore on July 22.
• Hobby Lobby court decision: Released on June 30, giving us an encouraging message about religious liberty.
• Conflict between Gaza and Israel: This major conflict from July 8 through August 26 is still resulting in many challenges in this part of the world.
• Rise of ISIS: Began to emerge in July in unprecedented ways and is escalating beyond our imagination; resulting in massive killings, multiple beheadings, human trafficking, and other malicious actions, all due to a desire for religious cleansing and to destroy Christianity.
• Unprecedented refugee crisis in both Iraq and Syria: This massive refugee crisis occurring in Iraq and Syria due to fear of ISIS and others has now resulted in one of the most unprecedented humanitarian crises in our generation. Millions have needs for clothing, shelter, and food.
• Michael Brown shooting in Ferguson, Missouri: This shooting occurred on August 9, leading to racial unrest that is still occurring.
• Moore, Oklahoma terrorist: He was fired, leading to an attack on his workplace and beheading of a former co-worker on September 27.
• Ebola outbreak: At the end of September and the beginning of October, an Ebola virus outbreak begins to be known internationally, bringing great fear around the world, even in our own nation in places like Dallas and New York City.
• Same sex marriage unleashed: The Supreme Court decides not to address the issue on October 8, appearing at this time to become a tremendous boost for the cause of same sex marriage in America.
• Vatican divided on same sex marriage: On October 15, the Vatican began to send an unclear signal on the issue of same sex marriage, debating amongst themselves their long term commitment to recognizing marriage as being only between a man and a woman.

The list could continue with things like the ongoing investigation of Benghazi, the Secret Service situation, the Ottawa, Canada shooting on October 22, and the most recent tragic high school shooting on October 24 at Marysville High School near Seattle, Washington.

Is this enough, or shall I continue with other major crises that have occurred in these past 138 days? These are just some of the global crises happening today and do not even include the countless crises people have experienced personally in family, business, or finance.

We Need Spiritual Awakening and to Reach the World for Christ

Do we really think there is any other answer at this time in our world than spiritual awakening in our nation and reaching the world for Christ? This is why we must pray, and I mean pray like never before. We need to pray personally, in our churches, and in gatherings with other Christ-followers.

The time is now for us to rise up and:

• Pray for Spiritual Awakening
• Reach the World for Christ

I have said over and over again these past 138 days that when we talk about praying for spiritual awakening, we accompany that with an aggressive strategy to reach our towns, villages, cities, our nation, and other nations with the gospel of Christ.

Prayer is Not Inaction, but Our Greatest Action

Prayer is not inaction, but our greatest action. Prayer empowers us to believe God for great things and it moves us into taking aggressive action in reaching our towns, villages, cities, nation, and other nations with the gospel of Christ.

This is God’s will for my life and my church and every church in the world: Presenting the gospel of Jesus Christ to every person in the world and making disciples of all the nations.

This starts with me personally…

     This continues with my church collectively…

          This influences my region miraculously…

               This awakens my nation supernaturally…

                    This reaches the entire world globally…

I ask for your prayers this week as I preach at the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, the Chapel service at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and lead a luncheon at the seminary with Dr. Chuck Kelley, focusing on prayer and awakening.

Yours for the Great Commission,

Ronnie W. Floyd

Senior Pastor, Cross Church

President, Southern Baptist Convention

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Dr. Ronnie Floyd is currently serving as the President of the Southern Baptist Convention. The Southern Baptist Convention is America’s largest Protestant denomination with more than 15.7 million members in over 46,000 churches nationwide.

To request an interview with Dr. Ronnie Floyd
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