Archive for the 'Southern Baptist Convention' Category
See You in St. Louis: Southern Baptist Convention, June 14-15, 2016 #SBC16
Coming off our largest convention meeting since 2012 in New Orleans, our Southern Baptist Family begins to dream and cast the vision for our next gathering in 2016 in St. Louis, Missouri. More importantly than the size of our gathering in Columbus, our great and mighty God met with us powerfully. We are building on what God started in Columbus, Ohio, last year as we continue to call daily and continually for the next Great Awakening in America.
Save the Date: June 14-15, 2016
Will I see you in St. Louis on June 14-15, 2016, for our Southern Baptist Convention? Please mark your calendar now for this upcoming and dynamic experience with our Southern Baptist Family.
Pastors and church leaders, set your calendars now for this gathering. Make these dates non-negotiable and decide now to be in St. Louis for our 2016 Southern Baptist Convention and bring people with you.
See the Vision: Get Metro St. Louis on Your Heart
Metropolitan St. Louis needs the saving message of Jesus Christ. Our nearly 2,000 Southern Baptist churches in Missouri need the encouragement of our greater Southern Baptist Family.
Why should we see the vision of metro St. Louis?
- 2.73 million people live in metro St. Louis
- 1 out of 7 Missourians live in metro St. Louis
- 50.9% of the population is unaffiliated with any religious body
- Only 17.9% of the population of metro St. Louis is affiliated with an evangelical church
- St. Louis is one of our SEND Cities. Watch this to learn more.
Southern Baptists, how do we not go and make a difference in metro St. Louis? You see, when we speak of metro St. Louis, we are also talking about East St. Louis, Illinois. Two states will be impacted by our gathering next year.
How can your church participate in Crossover St. Louis a few days ahead of our convention? They will be able to assist new church plants or help established churches. This all leads up to the major Crossover event on Saturday, June 11. Then, your church members can stay and attend our convention on June 14-15. Please strongly consider this.
Stand Together With Us to Reach the World
When you fly or drive into St. Louis, you will notice the Gateway Arch as you enter the city. It stands 630 feet wide and 630 feet tall. This remarkable structure has been known historically as America’s gateway to the West, with St. Louis the Gateway City.
In 2016, Southern Baptists need to converge on this city from all over the world and see it as our gateway to reach the world for Jesus Christ. Stand with us!
Seven Reasons to Come to St. Louis on June 14-15, 2016
- We need to be with our family, our Southern Baptist Family.
- We need to be inspired to believe again that God can give us the next Great Awakening so we can be the generation that reaches the world for Christ.
- We need to hear the Word of God proclaimed, pray and worship together by the thousands, and have our spiritual lives set on fire again.
- We need to hear the wonderful testimonies and reports about what God is doing across America and the world through our work together.
- We need to hear how our church’s financial investment in the Cooperative Program and Mission Offerings is being used to share the gospel.
- We need to be encouraged to know that when we are together and working together there is hope in America and this world.
- We need to join together by the thousands as we pray for our nation at this critical time, calling out to God to revive His church and bestow upon us the next Great Spiritual Awakening so we can reach the world for Christ.
Now is the time for Southern Baptists to lead. Let these words encourage your life today, as you lead others into the future:
“An awakening can bring about the evangelization of the world in our generation.” (Dr. Billy Graham)
“The one who mobilizes the Christian church to pray, will make the greatest contribution to world evangelization in history.” (Andrew Murray)
God is not finished with Southern Baptists, America, or the world.
See You in St. Louis!
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
contact Gayla Oldham at (479) 751-4523 or email gaylao@crosschurch.com.
Visit our website at http://ronniefloyd.com
Follow Dr. Floyd on Twitter and Instagram @ronniefloyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.
We Are a Country in Chaos: What Southern Baptists Should Do
I love America and will not give up on our great nation. Yet, America is a country in chaos. Never in my lifetime have I seen our nation in such turmoil. What are some of the things that tell this story?
Burning of African American Churches
While we do not know why all these churches have burned, we do know that it reminds us there are some in our nation that want to cause our African American brothers and sisters harm. Enough is enough!
Racism and prejudice need to end now. If it remains the way it is today, we will see more violence occur. Perhaps the greatest threats to our national security are those who still hold on to the demonic grip of racism and prejudice. If you missed this story on BPNews last week, please take the time to read it.
I encourage you to join Cross Church and the North American Mission Board in giving toward helping these churches. The North American Mission Board, under the leadership of Dr. Kevin Ezell, will receive these funds and distribute them to the churches that have needs. You can give online, by check (please designate it as “Church Fire Fund”), or by phone. Please go to namb.net/givenow for more information.
9 People Killed in Charleston
While our lives go on and the media follows the next big story, back in Charleston is a church and nine families that will continue to realize the brutality and force of these murders. They have mirrored God’s grace through their grief, but they still begin a new life without these nine loved people. We need to pray for them and do not need to forget them.
We need to stand with Charleston, not just initially through these tragic days, but in the future. Within hours of these murders, I called upon Dr. Russell Moore, Dr. K. Marshall Williams, and Dr. A.B. Vines to join me in a statement. Dr. Williams is the President of the African American Fellowship of the Southern Baptist Convention and Dr. A. B. Vines is the former President of this distinguished and loved fellowship. I can assure you that the four of us will work diligently within our Southern Baptist family to see all racism and prejudice end.
Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage
Last week in my article to our Southern Baptist Convention, I addressed this in detail. Today, we see a country divided and teetering on a moral collapse. You see, as many of us warned, this is not the end, but the beginning of so much more. The court’s overreach could now push us to more of a divide, creating chaos in many towns, cities, and states. Plus, the court itself, the White House, and Congress will begin to see that some people are just not going to give up their values.
Some will be willing to walk away. Southern Baptist Linda Barnette resigned her county clerk job after 24 years, refusing to issue marriage licenses for same-sex couples. I spoke with Linda and her husband, Sherman, of Mississippi, encouraging and thanking them for their stand. Let me make something clear: This couple and others like them are not troublemakers or radicals, but born again Bible believers who stand on the authority of Scripture.
It is unbelievable that America has come to this point. We are a nation in chaos, a country that is confused and operating in disorder.
ISIS and Their National Security Threat Against Our Nation
The story buzzing for days before July 4 was the threat of ISIS within the borders of our nation. Hours and hours have been given to this threat, with speculation from many different sources. Again, confusion and disorder. Why the insecurity regarding our national security? ISIS is racing forward rapidly and it appears there is no end. Surely, there is something someone can do as they continue to forward their ruthless agenda against Christians globally.
What Should We Do as Southern Baptists?
I could go on with other examples of our nation being in chaos. What must we do as Southern Baptists?
Let me remind you what Judges 21:29 says: “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did whatever he wanted” (HSCB) or “everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” (KJV) America is a country that is permitting its citizens, courts, politicians, and leaders to do what is right in their own eyes or whatever they want to do.
The end result: chaos, confusion, and disorder.
What we should do:
- Pray for our nation like never before.
- Raise up convictional leaders who will do what is right in the eyes of God.
- Stand upon the Word of God strongly and consistently.
- Encourage one another in the faith.
- Connect with your church more than ever before.
We need God and one another more than ever before.
Now is the Time to Lead,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Senior Pastor, Cross Church
President, Southern Baptist Convention
*******
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
contact Gayla Oldham at (479) 751-4523 or email gaylao@crosschurch.com.
Visit our website at http://ronniefloyd.com
Follow Dr. Floyd on Twitter and Instagram @ronniefloyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.