The Call to Columbus, June 16-17, 2015
As the newly elected President of the Southern Baptist Convention, I want to call every pastor, every church leader, and every layperson from a Southern Baptist church to join me in Columbus, Ohio, on June 16-17, 2015. As I work with our Order of Business Committee as well as other leaders, I will respectfully request for us to dedicate as much time as possible in next year’s convention to pray extraordinarily for the next Great Awakening. I want to call you to Columbus, Ohio, to what could be one of the most significant prayer gatherings in our history to pray for the next Great Awakening.
Extraordinary Prayer for the Next Great Awakening
Yes, we have to conduct business at the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting, and we will do it with great diligence; but we will also bring to fruition a year-long emphasis of praying in an extraordinary manner for the next great spiritual awakening in America. For the next year, I want to humbly request from each church, each national SBC entity, and each state convention that we begin to pray in an over and above way for God to move mightily in our lives, our churches, and our nation.
Why is this Important?
Why is this important? Our convention has bemoaned our continual decline in baptisms, membership, attendance, and giving far too long; now is the time we take aggressive action by calling out to God together in prayer; at the same time, we must take the needed strategic actions to change our trajectory as a convention of churches. While we face these critical times, we know God is doing some amazing things right now through Southern Baptists. As we celebrate those to God’s glory in Columbus, we will also call out to God in urgent desperation.
Why is revival in the church and awakening in the nation so important? I have been greatly convicted that one of the reasons God has placed me as President, for such a time as this, is for the purpose to call His people to what Jonathan Edwards called “extraordinary prayer.” We need extraordinary prayer for the purpose of revival personally, revival in the church, and spiritual awakening in America, so we can see commitment to the Great Commission escalated, and accelerate it to its completion in our generation. I believe this should be our heart and our goal.
I have been privileged to catch a glimpse of extraordinary prayer in the Praying Pastors gatherings. We have led over 1,500 pastors in these four gatherings, two of which have been national gatherings. God is doing something very unique right now, and I believe that extraordinary prayer is our number one need. In extraordinary prayer, we recognize that only God can do what is needed in us personally, congregationally, denominationally, nationally, and internationally.
Pray Now for the Next Great Awakening
We’ve had a great conservative resurgence in the SBC. We are in the midst of a Great Commission resurgence in the SBC. In order for the Great Commission resurgence to be elevated to the proper priority, we need a great spiritual movement and a mighty spiritual awakening, which this nation has not seen in a long time. Yes, we need to pray now in an extraordinary manner for the next Great Awakening.
Mark Your Calendar: June 16-17, 2015
Mark your calendar now for June 16-17, 2015, and join us in Columbus, Ohio. Why should you come? Who knows, this may be the moment, the time, and God’s place to begin the next Great Awakening in the United States. And consider coming in early for Saturday, June 13, to join us in Crossover Columbus. Consider these facts about Columbus, Ohio:
- 15th Largest city in America
- 139 Languages spoken in Columbus
- 111 SBC Churches in Metro Columbus Baptist Association
- SEND CITY in our national church planting strategy
- Home of the Ohio State University
Soon We Will Begin To Connect Together
Our team is right now beginning to work on various ways we can begin to connect together via technology. We will use email, Twitter, and Instagram to help all of us be a part of a movement toward Columbus, Ohio. But greater than that, a movement of praying for the next Great Awakening in America, so that we can see commitment to the Great Commission escalated, and accelerate it to its completion in our generation.
Please call upon your church and others to pray for me daily. I want to represent our Lord, our church, and our Southern Baptist family in the highest manner. I cannot do that without you praying for me daily.
Yours for the Great Commission,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.
This Week at Cross Church | Cross Church, Post-SBC, and Leadership
Today, I want to share several things with you.
Cross Church
We are moving into one of our busiest seasons here at Cross Church. We have VBX at each of our campuses; in fact, our Springdale campus finishes up today. And next week, several hundred high school students are going to our student camp in Destin, Florida.
Additionally, on June 29, we look forward to our fabulous Summer Freedom Celebration, Hope for America: The Next Great Awakening, in the morning at each of our campuses, and then on Sunday late afternoon and evening, our Fireworks at the Crosses. These are fabulous opportunities for you to engage and bring others with you. This entire day is a day that each member can feel great about bringing guests.
Remember, on June 29, prior to our Fireworks at the Crosses and after some great music, I will be baptizing beneath the crosses. Last year, I had the privilege to baptize over 100 people in this setting. I hope you will be here to experience this special time. If you have demonstrated faith in Jesus Christ already and are awaiting baptism, this is a wonderful opportunity for you to follow through on your decision. It would be a joy to baptize you. Go here to learn more or register for baptism.
Post-SBC
I want to thank each of you who have begun to pray for me daily. I have received some cool text messages from parents who are teaching their children to pray for me since I am now serving as the President of the Southern Baptist Convention. Prayer is my #1 need, so thank you for being faithful to pray.
I want you to catch the vision of what God has placed on my heart. Each Monday, my blog will be targeted to the Southern Baptist Convention. Therefore, please read my blog each Monday or sign up to have it sent straight to your email by filling out the “Subscribe” box in the right column. My first article, The Call to Columbus, was published this past Monday. Please take time to read it today.
So what is happening right now? I am getting matters in place strategically and responding to speaking requests. Much is going on. I am told that during the month of July, things slow down in SBC life; time will tell! God is opening many doors, and I must have discernment about what I can and cannot do.
Leadership
Speaking of leadership, we need each of you to step up to leadership in our fellowship. A leader has influence and everyone has some level of ability. Will you step up to the challenge and use your leadership skills for the glory of God? There are many areas of ministry where you are needed.
Many of you have engaged this week, with over 170 leaders volunteering for VBX to the glory of God. Not only did we break our five-year attendance record on Monday at the Springdale campus, we broke it again on Tuesday. Because of your service and leadership, we have had record attendance and over 50 children have made professions of faith just this week.
Additionally, we need the leadership of the Holy Spirit in our lives. As I am pursuing the God of Heaven daily, I want the leadership of the Holy Spirit. Let’s pray for one another to be filled and led by the Holy Spirit.
This week, let’s follow God’s leadership and be witnesses for Jesus Christ. We will NOT be ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation to everyone who believes. Lead forward by sharing the gospel with someone this week.
Yours for the Great Commission,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.