Rev. Stephen Foss, FBCSL
On Nov. 11 about 150 Southern Baptists from around the State of Arizona met in Glendale to reaffirm their commitment to The Great Commission and strengthen the network of churches bound together for that purpose. If you do not know what The Great Commission is, please come to First Baptist Church Sun Lakes (FBCSL) to discover its meaning.
At the meeting, the attendees were introduced to the new president of the Southern Baptists Executive Committee: Jeff Lorg. The Executive Committee is responsible for the efficient allocation of mission funds to the home and international missionaries around the world. Lorg provided four reasons the Southern Baptist Church network of churches works:
“First, we cooperate because the Bible says we can do more collectively than we can do by ourselves.
“Second, we cooperate because it expresses the unity we strive for in Jesus Christ.
“Third, we cooperate because our churches are autonomous but not independent, (while)… all Baptist churches are autonomous, but Southern Baptist Churches are not independent. We have agreed to subjugate our personal preferences on ministry practices, mission strategies, financial allocations, and, occasionally, even some doctrinal positions in order to work together for the overarching goal … (fulfilling The Great Commission).
“Fourth, we cooperate because cooperation works, producing supernatural results which reflect God’s power, God’s grace, and God’s favor on our movement.”
Southern Baptists cooperate voluntarily because we can do more together than we can do separately.
“More than four million Southern Baptists gather in worship in the United States every Sunday. Lifeway (the Southern Baptist Church publishing house) serves about 30,000 churches, teaching millions of people about the Bible. Southern Baptists operate what may be the largest ministerial training effort in the world. Southern Baptists minister to families through adoption, medical care, and even in the final stages of life. Southern Baptists steward the resources the Lord provides for kingdom purposes. Last year, faithful Southern Baptists gave more than $10 billion in tithes and offerings to their churches,” he said.
“Because of all of these gifts and because they’ve been giving for now 100 years or longer, we have the largest mission-sending agency, the largest domestic church planting movement, the largest seminary, and the largest seminary system in the United States and likely the world,” Lorg said. “When it comes to generosity, working together to make a global impact, Southern Baptists are a force for good.”
“SBC Disaster Relief volunteers number in the tens of thousands and are deployed in many disasters every year. Last year alone, some $43 million was provided through Send Relief to meet critical needs around the world. Southern Baptists, because of our growing diversity, are a force for good across more communities than at any time in our history. We just celebrated the 175th anniversary of Southern Baptists,” he said, “and if we are faithful to our calling, the next generation will celebrate the 250th anniversary.”
Visit First Baptist Church Sun Lakes this Sunday and see for yourself.