Southern Baptist Convention 1

I am a fourth generation Southern Baptist.  My first words were “Annie,” “Lottie,” and “Bidness Meetin’ “.

(I know. . . I just lost some of you.)

I am very thankful to be able to make a claim to such a heritage.  I know the denomination’s culture, history, and have 20 years of ministry experience serving churches and agencies within the denomination.  I even know the secret handshake.  I plan to die a Southern Baptist.

I consider it an honor to be a part of this family.

But, these are interesting days for my family.  And if you are thinking missiologically, then you need to know what is going on in the largest Protestant denomination in the United States.

Last week, I received a tweet from Lifeway News that I re-tweeted to many of you.  The new statistics are in and they are not good.  Baptisms are down by 5%.  Ed Stetzer did a couple of posts on this matter HERE and HERE.  USA Today covered the news as well.  The report was not a surprise.

This morning, Baptist Press sent out the following information in a tweet noting that at the Convention–meeting this week in Phoenix–only 4,065 SBC messengers registered by Tuesday morning, as compared to the 2003 Phoenix meeting of 7,077 messengers (and the 2003 number is considered a low number).  This year may be one of the lowest attended Conventions in the past several years.

Check out the links above.  And over the next few days, keep up with what is shared in the media, especially in Baptist Press.

There will be some great and encouraging news coming out of Phoenix this week, and there will be some discouraging news as well.

Also, please keep our family in your prayers.  Yes, these are interesting days, but I also believe these are exciting days as well!