Our 44,000 churches pool lots of money into a fund called the Cooperative Program that totals hundreds of millions of dollars. We take up additional missions offerings each year that together total hundreds of millions of dollars. All that money pays for six seminaries to train tomorrow's pastors and missionaries, two missionary sending agencies to plant churches across America/Canada and around the world, and a lobbyist group that influences Washington DC for biblical values. What an incredible system NEHBC belongs to!
The headquarters of the SBC is in Nashville, TN, and is called the Executive Committee (EC). The SBC's CEO and staff run the operations of our network. But for three days each year, they report back to the 44,000 churches on what happened the previous twelve months and what the plans are for the next twelve months and coming years. The churches send representatives to this three day business meeting, mostly the pastors, who provide guidance for the EC and give approvals for various plans through a complicated voting system. This three day meeting is the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention.
The annual meeting determines vision, money allocation, and leadership. With so much money at stake, the momentum of so many churches available, and the large influence of the SBC entities, the annual meeting is really important. The pastor of every SBC church should be at the meetings and their churches should expect them to go.
Please be in prayer for the 2010 annual meeting next week. Satan hates the SBC and wants to create confusion, disunity, and distractions. Additionally, with so much at stake, much wisdom is needed to make sure that all the Lord has entrusted to the SBC is stewarded well and focused on the Great Commission.
Posts
