Hardwick
In less than a month, Tennessee Baptists will gather in Murfreesboro for the historic 150th Tennessee Baptist Convention. When we gather, we will do what Tennessee Baptists have done 149 times before — celebrate what God has done, connect and re-connect as a family, consider important matters before us, and commit to the work God has called us to engage in together.
Along with this meeting’s historic significance as we look back at 150 years of God’s Story, it also carries great future significance as we consider and commit to the vision and strategic priorities that have risen to the surface through the grassroots Acts 2:17 Initiative.
As the Acts 2:17 Initiative Task Force heard about the obstacles and opportunities for the gospel shared by over 1,500 Tennessee Baptists during the listening session phase, the opportunity for a new vision statement emerged. We needed fresh language that would capture the heart of our Tennessee Baptist family, inspire our ongoing work together, and provide a guide a to focus our efforts.
As we prayed and poured over the data and insights we received, a clear statement emerged. We presented this vision at our Summit last year and Tennessee Baptists overwhelmingly agreed and approved it.
Our vision is to be a collaborative network of spiritually healthy churches reaching Tennessee and beyond for Christ.
There are several phrases that are critical to understand as we implement this vision:
1. We are a collaborative network. At the heart of who we are as Southern Baptists is collaboration. We gladly collaborate in what we believe, how we give, how we conduct our business, and in fulfilling the Great Commission. Our heart in this vision is that no church and no pastor would have to operate alone and that we would see even stronger collaborative work at the local and regional levels of our state. We are better together!
2. Our churches should be spiritually healthy churches. While we are grateful for how God is moving in so many of our churches, we heard from many more churches and pastors who are struggling in various areas of ministry life.
We want to see all 3000-plus of our churches taking active steps in having a healthy pastor and leadership team, a clear plan to make, multiply and mobilize evangelistic disciples, and a commitment to the Great Commission locally and globally. Can you imagine the impact if all 3,000 of our churches took proactive steps over the next 3-5 years to more effectively reach their communities and beyond for Christ?
3. We want to reach Tennessee and beyond for Christ. You’ve heard it said – any way you slice it, Tennessee is a mission field. As one of the fastest growing states in the nation, Tennessee is a growing mission field. While we are seeing historic levels of evangelistic impact in increasing baptism numbers, we know there is much more work to do. We passionately want to reach every life in Tennessee with the gospel.
Additionally, we want to keep sending to the nations. Did you know Tennessee is the 3rd leading sending state in the country amongst our current IMB personnel?
As we focus on reaching every life in Tennessee, we also want to send to every nation from Tennessee! The Great Commission is not an “either/or,” it’s a “both/ and.”
I’m grateful for what the Lord has done in and through Tennessee Baptists over the past 150 years and I am excited about how He is leading us forward into the future. The Lord has written a wonderful story of gospel impact through our past and I believe He has given us a fresh vision for the story He will continue writing in the years to come.
Let’s go! B&R
