MURFREESBORO — With a near-unanimous showing, messengers at the 2024 Summit approved the Acts 2:17 Initiative Report as the “foundational blueprint for Convention ministry for the foreseeable future.”
The report — which included the complete report of the Steering Team and Workgroups, the executive Summary of Steering Team and Workgroups, and the plan of implementation — was overwhelmingly approved, with just two dissenting votes, during the Tuesday afternoon session of the 2024 Summit in Murfreesboro.
“We are ready to pour everything we’ve got into (the Initiative) in order to assist and serve our churches,” said Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.
TBC president Jay Hardwick, senior pastor of Forest Hills, outlined the report for messengers prior to the vote. Hardwick served as chair for the Initiative’s Vision Team.
The parameters of the Initiative, as detailed in the report, were developed through a series of listening sessions, surveys, workgroups and other forums that were held after the Initiative was introduced to messengers for the first time at the 2022 Summit.
Messenger Braylen Lashley, of First Baptist Church, Savannah, poses a question during discussion from the floor. His question pertained to the physical health of pastors and church leaders in connection with the Acts 2:17 Initiative. — Photo by Lonnie Wilkey
The overarching structure of the Initiative, including its order of priorities and early-stage implementation plan, was approved by directors of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board on Tuesday, Sept. 10. That approval set the stage for Tuesday’s vote, where messengers made it clear that they were ready to move forward with the plan.
Hardwick said evangelism is at the heart of every aspect of the initiative. “We want to see our churches taking the Great Commission seriously because they are taking the Great Commission personally,” he said. “We want to strengthen disciples from every generation.”
Hardwick talked about the importance of having a collaborative network, and how that would impact “lives and leaders.”
Hardwick detailed the Initiative’s plans for strengthening and multiplying gospel leaders, evangelistic disciples and healthy churches.
Prior to the vote, there was a time of discussion, during which messenger Brayten Lashley, from First Baptist Church, Savannah, asked if the Initiative would include a focus on the physical health of pastors and leaders.
Hardwick responded that enhancing all aspects of pastors’ health — spiritual, emotional, mental and physical — will be high priorities during the Initiative.
Messenger Todd Ozment, of Mount Horeb, Ethridge, asked why some of the potential financial impact of the Acts 2:17 Initiative was not included in the Book of Reports.
Hardwick
Hardwick responded that it was too much information to record in the Book of Reports, but that the information was available on the TBMB app. Davis added that the information was also on the TBMB website.
After discussion about the Initiative was closed, messengers were directed to a time of prayer. Nancy Duggin, leader of the Acts 2:17 Prayer Workgroup and a member of Belle Aire Baptist Church, Murfreesboro, opened the prayer time.
She was followed by Rick Stevens, leader of the Acts 2:17 Collaboration Workgroup and director of missions for the Cumberland Baptist Association, Clarksville; Bruce Raley, leader of the Ministerial Pipeline Workgroup and associate senior pastor at FBC, Hendersonville; Craig Mintz, leader of the Discipleship Workgroup and the Grow and Go pastor at FBC, Sevierville; and David Simmerman, leader of the Strategic Church Planting Workgroup and pastor of Leoma Baptist Church, Leoma.
The Acts 2:17 report includes an “expression of great appreciation to the more than 1,000 grassroots Tennessee Baptists and over 500 pastors and ministry leaders who provided input to the process, (along with) the 15 Vision Team members, and the 103 workgroup members, all of whom utilized their skills, knowledge and passion for the gospel to produce this final report.”
Hardwick told messengers that the entire initiative would “run on the rails of prayer and collaboration.”
The priorities of the Initiative include ensuring that:
• Every pastor is connected and supported for healthy ministry;
• Every (church) member has an active plan for spiritual maturity;
• Every child has a home and a gospel foundation;
• Every parent has a biblical vision for their family;
• Every church has growing leaders who are called to ministry;
• Every community has effective, multiplying churches
• Until every Tennessean hears the gospel.
Davis has said the Initiative could potentially be the “most consequential process in the Tennessee Baptist Convention’s history.”
Davis said the intent of the Acts 2:17 Initiative has been to provide every Tennessee Baptist an opportunity to speak into seeking God’s preferable future for Tennessee Baptists. B&R
