LUBBOCK—A handful of pastors and a best-selling author drew from different scriptural texts to encourage and challenge those gathered for the annual Bible Conference of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention as they addressed the theme “Renew, Refresh, and Recharge.”

 

During the Monday session of the Bible Conference at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center, officers for the 2010-11 session were elected by acclamation and unopposed. Elected as president was Heath Peloquin, pastor, Brighton Park Baptist Church, Corpus Christi; as first vice president Nathan Lorick, pastor, First Baptist Church, Malakoff; and second vice president Bart Barber, pastor, First Baptist Church, Farmersville.

 

Tim LaHaye

The conference opened Oct. 25 at Southcrest Baptist Church with LaHaye, a popular author and speaker. Known for his books on end-time prophecies, LaHaye read from 2 Timothy, chapters 3 and 4. Making note of the passage 4:3-4, he said “itching ears” is a hallmark of the end times.

           

Believing the time of Jesus’ return is imminent, LaHaye said, “If there was ever a time when we need to teach the Word of God it is in this day and age. That is the one thing that will help people understand the true from the false.”

           

He added that when people leave church “they should go with some of the Word of God in their heart.”

           

It was put upon his heart many years ago the power of three words—message, morals and money. He said it is important how pastors perceive those three spheres of influence in their own lives and how they interject them into their messages to the local church.

           

He urged pastors to stay true to the written Word void of any insertion of secularism. The message of Christ crucified and resurrected should never be compromised.

           

Regarding morals LaHaye said the most damaging act to a Christian witness is marital infidelity. He said the legalization of pornography by the Supreme Court in 1973 has done the greatest damage to the fabric of American culture than any other court decision.

           

A person’s attitude toward money is vital. But staying focused on the end game is most encouraging. It’s all about the reward to come.

           

“You know what I want is to look into the eyes of Jesus and hear him say, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’”

           

Fred Luter

Speaking from personal experience, Luter, pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, told the conference to hold on to their faith in the face of difficulties.

           

“If the storms of life show up so does the Savior,” he said.

 

And Luter knows about storms.

 

As Franklin Avenue Baptist Church had outgrown its facilities, the members, with the enthusiastic blessing of their pastor, had plans to build new facilities on nine acres of land not far from their current location.

           

Then, Luter said, “A woman named Katrina came calling.”

           

The congregation, like the rest of New Orleans, was dispersed. The vision Luter had for his church was gone with the surge of the waters.

           

But using the story from Luke 8:22-25, Luter told the congregation, “If the Lord brings you to it, he’ll bring you through it.”

           

Jesus, he said, told the disciples, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the lake.” That was no empty declaration or an excuse to get the disciples on the waters where they would perish. When Jesus calls people to a task he does not abandon them even though their trials may lead them to believe he is oblivious to the perils that surround them.

           

When difficulties arise in the midst of doing the Lord’s work, Luter said to remember three things: Jesus’ promise, his presence, and his power.

           

There was an implied promise in Jesus’ statement, “Let’s go to the other side.” Jesus did not take them from one shore only to change his mind before getting to the other.

           

Luter said to remember his presence. The Spirit of Jesus is present in every believer. Just as he did not abandon the disciples in the boat, he will not leave or forsake those called to do his will today.

           

And finally, Luter said to remember the power of Jesus. He has the power to control and calm the storms. Although he does not always stay the waters—as evidenced by Hurricane Katrina—he continues to be with those of faith, even when that faith is small.

 

James Egan

Egan, pastor of First Baptist Church of Post, urged pastors to remain in their calling even amid difficulties. Ministers leave the field wearied by the emotional, spiritual and physical demands of the calling. One in-house squabble too many and the pastor walks out the door.

           

But Egan spoke of the loving care of his congregation when he came to a breaking point in his pastorate. They gave him a sabbatical.

 

“They sent me away and brought me home and they found a new pastor and it was the same guy,” he said.

           

The experience refreshed his perspective view of ministry. He said there is a mountain in Colorado named Mount of the Holy. There is a crevice in the rock in the shape of a cross. It is best seen after the spring thaw and enough snow is left in the rock to make the formation stand in contrast to the dark rock.

           

It was during his sabbatical that he hiked to an observation deck on a nearby mountain. From there he hoped to be able to see the cross, but he couldn’t. As it turns out, the government built the observation deck in the wrong place.

           

And that is how it is with the cross of Christ, he said. Depending on where a person is, their view of the cross is clear or obscured. Unless the person moves he will not get even a glimpse.

           

Egan asked, “In the busyness of ministry have we lost sight of the cross? Our proximity to the cross determines our perspective of ministry,” he said.

           

David Allen

“Is there any hope?”

           

That seems to be the question of the postmodern society, said Allen, dean of theology at Southwestern Seminary.

           

He said hope as the world defines it gives little reassurance in the face of difficulties. That kind of hope, he said, is like a bedraggled prisoner seeking release from his bonds. But the hope of the Christian is found in the definition as given in Scripture. That kind of hope, Allen said, is a settled certainty.

           

Drawing from Hebrews and the experiences of the first-century church, Allen said the band of believers suffered persecution from without and turmoil from within. But Hebrews 6 urges the believers to press on with vigor living in the hope of God’s promises.

 

Many were given promises they never saw it fulfilled. For example, he said Abraham only lived to see his “seed” extend three generations. He died when his great grandsons, Esau and Jacob, were only 15 years old.

           

“God made a promise. He swore an oath and he will make good on his promises,” said Allen.

           

The pastor said the hope Christians place in the promises of God is analogous to an anchor keeping a ship in place as storms and waves lash at the vessel.  Hebrews 6:19 says, “We have this hope—like a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul.”

 

In the midst of the life’s storms Allen said believers could be assured their anchor will hold.

 

Nathan Lino

Lino, pastor of Northeast Baptist Church in Houston, said at the height of the resurrection story and just before Jesus ascended into heaven the disciples asked the saddest question.

 

“Lord, at this time are you restoring the kingdom to Israel?” they asked in Acts 1:6.

 

That question indicates the disciples, despite all they had witnessed in the past 40 days, were still focused on themselves and what Jesus was going to do to accommodate their selfish desires, Lino said.

           

Lino’s translation of the verse: “Lord, it’s still about us.”

           

How, Lino asked, do pastors get one another and their congregations to see that the gospel is transcendent and that they are just part of an enormous kingdom on earth?

 

He said Christians today are still hearing God in the context of their own lives. People shrink the gospel down to the size of themselves, their families, or their churches.

 

“We interpret Scripture with the parameters of our lives,” he said. He charged pastors to think beyond the confines of their church. “We need to make the gospel big again,” he charged.

 

Christians spend too much time asking “why” and “how” God is going to do something in their lives, losing sight of the big picture. He said, “The kingdom of God is not Nathan Lino. We need to make the kingdom of God big again.”

           

He said the calling of believers is encapsulated in Acts 1:8. The Holy Spirit bearing testimony and keeping the gospel big is what verse 8 is all about.

           

“We need to be fully devoted to verse 8. Are we willing to be fully dedicated to our call?”

           

“If you are willing to do that in your field of harvest and I will do that in my field of harvest we will make a dent in the lostness in the world.

           

Herb Reavis

Reavis told pastors they should revel in the fact that they “are just pastors.”

           

Reavis, pastor of North Jacksonville Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Fla., said the requirements of being appointed a minister to a church have become convoluted. What should be determined is whether a pastor is saved and is a learner.

           

His understanding about the simplicity of the pastorate occurred at a conference, he said. Following his presentation an audience member asked him where his product table was located. Where could he buy Reavis’ books?

           

Reavis told him he had no publications, CDs, or other material, to which the man replied, “Oh, so you’re just a pastor.”

           

Such a moniker is worn with pride by Reavis. Contemporary pastors are too concerned with being what they believe their congregations and the culture wants them to be instead of simply reflecting the character of Christ. Alluding to Acts 4:2, Reavis said no matter the paradigm shift in the culture, pastors should adhere to preaching the gospel as presented in Scripture.

           

Reavis said pastors should keep the end goal in mind as they face challenges and criticism and even doubts. Pastors are like fighters who are battered and bloodied by the battle but go out one more round because the price of given up is too high.

 

“Do the work of an evangelist. Be a soul winner. A pastor is a warrior. Don’t give up,” he said. He further encouraged the pastors by reminding them that they will some day cross the finish line and fall into the arms of Jesus.

 

At that point, Reavis said he would tell his Savior, “Thank you for dying on the cross and thank you for letting me be just a pastor.”