I want to address those of you who, like me, have a Baptist past but have often found yourself wondering, regarding the Southern Baptist Convention, “What is the point? Aren’t denominations a thing of the past?” I want to try and persuade you that this movement, the Great Commission Resurgence, is something of God, is valuable for the Kingdom, and worth the investment of your time. I do so simply as a pastor of a young Southern Baptist … [Read More]
GCRTF Report Challenges to all Southern Baptists (1): Introduction
GCRTF Report Challenges to all Southern Baptists (1): Introduction
By: Danny Akin & Bruce Riley Ashford
[Editor’s Note: This is the first installment of an eight-part series commenting on the GCRTF’s “Challenges Addressed to All Southern Baptists.” In the series, we will address individually the GCRTF’s challenges to individual Christians and families, to local churches and pastors, to local associations and state conventions, to LifeWay, Guidestone, and the ERLC, and to all Southern Baptist leaders. We believe the ... [Read More]
Why We Believe the GCRTF Report is Good for the Future of the SBC (7): The SBC Allocation Budget
By: Danny Akin & Ryan Hutchinson
In 2006 America was facing a decision about the Iraq war. Casualties were mounting and pessimism regarding the outcome of the war was increasing. A lack of direction appeared to exist and a change in strategy had to occur. In early 2007, a new plan was put forward and announced by President George W. Bush. The new plan was to dramatically increase troop levels on the ground in Iraq … [Read More]
David Platt: Why I Wholeheartedly Support the GCRTF Report. . . and More
We at BtT want to make you aware of David Platt’s new blogpost, “Why I Wholeheartedly Support the GCRTF Report. . . and More,” published at http://www.pray4gcr.com/. Below is a sneak peek (the first paragraph) of Platt’s post:
“In what follows, I want to express why I wholeheartedly support the final report from the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force of the Southern Baptist Convention. Since the report was released, much discussion has ensued concerning whether or … [Read More]
Why We Believe the GCRTF Report Is Good for the Future of the SBC (6): Promoting the Cooperative Program and Elevating Stewardship
By: Danny Akin & Ken Keathley
The Great Commission Resurgence Task Force report cites some disturbing statistics (p. 4 of the report). It observes that the average Southern Baptist gives only 2.5% of his income to his local church. In turn, that local church on average gives only 6% to the Cooperative Program. And then as the CP monies pass through the state conventions, the typical state convention keeps 63% of the amount received, and this … [Read More]
Why We Believe the GCRTF Report is Good for the Future of the SBC (5): Reaching North America (IMB & NAMB Collaboration)
By: Danny Akin & Nathan Akin
Imagine this scenario. An IMB family is stateside for an extended period due to some family matters. In the city where they live they find a community of people from the very people group the IMB has trained them to reach. So they continue to do the work of the Great Commission (seeking to disciple) among this group. They eat meals with them, live life alongside of them, meet their … [Read More]
O. S. Hawkins on the SBC, the CP, & the GCR
Yesterday, O. S. Hawkins (President and CEO of Guidestone) published a brief article about future of the SBC and the vote at this year’s convention in Orlando. Hawkins is, in my estimation, one of the SBC’s wisest statesmen, and has some helpful insight into the SBC, the GCR, and the Cooperative Program. Here are the first few lines of his article:
Throughout my decades in Southern Baptist life and leadership it has been my joy … [Read More]
Why We Believe the GCRTF Report is Good for the Future of the SBC (4b): Reaching North America
By: Danny Akin & Jonathan Akin
The recommendations of component 4 will allow NAMB to have a direct church planting and evangelism strategy where they can appoint personnel directly. They have not had that freedom in the past. At present, and much of this due to cooperative agreements, the majority of NAMB “missionaries” are serving in the most reached and most served areas of North America (see recent blog by Micah Fries). Despite some comments … [Read More]
Why We Believe the GCRTF Report is Good for the Future of the SBC (4a): Reaching North America
By: Danny Akin & Jonathan Akin
“There is no formal conclusion to the book of Acts. It is open-ended. God means for the story of Pentecostal power and revival to be prolonged after the same manner…Since Pentecost, there is no age, no century, no era, no time without the marvelous outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The soul-saving experience continues. Darkness and death and decay may reign in one place, but always light, life, and salvation … [Read More]
Funding Great Commission Faithfulness
Over the past three days, Dr. Danny Akin and I have published three blog articles interacting with Morris Chapman’s recent anti-Great Commission Giving white paper. We have adapted our articles into our own white paper titled “Funding Great Commission Faithfulness: A Response to Morris Chapman.” We hope that you find this material helpful as we continue to debate the recommendations of the GCRTF in anticipation of the Orlando Convention next month.
