Pastors Conference focuses on Jesus’ directives

Southern Baptist leaders and standouts came preaching during the 2004 Pastors Conference June 13–14 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis.
   
And Steve Gaines, pastor of Gardendale’s First Baptist Church, was elected president of the 2005 Pastors Conference.
   
Following the theme for this year’s conference, “Jesus Came Preaching,” pastors, professors and other ministry leaders developed sermons around Jesus’ directives. Many also highlighted Bobby Welch’s goal for Southern Baptists to baptize 1 million people in one year. Welch, a native of Fort Payne, was elected SBC president June 15.
   
Paige Patterson, president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, reminded Southern Baptists that since the conservative resurgence in 1979 they have only baptized 400,000 people.
“And we have baptized mostly our own, many of them for the second time,” he said. “We had better count that (in the statistics). … On top of that, it is even worse,” he added.
   
“Many of us are guilty of the infant baptism we used to criticize everyone else for. (This is happening) because we no longer believe in the exclusivity of salvation in Christ.”
   
Preaching from Matthew 7:13–29, Patterson said the doctrine of the exclusivity of Jesus Christ “is the most hated doctrine in all the world today,” but he challenged Southern Baptists to stick to it.
   
It was not popular when Jesus preached, and it’s not popular today, he said.
   
First, there is a narrow entry to heaven, he said. “It is a difficult way because it means coming to the end of yourself, admitting we are hopeless sinners and that we cannot do it ourselves. We must give it to the Lord Jesus Christ.
   
“The world hates it. You will be hated if you preach it,” Patterson said. “But if you are going to follow the Lord Jesus, I exhort you to preach it clearly.”
   
Second, there will be false enticement. “Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing,” he said, noting false prophets may be seminary trained, have Ph.D.s and be people of influence. “They are slick in tongue … like a thief who steals your wallet.”
   
Third, there will be a day of estrangement. “It is not the one who says religious things and even appears to practice religious rituals — whatever that may be” that will be welcome in heaven.
Why not 1 million?
   
“How can we (Southern Baptists) fail to baptize 1 million people a year?” Patterson asked. “We don’t do it because we don’t care like we ought to care,” he said.
   
Alabama native Ted Traylor, president of the 2004 Pastors Conference, found himself preaching during a slot reserved for Adrian Rogers.
   
Rogers, pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, Tenn., was not released by his physician to preach following heart bypass surgery March 16. Following the surgery “I have had to endure things such as not going where I want to go,” Rogers said in a pre-taped video. “I asked Ted to preach in my place. I told him, ‘I’m putting you on the program to take my place.’”
   
Traylor said, “I don’t know who tells Adrian Rogers no … but it’s not me. I said, ‘Yes sir,’ put my heels together and saluted over the telephone.”
   
Preaching from Luke 4:16–44, Traylor said, “We are to take this glorious gospel to this culture that needs a clear clarion call of the preaching of the gospel.
   
“Jesus is not just for our private life but also for our public life, every step of the way,” said Traylor, pastor of Olive Baptist Church, Pensacola, Fla. “Go with a holy, public boldness proclaiming the good news of Christ.
   
“There are some people outside of our normal paths that we must begin to do a better job reaching,” Traylor said, noting three specific groups — various ethnic groups, teenagers and 20-somethings.
   
“It is going to be tough,” he said. “Something must change with the way we are pronouncing the gospel, so we can announce to them that Jesus is Lord.”
  
Other speakers included Johnny Hunt, pastor of First Baptist Church, Woodstock, Ga.; Voddie Baucham of Spring Texas; and Jerry Vines, pastor of First Baptist Church, Jacksonville, Fla. 
   
During officer elections, Gaines, a protege of Rogers, was elected over Terry Fox, pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church, Wichita, Kan.
   
Hunt placed Gaines’ name in nomination on behalf of Rogers.
   
Hunt said, “It is our desire to see the Pastors Conference to continue in the same direction. … Dr. Gaines is a preacher’s preacher. When you are with him you are aware you are   with a man who’s been with God.”
   
Hunt read a note from Rogers that said, “Steve is a man among men. … He is a mighty preacher of God’s Word and a pastor of a growing and vibrant church.”
   
Stan Coffey, pastor of San Jacinto Baptist Church of Amarillo, Texas, nominated Fox.
   
Scott Wilkens, a church planter from Kentucky, and David Thompson, pastor of Northpointe Community Church in Nashville, Tenn., were elected first vice president and secretary-treasurer respectively.