One does not have to have a long memory to recall the days when skeptics said evangelism conferences were dead. Attendance was dropping. Well-known Southern Baptists sponsored competing events. Interest in anything convention-sponsored waned in comparison to events put on by vying denominational political groups.
Even in Alabama, the circumstances took their toll. State leaders pondered ways to revive interest in the Alabama Baptist State Evangelism Conference and considered changes that might make the event more attractive to Alabama Baptists.
Thankfully that era is over. The State Evangelism Conference has once again established itself as a “must” for a growing number of Alabama Baptists. No, attendance is not back to the 2,000 and 3,000 level of peak years, but the reception of the event among Alabama Baptist pastors and laymen is enthusiastic and growing.
Attendance for each of the last two years has been more than 1,000 in the Monday and Tuesday evening services. Attendance at morning and afternoon sessions has been strong as well. Since participants do not register, there is no way to know the number of different people who attend, but certainly that number is rising.
Churches are once again bringing busloads of members to participate for a day or for a session. First Baptist Church, Sulligent, for example, brought a church-busload for part of Tuesday’s program this year. And there were others.
People do not come to an event just because it is sponsored by the state convention. People come because of the benefits they expect to receive. This year’s program surpassed the expectations of most. The preaching was great. It was inspirational. It was convicting. It was educational.
Every session featured at least one nationally known preacher. Some sessions had more than one. It is not an exaggeration to say this year’s program had as many headliners as most national programs do. Where else could one hear such nationally known personalities as Anne Graham Lotz and Johnny Hunt in the same session of the same event?
Sprinkled among the headliners were Alabama Baptist pastors. State evangelism director Sammy Gilbreath is to be commended for making sure pastors from our state are regularly included in the evangelism conference and for introducing new voices to the state.
The power of the preaching was illustrated Monday evening when Gilbreath led the congregation in two different times of decision. After sermons by Alabama-native Ted Traylor and Beeson Divinity School professor Robert Smith Jr., Gilbreath simply said such preaching necessitated a response and in an impromptu fashion, led the group in a time of decision and commitment.
Participants were challenged, as well as inspired. Traylor shared how he had resisted social ministries in his church but now has grown to understand the importance of good works in communicating the love of God. He said Baptists should be concerned about demonstrating their faith in good works and not just good words.
Charles T. Carter, pastor emeritus of Shades Mountain Baptist Church, Vestavia Hills, called listeners to task for their feelings toward other Baptists. He said some Baptists are willing to cooperate with Christians of other denominations but “hate” other types of Baptists and refuse to cooperate with them.
This year’s music was equal to the preaching. Recording artist and worship leader Charles Billingsley, a Samford University graduate, was the guest musician and did a wonderful job of relating the music to the focus of the various sermons, as well as leading times of praise. He was joined by choirs from Samford, Gardendale’s First Baptist Church and Enon Baptist Church, Morris.
Another musical highlight was a duet by Samford school of the arts Dean Joseph Hopkins and his wife, Suzanne. Hopkins is the interim minister of music at First Baptist Church, Jasper.
This year’s evangelism conference had other innovations. For the first time since 1986, the conference met on the campus of Samford. Gilbreath cooperated with Beeson Divinity School to include a major lectureship on the lordship of Jesus. Gilbreath also joined with Alabama Woman’s Missionary Union to sponsor the Ministers’ Wives Luncheon.
Great Commission Ministries breakout sessions provided specialized training for everything from Issuing an Evangelistic Invitation, led by David Uth, a conference speaker, to Reaching Those Who Have Left the Church, led by Sonya Tucker of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions. These ran simultaneously with the preaching sessions, allowing people to choose between a speaker and a breakout session.
Not everything worked as planned with the breakout sessions. They were scheduled outside Samford’s Wright Center, where the main event was held. That, together with some construction issues, appeared to lessen participation. Still Samford’s campus was a wonderful setting for the conference. The school reserved a special parking area, and buses shuttled participants to and from with few problems. And sharing time with Samford students who attended for chapel credit was another positive.
The effort put forth by Samford to host this event is just another example of the strong relationship that exists between the school and the convention.
At the beginning of the opening session, Gilbreath asked participants to “hear my heart.” He told the several hundred present that Alabama Baptists do not need another event. He said our homes are in trouble, our nation is in trouble, our churches are in trouble.
“We need God to show up,” he declared.
For many, that is exactly what happened. At the 2009 State Evangelism Conference, God showed up. People worshiped. People were inspired. People were challenged. People learned. People were changed. When that happens, there is no danger of the event becoming outdated or irrelevant.
Those who attended this year’s evangelism conference are already marking the dates of the 2010 event on their calendar (Feb. 22–23 at Vaughn Forest Baptist Church, Montgomery). Maybe you should, too.
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