Alabama native Ted Traylor’s burden for biblical preaching in America’s pulpits drove his planning for this year’s June 13–14 Southern Baptist Pastors Conference in Indianapolis.
“My prayer is to raise the awareness of the validity and need for biblical preaching week-by-week in our churches’ pulpits,” Traylor, senior pastor of Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola, told Florida Baptist Witness.
In light of Traylor’s burden and goal for the Pastors Conference, the theme of the meeting is “Jesus Came Preaching” from Mark 1:14.
The conference will explore the theme through four sessions, with each emphasizing one aspect of Jesus’ preaching: the gospel, the Kingdom, repentance and the Word.
The featured speakers are Jerry Vines, pastor, First Baptist Church, Jacksonville, Fla.; Johnny Hunt, pastor, First Baptist Church, Woodstock, Ga.; Stephen Olford, president, Encounter Ministries, Memphis, Tenn.; Adrian Rogers, pastor, Bellevue Baptist Church, Cordova, Tenn.; and Paige Patterson, president, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas.
Explaining his decision-making in choosing the conference speakers, Traylor said, “I looked for those men who model biblical preaching and have a great track record in this discipline.”
One of the unique features of this year’s Pastors Conference will be the involvement of a “reclaimed, redeemed” former homosexual, Mike Haley.
Traylor noted that the Focus on the Family staffer may be the first “major speaking slot given to one with this testimony.” Haley is a leader of Focus’ “Love Won Out” conferences addressing the issue of reaching homosexuals with the gospel.
The Indianapolis Pastors Conference will be an Olive Baptist Church family affair, Traylor said, noting that the church has warmly embraced its pastor’s role in the conference. In addition to the participation of the choir, other members of the church family will provide assistance at the meeting as greeters and ushers, as well as helping with hospitality and security. (BP)
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