Alabama Baptists discovered a bonus feature to the state evangelism conference when a track dedicated solely to discipleship was added.
And when the response came back so overwhelmingly positive, state leaders said it will likely become a permanent fixture during the evangelism conference.
“We will expand that track next year,” said Sammy Gilbreath, director of evangelism for Alabama Baptists. “My theme is that ‘evangelism without discipleship is exploitation of people,’ so it is natural for that track to be part of the conference,” Gilbreath said. “It says what we are about as Alabama Baptists — reaching and discipling. And those two things have to go hand in hand.”
Rick Lance, executive director of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM), agreed. “Evangelism and discipleship are two wings of the same plane. You cannot fly without both wings, so making disciples who make disciples makes sense to me.”
“When evangelism and discipleship are seen as a holistic biblical challenge for Great Commission Christians, then churches and individual believers become healthier,” he said.
With seven topics and six sessions in the discipleship track, the nearly 380 participants had opportunity to hear a variety of topics.
Sonya Tucker, who helped organize the track, said she was pleased with the affirmation she received from pastors and other church leaders. “A lot of times pastors don’t get the opportunity to attend discipleship workshops, but they had that opportunity here,” said Tucker, an associate in the SBOM office of discipleship and family ministries.
“We look at this as a multiplier,” she added. “Hopefully they will take the information back and share it with their congregations.”
Workshop topics included a workshop on “Intentional Evangelism,” which revolved around the overall conference theme.
Charles Roesel, pastor of First Baptist Church, Leesburg, Fla., provided examples of how his church does intentional evangelism. He explained that teaching church members to do ministry is the key. “The most consistent way to reach people is servant-led,” he said. “To reach people you must love them and meet them in their needs.”
Roesel said intentional evangelism can happen anywhere, such as while fishing, at a ballgame or during activities for children. “The method doesn’t matter,” he said. “We have to have a willingness to quit strutting on platforms and start serving in the streets.”
Student leaders also found resources and encouragement in their workshops, while other church representatives learned how to have healthy leaders and healthy churches.
Another focus was on plugging members into the local church and “Closing the Back Door,” taught by John Powers of Virginia. A related workshop presented the concept of “Every Member Ministry,” taught by John Ed Mathison, pastor of Frazer Memorial United Methodist Church, Montgomery.
Others had a life-changing experience after sitting at the feet of T.W. Hunt, internationally known prayer warrior and author of “The Mind of Christ.”
Candace McIntosh, executive director of Alabama Woman’s Missionary Union, was one who attended Hunt’s workshop. “What can you say after that?” she said, noting the awe that fell on the room as he taught “The Life Changing Power of Prayer.”
People could be heard sobbing. And after each session handfuls of people would stay to share with Hunt. He also prayed with and counseled several people.
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