Southern Baptist Pastors Conference president John Meador didn’t choose the “Live This!” theme of this year’s sessions in St. Louis.
He said it was burned on his heart several years ago as God convinced him through study of 2 Timothy 4:5–6 that he had not been leading his church in evangelism and that he — along with fellow pastors — needed to heed Scripture’s call to “do the work of an evangelist.”
Naturally when he was elected Pastors Conference president, that passage became the theme Scripture for the June 12–13 gathering. It reads in full: “But as for you, be serious about everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time for My departure is close.”
Meador, pastor of First Baptist Church, Euless, Texas, said he hopes ministers leave this year’s conference with a drive to equip their congregations and with powerful results to follow.
The Pastors Conference will feature preaching, worship and prayer to undergird the ministry of pastors and their wives. The sessions at America’s Center will be held prior to the Southern Baptist Convention’s June 14-15 annual meeting there.
Speakers for the June 12 session will include Noah Oldham, pastor of August Gate Church, St. Louis, and James MacDonald, pastor of Harvest Bible Chapel, Rolling Meadows, Illinois.
The morning and afternoon sessions June 13 will feature messages from David Platt, president of the International Mission Board; Byron McWilliams, pastor of First Baptist Church, Odessa, Texas; Jack Graham, pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church, Plano, Texas; and Ed Stetzer, executive director of LifeWay Research.
Differing from previous years, the afternoon session will dismiss early so participants can disperse to five breakout sessions geared toward pastors of different size churches. Each breakout will feature a Q-and-A period with a keynote speaker and other leaders on how to mobilize church members to share the gospel with their communities.
The evening speakers June 13 will include Jimmy Scroggins, pastor of Family Church, West Palm Beach, Florida, and Greg Laurie, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship, Riverside, California.
Worship will be led by the Passion worship band; Andy Johnson, worship pastor at First, Euless; and Tim Whedbee, worship pastor at Mobberly Baptist Church, Longview, Texas.
The Pastors Conference offering will go to a church in St. Louis to be announced.
This year’s leadership team hopes pastors from the Millennial generation will join their older counterparts at the conference.
The conference is free and requires no registration. You also can access information about the conference on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Child care for children up to 12 will be offered during all sessions. Children ages 4–12 may register for a conference provided by Children’s Conferences International at www.childrensconferences.com.
For more information, visit sbcpc.net. (BP)
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