By Grace Thornton
Correspondent, The Alabama Baptist
In recent days, the Church has seen high-profile pastors have to step down because of burnout.
That kind of news “makes the struggle more evident,” said Teman Knight, president of the 2016 Alabama Baptist Pastors Conference. “But it doesn’t matter the church size — all pastors struggle with that, and with loneliness too. There are so many high expectations.”
That’s why this year’s Pastors Conference — set for Nov. 14 at Heritage Baptist Church, Montgomery — is aimed at encouraging pastors with the truth that they aren’t in the fight alone.
“We want pastors to walk away reminded that they have a band of brothers who are standing with them,” Knight said.
Focusing on the theme “Together,” based on Ecclesiastes 4:9–10, the conference will feature speakers who have come alongside Knight in his own faith journey either as a Paul, a Barnabas or a Timothy.
Pouring into
“We all have people who have poured into us, petople who have encouraged us and people whom we have poured into,” he said. “The men who are going to preach at the conference are men who have filled those places in my life.”
Those men are:
•Bob Pitman, longtime Alabama Baptist evangelist.
•Chuck Kelley, president of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS).
•Sammy Gilbreath, director of the office of evangelism for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions.
•Waylon Bailey, pastor of First Baptist Church, Covington, Louisiana.
•Mike Satterfield, teaching pastor at Fielder Church, Arlington, Texas.
•Rob Jackson, pastor of Central Baptist Church, Decatur.
•Kevin Wilburn, vice president for development for the University of Mobile.
For instance, Bailey is a Paul figure in Knight’s life.
“He was one of my primary pastors in seminary and he invested a lot in my life,” Knight said.
Pitman, he said, is a Barnabas. And Wilburn is a Timothy.
Knight, pastor of Heritage Baptist, said he’s learned over his 32 years as a pastor that “sometimes you feel alone, overwhelmed, isolated and inadequate.” Because of that, men need support from each other.
“You know the theological truths that you are not alone and that God is with you, but frustration and discouragement rob you of the joy of this truth,” he said.
Pauls and Timothys
Pastors need Pauls, Barnabases and Timothys, he said. “We can accomplish more when we work together. We’ve got to be there for each other, to pick each other up when we’re down.”
Also during the morning session, the worship team of Heritage Baptist will lead music and the church’s creative arts team will provide dramatic theme interpretations.
In the afternoon the student praise band from NOBTS will lead worship.
And in the evening Heritage Baptist’s choir and orchestra will combine with a choir from Hutchinson Missionary Baptist Church, Montgomery, to provide music.
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