Prayer, praise and encouragement will be the focus when Alabama Baptist pastors meet for their annual pastors conference Nov. 12.
“I look forward to this time every year as a time of fellowship with my co-laborers in Christ, and this year’s conference promises to be a time of encouragement for Alabama Baptist pastors,” said Michael “Mike” Cassity, pastor of Ridgecrest Baptist Church, Montgomery, in Montgomery Baptist Association, and president of the Alabama Baptist Pastors Conference.
The theme of this year’s conference is “Our God Is … Practical, Personal, Powerful,” which highlights three aspects of God’s character that are important to the work pastors do day in and day out, Cassity said.
“We know that our God is practical, which means that He is with us in our day-to-day ministry, from the mundane to the miraculous. Likewise God is personal. He strengthens us and leads us, both in our ministry and in our homes. Finally God is powerful. He is able to do far and above what we are able to do on our own,” Cassity said.
This year’s schedule includes speakers from Alabama Baptist churches and from Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) life. What they all have in common, Cassity said, is a heart for pastors.
“The Scripture we chose for this year’s conference is 2 Timothy 1:7, which says that ‘God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.’ Each of these speakers has something to say about the importance of our call as ministers of the gospel,” Cassity said.
Sammy Gilbreath, director of the office of evangelism for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions, said the Pastors Conference is different from most conferences because of its emphasis solely on inspiration and fellowship for pastors.
“There are other conferences that are for information or instruction, and that is fine,” Gilbreath said. “But I encourage pastors to attend the Pastors Conference, if for no other reason than for the time of refreshing they can receive.”
The Pastors Conference will be held at Vaughn Forest Baptist Church, Montgomery, in conjunction with the Alabama Baptist State Convention annual meeting. The one-day conference is divided into three sessions, all of which will include both speakers and praise and worship music.
Phil Waldrep, speaker, author and founder of Phil Waldrep Ministries, headquartered in Trinity, will lead off the speakers during the morning session. Two Montgomery-area pastors, Teman Knight, of Heritage Baptist Church, and Jay Wolf, of First Baptist Church, Montgomery, will speak during the morning session as well.
The afternoon session will feature messages by Gilbreath and Dusty McLemore, pastor of Lindsay Lane Baptist Church, Athens. James Merritt, pastor of Cross Pointe Church in Duluth, Ga., and president of the SBC from 2000–2002, will conclude the afternoon session. Merritt is a well-known voice of the Christian faith and is the author of several books, including “How to Impact and Influence Others,” “God, I’ve Got a Question” and “Still Standing: 8 Winning Strategies for Facing Tough Times.”
Adam Dooley, pastor of Dauphin Way Baptist Church, Mobile, will be first to speak during the evening session. The conference will close with a message from Thom Rainer, president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources. Rainer is the author of 22 books, including “Simple Life,” “Simple Church” and “Essential Church.” His latest book is “The Millennials” co-authored with his son, Jess Rainer.
Throughout the day several Alabama Baptists will take part in the conference by leading congregants in prayer, including: Cliff Stever, pastor of Yarbrough Street Baptist Church, Montgomery; Darrell Paulk, pastor of Hayne-
ville Baptist Church, Hayneville; Dean Finch, minister of education at Taylor Road Baptist Church, Montgomery; Daniel Gillenwater, pastor of Eastern Oaks Baptist Church, Montgomery; Tom Smith, youth pastor at Ridgecrest Baptist Church; and Geoff Henson, missions leader and evangelist at First Baptist Church, Montgomery.
Cassity hopes pastors who have never attended the Pastors Conference will come this year and see the benefits of spending time with other pastors in prayer and fellowship.
“This is a time when we can meet fellow pastors, pray for them and strengthen one another in the Lord,” Cassity said.
Gilbreath agreed.
“Pastors give and give and do not have the opportunity to receive many times,” he said. “This is one of those times to just receive.”
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PROGRAM
Morning Session
8:30 a.m.–noon
8:30 Continental breakfast
8:50 Pre-session music
9:00 Welcome/Prayer: Michael Cassity
9:03 Praise and worship
9:20 Message: Phil Waldrep
10:00 Praise and worship
10:20 Message: Teman Knight
11:00 Praise and worship
11:15 Prayer: Cliff Stever
11:20 Message: Jay Wolf
12:00 Lunch
Afternoon Session
1:20–4:30 p.m.
1:20 Pre-session music
1:30 Praise and worship
1:40 Welcome/Election of officers: Michael Cassity
1:50 Prayer: Darrell Paulk
1:55 Message: Sammy Gilbreath
2:30 Praise and worship
2:45 Prayer: Dean Finch
2:50 Message: Dusty McLemore
3:30 Praise and worship
3:45 Prayer: Daniel Gillenwater
3:50 Message: James Merritt
4:30 Dinner
Evening Session
6:20–9 p.m.
6:20 Pre-session music
6:30 Welcome: Michael Cassity
6:35 Special music
6:45 Praise and worship
7:00 Prayer: Tom Smith
7:05 Message: Adam Dooley
7:45 Recognition of host church/music leader, etc.
7:55 Special music
8:05 Praise and worship
8:20 Prayer: Geoff Henson
8:25 Message: Thom S. Rainer
9:00 Closing prayer
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