During his sermon, Phil Waldrep said the most effective form of evangelism is loving people. He challenged churches to love people well, not show favoritism and call people by name to show them that they’re cared for.
IMB President Paul Chitwood was guest speaker at the 10th annual Missionary Appreciation Banquet on Nov. 21, sponsored by the Birmingham Metro Baptist Association and conducted at the Grand Bohemian Hotel in Mountain Brook.
Lifeway Research found that 94% of American Protestant churches have continuing Bible study groups for adults, though the nomenclature and strategies differ widely.
“A 2021 survey found that 51% of professing Christians claim to have a biblical worldview on issues like marriage, gender and abortion, but only 6% do when pressed on specifics,” according to one observation of a recent Barna Group survey.
Daniel Edmonds said the journey of faith is often tough and brings fear, but we’re encouraged by our walk with Christ. “We abide in Him and obey Him, so it begins and continues with prayer,” he said.
David Eldridge, pastor of Dawson Memorial Baptist Church in Birmingham, said the essential thing for pastors is the “care of the soul.”
Many pastors are overwhelmed with the tasks of ministry, and one tool of Satan is discouragement and depression during what he called “seasons of darkness,” said Mark Clifton.
Church leaders must build bridges of relationship with Generation Alpha, said Jana Magruder, strategic initiatives director of LifeWay NextGen. She was keynote speaker at a “Reaching and Teaching the Next Generation” event.
