The Alabama Baptist Center for Leadership Development had its formal launch during the fourth annual Alabama Baptist Leadership/Church Growth Conference, held April 17-18 at First Baptist Church, Birmingham.
Some 172 people from across the state attended the conference. In addition, Edwin Jenkins, director of the office of leadership/church growth with the State Board of Missions, said there were 45 program personalities participating in the conference.
“I feel the conference, overall, was outstanding,” Jenkins said. “We had tremendous reviews from the people attending.”
Jenkins said the conference’s speakers offered “applicable lessons” he believes will prove invaluable to Alabama’s ministers. But Jenkins stressed the launch of the new Center for Leadership Development — described in the conference’s agenda as a special emphasis — will allow the State Board of Missions to equip ministers year-round.
“We want to provide the very best in leadership skills development as an ongoing effort,” Jenkins said.
Prior to the conference Jenkins described the center as a “principled approach to leadership skill development.”
Jenkins said the center’s leadership will come from associations across the state.
“Although the address will be in Montgomery, it will be a partnership throughout our state,” he said.
The center’s mission statement defines its goals as “…to encourage and assist Christian leaders in the development and practice of leadership skills in order to fulfill the Great Commission.”
The launch of the leadership center may also signal a transition from larger meetings like the one in Birmingham to smaller, regional gatherings, according to Jenkins.
Bob Reccord, president of the North American Mission Board, said everything rises and falls on leadership. He said new leaders are needed for the new millennium.
“And those are leaders you find described in the Word of God,” Reccord said.
America is in desperate need of leaders, but he said those leaders should not abandon their call to individuality. Reccord said ministers should be unique and individual, pointing out everyone is born an original but many people live as carbon copies.
“God’s not calling you to fill anybody’s shoes,” he said. “Quit trying to be somebody that you’re not.”
Judging success
Reccord said ministers also need to avoid comparing notes to determine who is more successful.
“We are not trying to outrun each other,” he said. “We are to be walking across the finish line together.”
Discussing integrity, Reccord said it is also essential ministers live lives they call their congregations to. “That’s what makes leaders for the 21st century,” he said.
Featured speaker Calvin Miller said one way ministers can assure they remain strong leaders is to be on guard not only against demons in the world, but those set on destroying their ministries.
“You either take a stand against them, or they get you in the end,” said Miller, a professor at Samford University’s Beeson Divinity School.
Miller added that ministers must pull together imperative balances to help them succeed.
“You gotta know who you are,” he said.
Miller said there will be many days when there is no good news, but ministers must keep the giants outside.
“Any time you take your worst fears into your heart, the enemy is unbeatable,” he warned.
One of the ways Miller said ministers can defeat the enemy is to let their aggression balance their anxiety.
“I can’t tell you how many preachers I’ve met who are defeated and the joy has been choked out of their lives,” he said. “You somehow have to charge into life with a lot of confidence.”
Miller said ministers must also have a vision.
“Vision can be evident,” Miller said. “If you can’t sit in a church for 15 minutes and see its vision, they probably don’t have one.
“People will forgive us for changing a vision. They will not forgive us for not having a vision,” he continued.
Miller made a definite distinction between image and vision. He defined vision as “a picture that makes us seem acceptable to us.”
The difference between vision and image is vision always hold vitality,” Miller said, noting “People will put up with anything in religion but the absence of vitality.
“(Image) really doesn’t get a lot done,” he said.
“Vision is a grand unity between God and us,” Miller concluded.
(Jennifer Goode contributed)
Share with others: