Former Southern Baptist Convention President Johnny Hunt told 80 Alabama Baptist church leaders in Birmingham their influence is crucial in building strong churches.
During the May 17 North American Mission Board conference facilitated by the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM) and held at First Baptist Church, Birmingham, Hunt said, “I’m teaching the stewardship of influence.
“I ask pastors two simple questions,” he said. “First who influenced you? And second what have you done with your influence?
“We’re all indebted to so many who helped us over the years and we must invest our lives in a new generation.”
Hunt said pastors of smaller-membership churches shouldn’t feel their voices aren’t important.
“Sixty-three percent of our churches have 100 people in worship or fewer,” he said. “Every pastor should pour his life into others no matter the size of the church.”
Hunt also said 70 percent of Southern Baptist churches are plateaued or declining, and that church leaders must change their mindset and become more proactive.
Reverse the trend
“We lost 900 churches last year,” Hunt said. “We’ve got to find a way to reverse this trend.”
One key component in becoming what he calls a come-back church is young men ages 18 to 35, Hunt said.
“I meet with a group of young men every Sunday morning at 8 a.m. for discipleship training,” he said. “These men commit to being part of the group for one year and commit to teaching others when we conclude. Success is making disciples who make disciples and this results in community transformation.”
Hunt said he looks for opportunities to spend time with men, citing a recent speaking engagement when he asked eight men to travel with him.
One-on-one time
“We had eight hours together on a bus,” he said. “This was more one-on-one time than many pastors have with men in a year. This is one way I try to use my influence for God.”
Hunt also reminded those in attendance to guard their integrity and moral purity.
“The Bible doesn’t say we’re sinless,” he said. “We’re human and we make mistakes. We should be humble enough to admit our mistakes to our congregations and ask their forgiveness. But the Bible does say church leaders are to be blameless. We should set parameters and hold to them. Our greatest love must be for Jesus, but our second greatest love must always be for our spouse.”
Hunt met earlier in the day with church leaders aged 55 and above.
“I’m 63 and the average man in America lives to be 76,” he said, “so we’re in the fourth quarter of our lives. But we have the wisdom of experience. As Solomon said, ‘We’re wise in the latter days’ (Prov. 19:20). We can do many things better now, and I’ve found that Millennials will listen to senior pastors who share the Word of God with passion.
“Older pastors stay fresh with something to look forward to,” he said. “God can use older ministers in a unique way to encourage a new generation.”
SBOM Executive Director Rick Lance noted he and others at SBOM were glad to assist with the conference and are “committed to helping our churches and pastors.”
For more information on resources for churches and pastors, visit www.alsbom.org.
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