Alabama Baptist messengers attending the Nov. 17 afternoon session of the Alabama Baptist State Convention annual meeting took a moment to praise, ponder and pray.
During his report to convention messengers, Rick Lance, executive director of the State Board of Missions, asked messengers to “pause and praise” that church planting efforts are increasing and church revitalization efforts are expanding.
“I really believe we can’t win the world without winning Alabama,” Lance said. “We celebrate the church planters and those in revitalization.”
He also pointed to the praiseworthy efforts of disaster relief and global missions work.
“We never know when we are going to be called out … to give a cup of cold water in Jesus’ name,” he said.
‘Welcome mat here’
And as several International Mission Board (IMB) missionaries begin their transition off the field as part of the recent voluntary retirement incentive program offered because of IMB budget issues, “there will be a welcome mat here in Alabama,” Lance said.
“We want to make sure these individuals come back to a place they once called home and make it home again. For the children, we will do our best to make it their home as well,” he said.
“Pause and praise the Lord for what He has done, what He is doing and what He is going to do through Alabama Baptist life.
“Let’s pause and ponder,” Lance said.
“We are moving more and more to the point of parity by 2020 with the Southern Baptist Convention,” he said. At the same time, “we cannot reach the world if we are not doing our business and making sure we are not losing our state. It is important that we do not lose the passion for reaching those in the nations and also in our neighborhoods.”
Along with praising and pondering, Lance urged messengers to “pause and pray.”
‘Hunger for God’
“Pray that we have a hunger for God, Lance said, pointing to Psalm 42. “We need to pray for a hunger for God like we’ve never prayed before.”
Also pray for hope in God, he said. Hope is the trust in God’s perfect timing. You are hoping in God and God alone, not in a political party, not in Congress but in God.
“The promises of God are just like events that happened in the past,” Lance said. “God keeps His word and we can hope in Him.”
“And let’s pray that we hear from God,” he said.
“We pray even in moments when we are downcast. Maybe in those moments we are most hungry, we can hope in God,” Lance said. “We are never beyond hoping in God. If we listen we can hear from Him.” (Jennifer Davis Rash)
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