It was an experiment. People wondered if it would work. Now they know. It did. The 2002 Alabama Baptist Evangelism Conference was a success in the number of people who attended and the interest demonstrated in the innovative program.
Instead of beginning Monday afternoon as evangelism conferences have for years, this event began Sunday evening with an associationwide rally. Instead of going through Tuesday evening, this year’s conference closed with an areawide rally Monday night.
Instead of having all participants together in one place for the entire conference, the Monday daytime sessions were held in three different churches. Instead of having the same program for everyone, this year three separate specialized programs provided participants a choice for attendance.
That is why Alabama evangelism director Sammy Gilbreath promoted the event as “one conference, two rallies and three tracks.” Motivation for evangelism was the key for each of the tracks. However, education was also a major item for the contemporary worship group. In addition to modeling what they do in contemporary worship, speakers explained why and how they use this particular style of worship.
In dialogue sessions, speakers explained that contemporary worship is not about style or dress or music but about being culturally relevant. What is culturally relevant in a community should be used by churches in that community, speakers emphasized. That means there will be a difference between Miami, the home of one of the speakers, and many Alabama communities, they explained.
Participants left the contemporary track with a new understanding of this form of worship. That understanding could be the greatest long-term benefit of this year’s annual conference. There is a difference between looking for ways of worship that speak to church members and lost people alike and using a checklist of items to determine if one is doing contemporary worship.
At the women’s evangelism track, North American Mission Board evangelism consultant Jaye Martin praised Alabama for being the leading state in the Southern Baptist Convention for persons trained in HeartCall, an evangelism program designed specifically for women. In Alabama, that program is led by the state Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU). Alabama WMU also leads women’s ministry as well as missions for women in the state.
Alabamians evidently appreciate such a holistic approach. In addition to leading in evangelism training, the state is near the top in both women’s ministry and missions. With the state evangelism department working with the state WMU, the future of women in evangelism should be strong in Alabama.
As expected, the traditional evangelism track had the most participants from start to finish, about twice the size of each of the other tracks. However, nationally known speaker Anne Graham Lotz drew the largest crowds of the conference. When she spoke at the women’s evangelism track, attendance more than tripled from the morning session.
Lotz’s sermon at the Monday night rally drew an audience estimated at about 3,500. That made the conference the best-attended event in several years.
Assocational participation contributed to the success of the Sunday evening rallies. Sunday evening numerous Huntsville area churches joined host Whitesburg Baptist Church for the opening rally. When all the pastors lined the altar to receive persons making decisions during the invitation time, it was an encouraging sight.
Area Baptist churches should work together whenever possible.
The next evening, 10 area churches contributed choirs and orchestra members to provide music for the closing rally held in the Von Braun Convention Center. Again, it was an encouraging sight.
Although the program was headlined by Lotz and SBC dignitaries such as former SBC President Jim Henry and Annuity Board President O.S. Hawkins, Alabamians were well represented through the various programs. Only the women’s track featured no state representative.
Feedback from the Evangelism Conference was overwhelmingly positive. Participants enjoyed the unique approach to the annual event. It was an experiment that worked. Hopefully, the format will be used again to offer Alabama Baptists opportunities for training and motivation in reaching lost people for Jesus Christ.
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