‘Revive’ senior adult evangelism conference held May 3

Allowing for the pews that were blocked off due to COVID-related safety concerns, it was a full house for the 2021 Revive Senior Adult Evangelism Conference, held at First Baptist Birmingham on May 3. The crowd included many over 85 years old. 

Charles Carter, adjunct professor at Samford University’s Beeson Divinity School and former pastor of Shades Mountain Baptist Church, Birmingham, spoke about “The Danger of Losing Jesus,” based on Luke 2:42-52. 

Carter highlighted a shift in Jesus’ earthly parents’ connection with Him during this event.

Relationships change

“It was not relationship that they lost. He was still their son,” said Carter. “They still are family but what they had lost was fellowship, nearness to Him, closeness with Him, intimacy with Him.”

Carter invited the group to ask: “Has there ever been a time in your life when you personally were closer to Jesus than you are right now?”

Carter, an avid quail hunter, shared a story of losing his quail-hunting dog, Old Sue. He was advised that if he left his hunting vest where they had last hunted together, the dog would return there. The next morning, he found Old Sue right on top of his vest. 

Driving home, the Lord had said to Carter, “Oh, my dear preacher, how much a better servant of mine you would be if you had just as much sense as that bird dog. For when you lost Me, you will always find Me when you go right back where you were when you lost Me.”

Music and worship

Jim Cooley, senior pastor of First Baptist Church, Birmingham, welcomed those in attendance. 

Frank Jones provided pre-service music. Eileen Mitchell, retired Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions associate in senior adult ministry, led worshippers in a selection of hymns.

Karen Peck and New River, a Grammy-nominated and Dove Award-winning group based out of Georgia, also shared some of their most popular songs, including the encouraging “Four Days Late.”