SBC leaders challenge pastors-in-training

SBC leaders challenge pastors-in-training

In an Oct. 30 “Prayer Summit for Spiritual Awakening” at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS), three Southern Baptist leaders challenged pastors-in-training to seek a fresh movement of God and lead their congregations to experience the same.

Ronnie Floyd, president of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) and pastor of Cross Church in northwest Arkansas, opened the prayer summit in the seminary’s Leavell Chapel, preaching from Isaiah 63–64.

“In the book of Isaiah there was a situation in chapters 63 and 64 much like what we see in our culture today,” Floyd said. “People are realizing ‘we can’t fix ourselves.’”

After the chapel hour Floyd teamed up with local pastor and former SBC president Fred Luter and the current president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, Lafayette pastor Steve Horn, for a question-and-answer luncheon and time of guided prayer with NOBTS students and participants.

NOBTS President Chuck Kelley, who emceed the luncheon, asked Floyd, Luter and Horn to describe three steps or places to start in seeking to experience an awakening or new work of God in their ministry setting.

Luter answered first, focusing on the issue of faithfulness — to God, family and “the church you’re serving.”

Luter said when he reflects on his ministry thus far, which includes serving as pastor of one of the largest churches in Louisiana and serving two years as president of the convention, it all has hinged on faithfulness.

“I contribute it to one thing: faithfulness. I’ve been faithful to God, faithful to my family, faithful to my church,” he said.

During a Q&A time, one member of the audience asked Luter how he is able to personally identify God’s will for his life.

“Very, very easy question. I ask my wife,” Luter said to roaring applause.

Horn then offered three ideas for where ministers can start in seeking a fresh work of God in their churches — “start where you are,” lead by example and teach some form of evangelism strategy.

Floyd closed the Q-and-A time by challenging future pastors to prompt congregations to pray for a “mighty annointing” in church services every week; to take a month at the beginning of every year to preach on prayer, fasting, revival and awakening; and to regularly commit a full service to prayer.

“That would be unique in today’s church. … Praying doesn’t happen in most churches — it really doesn’t,” he said.

Floyd closed the prayer summit with a guided time of prayer. People gathered in small groups to pray for a spiritual awakening in the New Orleans area, in Louisiana and in the United States. Floyd guided the crowd to verbally pray for the lost around the world by means of quoting the Great Commission passages in the book of Matthew.

(BP)

For more information or to join the movement, visit RonnieFloyd.com.