By Caleb Jones
Intern, The Alabama Baptist
Every day there are opportunities for the gospel to be preached but those opportunities are not always taken.
The goal of the upcoming State Evangelism Conference — with the theme “Evangelism Resurgence” — is to help pastors and churches rekindle a flame for consistent evangelism. The conference will be held Feb. 27–28 at First Baptist Church, Pelham.
“There seems to be a changing of mindset that our country needs to swing the pendulum back (on certain issues) and churches are recognizing that they need to refocus on evangelism,” said Sammy Gilbreath, director of the office of evangelism for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions.
“The goal is to encourage pastors to put evangelism back on the front burner and make evangelism intentional this year,” he said.
Roy Hill, pastor of First Baptist Church, Satsuma, has been a featured speaker at the conference before and is looking forward to participating this year as a pastor who’s seeking to be filled.
“Wow, I’m excited for this year because the conference always brings in speakers that remind us and challenge us in our walks and ministries and remind us to stay in the fight (of evangelism).”
‘Jesus is the answer’
“I think it will be especially great this year,” Hill said. “With all that has been going on in our country, people need something desperately that will give people hope and get pastors passionate about telling people Jesus is the answer.”
The speakers and worship leaders have hearts set on encouraging, challenging and energizing pastors and church members to go back to their respective churches motivated to share the gospel and expectantly waiting to see the Holy Spirit work, Gilbreath noted.
Among the list of speakers is Chuck Kelley, president of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS), who will kick off the event and set the tone for the conference. Gilbreath anticipates Kelley will spark people’s desire to live out the Great Commission once they leave the Tuesday evening session of the conference.
Guest speakers
Along with Kelley, speakers include Alex McFarland, speaker, author and director of the Center for Christian Worldview and Apologetics at North Greenville University in Tigerville, South Carolina; Chad Burdette, pastor of Macedonia Baptist Church, Ranburne; Larry Robertson, pastor of Hilldale Baptist Church, Clarksville, Tennessee; James Merritt, pastor of Cross Pointe Church, Atlanta, and former Southern Baptist Convention president; Joel Carwile, pastor of First Baptist Church, Athens; Blake Newsom, pastor of Dauphin Way Baptist Church, Mobile, and NOBTS professor; and Kenny Grant, pastor of Calvary Baptist Temple, Savannah, Georgia.
Wes Hampton from the Gaither Vocal Band will lead worship as will the choirs of First, Pelham, and Enon Baptist Church, Morris.
Gilbreath said participants will hear “gifted speakers” and experience “strong worship” but his goal is for the event to be more than a two-day activity.
“I want to be able to get up on Wednesday morning and say to myself, ‘Wow, God showed up,’” Gilbreath said.
“The greatest thing that could come out of this conference is pastors saying they need to develop an ongoing strategy for evangelism in their areas,” he added. “Hopefully we can help pastors train up their congregation and make people feel equipped and ready to share their faith.
“We could literally see an evangelism resurgence come out of this year’s conference. Wouldn’t that be neat?”
For more information, visit www.alsbom.org/sec.
Additionally the Ministers’ Wives Luncheon will be Feb. 28 at noon and will feature Allison Wilks of One Step Ministries. To register, visit alabamawmu.org or call 1-800-264-1225, ext. 325.
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