Directions

      On May 4 the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force will make their report which will be presented to the Southern Baptist Convention in Orlando in June. If you want to see a copy of their preliminary report released earlier you may find it at http://www.pray4gcr.com. This report will call for some major restructuring of our SBC missions programs and the Cooperative Program. Part of the report will change the way State Conventions share money with the National Convention. More money will stay with NAMB and less money will come back to the State Conventions.



     The report says “our North American Mission Board needs to be reinvented and released.” Major restructuring and refocusing of NAMB is recommended. The IMB will also be allowed to reach out to unreached international groups in North America.



     In addition to recognizing Cooperative Program giving, the report recommends that Southern Baptists recognize and celebrate “Great Commission Giving.” Great Commission Giving includes Cooperative Program giving and designated gifts given to the causes of the Southern Baptist Convention, a state convention or a local association.



      There is another important issue that will be brought to the convention: The SBC Majority Initiative. This initiative seeks to get more of the small churches involved and represented in the working of the SBC. Candidates from some of our small churches will be nominated to serve as convention officers. There will be a motion that more of our small churches be represented on our agencies and boards. To see more go to http://www.sbcmajority.com.



      I recommend reading the Great Commission Resurgence report in full and I recommend our churches plan to send as many messengers as they can to the convention in Orlando. The future shape of the Southern Baptist Convention will be discussed and voted on. You should have your voice heard!



Yours for His kingdom,



Brother Hershel

      Mary Ann and I are awaiting a call that will tell us that Miss Taylor Lynn Adams is ready to be born into this world. She will be our first grandchild and we can hardly wait. It could be any day now. So if we suddenly disappear, you didn’t miss the rapture—we just got the word and are heading to Orlando to see the most beautiful baby we have ever seen.