Bravely Onward!

At the Southern Baptist Convention last month, the Executive Committee (EC) presented to the messengers Vision 2025 for adoption. This vision statement articulated five critical steps which Southern Baptist congregations must focus on over the next four years if we want to reverse the present decline in baptisms and membership in our churches. The fourth step listed read, to "turn around our ongoing decline in reaching, baptizing, and discipling 12 to 17-year-olds in the prime of their teenage years."  The reason why the EC listed this item is that our churches have seen a decades-long slide in youth baptisms. In recent years, we are not seeing as many students saved and discipled. Specifically, baptisms in this age group have decreased 38% since 2000. If someone were looking for a major reason why Southern Baptist total membership has dropped from over 16 million to just over 14 million in just 10 years, the best reason to suggest is that we are not winning our children to ...

 Reflections on Mom-  A great mom is a mighty force in a person's life. I often think about my own mother, the things she did, and the words she said. Her past words and actions affect me even today. They still shape my decisions. Interestingly enough, I think her past actions and words direct me more than my interactions with her in the present. For instance, when I'm tempted just to send a thank you note to someone via a text message, I remember how my mother taught me that thank you notes made with pen and paper, sent through the mail, carry with them air of warmth and personal touch which is unmatched. Because of her, I try to mail thank you notes as often as I can.  Not many people in our lives carry such strong and steady influence as our mothers. Samuel Philips, a minister in the 19th century described a mother's mighty and long-lasting guidance on her child:  "The nursery is the department of home in which the mother fulfils her peculiar mission. This is her ...

 Recently, I read a story about Marion Morrison. His friends called him Duke. You probably know him by his stage name, John Wayne. For a generation of boys, John Wayne was the model of manhood. They watched his movies and learned from his courageous actions and matter-of-fact words. Wayne wasn't perfect, but he embodied the qualities of someone trying to do what's right. One commentator described him as..." the prototypical American hero, symbolizing such traits as self-reliance, grace under pressure, resolve, and patriotism." Needless to say, John Wayne left an impression.  This reason I bring up John Wayne is that there is a need today for men to set an example for boys and girls. Boys need to see what biblical manhood looks like in action. They need to see faithful men who serve the Lord in humility, emit integrity, protect the vulnerable, and demonstrate fatherly love. Little girls need to see godly men who are worthy to follow, repent when they err, and trust the...