By ROGER ALFORD, The Christian Index
STATESBORO, Ga. — Christians who really need to make a distinction on this planet at all times put the wants of others first, do no matter it takes to level individuals to Christ, and decide to a spirit of cooperation.
These are three traits frequent amongst difference-makers, mentioned Georgia Baptist Mission Board Government Director W. Thomas Hammond Jr., the keynote speaker Saturday on the remaining of a collection of church equipping conferences held throughout the state over the previous month.
“I need to let you know one thing about difference-makers; they at all times appear to search out themselves with loads of alternatives to serve,” Hammond mentioned. “They at all times contemplate how their lives can be utilized to make a distinction for others. What can I do? How can I serve?”
Greater than 2,000 individuals who attended the regional SPARK conferences acquired coaching in a big selection of areas, together with evangelism, discipleship, church development, youngsters and youth ministries, missions, and church administration.
Some 40 church specialists shared insights into methods for congregations to achieve their communities for Christ. Practically 300 church buildings despatched delegations to the conferences.
“It’s an actual hallelujah second that now we have skilled lay leaders from so many church buildings this 12 months,” mentioned Scott Sullivan, the Mission Board’s discipleship catalyst who organizes the SPARK conferences, that are finished in partnership between pastors, associational missions strategists and the Mission Board.”
Sullivan mentioned greater than 400 individuals from 59 church buildings attended Saturday’s SPARK convention at Statesboro’s First Baptist Church.
Hammond based mostly his keynote sermon on Mark 2:1-12, which tells about 4 males who carried their paralyzed buddy to a home the place Jesus was ministering. The passage explains that they couldn’t get inside to Jesus as a result of an enormous crowd was encompass Him. So that they tore a gap within the roof and lowered their buddy down, figuring out Jesus might heal him.
As a result of they couldn’t get their buddy to Jesus the customary means, via the door, Hammond identified that these 4 males needed to discover one other means, a brand new means.
“The lads had been keen to do no matter it took to get their buddy to Jesus, even when it meant tearing the roof off,” Hammond mentioned. “People who find themselves difference-makers are keen to start out one thing new.”
Hammond mentioned when these males heard the place Jesus was, their ideas went instantly to their paralyzed buddy, they usually put apart the whole lot and went to get him.
“What it’s a must to perceive about difference-makers is that they’re keen to regulate their lives in order that they meet individuals on the level of want,” he mentioned.
These males labored collectively, every carrying a nook of their buddy’s mattress, to get him to Jesus. They needed to cooperate to attain their objective.
“All people had a nook,” Hammond mentioned.
That sort of cooperation is important, he mentioned, if Georgia Baptists are to get individuals to Jesus.
“Each church has a nook,” he mentioned. “All people in each church has a nook. … We work collectively as a result of, when now we have the identical ardour, the identical function, the identical plan, God makes use of us to make a distinction.”
