NEW BOOK REVIEWS: Bios of John Wesley and Charles Wesley State Missionary Rick Lance is executive director of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions.

Other Recent Blog Entries:

Whatever Happened to Old Fashioned Respect?
Saturday, June 20, 2009
I have a concern burning in my soul about the apparent loss of old fashioned respect in our culture.

John Wesley Would Be Proud of You!
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Wesley Memorial Church worships with a spirit of enthusiasm found in the preaching style of John Wesley and in the music of Charles Wesley.

Singing the Lord's Song in a Strange Land
Saturday May 30, 2009
Now evangelical Christians are a very small but distinct minority living and serving amidst the multi-cultural political correctness of the British society.

Welcome to the family, Chuck Weaver!!!
Thursday, May 24, 2009
There is the joy of cooperating with other like-minded believers who want to help people when a need arises.

To Sign or Not to Sign: That Is the Question
Thursday, May 7, 2009
I contend that 10-plus years ago, we made a fresh commitment of our lives to becoming Great Commission Christians. For me, that is far more significant than signing any kind of document.

Are We in a Southern Baptist Recession?
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
The SBC recession will end when we experience a revival as a people of God. When we have a true sense renewal in our relationship with the Lord, the numbers will take care of themselves.

The Church Is on Fire!!!
Friday, April 17, 2009
When the church becomes focused or refocused on the mission of the Great Commission, the fire of the Holy Spirit of God becomes the wind, which carries them into the future.

Rick Lance's blog

June 2009

A Need for CPR in the SBC

Southern Baptists are a big family and, each year, we have a family reunion of sorts. There is a huge amount of behind the scenes planning which takes place prior to the annual meeting of the messengers (family members) who come for the reunion of Southern Baptists. Believe me, I know something about such preparation efforts. The state convention is obviously smaller than the national gathering, but the preparation is intensive and extensive nonetheless. I can only imagine how much energy and time goes into making the annual meeting possible and effective for the messengers to come together for inspiration, information and interaction.

This year, the Great Commission was the major topic for discussion. A motion was made and overwhelmingly approved for a presidentially appointed task force to be named for the purpose of studying how Southern Baptists can be more effective as Great Commission Christians. The 18-member group will meet throughout the year and bring a report to the convention in Orlando at our next annual meeting. They need the prayer support of all Southern Baptists, and I am pleased to join my family members in praying for this important task force as they faithfully serve our Lord and our beloved SBC family this year.

Personally, I left the convention gladdened that the Great Commission has become a missional topic for Southern Baptists to discuss.

For Alabama Baptists, two topics -- the Great Commission and the Cooperative Program -- have been inseparable emphases over the past 11 years. When we speak of our ONE MISSION, we are focusing on the Great Commission, because we are a Great Commission people. When we refer to the ONE PROGRAM, we mean the Cooperative Program, because we believe in the unified budgeting approach to supporting missions in Alabama, North America and around the world. Currently our state convention is the best supporter of SBC causes through the Cooperative Program, and we thank God for this type of partnership.

My prayer is that a Great Commission Resurgence (GCR) will lead to a Cooperative Program Resurgence (CPR). In reflecting over the needs of our global missions effort, it would be interesting to learn what current Cooperative Program giving would look like if we gave at percentage levels of 1989. In other words, if churches had maintained a 10 percent level of giving through the Cooperative Program throughout the last two decades, rather than the decreasing percentage, which is now slightly above 6 percent, what would the picture be for Southern Baptists?

Consider this past year as an example. If we had maintained the 10 percent level of giving, then the receipts for the SBC alone would have $869 million instead of $539 million. That is a 61 percent differential. The additional amount going to the IMB would have funded the present shortfall they are experiencing. It would have meant more funds for every missions effort in SBC life. There would have been much more money for the seminaries and other entities in Baptist life.

Remember that is just one year: 2008. If you add the cumulative of the past 20 years, you would be astounded. The point I am making is the same one others have made on the national level. We don't have a funding problem but a faith problem! The real issue is personal stewardship on the part of Baptists who, like other evangelicals, are not being good stewards of their resources. Debt and economic upheaval are only the symptoms of the problem.

When we exercise faith personally and become good stewards of storehouse giving through our churches, then we demonstrate an evidence of a Great Commission revival or resurgence. For Southern Baptists, a Great Commission revival or resurgence should mean a Cooperative Program Resurgence. This is the kind of CPR which can invigorate and energize Southern Baptists. I know that the Great Commission Resurgence is bigger than one issue, like funding, but if I heard the debate correctly, then it is an important one for all of us to consider.

I am a loyal Southern Baptist, from the top of my head to the tip of my toes. I am sold out to Jesus and to my family of faith called Southern Baptists. I am committed to our ONE MISSION, the Great Commission, and to our ONE PROGRAM, the Cooperative Program. I am also concerned that we do a better job with the resources we have been given. I pray that we as a family called Southern Baptists will experience a revival, a resurgence in our Great Commission living and in our Cooperative Program giving.

Whatever Happened to Old Fashioned Respect?

Since I began blogging as a ministry tool, I have felt that my subjects for readers should be about the missions and ministries of Alabama Baptists and Southern Baptists. That has been the motivating philosophy behind my modest endeavors in this sphere of influence. As a result, I have NOT sought to set forth a personal political agenda, nor have I tried to become a social commentator on the secular trends in our society. There are far better thinkers and writers than I who can do this kind of work. However, I have a concern burning in my soul about the apparent loss of old fashioned respect in our culture. Granted, I may be voicing a generational or even a Southern bias in offering this perspective, but here goes.

Recently, controversial California pastor Wiley Drake made some unimaginably unwise comments about President Obama on a network radio talk show. Now, I realize that Bro. Drake is a shoot-from-the-hip kind of fellow, and I also know personally that statements can be taken out of context and sound worse than intended, but his comments have been verified by Baptist Press and Fox News.

What did he say? I don't want to repeat his viewpoint in verbatim form. I ask you to go to Baptist Press or Fox News radio archives for the actual statements. Bro. Drake in essence called for imprecatory prayers against the well being of the president as a means of expressing his political opinion about Mr. Obama.

Don't get me wrong, the president has espoused views with which I strongly disagree. His political perspective does not reflect mine in some major ways. However, as a Christian, I am to respect him and pray for him. Bro. Drake needs to read Paul's admonitions concerning praying for those in authority. Further, he should think about his Christian witness and those he seems to want to represent in the SBC family.

In the last several months, I have traveled abroad to Ukraine and the United Kingdom. In both places, people asked me personally and in public venues what I thought about President Obama. My responses have always been predicated with a respectful appreciation for the office by saying, "As an American citizen, traveling abroad and living and traveling in my own country, I want you to know that I pray for my president." I have spoken kindly about Mr. Obama's dedication to his family and my concern for his well being. I was utterly amazed to come home and hear the horrific comments of Bro. Drake. I will be praying for him as a brother. My prayer is that Wiley Drake will come to see that such outlandish statements are not only wrong, but such words hurt the cause of Christ.

Recently I've noticed other illustrations of disrespect from our culture. David Letterman's inappropriate attempts of making a joke at the expense of Sarah Palin's family is so disrespectful that I can barely contain myself as I write about what he said. Again, I will not repeat them verbatim. Doubtless, you have heard them for yourself. David Letterman and his writing team need a real wakeup call concerning decency and respect for the young and impressionable among us. I know he is in a ratings war with Conan O'Brien, but how far will someone stoop just to get a point ahead of his competitors? I don't watch Letterman, and I won't criticize those who do. However, this man needs to learn from this huge mistake and pledge never to jump across that line of disrespect again -- I mean never!!!

In South Carolina, Rusty DePass, former Richland County GOP chairman, misused his Facebook page when he made unflattering remarks about Michelle Obama after hearing a news report that a gorilla had escaped from the zoo in Columbia, S.C. After the Republican activist's comment was exposed by a blogger, DePass quickly deleted his Facebook page, but the ensuing controversy led to DePass issuing an apology to Mrs. Obama and resigning his job as a real estate broker. This incident should remind us about stewardship of language. One slip of the tongue, pen or keyboard can wound others and damage our own reputations. We should embrace a more Hebraic view of words that recognizes that words spoken can't be taken back. (For a biblical illustration of that truism, see Genesis 27 when Isaac spoke a blessing to Jacob thinking it was Esau.)

Senator John Ensign of Nevada has admitted that he failed to honor his vows of marriage. Standing before the microphones addressing the media and the nation, he called it the worst mistake of his life. This is not the first time that someone of a high profile who has been in a lofty position of leadership has had to admit such a failure, and for certain it will not be the last. For John Ensign, his plans for a bright political future have been dimmed by a lapse of respect for his marriage vows. Again, this is another sad example of a loss of old fashioned respect for fidelity in marriage. As is true for all experience such failures in life, Senator Ensign can learn from this experience and so can all of us. We need to regain a sense of old fashioned respect for the institution of marriage.

The last illustration may appear to some as the weakest one. To me, however, it is a big issue. Forgive me if I offend anyone for feeling that Senator Barbara Boxer crossed the line of respect into disrespect recently. The senator was hearing the testimony of a brigadier general concerning the military situation in the hotspots of the world. The general referred to her as "ma'am" in a response, perhaps several of them. This annoyed the senator from California, and she then said in a real snippy fashion, "General, I wish you would call me senator and not ma'am. I worked hard to earn this title."

Indeed Senator Boxer has worked hard for her job, and I realize that she is proud of her accomplishments. I do not want to assume that the title of senator should be demeaned in any way. Yet my father, a World War II veteran, always taught me to refer to ladies, younger and older, with the deferential terms "Yes, ma'am" and "No, ma'am." This has been embedded in my DNA since my childhood. In the military culture, anyone who is a superior is addressed with the deferential expressions "Yes, sir" and "No, sir" for the males and "Yes, ma'am" and "No, ma'am" for the females. In other words, the general was being respectful of the senator, even though he did not use her title. In my opinion, the senator was being disrespectful to the general. More than likely, the general had used the expressions "Yes, sir" and "No, sir" as he addressed the male senators. I do not know that for certain, because the sound bite was so brief.

Well, I warned you that this blog was different. I will not stray much from the course of focusing my comments on missions and ministries in the future. But, please help our culture to regain some respect for old fashioned respect of others. Wiley Drake, David Letterman, Rusty DePass, Senator Ensign and Senator Boxer are not the only ones who cross the line; we do too. Every time we express road rage or fail to exercise common decency, we lose that perspective of old fashioned respect.

John Wesley Would Be Proud of You!

"John Wesley would be proud of you." These are the words expressed by Timothy George to David Leese, pastor of the Wesley Memorial Church in Epworth, England. During our recent visit to Great Britain, our group was afforded the opportunity to visit the historic church and we were privileged to spend some valuable time with this fine pastor.

The complimentary affirmation from Timothy George came at the end of our fellowship time with David Leese. What precipitated these words of appreciation and blessing? You would have to have been there to fully understand. This warmhearted evangelical pastor is seeking to make a difference for Christ in this small English village of Epworth, located in the beautiful countryside north of London.

The church is a thriving witness in the community. David is welcomed into the local schools to share his faith with the students. The Anglicans in the area also hold this pastor in high esteem. The worship style at Wesley Memorial is non-traditional, featuring all kinds of musical instruments and celebrative singing by the people. Wesley Memorial Church worships with a spirit of enthusiasm found in the preaching style of John Wesley and in the music of Charles Wesley.

During the brief dialogue with David, he shared his testimony with us. He traced his pilgrimage to faith by describing how he was moved by conviction after hearing a sermon by David Watson in York, England. This was 1971, and he was a young man, searching for answers to the questions of meaning and purpose in life.

Following the message, he walked across the park and, by the time, he had reached the third lamp post, David was praying the prayer of repentance from sin and trust in Jesus. Since that moment in the park, David Leese has been a changed man. His desire is to share Christ with others and to see them come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Standing in the sanctuary, in front of the very table the Wesleys used for Communion, David Leese said, "This church is not a museum, it is a place of worship." Well said, my new friend from Epworth, England. The Wesley home is just behind the church and it is a museum, but the church which bears the famous family name is a mission – not a museum. Yes, to borrow the words of Timothy George, "John Wesley would be proud of you."

May 2009

Singing the Lord's Song in a Strange Land

Charles Haddon Spurgeon was known by many as "the Prince of Preachers." His books continue to be in print, and his sermons are read by a large number of evangelical Christians in the 21st century. The Metropolitan Tabernacle Church, where he became renowned for his expository preaching, is still a strong congregation today. His legacy of Biblical preaching is alive and well at this church and in many places around the world.

During our British Baptist tour, which included a visit to the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Pam and I listened to one of the church leaders, Chris Cooper, describe the vitality of the current ministry of the congregation. He also offered a commentary on the secular culture which has now become entrenched in Britain. Adversaries of the Christian gospel are omnipresent in this nation where the message of Christ was once welcomed openly. Now evangelical Christians are a very small but distinct minority living and serving amidst the multi-cultural political correctness of the British society.

As I heard this testimony, my mind raced to Psalm 137. Here, the Psalmist sadly paints a picture of God's people held captive by adversaries of the redemptive message of the Lord: "When we remembered Zion, we wept" was the tearful message of the psalmist. He and others reflected upon the good memories of their home land with a sense of painful sadness. They could remember the times when the joy of freely worshiping God was their way of life. No, the people of God were taunted and insulted by the voices found in this culture of captivity.

Spurgeon's Britain is gone! Yet, evangelical churches, like the Metropolitan Tabernacle, are finding ways to "sing the Lord's song in a strange land." They are focusing upon the younger generation of London, especially on the south side of town where immigrants from other countries have come to Great Britain. People from African and Caribbean nations currently represent the largest number of worshippers at the church. They and others are hungry for the gospel and they are responding to Christ by becoming faithful followers of Him in a strange land.

As evangelicals in Britain face this culture of captivity, those of us who claim the name of Christ across the Atlantic need to seriously study ways in which we can effectively communicate the Gospel in an environment fast becoming hostile to the Christian message. Of course, as the old adage reminds us, this is much easier said than done.

During this visit to Great Britain, I experienced a growing sense of renewal or revival coming in my life. I am not a Charles Haddon Spurgeon but, like you, I am a follower of Christ and I want to be found faithful to Him in the day in which I live. You and I did not choose this period of history for the living of our lives, but it is our time and, like all epochs, it is God's time. Together, as a small but hopefully distinct minority in this culture of captivity, we must rededicate ourselves to the task of faithfully and effectively communicating the gospel of Christ in the time in human history God has given us. This, in essence, is living faithfully for Christ in a culture of captivity. Let us "sing the Lord's song in a strange land."

Welcome to the family, Chuck Weaver!!!

Chuck Weaver comes from an independent Baptist background. In his first pastorate -- Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Hale County -- Chuck is serving an Alabama Baptist church which cooperates with the State Convention and the Southern Baptist Convention. Sometimes, pastors who have been independent Baptists try to lead the church in the direction of becoming more independent and less cooperative with other Baptist churches, locally and globally.

This is not the case with Chuck Weaver. Chuck has become a Southern Baptist and an Alabama Baptist. How did the transformation take place? Well in all honesty, the church building caught on fire and burned to rubble. As I have previously mentioned in an earlier blog, Alabama Baptist disaster relief's first responders moved swiftly into action. State Missionary Mel Johnson was on site the next day and, within 48 hours, I represented Alabama Baptists with a disaster relief check for the church.

Additionally by the first Sunday in May, their homecoming, a new mobile chapel was placed on the property. This mobile chapel and all the others used for disaster relief and church planting come from cooperating Alabama Baptists who want to help people in a time of need.

Through the mail, Chuck Weaver received a check from a lady who also wanted to assist the church in their efforts to rebuild. Chuck knew this lady was living on a fixed income. In his mind, she was giving the "widow's mite" to the church. Then, as he pondered this significant gift, he asked himself, where did the money given by Alabama Baptists come from? Other "widow's mites" was his answer. Chuck thought about all the cooperating Baptists in Alabama who sacrificed for his church during this time of crisis. "I guess that day I became a Southern Baptist," he stated.

Conversion to Christ is the main issue of life for everyone. It is life's most important decision. Chuck Weaver has evidenced a second type conversion, a conversion to cooperation. Cooperating by giving through the Cooperative Program is a means of supporting efforts of sharing Christ with people, who do not know Him. Inherent in this conversion, there is the joy of cooperating with other like-minded believers who want to help people when a need arises.

Welcome to the family Chuck Weaver!!! You are now in a big family, one known for cooperating in local and global missions and evangelism. Here is our commitment to you. We will pray for you as you lead your church during this most challenging time. We will help your church get back to a new normal. We will work with you in the future, as you serve locally and impact others globally. We are family, and family members help each other in times of need, like Pleasant Hill and you now face. Again, welcome to the family Chuck Weaver!!!

To Sign or Not to Sign: That Is the Question

The Great Commission is in the news in SBC life. The conversation is centered around an online document with the Great Commission in its title. In the first incarnation, the document contained 12 axioms and after further revision it now features 10 commitments. At the time of this blog posting, more than 1,700 people have placed their signatures to the document. Some Alabama Baptists have chosen to be among the number.

I have not signed the document, because I feel we as Alabama Baptists have already been at work in Great Commission Ministries in very effective ways. The original document also contained some language with which I could not agree. I do not see our state convention as a bloated bureaucracy but rather as a fellowship of Great Commission Christians on mission with the Great Commission.

For more than a decade now we have affirmed the more than a motto affirmation: "We Have One Mission, The Great Commission; We Have One Program, The Cooperative Program; We Have Many Ministries...Great Commission Ministries." Many times when I am introduced to a congregation, the pastor will incorporate this affirmation into his remarks. This is the highest compliment I could ever receive as a state missionary.

Consider with me the following missional points in Alabama Baptist life:

We have One Mission, The Great Commission

"We have One Mission, The Great Commission" is all about partnership. We partner as a Great Commission people to reach people for Christ in Alabama, North America and internationally. As for the matter of streamlining of the State Board of Missions, we have reduced the number of our staff by 20 percent over the past decade. Yet, as state missionaries, we are committed to serving the churches and associations in our state as true partners in ministry.

We Have One Program, The Cooperative Program

"We Have One Program, The Cooperative Program." Alabama is the only Deep South state convention which does NOT have a state missions offering. The Kathleen Mallory Offering is for the support of the WMU ministries in our state, and we are glad that our WMU partners have this opportunity for support from the churches.

Alabama Baptists currently lead all other state conventions in Cooperative Program giving to SBC causes. From October through April, Alabama Baptists have given more funds to support missions causes in the Southern Baptist Convention than any of the other 41 conventions. This is not a matter of pride for us but praise. We are blessed to be at this point, when the state and national/global economies are in decline. This is good stewardship on the part of Alabama Baptists.

The Cooperative Program is not the Coercive Program. No church is forced to give. Rather, churches choose to cooperate so that a world can be reached for Christ. The Cooperative Program enables Alabama Baptists and Southern Baptists to be all over the world, all the time at the same time. The Cooperative Program is the tried and proven way to do so.

The Cooperative Program is not the Cafeteria Program. In Alabama Baptist life, we have the purest form of Cooperative Program giving. An undesignated gift from churches is given through the Cooperative Program and therefore supports ministries in Alabama and around the world. A designated gift can be made, but it must represent a ministry included in either the SBC or State Convention budgets. That is the same principle of unified giving practiced in almost all of our churches in their own budgeting process.

We Have Many Ministries, Great Commission Ministries

"We Have Many Ministries, Great Commission Ministries." As a State Board of Missions, we have been given three priorities, which emanate from the Great Commission. All four of our teams are focused clearly and intentionally on these priorities.

In evangelism and discipleship, Alabama Baptists have given attention to the basics of reaching people for Christ and helping them grow as faithful disciples. Sammy Gilbreath, the Evangelism & Discipleship Team Leader, has been instrumental in doing what we call evangelism on the edges. Horse Whisperer evangelistic events are just one example of this ministry. The historic method of touching the lives of people through Vacation Bible School is also a matter worth considering. As many as 7,500 professions of faith were made during VBS last year in our state. Additionally, Alabama Baptist state missionaries on college and university campuses touch lives of almost 10 percent of the students enrolled in these educational institutions.

The Leadership Development Team benefits from the wise and veteran leadership of State Missionary Dale Huff. In a day when there is a leadership shortage in all walks of life, even in Christian circles, the priority focus of this team is to develop Christian leaders. Teman Knight, who serves on this team, works closely with younger church leaders, many of whom minister to churches, large and small in membership.

The Missions Mobilization Team is led by a man who has served the Lord internationally as well as here in Alabama. Reggie Quimby is the "go to" guy for mobilizing volunteers for mission work in Alabama and in our global partnerships, such as the current ones in Michigan, Guatemala, the Appalachian Regional Ministries and the vast nation of Ukraine. Disaster relief and church planting ministries are the focus of this team too.

Yes, Alabama Baptists are a Great Commission people, whether they have signed an online document or not. For more than a decade, we have sought to unapologetically devote ourselves to the clear priorities growing out of the Great Commission. Each Alabama Baptist will have to determine whether signing a document is of value to the cause. However, I contend that 10-plus years ago, we made a fresh commitment of our lives to becoming Great Commission Christians. For me, that is far more significant than signing any kind of document.