Great Quotes from SBC Annual Meeting Orlando 2010

During the convention this year there were several great quotes from the presentations.

We must be willing to sacrifice the America Dream for the Great Commission–President Johnny Hunt

This quote was quite convicting to me on a professional and personal level. As a pastor, I fear the churches I have served have been too self-centered rather commission-centered. In light of the great needs of the world, we tend to spend too much on locally rather than globally.

On a personal level, I struggle with how much God wants me to give for the nations. I am convinced a tithe (10%) is not nearly enough. It is so easy to get caught up in the rat race chasing after the American Dream even as a pastor. This stands as one of the great spiritual struggles of our day among followers of Jesus. It is very hard to justify my lifestyle in light of Jesus’ own poverty and humility.

“if we don’t return–will you do our funeral?”– a young missionary couple request of President Johnny Hunt

Some worry about the next generation, and it is true that the vast majority of the coming generations have rejected the traditional expressions of Christianity, but there is a remnant of young zealous leaders who are determined to change the world. These young leaders are willing to die for their faith. My generation knows little of even sacrifice, yet these young men and women are willing to give up all for the cause of Christ. It is tragic in a day when so many are willing to go that our funds are diminishing. I wonder what would happen if we had the resources to send every young leader willing to lay down his or her life? The sad reality is that we have the funds we just seem to keep spending them on ourselves. God help us when we stand before our Lord.

“We need to judge our churches not by our seating capacity but our sending capacity”–Ed Stetzer, LifeWay

Stetzer in his report challenge us to start using a new scorecard. My heart resonated with his calling to deployment. We must remember that we must have permission to stay, Jesus has already ordered us to “go make disciples of all nations.”