Current Trends In Baptisms

On the NAMB web site, Ed Stetzer has a current article on DISTURBING TRENDS IN BAPTISMS. We Southern Baptists are always talking about baptisms – how to have more, who should be baptized, where baptisms should take place, as well as other issues. Stetzer points out that despite all our talk, we have fewer and fewer baptisms.

In the latest information, EVERY baptism category but one decreased. The category that increased – Preschoolers - under the age 5. We do not need to debate the issue, but to see that there are fewer baptisms in persons over 5 in our Southern Baptist Churches should disturb us. It should motivate us to stop talking and become PERSONALLY involved in evangelism.

Some other statistics of note: 11,740 of our churches 0-1 baptisms (up 5.6% in 2004), more than 55% of our churches reported NO YOUTH BAPTISMS (12 – 17 year olds) (again, up 3% from the previous year), and the number of our churches that baptized more than 10 persons did decrease from 2004. Another alarming thought – fewer than 40% of our baptisms come from the unchurched (which is growing every year).

We talk and talk. Bobby Welch says “we’re just rearranging furniture” and “we’re not reaching the pagan pool.” The fact of the matter is, few of our churches are reaching outside themselves to be the Great Commission Church that God has called us to be in the world in which we live. What are we going to do about it?

Though these statistics may seem old, I think they are good for us to review. According to a study of adults baptized in 1993 (if anyone has a morer recent study, please let me know):

∆ nearly 20 percent of SBC baptisms came from those who were already baptized by immersion in an SBC church
∆ another 40 percent came from people who had been sprinkled at an earlier time, mostly as children.
∆ only 40 percent of people baptized in the year of our study considered their baptism to be a result of conversion.

Perhaps we are just rearranging the furniture.

In the near future, I will review the ACPs the member churches of the Tar River Baptist Association turned in for 2006-2006. I am pretty confident we will mirror what is happening on the national scale. Will we continue to talk, or will we commit ourselves to the tremendous task before us and reach outside our church walls to those that are lost all around us?

Stetzer writes, “We can bemoan declining baptisms for another year or we can ask ourselves several hard questions. Why do some churches reach people and others do not? What can we learn from them? What passion have we lost? What will it take to stir the waters of baptism once again?

To read Stetzer’s full article, along with another article that explains why current culture has a negative perception of Southern Baptist Church culture, click here.

I had not intended to write on this blog again this month, but felt I needed to share this information.

Out Heart, Our Desire - To See The Nations Worship

The theme for this year’s Fall Meeting is Our Heart, Our Desire - To See The Nations Worship. The scripture emphasis is Philippians 2: 9 – 13.

“ 9 Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name; 10 that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things on earth and things under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12 So then, my beloved, even as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure.”

It is my prayer that this is TRULY our heart’s desire. That we are praying and working together toward that goal.

When I first saw the DVD with the song “Our Heart,” I was moved to tears. To see the plight of people without Christ as their personal Savior is pitiful, disheartening, hopeless, and displays nothing but despair in the life of the people. That’s what I saw in the first part of the DVD.

BUT then I began to see people around the world sharing the message of Christ with the various people groups that were represented in the first part of the DVD. And then – praise the Lord, I began to see people from those various people groups being baptized into the family of Christ and experiencing the joy in their lives that ONLY Christ can bring. Before that DVD was over, I was singing along and tears were flowing. It is my heart’s desire that the people of the world come to know Christ as their personal Savior. He is thier only hope!

I chose that theme for our meeting together in the Fall of 2006. I did it because it is my prayer that the member churches of the Tar River Baptist Association also have that desire. Locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally working TOGETHER to bring people to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. I was pleased with that similar theme was chosen for this year’s Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.

When TRBA gathers together at Bailey Baptist Church on Monday, October 30th. it is far more than our annual business meeting. It is our celebrating what the Lord Jesus Christ is doing in and through His church. It is also our rededicating ourselves to the task that is before us – reaching a lost world for Jesus Christ!

May our heart’s desire always be “to see the nations worship.” Moreover, may we continually commit to work together to reach those around us and around the world that are currently lost. Join me in praying daily that God will use us to accomplish His purpose. Pray that He will use us in the harvest that is needed all around us.

Recovering After Surgery

Well--the hard part's over! Praise the Lord the surgeon was able to successfully reverse the colostomy from the previous emergency surgery. In addition, things contine to go well as I recover at home. There is more pain after this surgery and lifting restrictions are impertaive to keep from injuring myself. Thank God for my supportive wife, my mom, and the children as they have weathered the brunt of the assistance. I am truly grateful for the assistance of all during this time.

Right now, I am not certain when I will be back "on schecule" at work. Sure, I will respond to e mails. Yes - I am getting calls and decisions are being made. I will be able to do a lot from home - just like I did previously. I appreciate everyone who has cooperated so beautifully and I fully expect that to continue.

I will write more before the week is out. Please continue to lift me up in prayer.

A New Appreciation

These past few weeks have been a real learning experience for me. I have never been sick, so emergency surgery with the various restrictions and limitations has been helpful. I better understand some people and am more appreciative of their efforts to be involved with church and ministry. Ongoing health issues are, in fact, limiting to both the individual and family members (caregivers). Those of us in ministry should be more sensitive to that fact.

I have never bought into the statement that "people always do exactly what they want to do." This recovery time has reaffirmed that fact. My life has been limited. In no way are many of the things that I have had to do things I would ever want to do.

This morning I looked up at the clock, it was time to be in Sunday School and we are not yet ready to walk out the door. Did we sleep late? No, I had my prayer time and Bible study around 7 AM. Breakfast was like normal. We appeared to be getting ready on schedule. My body would not cooperate. A few extra steps had to be taken to ready ourselves physically to go to church. That slows down our getting ready to go to church. The church is having a world hunger emphasis today, and though we have the food collection ready, we have to get it to the car.

NOW - we are ready. Everything is in the car---Bibles are in hand---all meds have been taken---all medical apparatuses have been adjusted--and it is 10:15 AM. Our good intentions to go to Sunday School are out the door. Therefore, we ready ourselves to be at church in time for worship. IF all stays well, then we will be able to do just that. If any little thing goes a little wrong, it will impact that as well. Praise the Lord, all stayed OK and we were able to get to the worship service and ENJOY the worship experience with our church family.

For me, surgery this week should reverse what I have been going through these past few weeks. Hopefully I have learned enough to be more sensitive to those with various afflictions that strive to be faithful to the life and work of the church.

Thank you God for your hand being in all that has transpired.

May He Who Gives Us Life, Sustain Us As We Minister In His Name,
Dougald