While I am a new pastor in
Rockford, I have been a Southern Baptist for over 20 years. Through
out that time, I have heard people refer to Southern Baptists and
anything between “The frozen Chosen” to "Holy Rollers” running
up and down the isles. The truth is, we are likely all of that and
everything in between.
The Southern Baptist
Convention (SBC) makes up over 48,000 churches throughout the US and
some other countries. Each church is an autonomous (self governing)
entity that establishes it's own personality and chooses it's own
leaders. These churches then come together to work in concert for the
kingdom of GOD and to fulfill the calling of JESUS.
Through a program known as
the Cooperative Program, Southern Baptists fund over 5,000 over seas
missionaries. These missionaries build schools and houses and
orphanages. They provide free medical treatments and teach the locals
to farm, drill wells, raise livestock and create an understanding
wherein they are able to improve their lives and strengthen their
villages.
Domestically, the Southern
Baptist Convention operates the second largest disaster relief
organization in America. To bring this into perspective, let's take a
look at the recent events of hurricane Sandy.
Our disaster relief
organization was tasked with preparing 100,000 meals a day. Our
unique position in disaster relief is that we feed those people who
come to take care of the rest of the people. We feed the electrical
workers and construction crews. We also provide other workers. In
fact, some 700 chain saws and operators were dispatched to help
remove debris. Southern Baptist still maintain a large group of
people on the ground in that area today and are committed to
supporting the needs of the people there through 2016.
On top of that, each church
has it's own ministries. We run a clothe closet at Halsted Road
Baptist Church every 2nd Saturday where people can get
free clothing. Other local SBC churches have food closets and assist
in providing shelter for the homeless and displaced.
Each Southern Baptist
Church provides money to fund all of these efforts and so many more.
We come together and work together for the spread of the gospel and
the saving of souls. We look after widows and orphans, feed the
hungry and clothe the naked. We spend over $6 Billion a year doing it
and every time there is a new disaster each Southern Baptist member
knows they can give directly to the cause of that disaster and not
one penny of their extra gift is used for administration. That is
something that no other organization can claim. Not only that, but we
never charge a penny for any service we do.
We received a great gift
from JESUS and we give as freely as HE gave.
I know that many people
only hear the list of what we are against. I know that many do not
agree with SBC politics. Neither do I. But, there is no other
organization that does the good we do as efficiently as we do it.
That is why I am a Southern Baptist. Because taking care of people
and sharing the good news of what JESUS has done for us is still the
primary cause and commonality around which we rally in cooperation.
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