My Deepest Appreciation to Pastors Hunt & Floyd

PHOTO: FBW

Today, as I was perusing my Google Reader, I came across an article which has greatly encouraged me.  Florida Baptist Witness editor, James Smith, Sr., has posted an interview with pastors Johnny Hunt and Ronnie Floyd.  In this interview these men discuss their journey in leadership within our convention and the impact that has made on their desire and plans to lead their churches to be more supportive of the Cooperative Program of our convention.  As this has been a question for which I have been desiring an answer, I am grateful for Mr. Smith’s work on this issue and for pastors Hunt and Floyd in their transparent, honest answers.  I am under no delusion that I am the only one who has been asking this question…nor that my initial post on this was the impetus for the article in FBW (certainly I might be deluded in other ways, but like the presentation specialist in the FedEx commercial…I digress! :-D ).

I am most thankful for the comments these men made in their interviews expressing their desire to continue moving their churches in continuing their emphasis on this significant means of financial support for the cooperative ministries of our convention of churches…even once the spotlight of their time in high-profile leadership is completed.  I am committing this very moment to praying for and continuing in prayer for these men as the lead their churches in this significant emphasis and commitment.  I encourage everyone to join with me in this.

I am quite thankful for changeable men in positions of leadership.  It is the height of arrogance for any one of us who have been entrusted with the leadership of God’s people to think that we ourselves need not be teachable nor changeable.

On a different note, one quote from Ronnie Floyd which provided a “shake your head in disbelief” kind of moment came from this statement in his interview:

“I challenged them to come on board strong in the future,” he said, noting that he could never recall such a statement being made at the megachurch pastors’ meeting since he has attended, starting in 1988.

I pray this attitude of omission/de-emphasis of mega-church pastors toward the significance of the Cooperative Program is indeed being transformed in our present SBC culture.

SOLA GRATIA!