As another annual meeting of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina (BSC) approaches, my mind goes back to a previous convention meeting. As an officer of the BSC, I had been a part of planning the 2014 convention, but little did I know just how significant it would be in my life.
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For the first decade of my ministry at Dublin First Baptist Church (FBC), I was satisfied with the good things in church work – full pews, met budgets, exciting worship, happy people and a successful building program. But that year’s convention theme, “Greater Things,” would open my eyes to God’s desire for me personally, and for my church to quit doing church work and start doing Kingdom work.
John 14 begins with the promise of an eternal mansion. But tucked in the middle (v. 12), is another promise of a miracle that would take place after the Holy Spirit’s entrance at Pentecost – the miracle of “Greater Things.” I went home from that annual session knowing that I had met with God, and my life would never be the same. In the years that followed, my family and over 200 members of Dublin FBC have traveled all over the world on mission. I have shared the gospel in many countries and passed out shoeboxes to hundreds of children. Our church has stepped out in faith in obedience to Acts 1:8 to be “On Mission – Here, There and Everywhere.” We have partnered with churches in New York City and Vadul Lui Isac, Moldova. We birthed the Lake Church of White Lake as a second campus of Dublin FBC. In July 2017, the Lake Church established White Lake Christian Camp and Retreat Center. All of this and so much more can be traced back to a life-changing BSC annual meeting and the challenge to do “Greater Things.” I hope to see you at the 2017 annual meeting in Greensboro, Nov. 6-7.
(EDITOR’S NOTE – Cameron McGill serves as BSC president.)
