Mission and vision clarification are essential in organizations of every size. Unless North Carolina Baptists understand and embrace the mission and vision of this Convention there is little motivation for them to support the future direction of this Convention’s ministry and missionary endeavors.

In his booklet “Awaken,” Chris Schofield tells how a prayer movement began in New York City in 1857 when one person began praying that God would bring people together to pray. On the first day of prayer one man knelt alone to pray, even though he had encouraged people to join him through distributing hundreds of handbills entitled “How often shall we pray?” However, his pleas to God were eventually rewarded because he persisted.

With each passing year that the Lord privileges me to serve Him, my appreciation, understanding and amazement of all that I observe God doing continues to increase. As I look toward next month and my seven-year anniversary of serving as your executive director-treasurer [of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina], I am filled with gratitude to God for the tremendous blessing of serving N.

In Acts 8:26-31 we read about a divine encounter that leads to a spiritual rebirth in Jesus Christ. In this text we read that God sent Philip to meet an Ethiopian eunuch. When Philip met the eunuch he was reading from the prophet Isaiah. He wanted to know more about God, but he needed someone to help him understand the truths of scripture.

Later this year, in November, Billy Graham will celebrate his 95th birthday.   The Lord has used Rev. Graham to proclaim the message of our Savior’s cross throughout much of the world. I have always been encouraged by his humility and his unwavering commitment to share the gospel.

Several years ago the Barna Group conducted a research study to help determine some of the challenges that evangelicals experience regarding their spiritual growth.   One of the findings especially caught my attention: Of those surveyed, four out of five born again Christians believed that spiritual maturity is “trying hard to follow the rules.

Most of you are familiar with the “Seven Pillars for Ministry” that serve as core values to help our state convention stay focused on its mission of assisting North Carolina Baptist churches. One of these core values is “reaching North Carolina’s international community.

For many people the New Year is a time for a fresh start – a time to resolve to do things differently than the year before. Although we usually begin the New Year with great expectations we often, after a short time, find ourselves already behind in our commitments and resolutions.

Did you notice how quickly the stores and shopping malls began to decorate and get ready for Christmas?   They want to get customers “in the mood” for gift shopping. People are excited to start the Christmas season. I greatly enjoy this special time of the year, including the decorations and festivities.

In 2009, I was privileged to preach and promote the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering in First Baptist Church of Charlottesville, Va. , where Lottie was baptized as a young girl. Lottie was small in stature (4 feet, 3 inches), but powerful in her witness for Christ because she spent time in prayer.

Thanksgiving is a special time to celebrate and give thanks for all God has done in our lives and for His Kingdom. I have much to be thankful for, such as my family and friends. But above all, I am thankful to God for salvation and for calling me His child. There is no greater gift, no greater blessing, in this world than living in the joy of knowing Christ Jesus my Savior.

In my previous column I urged North Carolina Baptists all across the state to pray for our state Convention’s annual meeting in Greensboro. I asked you to pray toward our theme of “Awaken,” or spiritual awakening. Now, I am asking for you to pray that the 182nd annual meeting of the READ MORE

Although the annual meeting is not until November, our program committee begins their work early in the year, as a meeting of this size and scope requires much preparation.   From that first meeting in January I sensed God working among the committee members.

North Carolina Baptists participate in supporting many different ministries that impact lives with the gospel in our state, nation and throughout the world. One unique ministry we are very blessed to support is the Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina (BCH).

Scripture passages in the Pauline epistles reveal that this apostle truly loved people. In Philippians 1, Paul writes about how these believers have a special place in his heart and how he always thinks about them and prays for them. In Colossians 2, Paul expresses his deep desire for the Colossae church to be rooted in Jesus Christ.