RIDGECREST, N.C. (BP) — The annual Black Church Leadership and Family Conference (BCLFC) resembles the churches it aims to serve — energetic worship and powerful sermons but still grappling with the effects of the pandemic.

Recognizing this reality, Mark Croston, national director of Black Church Ministries at Lifeway Christian Resources, wanted to encourage those gathered at Ridgecrest Conference Center on July 22-26, 2024, and remind them their churches and ministries could thrive.

“These are challenging times for churches,” said Croston. “From the post-Christian environment to the technological shifts, church leaders are facing numerous issues, all while many have not yet returned to pre-COVID attendance. We want to encourage leaders and provide resources to equip them for this season of ministry.”

With the theme of “Thrive,” taken from Psalm 92:12-15, Croston sees some of those same challenges for the BCLFC itself. This year more than 700 participants gathered for what Croston said is the largest annual meeting of African American Southern Baptists. Attendance has increased each year since being forced to host an online event in 2020 but still has not returned to pre-pandemic levels.

Croston said the image of the palm tree in Psalm 92 provides the ideal model for thriving ministry in the current context. “The palm has a significant root system with a flexible tree that produces fruit in the right season. Those should be characteristics of our lives and our churches,” he said. “When we are firmly planted in Jesus, flexible in turbulent times and patient to see the fruit develop, we can thrive in any circumstance.”

Each day BCLFC attendees could take part in early morning praise and prayer time, Bible exposition based on Lifeway’s YOU curriculum, dozens of breakout sessions designed around different aspects of church ministry, gender-specific afternoon sessions, opportunities to connect with Southern Baptist entities and leaders, and an evening worship service and sermon.

Evening worship

Croston said the conference intentionally features a variety of preaching styles. “Every pastor is an expository preacher, but they communicate in different ways,” he said. “We don’t want to idolize a style, and we know different people respond to different styles.”

On Monday night, Gregory Perkins, senior pastor of The View Church in Menifee, California, preached from the primary passage of the conference, Psalm 92:12-15. He spoke of troubling statistical realities facing the Black church, but also of the hope that exists for those who plant deep roots in Jesus. “Stop worrying about what you can’t control and rest in the fact that God is sovereign,” said Perkins, president of the National African American Fellowship of the Southern Baptist Convention (NAAF). “There is no circumstance or situation that is bigger than our great big God.”

Tuesday night featured a sermon from JJ Washington, national director of personal evangelism at the North American Mission Board (NAMB), on Psalm 23. He highlighted the benefits from David’s famous psalm but reminded listeners, “The benefits only come through a relationship with the Lord.” Encouraging pastors to spend personal time with Christ, Washington said, “The man of God needs to feed his own soul so that he leads out of the overflow of his relationship with the Lord. When your cup runs over it should spill into the lives of others.”

Johnnie Bradley, senior pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church in Dallas, preached the Wednesday night sermon on 1 Corinthians 15:58. “When you are going through what you are going through, how will you respond?” he asked. “You have to persevere no matter the problem.” Bradley told those gathered, “You never will produce fruit if you don’t stay connected to the vine. If you minister from a surrendered life, you will thrive and flourish.”

In the final evening session on Thursday night, D.Z. Cofield, senior pastor of Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Houston, delivered a sermon from Matthew 4, drawing steps for surviving tough times from Jesus’ temptation. “The difference between a temptation and a trial is who brings it and what the purpose is,” he said. Cofield noted that while Satan tries to tempt God’s people, God is still working. He said believers must rightly understand God’s Word in difficult moments. “If you take content out of context, you can justify improper conduct.”

Conference goals

This year marks the 31st BCLFC. Croston came to the first event in 1993 as a pastor and has served as event organizer for the last 11 years. “The Black Church Leadership and Family Conference provides a contextualized experience for a segment of the body of Christ,” Croston said. “We are all part of the body, but Scripture reminds us that the body is varied. At this conference, Black churches and people who want to minister in that context can find culturally relevant resources to equip them for success.”

Because Croston aims for the conference to be a place for entire families, events are hosted for children and students, including a FUGE camp, throughout the week. Families could also participate in recreation and relaxation times. Wednesday night featured a screening of “The Forge,” the upcoming movie from the Kendrick brothers.

In developing the conference, Croston said he considers all that he hears from pastors around the country. “What do churches need? What issues are bubbling up? We want to equip pastors and leaders to face those,” he said. In addition, Croston aims to address as many different facets of church life as possible. “We gather speakers and leaders who have demonstrated expertise and success in these areas.”

As the BCLFC continues to climb back to pre-pandemic levels, Croston sees encouraging news from the 2024 edition of the conference. “Around a third of the people in our worship service said this was their first time coming,” he said. “Like many churches, we are still missing some previous attendees, but we are reaching new people and that’s exciting.”

Next year’s BCLFC is scheduled for July 21-25, 2025.