BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (BP)–Southern Baptist Convention President Frank Page, while affirming the SBC’s conservative resurgence, is challenging churches to be equally as passionate about relevance and revival.
“I believe that God wants Southern Baptists to be the leading evangelical body of believers in challenging our culture, sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ and ministering to the lost and hurting across our world,” Page says in the summer issue of WMU’s Missions Leader magazine. “I believe some great things are going on in these areas.
“However, I believe we are going to have to become far more relevant if we are going to be able to make a difference in our society and world over the years ahead,” Page said.
To be more relevant, he suggested that churches must become more multigenerational and more flexible in their outreach, programming and understanding.
“If this does not happen, many of our churches will cease to exist in 20 years,” Page said. “We must strengthen our desire to reach all generations and understand what it takes to do so.”
In addition to advocating the three “R’s” of rightness, relevancy and revival, Page urged churches to strike a balance in their support for the missions offerings with direct hands-on missions involvement.
“I love to see the church involved at every level of missions involvement,” said Page, pastor of First Baptist Church in Taylors, S.C.
“It has been said that missions and evangelism is the glue that holds Southern Baptists together,” Page said. “That may well be true, but the Cooperative Program and our special missions offerings are the special ingredient in that glue that makes it work! I encourage all believers and churches to participate in all these giving channels.”
Page, who was elected SBC president in June 2006, sees WMU as a special partner in these giving channels.
“I recommend WMU to churches and missions leaders as a powerful mission support organization,” Page says. “I believe their strength is their singular passion for missions work. I personally think that is a wonderful passion…. While many churches have included WMU in an overall women’s ministry, the WMU should be the prime supporter of our missions offerings and a wonderful partner in missions education.”
Steve Heartsill, editorial/program administrator for Woman’s Missionary Union, conducted the interview.
“Dr. Page is not only the leader of the Southern Baptist Convention, he is also a leading supporter of the Cooperative Program, Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and Annie Armstrong Easter Offering,” Heartsill said. “This support comes from his passion for missions and missions education in the local church and association. Dr. Page’s interview will be an inspiration to pastors, church staff members and laypeople alike.”
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Read the full Missions Leader interview with Frank Page on the WMU website at www.wmu.com/frankpage. Missions Leader is a quarterly planning tool for all missions leaders in the church, including WMU directors and leaders, pastors and other church staff. For more information, visit www.wmustore.com or call WMU Customer Service toll-free at 1-800-968-7301.
