[1]ORLANDO (BP) – Judging by the response, a new feature to the Pastors’ Conference preceding the SBC Annual Meeting may become permanent.
President Aaron Burgner introduced [2] micro-conferences with the intent of creating areas for ministry staff serving outside of the lead pastor. By all indications, he was on to something.
As of today (May 21), the micro-conferences for kids ministry and discipleship are full. Another for student ministers is at 80 percent capacity. More than 1,000 have signed up to attend the worship micro-conference.
“The response … has been overwhelming, and honestly, it confirms what we believed from the beginning – pastors don’t want to come alone,” Burgner said. “They want to bring their worship leaders, their discipleship teams, their student ministers and experience something together.
“The fact that the kids and discipleship breakouts are already sold out tells me the church is hungry to be equipped, and that is a beautiful thing.”
Chad Higgins, senior manager of Church Equipping for Lifeway Christian Resources, which is hosting the kids and discipleship micro-conferences, said the events “reflect the heart and mission of Southern Baptists.”
“Our prayer is that the information and inspiration shared during these sessions would spark lasting fruit in our churches for years to come – more people coming to know Christ and growing as His disciples,” Higgins said.
The Pastors’ Conference begins at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, June 7, ending at 9 p.m. The micro-conferences take place during the Monday morning and afternoon sessions as preaching continues in the main hall. A final session from 6:30-9 p.m. Monday night brings everyone back together.
[3]Links to register for the worship and student ministry micro-conferences are available at SBCPC.net [4].
The worship micro-conference has the most space remaining, though that is expected to fill up quickly with main sessions featuring Robbie Seay, Matt Boswell and Shane & Shane. A reading for the interest in such a gathering could be seen at First Baptist Church in Jacksonville last month, when over 1,500 attended [5] the Southern Baptist Church Music Conference.
“We take seriously what Southern Baptists tell us they need, and what they’ve told us consistently is that they want to leave the Annual Meeting better equipped for ministry,” said Jonathan Howe, SBC Executive Committee vice president for Convention Administration. “The micro-conferences were built around that request, and the response has been remarkable, with more than 2,000 total people registered across the four conferences.
“You don’t generate numbers like that unless you’ve hit on something real. Southern Baptists are showing up for this because it is what they have been asking for.”
Burgner, senior pastor of Lakes Church in Lakeland, anticipates a great response to the planning put toward the Pastor’s Conference.
“I cannot wait to be in a room with pastors from across this country who love Jesus, love the church and love the lost,” he said. “We are going to preach the Word, worship together and walk out of Orlando reminded of why God called us. June 7-8 cannot get here fast enough.”
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