Evangelism conference touches hearts

Tim Yarbrough
Arkansas Baptist News

I can’t name the number of pastors and laypeople I met at the recent 2012 State Conference on Evangelism and Church Growth who expressed receiving a special touch from God during the event.

I couldn’t agree more. It was a special time.

YarbroughThe atmosphere at First Baptist Church in Sherwood was phenomenal, prompting several speakers from the platform to comment, “There’s a special Spirit in this place!”

And the speakers got right to the heart of the matter, challenging ministers and members to raise the bar on prayer, witnessing and evangelistic efforts in order to reach today’s generation of lost.

Appropriately, the event was preceded with a prayer workshop led by Michael Catt, pastor of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Ga. Catt is perhaps best known for Sherwood Pictures, which has produced movies such as “Fireproof” and “Courageous.” The event set the tone early by encouraging Arkansas Baptists to “put prayer in the forefront” of all they do.

Catt’s presentation was powerful as he recounted his journey with the Albany church and how prayer has undergirded everything the church has attempted for God.

“The church in Acts had power because of prayer,” Catt told those gathered for the workshop, adding it is critical for the church to pray for all aspects of its work – including its pastor, leadership and members.

Attendance at this year’s evangelism conference was with more than 1,200, according to Sonny Tucker, Arkansas Baptist State Convention evangelism and church growth team leader.

In the final message, Chuck Kelley, president of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, wrapped up the conference with a message titled “The New Methodists.” It really convicted me to hear Kelley share about how Southern Baptists have abandoned many discipleship methods that he believes helped grow our great denomination in the 20th century (see related story, page 1).

While I can’t recount all that happened at the evangelism conference in this column, hopefully you will get a sense of how God moved boldly in the midst of those attending as you read highlights from our coverage in this edition and at www.arkansasbaptist.org. 

If you aren’t accustomed to going online to watch videos, make an exception and check out clips of worship and other conference events. 

God may just use them to touch your heart too.

Tim Yarbrough is editor of the Arkansas Baptist News. Contact him at 501-376-4791, ext. 5151, or at tim@arkansasbaptist.org.