by Randy Harp
I was able to take my daughter with me on a recent weekend trip to the Dallas/Fort Worth area to visit a couple churches. On our way home we stopped by the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza in downtown Dallas. We were at the very place JFK was assassinated. I love to take my children to places where history took place to help them have a better appreciation for what they learn in school. It was difficult to explain to my ten-year-old daughter how something like this could happen. Less than two weeks later, just a couple blocks from where we had been, an individual gunned down five police officers while injuring seven others. Again, it was difficult to explain to my children how something like this could happen. To be honest, there is no reasonable explanation. Our world is a dark place. It is full of hurting people, and we know hurting people hurt other people. The only hope, the only answer, is Jesus Christ. It is our responsibility to share that hope.
As a network of pastors and churches, the Baptist Bible Fellowship International has been sharing that hope for over 66 years. In this issue of the Tribune we wrap up our three-part series on “What is the BBFI?” by sharing a brief overview of that history. Rob Walker, our assistant editor, did a great job designing an historic timeline of the BBFI. (A single PDF of this timeline is available here.) It is amazing to see the impact of the BBFI over the years. This issue also highlights two other entities of the BBFI: APEX, our church planting ministry, and the Communication Office including the Baptist Bible Tribune.
As a reminder, the next National Fellowship Meeting is September 19-21 in Cape Cod, MA. We anticipate a great meeting and you will not want to miss out. For more information, see the ad on page 9 or visit www.bbfi.org. I also encourage you to save the date for the February National Fellowship Meeting hosted by Kim Beckham and Central Baptist Church in Tyler, TX, February 20-22, 2017.
One final thought … I would like to personally congratulate the newly elected officers of the BBFI (see page 23 for results). Would you take a moment right now to pray for these six men by name along with the BBFI as a whole? As Jerry Falwell said often, “Nothing of eternal significance happens apart from prayer.”
As always, if there is ever anything I can do for you, please let me know.