“We turned some corners this week…” – BBFI President Linzy Slayden
by the Tribune
In his inaugural message before the Baptist Bible Fellowship, newly elected President Linzy Slayden said he believed the Fellowship turned several corners during the week of the Fall Fellowship Meeting. He said this in the final service of the meeting that took place September 27-29 in Richton Park, Illinois.
Pastor Bruce Humbert, the Sauk Trail Baptist Temple, and all the staff and volunteers surely did their part to help steer the Fellowship around those corners. The invited preachers made their individual cases for revival, prayer, and unity in services that did in fact resemble those of a revival meeting. Music minister Bric Bolin’s competent musical leadership was highlighted by the church’s enthusiastic choir and instrumental ensemble who were joined in the final evening by choir members from two area churches planted by the host congregation. The spirit, hospitality, attention to service, and prayer on the part of the people of Sauk Trail were more than symbolic – they modeled Christ-likeness at every turn.
Tom Wagoner, the keynote speaker, began the week with a plea for revival and the humility that would accompany a move of God among us. Steve Bender spoke about prayer with passionate glimpses from his own experience with spiritual warfare. Chicago pastor Charles Lyons stirred the Tuesday morning crowd with a vision of “the towering Jesus” in John’s Revelation vision. Parker Dailey’s comments on revival came from a life given to consistent service to God. New missionary Richie Orrick’s enthusiasm complemented Bill Monroe’s no-nonsense appeal to a biblical pattern for revival. Wednesday’s missionary presentations, introduced by Kelly McInerny’s message and capped with evening sermons from Jon Konnerup and Linzy Slayden, made the week a complete picture of the burden of the Fellowship to strive for revival internally while spreading the gospel.
There was little business to transact, which is unusual for a September meeting. This was the first meeting after the Fellowship revamped its voting procedure for national officers. In the new system, the election is completed during the summer of the election year instead of at the fall meeting. This allowed new officers to meet alongside those leaving office in the Executive Committee meetings. Newly elected national officers officially assumed their positions and former officers Mark Hodges, David Shafer, and Jim Stady were recognized for their service. Outgoing President Mark Hodges, who was appointed to finish Gary Grey’s term of office in 2009, expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to serve the BBFI.
New career missionaries approved are Jonathan and Joanna Liggett (Italy), Sandy Loveday (Spain), and Rich Moeller (Scotland). TEAM missionaries approved are Tony and Cathy Matta, and Trevor and Christi McNellis. College Presidents Jim Edge and David Melton reported to the pastors, as did Mission Director Jon Konnerup, Tribune Editor Keith Bassham, and NCPO Director Wayne Guinn. Pastors approved new NCPO church planters Victor Baxter, Chris Housewright, and Vernell Lott. No new business was introduced. New BBFI President Linzy Slayden ended the business session with an encouraging address and a promise to meet soon in a strategy session with Fellowship leaders.
In many ways, Sauk Trail provided an ideal venue for this meeting. The church has a long history, and they are facing the challenges of a changing neighborhood locally and a very secular culture in their back yard. In that sense, the church is the Fellowship in microcosm. Pastor Humbert’s strategy to meet these challenges has been to grow through church planting (two within the past three years), to involve his congregation in intensive prayer (with a special emphasis on his men), and to encourage an aggressive personal witness. The result is success in an atmosphere in which others have given up. If the Baptist Bible Fellowship will follow Sauk Trail’s lead in growth, prayer, and witness, the future will be a bright one.