Leadership and Family Conference. Neither had many of the other 900 men, women and children from predominantly black Southern Baptist churches who spent the week at LifeWay's Ridgecrest (N.C.) Conference Center.
Of the 4,900 Southern Baptist workers serving overseas through the International Mission Board, only 26 are black; eight of them were on hand for the week's events July 22-26, encouraging others to engage in international missions. The theme for this year's conference was "Leave all, follow fully, make disciples."
At the conclusion of IMB's July 24 presentation, Southern Baptist Convention President Fred Luter described how he met his first African American missionary at the conference years before. David Cornelius, a retired IMB missionary and staff member, had urged Luter to visit the mission field. But Luter never did, believing he was too busy.
After his election as SBC president, part of Luter's role included going on an international trip. He spent two weeks in Africa.
"It was one of the most rewarding times in my life," he said. "I regretted, pastors, that I didn't do this a lot sooner.... So let me challenge you: Don't let it take you to be elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention to go to the mission field.
"Ask God right now, 'God, put upon my heart and upon the heart of my church a passion to go onto the highways and byways of life.' Pastors, the harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few," Luter said. "Let's take up the commandment and the commission of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let's make disciples."
SOURCE: Baptist Press
Susan O'Hara
Of the 4,900 Southern Baptist workers serving overseas through the International Mission Board, only 26 are black; eight of them were on hand for the week's events July 22-26, encouraging others to engage in international missions. The theme for this year's conference was "Leave all, follow fully, make disciples."
At the conclusion of IMB's July 24 presentation, Southern Baptist Convention President Fred Luter described how he met his first African American missionary at the conference years before. David Cornelius, a retired IMB missionary and staff member, had urged Luter to visit the mission field. But Luter never did, believing he was too busy.
After his election as SBC president, part of Luter's role included going on an international trip. He spent two weeks in Africa.
"It was one of the most rewarding times in my life," he said. "I regretted, pastors, that I didn't do this a lot sooner.... So let me challenge you: Don't let it take you to be elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention to go to the mission field.
"Ask God right now, 'God, put upon my heart and upon the heart of my church a passion to go onto the highways and byways of life.' Pastors, the harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few," Luter said. "Let's take up the commandment and the commission of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let's make disciples."
SOURCE: Baptist Press
Susan O'Hara
Whether some like it or not, the fact is Facebook has become a huge form of social networking for individuals, human interest groups and even businesses. (Photo: Joerg Koch, AP) 
(Seattle, WA)—Right now, 49 year-old Steve Spear is training for the run of his life. The Chicago-area pastor recently quit his job as a Willow Creek pastor after 15 years, to focus on raising $1.5 million to provide clean water for 30,000 people living in Kenya. It's the adventure of a lifetime, a cross-country fundraising run from Southern California to New York City. Spear, who only took up long-distance running five years ago, has completed countless marathons and ultra-marathons but has never done anything like this before. He will attempt to run a marathon a day for five months, from coast to coast.
