“动荡时期的仆人式领导”,” the theme of the first annual BB平台登录官方网站在这里 Conference hosted by the Jim Henry Leadership Institute of 新奥尔良 浸信会神学院, 吸引了250位牧师, 教会事工领袖, 以及来自10个州的配偶, 10月12 - 13日.

主讲人是Steve Gaines, 高级牧师, 贝尔维尤浸信会教堂, Memphis; Robby Gallaty, 高级牧师, 长谷教堂, 亨德森, Tennessee; and Jamie Dew, NOBTS总统.

“It’s my prayer that this conference will give [participants] opportunities and instruction, 给他们模型, and give them the privilege to study with leaders and have the opportunity to look at the past and the present, and model their lives after Jesus so they can be the leaders the church desperately needs today,吉姆·亨利说, 在采访中.

Breakout sessions addressed issues impacting the pastor’s ministry as well as the student, 孩子们的, 音乐, 领导与管理, 以及妇女部门.

Kandi Gallaty, wife of Robby Gallaty and author of “Disciple Her” and the “Foundations New Testament” series of Bible reading plans; Tara Dew, 总裁的妻子和Thrive的主管, the NOBTS ministry wives certificate program; 伊丽莎白琵琶, 弗雷德·卢特的妻子, and director of the Franklin Avenue Baptist Church women’s ministry; and NOBTS professors and local pastors were breakout speakers.  

The Jim Henry Institute was established last year in recognition of Henry’s long tenure in ministry and denominational service. 亨利在阿拉巴马州牧养教堂, 密西西比州, and Tennessee before serving 29 years as 高级牧师 at First Baptist Church, 奥兰多, 佛罗里达.

在教派层面上, Henry served as Southern Baptist Convention president, 1994-1995, and as a trustee for the International Mission Board, 生命之路基督教资源, 导石金融服务, 南方浸信会神学院, 以及其他角色.

Henry, 86, noted the importance of leadership in today’s culture. 

“It’s a great opportunity for the gospel but it is a difficult time,亨利说. “I’ve been in this over 60 years and it’s probably the most challenging time to minister in my lifetime. But it’s also the best time for the light to shine. The darkness is getting darker but the light can shine brighter.”

这个任务

Steve Gaines drew from Acts 8:26-40 during the opening plenary session.

“Every Christian … is commanded by the Lord to verbally share the gospel of Jesus Christ with lost people in order to win them to faith in Christ,盖恩斯说.

Gaines reminded listeners that listening to the Holy Spirit, keeping repentance central to the gospel presentation, and sharing with urgency were essentials of evangelism.

“God will lead you to the lost,盖恩斯说. “他们饿了. 他们知道这个世界已经破碎了. They know they need something besides what they have.”

关注的焦点

“你在事奉上取悦谁?” Robby Gallaty asked listeners in the evening plenary. Gallaty, NOBTS校友, told of the impact of meeting at the chapel with others to pray during his student years.

Gallaty pointed to Hebrews 11:5 to remind believers and church leaders that they must work to “please an audience of one.” A leader cannot please others or promote self and please God, and a ministry that depends on the leader’s charisma may fail, Gallaty警告.

“It’s easy to fall in love with the ministry of Jesus and not in love with the Jesus of your ministry … Don’t fall into the trap of doing ministry for Jesus without having intimacy with Jesus,加拉蒂说.

Jamie Dew echoed Gallaty’s call to please God rather than self or others in the final plenary session. Dew drew from 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 to remind listeners they are servants and stewards of the gospel whose primary task is to be faithful to God.

“事实是, 在这个特殊的历史时刻, [福音]现在就在我们手中,露说. “This same gospel unfolding throughout the ages, 体现在耶稣基督身上, preached by the fathers and the apostles has now been entrusted to us, 我们负责管理它.”

Dew charged listeners to remain faithful above all else.

“God’s judgment is all that matters … what matters most is the Lord’s opinion of me,露说.

前进的道路

At a men’s panel discussion to conclude the event, Henry told of the impact in his ministry of meeting once a week to disciple men.

“这些男人成了家里的领袖, 教会领袖, 他们行业的领导者, 社区领袖,亨利说. “If I had it to do over, I would do this two or three times a week with men.”    

琵琶同意, adding that he would spend more time “discipling and developing leaders” if he could start his ministry over.

Gallaty added that he chose to disciple men who were not as involved in church as others, 结果就是, saw their commitment to Christ and ministry grow.

“I think if more churches would do what we’re talking about, you would see immediate change in your church,加拉蒂说.  

在女性小组, Kandi Gallaty, 伊丽莎白琵琶, 艾米丽迪安, 妇女事工助理教授, 斯蒂芬妮·里昂, NOBTS女性生活主任, 讨论了女性繁忙的日程安排, 改变承诺水平, and the importance of women feeling connected to ministry.  

伊丽莎白琵琶 noted two moments when life shifted dramatically—after Hurricane Katrina and following Covid—and the congregation felt unconnected.

“Until we put people in a [leadership] position in the church, they wouldn’t come back. Until they knew they had a place to serve, they wouldn’t come back,” 伊丽莎白琵琶 said. “A lot of people’s commitment was based on their ability to serve.”