Updated Wednesday, Nov 14, 2007

BSC president says expectations are too low

By Dianna L. Cagle

BR Assistant Managing Editor

GREENSBORO - When teaching Peter to fish, Jesus' greatest catch was Peter himself, said Stan Welch.

"(The disciples) forsook their nets and followed their Savior," Welch said during his presidential address Nov. 13 to the Baptist State Convention (BSC).

Welch, pastor of West Asheville Baptist Church in Asheville and outgoing president of the Convention, thanked North Carolina Baptists for their support over the two years he's served as president.

"When you think about great and wondrous things many times our expectations are low," said Welch, who used Luke 5:1-11 to refer to the Convention theme as well as encourage N.C. Baptists to go fishing.

"I believe we have a God who wants to bless us," he said.

Believers need to notice the divine initiative, devastating objection, delayed obedience and delightful results.

"There are objectives and objectors that we have to keep in mind," Welch said. "It's always been the Savior's command for us to fish. We've caught nothing."

Welch commended North Carolina Baptists for their strength, saying, "We're stronger than we've ever been."

God is telling believers to launch out into the deep and cast their nets, Welch said.

"Break loose from the bulletin," Welch said. "Do something different."

Welch encouraged messengers to go fishing.

"Truth be known a lot of times we're not fishing," he said. "Sometimes we're just interested in a boat ride."

Welch said the latest equipment or newest monitors distract us.

"I don't think God has any limits," he said. "He wants to do a whole lot more than we're allowing Him to do. We have a divine commission. We need to have a renewed excitement."

Welch expressed his thankfulness for the International Missions Board, the North American Mission Board, the BSC and churches.

"It's not and/or but it's all of these together," he said.

Welch said some things may need to change.

"We better be open to all God wants to do in our day," he said.

Welch called for N.C. Baptists to have a "determined reliance."

Jesus wants to use N.C. Baptists, he said.

"Submitted to God we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us," he said. "I can't do anything in myself."

Welch said God has chosen weak things and foolish people to reach the strong and wise.

"We serve a miracle working God," he said. "There is nothing that He cannot do. What are you expecting, North Carolina Baptists?"

No matter what, Welch said, the Convention would continue to stand on the word of God regardless, " even in an era that screams for a tolerance for everything."

N.C. Baptists need to raise their expectations.

"We sometimes are expecting too small a catch," he said. "We've got to call unto Him and get in a position where He wants to bless us."