Updated Friday, April 04, 2008

Page encourages small church president

By Melissa Lilley

BSC Communications

When Southern Baptist Convention President Frank Page addressed pastors at the Small Church Conference he got right to the point.

"The role of the small church in the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) is the same as any other church," he said. "God commands the church to be the church no matter what size you are."

The church has always been, as seen in Matt. 16:18-19, Jesus' plan to spread the gospel, he said. And the church should remember Jesus said in Matt. 16:19 that the gates of Hades would not overcome the church.

"A gate is not an offensive weapon. A gate is keeping something in and something else out," Page said. "Hell's not going to be able to withstand the church's onslaught."

Page said all churches, no matter the size, have a role in the "defeating of the evil one" in the battleground of life. He said, "It's all about spiritual warfare," and "we're supposed to be attacking the gates of hell."

"Every time a believer takes the word of God and proclaims it the portals of heaven are open to the heart of a nonbeliever," Page said. "I believe the keys are the gospel. We hold in our hands that which contains the power to transform the world."

Page said small churches are the "foundation of the SBC," and small church pastors should claim their voice.

"It's time to have a small church pastor as president of the SBC," said Page, just two months from concluding his second one-year term as president. He encouraged participants to "nominate someone in this room."

Page challenged small church pastors to let go of their inferior complex and understand they have just as much right to be heard as any other pastor.

The vast majority of SBC churches are small churches, and Page challenged small church pastors not to let size "provide an excuse to laziness." A small church pastor may be more of a general practitioner than a large church pastor, but they are both called to equip believers.