Updated Thursday, May 29, 2008

God calling N.C. Baptists to be agents of change

By Norman Jameson

BR Editor

God is calling North Carolina Baptists to be "agents of change in a rapidly changing culture," Baptist State Convention Executive Director-treasurer Milton A. Hollifield Jr. told members of the board of directors at their May meeting at Caraway Conference Center.

"I don't like change just for the sake of change but I like change for the cause of progress, achievement and success," Hollifield said in his remarks to the board, which meets three times a year.

He said that is the kind of change the Convention is making.

"God is blessing our Convention because you are praying and we are obeying God," he said. "I know where God is leading us and I ask you to follow. God has great and wonderful plans in store for us and I am excited about what He will choose to do through us if we remain faithful to Him and give Him all the glory."

Hollifield referred obliquely to changes in the Convention, both past and pending, and said while he wished some decisions had not been made, "those entities must live with the decisions they chose to make."

He did not name names, but said the Baptist State Convention "is moving into a new day of opportunity," and that "sometimes you must just agree to disagree and move on."

"We will not return to some of our former ways," he said.

Real change happens among changed people, Hollifield said, and he encouraged individuals to "Spend time in the presence of God. Linger there. Ask God what He wants you to do. Commit to Him that you will obey."

Hollifield, who said, "I love this convention of churches," said some churches "want to relate both to the BSC and CBF (Cooperative Baptist Fellowship) and that's OK," because Baptist churches are autonomous. He said some of the most active volunteers in disaster relief and recovery are from churches that relate to both entities.

It is clear, however, that the largest portion of churches that relate to the BSC "find identity with the Southern Baptist Convention," he said. "Our bylaws say we work in partnership with the SBC."

He referred to reports of the task forces regarding work of the new women's ministry, Embrace, and of the aging ministry tentatively called North Carolina Baptists' Aging Ministry. These are examples, he said, "for how churches of the BSC plan to do ministry in the future with senior adults and with women."

"We can be agents to make an eternal impact," Hollifield said.