Submitted by philip on
By John Kyle, LBC Communications
ALEXANDRIA – “Here is an opportunity for us to do something to affect the next generation … and hopefully the Kingdom of God,” said First Covington pastor and current LBC President Waylon Bailey as he opened the President’s 2020 Commission Summit on April 22 in Alexandria. “Let’s don’t do what we can do. … Let’s receive what He has to give. … Let Him show us His way.”
Bailey’s challenge from Leviticus 25 set the tone for the more than 400 pastors, staff, lay leaders and spouses from across the state who gathered at Alexandria’s Riverfront Conference Center for the Summit, which marks the half-way point of the 2020 Commission that was launched during the annual meeting of the LBC in November 2012 at First West Monroe.
The 2020 Commission – 20 teams of 20 members each – have been asked “to develop and recommend a seven-year strategy for maximizing Louisiana Baptists’ effectiveness in Gospel ministry.” A final report along with recommendations will be presented to the September meeting of the Executive Board. Updates on the work of the various subcommittees can be found at www.LBC.org/2020.
Russ Lee, lead singer for the contemporary Christian group, New Song, led in worship and was followed by a sobering report from LBC Executive Director, David Hankins, entitled, “The State We are In.” Hankins presented data that identified upward and downward trends relating to the missions and ministries of Louisiana Baptists. (See related article on page 20.)
Following Hankins’ report, consultant Dawn Nicole Baldwin of Aspire One and Cooke Pictures led attendees in an interactive time of Q&A and polling using their cell phones to text questions and votes.
“What is the most important issue in church planting?” was one of the questions asked. In less than a minute, 175 people voted: 22 percent said it was securing the sponsoring church; 2 percent said it was language work; 22 percent said it was the type of church plant; and 54 percent said it was the qualifications of the church planter.
Visit www.baptistmessage.com for all eight questions and results.
Representatives, primarily the chairpersons of the subcommittees, were brought up on stage to answer questions relating to their areas of study that had been submitted by the audience.
The evening session featured a mini-concert by Lee and a keynote address by Phil Cooke, the son of a Baptist preacher, and now an author and producer in Hollywood, after earning a Ph.D. in Theology.
“Strategy is what makes things happen,” Cooke said. “How you tell the story is as important as the story itself.”
America has a “cluttered media environment,” where people are bombarded with 5,000 or more media messages each day, Cooke continued. “Who’s winning the battle for influence?” The ones who best understand their intended audience, and who draw them in. … This generation wants a voice. … Today’s audience wants to be part of the story,” said, “What’s the story that surrounds your church? What do people think of when they think of your church? … How does your story break through the media clutter?”
The image/branding expert listed seven ways churches can break through the clutter so they can be noticed, after he pointed out that, “100 percent of the people who visit your church will check out your website first.”
1. Everything communicates.
2. Visibility is as important as ability. We have to be intentional about reaching the lost.
3. In a digital culture we have to live a more transparent life than ever before. You can’t successfully brand a lie.
4. Understand the power of a name.
5. Learn to speak the language of digital design. Does your style and media choices reflect the group you’re trying to reach? People will engage longer if you use video.
6. Lose the lingo; We’ve got to talk in the language people use.
7. Social media: take it seriously.
“It’s about the niche,” Cooke said. “You can’t do everything well. Too much ‘doing’ is like barnacles on a ship: it slows it down.” Limit yourself to what God wants you to do, he continued, unconsciously echoing Bailey’s words at the start of the day. But don’t fail to do what God wants done. “If we don’t do it, we’ll eventually cease to exist.”
The Monday session of the 2020 Commission concluded with preview of Operation Highways and Hedges, a market-by-market strategy under development by the Communications Team of the LBC. The video, “Crossroads,” acknowledged current cultural conditions and challenges Louisiana Baptists to infiltrate the culture with truth. Highways and Hedges is tentatively scheduled to launch in Southwest Louisiana in late 2013 or early 2014.
All 20 subcommittees met at Calvary Baptist Alexandria on Tuesday morning and continued their work on their assigned areas of study.
Messengers to the annual meeting of the LBC, November 11-12 in Alexandria, will have the opportunity to hear and vote on the recommendations of the 2020 Commission.