LBC President: Recommit to biblical cooperation

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer

ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) — Louisiana Bap­tist Convention President Kirk Jones, pastor, Fellow­ship Church, Prairieville, reminded board members that they need to recom­mit themselves to princi­pals, practices and patterns that define the model for biblical cooperation.

Drawing from 1 Corin­thians 16 and the example of the collection taken up for the saints in Jerusalem, Jones underscored that “we exist for the prop­agation of the Gospel” both at home and abroad, underlining the need to be intentional and sacrificial in our investment in win­ning souls.

Moreover, Jones said the biblical model for co­operation is defined by:

— “accountable coop­eration” (a group of men delivered the offering to see firsthand the need);

— “humble leader­ship” (leaders who make themselves available to what God is doing in His Kingdom, and not create a necessity for their leader­ship);

— “strategic partnership” (planning and com­munication);

— “personal connec­tion” (not just passing through, but getting to­gether);

— “faith-filled availabil­ity” (“when God opens a door … walk through,” and develop a culture that en­courages steps of faith);

— “leadership elevation” (respect the skills and abil­ities of those we’ve asked to take on a task in our Convention); and

— “respectful and co­operative disagreement” (“it’s okay to have some disagreement, it’s not okay to be disagreeable,” dis­agree “the right way, with the right spirit, with the cooperative heart”).

“Be the voice (of coop­eration),” he said. “You’re here because you’re a part of the cooperation. Be the voice of that cooperation, even when you have to be the voice of disagreement, because you’re going to have the spirit to do it good.”

Jones, who is a graduate of Louisiana College (now Louisiana Christian Uni­versity), expressed grat­itude for the investment Louisiana Baptists made in him throughout the years.

“Twenty-five years from now I hope there’s another Kirk Jones that the convention invested in,” he said. “We’ve inher­ited one of the greatest mission endeavors of all time. We have an opportu­nity to see it through, and it’s worth seeing through.”