Why I Will Attend the SBC Again Next Year

Surely, I’m not the first and won’t be the last to comment on my experience at this year’s SBC Annual meeting in Louisville, KY, but I will throw my thoughts into the fray this morning.  Last night I spoke with a friend who did not attend and told him that it was the most enjoyable SBC Annual Meeting I had ever attended and that it was encouraging.  He laughed and said that SBC Meetings and encouragement didn’t go together.  This year they did.  I will go ahead and say that I am planning now to attend the SBC in Orlando next year and am doing so, largely as a result of my experience this year, some of which I will expound upon below.

1. Not only was the business of the SBC conducted (which Mark Dever reminded us was very important and reason enough to attend), but I was edified by the tone and tenor of the meeting and the time spent by other men pouring into younger ministers at the SBC (thanks especially to Baptist21 and IX Marks).
2. As my wife reminded me, I have a responsibility to advocate for the concerns of the church I pastor at this meeting.  Much as in civil voting, if I choose not to participate, I relinquish my voice, and in my opinion, my right to complain when I disagree.
3. I got tons of free books (I know this is selfish, but it’s true).
4. I got tons of cheap books…(see sample of free and purchased books above).
5. I was reminded of the potential of the SBC and encouraged to know that it can be (or continue to be) a great tool for the expansion of God’s Kingdom and the spread of the gospel.  We were reminded that the SBC is not necessary for the expansion of the Kingdom, but if we are faithful, it can be used.
6. I believe in the Cooperative Program.  Certainly, nothing is perfect and the CP has flaws (many of which I hope to be remedied as a result of the Great Commission Resurgence), but cooperative mission funding is providing opportunities for the lost to hear the gospel around the world in ways that individual churches could never fund.
7. Because the preaching at the SBC is challenging and transformational.  Not only am I able to learn much about preaching by sitting under great preachers, the Holy Spirit stirs our hearts toward revival and renewal as we gather together under the ministry of God’s Word.
8. Because I saw Frank Page stand with Al Mohler and I saw Johnny Hunt continue his legacy of pouring into younger pastors.  I saw David Platt show incredible humility and I saw and heard Danny Akin lead well with integrity even when his character was wrongly attacked.
9. I saw the legacy of the SBC (older pastors) and the future of the SBC (younger pastors and students) come together united by the Great Commission–and that’s the way it should be.
10. I heard strong theology from the platform!  Further, I even heard those with differing theological perspectives agree to move forward in the gospel and to avoid divisive rhetoric.
11. There may not be a time between now and then when I can be so dependent upon Twitter (my dependency upon Twitter this week may or may not have been a good thing).
12. It is scheduled to be in Orlando…

Here are a few others’ comments on the 2009 SBC: Alvin Reid, Jay Hardwick, Ed Stetzer