GlocalNet

Several people have emailed, texted, or twittered me asking me how it was - I’m at the airport in Narita, Japan waiting to get on a flight to Korea, then to Mongolia so I thought I’d write a blog.  Not sure I’ll have wireless and internet coverage there.  So here are a few thoughts…...

First, the young pastor who ran it this year was Vance Pittman - a close friend I’ve known many years.  Vance heard me speak somewhere and came to a conference I was invited to speak at where I spoke to young emerging pastors.  Vance has been that.  He has a sharp mind, a soft heart, and a passion for Jesus.  I took him with me to Egypt a few years ago and he met many gatekeepers and handled himself super well.  I was glad they had a younger pastor heading it up – it’s about time.

Second, I literally rewrote my sermon on the plane to Phoenix.  I stayed with my opening talking about the RA pledge, etc., told about the 2 questions that have shaped my life and ministry, then went through 7 game changers that would be necessary were we to fulfill the Great Commission.  I don’t think I’ve ever spoke at ANYTHING I’ve been more nervous about.  I get to speak at conferences, universities, various state departments - large and small crowds alike - but sharing with my own tribe made me nervous - for some with a more traditional or isolationist view I’m viewed as a little “out there”.

Third, I got a lot of positive response and feedback from twitters, texts, emails, and people stopping me - most encouraging me to say more and push harder.  From being asked to get involved in projects to speaking at other things - people were genuinely curious and fascinated that you could be an evangelical yet friends with so many different kinds of people.  Frankly, I expected a lot of pushback - not affirmation - that excited me and made me grateful!  I was grateful to see Jimmy Draper sitting on the 3rd row - he was very encouraging. 

Fourth, with the mass of people and resources Southern Baptists represent - if they put their minds to it - they can do almost anything they want - for good or bad.  I think sometimes they get a bad wrap - like any other tribe the media and others search out the most extreme or vitriolic person they can find and paint with a broad brush all Southern Baptist. If they were gone from the scene - they would be sorely missed in America and the world. 

Finally - I felt like Jesus going back to Nazareth, to my roots - but I wasn’t run out, but treated with respect and encouraged.  I’m grateful for all of the Sunday School teachers, denominational workers, professors & teachers, and others who work all over the world - you planted the seeds that grew in my heart - that led me to discover the world and connect with people to see the Gospel spread in every place and domain of the world.  My parents, Jim Gayle, John Bisagnio, Manley Beaseley, Jon Moore, Roy Fish, Bill Tolar, and the list could go on.  For me, Southern Baptists gave me 2 things - a commitment to the truth of the Word of God, and a path to enter the world and I’ll always be grateful.