Next week the Southern Baptist Convention will be meeting in Greensboro N.C.  Several thousand people from all over the world will come together to do business.  Southern Baptists play a very important role in the spreading of the gospel.   Because of our size, many say that as Southern Baptists go, so goes the evangelical world.

This years convention will be marked by a number of challenges.  There is greater potential for turmoil than we have had in many years.  We are dealing with concerns at the International Mission Board.  The North American Mission Board is going through significant changes both in direction and leadership.  There is a great deal of turf protection on the state and national level and while we are solid theologically, we cannot seem to deal with the bureaucracy of our convention.  On top of all of that we are facing a contentious presidential election.  We have a great deal of potential but we are having a hard time getting past these challenges.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, our choir and orchestra will be leading in worship.  I told them that this would be a very important element in this convention.  They will have the opportunity to minister to people that are coming out of every possible kind of ministry situation.  I hope you will pray for them as they lead.  I am so excited that the convention is going to have the opportunity to hear this marvelous choir and orchestra.

Over the next few days, I will use this column to give you a report on what is going on.  I have a number of responsibilities.  I hope you will also remember me in your prayers.