2025 Oklahoma Baptists Pastors’ Conference Encourages Pastors to ‘Dig Deep, Reach Wide’

On Monday, Nov. 10, hundreds of Oklahoma Baptist pastors gathered at Oklahoma City, Southern Hills for the annual Pastors’ Conference. The theme for the event was “Dig Deep, Reach Wide,” based on Matt. 28:18-20.

The day began with a welcome, theme introduction and opening prayer time by Jeremy Freeman, pastor of Newcastle, First, who served as Pastors’ Conference president.

Following this was a brief time of worship before Freeman took the podium again for the first sermon of the conference.

He first focused on the theme of the conference, encouraging pastors to do all they can to reach the lost people in the community. Freeman mentioned the account in Mark and Luke of the four men who brought their paralyzed friend to Christ to be healed as an example of how pastors should give it their all to reach the lost.

“The chief burden of all of our hearts is the Glory of God,” Freeman said. “God is most glorified when we are on mission.”

Freeman then challenged pastors to lead by example for their congregation and then to rely fully on God for their mission work.

In the second sermon, Michael Taylor, pastor of Ponca City, First, spoke about keeping Jesus at the forefront of everything we do in church and life. He said that keeping Christ as the only way to Salvation will lead to Jesus always in their lives and anything other than that is lesser. That also means putting oneself last, living selflessly.

“A life spent with Jesus leads to only one kind of impression—he is a Jesus man,” said Taylor.

After another worship set, Southeastern Seminary President Danny Akin delivered a sermon. His message highlighted the urgency of the Great Commission and how to be a Great Commission people.

“Everyone of us should have the heart and mind of a Great Commission Christian,” Akin said.

He challenged pastors to lead their congregation to be a “Great Commission people.” Reminding them that all things belong to Christ.

During the Pastors Conference Lunch event, attendees heard from Hershael W. York, who is Southern Seminary’s Dean of The School of Theology and senior pastor of Frankfort, Kty., Buck Run. York shared a message from Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians.

During the afternoon session, the second annual J.B. Rounds Bi-Vocational Pastor of the Year award was presented. This award honors a bi-vocational pastor who has demonstrated exceptional faithfulness in their ministry. Named in honor of Rounds, one of the founders of Falls Creek and leader of Oklahoma Baptists, this award is meant to highlight the importance of recognizing those who labor in smaller or underserved churches while also maintaining other careers. The 2025 award recipient was multi-vocational pastor Manny Parker of Mannford, New Hope.

The first sermon of the afternoon session was by Jeff DeGiacomo, senior pastor of Shawnee, Immanuel. His message came from 2 Tim. 4. DeGiacomo challenged pastors to reach out into their community, even when they don’t feel like doing so.

“Reaching people with the Gospel doesn’t just happen behind the pulpit,” he said.

DeGiacomo reminded pastors that reaching out is what God called Christians to do, and it needs to be done whenever possible.

Participants in the Oklahoma Baptists Pastors’ Conference elected Taylor as First Vice-President and Kenney Mossman, pastor at Carnegie, First, as Second Vice-President.

Following the time of business, York delivered the fifth sermon of the day. He spoke from Numbers 20 and focused on how pastors must finish the race just as strong as they started.

“The more God uses you, the less you have room for disobedience,” York said. “When you speak for God, there’s no such thing as a small sin.”

After a time of worship, Tyler McDowell, pastor of Blair, First, delivered the sixth sermon of the conference. He framed the sermon on the historic account of Joshua and the wall at Jericho, saying that there will always be a “Jericho” in life to overcome. McDowell reminded pastors that God will be with them when they ask for help and to listen when He calls.

“If we want God to move in the lives around us, we need to listen to His instructions,” McDowell said.

He concluded by encouraging pastors to not be intimidated by the “Jerichos” in their lives because they have prayer and the Gospel to sustain them.

The final sermon of the Pastors’ Conference was given by evangelist Ken Freeman. Tying into the theme of Dig Deep, Reach Wide, Freeman shared his life story and how he would be a completely different person if a family hadn’t reached out to him with the Gospel.

After a series of difficult life circumstances from being raised in a broken home, Freeman met a Christian who showed Jesus’ love, which radically changed his life.

“Because of a family that let me live on their couch and a football player who thought I needed Jesus, I’m a saved man,” Freeman said.

He concluded by challenging pastors to go out and find the other Ken Freemans of their communities, those who are in hard situations, and lead them to Christ.

The annual Pastors’ Conference is held in conjunction with Oklahoma Baptists Annual Meeting. For more information, visit oklahomabaptists.org/pastors.