MOORE — Hundreds of Oklahoma Baptists attended the annual Advance Conference, March 2-3 at Moore, First. This annual conference is designed to equip, inspire and focus Oklahoma Baptists on fulfilling the Great Commission and advancing the Gospel together.
Mon., March 2 began with registration at 9:30 am. Then, Alan Quigley opened the first session by welcoming everyone and highlighting the speakers who were about to present and the breakouts that were to be held on March 3. After that, Oklahoma City, Quail Spring’s worship team led in praise.
Monty Patton, Arizona Mission Network, spoke during the first session of the Advance Conference from John and Peter. He focused on instructing pastors in finding the “one” person to minister to. The core of missions is taking the Gospel to those who haven’t heard it and make disciples.
“We are all called to be disciple-makers,” Patton said.
Another advantage to discipling one person or a group of people is that pastors can find the person they want to replace them. The next generation of disciple makers can only be made by those who are willing to make disciples.
Patton warned pastors not to take on more than they are prepared for and only focus on the important things.
“Successful people don’t let unimportant things become important and don’t let the important things become unimportant,” Patton said.
Todd Sanders, Oklahoma Baptists Youth Ministry partner and Falls Creek program director, then led a moment of reflection on the previous sermon.
Following a lunch break, Oklahoma City, Quail Springs pastor Connor Bales called pastors to focus more on disability ministry. As a father who has two children with disabilities, Bales is dedicated to reaching those in the church who are often unreached.
“We are to minister to the families in our care, that includes those with disabilities,” Bales said. “95 percent of families marked with disability are unchurched.”
He then provided suggestions for how churches can reach out to those families including providing a teacher, events like “Night to Shine” which celebrate those with disabilities, a night out for parents with a caregiver for the individual for disabilities and more.
Another set of worship was led by Oklahoma City, Quail Springs before Bales returned for the second session. He emphasized the importance of listening to what the Lord is saying and Baptism. He also encouraged pastors to not stay silent, saying that words are required to preach the Gospel.
After a short break and time of worship, Mark Croston, National Director of Black Church Ministries for Lifeway, spoke on the steps of discipling: Teach, Train, Tutor, Test, Repeat. Croston said that the average church goer is not good at discipling, but by following the steps they can get better. He also said that pastors can only get better at discipling by following Jesus, the Master Discipler, and being more open.
“You can only become a discipler when you allow people into your personal space and personal life,” Croston said.
He concluded the third session by encouraging pastors to not give up and stay motivated through all season of life.
“Don’t ever deflate,” he said. “Just shake the dust off your feet and stay on mission for Jesus.”
Following a dinner break, Sarah Hagar, Oklahoma Baptists Childhood Ministry partner hosted a panel with Emily Townley, Karen Kennemur and Charlie Blount on how to reach children with the Gospel.
Then Zack Randles, pastor at Washington, D.C., Waterfront, delivered the final sermon for Monday. Randles focused on what the Gospel was made for, sinners, and that pastors need to be willing to get their hands dirty to reach those who are lost.
“The Gospel cannot advance unless we are willing to get our hands dirty,” he said. “The shed blood of Jesus Christ is the only thing that can make us clean.”
Randles also told pastors not to get impatient as it often takes time for movements to begin. God calls us to be patient and even great evangelists had to remain patient and remain faithful in prayer.
“We are called to have patience with the world, the same patience God had for us,” Randles said.
The next day, Tues., March 3, began with numerous breakout sessions that covered all areas of ministry. Topics included children’s ministry, artificial intelligence usage in the church, how to evangelize and more. After two sets of breakouts, attendees took a lunch break before returning for the final session of the Advance Conference.
Joe Sherrer opened the pre-session with guidance on how pastors should structure their Sunday Schools. He said that classes should focus on teaching, outreach and ministry, being genuine in wanting to teach those who attend.
“If you do not care for the people, no matter how quality the Bible teaching or your Gospel centered outreach, if they figure you are just in it for the numbers, they will quickly depart,” Sharer said.
Afterwards, Robert Smith, Distinguished Professor of Divinity at Beeson Divinity School of Samford University, spoke for the final session of the Advance Conference. He opened with an explanation of “imago dei,” image of God, and “missio dei,” the mission of God. Smith reminded pastors that they must be focused on both by proclaiming the Gospel and magnifying Who God is. The best way to do this, Smith said, is by deeply studying the Word, trusting the Word and preaching the Word, throwing off the things that are keeping pastors from being God bearers.
For more information on Advance Conference, visit oklahomabaptists.org/evangelism/advance-conference/.
