Now that the dust has settled from the annual SBC meeting in Orlando and we have all seen and read the thousands of words concerning the implications of the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force Report, I want to share with you my views as to what this all means for us in Arizona.

First, I would say we should focus on the fact that the GCRTF Report is first a document that calls us to spiritual accountability. There are some things discussed in this report that all of us can begin to fulfill immediately. For example: ask yourself, am I sharing the gospel with my next-door neighbor? Am I a part of a mission trip with my church? Is my church continually considering how we can increase our financial support to mission causes like my local association, the Cooperative Program or Lottie Moon? Is my lack of concern for a lost world a matter of schedule, or is it a spiritual matter in my life? Is there any unconfessed sin in my life that keeps me from following Jesus to the ends of the earth?

Second, while the GCRTF Report does address the relationship between the North American Mission Board and the state conventions, we need to understand in Arizona that we are on the right track in terms of our field-driven strategy and how we have worked together in a high relationship process. The initial response I am hearing from NAMB is that having a field-driven process where the needs emerge from the churches and associations is a model that can be supported in the new structure. We will also need to work on continuing to build increased accountability in the process. All of these are good things that are welcomed.

A third issue has to do with the “pause” that has been implemented at this time with regard to NAMB, specifically related to hiring of jointly-funded positions that are currently open. This pause will affect us related to two positions that are currently open in Arizona: the DOEM position in San Carlos Association and the Church Planter Strategist position in Central Association. Both of these positions have not been eliminated but are simply “on hold” until NAMB calls a new president and has an opportunity to get back to fulfilling the strategy in each state. The hope we have relates to the fact the GCRTF Report says the new emphasis by NAMB will focus on the new work states with significant population areas. Arizona’s population demands that our state been viewed as a key strategy state. And so we pray and hope with a positive outlook.

Posted this morning (May 3, 2010) on www.pray4gcr.com is the final recommended report from the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force. I want to take a few lines and invite you to read the report for yourself. Then I would ask that you read the next few paragraphs as my initial impressions of this report. Finally, I would ask that you pray that Southern Baptists would do the right thing regarding the recommendations that will be forthcoming in Orlando during our June meeting.

Here are my initial impressions:

1. There is much (and I do mean much) in this report that is worth our prayer, passion and involvement! Personally, I am delighted that the GCR has decided in this final version to emphasize the vision and passion to fulfill the Great Commission. I am delighted they have called the local churches not to settle for being an end unto themselves. Rather, the local church is the conduit by which a Holy God engages a lost world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The great question is this: Is my church, is my family, is my own personal life sold out to the Great Commission? My life is not an end unto itself. Neither is my family. And neither is my church. We are all part of a calling to impact lostness and expand God’s Kingdom as we are instruments in His hands. It is my personal opinion the task force handled this all important subject rather well.

2. Item number 4 concerns the role of NAMB and the state conventions in forming a new strategy that makes a major priority of church planting and missions. It treats the USA as a mission field. For this emphasis I am pleased. I think the genius of this final report, that is a change from the initial report, is the details of such mutually developed strategies will be left up to the leadership and board of trustees at NAMB and the state conventions. It appears that the old cooperative agreements will indeed go away after seven years, but there will be new ones that will be mutually agreed upon that will seek to prioritize church planting, evangelism, and leadership development. Again, I agree with this approach. We have always been focused on the missions aspect of our work in Arizona. And, we have never been afraid of accountability. And so, I see nothing in this final report that causes me great concern. We will need to pray that as time marches on, the leadership of NAMB and our state convention have good enough trusting relationships to seek God’s best in how to penetrate lostness in Arizona.

3. Another good move on the part of the GCR final report is to lengthen the time to phase out the old cooperative agreements from four years to seven years. This extension will be needed by most of the new work states in preparing for any detailed changes that will be forthcoming. This will also give the older state conventions enough time to deal with the fact that NAMB will probably be phasing out most of their support to the “old south” state convention work.

4. Finally, it seems the report and recommendations do acknowledge the correct process in that the messengers will refer the results of their vote to the SBC Executive Committee for their work with the boards of the agencies for implementation. The truth is, as one messenger, I can pray and vote what I believe is the will of God in a specific matter. And for that matter, so can all of the messengers who may join me. But the SBC has made the best historic decision to refer such votes to the boards of trustees for their approval and implementation. There are many details to consider, and the implications are numerous. And so, it is wise that the approval and power for implementation rests with the boards of trustees of these agencies. This wording is wise on the part of the GCR.

Enough said for now …

Simply read the report for yourself and begin to pray that Southern Baptists will make the right decision regarding this report.

As followers of Jesus Christ who have been gloriously saved, we have the right to say “see ya later” when we are parting company with a fellow believer. When two people who are not Jesus-followers part company, they should go ahead and be proper and say “good-bye.” Truth is, they may not see each other again. For them, there is no promise of life eternal, just everlasting death.

One of my favorite young people in all of the world is Jeremiah Johnson, son of David and Diana Johnson. What a kid.

I remember watching him grow up and enjoyed laughing with David as he would tell one of his Jeremiah stories. Jeremiah was the kind of kid who would jump first and then wonder if it was a good decision on the way down. I also remember going to Peoria Centennial High School football games on Friday nights and watching Jeremiah play. By the way … his team began the dynasty for Centennial winning four state championships.

Often I would project into the future and wonder how Jeremiah would go to heaven as an old man. If you have ever seen the movie Second Hand Lions, you get this idea that Jeremiah would go out of this world hang-gliding, or parasailing, or parachuting out of the back of a plane at 20,000 feet. Or, I could even see him going to heaven while on the back of a motorcycle. He was that kind of an adventurous kid. I just thought he would go to heaven at 91 and not 21.

If you have not heard, Jeremiah has gone to heaven. It happened a few days ago. He went to heaven from Mozambique while on the back of a motorcycle. He wasn’t 91; he was 21. He was doing something adventurous. He was returning from a preaching point as a Hands On missionary with the IMB. It was Jeremiah to a “tee.”

And now … all I can say is, “See ya later, Jeremiah.” Believe me, I am not being flippant. … I am being very, very confident. With all of the Bible truth at my back, I say: “See ya later, Jeremiah!”