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.

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.

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!”

I am married to a school teacher, and they live by code labels. My wife happens to serve in special education, and so I have spent the entire year listening to stories about IEPs and the like.

To make matters worse, my son works in the social work field, and this group boasts that they take a back seat to no one when it comes to code labels. In fact, there is a social worker somewhere in America making up a new code label as we speak/read.

You want the truth and an honest confession? We Southern Baptists are no different. We live by code-labels. I do it everyday.

I mean … do you know what NAMB, SBC, IMB, ERLC, EC, ASBC, DOEM, and EDT mean? If not … you are not on the inside. These are our codes.

We didn’t mean to make them up on purpose … they just become a part of “our” language, and if you speak them … then it tells me you are in.

And so, I am going to give a confession in code and see if you can figure out what I am saying. Here goes: When it comes to investing your time and energy in the next year: Do it with GPS and not GCR!!!

The long-awaited initial progress report from the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force has been posted. You can find it at www.pray4gcr.com. Here, you will have an opportunity to review the report as delivered by GCR Task Force Chairman Ronnie Floyd to the SBC Executive Committee.

To say the least, this report has generated many more questions than answers. I want to take a few more lines and defend my last statement. The reason the statement is true is that the GCR Task Force cannot possibly give complete answers to everything they recommended. It’s not their fault … it just happens whenever a major report is given in summary form.

And Ronnie Floyd was not asked to give a detailed report, only to share a progress report in preparation for a final report. And so we do need to give the Task Force some time to further communicate about their more detailed understanding of the report.

With that said, it does appear that if the report is adopted, it will definitely impact the work of the new-work states like Arizona. At this point, we do not fully know what the implications will be for all of us, but it does seem to suggest that things will be different.

If the progress report stays intact, it will recommend the current Cooperative Agreements will go away after four years. And it appears that the North American Mission Baord will move to a regional approach that will be their attempt to get closer to the field.

What the report does not specify is how NAMB will relate to the work in Arizona, the rest of the West, and the remainder of the nation that is under-reached. We hear from certain persons that it means that NAMB will do their own direct missions. Others counter and say NAMB will enter new agreements with the new-work areas that will enhance their work and bring greater support. The million dollar question is which do you believe? I guess it depends on which blog you read on a given day.

One thing is certain at this time: the answer to the above questions will not be finalized during one vote in June. Rather, it is my belief that we are on a journey that will unfold, step by step, over a multi-year period.

Here are some crucial markers for you to watch:

1. The final May report of the GCR due May 3rd. This will have the final recommendations for the annual SBC in June.
2. Whatever is passed in June, who NAMB elects as president will be critical to this process of “putting meat on the bones” of the recommendations of the GCR.
3. It will be the responsibility of the NAMB Board of Trustees and their new president to implement the implications of the report as adopted. From this journey, NAMB will begin the process of rolling out how they will relate to state conventions in the future.

And so … here is my commitment to God, His Kingdom and our work in Arizona. We are going to remain focused on our vision to evangelize and “church” our state. We are also going to remain committed to the development and training of God-called leaders and to the disciple- making process of fulfilling the Great Commission. And we are going to enter a time of prayer and planning in order to respond (notice, I did not say “react”) to potential scenarios concerning what these changes may mean to us in Arizona.

In the meantime, I am going to communicate with the leaders of our SBC and the GCR and share with them our field-driven strategy of hearing from our churches on a yearly basis concerning evangelism, church planting, disciple-making and leadership development. And I pray that when it comes time for our Southern Baptist family to think and pray about the best way to reach Arizona, that they will join us as partners. Don’t expect the answer to come overnight, for it will take several years for it to come to light.

Meanwhile, share the Gospel with your next-door neighbor.