Arizona Southern Baptist Convention

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Evangelism and missions were at the heart of the Arizona Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting Nov. 13 at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Tucson. A mission rally challenged Arizona Southern Baptists to be involved in the "God's Plan for Sharing" evangelism emphasis, and a mission fair showcased "Opportunities for the Harvest."

"I believe with all my heart there are enough here to get the gospel to everybody in Arizona," said Thomas Hammond, associate to the vice president of evangelization and team leader of the personal evangelism team at the North American Mission Board.

As the mission rally's keynote speaker, Hammond explained that the goal of God's Plan for Sharing is "Every Believer Sharing. Every Person Hearing. By 2020." The strength of GPS is that it is Biblical, he said, listing the four Biblical markers of praying, sowing, equipping and harvesting.

Hammond urged churches to be creative and "do some things differently" to reach more people.

"The reason why we're plateaued in our baptisms is because we haven't done anything new in 50 years," he said. "There's nothing wrong with change."

Speaking from Acts 3:1-10, where Peter heals the lame man outside the temple, Hammond noted that after Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Spirit (recorded in Acts 2), Peter saw the world and himself differently.

"Can you imagine what is going to happen to your folks when you get them out into your community, your church field, and say, 'Start prayerwalking right now'?" Hammond asked. "You think they are going to come back seeing their community the same? ... I don't believe there is any way they can."

In surveys of people who don't attend church, more than 30 percent said they would go to church "this Sunday" if someone invited them, Hammond said. "But listen, when they get here, we've got to be ready for company. We better show them the love of God and then tell them how they can experience it as well."

Referring to the Scripture passage, Hammond noted that Peter's talk and walk lined up and he exercised faith as he reached his hand down to help the lame man stand.

"You've got a whole state to go exercise your faith in," he said. "How awesome is that? ... God's given you a huge field to reap."

Mitch McDonald, ASBC church evangelism facilitator, began the mission rally by encouraging churches to adopt their neighborhood and participate in the GPS "Find It Here" evangelistic effort. The North American Mission Board and ASBC are providing doorhangers in which churches may insert a personal invitation to their Easter Sunday service. (The deadline to reserve doorhangers was Nov. 17.)

"Imagine this," McDonald said, "during the two weeks prior to Easter, Southern Baptists all across this nation (will be) blanketing this country with 100 million invitations to join us in our churches to hear about the gospel of Jesus Christ."

For Arizona Southern Baptists, it's a big task, McDonald said.

"Ninety-five percent of Arizona, if they were to die right now, would spend an eternity in a sinners' hell," he said. "It's a huge task. It's a God-sized task. Arizona Southern Baptists, I believe we're up to the task."

Earlier in the day, participants learned about opportunities to be on mission as they browsed through 26 booths in a mission fair set up in Emmanuel's gym. From cowboy churches to urban evangelism, planting new churches to helping churches in the U.S. Virgin Islands, discipling college students to serving in disaster relief, mission opportunities abounded.

During the afternoon mission fair, 21 small group presentations provided even more information for those interested in specific topics.

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