What’s the Big Deal about General Assembly? by Luda Teterina
During the week of June 27, I had the opportunity to travel to Dallas and attend the annual Cooperative Baptist Fellowship General Assembly, the Baptist organization with which Second Baptist Church is affiliated. It was time well spent, a time of rest, worship, and inspiration. It was also a time of being challenged and reconnecting with old friends.
I had forgotten how wonderful it is to participate in CBF GA! Yet, I realize that for many of us at Second Baptist, this is not something you may be familiar with – General Assembly? What is the big deal?
I am glad you asked! Several thoughts passed through my mind on the nine-hour-long drive home from Dallas. I would like to share a couple of them here.
Broad opportunities for spiritual enrichment: No matter what ministry or Christian service area you might be interested in, you would have found plenty of workshops, meetings, or informal gatherings to broaden your understanding and provide helpful resources. From children's ministry to music and worship, to justice and equality, to environmental concern and protection, to freedom of religious expression and worship, to the role of women in ministry – there is simply no topic off the table in which you would not find others, like-minded and equally concerned. Even if you are a layperson and never thought of yourself as immersed in this church thing, the discussions and conversations held there would have surely stimulated and expanded your understanding of this church thing, or perhaps would have made you ask more questions.
Reminders of why 2BC is unique: In addition to the numerous opportunities for spiritual enrichment throughout the week, I was reminded of what makes Second Baptist unique, a church I want to be a part of. What makes Second Baptist unique? I believe the answers to this question are as many as there are us on any given Sunday in the pews. However, whether you realize this or not, certain values and beliefs set us apart from many other churches in our community, especially our "Baptist community." These values and beliefs were thoughtfully selected by our predecessors long ago—the values of and belief in equality, racial justice, religious freedom, and love for and acceptance of all people, to name just a few. These values and beliefs still hold true today for our church's leadership and how they strive to lead us.
2BC's local and global Baptist Ministry budget: You know, they say that values are often evident in how people spend their money, both personally and corporately. If this is true, even in part, have you looked at our church's budget lately? Do you know all the line items in the budget that we allocate money to? You can always look it up online or request a copy of the budget from the church office—it could be revealing. I specifically refer to the local and global Baptist Ministries section. Over $67,000 of our budget (2021 & 2022) is allocated to such ministries as CBF National, CBF Heartland, Baptist Joint Committee, Baptist Women in Ministry, Baptist News Global, CBF Global, and the Baptist World Alliance. These organizations stand a head above other organizations in the religious world, supporting and upholding the values that became fundamental for Second Baptist. Each of these organizations reflects the deep-rooted principles I believe Christ proclaimed when he was on earth with his disciples. It was humbling and inspirational this past week to be in the presence of national and international leaders who are courageous and outspoken, who lead by example and challenge by words and actions. It was truly a gathering of stalwart saints.
General Assembly was a mountaintop experience for me. And now, it’s back to the reality of everyday life. I would encourage you and me both to look more closely at what sets Second Baptist apart. Get involved. Ask questions. If you are unfamiliar with any or some of those ministries you give money to, learn how they serve God's people in Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the world. You might find yourself interested and engaged more than you realize possible. To feed the hungry, care for the poor, and love the unloved. After all, that is what Christ called us to when he asked us to follow him, is it not?