Michael Pigg, right, current president of the National African American Fellowship (NAAF) of the Southern Baptist Convention and pastor of Philadelphia Baptist Church in Lithonia, Ga., introduces James Dixon, left, president-elect of the NAAF, during the annual banquet June 14 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. Photo by Kent Harville.

By Karen L. Willoughby

ORLANDO, Fla. (BP)–Racial reconciliation is his agenda, James Dixon, incoming president of the National African American Fellowship of the Southern Baptist Convention, said at the group’s gathering June 14 in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in Orlando, Fla.

“I’m discontented with the church I’m at because I’m preaching to folk who look like me, and I’m not preparing for the place I’m going to,” Dixon said, referring to heaven. He has been pastor for 17 years of El Bethel Church in Fort Washington, Md.

“God wants us to bring about a unified body not only in the United States but in the world. Racism — until we deal with that, the Kingdom of God is hindered,” Dixon said. “I’m looking at God to do some amazing things to get people together.”

The NAAF annual meeting and banquet also honored three stalwarts: Elgia “Jay” Wells, David Cornelius and Emmanuel McCall. Officers were elected and reports were heard from representatives of SBC entities and from Joseph Gaston, president of the National Fellowship of SBC Haitian Churches USA/Canada. Three of the nominees for SBC president also addressed the fellowship.

Wells, of LifeWay Christian Resources, received the Friend of Pastors award, established last year by NAAF to honor individuals who have had a longtime, significant impact on pastors.

“He influences all the work at LifeWay,” said Selma Richards, vice president of the leadership team at LifeWay. “For 21 years he’s shown great strength and great resolve. Jay led in the development of the new ‘You’ urban curriculum. We have run out in both of the last two issues, which tells us it’s being very well received.”

Virginia pastor Mark Croston presented the award to Wells.

“The well is deep,” Croston said. “Jay has a deep, quiet strength, deep creative thinking — deep with a committed life. He has a clear passion for educating and discipling people. He’s a well of fresh ideas,” Croston said.

Two other men were honored at the meeting: David Cornelius of the International Mission Board and Emmanuel McCall, who taught most of the African Americans who today are in leadership positions in the SBC, said NAAF President Michael Pigg, pastor of Philadelphia Baptist Church in Lithonia, Ga.

Cornelius has announced plans to “move into another area of ministry” after serving with the IMB for 21 years.

“Because of David Cornelius’ untiring efforts, there is a rising number of African American churches going on mission trips,” Pigg said. “We want to celebrate that. He’s been blowing the trumpet for missions.”

McCall, first African American to hold a national leadership role in the SBC, served for 23 years with the Home Mission Board, now the North American Mission Board. Today he is an adjunct professor at Mercer University and pastor of Fellowship Group Baptist Church in East Point, Ga.

New officers for two-year terms included Dixon as president; A.B. Vines as vice president; Mark Croston as treasurer; Bryon Day as secretary; K. Marshall Williams as parliamentarian; Robert Wilson as historian; Brian King as east region director; Roscoe Belton as central region director; and John Wells as west region director.

Vines is pastor of New Seasons Church in Spring Valley, Calif.; Croston is pastor of East End Church in Suffolk, Va.; Day is pastor of Emmanuel Church in Laurel, Md.; Williams is pastor of Nazarene Church in Philadelphia; Wilson is pastor of Sandtown Church in Atlanta; King is pastor of Ezekiel Church in Philadelphia; Belton is pastor of Middlebelt Church in Inkster, Mich.; and Wells is pastor of Mountain View Church in Temecula, Calif.

NAAF’s $4,665 budget is unchanged from last year, Croston said.

Three candidates for SBC president introduced themselves to NAAF: Jimmy Jackson of Alabama; Bryan Wright of Georgia and Ted Traylor of Florida. Wright was elected president the next day by messengers to the SBC annual meeting.

Karen L. Willoughby is managing editor of the Louisiana Baptist Message, an affiliate newsjournal of the Louisiana Baptist Convention.

Byron Day

In recent years, we have seen an ever-increasing rise in lawsuits. We live in a day and age where people sue one another over the least little thing. Moreover, we are encouraged by the legal community to examine every aspect of our lives to determine if our present condition was caused by the negligence of someone else. Therefore, we are called to question if the doctor did something during that surgery that causes us discomfort, if our dentist was negligent, or whether McDonald’s got the coffee too hot.

We hear of all types of lawsuits; disputes over inheritances, over free agency, over land, over patents and over songs. Perhaps the clearest indication of our society’s thirst for litigation is the number of televisions shows dedicated to displaying for us our inability to settle the most minor disputes.

We have people’s court, divorce court, and even animal court. We have Judge Hatchett, Judge Brown, Judge Judy and Judge Mathis. My casual observance of these shows has often revealed that the dispute is minor in nature and that they usually involve family members, mothers against sons, fathers against daughters, brothers against sisters.

This reminds me of the situation in the church at Corinth. The members of that church had trouble settling disputes among themselves (1 Cor. 6:1-11).

This text poses a question that our churches must ask today. What do we do when disputes arise in the family of God?

The upcoming convention in Orlando will give voice to a dispute among Southern Baptists, a dispute not about whether the great commission should be the central focus of all Southern Baptists but about how we go about fulfilling the great commission. Simply stated we are at odds over the best allocation of resources that will provide the best opportunity of fulfilling the Great Commission. I am hopeful that we will not allow this minor dispute to hinder us from working together. I am prayerful that we will recognize the strategy of the enemy of divide and conquer and continue cooperating together for the building up of the kingdom of God. The Great Commission Resurgence (GCR) vote in Orlando will not affect my church’s Cooperative Program giving; we will continue to support the Cooperative Program. Our level of giving will remain the same and our goal of increasing Cooperative Program giving will continue regardless of the outcome in Orlando.

My concern for Maryland/Delaware Baptist churches is that some might abandon cooperation if things do not go in their favor. The convention in June will provide plenty of opportunity for discussion and debate, but at the end of the day we must all determine not to let this issue divide us and to accept the outcome as the will of God (Prov. 16:33).

This is not a doctrinal issue and therefore does not warrant separation. I hope that we will consider the words of Jesus, “by this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” John 13:35.

Perhaps now more than ever the church should be “endeavoring (be diligent) to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (and to remember) there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all and in all” Eph. 4:3-6 [italics mine].

Byron Day

When we leave this world, we ought to leave a mark. Something for which we will be remembered, admired, or recognized by those family, friends, or those who crossed our path in life. In days gone by, young people would carve their name in the desk to let you know that they had spent an entire school year in that desk. It was not unusual to discover ”Clarence was here” or ”Denise was here” scrawled somewhere on the desk. This was a way of leaving your mark or to some extent obtaining some glory. This reminds me that as followers of Jesus we ought to leave a mark, make some kind of impression that allows others to know that we were here and hopefully made a difference for the kingdom of God.

In the month of May, we celebrate Mother’s Day and that reminds me of a mother that is noted in scripture but is seldom mentioned. Jochebed, the mother of Moses, is mentioned by name in Exodus 6:20. I am always fascinated when God takes the time to mention someone by name in His Word. Most probably do not give her much thought, but I think that there are a few things worth noting from Exodus 2:1-10. I would like to suggest that a mother’s glory can be found in her faith, her faithfulness and her fame.

Jochebed’s faith is demonstrated in the midst of adversity in the promise of God. At a time when Pharaoh has issued an edict that all Hebrew males born are to be killed, this mother dared to hold onto the promise of God and hide Moses for three months (Ex. 1:22; 2:1-2). She also showed faith in the present circumstances with an awareness of the presence of God by recognizing God’s favor upon the child and hiding him despite the potential danger to her own life (Ex. 2:2). Moreover, she showed faith in the future of the child and power of God by placing him in an ark and believing in God’s power to keep and deliver her son (Ex. 2:3-6).

Jochebed’s glory is also exemplified by her faithfulness. Hebrew women had a difficult life. They were considered nothing more than a possession and not much more value than a slave. Their primary duty was to bear children, to serve the clan or family and act as household manager. Jewish women were teachers of the children who were weaned within 1 to 3 years and taught history, manners and religion from ages 3-6 years old. No doubt, this woman was able to perform this duty in the life of Moses (Ex. 2:7-10). Finally, the mother of Moses left her mark and her fame as revealed in Hebrews 11:23-27. No, her name is not mentioned, but her character, her faith and faithfulness is displayed in the testimony of a son who perhaps was one of God’s greatest servants. This is her mark, this is what she left behind, and this is a mother’s glory.

About a month ago, I lost my mother who is now with the Lord. Her name is not in the Bible, she is not famous, and she barely graduated high school. However, the faith, faithfulness, character and love of Dorothy Day hopefully will always be exemplified in her son.

Byron Day, BCM/D President and Pastor of Emmanuel Church, Laurel, Md.

The Southern Baptist Convention 2010 in Orlando Florida promises to be one of the most important meetings in recent Southern Baptist History. The progress report of the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force has certainly generated great discussion and at the very least will cause some concern.

The report was delivered to the SBC Executive Committee on Feb. 22, 2010 by Task Force chairman Ronnie W. Floyd. Floyd and all of the Task Force members are to be commended for their prayerful and diligent work. The Task Force has responded well to its charge to bring a report and any recommendations to the Southern Baptist convention meeting in Orlando, Fla., June 15-16, 2010, concerning how Southern Baptists can work more faithfully and effectively together in serving Christ through the Great Commission.

The report states that Southern Baptists need a new and compelling vision for the future and that this new vision put forth by the Task Force be accepted and endorsed this June by the convention. I have read the report and I am concerned that the recommended changes may prove to be a pill that is too large to swallow at once. In my opinion the overall tone of the report suggest that the North American Mission Board is lacking in performance and appears to be somewhat of a mild rebuke. The report asks Southern Baptists to embrace a new vision stated in six components some of which would have direct impact on our state convention.

The second component is one that would have the most direct impact on our convention. The recommendation by the GCR Task Force is that Southern Baptists charge the North American Mission Board (NAMB) to renegotiate its cooperative agreements and budgets with the goal of eliminating these agreements within four years. In my opinion, this second component implies that State Conventions have not done a good job managing resources and that national oversight is now required. Moreover, in order to ensure accountability, only projects approved by NAMB would be funded. This would mean that projects deemed necessary by the churches in our convention that support the cooperative program would not be able to have access to funds that would enable us to do great commission work without NAMB’s approval. I cannot speak for other conventions, but I believe the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware does an excellent job managing all of its resources.

Another component that caught my attention is component number four which calls for State Conventions to reassume their primary role in the promotion of the Cooperative Program and stewardship education. I was unaware that this was the primary role of State Conventions.

One of the most difficult things to do is to get Baptists to agree. The GCR Task Force Report in its present state, in my opinion, is a pill to big to swallow. While I can embrace most of the report’s recommendations, I hope that the Task Force will reconsider and modify those components concerning the role of the State Conventions in this proposed new vision of missional strategy.

Byron Day, BCM/D President and Pastor of Emmanuel Church, Laurel, Md.

Finally spring is near and after shoveling more snow this winter than I can ever remember, I am determined to turn my thoughts to warmer weather. The recent completion of the Winter Olympic Games however caused me to reflect on the sacrifice and training of the Olympians. The dedication, discipline and determination of the Olympic athlete commands great admiration. Those who compete in the Olympics seek the highest honor, the greatest glory.

The athletes who choose to compete in an Olympic event spend their entire lives preparing for this moment. They sacrifice going to the movies or skating with their friends in order to train. They get up at 4 o’clock in the morning to train before school or work. They spend years running miles a day. They eat a restricted diet for years in order to mold their bodies into the best shape. Every athlete denies herself of the pleasures and treasures of life in order to focus her entire life around that one competition. Every athlete runs, sweats, he lifts weights, and he pains, and pushes his body to its very limits.

The athletes who compete in the Olympics exercise great earthly discipline, life changing earthly discipline, for an earthly crown and earthly glory. They run for a gold medal, a sneaker endorsement and their picture on a cereal box.

The Olympic competitor reminds me that we discipline ourselves for a far greater reward than a gold medal. We are striving for a heavenly crown.

The apostle Paul after dealing with his own self-denial when it came to preacher’s rights begins now to grant us a view of his purpose in life. He lets the Corinthians know that there is a method to his madness. There is a reason why he suffers these things, the answer is found in verse I Corinthians 9:25 for an imperishable crown. Paul was striving for a heavenly crown.

Paul answers the question, why? Why do I put myself through all of this pain and suffering? Why do I put up with wild animals, robbers, persecution from Jews, and persecution from Gentiles? Sometimes we may find ourselves asking those types of questions. Why do I continue going out witnessing? Why do I keep teaching Sunday school? Why do I keep singing in the choir? Why do I keeping preaching and teaching? The answer is for an imperishable crown. So keep striving for a heavenly crown because there is a crown reserved for all those who remain faithful and love his appearing.

Byron Day

By Byron Day, BCM/D President and Pastor of Emmanuel Church, Laurel, Md.

When I was a senior in high school I had to take trigonometry. I was pretty good in math, but a lazy student. I only did enough to get by.

So throughout the year I did enough to maintain a C average. By the time finals rolled around and everyone was looking forward to graduation, it dawned on me that if I blew this final I wouldn’t graduate. So I set my mind to work.

In the evenings, I studied hard hour after hour. On the night before the exam, I wouldn’t take any calls from friends, didn’t play with my little brother, didn’t play with the dog, no TV, no radio, no stereo (the thing you listened to before IPods), just trigonometry, just cosine and tangents.

On a break as I was passing the television, my mother asked me to change the channel (we didn’t have a remote) and my response – what page. My family enjoyed a big laugh, but you see I had a mind to work.

Well, I took the test and the day came to pick up our report cards my only concern was one course – trigonometry. I picked up my grades from my teacher who looked at me with this funny grin. He told me that I had received the highest grade on the exam (98 if you must know). I rejoiced greatly (actually a shouted YES!) this all because I had a mind to work.

Recorded in Neh. 4:6 is the response of a people who were facing adversity, mockery and ridicule while engaged in rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem. The last phrase reveals that the people had a mind to work. I wonder what would happen if the saints of God would agree to work together for the glory of God and the advancement of His kingdom.

I wonder what would happen if we came together pooled our resources; spiritual, physical, and financial, in full submission to the leading of the Holy Spirit. I wonder what would happen if we laid aside our differences, cultural, economic, racial, and generational in order to fulfill the great commission and the great commandment of our Lord to love one another as He has loved us. Perhaps then we could labor side-by-side and experience together a mighty movement of God. (Sounds like a cooperative program.)

According to the listing in chapter 3, the people worked together regardless of their differences and personal preferences.

The goldsmiths, perfumers, women, political leaders, and priests all worked together to achieve a common goal of building a wall. I wonder what would happen if those who have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb had a mind to work together.

TOWSON, Md.—Byron Day, president of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware and senior pastor of Emmanuel Church in Laurel, Md., is glad that somebody connected him to Jesus.

Byron Day

A keynote speaker for the Monday evening session of the Nov. 8-10 annual meeting of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware in Towson, Md., Day asked, “How many non-Christian friends do you have?” He conceded, “We get so used to church folk and people like us, that we don’t even know how to connect with others.”

Pointing to the New Testament story of when Jesus healed Jairus’ daughter, Day noted that people today are looking for their real physical needs to be met.
“They want a personal touch,” he explained.

As Jesus traveled to visit Jairus’ daughter, the crowd gathered around him. Yet, He connected with people one person at a time, including a woman who had had an incurable disease for 12 years.

“Jesus always had time to reach out to the individual,” Day said, explaining the importance of investing in others’ lives. ”We must adopt this concern if we are going to connect with our world.”

Day asserted, “There’s a world out there disconnected because we don’t want to connect with them” because of their illness, skin color or education.
Conversely, Jesus ate with the publicans and the sinners.

“We’ve got to be very careful that we don’t fail to reach out, no matter what,” Day said, stressing that everyone is a sinner. “Let’s do some extraordinary things and step out of our comfort zone.”

Day suggested that his listeners consider ways to reach out in their own neighborhoods, to participate in “high-touch” ministries like feeding the homeless, or taking up hobbies intentionally to interact with nonbelievers.

“People are hurting. They are trying everything to fill their need,” Day said. “We’ve got the answer, and we need to give it away.”

Byron Day

Joy to the World, the Lord is come
Let earth receive her King,
Let every heart prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing

Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods,
rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy

The Christmas seasons of late seem to lack the excitement, anticipation and overall spirit of joy that they once had in our culture. As I consider recent Christmas seasons, it appears that the festive atmosphere they once produced has all but disappeared. I see very little joy, but in its place grumbling and tolerance. I still see people pushing and shoving with merchants rushing to close year end deals. There is also the ever increasing effort to try and take Christ out of Christmas with more retailers opting for the so called politically correct happy holidays.

What concerns me more however is that even among God’s people I see very little joy. I wonder if we too have succumbed to the thought that it’s just another Christmas, a time for shopping, for gift giving, for feasting. Although we know that Christmas is really about the birth of Jesus the Savior of the world, we too have perhaps lost some of the joy of Christmas. We have gotten caught up in the tinsel and forgotten the theology, gotten caught up in the stuff and forgotten the Savior. No wonder we may have lost the joy of Christmas.

Sometimes circumstances rob us of the joy of Christmas. Perhaps we lost a loved one and we miss their presence at this time of year. Or perhaps it hasn’t been a good financial year and you find that you are unable to give as you would like. Perhaps health issues, or family issues have stolen the joy of Christmas.

I am reminded of what the Scripture says in Luke 2:10-11, Then the angel said to them,  “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (NKJV).

My seventh grade English teacher taught me that a noun is a person, place, or thing. In verse 10, joy is a noun. It is a thing that can be acquired and possessed.  We can recapture the joy of Christmas by focusing on the same good news that those shepherds received that night long ago, that unto us is born a Savior which is Christ the Lord.

As we ponder God’s great gift of love in the person of His Son Jesus who gave His life that we might have eternal life, we can recapture the joy of Christmas. As we reflect on God’s faithfulness in sending a redeemer, as we meditate on His promises and His presence we can recapture the joy of Christmas. As we set our minds on the return of the Savior and the life to come we can recapture the joy of Christmas.

Byron Day

By Byron Day, BCM/D President and pastor of Emmanuel Church, Laurel, Md.

It was a clear and cool night, as I delivered the trash can to the curb I looked up at the beautiful stars and a bright full moon, and reflected on the goodness of God. I drank in all the wonderful things that God had done for me throughout the years. He had been faithful in providing food every day, protection from evil every day and many blessings to boot. But most of all, eternal salvation through His Son Jesus Christ.

According to Today in the Word, July, 1990, the first American Thanksgiving didn’t occur in 1621 when a group of Pilgrims shared a feast with a group of friendly Indians. The first recorded Thanksgiving took place in Virginia more than 11 years earlier, and it wasn’t a feast. The winter of 1610 at Jamestown had reduced a group of 409 settlers to 60. The survivors prayed for help, without knowing when or how it might come. When help arrived, in the form of a ship filled with food and supplies from England, a prayer meeting was held to give thanks to God.

The fall season is a time to reflect on the goodness of God. No wonder the pilgrims decided to have a feast that would give thanks to God for bountifully dealing with them.

The Scriptures are full of admonitions to God’s people to be a grateful people and never forget all that they have come from God. But perhaps Psalm 100:4 captures it best.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving.
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him.
And bless His name.

An attitude of gratitude is a mark of developing spiritual maturity. Let’s not wait until Thanksgiving Day, but starting right now let us seek to display a thankful attitude. Since God blesses us every day, let us bless His name every day.

A little nine year old girl came up to me at the end of service as I was shaking hands with the members as they left and asked, “What do I have to do to be baptized?” A perfect opportunity to share the Gospel had been presented and so we went into my office and I shared with her the good news of God’s love and forgiveness. The fruit was ripe and ready; it was one of those times that God allows you to reap. She listened intently on the edge of her seat and nearly came to tears as we talked about Jesus dying for her sin. Once she prayed to receive Christ as her personal savior a joyful look came over her face.

As I drove home that afternoon I found myself rejuvenated and ready to continue the race. It was as though God was saying, “Thank you for your faithfulness; now as a reward enjoy the fruit of your labor.”

For it had been one of those weeks, when the counseling sessions seemed endless and the burdens and struggles of those you love tear at your heart. The news of the sick and the bereaved had been overwhelming. The unexpected had happened: no, not that member; surely, Lord, that faithful servant of God couldn’t have cancer. The sermon just seemed as though it would never take shape. I had tried to turn my resignation into the Lord, but He refused it and told me to press on.

Then that Sunday came and the Lord allowed me to taste and see that the Lord is good. It was a reminder that my labor was not in vain. It has been several years since that Sunday, but I always remember what the Lord taught me that day about His love, His concern and His perfect timing with encouragement.

Heb. 6:10 says: “For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.”

Servant of God, remember that our God sees your work and knows when and how to say thank you and reward your faithfulness. He will not forget your labor of love which you have shown towards His name, but in due time will allow you to enjoy just a taste of the fruit of your ministry.