Last week I participated in the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s General Assembly in Atlanta. I am so grateful to be part of this wonderful community of believers who are committed to faithfully following the Holy Spirit together.
I began the week by spending time with some members (Becky Bryant, Rick Jordan, Amanda McIntyre, Jason Snipes, and Jay Van Nostrand) of our Vision and Navigation Team as we wrapped up our church’s participation in CBF’s Thriving Congregations Initiative. We discerned how God may be calling us to serve as leaders for how Ardmore Baptist discerns what God is calling us to do. We also spent time at the King Center learning about the life and ministry of Martin Luther King, Jr.
The theme for this week was “Holy Ambition.” We heard two powerful sermons on the theme. The first was by Rev. Laura Ayala who has been hired to serve as CBF’s Global Missions Coordinator. Rev. Ayala has most previously served as the pastor of First Baptist Church of Rio Pedras in San Juan, Puerto Rico. You all will have the chance to meet Rev. Ayala next year. The CBF General Assembly is being held in Greensboro in 2024, and Rev. Ayala will be in Ardmore’s pulpit the Sunday before the event begins!
The second sermon was by my friend Rev. Dr. Kat Kimmel, who is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Memphis, TN. She preached on Hebrews 10:24 and what it means to “provoke one another to love and good deeds.”
Both of the sermons by these women reminded me of how thankful I am to be part of a community of Baptists who are committed to honoring God’s call on both men and women. Gina Brock and I both attended a powerful dinner for the Baptist Women in Ministry organization.
I also participated in a breakfast with Baptist New Global where influential author Jemar Tisby shared about the Gospel’s call for us to combat racial injustice in our world. And I attended a breakfast for CBF Encourager Churches where we heard from Sister Norma Pimentel and her work to share Gospel-love with those on our southern border.
It was a wonderful week. And it was capped off by running into our Mission Team from Bahamas who just happened to land in Greensboro at the same time!
Psalm 133 says: How good and pleasant it is, when kindred live together in unity! (Psalm 133:1) This week was indeed good and pleasant as I spent time with a community of sisters and brothers who are united by our desire to follow Christ.
