Newsletter: June 2021

Cooperating for His Glory

I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 1 Corinthians 3:6

Since our founding in 1944, Audubon Baptist has aligned our mission with the Southern Baptist Convention. We cooperate with the convention, holding to the same tenants of the faith once for all delivered to the Saints, seeking to reach the world with the Good News of Jesus Christ. We believe in the mission. And we join with like-minded churches so that the Word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored (2 Thessalonians 3:1).

I appreciate the convention and the heart behind cooperating for the Gospel. Cooperation recognizes that each has a role to play, but it is God that gives the increase and growth, for His glory and sovereign purposes. I am committed to cooperation, with the convention and locally too. It comforts me that Audubon stands with more than fifty thousand sister churches, with no two churches exactly alike. Our churches represent every corner of our nation, ranging in size from micro to mega – for awareness, Audubon is typical in size. Some worship traditionally, using organs, like us. Others worship in a more contemporary style, with a whole ensemble of instruments, singing a new song unto the Lord. Despite our differences, we cooperate in unity, standing upon the framework of historic Biblical orthodoxy.

We regularly hear the word diversity bantered about in our day. Here too, Southern Baptists lead the way and shine through cooperation. Our churches represent many races and ethnicities – African American, Caucasian, Chinese, Hispanic, Korean, Native American, Russian, and many more. On a typical Sunday morning, over 100 native languages are spoken in our churches – in the United States! One would be hard pressed to uncover any constituency group, anywhere in the world, with more reach and breath in diversity than our 15M members represent. SBC churches do ministry in sanctuaries like ours, and storefronts, and in parks, and in office buildings too; there are even a few motorcycle congregations. Each one is a part of the SBC and cooperate and contribute to a fuller portrait of the bride of Christ.

The SBC holds its convention annually. Members come together, representing local churches, arriving as diverse races, ethnicities, socio-economic statuses, languages, and congregational sizes. Cooperating churches mutually elect officers, decide governance, seek unity and means to further the Gospel. The convention is a picture of the day we shall all gather before the throne, churches made ready for Christ, called from every corner of the globe.

This year’s convention will be held in Nashville, June 15 and 16. The convention is open to all and requires a simple registration. You are invited. Lord willing, Audubon will have representation by several at the convention.

For those unable to attend the convention, some ask, “what can we do to support it?” We can pray. I cheered when Pastor J.D. Greear (62nd President of the SBC) called upon our fifty thousand churches to pray. Prayer is accessible to each of us. We are great commission Baptists and that requires that we be a people of prayer.

In this Newsletter, you will find several “Prayer Guides”. We will be praying over these Wednesday evenings. Will you also commit to praying with me during the week? The areas of prayer are targeted and specific, each serving a purpose in speeding His Word to the nations.

Each of us is important. Just what might our great God do when we join together in prayer, cooperating with 15M other brothers and sisters, for His glory? One thing is certain – it shall be glorious!

With thanksgiving, Pastor Jeff