A Conference For All the Pastors, and Thus for All The Churches

By Tony Crocker, President • BMA of Arkansas

      In a recent article, I shared how Christ’s call for the seven churches in Asia to repent was a pro-church and pro-gospel call for everyone. Nothing can be more clearly and fairly said about our Lord and the gospel. Centuries earlier, God contrasted His ways against those of Israel through the prophet Ezekiel by promising life to those who repent. The climax of the argument was, “‘For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,’ says the Lord God. ‘Therefore turn and live’” (Ezekiel 18:32 NKJV).

      Peter arrives at an almost identical declaration, saying, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (II Peter 3:9). There were and are no constraints on this call. Every person is called to repent and believe, and we cannot demonstrate in Scripture that God prefers people to do otherwise.

      Though Christ’s appeal to repent is for the good of all His churches, we cannot make the mistake of thinking He is for all that churches do. In fact, three times in those letters to the churches in Revelation, the call to repent is accompanied by the chilling revelation of Christ’s displeasure — “I have this against you” (Rev. 2:4, 14, 20). Jesus employs powerful attributes from the description of His person in John’s first vision from Revelation 1. These are ominous things like flaming eyes and a tongue like a two-edged sword that should cause hearers to tremble at His authority to bring judgment. He died for His church, gave Himself for His church and loves His church, but she cannot do whatever she wants. We are bound to both joyfully worship our Savior and do His will.

      What means did Christ use to communicate this message to His churches? Carefully consider this — we understand it is by His Word, but He does it through His messengers. Each letter is addressed to “the angel of the church.” Those angels were “the seven stars which you saw in my right hand… the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches…” (Rev. 1:20). It is essential to remember His message is given to and communicated through the messengers He gives to His churches.

      For this reason, part of our associational meetings includes an element specifically for pouring into the lives of pastors. This year, we are preparing a three-session conference for pastors and leaders under our theme, “For All the Churches.” These sessions will take place in the Mitchell Lecture Hall beginning at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 7, and wrapping up at 4 p.m.

      Kirk Shelton, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Fayetteville, will preach the Word to us. His role is “Exhorting All the Churches.” Bro. Kirk has lived his life for our Lord, faithfully served the Lord’s churches and exhibits a love and reverence for God’s Word that is known to us all. While we look toward a theme in this conference, this man is not bound to any theme except to preach the Word as God directs him.

      Dan Carson leads our state youth department and Student Ministry Matters. He will moderate a panel discussion called “Informing all the Churches.” Joining him will be leaders of the BMA ministries on our state university campuses — Ryan Anderson (UCA, Conway), Jimmy Brock (SAU, Magnolia) and Stuart Estes (UA, Fayetteville). We understand these men face peculiar challenges where they serve. It will be good to hear from them so that we can pray for them more specifically. But that will only be part of this segment. What we also need is to be informed and rejoice in all that God is doing through these ministries in changing the lives of students, the future leaders in all the churches.

      Harold Smith is a new face among us. I met him at our meeting in 2022 and learned then that he was serving at the first church I pastored. God has equipped him and given him a vision to help churches going through transition. Harold has already led two BMA churches in navigating necessary changes and finding faithful pastors. His subject is “Strengthening All the Churches.” One of the keys to his ministry is a healthy fellowship among pastors and preachers. This session will remind us of the role our local associations should play in strengthening churches and pastors.

      I hope this whets your appetite. Make plans to attend. Lord willing, I will see you in November at this important meeting.