A time to pray: Oklahoma Baptist Board meets, spends time in prayer

Above: Todd Fisher prays throughout the Might 24 Oklahoma Baptists Board of Administrators assembly.

On Might 24, members of the board of administrators for Oklahoma Baptists met on the Baptist Constructing in Oklahoma Metropolis for a commonly scheduled assembly.

Along with instances of fellowship, enterprise and conferences, board members spent prolonged instances in prayer for the Southern Baptist Conference (SBC) within the wake of the SBC Sexual Abuse Process Pressure report.

Oklahoma Baptists’ Govt Director-Treasurer Todd Fisher addressed board members and led within the instances of prayer.

“As our hearts proceed to grieve the findings of the (SBC report), we wish to pray for each one of many abuse survivors and everybody impacted by this. We pray that Southern Baptists, as we collect for the Annual Assembly subsequent month in Anaheim, will take applicable motion on the suggestions stemming from the SBC report,” Fisher mentioned.

Fisher additionally reiterated the forward-looking plans that Oklahoma Baptist board members already activated earlier this 12 months.

“I’m grateful that Oklahoma Baptists have already taken proactive steps towards stopping abuse and towards caring for abuse survivors,” Fisher mentioned. “Led by Oklahoma Pastor Eric Costanzo, Oklahoma’s Abuse Prevention and Response Process Pressure, has already been assembly and dealing towards forward-looking greatest practices for Oklahoma.

“This can be a pivotal second for the SBC, as we every do our half to guard the weak amongst us,” Fisher added. “I wish to ask all Oklahoma Baptists to dedicate themselves in fervent prayer to the Lord for all these pressing issues.”

Fisher connecting with pastors, church buildings

Through the afternoon plenary session, Fisher described his first few months serving within the function of govt director, sharing how he has traveled to dozens of Oklahoma Baptist church buildings and associations.

“I’ve a lot loved assembly Oklahoma Baptists from throughout the state,” he mentioned. “In conversations with some 400 pastors, I’ve sought to hear and to listen to extra about their ministry context. I even have shared some issues on my coronary heart.”

Fisher added that he’s listening to church buildings wish to deal with Gospel ministries as a state conference, like mission partnerships, having localized occasions and church revitalization and church planting.

“I’ve been emphasizing three key areas: Baptist polity, Baptist beliefs and Baptist partnership by the (Cooperative Program),” he mentioned.

Fisher requested board members to hope for pastors, lots of whom skilled a season of distinctive problem and should really feel “remoted and empty, needing encouragement and our prayer.”

He shared with board members that he’s internet hosting Pastor Fellowship instances throughout Falls Creek summer time classes and Indian Falls Creek.

“On Tuesdays at 2 p.m. at Falls Creek’s Mathena Household Occasion Middle, we can have a time of fellowship for pastors, with refreshments. That is only a time to attach and encourage each other,” he mentioned.

Additionally a Pastor Fellowship Dinner is going down at 5:30 p.m. every Tuesday of Falls Creek, sponsored by the Tom Elliff Middle for Missions of Oklahoma Baptist College (OBU). To register go to okbu.edu/elliff-center.

Pastor Chris Wall of Owasso, First, who serves as president of Oklahoma Baptists, voiced gratitude “for the methods the Lord is already blessing church buildings by Todd Fisher’s efforts.”

2023 Spending Plan & Different Stories

The Finance Committee of the board met and forwarded a advice to the complete board of a 2023 Cooperative Program (CP) goal to be set at $24.5 million, which was permitted unanimously. The CP distribution for 2023 stays on the present distribution: with 43 % distributed to SBC, 42 % to Oklahoma Baptists and 15 % to associates of Oklahoma Baptists.

Board members every met with regional ministry companions of Oklahoma Baptists, and likewise met with varied committees, together with committees for Oklahoma Baptists’ Help Providers, Finance, Govt, Communications/Cooperative Program, Church Assets and Church Relations.

Board members heard studies from associates representatives, together with Oklahoma Baptist College, Baptist Village Communities, Oklahoma Baptist Houses for Kids and WatersEdge.

Baptist Messenger going to month-to-month print version in 2023

Jeremy Freeman, pastor of Newcastle, First, chairman of the communications/CP Committee, introduced a joint movement from his committee and the Govt Committee, to adapt the Baptist Messenger in 2023 from two print editions per 30 days to 1, expanded print version per 30 days. The movement was unanimously permitted by board members.

“The one-per-month print version, starting in 2023, will probably be mailed to all present subscribers at no out-of-pocket value to subscribers,” mentioned Brian Hobbs, editor of the Baptist Messenger. “This expanded version will embrace the entire content material the Baptist Messenger readers presently get pleasure from. We may even make accessible two digital editions per 30 days without cost obtain.”

Hobbs famous that because of will increase in the price of postage and printing, many state conference have discontinued a print version altogether.

“along with the print version, we are going to harness the entire digital and on-line instruments of expertise we will to share the Good Information, by our publication,” Hobbs added.

In different permitted motions, board members permitted a CrossTimbers price enhance of $15 per session, from $150 to $165, that might take impact in the summertime of 2023. These monies will go instantly towards bettering the camp and paying summer time employees members.

The subsequent regularly-scheduled board assembly is Sept. 13 at Falls Creek Baptist Convention Middle.