Church Strengthening Banquet Held by NW Baptist Association

By Patricia Keplinger (Member, FBC Laverne)

Have you ever asked someone why something was done a certain way and the response was “because we’ve always done it that way!”

On Saturday evening, October 15, 2011, Northwestern Baptist Association stepped outside the box and changed the traditional agenda for its’ Annual Meeting from a general time of preaching and worship to a more specific time of encouragement and exhortation for the leaders and worker of their association.

Director of Missions John Elam, stated “As an association I can do very little to impact the work of any particular church. Together though, we can commit to be effective in what we do, hold each other accountable to God’s word and eagerly desire to be used as a vessel of honor in the hand of the Lord.”

With over 100 people in attendance, Pastor Elam continued that we’re to “be useful to the kingdom of God and our goal should be being used of the Lord and His glory on this Earth.”

Followed by an amazing dinner and opening in prayer, the keynote speaker was introduced. The keynote speaker of the evening was Pastor John Ligon from Marlow First Baptist Church. Pastor Ligon emphasized that the New Testament Church, as described  in Acts 2, was “… the most courageous, outrageous organization  in the world today… and there was no church on the planet that could compare.”

The message, entitled “Church Matters” focused on the three main components. The first, whether in the building or rebuilding phase – face the facts- activity does not equal spirituality. The second, find your quiet place and listen to God. Pastor Ligon shared that whatever the facts are where we minister, we must do it together as stated in Nehemiah 2:17, “Come let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach.” As he continued into verse 18, using the NKJV, Pastor Ligon quoted,  “ Let us rise up and build.   There, they sat their hands to this good work. ”

The emphasis of this message, as stated in Nehemiah, was that we are to work together on the vision of our local church.   Pastor Ligon continued by  saying  that the key is to HAVE A VISION and DREAM BIG!

As stories and funny jokes were shared, he reminded attendees that every time the New Testament church was persecuted, it grew.

In Pastor Ligon’s closing comments, he encouraged believers’ to keep the faith.  He stated, “You cannot take God out of the formula and cannot take faith out of the process… we must always, always keep God at the center of what we do.”   With a great deal of encouragement and compassion, he shared, “YOUR CHURCH MATTERS! Face the facts, keep your eyes on the future and remember YOU DO MATTER, each week matters.  JUST GO AND GET IT DONE!”