Monday, February 23, 2009

NAMB Commissioning awesome experience

The North American Mission Board commissioning service at First Baptist Church of Rincon on February 22, 2009 was an awesome experience.
The crowd of nearly 1,000 people heard brief testimonies and prayer requests from 144 missionaries serving all over the United States and Canada. Dr. Geoff Hammond, president of NAMB, spoke about how in these difficult economic times, we are to seek the kingdom first, not "all these things" of materialism.
Children from the church and other area churches brought in the flags of the United States and Canadian provinces, and the choirs and praise team of FBC Rincon led music. We also heard pre-service music by a Hispanic praise team and Korean choir.
This picture shows Lon Vining (the man in the aisle seat with his arm over the end of the pew) in the congregation. Lon and his wife Amanda serve in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, where he is planting a church. The population in Montreal is 0.05% evangelical Christian. The need is great, but God's calling is greater!
It was a thrilling worship service. When it ended, Dr. Bob White, executive director of the Georgia Baptist Convention, turned to me and told me that it was one of the most inspiring worship services he had ever been in.
You can read the article by Baptist Press about the commissioning service here.

No comments: