Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Classifieds
  • Your state news
  • Request a free trial
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Classifieds
  • Your state news
  • Request a free trial

Bivocational, small church pastors urged to encourage one another in gospel work

  • June 16, 2022
  • Carrie Brown McWhorter
  • Latest News, North American Mission Board, SBC 2022
Pictured are (l to r) Cliff Woodman, BSCLN board chair; Executive Director Joe Wright and wife Pennie; Antonia and Willie McLaurin; and Mark Clifton during the closing prayer of the event.
(Photo by Carrie McWhorter/The Baptist Paper)

Bivocational, small church pastors urged to encourage one another in gospel work

Church leaders who want to see growth must get outside the walls of the church and into their zip codes.

That was the message Willie McLaurin, interim president of the SBC Executive Committee, emphasized to those at the Bivocational and Small Church Leadership Network luncheon held June 15 in conjunction with the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting in Anaheim.

McLaurin and Mark Clifton, senior director of replanting at the North American Mission Board, were featured speakers at the event. BSCLN Executive Director Joe Wright called the speakers “the best of the best” for a group that represents a large percentage of Southern Baptist pastors.

McLaurin encouraged leaders to serve the community where God has put them regardless of circumstances.

Every pastor, “whether he is bivocational, trivocational or quadrovocational … is called and commanded to move beyond the walls of the church,” McLaurin said.

Outside the walls of the church, he said, “there’s a teenage girl who is pregnant and she’s thinking about aborting that baby … somebody who is addicted to drugs and thinking about taking their own life, a couple who is struggling and talking about divorce.”

Don’t give up

“We are called to take the gospel to the nations and to our neighborhoods,” he said. “If we don’t, we will become keepers of the aquarium rather than fishers of men.”

Mark Clifton, senior director of replanting at the North American Mission Board, also encouraged leaders to persevere, even in times of uncertainty.

“One of the strongest things we can do for one another is just encourage each other not to tap out, not to quit, not to give up,” he said. “We all have those times, those seasons, when we question everything.”

In the face of unrealized expectations, disappointment or depression, “look to the cross,” Clifton advised. “Don’t look to a denomination. Don’t look to your strength. Don’t look to anything other than the resurrected Christ.”

The BSCLN does not require membership dues and is an auxiliary of the SBC. In a brief business session, attendees affirmed three new board members. Wright noted that the organization’s website (bscln.net) has many resources that are free to all leaders.

For more information on BSCLN, visit bscln.net.


 

For more stories from the 2022 Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting, visit thebaptistpaper.org/sbc2022.

Share with others:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • Bible Studies for Life Sunday School Lesson for February 5
    Bible Studies for Life Sunday School Lesson for February 5
    January 30, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • ‘Don’t give up’: Coach Tommy Bowden urges pastors to ‘have boldness’
    ‘Don’t give up’: Coach Tommy Bowden urges pastors to ‘have boldness’
    January 30, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Explore the Bible Sunday School Lesson for February 5
    Explore the Bible Sunday School Lesson for February 5
    January 30, 2023/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

Bible Studies for Life Sunday School Lesson for February 5

Does It Call You to Trust God? Hebrews 11:1–6, 13–16 Many believers skip over the Epistle to the Hebrews, a biblical book better classified as

‘Don’t give up’: Coach Tommy Bowden urges pastors to ‘have boldness’

Longtime college football coach Tommy Bowden challenged Georgia pastors and politicians on Thursday to always take bold stands for Christ despite the fallout they may

Explore the Bible Sunday School Lesson for February 5

I AM THE LIGHT John 8:3–18 Sky Beam, the world’s brightest man-made light, sits atop the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas. Airline pilots can spot

Hospitality essentials: 5 keys to your church being more welcoming

The church welcome time is important in your church for three reasons: to be friendly to regular attenders, to demonstrate the way for members to

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2023 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel