In introducing interim president and CEO Jonathan Howe to deliver his report to the SBC Executive Committee Feb. 19, chairman Philip Robertson of Louisiana praised Howe for his leadership over the past six months.
“Through all of the turns and the events over the last six months, he has continued to show up and to lead us through a number of very unexpected situations and I’m so thankful for him,” Robertson said of Howe.
Referring to the story of Gideon in the book of Judges and his victory over a much larger army, Howe said the past six months have not been filled with battles with large armies and possible annihilation.
‘Cooperative work’
“We should not think of everything in the SBC as a battle,” he said. “This is a cooperative work that should be seen and treated as such. … The same God who delivered victory for the Israelites is the same God who continues to carry us through whatever we may be facing,” he told members of the EC.
Howe observed that God will be with the SBC because “He deserves the glory. We are not in this service for our own individual glory or for the glory of the SBC or the Executive Committee. And, if any of us are, the door is in the back.
“How could we claim His glory anyway without the work of the Spirit?”
The cooperative work of Southern Baptists is not transformative if “it’s all about us,” Howe maintained. The only way any Southern Baptist or state convention entity can have success “is through the life-changing work of the spirit of the risen Lord,” he added.
“That is the one thing that has kept me going these past six months,” Howe said.
‘Testament to … God’s provision’
He noted that when he addressed the EC in September he “fully expected” that it would be his one and only time to do so. “So, here I am six months later and as I look back, I see one constant reminder that anything we accomplish here at the EC is a testament to the Spirit’s work and God’s provision and faithfulness.”
Due to major budget cuts at the EC in September, the staff was reduced to 21 people.
Howe praised the EC staff for their dedication, hard work and Spirit-led service. “I’m thankful for this team and the opportunity to serve in this role for the past few months. May God be glorified in all we do today, tomorrow and forever.”
