The Main Thing!

Former Greater Huntington Association Director of Missions, Doug Virgin, was fond of quoting Steven Covey, saying, “We’ve got to keep the main thing, the main thing!”  How true!  In church life we are constantly bombarded by The Adversary to be distracted by any number of peripheral issues, and he sees to it that there are plenty to consider. 

Paul the Apostle wrote to the Corinthian Christians these important words. “And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” (1 Cor 1:1-2)

Everything we do as a church (and as individual members of that Body) should be centered around the message of the Gospel. 

In Acts, chapter 28 we see the Apostle Paul is on his way to Rome for his appeal trial before Caesar.  His crime?  Standing for the message of the Gospel. God had told Paul earlier that he would take the Gospel to government officials and kings.  He probably didn’t think it would be as a prisoner – but you and I can never pretend to know the mind or plans of a Sovereign God for our lives.

There were numerous efforts of Satan to stymie Paul in his mission.  As a prisoner back in Jerusalem, there had been a plot to kill Paul. He was hustled out of town by a company of Roman soldiers. Then he was kept in custody by the Roman governor for two years. Now, as a prisoner on his way to Rome, we find him shipwrecked and swimming ashore to the nearby island of Melita.  Surviving the shipwreck, Paul is bitten by a poisonous snake as he gathers a bundle of sticks in trying to help warm the other survivors of the wreck.  The natives who saw him struck by the deadly viper thought he would drop dead right away but Paul shook the snake off into the fire and went on about his ministry.

This is exactly what we must do when snakebites from Satan keep us from focusing on “the main thing”.

Financial woes, criticism, cynicism, gossip, maintenance issues, worship styles, debates over scripture translations and Sunday School literature, programs, kitchen use, and preaching styles -  our enemy will see to it that we all are snake bitten with some distractions as we go about our work in the church.  May we follow Pau’s example and shake those snakes off into the fire and go on with our ministry and mission.

The main command of the Great Commission is to "go" but to “Make Disciples”. This starts with winning the lost to Christ through presentation of the Gospel message. Scriptural Baptism follows, and the discipleship making plan then moves on to teach them “all that he has commanded us” so that in turn, they may be able to disciple others. This builds His church.  The snakebites are designed to stop the work.

It’s up to each of us individually to accomplish that mission.  

Whatever you do in the church,  like Paul, let us have the same focus he had in 1 Corinthians 9:23-24  (ESV) I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.

I implore each member of our church, or members of any church who may be reading this.  Shake off the snakes and move on with the message of the Gospel - each one of us as members of the Body, working to accomplish the mission.

THIS is the main thing!

A Particular Place

Today marks the 156th birthday of my native state.  I am thankful to have been born and raised in West Virginia, and for the past 17 years to be serving as Pastor of Westmoreland Baptist Church here in Huntington, WV.

Even though I have been a resident of the Commonwealth of Kentucky since 1980, "Mountain Momma" is still home to me.

My maternal Grandfather, Jerry Stidham, deeply loved West Virginia.  Whereas I was born in West Virginia and moved to Kentucky, Papaw Stidham was born in Breathitt County, Kentucky and was brought to the Mountain State at an early age, by his father, Asbury Stidham, a blacksmith in the coal mines in the early years of the 20th Century.  It is hard to believe my grandfather would have been 110 years old this year.

After beginning his work life at age 15 in the mines, Papaw Stidham married and raised a family in the coal camps of Logan County, WV.  He eventually left the mines to become an official with the United Mine Workers of America and eventually rose to a position of International Representative of the UMWA.  He lobbied for the Union in the West Virginia state house, where he had served three terms, himself, in the House of Delegates in the late 1940's and early 50's. He was a friend to many who served the state as Governors and United States Congressmen and Senators.

It was Governor Huelett C. Smith who named him Poet Laureate of West Virginia in 1965. Papaw wrote numerous poems over the years, including his personalized Christmas cards from 1955 till his last Christmas in 1967.  One of his poems recounted his conversion experience, which led to his becoming an Ordained Free Will Baptist Minister for the final 15 years of his life.

One of my personal favorites was a poem he wrote about his beloved state of West Virginia.  On today's 156th birthday, I will share it with you - in memory of Jerry E. Stidham,

A Particular Place

When God made the earth, He looked out in space,

And graciously blessed a particular place.

Some mountains He molded to begin His plan,

As He knew they would be cherished by mortal man.

The valleys He shaped so deep and so wide,

And the streams so swift, never to hide,

The sparkle or ripple from man's sharp eye,

So crystal and clear as if dropped from the sky.

The seasons He made our desire to delight:

With light of the day and darkness at night,

Overcast with stars and a silvery moon

The sun in the heavens every day at noon.

With seeds of summer's green grass to grow,

Sleeping under the beauty of a winter's snow.

The Gorgeous spring flowers for all to see,

And the abundant color of the autumn tree.

Game creatures for the bow and fish for the rod,

Rich fertile soil for the tiller of the sod.

Great beds of coal and timber galore,

Limestone and gas, very much in store.

So great, so fine, wonderful and rich,

A pleasant surprise in each corner and niche.

Nowhere you go will be the same,

For West Virginia is it's name.

- Jerry Stidham

A Picture of Grace

It was a perfect storm and my friend, Don Currence of First Baptist Church of Ozark, Missouri, got caught right in the middle of it.

The Southern Baptist Convention's Annual meeting last week in Birmingham, Alabama was one of the most harmonious Convention meetings I have attended in years. I enjoyed the worship and prayer times. Business sessions were orderly, and the special panel discussions were helpful and in some cases inspiring. Reports from the Seminary Presidents and other entity heads were encouraging. The LifeWay Breakfast and NAMB Send Luncheon were informative and enjoyable. The NOBTS Alumni and Friends Dinner was emotional, with a farewell to Drs. Chuck and Rhonda Kelley and the introduction of new President Dr. Jamie Dew.

The Convention also took measures to deal with the sad issues of sexual abuse that is a tragedy among some of our churches as well as in other denominations and other institutions. This is a tough issue since the roughly 47,000 SBC churches are each autonomous bodies, so there is no hierarchical structure that can direct any local churches to do anything.  

How we deal with these situations as churches was an important emphasis in this year's meeting. A change to our Constitution and bylaws created a new Credentials Committee that would be given authority to recommend removal from our Convention fellowship any churches that, after investigation, prove to be out of line with our statement of faith, or accepted Biblical standards, or fail to deal with sexual offenders,  or allowing heretical teachings and practices to exist. 

This Committee would be a permanent Convention committee and would replace the previous Credential Committee, which is now renamed the "Registration Committee".  The new Credential Committee would include the President of the Convention and the Registration Secretary as Ex Officio members.  This is where my friend, Don, got caught in the storm.

Don had served for 12 years as the chief assistant of our late brother, Jim Wells, who served our Convention as Registration Secretary for many years.  Then, when Brother Jim's terminal illness made it impossible for him to attend the Convention

meeting, it fell to Don to take care of all the duties.  He was elected to the Registration Secretary's office in 2017 along with President Steve Gaines.  Then, at last year's Annual Meeting in Dallas it was my pleasure and honor to nominate Don to serve his second term as Registration Secretary.  With no other nominations - and Don's exemplary knowledge of the registration and credentials responsibilities, he was again elected by acclamation. Don has done a tremendous job in the position serving our Convention faithfully and professionally.

With the new Credential Committee's Constitution change expected passage, and the fact that no woman or minority candidate had ever been chosen to be an entity head, of which four positions were filled this year (Presidents of the Executive Committee, International Mission Board, and Southwestern and New Orleans Theological Seminaries) with another soon to be named (LifeWay), and the rising concern about a lack of women's roles in Convention offices, it appears that the powers that be decided that this would be a perfect opportunity to place a woman in such a position. A female Ex Officio member for the new Credentials Committee would be a good place to start.  Here's where I say that  Don unfortunately got caught in the storm. 

Don was nominated again this year by his pastor, Philip Burden of FBC Ozark, to serve a third term in the role he knew so well and had served in so faithfully.  Pastor Jimmy Scroggins rose to nominate a wonderful lady, and NAMB employee, Kathy Litton, for the position which now would serve as a permanent Ex Officio member of the new Credentials Committee.  Kathy, well known in her own right, and wife of popular Alabama pastor Ken Litton, presented messengers with a very difficult decision when it came time to cast their ballots. 

Would they select a humble, servant hearted fellow who had served behind the scenes so faithfully for many years, or would they vote to put a woman into a leadership position for the first time in SBC history? This was a real dilemma. Don knows more about the registration, credentials, and election processes than anyone alive in the SBC, while Kathy Litton is personable, popular, capable, and was running in her home state, which had many registered messengers there in Birmingham.

With about 8,000 messengers registered, and roughly 5,000 ballots cast, the election results were close.  Mrs. Litton won by only 44 votes! 

First, let me say that I do not believe that the nomination of Kathy Litton was in any way intended to be a slap in the face of Don Currence.  In my humble opinion, it was a move motivated by a combination of political correctness, and the honest feeling that it was past time for women and minorities to have more seats at the table.  It wasn't intended to hurt Don - but I know it had to hurt.

I first became acquainted with Don Currence the year that he and I were both elected by the Convention to serve as Trustees at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. We served a total of two five year terms together.  Although I made many dear friends on the Board there over those ten years - Don was my closest fellow trustee. I was impressed by his administrative skills and his sharp mind for finances and numbers (one of my greatest weaknesses).  But I also learned that he was a humble fellow, with a true heart to serve. He was an individual who modeled Grace,.

Don was assigned to the Budget and Finance sub committee at NOBTS and I was appointed to the Instructional Committee. For a time we each served together as chairpersons of our respective committees and were on the Executive Committee as a result. I saw Don's dedication to the office of Trustee as he NEVER missed attending ALL of the sub committee meetings (even the ones in which he was not a member).  He took it seriously.  At our final meeting at the end of 10 year's service, NOBTS President, Chuck Kelley, said publicly that Don was "The most thorough trustee" that he had ever known, citing how Don had voraciously consumed every page of the volumes of information we were provided, and how he attended every meeting.

After last week's election in Birmingham, Don handled the defeat with his usual humility and grace, offering congratulations to Kathy as well as any assistance he could provide to her.  She is facing a daunting challenge and a very steep learning curve for that important position.

I understand that she has asked Don to continue on, overseeing the registration and teller responsibilities - doing most of what he has done for so long - but without the title.

Don't be surprised if you see his familiar face in the registration area at next year's Convention's Annual Meeting in Orlando.  Don Currence has a heart to serve, and he is a walking picture of Grace.