Pray for Your Search Team

God has a plan for Indiana Baptists. I have believed that for 20 years. I still believe it. I am looking forward to seeing what God does with our family of churches all across Indiana that is called “The State Convention of Baptists in Indiana (SCBI).”

I want to ask you to put a daily request on your prayer list. Pray for the Search Team of the SCBI as they prayerfully search for the man that God is going to call to be the next Executive Director. This month I wanted to give you a brief look at the team that God has assembled to serve us as the search team.

Chairman – Dr. Tom Savage: Tom has served SCBI in many ways over the years. He served churches in the Evansville area before being called to a church in Mississippi. He then accepted a call to serve as Pastor of the Sugar Creek BC, in West Terre Haute where he currently serves. He has been on our SCBI Executive Board for the last few years and has served as Chairman of the Evangelism Committee before being elected as the Chairman of the Executive Board. Tom is a man of God who loves the Word of God and teaches it faithfully. He is a strong supporter of who we are as Southern Baptists

Dr. John Newland: John grew up in Kentucky. He is the pastor of Fall Creek BC in Indianapolis. John served our SBC family as 2nd Vice President of the national convention; he was the chairman of the NAMB emphasis in Indianapolis in the mid 2000’s. He has served as President of the Crossroads Association and on our Executive Board where he is currently the Vice President of the board.

Bev Whitely: Bev is a lay woman who is a member at Rykers Ridge BC in Madison, IN. Prior to that she was a member of Northside BC in Indianapolis.  She retired from working at Eli Lilly to be a full time grandma and crafter. She is serving on our Executive Board and currently is the Recording Secretary. 

Dr. Larry Lewis: Larry serves as pastor of the Vann Avenue BC in Evansville.  He serves on our Executive Board and is the Chairman of the Camp Committee.

Rev. Dan DeFreice: Dan came to the Calvary BC, Seymour and has been bringing new life to the church.  He serves on the Board as the Chairman of the Church/Leader Development & Communications Committee.

Rev. Greg Byman: Greg planted a church years ago and continues that ministry today. He pastors the St. Joe Community Church in Fort Wayne. Greg has served on the Executive Board as a chairman of a committee, as chairman of the full board and is currently the chairman of the Church Planting Committee.

Rev. Dennis Runner: Dennis has a unique calling. He is working with International Students on the Purdue University campus and serves with Launch Ministries (the collegiate ministry of the convention). He is chairman of the Evangelism Committee.

Rev. Bobby Pell: Bobby planted a church in Greencastle, IN years ago. He left as he felt called to plant a church in Evansville where the Lord used him to start Northwoods Church.  God then called him to serve the SCBI as the Team Leader for Church Planting. The Lord works in mysterious ways as the Lord then called him back to pastor at Northwoods where he currently serves as Lead Pastor. Bobby has also served on the convention Executive Board, and he is currently the SCBI Convention President.

As I look at this list, I find a few common traits.

  • They all feel a calling of God on their lives.
  • They all have a servant heart.
  • They do not have personal agendas that they bring to the table – except the common agenda of doing God’s Will, accomplishing the Great Commission and helping SCBI churches.
  • They are a people of prayer and dependence on God. They understand their place in this relationship with God. God is God, and they do not think that they are God.
  • They love Jesus, His bride the church and desire to see God’s outcomes for SCBI.

 

Please pray for the following:

  • God’s wisdom.
  • A spirit of unity on the team.
  • A heart that is soft to our churches and what we need to do as churches to accomplish God’s mission here in Indiana.
  • Pray for them in their daily ministry life as this work has been added on top of their normal, everyday life.
  • Pray for their families and for their churches.
  • Pray that they will be protected from the enemy who will be planning his attacks.

WHY?  John 17:20-21 (NASB)
20  “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me (that’s us) through their word;
21  that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.

 

Until Next Time,

Steve