RICHMOND, Va. — In an email communiqué June 1, Ronnie Floyd asked editors of state Baptist papers to spread the word that he is asking for prayer.
Floyd, pastor of First Baptist Church of Springdale, Ark., is chairman of the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force, which is scheduled to make its report June 15 during the Southern Baptists Convention annual meeting in Orlando, Fla. Some proposals within the report have generated controversy.
The task force is asking the convention to endorse its proposal to redirect 1 percent of undesignated Cooperative Program receipts from the SBC’s Executive Committee to the convention’s International Mission Board, bringing to 51 percent the CP funds received by the IMB.
Although specifics are not addressed, a part of the task force proposal calls for the SBC North American Mission Board to make planting churches in unevangelized areas of North America its primary focus. The plan also calls for NAMB to phase out within seven years the cooperative agreements it has had with state Baptist general associations or conventions.
While the report endorses the traditional Cooperative Program, it also affirms that other monies designated to be spent for specific causes within SBC should count as Great Commission giving.
“We will recognize the total of all monies channeled through the causes of the Southern Baptist Convention, the state conventions and associations as Great Commission Giving,” the report reads.
Churches and individual Baptists are encouraged to become better stewards by giving at least 10 percent and to monitor how offering dollars are being used by evaluating the budgets of SBC entities.
The seven-point prayer plan Floyd requested follows:
SEVEN POINTS OF PRAYER for the
GREAT COMMISSION RESURGENCE Task Force
and the 2010 Southern Baptist Convention
On Tuesday, June 15, from 2:45 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (EST), the Southern Baptist Convention will make its decision on the report and recommendations of the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force.
In order to prepare for this spiritually, we are inviting you to agree with us in prayer over the following “Seven Points of Prayer.” Please begin praying with us daily all the way through June 16. Thanks for your faithfulness.
Prayer Point #1: Pray for the power of the Holy Spirit to be poured out upon us during our time of hearing, discussing, and determining our actions towards this report and recommendations.
Prayer Point #2: Pray that the messengers of the convention will lay aside all personal and preferential agendas and embrace the will and purpose of God as they hear the formal report and recommendations of the GCR Task Force.
Prayer Point #3: Pray for the GCR Task Force to make their presentation in the power of the Holy Spirit and to be able to answer any questions and concerns of the messengers, resulting in honor being brought to Jesus Christ.
Prayer Point #4: Pray for Dr. Johnny Hunt and his presidential message to the Southern Baptist Convention on June 15th at 11:10 a.m. (EST) and for God to use him among us powerfully.
Prayer Point #5: Pray for Dr. Ronnie Floyd and his presentation to the Southern Baptist Convention at 2:45 p.m. (EST) as the Chairman of the GCR Task Force and for God to use him among us powerfully.
Prayer Point #6: Pray for a genuine spiritual revival and awakening to be experienced by the people of God, resulting in a mighty move of God and the resurgence of the Great Commission through each of our lives and churches.
Prayer Point #7: Pray for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Glory of God to extend to all the nations and people groups of the world.
Pray daily: “May they all be one as You, Father, are in Me and I am in You. May they also be one in Us, so the world may believe You sent Me.”
(John 17:21)