It brought back to my mind the first time I ever spoke at an Evangelism conference. I had just become the pastor of Dauphin Way Baptist Church in Mobile, Alabama. I was 33-years old and didn’t have a clue what I was doing in a big church! I was asked to speak at the Alabama Baptist Evangelism Conference held at Dauphin Way that year.

I will never forget it. The building was packed. Just before I preached a soloist sang, “Jesus Will Outshine Them All.” I preached a message entitled “Our Ascended Lord.”

I don’t remember a whole lot about it. I found myself in another world. I have sometimes wondered if I ever have preached another message anointed by the Holy Spirit like that one. 

On the audio you can hear John Bisagno and Adrian Rogers “amen”ing in the background. As a result, Dr. Rogers invited me to bring the same message at the Southern Baptist Pastors’ Conference in Norfolk, Virginia. I did and was elected president of the Conference for the next year. And, that was the beginning of my entry into Southern Baptist affairs. 

Precious memories.

Be sure to attend an Evangelism Conference. Who knows what God may do?

Whosoever Will Q & A

This book arose from the John 3:16 Conference back in November of 2008.

For a CD set of this conference, click here.

For a DVD set of this conference, click here.

Jonathan Falwell sent dad a picture via email that he labeled his three heroes. Well, it appears Jonathan and I have exact tastes in heroes:

Well, I’m on the move again.

For the last 4 years I have preached 12 Sunday nights a year at First Baptist Church, Woodstock, Georgia. I praise God for those opportunities, the people who have come to Christ and Christians who may have been blessed by my messages. The people are wonderful, the staff has been super, and I will be eternally grateful for the kindness and love of Pastor Johnny Hunt. I thank God for him and love him dearly.

It’s time for me to move on and minister to more pastors, churches, schools and conferences.

Janet and I have joined First Baptist Church, Atlanta. Charles Stanley and I have been friends for over 30 years. I nominated him for president of the Southern Baptist Convention. After I preached the Convention message “A Baptist and His Bible,” Dr. Stanley told me the Lord had spoken to him that I would be the next president of the Southern Baptist Convention. Scared me to death, but he was right.

Rodney Brooks, Minister of Music at FBC, Atlanta, served with me for 19 years in Jacksonville.

I will be doing some preaching there and be involved in other ministry opportunities. I covet your prayers in this new phase of my fourth quarter ministry.

I am so thankful the Lord has opened so many doors for my ministry. You may continue to send your invitations to Ruth Blakney, Dr. Hunt’s assistant. Or, you may send them directly to her daughter, Missy Rhodes, through my website contact section. 

Thank you for your continued prayers for my ministry. I’m in the fourth quarter and am happy to report I have already won the game and I’m just running up the score!

In the earlier years several of us were so concerned about liberalism in the SBC we thought we might indeed become independents. Adrian Rogers and I talked about it frequently. Of course, you know the rest of the story. The Conservative Resurgence was successful in restoring the convention to its conservative roots.

However, properly understood, every Southern Baptist church, pastor and member is independent Baptist. Each local congregation is independent and autonomous. No association, state convention or national convention can dictate to the local church. Local churches can choose to do their own mission work.

Some churches I served sent their own missionaries as well as supported Southern Baptist mission work. I think of First Baptist Jacksonville’s support of Bob Tebow, father of Tim, who has an independent work in the Philippines. Many larger churches can do some things in ministry and missions that smaller ones cannot. God bless them.

But, through the years I have witnessed the work of the Southern Baptist Convention. Imperfect? Yes. Can it be improved? Certainly. Needs constant study and analysis for effectiveness? You betcha. But, I have come to the conviction that the adage is true: We can do more together than we can do separately.

For instance, just watch the way the Florida Baptist Convention organizes and mobilizes churches to help those suffering in Haiti. The result will be millions of dollars spent on human relief and ultimately, thousands of Haitians coming to know Christ as their Saviour.

It troubles me that some who seem to have little understanding of the SBC are so quick and hasty to criticize it without really recognizing its value and worth. This independent Baptist likes cooperation!

You can access the channel right here. The channel address is: http://www.youtube.com/JerryVinesMin

In the future we will be adding videos to this channel as well as this blog.

This first video is a recent discussion between Jerry Vines and Charles Stanley. They are discussing their friendship and roles in the Conservative Resurgence of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Join us on Facebook for up-to-date news, images, etc.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Jerry-Vines/12875899545?ref=ts

It is obvious  the center of attention for the coming season will be Florida quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner, Tim Tebow. He seems to be on the cover of every magazine, the subject of every article and the buzz on every blog. So, I’m preparing a “Tebow Edition” of my website member section for this coming weekend.

Tim Tebow is a remarkable young man. Through the years the greatest sports story with a Christian message for me has been Eric Liddell of “Chariots of Fire” fame. But, the last time I saw Bob Tebow, Tim’s dad, I told him I believe the impact for Christ Tim is having may turn out to be the greatest Christian sports story of my lifetime. Christians the world over are following his exploits on the field and his Christian witness in prisons, schools and orphanages in America  and in other countries.

I do not know what the up coming season will bring. Nor do I know the final chapter in the Tim Tebow story. But, I have a feeling it will surprise a watching world, will thrill Christians, and will bring great honor to God and multitudes to Christ.

Yep, it’s Tebow time!

As I look back at the annual meeting I think it may well go down as the Johnny Hunt Convention. Obviously, as many messengers came to support the vision of our President for a Great Commission Resurgence. The messengers voted overwhelmingly to ask him to appoint a task force to report to the 2010 Convention in Orlando. The committee he selected has some outstanding pastors and denominational leaders. We must pray for them.

There is a transition of leadership from older leaders to younger ones. This is as it should be. Some of us who have been considered leaders lack the time and energy to continue in high profile roles. But, don't expect any of us to go away anytime soon! Unless to heaven. Until then, we're still here for a "few more days to sing God's praise and to tell the old, old story. Then when twilight falls and the Saviour calls, we shall go to Him in glory."

There are other leaders who will emerge. Not all who aspire to leadership will attain it. I believe there will be some surprises. God has a way of bringing forth some of His leaders from "the backside of the desert." I'm excited to see who they might be.

There was a large representation of seminary students due to Southern Seminary being in Louisville. Drs. Al Mohler, Russ Moore, Hersheal York and others at Southern are cherished friends of mine. For many years now they have allowed me the privilege to speak in their chapel, lecture series, etc. I always find it stimulating and rewarding.

Next year there will probably be a different configuration of messengers at the Orlando Convention. People I normally see at conventions weren't there, but have expressed to me their intention to make it to Orlando. The report of the Great Commission Resurgence Task force will draw many. And, of course, there will be the election of a new president. So until then, carry on!

What a preacher!

We Baptists can justly be proud he wore the name Baptist unashamedly. His remarkable ministry, starting at a very early age, is well known.

One of my favorite books is his "Lectures To My Students." In it he makes reference to a statement by King David recorded in II Samuel 10:5: "Tarry at Jericho until your beards  be grown, and then return." He rightly points out that the passage has been misused to put young men in their place, while its primary reference would more correctly apply to men of whatever age who have fallen into the hands of the enemy and yielded to moral failure.

Perhaps Spurgeon is writing from a hurtful experience in his own life.

When he was only 19 he was speaking at a joint meeting where other preachers were also speaking. After he spoke, two of the speakers quoted the II Samuel 10:5 passage as a rebuke to Spurgeon for his youth.  Spurgeon then arose and replied, citing the primary application of the text I have noted above. The audience got the point-especially because one who had rebuked him had experienced a personal moral failure.

Young men can be leaders. But, there is no guarantee they will be leaders. Spurgeon led by the power of his pulpit oratory and the skillfulness of his pastoral ministry.

I probably have 50 or more books on leadership in my library. I don't think any two of them give the same definition for leadership.

I like what  Adrian Rogers used to say: "If you want to be a leader, start going somewhere. If anyone follows you, you are a leader."

So, young leaders, growing your beards, if you want to lead, start going somewhere. Leadership isn't something you demand, whine about, or expect to be placed as a mantle around you. Build a great church. Win people to Christ. Preach the unsearchable riches of Christ. Answer the call to the university or seminary classroom. Go to the mission field. Get involved serving Christ in the fellowship of Southern Baptist life. If anyone follows, you will be a leader.

I look forward to seeing my young leader friends at the convention!

In many ways spiritually I'm a child of the fifties. I am fully prepared for a number of reminders at the SBC that we "can't go back to the fifties." I'm sure we can't. Time moves forward, not backward. The methodologies of doing church, like technology, have moved far past those years.

But, it wasn't all bad.

If you have never listened to an automobile 8-track, you ain't lived. But, do we ever have the technology to do church today! I-mags. Bible programs on computer. High Tech Childrens' buildings (we built one at FBC Jax). And countrymen mikes. I may have been the first SBC pastor to use one of those deals.

I must admit I nearly put it away when a smart aleck single said, "Oh, trying to be Garth Brooks, are you?"

I, for one, don't care to go back to the fifties in much of our programming and methodology. But, there were some tools we used with great effectiveness in those years.

Ever heard of Arthur Flake? His principles for growing a Sunday School enabled SBC churches to build solid, steadily growing Sunday Schools. They might need to be tweaked a little, but some of his formula is very workable today. Just ask Allen Taylor at FBC Woodstock. Or is Allen just "lost in the fifties?" And door-to-door census taking and personal evangelism was a staple of the fifties. I actually read this week about a pastor, Jonathan Oloyede, leading a team of 30 people from his church, City Chapel, in delivering gospel tracts to 4,200 homes in Beckton, England. (Christian Post, 6.16)

Man, he must be "lost in the fifties."

The fifties were years of a great movement of God among young people. God used men like Howard Butt, Bill Glass and Dick Baker to stir thousands of young people for Christ. Franklin Graham and Greg Laurie are having similar success today. They must be "lost in the fifties."

My call to the ministry was birthed in that movement. And, oh yes, those were the years Southern Baptists talked about a holy life, being separate from the world, and being totally committed to the Lordship of Christ.

It should be noted that many of the methodologies of the fifties were firmly founded upon biblical principles and timeless ways of doing church-a regenerated church membership; gospel-centeredness; the Lordship of Christ; expository preaching; Bible separation; evangelism; etc.

So, as we go to the convention, I will understand what the messages declaring "we can't go back to the fifites" are all about, but I may find myself singing, "Lost in the fifties tonight."

If I could just sing like Ronnie.

I have sat through a lot of boring meetings. I have dodged some boring ones and attended the "real convention" (the bookstore exhibit). I have even tried to liven up some boring GuideStone reports  (fast forward just past the 22-minute mark). So, I am quite well schooled in boring SBC meetings. And, I am somewhat sympathetic with the calls and attempts to put more excitement and inspiration into the annual sessions of the SBC. But, fact is, the annual meeting is still primarily a business and report affair. It's hard to juice that up.

There has to be a time for messengers from our churches to hear reports, pass resolutions, make motions, set the direction of the convention for the next year, etc.

I wonder sometime if most of us (I certainly include myself) aren't too influenced by the entertainment culture which surrounds us. Everything has to be exciting, thrilling and spine tingling. Even buying a hamburger is an entertainment extravaganza. You can't just buy a cup of coffee. You have to buy it with four hundred and two variations.

But, when you get right down to it, some things are just boring. Like writing out those monthly bills. Like cutting the grass. Like cooking meals and changing diapers (not that I would know!).

So, maybe we just need to recognize the purpose of the convention meeting, quit our complaining and go numb sitting in those boring sessions.

I'm making no promises.

First, I want to affirm my trust in the intentions of our president, Dr. Johnny Hunt, and Dr. Danny Akin, president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. I join them in a desire that the Southern Baptist Convention have a resurgence of winning people to Christ. As a past president of the Convention, a member of the Peace Committee and the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 Committee, my motivation has always been to keep us true to the Bible and faithful to carry out the Great Commission.

Second, I added "with caveats" with a specific definition in mind. I mean "with caveats" in the dictionary sense of "with reservations" or  "with explanations to prevent misunderstanding."  I want there to be no doubt as to what I understand the various articles of the document to mean. I do not sign a document carelessly, nor without a careful understanding of the meaning of its wording.

On Sunday Dr. Gerald Harris, editor of Georgia's The Christian Index, called and requested an interview. I responded to a number of questions with the intention of clearly expressing my understanding of several articles in the GCR document. This interview is now available here.

I have no plans to comment beyond what I have done in the interview. These are crucial days for Southern Baptists and all Christian groups. In these days of apostasy we must be very careful to remain biblically faithful in our doctrine and in our methodologies.

What is guyliner? It is the male version of eyeliner. And, it is the latest rage among some celebrity guys. Adam Lambert, a finalist on American Idol, brought public attention to it.

A recent USA Today article mentioned several famous guys whose eyes have it: Nestor Carbonell. Russell Brand. David Cook. Pete Wentz. I presume they are football stars or UPS drivers.

I can see where things are going. So, I’ve just got to relate to today’s culture.

I’m going to tear holes in my 20 year old jeans. I’m going to get out one of my faded shirts from High School days. I’m going to buy a pair of sandals. I’m going to spike my hair (both of them). And, I’m going to get me some guyliner.

I hope this brand change will help me get some speaking engagements. You know, the way to reach the world is to become like the world.

Staff note:

Let me encourage you to subscribe to the members' section. In this you will be able to read a more serious article about this subject along with other related topics, sermon outlines, audio messages and more. The membership is only $9.95 per month or $99.50 for a year.

I sounded like a machine gun with the hiccups. I stayed on one pitch. I had only two volumes—loud and louder. And, as I chronicle in my book “Power In The Pulpit,” I developed serious voice problems.

Through that experience I learned how to use my voice as an instrument. Not that I’m where I want to be. I constantly try to improve my sermon delivery. I try to read extensively in the field of communication theory. I review good habits of vocal production.

Our body, including our voice, is the Temple of the Holy Spirit. That’s what got me thinking about what was going on with my voice problems. If I was preaching “in the Spirit,” why was the Holy Spirit damaging His Temple? The logic of that caused me to re-gear my vocal mechanism.

I believe the result has helped, not hindered the delivery of the gospel, the preaching of God’s Word.

Her response when the homosexual judge asked her about same-sex marriage is worth remembering . She said, as she quickly contemplated her answer to the question, she asked herself "am I trying to be politically correct, or do I want to be biblically correct? And I think that I want to be biblically correct. All I could think about when I was standing there, answering that question was, 'Carrie, what are your beliefs?'"

I think she is spot on when it comes to Christian convictions. All believers should be biblically correct, rather than politically correct, don't you think?

Of course, before believers can be biblically correct, they must be taught and embrace the biblical worldview. And that worldview encompasses every area of a believers' life.

What say ye?

My home church was organized in 1899. The auditorium where I worshiped was built in 1914. The building seated 1400 people. Doesn’t sound too impressive in these days of mega-auditoriums. But, in 1914 the population of my home town was barely over 5,000. The membership was only 210 and the choir loft in the structure would accommodate 110!

Talk about vision and a commitment to reach a town for Christ!

The building was designed after the Baptist Tabernacle in Atlanta, GA, which was modeled after the Moody Church in Chicago, which was designed like Spurgeon’s Tabernacle in London.

So, I started off in a church with solid roots in good church construction and great evangelistic vision.  I think my early years worshiping in the Tabernacle shaped much of my evangelistic, Bible preaching, church building ministry.

The full name of the church was Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church. That was to distinguish it from two other kinds of Baptist churches. Primitive Baptists didn't believe in Sunday School, an educated ministry and its foundational position was that of Calvinism. They didn't believe in foreign missionary work.

The Streaky Head Baptists were somewhere in between the Missionary and Primitive Baptist churches. They weren't sure whether they fit in the missionary or primitive category. Thus, they were streaky headed. My home church fell solidly in the missionary category.

More later.

In the early years of my ministry preachers of virtually all denominations would stand together in opposing the sale and use of alcohol in any form.

Then, I saw many fall silent.

Now, I find some who are  speaking out in favor of what they term moderation. A few are even drinking themselves. This development caught me off guard and greatly concerns me.

I believe the Bible teaches total abstinence when it comes to intoxicating beverages. Some dismiss this view with what D. A. Carson in his “Exegetical Fallacies” calls, “cavalier dismissal.” That is, just assuming a view is incorrect, universally rejected and unworthy of further investigation. I think this is what is going on as to the alcohol issue.

I delivered a full lecture on the subject. It is available in my CD series, “Baptist Battles,” which has 4 lectures on issues now before Baptists and other Christians as well. It is entitled “Libertinism: A Baptist and his Booze.”

I urge all of my pastor brethren, and others as well, to study this issue carefully. Thousands who might be led into alcoholism by the smoke screen of moderation are at stake.

I am all for making every effort to communicate to our modern audiences. Tools of good communication can prayerfully be used claiming the power of the preached Word and the anointing of the Holy Spirit. But, I'm hearing about some crudity in the pulpit that really disturbs me. Profanity, toilet humor, and sexually explicit language now seems to be the rage with certain pastors.

Call me old fashioned, out of date, whatever. I just think crudity has no place in preaching.

It was on the old Bremen Road, in the Beulah Baptist Church community. Beulah Baptist was the home church of my father, Clarence Vines. He and my mom took me there when I was five-weeks old. I was never a member there. However, through the early years of my life, I would go there to homecomings and all-day singings.

One of my distinct memories is playing around the concrete baptistery just below the church building. I knew there was something special about that pool of water. I would come to Christ as a 9-year-old boy.

Receiving Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour, I was baptized at Tabernacle Baptist Church in Carrollton. I was not required to go through a special class. I wasn't made to wait to see if it was real. I was baptized according to the biblical pattern, "see, here is water. What hinders me to be baptized?"

I am getting ahead of myself. I was born physically in Beulah land. When I was born again I was divinely prepared to one day live forever in heaven

Sweet Beulah Land.

I was born to Baptist parents. Both sides of the family were Baptists. My grandfather Vines was a sharecropper. My grandfather Johnson was a business man and a country evangelist. He was a rarity in his day. He had a college education.

I understand, of course, that being Baptist born doesn’t mean you were automatically born again. But, it did put me in an environment where the gospel was all around me.

I heard about Jesus at home, at the Baptist church we attended, and from frequent evangelists who came to our little town of Carrollton, Georgia. So, my roots in faith were strongly nourished by my Baptist background. And that nourishing started my life journey. And what a journey it’s been.

On my blog I will spend a lot of time sharing segments of that journey with you. This is my beginning in the world of blogdom. Feel free to comment. It is intended to be non-controversial. So, feel free to drop in on my life.

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