Newsletter - 06.17.25
Hey there Church Family!
First off, I’d like to thank you for allowing a small group of us to attend the Annual Meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) in Dallas, Texas. It was a privilege to join over 10,000 messengers from churches across the U.S. to guide the SBC’s direction.
This year, Southern Baptists are celebrating 100 years of the Cooperative Program (CP). For those who are unaware, the CP is one of the things that sets Southern Baptists apart. Here’s how it works:
In short, when you give to First Baptist McAlester, you are also helping the gospel advance in Oklahoma, throughout North America, and around the world! Southern Baptists have been cooperating in this way for 100 years, and it has proven to be incredibly effective. While other denominations are in decline, Southern Baptists are thriving, and the truth of the gospel is being proclaimed boldly here, near, and far.
I made a point to be in the room as we voted on major decisions. Though some decisions were controversial, Southern Baptists are united on what matters most. We believe in local churches exercising biblical authority where the body of believers only calls men to be pastors who meet the high standards laid out in scripture. We believe Jesus is the only means to salvation and have an urgency to see as many people as possible from all over the world confess faith in Jesus as Lord and be discipled to follow him. And lastly, but most importantly, we believe in the authority of God’s Word and willingly submit to it.
So, where is the controversy? The disagreements were mainly over ensuring we have mechanisms (or systems) in place to make sure all SBC churches are truly alike in faith and practice. In other words, the disagreements were not over what it means to be a Southern Baptist, but how to make sure only churches grounded in biblical principles are a part of the SBC. I know this is pretty technical and nuanced, so if you want to know more, I’d be happy to talk to you about it. Feel free to email me at nrenard@fbcmcalester.org, or call the church office at (918) 423-0990, so we can plan a conversation.
Church Family, thank you once again for entrusting us with the privilege of representing you at the SBC Annual Meeting.
God bless!
Naaman Renard
Music & Media Pastor
First off, I’d like to thank you for allowing a small group of us to attend the Annual Meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) in Dallas, Texas. It was a privilege to join over 10,000 messengers from churches across the U.S. to guide the SBC’s direction.
This year, Southern Baptists are celebrating 100 years of the Cooperative Program (CP). For those who are unaware, the CP is one of the things that sets Southern Baptists apart. Here’s how it works:
- When you give to First Baptist McAlester, a portion supports Oklahoma Baptists.
- Oklahoma Baptists use 60% to support and help build healthy churches in Oklahoma.
- The other 40% is passed on to fund the SBC entities – namely, the North American Mission Board (NAMB) and the International Mission Board (IMB).
In short, when you give to First Baptist McAlester, you are also helping the gospel advance in Oklahoma, throughout North America, and around the world! Southern Baptists have been cooperating in this way for 100 years, and it has proven to be incredibly effective. While other denominations are in decline, Southern Baptists are thriving, and the truth of the gospel is being proclaimed boldly here, near, and far.
I made a point to be in the room as we voted on major decisions. Though some decisions were controversial, Southern Baptists are united on what matters most. We believe in local churches exercising biblical authority where the body of believers only calls men to be pastors who meet the high standards laid out in scripture. We believe Jesus is the only means to salvation and have an urgency to see as many people as possible from all over the world confess faith in Jesus as Lord and be discipled to follow him. And lastly, but most importantly, we believe in the authority of God’s Word and willingly submit to it.
So, where is the controversy? The disagreements were mainly over ensuring we have mechanisms (or systems) in place to make sure all SBC churches are truly alike in faith and practice. In other words, the disagreements were not over what it means to be a Southern Baptist, but how to make sure only churches grounded in biblical principles are a part of the SBC. I know this is pretty technical and nuanced, so if you want to know more, I’d be happy to talk to you about it. Feel free to email me at nrenard@fbcmcalester.org, or call the church office at (918) 423-0990, so we can plan a conversation.
Church Family, thank you once again for entrusting us with the privilege of representing you at the SBC Annual Meeting.
God bless!
Naaman Renard
Music & Media Pastor
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