Highlights of the final night of the Southern Baptist Pastor’s Conference

The theme “Prepare for Rain” with the topic being evangelism

Dr. Charles Lowery

Guest speaker and President and CEO of Lowery Institute for Excellence of Lindale, TX

Lowery had the crowd in laughter as he shared a personal experience of being invited to speak at a banquet in Austin, Texas. He was invited as Charles Lowery but for some unknown reason the pastor thought he was comedian and singer Mark Lowery. He was encouraged to sing however, not being a singer was not open to this suggestion at all.   He wanted to go home when he learned this but they insisted he continue as their guest speaker.  He began by sharing God is a sovereign God as he looked at the pastor and said “God knew you didn’t need a singer but you needed a psychiatrist.”

Lowery quoted Psalm 100 and he used the word LAST to describe his message for the group present. 

He challenged everyone to be a people of laughter. Joy attracts people and it’s His truth that endures in all generations. Loosen up and have fun and stop spiritualizing everything. Jesus had fun and laughter is letting go!!!  We think we need to straighten out every person, but we can’t. That is Jesus’ job. 

He recalled the song, “Deep and Wide” and said sometimes we get deep but not wide and we need to connect with people before we can win them. 

A personal example Lowery gave was a time when God spoke to him about being an authentic person. God confronted him to lead by the example and be baptized again even as the pastor, which lead to a man in his 70’s who had never followed in scriptural baptism being baptized. He learned later that this man’s son who was not a Christian at the time became interested in what his dad was doing started asking questions and through the process he received Christ as his savior and was baptized the same time as his dad.  This was a surprise and blessing for the mother of this son who had been very rebellious. Let us be authentic Lowery says. 

Churches you must be authentic! Anoint the next generation and stop being a crybaby because the world has changed. A few years ago his grand children loved the video’s Veggie Tales put out (comic relief singing the bunny song).  Remember God is looking on the heart and that is where true worship is. You might not feel comfortable doing things differently but don’t be a jerk and beat each other down.  Serve the Lord with gladness, laugh and be authentic and sing silly songs. 

Evangelism is simple:  get the dead people to come alive.  We need to change what we are doing to people so they will still want to be around after 30 years. 

Tell yourself each and every day what is important. Life will go on and you will die and what you thought was important won’t matter after you are dead.  Lowery said “Learn to think outside your box”. Take time to go to someone’s funeral and tell someone you love them. Your faith, family and friends are who show up for the funeral when you are gone.

Tell someone the Son still shines.

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