Pastors, laymen challenged at Panhandle conference

Updated: 3/16/07

Rx for church leaders:
Both rest and joy

By Teresa Young

Wayland Baptist University

PLAINVIEW—Church leaders should find both rest and joy in Jesus Christ as they serve their congregations and communities, speakers told participants at the 86th annual Panhandle-Plains Pastors’ and Laymen’s Conference at Wayland Baptist University.

D. L. Lowrie, pastor emeritus of the First Baptist Church in Lubbock, brought words of encouragement to pastors and laity in a series of messages about encountering Jesus in everyday situations of service and ministry.

In one sermon, Lowrie addressed ministry in small churches in a “megachurch world.” He pointed to the biblical example of John the Baptist, who refused to be discouraged when he was questioned about his diminishing number of followers as people turned to Jesus.

“The perception in small churches is sometimes that they aren’t adequate in some way, and they are always being compared to the big megachurches. Instead of finding the joy in ministry, they suffered depression and frustration,” Lowrie said. “The way to have joy in ministry in these settings is to look at John’s response.”

John found joy in ministry was rooted in gratitude, a joy of service and that of accomplishment, he said.

“What you’re doing is designed by God. You may be there because that’s the pleasure of the Father and a gift of his mercy, not a reward for your piety or righteousness,” he said. “As John said, ‘A man has nothing except what he has received from the Father.’ You should find joy in service to God by giving your all for that church in his name.”

Pastors and laity alike should find joy in helping others encounter Jesus through the ministry roles each plays, he stressed.

“We nurture a love for the Lord, not a love for ourselves. You’re to measure your ministry not by how people feel about you but by how they feel about the Lord,” he said. “That’s why John could say, ‘I’m happy to decrease as long as he increases.’”

David Dykes, pastor of Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler, brought a series of messages about individuals in the Bible who encountered Jesus and the results of those experiences.

Dykes preached on several encounters with Jesus, including that of the demoniac in Luke 8. The scenes, as he interpreted them, featured a disturbed man, a demonic prayer for mercy, “deviled ham” as the demons are cast into the swine, and a delivered man, brought to sanity by Jesus’ healing touch.

“We sometimes try to treat the symptoms of a problem, but Dr. Jesus always goes to the root cause of a problem,” he said. “Anyone who comes to him finds that his power will change them for eternity.”

Howard Batson, pastor of First Baptist Church in Amarillo, spoke on the Lordship of Jesus. Other speakers included Bill Tinsley of the WorldconneX missions network and Randy Newberry, mobilization strategist with the International Mission Board, both of whom spoke on ministry and missions opportunities.

During lunchtime meetings, Dykes also spoke on leadership principles from the life of Jesus, and Jerrie Ann Salvato of Sheffield encouraged women with her testimony and songs about finding rest and healing in Jesus.

The conference also included a special session for Hispanic pastors and laypersons.

Officers of the Panhandle-Plains Conference elected at the meeting include President Richard Laverty of First Baptist Church in Perryton, President-Elect Steve Martin of Parkview Baptist Church in Plainview, First Vice President Troy Richardson of Temple Baptist Church in Amarillo, Second Vice President Gerald Bastin of First Baptist Church in Crowell and Secretary/Treasurer Charles Bassett of First Baptist Church in Weatherford.