General Assembly concludes with Paynter’s call to shared vision and values GREENSBORO, N.C. – In the final session of the 2013 General Assembly, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Executive Coordinator Suzii Paynter delivered an address focusing on CBF’s shared values and mission. “Hold these things in common, and you can run the race,” Paynter said. As she recognized the work of Fellowship partners, ministers and volunteers in the crowd, Paynter told the audience of Cooperative Baptists that “we can be alone or we can be a Fellowship” of churches and ministries, united in common identity, compassionate ministry and mission work. “This is not parachute missions. This is self-sacrificing, biblical, honest, holistic service that provides a platform for meaningful church engagement and sustained national ministries. This is co-missioning. It is not cheap, nor is it the kind of venture that can be run for the change leftover in your car cupholder. This type of Christian engagement is worth the lives of our partners and field personnel, and it is worth our serious investment,” Paynter said. Paynter pointed to CBF’s rural poverty initiative, Together for Hope, as an example of the impact of the Fellowship united in mission. “During 2012, in only five Together for Hope regions –Appalachia, Mississippi River Delta, Rio Grande Valley, Alabama, South Dakota – 44 churches engaged with Together for Hope poverty and transformation ministries. This resulted in 24,029 hours of volunteer service, which equals $532,723.00 in volunteer time,” Paynter said. Paynter announced she will soon finalize a partnership with the Baptist World Alliance to be a Baptist voice at the United Nations. She also announced a new emphasis on endowed scholarships for seminary students at CBF’s 15 partner seminaries and encouraged every healthy CBF church to consider starting a new church in the next five years. A. Roy Medley brought greetings from American Baptist Churches USA, noting the organization’s common values and telling Paynter, “as part of a broad Baptist family, we are praying for CBF’s fellowship and praying for you.”
Posted on: Sat, 29 Jun 2013 23:19:15 +0000
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