This year BridgeWay has formally chosen to partner with a potent ministry association called Converge, which just so happens to be having its once-every-three years national conference just up the road from us in Upper Marlboro. So five of us headed up Route 4 Tuesday for Day 1 of the Converge Together gathering at the legendary First Baptist Church of Glenarden. (Somehow in an afternoon break before dinner we ended up at Costco. Not sure how that happened! And yes I know. A couple of us had the thought simultaneously. Mormon family?)
If you’ve ever been to a multi-day Christian concert, festival, or camp that flew you straight into Jesus’ presence, this was like that, but turbo-charged. It was everything we’ve been advertising for the past month beginning with heart-stirring worship and training by this generation’s finest preachers (here’s a quick clip).
Daryn Scheske began with a personal meditation on overcoming failure. On the day he launched his new church years ago, after months of prayer, preparation, and sweat, no one came to their first service. Zip, zero, nada!
Priscilla Shirer’s sermon on the story of the Lord walking on the water was packed with stories, insights, and inspiration. It was a masterclass in preaching.
Then John Jenkins, the founding pastor of First Baptist and current president of Converge, brought the house down last night. He did more in 15 minutes of preaching than most could do in an hour. Tony Evans has a tough act to follow for tonight.
Converge began as a humble conference of pietist Swedish Baptist churches 170 years ago (!), with the dual passion to remain biblically faithful and culturally engaged. It was that conviction which led it to set aside its Swedish kitschyness more than a century ago for the sake of expanding its impact, becoming the Baptist General Conference. Janis and I first encountered them in 1990s, and my early ministry years were greatly strengthened by that interaction.
But being biblically faithful and culturally engaged brought about another shift in the early 2000s, as the BGC (my church in Connecticut was “Grace Baptist Church”, which made me PBC of GBC in the BGC) now chose to set aside much of its denominational kitschyness (when the name “Converge” was adopted) in favor of becoming a more dynamic movement of gospel-centered churches with a laser-sharp focus on three things: starting new churches globally (what is called “church planting”), strengthening existing churches (which is where BridgeWay has begun to experience the value of this partnership), and being a training resource for church pastors and leaders.
The Converge movement is driven by individual congregations who voluntarily network and support each other because we realize we are better together. There is nothing binding on this partnership for us, but I know from experience that it will be highly beneficial for us in fulfilling the mission the Lord has given us. I eagerly covet for each of you to get better acquainted with the work of this association through its website, its work, and its resources. Pray for our friends as we partner together for God’s kingdom.