CBF Commissioning Service

The following was originally posted on the official blog of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.  You can access it here. 

The Commissioning Service for church starters, field personnel, chaplains, and pastoral counselors took place at 7:15 pm on June 27^th as one of the main evening worship services of the 2013 CBF General Assembly.  This year’s theme was reflected throughout the service as verses from Kyle Matthew’s We Go Boldly were sang in various key moments, as well as in the timeless challenge found in the singing of Harry Emerson Fosdick’s God of Grace and God of Glory.  It was a time to recognize faithful service of the past, and to anticipate new service of the future. 

One of the most pronounced and well-known recognitions of past service was that of George Pickle.  Video testimonies by those touched by his many years of faithful ministry demonstrated what a life of faithfulness looks like.  It was only fitting to follow this presentation with this beloved servant sharing a role in the commissioning of new chaplains and pastoral counselors with Angela Lowe. 

Bo Prosser and Jim Smith commissioned church starters and field personnel.  The places of service for these varied from places within the U.S. (Texas, Illinois, and Florida), to locations that are hardly on most people’s radar (Malaysia, Japan, and Cambodia).  As the Fellowship heard each of the individual stories behind these servants, it became apparent that they are indeed going forth “with great boldness.”  From utilizing traditional partnerships among Baptist organizations, to working with other denominations and organizations, these personnel are on the forefront of the creative and thoughtful service that makes the CBF unique.

Wendell Griffin was not lying went he got up and told us that he only had one idea to deliver in his message: the idea that we are on a mission from God.  As this bi-vocational pastor spoke boldly, he admitted that it sounds “cheeky” to affirm that “God is doing something through us.”  However, that has been the simple belief of Cooperative Baptists from the start.  He recognized the need of audacity in our service to God’s mission, which only comes from the firm convictions that we are indeed doing God’s work. 

Following this inspirational message, there was no doubt among the assembly that those commissioned and celebrated were going forth to engage in the work of God, no matter how great and uncertain the challenges ahead may be.  The assembly response was the final refrain of Fosdick’s God of Grace and God of Glory, which appropriately captures the prayer and hope we have for all those serving in our Baptist family and in the body of Christ:

Set our feet on lofty places; gird our lives that they may be

Armored with all Christ-like graces, pledged to set all captives free. 

Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, that we fail not them nor thee!

That we fail not them nor thee!