ATLANTA – Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Coordinator Daniel Vestal painted a picture of the future of the Fellowship for young Baptists gathered for the seventh annual Current retreat Feb. 10 at First Baptist Church of Decatur, Ga. Vestal’s remarks indicated the Fellowship would continue its focus on serving the local church.
Vestal outlined six statements to explain the future of CBF. He covered the topics of leadership, the present Fellowship vision as expressed in CBF’s mission statement, partners, cultural context and shared values including global missions.
"If we ourselves are servant to the church, I believe God will bless us," Vestal told the young leaders.
Vestal emphasized the excitement that young CBF leaders should feel though they are facing "some of the greatest challenges and opportunities that young Baptist Christians have ever faced."
Audience members expressed questions about topics such as church splits, homosexuality, educational funding, Fellowship priorities in regard to ministry, resourcing congregations and global missions.
"I think CBF doing missions is about as creative and cutting edge as anybody," Vestal said.
Throughout the breakout session, Vestal reemphasized the Fellowship’s commitment to partnership and hesitance to mandate or impose policies on CBF partner churches, individuals and organizations.
Instead, Vestal described the desire of the Fellowship to invite and provide resources to churches. He also clarified the Fellowship’s relationship to seminaries and educational funding.
"CBF will invest in students who have a life wish for this movement," Vestal said.
Amanda Hambrick, a student at Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, attended the "Future of CBF" breakout session as well as the youth ministry stream and the discussion on postmodern churches.
"I thought it was important for us to hear what Dr. Vestal’s vision is for CBF and to join on board if we agree or not join if we don’t," Hambrick said. "It’s exciting to see so many people with many of the same passions and desires in ministry. It’s encouraging to be in a place to meet others."
Vestal wrapped up the session by expressing the importance of Current and the need for young ministers to join and fellowship. He also encouraged students and ministers to investigate the HIV/AIDS Summit that will be held before the CBF General Assembly in Atlanta, June 21-22.
"I have absolute conviction that God is in this Fellowship," Vestal said.
CBF is a fellowship of Baptist Christians and churches who share a passion for the Great Commission and a commitment to Baptist principles of faith and practice. The Fellowship’s mission is to serve Christians and churches as they discover and fulfill their God-given mission