Over the years I have been “Entrusted” with an increasing number of things. I remember the day that my grandfather gave me a pocketknife and explained to me that he was putting his trust in me to do the right thing with it and encouraged me to not disappoint him by misusing his trust.
That was a big day for me as a young boy. Beginning with that memory, I can say that through the years I have been “Entrusted” with a variety of things with an increasing amount of disappointment that would follow if I misused the trust.
Like many of you, I have “Entrusted” a sum of money with an investor who is holding, and hopefully growing, the money that I have “Entrusted” with them. Should they fail to be trustworthy with that which has been “Entrusted” with them, it would cause me a great deal of disappointment.
Perhaps the most valuable thing that I have been “Entrusted” with is found in 2 Tim. 2:2, which says, “What you have heard of me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” We hold the Gospel “Entrust.” Our failure with that with which we have been “Entrusted” with would be devastating to the work of Christ in our generation.
This year the Advance Conference that will be held March 3-4 at Mustang, Chisholm Heights will be themed, “Entrust.” The Great Commission in Matthew 28 implores us to “make disciples” which means we are to share with others what we have been “Entrusted” with so that they also will be “Entrusted” with the Gospel and continue this until all might know and hold this in trust for all future generations.
The event will feature great preachers from our Oklahoma Baptist family as well as leaders like Bobby Kelly from Oklahoma Baptist University and Jamie Dew, President of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Additional guests will include Shane Pruitt from the North American Mission Board (NAMB) and Chad Higgins, Lifeway Senior Manager of Church Equipping.
On Tuesday morning we will have affinity breakouts: Women’s featuring Catherine Renfro, who serves in Women’s Evangelism with NAMB; Students with Chad Higgins from Lifeway; African American Fellowship with Adron Robinson, featuring Senior Pastor at Hillcrest Baptist Church in Country Club Hills, Ill.; and several others.
Let me encourage you to attend, whether you are a vocational minister or layman, there will be something for everyone because we ALL have been “Entrusted” with this truth!
For more information about attending the free Oklahoma Baptists’ Advance Conference in Mustang on March 3-4, which is supported by the Cooperative Program, visit oklahomabaptists.org/advance.
