All this, and it hasn’t even started yet

Posted by Meredith Flynn

“It’s hard to believe it hasn’t really started yet.” That’s what Chris Flynn said as we finally got back from a whirlwind day in New Orleans. And he’s right- the convention doesn’t technically start until tomorrow, but the Pastors’ Conference was in full swing yesterday, as four sets of fathers and sons co-preached, co-worshiped and co-challenged in front of a large audience Sunday evening.

Before that, we went to church at First Baptist, New Orleans, where IMB President Tom Elliff didn’t give a traditional international missions message, but instead focused on fathers. At the end of the service, he invited all fathers (biological and spiritual) to come to altar and pray for strength and wisdom to lead their families. Really moving.

One other note about the church: During the announcement times before and after the service, leaders updated members on various community outreach projects, including an initiative called Fuel the Future that provides backpacks of food for hungry kids. The backpacks, currently helping 170 children in New Orleans, are handed out on Fridays so that they’re sure to have something to eat over the weekend. Church members donate the food or money to purchase a specific list of non-perishables. I thought it was a great example of identifying a real need and rallying together to meet it.

After church, we stood in line for a po’boy at Mother’s, a landmark restaurant in the French Quarter. (The photo below doesn’t really do justice to the sandwich – a “Ferdi” with baked ham, pork and “debris,” which is the stuff that falls off the roast beef as they carve it).

Before the Pastors’ Conference session started, we headed over to the convention hall to register as messengers. And this is where my favorite part of any convention began. Talking, talking, talking. To old friends, people who remember you from when you were too young to remember them, and ministry co-workers you haven’t seen in years.

The evening ended with a message from Tony Evans, pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, Texas. And in just an hour from now, they’ll start again in the convention hall. Today, we’ll hear from pastors like David Jeremiah, David Platt, James MacDonald, and Fred Luter. Keep checking back here for the latest!