“What did it take to change you?” he asked the audience. “You had someone share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with you…and you accepted it and were saved! Your life was transformed by the power of the Gospel. And if God can change you, and you, and me, then why can’t God change them?”

Southern Baptist Convention President Fred Luter Jr. discussed his goals with more than 100 Kansas City-area pastors and denominational workers after delivering a chapel message at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Mo., on Sept. 11.   

Luter said he plans to be an advocate for spiritual revival, essential to the SBC’s success, in comments at a luncheon co-hosted by Midwestern and the Blue River-Kansas City, the Clay Platte and the Kansas City Kansas Baptist associations, attended by area pastors and various staff members.   

“It all starts with revival. Revival starts in the pulpit, with the preachers,” Luter said. “You can’t expect revival in the pew if it doesn’t first happen in the pulpit. So we need pastors and congregations to call out for revival … then let’s watch God do what He does best in this convention.”     

Greater African American involvement in SBC life, increased financial giving and the  retention of young people in church bodies are also Luter’s goals.   

“But I’m not just going to appoint you to a position because you’re African American,” he said. “You have to participate and get involved — in your association, state and in the national convention. You’ve got to be present.”   

Luter is asking all churches to increase their CP giving by 1 percentage point of their budget.   

“You’d be amazed at the number of missionaries we can put on the field, the number of churches we can plant, and the number of students we can train if all of our churches give just 1 more percent to the C.P.”   

Luter said he also will consider Cooperative Program giving when making appointments.   

“You’ve got to be able to give,” he said. “Don’t just have your hands out saying, ‘What can I get from the association?’ We’re asking you to give a percentage of your tithes and offerings to the convention, your local associations and your state convention.”  

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