While We're Waiting We Should Try Saving the World: A fairly long post about the CBF

A few things:
First of all I have recently discovered the delighfulness that is Diet Lipton Green tea. It is a very wonderful experience. You should try it.
Secondly I am very excited that summer school class will be over by next week. I have about had it with pretending to study every night. Everything within me revolts against sitting down for a significant amount of time reading something required by a professor. I don't care how interesting it is...I just don't want to do it..and let's be honest I haven't been. I generally read a little over half of my reading each night. Then take really good notes in class. I am hoping that this will not turn out to be a horrid mistake.
Third and most importantly...I just got back from the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship General Assembly (that is a mouthful) in Atlanta, Georgia. It was a pretty wonderful/whirlwind experience. Brooke, Heather and I left Waco at approximately 2:40 in the afternoon on Thursday afternoon...to drive 13 hours to Atlanta GA. The ride wasn't too bad, until about 4:00 AM and we still werent' there knowing that each minute that passed was one less minute of sleep that we would be getting.
On Friday morning we had the opportunity to hear Daniel Vestal speak about the distictives of the Fellowship. He spoke about how the fellowship is a community of continual renewal. It was wrought out of a search for the freedom of each believer; men, women, laity and clergy alike all have equal opportunity to approach the throne of God. Churches are free to choose their leaders and are not bound by the state. However just because we are not bound by the state does not mean that we do not engage with the state on issues pertaining to the oppressed, the poor and the marginalized. He spoke about how mission is not only carrying the gospel of Christ to another place but also providing for the physical needs of people and partnering with other churches and denominations to do so. We are open to dialogue with with other faiths, other denominations, other organizations in order to make the world a better place. I sat in the back of the crowded convention hall with goosebumps on my skin the entire time. I don't know...it may sound corny but at that moment I was (and I am) so proud to be a part of this organization. I feel like the CBF has truly begun recovering the historical roots of being Baptist: Soul Competency, Seperation of Church and State, alongside with recovering what it means to truly be the body of Christ for the World: advocating for the poor, working together with others who are also attempting to do good in the world, and allowing all Christians to truly answer the call that God has for them in their lives.
The rest of the day was spent browsing the amazing resource fair, during which I obtained 3 seperate books for the low low price of $8.40. I attended two workshops: One on how to promote social advocacy within your local church body. Which was led by Baylor and Calvary's very own John Singletery and a very power suity/ world changer/ future advocate on the hill Meredith Story. It really was a great session. It was a reminder that one of our jobs as Christ Followers is to stand up for the the forgotten of this world. Just because we fuction seperately from the state does not mean that we cannot engage. I then went to a workshop about the rural poverty initative that the CBF has recently begun. They are working in the 20 poorest counties in the Nation. They are doing some really great things that I hope to be involved in in the future.
I got to have dinner with fabulous friends and my wonderful Pastor Julie, which of course is always life Changing. The day ended with the entire assembly gathered for worship and a commissioning service. I had the wonderful opportunity to see Lizzie particpate. We sang together about Christ's work in the world and then shared the Lord's supper. It was beautiful to worship with people who I know stand together with common ideals and goals. Someone said that it was like youth camp for adults.
Oh my gosh I almost forgot a very important part...I got to meet Molly Marshall. She is a Baptist All-Star they should make her a trading card along with Julie, Dan Vestal and a few others. Anyways she is quite the trailblazer for Women and was not scared to stand up for what she believed in during the Southern Shakedown. It was a fun moment.
I am sure that many more thoughts will come out of this...but let this suffice for now.
If you made it all the way through this lengthy post you are rewarded with a few pictures .