This message was part of the Ministry with the Small Rural Church Workshop. Quentin Lockwood was Director of the Rural Missions Department of the Home Mission Board. The conference begins with Lockwood introducing himself, and he gives the title of his lecture, “The Call of the Small” (00:00-00:48). Lockwood begins his lecture with the subject of calling, and he reminds the audience that the call of God comes to people regardless of location or size of service (00:49-05:45). Lockwood moves the subject of “small,” and he lays out the demographic numbers of Southern Baptist churches across America (05:46-09:30). Lockwood gives six factors on the size of churches, and the first is knowing everyone in the congregation, the second is the relationships among members, the third is the transiency of pastors, the fourth is financial resources, the fifth is the pastor’s workload, and the sixth is congregational leadership (09:31-20:35). Lockwood speaks about the many advantages of being a small church pastor throughout the rest of his lecture (20:36-47:05).
Geoffrey Wainwright was an ordained minister in the British Methodist Church and professor of systematic theology at Duke Divinity School. The service begins with a Scripture reading from Isaiah 53, and the speaker gives an announcement about Tornado relief help (00:00-01:36). The speaker delivers the New Testament reading from Romans 5, and Geoffrey Wainwright is introduced as the chapel speaker (01:37-04:11). Wainwright delivers a sermon giving highlights of how many church traditions celebrate and depict Christ’s incarnation, his death, and his glory (04:12-18:25). The choir sings a song of worship (18:26-19:24). Wainwright delivers three short prayers (19:25-21:27). Wainwright ends the service with the Lord’s Prayer and a benediction (21:28-22:29).
Neal Jones was a pastor at Columbia Baptist Church in Falls Church, VA. The service begins with organ music (00:00-04:50). Glenn T. Miller gives the call to worship, and he leads in the Lord’s Prayer (04:51-06:51). Miller introduces Neal Jones as the chapel speaker (06:52-09:30). Jones delivers the Scripture readings from Matthew 8:18-22 and Luke 9:57-62 (09:31-11:52). The choir sings the anthem (11:53-14:08). Jones preaches on the call of Christ, and he urges the audience to not be indecisive but give a definitive yes to the call of Christ (11:53-39:15). The choir sings a song of worship (39:16-41:50). Miller ends the service with a reading of the Great Commission (41:51-42:41).
M. Mahan Siler was from the School of Pastoral Care at North Carolina Baptist Hospital. The service begins with a word of prayer (00:00-03:45). The speaker introduces the guests from clinical pastoral centers around North and South Carolina, and he introduces M. Mahan Siler as the chapel speaker (03:46-11:42). Siler opens his sermon by reading from Mark 10:35-45 (11:43-13:46). He argues that the role of the man in ministry is to be a servant because Christ embodied the form of a servant to bring us salvation (13:46-27:14). Siler ends the service with a prayer (27:15-27:52).
Morton Rose was the Vice President of the Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. The service begins with organ music (00:00-03:51). The speaker reads from John’s gospel, and he gives a word of prayer (03:52-06:18). Morton Rose is introduced as the chapel speaker (06:19-07:29). The choir sings a song of worship (07:30-10:32). Rose reads from Acts 13:1-3, and he speaks on the versatility of the ministry and the importance of the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers (10:33-30:21). Rose concludes his sermon with a word of prayer (30:22-31:21).