Messengers Pass More for Christ Resolutions
LEXINGTON (Nov. 16, 2010) – Messengers approved resolutions on Christian stewardship and a formal statement of commendation to retiring KBC Executive Director Bill Mackey as part of the 173rd annual meeting of the Kentucky Baptist Convention Nov. 16.
During the first session of the meeting held at Immanuel Baptist Church in Lexington, messengers also passed a resolution celebrating the 400th anniversary of the King James Version of the Bible.
The “More for Christ” resolution calls for churches to better “disciple believers on wise financial stewardship” and for individuals “to determine how they can sacrificially give more of their personal time and talents to further God’s Kingdom through service in the local church.”
The resolution challenges Kentucky Baptists to tithe to the local church, give additional offerings under God’s leadership to Christian ministries, and through estate planning, to set aside “legacy gifts” to similar causes.
In passing the resolution, Kentucky Baptists pledged to “renew their passion for missions” and to start new churches in the commonwealth. They also acknowledged the Cooperative Program unified giving fund as “a time-tested and effective means for Kentucky Baptists to support missions and ministries.”
The resolution of commendation for Mackey was in response to the executive director’s announcement last month that he will retire May 31, 2011, after 13 years in the position and more than 40 years in Christian ministry.
In passing the resolution, Kentucky Baptists noted Mackey’s “strong emphasis on evangelism and missions,” support of the Cooperative Program, leadership in planting new churches and establishing ministry partnerships with Baptists in Tanzania, Poland and Brazil, and for his work to reorganize the KBC Mission Board staff “into a team structure that focused on a servant approach to meeting the needs of churches.”
Mackey and his wife, Kay, plan to relocate to North Carolina next year to be nearer their children and grandchildren.
The year 2011 will mark 400 years since the completion of the King James Version of the Bible. The resolution approved by Kentucky Baptists affirmed churches that continue to use the translation, and acknowledged that it “will be used for generations to come.”
Messengers also passed a resolution of appreciation to members of the Kentucky Great Commission Task Force and the staff and members of Immanuel Baptist Church in Lexington.
The Kentucky Baptist Convention is a cooperative missions and ministry organization made up of nearly 2.400 autonomous Baptist churches in Kentucky. A variety of state and worldwide ministries are coordinated through its administrative offices in Louisville, Ky., including: missions work, disaster relief, ministry training and support, church development, evangelism and more.
