Louisville—Four Kentucky Baptist Convention leaders have voiced both their support for and concerns raised by Southern Baptist Convention President Johnny Hunt’s call for a Great Commission resurgence.

While historically Southern Baptists have shared a commitment to the Great Commission, KBC Executive Director Bill Mackey allowed, “We all know that individuals, families, churches and denominational entities need a greater commitment to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ to take His good news to all people.” Mackey added that his hope and prayer was “that this will be a time when God will move among His people in a way that renews our passion for sharing the gospel.”

KBC President John Mark Toby shares that passion. “It is my hope and prayer as Kentucky Baptists that we will lead the way that would bring about revival and spiritual awakening not only in Kentucky, the nation but around the world,” Toby said. Recalling an opportunity he had to travel the state, praying with Kentucky Baptists, Toby said he was impressed by “hearing their heart for God to move mightily in our midst.”

While SBC First Vice President Bill Henard agreed that the “main focus must be that all of our ministries help us to do Great Commission evangelism,” he remains “cautiously optimistic” about the outcome of a Great Commission resurgence.

“Little doubt exists that we need to overhaul our systems and become more effective and efficient, especially in today’s economy,” Henard said. “If we are honest, we have to admit that we are doing some things simply out of tradition or habit, yet these activities see little or no fruit.”

And International Mission Board Chair Paul Chitwood observed that while anyone could critique the specific wording of the Great Commission Resurgence document, “Make no mistake about it, I am for the Great Commission and for the Great Commission being highlighted in our cooperative work as Southern Baptists.”

With regard to Kentucky Baptists, Chitwood stated that although he is proud of their track record, he believes that the time has come for the convention to re-evaluate its CP formula. “I think a Great Commission resurgence in Kentucky will require us to get more missions money given by our churches to the overseas mission fields,” Chitwood explained.

Though some may be concerned about its implementation, the Great Commission Resurgence document addresses some important and challenging issues and concerns in Southern Baptist Convention life, Mackey acknowledged.

“It is healthy for us to closely examine our work and explore ways of improving our efficiency and effectiveness. Being good stewards of the resources that God has provided means always being willing to examine ourselves and seek better ways of serving,” Mackey said.

If the proposal to form a Great Commission Resurgence Committee is approved by the SBC messengers later this month, one of its toughest challenges likely will come in deciding how best to direct Cooperative Program funding, Mackey noted. “It has been my experience that each ministry or entity feels that it is doing excellent work and deserves support. And each ministry can often justify its position with Kingdom results.

“If it were simply a decision between the ‘good’ and the ‘best,’ these funding choices would not be quite as difficult as they become when we all have to decide together between ‘best’ and ‘best,’” he said, adding that the GCR committee will have “an awesome responsibility” and will deserve the prayers of all Southern Baptists.

Emphasizing the importance “for us as a convention to keep our eyes on the author and perfector of our faith,” Toby, pastor of Beacon Hill Baptist Church in Somerset, pointed out, “The Great Commission challenges us as believers to stay on task.

“We do many things well,” Toby affirmed, “but we need to be more effective in communicating the good news of the gospel and coordinating our efforts.”

Henard, pastor of Porter Memorial Baptist Church in Lexington, however, cautioned Baptists to refrain from making sweeping accusations and blanket statements. “Additionally, we must remember that all of us are passionate about different aspects of Southern Baptist life, whether it is seminary education, LifeWay, International Mission Board or North American Mission Board,” he observed. “Let’s be careful in our rhetoric and retort.”

Because of a need for greater CP funds to support the rising numbers who are seeking to be appointed as missionaries, Henard said that appeals for softer language should not imply that each state convention be absolved from determining how its organization can be streamlined. “It also does not excuse each church from giving sacrificially to the Cooperative Program, especially for those of us elected to office,” he asserted.

Chitwood, pastor of First Baptist Church of Mount Washington and assistant professor of evangelism and church growth at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, sees talk of a Great Commission resurgence as “welcomed news to those of us who have places of service on the leading the edge of Southern Baptist’s Great Commission spear.”

Chitwood maintained that a Great Commission resurgence in the Southern Baptist Convention—if the Great Commission is what Southern Baptists really want to accomplish—will have one unmistakable quality: “We will pledge ourselves and our resources to make disciples of all nations. That is, after all, the Great Commission,” he asserted.

“Should not a Great Commission resurgence be marked by a surging of workers to the fields? Should not a Great Commission resurgence be marked by a surging of resources to the nations?” he asked. “Should not a Great Commission resurgence be marked by more missions dollars being marked for the mission field?”

While there will be much speculation about the work of the GCR committee in the coming months, Southern Baptists do not need to wait for someone to instruct them to be Great Commission Christians, Mackey asserted. “Jesus has already given us the Holy Spirit to empower us.”

“If 50 percent more active Southern Baptists would decide to be Great Commission stewards, most church and missions funding concerns would be solved, and witnessing and growth would exceed all expectations,” he said, adding, “It is my conviction that the resources are in the harvest, including personnel, finances and spiritual energy from God.”