THAT'S My Story--And I'm Sticking With It!

The District of Columbia Baptist Convention (DCBC) held its 136th annual meeting this week.  The theme of this year's convention was, "A Story to Tell."

I have attended a number of DCBC meetings over the years, and I must say that this year's gathering topped any that I have attended before. This year I learned more about our story as a convention than I had ever known before and what I learned made me proud to be a part of DCBC.

I learned that our story includes educational pioneers like Luther Rice, who not only has a DCBC church named after him, but who also founded the college that is now known as George Washington University.

I already knew about another great educator, Nannie Helen Burroughs, who founded a school for African-American girls, a school that still exists today.  But, I didn't know that her story included membership at the Nineteenth Street Baptist Church, a prominent DCBC church.

I was thrilled to learn that our story includes ministering to children in need as far back as the War of 1812 when countless children were orphaned. I was excited when I heard that our story also includes the fact that we are the most diverse convention in the nation. That diversity was reflected this week during our convention as men and women from different ethnic backgrounds and even different Baptist conventions led in worship which featured a diverse array of music.

Back at my home church, during Bible study tonight, my husband challenged all of us to ask God to reveal our mission in life.  As I reflected on what I experienced during the convention this week, I would dare say that our mission is our story, for whatever it is we have been created and called to do is that which defines who we are and tells the story about where we are headed.

I heartily commend the DCBC staff for digging deep and bringing forth elements of our convention's story that had either been buried, forgotten or minimized.  I also commend them for planning a great program, but still leaving room for God-- to the extent that what appeared to be an inadvertent 2-hour gap between sessions was revealed to be a divinely appointed opportunity for God to birth new ministries and forge new friendships and alliances that will keep our story moving forward and not just anchored in our past.

We left the convention recharged and energized as never before, ready to live out the next chapter in our convention's evolving story.  How about you?  Have you forgotten that the mere fact that you are still here means your story is still unfolding?  Have you considered that the rough season you may be experiencing is merely a chapter or two in your story but not the entire story.  Most importantly, have you remained focused on the fact that, regardless of what happens in the middle of your story, in the end, you win!  (Sorry to spoil the ending for those of you who weren't so sure how the story was going to end!)

If you don't know your story, if you don't know your mission and purpose in life, interrupt your regularly scheduled program and seek God for clarity on your story.  You may find that what you have been living is not your real story after all.  Once God reveals His great and awesome plan for you, you will be able to say with confidence, "THAT's" my story, and I'm sticking with it!"

BNcouraged!

Rev. Karen