As you know, I went to the meeting of the New Baptist Covenant back at the end of January. Once we arrived in the city of Atlanta, we checked into our hotel, got ready and made our way to the CNN center. Of course when we got to the CNN Center there was no where to sit even remotely close to our group. So after finding a place to sit and eat we completed our meal and made our way over to the World Congress Center for the opening plenary session. After the session was over it was like a mad rush for the door. Our group was trying to successfully find our way back to the MARTA station.
Somehow I ended up leading the way (probably because I said I knew where I was going.) I thought I had seen a sign for MARTA so I led the group down a winding set of stairs. We kept going and going only to discover that we were in a parking deck not the Marta Station. I hadn't bothered to look at a map to see where the station was, I thought I could find it on my own. Finally we made our way back up out of the underground garage and over one block to the station. In the end we made it back to our final destination.
As I have had time to reflect on the New Baptist Covenant meeting I wonder if they approached this meeting with no map. Now obviously they had plan and lay out for the three days of meetings that occurred in January. So I wonder, do they have a map for the "what next" question? Do they know what will come of this gathering?
The meeting was great. I participated in wonderful worship and listened to great speakers. I attended two special interest sessions and was inspired by some of the things I heard. I went with a sense of excitement and encouragement. I left with more questions than answers.
Did the leaders and planners of the New Baptist Covenant go into this blindly hoping that the people would show them what was next? Or did they have a map for the future that just hasn't been revealed to us. For now, I don't know. What I hope to find out is how the people that participated can work together as Baptists to carry out the kinds of work that we discussed.
But really... I think we need a map.
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