FIRST-PERSON: EKG and the SBC: Putting first things first - 6/28/2002
GREENVILLE, S.C. (BP)--Southern Baptists, never short on vision or the ability to put the hopes of our hearts into inspiring words, are taking a huge step to move the kingdom of God forward, and the goals -- at the least, the measurable results -- are not even laid out in advance.
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FIRST-PERSON: Seeking first the King - 10/11/2002
EDITORS' NOTE: Baptist Press today begins a series of monthly columns focusing on the Empowering Kingdom Growth emphasis within the Southern Baptist Convention, written by Carlisle Driggers and Morris H. Chapman on alternative months. Driggers, co-chair of the SBC's EKG Task Force, is the executive director of the South Carolina Baptist Convention. Chapman is the president of the SBC Executive Committee. The EKG columns will appear in Baptist Press on the second Friday of each month through March.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (BP)--The concept of Empowering Kingdom Growth (EKG) is a fresh new spiritual vision for the Southern Baptist Convention. It is not a pre-planned program. It is not a quick-fix proposal for plateauing, declining or dying churches. It is not a denominational fad. There is no master plan or slick-looking workbook. There is no one-size-fits all script.
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FIRST-PERSON:EKG: nurturing a passion for the King & his Kingdom - 11/22/2002
Matthew 6:33 (NKJV) But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Technology has improved considerably the mechanisms of navigation. Yet, these advances in instrumentation have not changed the basic practices of navigation that guided ancient explorers and modern trailblazers alike. Then and now, successful piloting has resulted largely from setting a true reference to start the journey and measuring progress along the way. Even with satellite navigation, a grid reference must be synchronized with known points on the earth in order to ensure that plotting information is trustworthy.
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FIRST-PERSON: How EKG became an SBC initiative - 12/13/2002
COLUMBIA, S.C. (BP)--How did Empowering Kingdom Growth (EKG) come to be voted on by the messengers at the 2002 annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in St. Louis? That is a question being asked by Southern Baptists from around the nation and it deserves a clear, precise response. The more we understand the history of a development, the easier it is to accept it and help it proceed.
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FIRST-PERSON: EKG gets at the heart of the matter - 1/10/2003
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--In the Bible, the heart represents more than a part of the body, it is a description of the whole of man. In the Old Testament especially, the heart is used to refer to the intellectual, emotional and volitional capacities that God uses to communicate fully with us; and these are described in reference to the center of man's being. Clearly, we can understand God intends that in our very essence we communicate completely and transparently -- whole-heartedly -- with him. Empowering Kingdom Growth seeks to catalyze a movement among Southern Baptists that makes God the priority in our thoughts, our feelings, our desires and efforts -- giving God rule and reign in our hearts.
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FIRST-PERSON: EKG: Envisioning an awakening - 6/12/2003
PATASKALA, Ohio (BP)--If Empowering Kingdom Growth is seen by Southern Baptists as another program being pushed by denominational leaders trying to justify their existence, it will soon fade into obscurity. However, if it is seen as a spiritual movement reflecting the heart of both Scripture and God, it could become the catalyst for the first awakening in the new millennium.
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FIRST-PERSON: One person's hunger for Baptists to 'seek first the Kingdom of God' - 7/16/2003
SCOTT DEPOT, W.Va. (BP)--Southern Baptist messengers and guests gathered in Phoenix June 15-18 for their annual convention and related meetings. As they did so, they moved into year two of the Empowering Kingdom Growth initiative.
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FIRST-PERSON: A layman's perspective on EKG - 8/15/2003
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Is Empowering Kingdom Growth just another denominational program or is it a wake-up call from God? I believe it's a wake up call.
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FIRST-PERSON: EKG: What is it, anyway? - 9/5/2003
FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. (BP)--As a member of the Southern Baptist Convention's Empowering Kingdom Growth Task Force, I am hearing more and more people ask what this is all about. Is it a new program and, if so, how does a Southern Baptist participate in it?
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FIRST-PERSON: Kingdom growth to the ends of the earth - 9/23/2003
RICHMOND, Va. (BP)--The vision of Empowering Kingdom Growth has begun to capture the attention and commitment of Southern Baptists. Whatever we do in our personal lives and church-related ministries, the reign of Jesus Christ and His Lordship should be apparent.
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FIRST-PERSON: EKG: Questions to pray about - 3/26/2004
COLUMBIA, S.C. (BP)--In God's good timing, Southern Baptists in 2002 made a decision to focus our attention and resources on the call of Jesus to His Kingdom on earth even as it is in heaven. In making that decision, we recognized that we need to stand up and be obedient to our Lord as He summons us to "Seek first His Kingdom" (Matthew 6:33) more than anything else.
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FIRST-PERSON: Prayer & Empowering Kingdom Growth - 6/4/2004
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--As we read the New Testament, we are not left with any question about the importance of the Kingdom of God in the life and teaching of Jesus. His ministry was announced by John the Baptist with the startling words: Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Matt. 3:2). And after the time of Jesus' temptation, we are told that He "began to preach" the message of the Kingdom (4:17) -- the clear implication being that His teaching on the Kingdom was not an occasional message, but a consistent message. Even a cursory reading of the Gospels will illustrate this.
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FIRST-PERSON: Cooperation for spiritual revitalization - 7/2/2004
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Empowering Kingdom Growth has become the defining emphasis on spiritual renewal within and throughout the Southern Baptist Convention, but it has not taken root and begun to grow in a theological or historical vacuum. It logically follows the denomination's theological reformation and missiological reorganization of recent years.
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FIRST-PERSON: EKG & the local church - 7/8/2004
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--What does Empowering Kingdom Growth have to do with the local church? Everything! We must not make the mistake of identifying the church as the Kingdom.
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FIRST-PERSON: EKG: The cure for my-opia - 8/10/2004
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--No one doubts the value of good vision. Those who want to be pilots have to pass a strict vision test to qualify. Athletes understand the value of vision; if your view of that which is happening around you is limited, your ability to play well is severely hampered. Modern technology has enabled us to cure many of our vision problems. In the past, we had to rely on glasses or contacts, but today we have numerous surgical procedures that can restore vision.
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