A Moving Testimony of God's Provision in Adopting Children

Buffy and Sissy McNichols were featured in the afternoon session as a couple who had adopted twins born this past week. Buffy is a Florida pastor, and he and his wife shared their testimony via video before Pastor Ezell introduced them on the stage. It was a very emotional moment when the President of the Pastors' Conference told the McNichols that the leadership of the Pastors' Conference was paying the remaining $10,000 debt for the expenses in adopting the children. A powerful moment, particularly following Dr. Moore's plea that Christian people open their homes up for adoption and foster care.

I listened to all the messages in the afternoon and watched the nomination speeches for officers of the 2011 Pastors' Conference. There was the typical fare both in speeches and preaching, but some atypical moments as well. When C.J. Mahaney began his message by thanking Southern Baptists for indirect involvement for his own conversion, recognizing Southern Baptist pastor Mark Dever as his best friend, one couldn't help but think some of the grumblings of this Presybyterian being invited to speak at the SBC Pastors' Conference had reached the ears of Mahaney.

Also, to see Francis Chan pause for a lengthy, unexpected time of prayer before he began to preach, and then to silently stare at his Bible, leafing through a few pages, before audibly confessing, "I am struggling between two different texts from which I should speak today. Lord, help direct me." Then, after a few more moments of reflection, he began to preach.

That style is a refreshing change to see. Not that it is necessarily better, it's just different, and I can learn from it. I don't know how much I will be able to hear tonight -- I am in OKC doing some research and writing while listening to the Pastors' Conference and we are struggling with MAJOR flooding. Lord willing I'll get home before too late! :)

In His Grace,

Wade