Inside Out Weekend - First Baptist Church of Kilgore
The fellowship hall was abuzz with laughter, people who knew each other well visiting with one another, and then in the background musical notes began to penetrate the conversations. The sound of children’s voices singing…but in a language other than English and with tonal qualities that sounded unusual to East Texas ears. A new mission experience had begun; the Inside Out Weekend at First Baptist Church of Kilgore.
Praise songs recorded by fellow believers from the nations quieted as church members enjoyed a banquet meal together. And as they ate, they considered the following question: “In what ways do you believe God has uniquely designed First Baptist Church for His mission?”
Over the next 90 minutes they would recall the Biblical truth of their own unique design and of God’s desire that both neighbors and nations come to worship Him. Following the meal, they moved around the room identifying the professional domain in which they have expertise, while meeting others who work in the same arena, and fellow church members whose vocations are vastly different. As eyes were opened to the unique capacities afforded through the congregation, one woman said, “I just learned that my neighbor is a speech pathologist. I had no idea and we have been in the same church for years.” Of some 14 primary vocational domains, First Baptist Church learned that while it has members in all of those, a large number of adults work in either education, medicine or the business arenas.
As part of the Inside Out Weekend Banquet, they also heard the story of orthopedic surgeon, Mike Langford’s family, who had just returned from a short-term medical mission in Siguatepeque, Honduras. Called away to surgery, Dr. Langford’s wife Christine shared how God had used both her husband as well as the rest of the family at Hospital Evangelico, in day schools, and orphanages. In fact, while Christine was sharing the family’s story with adults, daughter Megan (five years old) was telling other children about her own view of the mission experience.
Throughout an energized evening, congregational members began to grasp the unique way that God has designed their church family to be useful in His mission purpose. In fact, they identified 23 nations with which members already have relational connections. Whether through a son living in Azerbaijan or having opened their home to international students from Romania, it became clear that God has moved East Texas hearts through relationships around the world.
Throughout the Inside Out Weekend, beginning from the Friday evening banquet, the congregation reflected on how God has uniquely and purposefully designed First Baptist Church to be His missionaries, inviting neighbors and nations to worship Him. The implications of that design are reflected in the capacities, connections, and compassion of her members.
On Saturday morning, congregational leaders gathered in a learning lab, to reflect on what happened in the previous evening’s banquet, while also:
• Exploring the meaning of being a missional church
• Focusing on the current missional DNA of the congregation
• Considering FBC’s purpose and the context in which her mission is carried out
• Celebrating where God is already blessing in the church’s mission engagements and
• Suggesting potential mission fields into which God might be sending the church.
Pastor Eddie Hilburn described how God has invited the congregation to mission opportunities among MIT students in Boston, assisting a new church plant in Peace Haven, England, and a humanitarian mission invitation received from the president of Ethiopia.
During Bible Study on Sunday Morning, all adult classes utilized a special mission curriculum provided by WorldconneX. This Adult Study ensured that members who had not been part of earlier Inside Out Weekend activities were able to join the mission theme of the weekend before moving to the worship service that culminated the Inside Out Weekend experience. Having begun the Inside Out Weekend focus on the unique design of the corporate congregation, its context and purpose, the worship experience focused on the missional calling of each individual believer in whom God is at work, to live out God’s purpose in their daily lives (Philippians 2: 12-16). Drama, music, and message each reminded members that those who would turn the world upside down, must start from the inside-out. First Baptist Church seeks to develop effective processes for reaching people, growing them as authentic disciples, and engaging them in God’s mission.
The Inside Out weekend is designed to jump-start a congregation’s consideration of its sending in God’s mission and to activate members for God’s purposes starting from the community and reaching to the nations. To schedule an Inside Out Weekend or obtain additional information, contact WorldconneX at toll-free 877.975.3269 or .
an observer’s report by Milfred Minatrea
For more information on an Inside Out Weekend, click on the following link.
Inside Out Weekend: http://www.worldconnex.org/Activate/Connections/view/231