Georgia Baptist Disciple-Makers Network

The Georgia Baptist Disciple-Makers Network (GBDN) connects those serving in the disciple-making ministries of Georgia Baptist Churches.

[𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐳 @DrChrisSanchez]

From my latest Substack: Leadership is often discussed in terms of influence, vision, charisma, or decision-making. Each of those matters, but none of them is sufficient. Influence without integrity can manipulate. Vision without discipline can distract. Charisma without humility can become dangerous. Decision-making without wisdom can move people quickly in the wrong direction.

Over the years, I have had the privilege of leading in a number of settings: business, finance, church administration, education, and ministry. I have sat in rooms where decisions were measured in dollars, but I have also sat with people whose concerns could not be reduced to numbers on a spreadsheet. I have learned that leadership is rarely as clean as it looks from the outside. It involves budgets and people, policies and personalities, strategy and shepherding. It requires clear thinking, but it also requires a heart that remembers people are never merely problems to solve.

For Christians, leadership carries an additional weight. Influence is not simply a tool to be used; it is a stewardship to be answered for. Jesus taught that greatness in His kingdom is expressed through service, not self-importance (Mark 10:42–45, ESV). That conviction does not make leadership less practical. If anything, it makes leadership more serious. We are called to steward authority, resources, relationships, and opportunities in ways that honor God and serve others well.

https://t.co/1i980DKMOc

[𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐳 @DrChrisSanchez]

Word is spreading that Dr. Morris Chapman has gone to be with the Lord. Southern Baptists owe this statesman a debt. When other leaders stumbled, he finished his race well, modeling what I’d like to think life after high profile leadership ought to be. Praying for Jodi and his entire family this morning.

[𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐳 @DrChrisSanchez]

I’ve been on the road enjoying a fantastic visit to the campus of @obunews so I’m a little catching up on some news. Congratulations Danny & Charlotte Akin on your upcoming retirement. Your visit with us back in 2014 at FBC Woodstock is a story our family still shares.

My son said, “they were nice. Who is he and why is he a big deal?” I told him, Dr. Akin is the president of one of our seminaries (@SEBTS) but he wouldn’t say he’s a big deal. We’ve always appreciated you and prayed for you, your family (ALL of you!), and you ministry often.

[𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐳 @DrChrisSanchez]

Earlier this week, I was asked what I thought about things right now in the SBC. Without hesitation, I responded that we’re somewhere in the middle of what is likely to be about a 10-year generational leadership transition that is most visible at our national entities and largest churches, but, if we were to look closely, we would also see more evidence of it. I didn’t unpack that thought much further, but it is something I think is worthy of discussion.

Churches large and small, associations, colleges and universities, state mission boards, and, yes, national entity heads, along with key staff in all of those places I just mentioned, are either currently seeing leadership changes or will be experiencing them over the next five years or so. Then that change may slow down some, but don’t expect it to end. That just means the largest number of baby boomers will have entered into retirement—but certainly not all of them!

Some are troubled by this, but I am not among them. There are remarkably talented leaders among us, and though it may come as a surprise to some, they are not waiting in the wings for their seat at the table. They are already leading congregations large and small, serving in significant places of leadership in state and national entities, and even leading those entities. The notion that the exit of some of the leadership of today will somehow cripple kingdom work is misguided.

To be sure, there are challenges ahead! The future of the Cooperative Program is, without a doubt, in question, but that need not remain so. The truth is, our family of churches has always been better together. A recent visit to Oklahoma Baptist University so encouraged me! I learned more about the destruction caused by the EF2 tornado that hit the school in 2023. Ultimately, even after enduring the impact of COVID, it only served to further draw the OBU community closer together, renewing their determination to be on mission for God—to train the next generation of future shapers to live all of life, all for Jesus.

Friends, Southern Baptists have challenges in the years ahead, but I don’t see a lack of leadership among them. If anything, the leaders we have stepping into these roles are perfectly equipped for these challenges and those we haven’t yet considered. And just as the leaders who are standing down and those who will do so in the days to come had no idea about the challenges they’d face, we can be certain God will provide grace, wisdom, and send others to come alongside them in his perfect timing.

[Albert Mohler @albertmohler]

I’m very pleased to make this announcement. I am so thankful for Hershael York and the incredible job he has done as the Dean of the School of Theology and for the promise of Andrew Walker stepping into this role in the next academic year.
https://t.co/AMzztNZa4U

[𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐳 @DrChrisSanchez]

🧵1) Asset misappropriation occurs when an employee steals or misuses resources. It can be as simple as charging personal expenses to the organization when traveling or it can include misusing one's position or influence in an organization for personal gain.

[University of Mobile @univofmobile]

Ladies, don’t miss this night of encouragement + connection 💕
Table Talk with Ashley Smith
🗓 August 18 | ⏰ 5:30 PM | 📍 Dorsett Auditorium
Let’s grow together in faith and friendship. 
#UniversityOfMobile #ForChristAndHisKingdom #RamRush

[𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐳 @DrChrisSanchez]

I still remember the first time I saw a line item in the church budget for security. It was almost 20 years ago now, a few years after we started a reducing the risk class to train and conduct background checks on volunteers who worked with minors in the various ministries of the church.

I recall two things about those events back then. The first is the controversy surrounding the perceived need to do any of these things. At the time, it was "inconceivable" that abuse could happen in our church or, later, that there would ever be a need for security, much less a budget allocated to it.

The second thing I recall is the paltry amount of funds allotted to these initiatives. Those who didn't want to see these things happen figured they would starve them until they died. It took a deacon walking the campus on a Sunday evening, noticing students in an area that was supposed to be locked, to change things.

He checked the door, and it was indeed locked. Of course, he had a key, so he quietly opened it, and what he found were two students engaged in an activity that let's just say they shouldn't have been until after marriage. After that, attitudes quickly changed! If that could happen, what else might?

Now, as an executive pastor, I do all I can to ensure that safety training and background checks are current (i.e. renewed every three years) and that there are adequate funds in the budget each year for this purpose. I do not have that expense included as part of any of the ministry budgets (e.g. children's, youth, etc.). Instead, I classify this as an administrative expense because I do not want someone to mistake extend/skipping these checks and training renewals for budgetary stewardship. Heaven forbid!

Security has its section in the budget that includes funds for training and other needs that the ministry may have (yes, it can and should function as a ministry of the church). Each church is different so needs will vary, but the important thing is not to skimp here either. One well-trained individual can make all the difference in saving lives.

Some may pine for simpler times when such conversations were, so they thought, not necessary. We now know better! And because we do, we must be better and do better. At least that's my view from the second chair.

[Bart Barber @bartbarber]

3b. If you don't have someone who will march into your office and tell you what you can't do, then you have a terrible deficiency in the makeup of the people surrounding and supporting you.

[Georgia Baptist Disciple-Makers Network @GBDiscipleMaker]

👇👇👇

[Justin Irving @lead2purpose]

#leadership

[𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐳 @DrChrisSanchez]

Things have calmed down a bit since #SBC24 last week. Like so many others, I've had some time to reflect, though with everything happening in our family right now, not as much time as I'd like. Here @jasonthacker writes with clarity, level-headedness, & wisdom missing in so much of our discourse on this topic. This article is definitely worth your time this afternoon!

[𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐳 @DrChrisSanchez]

Let’s face it, people don’t always agree with us. That’s a fact of life my parents taught me growing up. Even later, in the different facets of my career, from large multinational corporations to local small businesses, my dad and I would talk about those sorts of relationships. With Father’s Day having just passed, he’s been on my mind (like just about everyone else!), and I’ve been missing him since 2020.

https://t.co/2i0Ca8eT3s

[Greg Berge @GregBerge]

Winning Teams Commit.

What do they Commit to?

Here are 5 COMMITMENTS of Winning Teams:

[THREAD] 🧵

[Justin Irving @lead2purpose]

"Hire character. Train skill." – Peter Schutz

[𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐳 @DrChrisSanchez]

No one will ever ask you to complete your top priorities; they will only ask you to complete theirs.  https://t.co/tHgJ43CD5f via @cnieuwhof

[Albert Mohler @albertmohler]

Without apology, the Christian leader is a devoted student and a lifelong learner.

[𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐳 @DrChrisSanchez]

“God designed you to be a channel of blessing, not a container!” — @joshsaefkow
#livewithpurpose