• Annual Mtg Recognitions
  • Passing the Gavel

A Little Peace and Quiet

Peace and quiet are wonderful gifts. They’re one of the reasons I love deer hunting. Sitting in my stand early in the morning or late in the evening offers a relaxing, unhurried time with God. A few weeks ago, during our Oklahoma Baptist State Convention, I was reminded of that same sense of calm. The business session felt a lot like being in my stand: peaceful, unified, and refreshingly free of controversy. No heated debates, no rallying the troops—just a steady spirit of agreement. I believe we owe that peace first to our great Lord and Savior, but I am also grateful for the diligent work of our Executive Committee and our Oklahoma Baptists office team. In a world where peace is increasingly rare, we should never take it for granted. When God grants us seasons of calm, we should be quick to give thanks, because those seasons often don’t last long.

Now, to say the entire meeting was peaceful and quiet wouldn’t be completely accurate; there was some joyful noise. We celebrated the 100-year anniversaries of both the Cooperative Program and the Baptist Faith and Message. These milestones are among the reasons I am proud to be a Baptist. Through the Cooperative Program, our churches join together to support more than 3,500 missionaries worldwide, accomplishing far more together than any of us could ever do alone.

The Baptist Faith and Message provides the guardrails that keep us moving in the same direction. We can be grateful that we affirm the Bible as the inerrant Word of God and Jesus as the only way to salvation. Our shared confession of faith holds us together.

So today, enjoy the peace. Rejoice in the celebrations. And remember that we have much to be thankful for.

Bentley Hill