There were several things that were quite enjoyable about the BGCO this year. I enjoyed seeing friends, meeting new folks and the unity of the place. I’m from Texas, but Texas Baptist politics is a wreck and I loath it. Six months ago, there was a possibility that I would be called to serve in a Texas church when we were pursuing God’s will concerning where we would serve. You have no idea how grateful I am to be where I am – the church, the association and the state. All are great and I have been blessed.

The BGCO’s best moment occurred during the report of the Baptist Foundation of Oklahoma. Recently, these folks helped us secure a very reasonable and flexible loan that is helping us to renovate the exterior of our building. It was long neglected and now is being revitalized. We were also pleased to learn that the proceeds from such loans all go to fund ministries. That’s right – 100% of it does.

The Foundation did a study last year and found that quite a few Southern Baptists viewed them as “stiff.” When Southern Baptists, who are a pretty “stiff” lot themselves, view you as more “stiff” than they are, brother, you have a public relations issue. In response, the BFO created a video for its report that was the highlight of the two days of meetings.

In the video, the President of the BFO, Robert Kellogg, was lost in Mayberry, USA, and the cast of the Andy Griffith show was played by high profile Oklahoma Baptists. I wish I had been here long enough to tell you who they all were, but I didn’t know most of them. Outgoing president, Bob Greene, was Andy and was hilarious. Aunt Bee and Opie were equally funny. Mark Brister, president of OBU, was a knock out of Barney Fife. “Nip it in the bud! Nip it. Nip it.” All the while, the characters of Mayberry were encouraging Robert Kellogg to get over to Floyd’s Barber Shop and get his hair cut. Finally he goes over to the shop and wakes Floyd, played by BGCO Executive Director Anthony Jordan.

As Floyd gives the hair a once over he starts trying to gets some goop out of a bottle but can’t. He says that sometimes that bottle just becomes clogged. At this point, a man reading the paper against the wall flips down the daily news and exclaims, “Did someone say ‘blog?’” You guessed it. Wade Burleson.

The room fell apart. Everyone was laughing and a few were all but screaming. No. There was no “Spirit of Holy Laughter” set loose upon the place. It was just riotously funny. I was sitting next to Wes Kenney and his wife and I was afraid that I might die from lack of oxygen, because I was fairly confident that Wes would not be performing mouth to mouth on me. Which is probably fine, as I think I would rather go on to the Lord, anyway. ;)

Because this moment represented unity within the state convention, the ability to laugh at one’s self, the ability of people of opposing viewpoints to not be overly serious, and it highlighted a great organization, this was my favorite moment of the BGCO, 2006.

I love it here.

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