By Linda Waggener
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – Campbellsville University’s Kingdom Advance Network (KAN) of pastors and church leaders from across the nation came together Feb. 18 in Ransdell Chapel for a time of encouragement, inspiration and connection.
The network exists to connect pastors, pastoral staffs, lay leaders and ministries in building God’s Kingdom together.
Pastor Johnny Hunt, senior vice president of evangelism and leadership with the North American Mission Board, author, former senior pastor of First Baptist Woodstock, Ga., and former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, spoke with passion from his position of experience when he told the church leaders, “you must model what you preach!”
He said, “Everything rises and falls on leadership and we must serve from the natural gifts given to each of us.” He recommended studying Romans 12: 6-8:
“6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”
“My gift,” Hunt said, “is the gift of encouragement. I am in a sweet spot when I can encourage other church leaders.
“And I encourage you to model what you preach – if it’s generosity you want, you can’t just explain generosity — you must model generosity. It’s not the truth you know — it’s the truth you obey,” he said.
He spoke of Woodstock as having gone from no church plantings to 35 ministries around the world. He said they prayed for a ministry on which the sun never sets and now not one hour of the day goes by that someone is not telling the world about the Gospel of Jesus. “The sun never sets on our ministry,” he said.
After the luncheon, Campbellsville University President Michael V. Carter and Dr. Wes Carter, associate vice president for university outreach, updated guests about the growth of Campbellsville University on the main campus and at the university’s regional centers. Dr. G. Ted Taylor, vice president for university outreach, and the Rev. Choe Sergent, assistant vice president for university outreach, gave updates on University Outreach.
Breakout sessions followed in the afternoon, provided by university personnel helping leaders in various areas of their ministries.
Campbellsville University is a widely-acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 13,000 students offering more than 90 programs of study including Ph.D., master, baccalaureate, associate, pre-professional and certification programs. The university has off-campus centers in Kentucky cities Louisville, Harrodsburg, Somerset, Hodgenville and Liberty with Kentucky instructional sites in Elizabethtown, Owensboro and Summersville. The university also has a full complement of online programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.
Campbellsville University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award certificates, associate, baccalaureate, masters and doctoral degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the status of Campbellsville University.
