As President, Rev. Johnson will address Five Critical Issues Facing Convention Life In The 21st Century which are: (1) A Spirit of Excellence, (2) Christian Education, (3) Home Mission, (4) Fiscal Responsibility, and (5) Christian Relationship Management. We beleive that a State President who focuses on these Issues will create a WORTHWHILE CONVENTION EXPERIENCE!

A Spirit of Excellence:
• Daniel 5:12 - Daniel had an excellent Spirit
• Daniel 6:3 - Then Daniel distinguished himself above the Governors and the Princes because an excellent Spirit was in him
• First Corinthians 12:31- Paul said but earnestly desire the best gifts, and yet I show you a more excellent way
• Psalm 8:1 - O Lord, our Lord how excellent is thy name in all thee earth
• Psalm 150:2 - Praise him according to his excellent greatness
• Isaiah 12:5 - Sing unto the Lord for he hath done excellent things

Excellence - As believers, our Heavenly Father decrees, demands, and desires excellence from his people. If we expect only the best from God, He Himself has set the standards of excellence for us, and from us. We believe the steps of a good man are ordered from the Lord, and one of those steps is  a clear understanding of our purpose. Why are we here as a Convention and what are we supposed to be doing in the earth in the 21st Century? What are our Mandates, Messages, and Ministry for this hour?

We are told by the Biblical teaching of James 1:5-8: If any man lacks wisdom let him ask God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.  However, the sixth verse states: But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts are like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind."

In addition, the following verses paint a clear picture for the Church today:
 • James 1:7 - "People like that should not expect to receive anything from the Lord."
• James 1:8 - "He is double minded and unstable in all his ways. We want to model excellence in our Spiritual life, Personal life, Private life, Financial life, and Family life."

Excellence to us means we are not excepting an average Convention life anymore, because we understand that average simply means "We are on top of the bottom" and the God we serve hasn't called us to the bottom. He said we are the head and not the tail, He said we are above and not beneath. Let's strive for Excellence.
Christian Education

Ezra 7:10  For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness

Christian Education - As believers, our Heavenly Father decrees, demands, and desires excellence from His people in the area of Christian Education. God has declared that All Scripture is useful for teaching and that reality had been demonstrated in the life of Ezra.  Therefore, we must embrace the reality that Christian Education is at the very heart of the Church and our Convention. In the educational process the Spirit of God encounters people of all ages so that they are nurtured in faith, grow in knowledge and experience, and are inspired and empowered to live as disciples of Jesus Christ. This call to discipleship compels us to share our faith and serve others in the home, the community, and in Gods world.

A Spirit of Excellence in Christian Education:

1. Rely on the Holy Spirit to work through education to form, guide, and enlighten learners in the faith;

2. Inspire, inform, and challenge children, youth, and adults, including those with disabilities, with faithful, interesting, and effective teaching and learning;

3. Implement educational materials and programs that are rooted in the triune God, the Bible, and the Baptist Belief;

4. Plan and assure that the education ministry of the Congregation is centered in and flows out of worship;

5. Encourage Christians to be lifelong learners in the faith, providing opportunities for all to grow in their faith and to be equipped for their vocation in the Church and the world;

6. Incorporate the best teaching and learning methods available with a willingness to try new approaches;

7. Incorporate educational programs and practices appropriate to the age, interest, learning abilities, and other characteristics of the people for whom they are intended.
 Home Mission

Matthew 28:19-20  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.  Amen."

Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

Home Mission - As believers, our Heavenly Father decrees, demands, and desires excellence from His people in the area of Home Mission.  What is Home Mission in relationship to GBCNW? Its main intention is to "advance the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ", particularly through a "strengthening and expanding the Baptist Church in Oregon and Washington in both its organization and its evangelical witness and teaching."

A Spirit of Excellence in Home Mission:

· Rely on the Holy Spirit to work through education to form, guide, and enlighten learners in area of Home Mission;
· Plant three new churches over the next five years within Oregon and Washington
· Support small church with membership under 30 people with training, staff, and funds

Fiscal Responsibility 
2 Chronicles 34:17 And they have gathered the money that was found in the house of the Lord, and have delivered it into the hand of the overseers and the workmen.

Matthew 25:27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.

Fiscal Responsibility - If we are going to usher in a spirit of trust and giving again in our Convention Life we must do serve things in the area of Fiscal Responsibility.

1. Reduce the Debt (dollars) laymen's term
2. Balance the budget
3. Start managing the Conventions money in a matter of intentional stewardship and accountability.
4. We will also strive to do at least three more things: (a.) Wisely manage our resources; (b.) Prepare for our Conventions future growth by investments; (c.) Avoid excessive spending.

We want to change the way the Convention does business, the Bible say's that "The Children of this World are Wiser than the Children of Light" and we will, as Jesus said, 'be about My Father's Business.'"

Christian Relationship Management

1 Peter 4:17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?"

1 Timothy 3:4 He must manage his own family well

Acts 10:2 He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayer to God regularly

Christian Relationship Management  Christian Relationship Management focus in on the members of the Body of Christ. As a result, a critical issue facing convention is how we serve the members of the Body of Christ.
Psalm 2:11 Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling.

If the church at her birth is in deed the church at her best; then church leadership understood the need for Godly service. Why is Christian service critical in the life of our convention? Because we want to be a convention were Pastor's and their Churches look forward to attending and not regretting they attended. In the Business trade it equals excellence in the effectiveness and efficiency of their service. Christian service to us is "When we honor others above ourselves".  Jesus did say: "I didn't come to be served, but I have come to serve others." We want to build a convention were everybody feels welcomed.

Our Convention will, from this day forward, commit to quality and trust God for the quantity. We are called into the business of attracting people, Pastors, and Churches to our Convention. Slice it and dice it however you want to we want to present a product the Forefathers, that is the Matriarchs, and the Patriarchs can be proud of. We are vendors of the spiritual growth opportunities. We want Pastors and Churches to know that their investment in our Convention is worth their "Time, Talents, and Treasures." We want to be the best we can be for Christ, and that means reaching our goals through our God-given potential, serve people passionately all the while bringing Honor and Glory to God. To do this we must pursue God intentionally and consistently. Which in turn, it must be stated that Christian Service is a "Process not a Place."

President Rev. Albert Wayne Johnson