The Rev. Emerson Falls said the convention, set to gather for its annual meeting Monday and Tuesday in Moore, is among the faith groups that saw a decline in revenue over the past year.
However, he said the more than 1,700 Southern Baptist churches across the state have continued to give at the same percentage level and the convention had budgeted conservatively. Thus, leaders were not forced to reduce staff or programming.
Falls, the convention’s first American Indian president, said he has spent his first year in the leadership role meeting with Baptists in different areas of the state. He said getting to know his fellow Baptists has been the best part of his presidency.
Falls said in his travels, he observed the unity that has helped Oklahoma Baptists persevere. He said he predicts it will help congregations overcome difficulties beyond the troubled economy.
"I anticipate that 2010 is going to be another down year in terms of the economy, but I think the greater challenge is not finances. I think the greater challenge is how to present the Gospel,” Falls said.
"I think we can’t rest on what we’ve always done. We’ve got to retool. It’s important that our message never change, but we’ve got to rethink how we present that message in order to be relevant to our society.
"I think Oklahoma churches are willing to do that,” Falls said, "and that’s the reason I’m very optimistic for our future.”
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