By Lindsey Williams
Staff Writer
Jason Webb, pastor of Goodwater Church, Magee, and president of the 2023 Mississippi Baptist Pastors Conference, joined Tanner Cade, director of communication services at the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board (MBCB), and Jon Martin, MBCB director of men’s ministries, for an Around the Table podcast session.
Webb said the goal of the conference is “to be able to be refreshed from a spiritual standpoint in the Pastors Conference, but also to be encouraged to gather with your friends, your peers that you don’t get to see ever. That’s an encouraging part of it.
“This year, we’re talking about the faithfulness of God and to think through that in the light of what God has done for us… Also, Pastor Appreciation Month is in October, and my goal is that every pastor who comes is appreciated in some form of fashion after they leave on that day, as well,” Webb said.
The conference will begin at 1 p.m. on October 23 at First Church, Jackson. Worship will be led by Jonathan Statham of Providence Church, Jayess. Guest speakers include Philip Nation, Jamie Dew, Jason Cook, and Matt Brown.
A free, catered dinner will be provided inside the Christian Life Center of First Church, Jackson, after the final session of the conference. During the dinner, a pastors panel will share personal testimonies of God’s faithfulness.
On the podcast, Webb shares his connections to the conference’s program personalities. “When I arrived at Goodwater Baptist Church, Jonathan (Statham) was the worship pastor at First Baptist Mendenhall. I meet this brother, and I’ve heard rumblings about him, and he’s just this man on a piano tearing it up…
“So I said, ‘Hey, why don’t you come do a senior adult revival for us?’ and he knocked it out of the park… He’s not just a music guy who can do music. He is a substance guy. He’s doing a great job and he’s an unknown jewel in the state of Mississippi…,” Webb said.
“Philip is the vice president and publisher at Thomas Nelson Publishing and lives in Nashville, and so he’ll be coming down for us to be the first conference speaker that day. He got his Ph.D. from Southeastern Seminary.
“He also has worked with Lifeway for several years, pastored churches, church planted – so he has done a lot of different things in ministry,” Webb said.
Jamie Dew is well-known in the Southern Baptist world as he is the president of the New Orleans Seminary. “If you haven’t had the opportunity just to meet him, he’s just a guy. You know what I’m saying?” asked Martin. “He’s just a follower of Jesus and he is sharp. Don’t hear me say anything else — the dude is brilliant, but he’s also just a regular dude.”
“Jason Cook is one of my best friends in the world,” Webb said. “We’ve been friends for years upon years, meeting each other at FCA camp in Oxford. Jason is pastor of Fellowship Roswell Bible Church in Roswell, Georgia, and he is, I think, one of the top preachers in the nation, talent-wise and ability-wise, and just a great man but he’s an even better friend,” he said.
“When I met [Matt Brown], I had the opportunity to serve on staff with him at Gaston Baptist Church in Booneville, Miss., for a year… Matt was my mentor in seminary… and is now the pastor at Germantown Baptist Church in Germantown, Tenn…” Webb said.
“I know I said this about Jason, but I really mean this too about Matt — I think he’s one of the most dynamic preachers that we have in our nation… I’m so excited about Matt Brown coming. He’s been an outstanding friend to me as well, and our family. And to watch his kids grow up and continue to serve the Lord has been incredible,” he said.
“It’s coming to events like this.. the handshakes with your brothers [that reminds us] we’re in the trenches together… I promise you, you’ll be blessed.” Webb said.
Registration is open for pastors and church leaders. Registering not only gives the coordinators an estimate of how many meals to prepare — dinner after the conference is free — giveaways will be awarded throughout the day to registered participants.
The grand prize is a two-person night in a bed and breakfast in Vicksburg, a $100 gift card for dinner, and history tours.
To register and find a complete schedule for the conference, visit https://mbcb.org/event/mississippi-baptist-pastors-conference/.
For more information on the Mississippi Baptist Pastor’s Conference, visit the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/MsBaptistPC/.
For more information on the Mississippi Baptist Convention Annual Meeting immediately following the conference, visit https://mbcb.org/event/mississippi-baptist-convention-annual-meeting/.
For the full Around the Table podcast with Jason Webb, follow the link: https://mbcb.org/podcasts/.
The author of this article may be contacted at lwilliams@mbcb.org.
