This post is from Harold Phillips, coordinator of CBF of Missouri.

It was 20 years ago in early August 1990, a few days after the Baptist World Alliance Congress in Seoul, South Korea, that a “consultation” occurred in Atlanta at the Inforum. Those 3,000 persons were drawn to Atlanta much like those drawn to the mountain in “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.” We did not know what was going to happen, but we knew we had to be there. From that August 1990 Consultation emerged Cooperative Baptist Fellowship one year later.

The Missouri delegation to SELAHvie included, front - (left to right) Nathan Meece, Amy Gragert, Tekia Warren; back – Emily Sherrill, Harold Phillips, Robert Jackson, Grandon Purnell and Parker Artz. Beth Fulton photo.

Twenty years later, the 2010 BWA had concluded in Hawaii. And a few days later I was in Talladega, Ala., with a vanload of five Missouri college students. I walked into the chapel at Shocco Springs Conference Center for the first of three worship services. I was overwhelmed! In the room were about 150 college students. Watch this short video about the two-day event.

Most had served in churches this summer as interns funded by CBF and the Lilly Endowment Inc. Eighty-three students planning events, preaching their first sermons, making hospital visits– doing the work of church vocational ministry alongside seasoned pastors, youth ministers, etc.

Others had been summer missionaries working through Student.go, CBF’s student missions program. These young men and women served alongside CBF field personnel primarily in the USA but some in places like Ghana.

And many had served as staff with Passport Camps — providing significant mission camp experiences for children and youth in several location, including St. Louis!

Together those students gathered at Shocco Springs for SELAHvie, a three day debriefing experience. Together they critiqued the program they had been part of to make it better for 2011 and to process their ministry experiences as they return to their “normal” lives.  In small groups they shared their hopes and wonders from the summer. They told of the most significant person in their summer experience.

Ken Medema was the featured guest. I figured he might be regarded as a “who‘s that old man“ by this group of students. They loved him as he did his “Medema Improv” throughout the week and led us in worship experiences. We heard challenging messages from Amy Derrick (Student.go), Wanda Kidd (CBF Church Interns), and Colleen Burroughs (Passport Inc.). Every “adult leader” introduced themselves to the large group and told what they did vocationally. Colleen translated what each of those persons do vocationally into something that connects with a college student who is interested in vocational ministry and the Fellowship.

I walked into the Shocco Springs Chapel that Monday afternoon and reflected back on walking into the Atlanta Inforum in 1990. What we know as “CBF” has come a long way in 20 years. I savored the sight of all those students filled with good experiences from the summer and eager to see friends they had met earlier at their orientation. They were excited to re-unite for the SELAHvie at Shocco Springs. I was excited about the emerging future of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.