June 29, 2023

By Aaron Weaver

ATLANTA — “God is moving us forward to dare to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ,” new CBF Global Missions Coordinator Laura Ayala told Cooperative Baptists gathered Thursday evening for the opening worship service of the 2023 General Assembly in Atlanta.

Preaching on Hebrews 10:19-25, Ayala explored the General Assembly theme of Holy Ambition. “How can ambition be holy,” she asked. “Or how can something holy have something to do with ambition?”

The answer is Jesus, she declared.

“We are confronted with Jesus Christ—holiness made flesh. From his conception, Jesus is the maxima of Holy Ambition.”

Trusting God who “makes the impossible possible is part of CBF’s DNA,” she said. “Do you need evidence of this? I am standing in front of you this evening. The Word speaks to us about Sara being pregnant—unthinkable. As unthinkable could have been and might still be to appoint an ordained Puerto Rican woman as Coordinator of Global Missions.”

“God’s Holy Ambition has been with us before, is today and will continue to be,” she continued. “The question is if we will continue to obey or if we will allow other things to distract us from our calling. CBF is not an accident. It is God’s Holy Ambition to have radical witnesses, as radical as the Great Commandment. CBF incarnates Holy Ambition and that is uncomfortable. It takes us out of our comfort zones.”

Ayala shared that during her first five months as CBF Global Missions Coordinator she has seen up-close the ministries of CBF field personnel, chaplains, pastoral counselors and congregations all around the world.

Rev. Laura Ayala — 2023 General Assembly Sermon from Cooperative Baptist Fellowship on Vimeo.

CBF missions and ministry is “not about bringing archaic colonial paternalistic missiology into contexts where God is already at work, with the arrogance that we are the ones who know what they need,” she said. “Not even Jesus the Son of God did that! It is to go into mission opportunities with humility, knowing from day one that relationships are the most powerful way to witness the love of Jesus Christ. Yes, presence matters.”

“Holy Ambition challenges us to look into the eyes of the One who saved us and realize that we should concentrate on the important issues and transformational ministries, as we are called not to be conformed to this world but to be transformed by the constant renewal of our mind,” she emphasized.

Ayala described holy ambition as the desire for God’s will to prevail and daring to repeat ‘Thy Kingdom come.’ “Do we really want God’s Kingdom to come—that place where unconditional, sacrificial and forgiving love is for all,” she asked.

“The conviction to strive for holy ambition comes from the hearts of individuals like you and me,” she said. “God is still moving us forward to dare to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ to bear witness, equip the church to create beloved community, and transform—from the roots up—those systems that provoke poverty and human mobilization.

Ayala shared that when confronted with the message of Holy Ambition, her knees trembled.

“No, I am not ready for holy ambition. I will never be enough. You will never be enough. CBF will never be enough. But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness,” quoting 2 Corinthians 12:9. “Please know that Holy Ambition is not based on our capacity to do, but in our humble obedience to the one that has called us to be citizens of God’s Kingdom here and now.”

Thursday worship at the 2023 General Assembly featured music led by ministers from First Baptist Church, Gainesville, Ga., and included a Puerto Rican folk hymn, Caribbean folk song and Spanish assembly. Assembly children and youth offered the opening prayer and Sister Norma Pimentel, executive director of Catholic Charities in the Rio Grande Valley, gave a prayer for peace.

The 2023 CBF General Assembly continues Friday with a full day of business, learning labs, gatherings and a closing worship and commissioning service for newly-endorsed chaplains and pastoral counselors, as well as new Global Missions field personnel.

Find news, photos and videos from the 2023 CBF General Assembly at http://www.cbf.net/assembly2023

Watch the Thursday worship service:

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CBF is a Christian network that helps people put their faith to practice through ministry eff­orts, global missions and a broad community of support. The Fellowship’s mission is to serve Christians and churches as they discover and fulfill their God-given mission.