LAKELAND — "I would rather share the certainty of Jesus Christ than the uncertainty of what’s in my heart," said David Lowes Watson, featured speaker at the Conference Council on Ministries’ (CCOM) session of the Dare to Share Jesus 1999 Florida Annual Conference.

After Watson challenged delegates to focus their evangelical efforts on Jesus, rather than their own experience, CCOM chairperson and incoming director Bill Walker challenged them to share their uncertainties about the ministries of the conference with a panel of CCOM staff members and ministry team leaders.

During the Friday afternoon session, Watson, director of the Office of Pastoral Formation for the Nashville Area, told attendees that an evangelistic message should be a combination of the "cosmic grandeur of creation" and the personal Gospel, but at the center of it all must be Jesus Christ.

"Through the Hubble Telescope, humans are only now beginning to discover how immense the universe really is," Watson said.

Despite that immensity "the creator of the universe thought this planet was worth coming to save in person," he said. "In that light, the salvation of planet earth is even more awesome."

He says although it was Jesus who came to save the world, it is also Jesus who will call Christians to account for what they have done.

"How many children died while we ate lunch?" he said. "Jesus will call us to account for every one. When you get to the heavenly feast, don’t sit at the bottom of the table, get under the table and hope the children of Somalia drop you a few crumbs. It’ll be their turn to eat."

This year’s delegates had the chance to stand up and be heard by team leaders and staff representatives from the CCOM in a forum tailored after a town hall meeting.

Delegates discussed their concerns about money, evangelism, youth, the connectional system and clergy socializing during conference sessions.

Bill Fackler, chairman of the Church and Society Ministry team, responded to a question about the Gospel of Jesus Christ by saying the mission of local churches is "translating the Gospel in tangible acts that show the love of Jesus Christ."

When questioned about the CCOM’s budgeting procedures and accountability, Delia Halverson, chairwoman of the Discipleship Ministry team, said that CCOM budgets are developed two years in advance and sometimes affected by unforeseen occurrences, like the hurricane that caused last year’s Discipleship Weekend to be canceled. Bill Walker, director of CCOM, said he would send weekly e-mails with details about what is going on with the CCOM and highlighting "important items" to anyone interested.

Jim Rosenburg, chairman of the Events Ministry team, called for a "revolution" among young adults to achieve a greater voice in the annual conference. CCOM Events and Youth Ministry staff member Mike Standifer said a young adult task force was formed last year to address ministry to members of "Generation X."

Morgan Wright, a lay delegate from the West Palm Beach District, asked the panel how the CCOM could function and connect with the local church without district and local church councils on ministry.

Larry Rankin, CCOM Missions Ministry staff person, said last year’s annual conference mandated the CCOM to reorganize, and he challenged local churches and districts to "follow the nominations process and organize yourselves to follow your vision of ministry, and call the Conference Council on Ministries to serve you."