The Baptist State Convention of North Carolina (BSC)
announces a two-day meeting schedule and special highlights for the 181st
Annual Meeting to be held Nov. 7-8 at the Koury Convention Center in
Greensboro. The meeting will include powerful exhortations from God’s Word,
worship and fellowship, and practical information from various break out
sessions.
Highlights of this year’s Annual Meeting include:
Schedule
For the first time since 1994, the annual meeting will be
held over a two-day period instead of a three-day period. Brian Davis,
executive leader for administration and Convention relations, said the shorter
schedule will be a benefit to all involved. “The Convention is glad the messengers
approved the new schedule, as it will eliminate expenses involved with the
third-day of a convention meeting, while still allowing appropriate time for
all aspects of the annual meeting,” he said. “We hope this schedule will allow
more North Carolina Baptists to join us in Greensboro.”
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This year’s meeting will begin Monday, Nov. 7, at 6 p.m. and
will end Tuesday, Nov. 8, at 8:30 p.m.
Registration opens Monday at 2 p.m. and will close 30
minutes after the general session that evening. On Tuesday, registration opens
at 8 a.m. and will close once the business session concludes that evening.
All In
This year’s annual meeting theme, based on 1 Timothy 2:3-6,
is “All In.” The theme encourages all North Carolina Baptist churches to be
compelled by the same vision that compelled Jesus Christ: that all people may
know Him as Savior and Lord.
“The Committee on Convention Meetings has worked hard and
prayed over this year’s theme and message,” Davis said. “It is our prayer that
this theme will exhort North Carolina Baptists to do more, to do whatever it
takes, to get the gospel to those who need to hear it.”
Times of theme interpretation will be held throughout the
annual meeting to allow messengers time to pray over and consider how God is
calling them to be involved in helping fulfill His Great Commission.
Special highlights
Monday evening messengers will hear a special report from
the Baptist State Convention. The Convention will introduce the third phase in a three-year initiative designed to encourage
North Carolina Baptists in evangelism, discipleship and missions mobilization.
The 2012 emphasis, “Expanding the Kingdom,” is focused on
challenging North Carolina Baptists to live “on mission” in their community,
state, nation and world with the gospel of Christ. For more information visit finditherenc.org.
Darryl Craft, pastor of Green Street Baptist Church in High
Point, will bring the Convention Sermon during the Tuesday evening session.
Craft has served as pastor at Green Street Baptist Church since 2007.
He previously served churches in Oklahoma, Alabama and
Tennessee. Craft earned his doctor of ministry and master of divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological
Seminary.
Attendees will also hear messages from Milton A. Hollifield
Jr. and Ed Yount. Hollifield will give the executive director-treasurer’s
address Monday evening, and Yount will bring his president’s address Tuesday
morning.
Each year the annual meeting features special events,
presentations and related meetings.
One such event this year is the Great Commission Partnership
Missions breakfast.
The breakfast will give messengers an opportunity to explore
mission opportunities from the BSC, North American Mission Board and
International Mission Board, as well as networking opportunities with other
pastors and leaders. George Russ, executive director of the Metropolitan New
York Baptist Association, will be the keynote speaker.
The breakfast will be held Tuesday, Nov. 8, from 7 a.m. to
8:15 a.m. and is open to all pastors, church staff, mission leaders and
spouses.
The breakfast is free but registration is required and space
is limited.
Visit here.
The Pastor’s Conference will also be held at the Koury
Convention Center. The event is free and registration is not required.
The Sunday, Nov. 6, session begins at 6 p.m. and features
Logan Carson, distinguished professor of Christian theology (Ret.), The College
at Southeastern, Wake Forest; and Greg Mathis, senior pastor, Mud Creek Baptist
Church, Hendersonville.
The Monday, Nov. 7, session begins at 9 a.m. and features
Clayton King, founder and president of Crossroads Worldwide, Shelby; Larry
Wynn, vice president of evangelism, NAMB; and John Bisagno, pastor emeritus,
First Baptist Church, Houston, Texas.
The Monday afternoon session features David Dykes, senior
pastor, Green Acres Baptist Church, Tyler, Texas. Visit here.
Break out sessions
On Tuesday afternoon messengers can attend one of 19 break
out sessions. The sessions are designed to focus on biblical topics and
practical information that can be applied to everyday life. The sessions
feature topics such as “Church Renewal,” “The Minister’s Juggling Act,” “Evangelism
Crash Course,” and “Web Empowered Church.”
Exhibit hall
The exhibit hall includes more than 100 exhibits featuring
BSC ministry groups, institutions and agencies, as well as exhibits offering
various resources to churches such as insurance, church building and planning,
and website development.
The exhibit hall is open Monday 2 p.m.-9 p.m. and Tuesday 8
a.m.-9 p.m. A complete listing of exhibitors is available on the annual meeting
website, ncannualmeeting.org.
Information will continue to be added to the annual meeting
site as it becomes available.
Details about business sessions and the budget presentation
will be posted in early October.