As I reflect on Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) 2025 in Dallas, one word keeps coming to mind: Grateful.
Grateful for the thousands who showed up — messengers, guests, exhibitors, volunteers and more. From Texas to Vermont, from California to Florida, Southern Baptists gathered in Dallas to do the work of the convention. And the data tell a compelling story: more than 18,000 people gathered with us, representing 250-plus exhibitors and nearly 4,000 churches from every state and even the farthest reaches of Alaska and Hawaii. More than 2,100 messengers came from Texas alone, but churches from small towns and big cities alike sent messengers to take part in what was not just a meeting. It was an experience.
Beyond the meeting — the power of connection
And while the business sessions were central, what happened outside the hall mattered almost as much.
I think of conversations over coffee, impromptu prayers in the exhibit hall, side gatherings in ballrooms, breakout sessions for ethnic ministry leaders, trainings for pastors and moments of encouragement between pastors and church leaders who had never met before. SBC25 reminded us that the annual meeting is more than a business meeting — it’s a family reunion, a training ground and a launchpad for missions. Events like the North American MIssion Board (NAMB) luncheon, the International Mission Board (IMB) dinner, our seminary luncheons and countless ministry gatherings enriched our time together. These moments of connection are why people keep coming back year after year.
The business belongs to us all
That said, I want to gently challenge all of us who attend: if you come, be present.
The business of the convention — approving budgets, passing resolutions, electing leaders — belongs to the churches. But it only works if the messengers engage. SBC25 saw great participation in our business sessions, but we can do more. The room should reflect not only our numbers — but our unity, our purpose and our responsibility. Let’s encourage each other to understand the process, participate in the moments that matter and remember that decisions are made by those who show up.
Looking ahead: Let’s bring more churches to Orlando
As we look ahead to SBC26 in Orlando, I want to share a personal hope: I’d love to see 5,000 churches represented.
Not 5,000 people from a few dozen churches, but 5,000 churches. Because the strength of our Convention is not in how many people one church sends — it’s in how many churches take part. We need more perspectives, more voices, more engagement. Whether your church sends one messenger or 12, your church’s voice matters. Your church’s presence matters.
So start planning now. Budget for it. Make it a priority. Let’s make Orlando a landmark gathering.
Holding fast — and building together
In closing, I will remember SBC25 as a testimony to God’s faithfulness and our shared commitment to the Great Commission. As we hold fast to our confession and our mission, let’s also press on — together.
Let’s build something original, something faithful, something unified.
Let’s bring more churches into the room.
And let’s do it in Orlando.
(EDITOR’S NOTE — Jonathan Howe is vice president for convention administration at the SBC Executive Committee.)
