Stories tagged with: 2019 state annual meetings

• S.C. convention elects first African American president

  by Todd Deaton, posted Monday, November 18, 2019 (4 years ago)

  

  MOORE, S.C. (BP) -- The 759 registered messengers to the South Carolina Baptist Convention's 199th Annual Meeting made history Nov. 12 by electing a Simpsonville pastor as the first African American to serve as president.

  Meeting at the Church at the Mill in Moore, under the theme "Engage," South Carolina Baptists were challenged by keynote speakers -- Brentwood, Tenn., pastor Mike Glenn; Chattanooga, Tenn., pastor Micah Fries; Jacksonville, Fla., pastor H.B. Charles Jr.; and Edgar Aponte of Lutz, Fla., -- to actively engage the culture, the lost, the nations and the future. Read More

• SBC of Virginia elects African American president, increases CP

  by Ishmael LaBiosa, posted Friday, November 15, 2019 (4 years ago)

  

  SBCV photo

  ROANOKE, Va. (BP) -- The SBC of Virginia made history when messengers elected by acclamation Allen McFarland to serve as their next president. McFarland, senior pastor of Calvary Evangelical Baptist Church in Portsmouth, Va., will be the convention's first African American president.

  "I was encouraged to see that God is calling us to be a good testimony through biblically addressing unrighteousness, abusiveness, racial, economic, and social unfairness," said McFarland. Read More

• N.C. Baptists highlight church planting, 'Who's Your One?'

  by Chad Austin, posted Friday, November 15, 2019 (4 years ago)

  

  Photo by Dianna Cagle

  GREENSBORO, N.C. (BP) -- North Carolina Baptists commissioned more than 100 church planters and were called to prioritize personal evangelism during their 189th annual meeting held Nov. 11-12 at the Joseph S. Koury Convention Center in Greensboro, N.C.

  The meeting drew 1,387 messengers and included two special worship services -- a church planting celebration and a service related to the Southern Baptist Convention's (SBC) "Who's Your One?" evangelism initiative that featured a message from Ronnie Floyd, president and CEO of the SBC Executive Committee. Read More

• Oklahoma Baptists to send $1M more to SBC for Gospel advance

  by Brian Hobbs, posted Friday, November 15, 2019 (4 years ago)

  

  Submitted photo

  OKLAHOMA CITY (BP) -- More than 1,000 Oklahoma Baptist messengers and guests from across the state gathered Nov. 11-12 at Quail Springs Baptist Church in Oklahoma City for the 113th Annual Meeting of Oklahoma Baptists.

  From approving an increased Cooperative Program (CP) spending plan for 2020 that allocates $1 million more to the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), to hosting an International Mission Board (IMB) Sending Celebration that sent 29 missionaries to the field, the 2019 Annual Meeting was marked by major ministry milestones. Read More

• Florida Baptists display unity, embrace diversity

  by Barbara Denman, posted Thursday, November 14, 2019 (4 years ago)

  

  Submitted photo

  ORLANDO, Fla. (BP) -- More than 2,200 attendees joined together at the Florida Baptist State Convention in Orlando, Fla., Nov. 11-12 to proclaim they were united as "One Family Gathering."

  "We have played and danced with this issue rather than lamenting and mourning before the Lord," said Tommy Green, Florida Baptist Convention (FBC) executive director-treasurer, during the Nov. 11 opening session. "But tonight we are not divided, we are not segregated. We are a family and we come as one. Read More

• Indiana Baptists increase CP, address sexual abuse

  by SCBI Staff, posted Wednesday, November 13, 2019 (4 years ago)

  

  SCBI photo

  MARTINSVILLE, Ind. (BP) -- A budget increase -- and added support for Southern Baptist missions and ministries -- were approved by the State Convention of Baptists in Indiana during their Oct. 28-29 annual meeting.

  Messengers also addressed the SBC-wide issue of sexual abuse through a motion and two resolutions. Read More

• Floyd: Florida Baptists generous in giving, Gospel sending

  by Margaret Colson, posted Wednesday, November 13, 2019 (4 years ago)

  

  Florida Baptist Convention photo

  ORLANDO, Fla. (BP) -- The Florida Baptist Convention (FBC) "is a model in forwarding as much as possible through the Cooperative Program (CP) to encourage the forwarding of the Gospel to places the Gospel has never been before," said Ronnie Floyd, president and CEO of the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC).

  The FBC sends 51 percent of annual financial receipts from its member churches through the SBC Cooperative Program (CP) as it retains 49 percent in the state. The decision to move to the 51/49 percent model was made by messengers at the 2015 Florida Baptist State Convention annual meeting in Panama City. Read More

• Illinois churches 'ReFocus' for revitalized ministry

  by Illinois Baptist Staff, posted Wednesday, November 13, 2019 (4 years ago)

  

  Submitted photo

  MARION, Ill. (BP) -- Across the country, the numbers are sobering. At least 80 percent of American churches are plateaued or declining, and many leaders are struggling to know what steps to take to revitalize flagging ministries.

  "We need a new wave of church revitalization to sweep across America," Rob Peters said at the Illinois Baptist State Association's Annual Meeting Nov. 7 in Marion. At the 113th annual gathering of Illinois Baptists, messengers adopted resolutions, elected new officers, and approved a 2020 budget. Read More

• Iowa Baptists highlight evangelism, church planting

  by BCI Staff, posted Monday, November 11, 2019 (4 years ago)

  

  Photo submitted

  ANKNEY, Iowa (BP) -- With the theme "Together for Iowa," the Baptist Convention of Iowa held its 2019 annual meeting at First Family Church in Ankeny on Nov. 2.

  Keynote speaker Ronnie Floyd, president of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee, exhorted Iowa churches to renew their urgency for evangelism. He pointed out the sharp drop in professions of faith among 12-17-year-olds and challenged Southern Baptist church leaders to embrace the call to reach these next-generation leaders for Christ. Read More

• Wyoming Baptists celebrate God's blessings

  by Karen L. Willoughby, posted Monday, November 11, 2019 (4 years ago)

  

  Photo submitted

  BUFFALO, Wyo. (BP) -- "Completely unexpected and spontaneous," a Wyoming state Baptist leader said about the 28 people baptized at seven churches in the West region of the state on Aug. 25. "Plus several more in September and October!"

  Reports like this punctuated the 36th annual meeting of the Wyoming Southern Baptist Mission Network Nov. 7-8 at Big Horn Baptist Church, where Don Paulson is pastor. Read More