Oklahoma Baptists are asked to attend SBC Annual Meeting in Columbus
Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) President Ronnie Floyd has orchestrated a new schedule for this year’s SBC Annual Meeting that is said to be “reworked in order to highlight the things (Southern Baptists) are most passionate about.” The restructured schedule is intended to entice more Southern Baptists to go to Columbus, Ohio on June 16-17.
“Since the moment I was elected as SBC president, I have extended a clear calling to Columbus, Ohio, for our annual gathering in 2015,” said Floyd. “Regardless of the size of your church, we need your church represented. Why is this so important? We need our Southern Baptist family in one place, praying, worshipping and working together to see the Great Commission completed in our generation.”
The June 16-17 sessions will be themed “Great Awakening: Clear Agreement, Visible Union, Extraordinary Prayer.” Registration for the Columbus meeting once again will offer an online opportunity for churches to register their messengers at sbcannualmeeting.net.
Through online registration at the website’s Messenger tab, each messenger will receive an eight-digit registration code to present at the annual meeting’s Express Registration lane in Columbus, preferably a printout of the church’s credential. The code will be entered into a computer at the SBC registration area and a nametag will be printed. The appropriate church-authorized representative must complete all online registrations.
One highlight of the new schedule includes an entire session dedicated to featuring all SBC missions agencies. On Wednesday morning, June 17, reports will be given from Women’s Missionary Union, North American Mission Board, and International Mission Board, followed by a commissioning service. More than 100 missionaries, spouses and pastors will participate in a “Church and Missionary Sending Celebration.”
“The SBC Annual Meeting promises to be a powerful gathering,” said Hance Dilbeck, pastor of Oklahoma City, Quail Springs, who will be serving as SBC second vice president this year. “President Floyd has been working hard to plan a meeting that puts the spotlight on OUR work together, especially our mission efforts.”
The Tuesday night, June 16, session will have “A National Prayer Gathering of Southern Baptists for the Next Great Awakening and to Reach the World for Christ.” Featured in the session will be brief moments in God’s Word, seasons of prayer in response to God and other expressions of worship.
The final session on June 17, Wednesday afternoon will include an SBC presidential panel titled “The Supreme Court and Same-Sex Marriage: Preparing Our Churches for the Future.” Floyd will be moderating a panel that will include Russell Moore, president of the SBC’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, and Albert Mohler, president of Southern Seminary.
Leading up to the SBC Annual Meeting will be the SBC Pastors’ Conference on June 14-15. World-renowned neurosurgeon Ben Carson is one of many speakers at this year’s Pastor’s Conference. Information on the conference can be found at sbcpc.net.
Those interested in hands-on missions can participate in Crossover Columbus on June 13. An art festival, backyard Bible clubs, block parties, sports camps and cleaning and repair projects are some of the ministry activities that will happen with an evangelistic purpose. For more information, visit CrossoverColumbus.org.
