Oklahoma Baptists from across the state will gather Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 11-12, at Oklahoma City, Quail Springs, for the 113th Annual Meeting of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma (BGCO). The following is a preview of the two-day event:

Speakers, theme seek to ‘Advance the Gospel’

The 2019 Annual Meeting sermons will be delivered by the following: BGCO Executive Director-Treasurer Hance Dilbeck, BGCO President Blake Gideon, who serves as Edmond, First senior pastor; and the annual sermon by Rusty McMullen, pastor of McAlester, First.

Dilbeck will preach Monday evening. Gideon will preach Tuesday morning, while McMullen will address the gathering Tuesday afternoon. The theme for the annual meeting, “Advance,” is designed around the BGCO’s mission statement: “We encourage one another to advance the Gospel.”

The 2019 Annual Meeting theme also is based on the event focal verse, “Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has actually resulted in the advance of the Gospel” (Phil. 1:12).

Pastors’ Conference features local, national speakers

The 2019 Oklahoma Pastors’ Conference, which takes place on Monday prior to the Annual Meeting, presents a unique lineup of speakers from Oklahoma and out of state.

The morning session begins at 9 a.m., and the afternoon session begins at 1:30 p.m. All six speakers will bring messages that align with the conference’s theme “See the People,” which is rooted in Jesus’ compassion for broken people as seen in Matt. 9:35-36.

Speakers include the following: Craig Towery, pastor, Sentinel, First; Stephen Rummage, pastor, Oklahoma City, Quail Springs; Anthony Jordan, retired BGCO executive director-treasurer; Dhati Lewis, pastor, Atlanta, Ga., Blueprint, and executive director of the North American Mission Board’s Community Restoration; and K. Marshall Williams, pastor, Philadelphia, Pa., Nazarene.

Missionaries honored at Annual Meeting, IMB Sending Celebration

On Tuesday evening at 6:30 p.m., people from across Oklahoma and the region can take part in a special International Mission Board (IMB) sending service.

IMB President Paul Chitwood said, “As Southern Baptists work together through the cooperative missions, we see the Gospel extended to the very ends of the earth. And, at this Sending Celebration, we will be able to pray for those who are taking the Gospel out.

“Oklahoma Baptists give the largest percentage through the Cooperative Program than any other state convention or any other group of Baptists, so we’re excited to be able to (have the event in Oklahoma). It’s been several years since we had sending celebrations and appointments of services out in local churches or with state convention partners,” Chitwood said.

Dilbeck is encouraging all Oklahoma Baptists to attend the IMB Sending Celebration. “On Tuesday evening, we want the parking lot full of church buses, people from across the state who have come to take part in this one-of-a-kind event.”

Prior to the IMB Sending Celebration on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., on Monday at 3 p.m., a special gathering will be held for the Oklahoma International Parents Fellowship and IMB Emeritus Missionaries. More information is available at www.bgcowomen.org.

IMB also is hosting a missions information meeting at 3 p.m. at Oklahoma City, Quail Springs for those interested in serving overseas.

Key information for messengers, guests

The BGCO Annual Meeting is open to guests, as well as church members who are elected as messengers to represent their local church body in business decisions during the Annual Meeting.

Only elected messengers have voting privileges at the Annual Meeting. Onsite messenger registration will be available during the Annual Meeting.

For complete information on the 2019 Annual Meeting, visit www.bgco.org/annualmeeting.